Latah County Library District

DIRECTOR’S REPORT
November 2009

Activity Summary

• This year’s regional Everybody Reads program with author David Guterson drew nearly 200 people to the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre on November 10th. Evaluations of the program and presentation were enthusiastic. Thanks to the Friends of the Moscow Library for funding our participation.
• New open hours at the Deary Library went into effect on November 2nd.  Branch supervisor Debbie Fischer reports the evening hours on Monday have been well received: “Monday evening hours are GREAT!  Really busy and lots of different people.”
• The Friends of the Moscow Library held their fall book sale on October 23rd-24th. They netted over $2,500 through memberships and sales.
• Thanks to the Library Benefit Bridge group for their recent donation of over $650 to the library. This is part of their ongoing effort to support the collection and activities of the library.
• The library’s annual staff evaluation process began as scheduled on November 2nd.
• I attended a meeting of the VALNet directors on October 20th.  Directors drafted a new policy to address withdrawal from the consortium.
• New lights were installed and the ceiling was painted in the Deary library over the weekend of November 7th.  This is the first step of library remodel co-sponsored by the Friends of the Deary Library, the City of Deary, and the Library District.
• I wrote a column for the local paper regarding the Everybody Reads program and asking for community feedback.  The column promoted our webpage link to an online survey.
• The adult fiction and nonfiction sections of the Moscow Library were shifted in order to make access to materials easier.  Thanks to the many staff members and volunteers who helped make this happen.
• The LCLD Foundation wishes to thank First Step Internet for their help and partnership in developing a business identity package for the Foundation.
• The library participated in a national Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study which provides funders, policymakers, members of government and the media with a better understanding of the issues and needs facing libraries in meeting community demand for computer and Internet resources.

Department and Branch Reports

Bovill Branch Report – Paula Winter

• I was back to work in October after my illness and with the help of Maxine Cole was able to take my days easy and had her here to help me until I felt I could stay caught up on my own.  I really appreciate all the concern and support that I received from the library staff during that time.   With Maxine’s help we were able to do a lot of weeding and moving of books, PBs that needed to be weeded and some deeper cleaning that had been put on hold.  We cleaned out cupboards and threw away old summer reading materials in preparation for next year’s supplies.
• Library Friends sold flower bulbs again this year but unfortunately we weren’t able to advertise as much as we would have liked due to the fact that this was taking place all about the time I became ill and so we were only able to profit $70 this time but that is o.k.  That will help cover most of the summer reading materials that I am ordering from Highsmith.
• I have been working and discussing storm windows for the library with Carol and she has been in touch with Fred Walters, the architect from the Idaho Heritage Trust Foundation to make sure that the windows being installed are approved by that foundation and will not in any way compromise the building’s appearance.  Everything seems to be in place and we are now just waiting for the windows to be installed by Moscow Glass.  The Library Friends group will donate a portion along with the building committee to help fund this project.  Carol was also checking into insulation under the floor to further improve our energy use.
• I was sad to have my library neighbor pass away.  He was a neighbor that would always come over to lend me a hand if he saw that I needed something outside or inside the library.  He will be missed.

Deary Branch Report – Debbie Fischer

• October was a quiet month at Deary Library.
• A LOT of behind the scene work is being done by Carol and Sandy Dalton to prepare for the remodel.  November will be an exciting Board Report, but October was just business as usual.
• I am looking forward to the new hours, because I think we will see a lot more people on Monday night.

Genesee Branch Report – Connie Sobczyk

• A very large pumpkin inhabits the Genesee Library. Patrons have been signing it and guessing its weight. The winner of this event will be chosen Nov 24.
• Our Friday story times revolve around a “train” theme. Youngsters enthusiastically bring in a special item which begins with the feature letter and sound for the week. The children hide their sharing item in a train car for all to be surprised during story time.
• Carol and I are working together to apply for funds from the Genesee Recreation Tax levy appropriation committee. These funds would be helpful in purchasing new flooring for the children’s area, a bookcase for paperbacks to replace the old unsteady one in use now, and repainting of the library.
• In my absence from library duties from Sept 22- October 3 and October 9-16, Genesee’s branch was kept in order by the district’s many wonderful caring subs. Thanks to all who helped me keep it together during this time of an unfortunate family event.
• Genesee hosted the LCLD Board of Trustees meeting on October 20 at 5:30 PM. It was to this warm, receptive group of volunteers that I presented Genesee Branch’s 2009 Annual Report.

Juliaetta Branch Report – Jan Welles

• Story times at Juliaetta were small during October because the cold and flu season has begun. We had 33 children and their caregivers in attendance for the 5 story times.
• Class visits were sporadic as well with only four of the seven scheduled classes making it in to check out books. 66 students and 5 teachers came down from JES to check out books.
• The Book Prowlers’ met with seven members in attendance to discuss “Cannery Row” by Steinbeck.
• The Friends met on Oct. 20th with seven members present. They made plans to hold a Book Walk at the Harvest Carnival on Oct. 31 at the VFW in Kendrick. They have purchased $50.00 worth of paperback books from Scholastic through the Elementary School to be given away at the game. The Friends will once again decorate the railing around the swimming pool at Kendrick Park for the “Light the Park” Christmas celebration in Nov. They voted to continue with their usual fund raising activities this year and not do a “big” fund raising event. The Friends now have two new members; Jayne Foote and her husband Rob have joined. They are welcome additions to the group. Rob comes up with some great ideas for decorating and has already made some shelves for the JE paperback book boxes in the children’s’ section.
• For those who don’t know already, Jayne Foote has been hired as a District sub and she also has taken over the two hours that Anna Bruce was working on Wednesdays in Juliaetta. Jayne has been a huge help and is quickly learning all the ins and outs of Voyager. She makes it much easier for me to get everything done around here. She was also quick to answer my call for help when I came down with the flu at the beginning of Oct. and had to stay home!
• I enjoyed meeting and visiting with Mary McGregor this month.  I am sure she will be an excellent addition to the Board. Thank you for visiting Juliaetta, Mary.
• I think most everyone knows or has heard the rumor that I will be retiring next spring. Only 6 more branch reports to write, 12 more time sheets to fill in, etc. but who’s counting?

Potlatch Branch Report – Donna Quiring

• From all reports the Mystery Dinner Theatre was a huge success. I was on vacation so I want to thank Diane Brady, Alice Spitzer and all the Potlatch Friends and the Potlatch Arts Council for all the hard work that went into this!
• We moved the Juvenile audio visual items to the Juvenile Non-Fiction area. It was getting very crowded and hard to look at DVD's and other items with the kids sitting on the floor looking at the movies and the Adults trying to reach over them. This is working out very well and we were able to spread items out on the shelf better.
• The construction is finally finished on the Onaway Road. It was quite an ordeal finding your way to the library at times.
• Storytime continues to be well attended. We had 5 programs in October with 81 kids and 47 adults attending. Diane and I have done some scheduling changes to accommodate the busy Fridays. I have been working her Thursday shift and she has been coming in Fridays. She has to work this around her other job, so we are trying to come up with a schedule that will work during her busy time at the UofI. 
• Time to think about annual evaluations. Not one of my favorite things to do!

Troy Branch Report – Margie Fitzmorris

• Story Times have picked up. Homeschoolers have been able to make it. I have a wonderful lady volunteering her time to read to the Story Time kids. Her name is Kathy Pope and she is doing a terrific job. We read about pumpkins on the 29th, all went home with pumpkins from my garden.
• The Pre-school is still making their monthly visits to the Library.
• I have a Community Service worker for 20 hours. I am keeping her busy.
• I attended a Friends of the Troy Library meeting.
• The City of Troy has agreed to continue paying for the cleaning of the Library.
• Preparing for a Book Signing by local author P.A. Monson. She will be discussing her new novel, Skin Deep, November 2 @ 6:30pm.