Minutes of March 7, 2011

Haverhill Library Association
Minutes of March 7, 2011 meeting

The monthly meeting of the Haverhill Library Association was held at the library and called to order by Board of Trustees Chairman John Landrigan at 7:30 P.M. on March 7, 2011. Present were Trustees John Landrigan, Kathy Schiffman, Ken Frank, Jane Darby & Mike Marshall and Librarian Anne Ballam.

Minutes of the February 3, 2011 monthly meeting were approved after two changes were made. Marcia Belyea, not Welch, will resume bookkeeping. The correct time of adjournment was 8:55 P.M.

John is still working on grant proposals to pay for brick stabilization on the gable ends of our building. Ken reported that he talked to Russ Wilcox, who told him he has inspected the building twice and it is in bad enough shape that he could not reinforce or stabilize it. Ken will erect barricades around the affected area until the weather improves and Russ Wilcox can safely remove the weakened sections.

Marcia Belyea has taken over bookkeeping duties and the librarians are now receiving stubs with their checks. Referring to the financial statement, John noted that a large portion of the high amount ($2,380.60) of the February payroll taxes paid was to bring tax year 2010 up to date.

There is nothing new to report regarding recruitment of new Board of Trustee members.

Hood’s Plumbing & Heating has not provided a promised estimate for drain repair work. Nanci will follow up when the weather gets warmer. Anne Ballam reported she is applying for a new library debit card. She also reported that snow falling from the roof is damaging the light beside the front door and suggested the light be moved. In preparation for a State Library report due in April, it is noted that numbers are down for children’s reading programs.

A book discussion, on Daisy Miller by Henry James, will be held on March 21, 2011. The next version of John Landrigan’s six-week fiction writing workshop is tentatively scheduled to begin on March 22. Because author Jane Cleland will be unable to attend our next author’s luncheon, a discussion of possible alternatives was held and it was decided that John would contact John Walters, an author and former NHPR radio host. John Landrigan will explore the possibility of Ernest Hebert appearing at a joint venture with Alumni Hall. Plans for the March 12 supper, book sale and basket raffle were finalized.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 P.M.

The next monthly meeting will be 7:00 P.M. at the library on Monday, April 4, 2011.

Respectfully submitted,
Michael Marshall