Friends of the Library
Minutes of the Spring Meeting
April 1, 2005
The activities for the Spring Meeting of the Friends of the Library began on 1 April 2005 at 3:00 pm in the Browsing Room of the Library with a talk and slide presentation by Sweet Briar's Professor of Government, Barbara Perry, on her new book "Clotheshorse or Cold Warrior? Jacqueline Kennedy and the Role of Modern First Ladies."
Chairman Ann Reams '42 convened the Spring Business Meeting of the Friends of the Library in the Browsing Room of the Library on 1 April 2005 at 4:00 pm. Those present were: Greg Armstrong, Edna Armstrong, Carolyn Bates, Mary Landon Brugh '57, Betsy Butler '91, Suzanne Butler, Paul Butler, Ann Carter, Nell Champoux '05, Roscoe Fitts, Connor Forren, Laura Goley '52, Gene Goley, John Goulde, Adelaide Hapala, Tekla Nevius, John Jaffe, Lisa Johnston, Liz Kent, Joyce Kramar, Helen Lewis '54, Joe Malloy, Martha Malloy, John Marsh, Bonnie Marsh, Stephen Mirabella, Sigrid Mirabella, Jane Nelson '66, Emily Olson '07, Ro Putz '88, Anne Richards '84, Peggy Anne Rogers '56, Karlena Sakas '06 (McVea Scholar), Charlotte Speilman '06, R.B. Wills.
Mrs. Reams reported that M. Polk Green, who is a new member of the council, sends her regrets. She had foot surgery and is unable to come.
Mr. Malloy announced the winners of the Nicole Basbanes'04 Book Collecting Contest of 2005. Nicholas A. Basbanes, the 2002 Gehard Masur Memorial Lecturer and father of Nicole Basbanes '04, generously donated funds to the Friends of the Library for a student book-collecting contest. This is the third year of the contest, and in honor of his daughter Nicole, who graduated from Sweet Briar last year; Mr. Babanes asked that the contest be renamed after her. Nicole Basbanes is presently a graduate student of Library Science at Long Island University. First place winner receives $150.00, second place winner receives $100.00 and the third place winner receives $50.00. The third place winner is Emily Olson '07. She won with her wonderful collection of children's literature. Second place winner was Charlotte Speilman '06 with her collection of books on the craft of poetry, anthologies of poetry and books of poetry. The first place winner was Nell Champoux '05 with her collection of books on Western Esotericism. The judges had great difficulty in deciding the winners this year, as all the contestants' collections were outstanding. Each winner was also given a copy of Mr. Basbanes' book Patience & Fortitude: A Roving Chronicle of Book People, book Places, and Book Culture.
MINUTES
The minutes of the Fall Meeting (2004) of the Friends of the Library were approved as submitted.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT
Connor Forren, Development Office Director of Donor Relations & Operations gave the membership report. She reported that she had met with Joyce Kramar and discussed the mailings and how we can go about increasing our membership. This year's membership is 97. Total dollar amount is $6,005.00. Last year at this time membership was 171 with a total dollar amount of $14,082.50. Its quite obvious that the Friends membership is down and Ms. Forren reported that she has talked to her staff and they are looking at ways to get more memberships and do more renewal mailings. Ms. Kramar reported that there has been some computer changes and recoding of names and its possible that some names may have fallen through the cracks. Ms. Forren reported that Ms. Kramar has an old membership list and we are going to do some solicitation work on that list and work extremely hard to increase the Friends membership. This mailing will be done immediately. Ms. Forren reported that she is working with Ms. Kramar on expanding The Friends mailings and trying to reach people who normally have not been solicited by the Friends. Ms. Forren is confident that the membership can be increased.
FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT
Dr. John Goulde, Professor Religion, gave the Finance Committee Report. Professor Goulde requested that we propose the same budget as before the next year. The Friends voted to keep the same budget.
NEEDS COMMITTEE REPORT
Lisa Johnston, Library Staff and Chair of the Needs Committee gave the Needs committee report. Ms. Johnston requested that the Friends approve the Needs List. The cost to purchase these requests comes to $10,895.02. After reviewing the requests the Friends approved the purchase of these items.
EVENTS COMMITTEE REPORT
Professor Malloy gave the Events Committee Report. Mr. Malloy was excited about having some events in the New Rare Book/Archive Library in Pannell. Also next spring we will be responsible for the speaker. The fall date for the Friends meeting is Oct. 28, 2005 and the spring meeting is scheduled for April 7, 2006. These may be subject to change. The Friends of Art speaker had to cancel due to illness. Professor Eric Casey of the Classics Department will lecture on "Collecting the Cosmos: Libraries in the Ancient World.
PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT
Professor Malloy stated that the Gazette would be out soon.
OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business.
NEW BUSINESS
Dr. Jaffe stated that he had one item of new business that he would like to bring forward and that is the major gift that Kitty Corbett Powell gave to the library The College honored her by naming the main reading room in the library after her. The Friends would also like to honor her and Dr. Jaffe made a motion that we make Kitty Corbett Powell an honorary member of the Friends in recognition of this gift. Dr. Jaffe brings this motion to you from the Friends Council. The Friends so moved. Kitty Corbett Powell will become a Life Member and her name will be place on the Friends plaque with the many other life members.
Mrs. Reams made some suggestions as to how we might increase our membership. As you all know the library is always open for Alumnae weekend and other events on campus. Mrs. Reams and other Friends made the following suggestion:
Open House at the Rare Books and Archives when special events are going on campus. As you are aware the art library was moved to the Main library and Rare Books and Archives are now housed in the Art Library.
Work with the editor of the Alumnae magazine to have an article about the Friends of the Library in this fall's issue. We have discussed maybe having a "Wish List" placed in the magazine each issue listing a book that the Friends of the Library would very much like to have the funds to purchase.
Make sure the library has an open house and program for parents weekend.
Mr. Jaffe suggested that we might have our fall meeting in the new Rare Book/Archives room.
Mr. Jaffe reported that Caroline Lindemann '49 , one of the leading collectors of miniature books in the country, has given a portion of her Miniature Book Collections to Sweet Briar and the other portion to University of VA her husband's alma mater. An event is being planned for the Fall Meeting to recognize the gift and display the miniature books that she so generously gave to Sweet Briar.
Mrs. Reams introduced Stephen Mirabella who is our new vice-chairman and ask for suggestions on how to bring the library to the attention of folks.
Mr. Mirabella suggested that maybe he could address the parents of the Amherst High students and tell them about the Friends if the Library. He also wanted to make sure to get the library staff's ideas in regards to high school students using the library and how much added work this would be for the staff.
Mr. Jaffe stated that we already have a program in place for all middle school and high school students who are in the gifted and honors program to use the Sweet Briar Library. So it would be great to try and reach more students. Mr. Jaffe stated that the best way to approach this is to work with the local school board. Mr. Mirabella could also speak to the Amherst PTA and meet with the gifted coordinator as well.
Miss Butler '91 suggested that high schoolers could relate better to a contemporary of theirs, so maybe a student worker in the library or someone who is advocate for the library could go along with Mr. Mirabella.
Mrs. Sigrid Mirabella suggested that we need to increase public awareness of the Friends.
She suggested a table be set up at the Garlic Festival with information about the FOL available.
Another suggestion that Mrs. Mirabella made was to contact the local real estate agents and possibly advertise in some local real estate magazines about the FOL and how becoming a member would benefit them.
Mrs. Mirabella also suggested that something be printed up, such as a bookmark and that each of us keep some and hand out various venues we visit.
Ms. Johnston, library staff suggested that during the Families Festival Weekend, which is what Parents Weekend is now called, they have club day and it is a really big event of the weekend. Why not have a Friends of the Library Booth. Ms. Johnston volunteered to set up the booth and try to target parents of new students, etc. to join the Friends. Ms. Johnston also feels that faculty should encourage students to join the Friends as its only $5.00 and you get to go to some really great events and in the spring they get a free meal with wine!!
Jane Nelson '66 suggested that the Richmond Alumnae Club be notified about Mrs. Lindemann's gift to the library. Ann Carter from the Alumnae Office is coordinator for the Richmond Club and will be attending their next meeting, which will be held on April 30th. and would be more than happy to let them know of Mrs. Lindemann's gift.
Betsy Butler '91 suggested that the Friends offer an incentive to join the Friends, or something to thank new members. Ms. Butler suggested a bookplate, or bookmark that could be stuffed in an envelope easily. Maybe an art student could do some artwork with the library doors on it or something like that. Mr. Jaffe felt that this was something we should definitely look into and that we would work with development on this. When you become a member of the Friends, the College sends you a letter and this little thank you could be included in that letter. Karlena Sakas '06 (McVea Scholar), offered to do the artwork for this project.
Ms. Marsh suggested that we might want to do something like "Lynchburg Reads". It's a very active program in Lynchburg and all schools and colleges participate, so why not have Sweet Briar in there? It is run by the Public Library in Lynchburg. They choose a book and send the word out and post it all over and everyone reads that particular book. Many small book clubs in Lynchburg also plug into this program. At some point there is a discussion group held at the Public Library.
Ms Forren from the Development Office suggested that at some time in the future we might want to think about broadcast e-mail. This would be a very good way to get some of the younger students who have just graduated interested in the Friends of the Library. At some point in the future the Friends might want to purchase an e-mail module for this purpose. They are not very expensive.
The meeting was adjourned. |
