Friends of the Mission Hills/Hillcrest Library
November 18, 2023
The meeting was held in conferences rooms at the Mission Hills/Hillcrest Harley and Bessie Knox Library. The meeting was called to order at 10:03 A.M. by Anne Box, President. An attendance list is at the end of the minutes.
Minutes: The minutes of the October 21, 2023, meeting were approved as submitted.
Financials: Don Rudesill reviewed the October financial results. Bookstore cash sales were $950.00, Square credit card sales $491.91, Amazon sales were $622.56, Abe sales $70.10, Book cart sales and donations were $81.00. Interest income from all of our accounts was $445.95.
Expenses for the bookstore were $198.35, Matching funds donations for programs and equipment were $3,000.00. Non-matching funds donations totaled $456.98. The latter was for specific programs and events.
Our balance in all accounts is $147,354.21.
Librarian’s report: Steve Wheeler presented future programs. They include:
From Olmecs to Aztecs, Saturday, November 25 at 2:30 P.M.
Comic Art Creation Workshop, for ages 8 to 12, Saturday December 2, at 2:30 P.M. Register at the branch in advance or via the online calendar.
Author Talk by Dr. Carl Mattina, who will discuss his memoir “Mind Trek, My Journey from Panic to Peace,” Saturday December 9 at 2:00 P.M.
Hullabaloo Family Holiday Concert, Saturday, December 16 at 10 A.M.
A Treasury of Christmas Humor with Richard Lederer, Saturday, December 16 at 2:30 P.M. This is an Oasis presentation.
Slow Down Swap Party, Monday, December 18 from 5 to 7 P.M. Swap lightly used clothing and toys.
Steve provided fund balances. The Contracts/Performers fund has $725.00, Equipment and Supplies has $1,038.99, Materials has $15,944.29, Library Pool Distribution has $5,959.37. The unmatched Library Trust Fund has $10,466.93. The balances do not include recent Friends gifts.
Expenses were for programs and a few supplies.
Steve requested $250.00 for Cupcake Wars, a cupcake decorating contest, and $600.00 for a celebration of the fifth anniversary of the branch on January 26. Both requests were approved. Steve said that a new employee will be making the calendar and flyers and needs the Canva program. Chuck Leib said that we already have the program, and he will provide the password.
Steve provided updated information for an evacuation plan. We will advise volunteers in the bookstore of the new guidelines immediately.
Bookstore: Sue Eubanks will put the holiday materials out on Monday. In addition to books, DVDs and CDs we have saved during the year, we approved up to $200.00 for children’s coloring books for Hannukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa.
In answer to a question, we decided that all Blue Ray DVDs are $3.00 including those for children. Sue will make a sign for the children’s area.
We are having a problem with unpriced books being shelved. Sue will make signs for the cart in the backroom, and we will advise all volunteers that that cart is off limits.
We agreed that the fiction section has room for more books some of the time. It will be up to those who have this as their Adopt a Section to decide how long to keep books and to remove books when shelves are full or crowded.
Kim McDaniel said that we have shipped many Amazon and Abe materials recently.
Pat Littell and Jean Stein will advise volunteers of all changes and will remind them of bookstore duties.
After a discussion of the cost of running ads in the local papers, versus any increased visits to the store, we voted to run ads quarterly instead of monthly next year.
Website: Al Hoefer said that we received a $50.00 membership through the website.
Membership: Chuck Leib distributed membership notes that we can insert in piles of books for customers. The notes explain more about how the bookstore helps the branch by providing money for programs and materials. It also invites customers to become Friends.
Chuck plans to send holiday cards to our members with membership envelopes. All incoming membership envelopes must go to Don Rudesill first.
Corporate news: Anne distributed news from Corporate. One of the items is that the bookstore at University Heights will take donated books. There are also name badges available if any volunteer is interested. Jean Stein can ask volunteers when she sends an update.
Roundtable: We approved money for staff holiday treats. Elaine Kalin and Mary Rose Mueller will take care of this.
There will not be a meeting in December. The next meeting will be January 13, 2024, at 10:00 A.M.
Attendance: Anne Box, Steve Wheeler, Don Rudesill. Al Hoefer, Nancy Carol Carter, Sue Eubanks, Kim McDaniel, Mary Rose Mueller, Elaine Kalin, Susan Chenven, Chuck Leib, Pat Littell