Horicon Free Public Library
6604 State Route 8
P.O. Box 185
518-494-3852
Library Board of Trustees Minutes January 16, 2024
Those in attendance:
Joan Johnson, President
Kawana Smith, Library Director
Greta Heilman, Treasurer
Debra Eves
Sara Mullins, Secretary
Bob Olson, Town of Horicon Representative
Joan opened the meeting at 9:30 a.m. Just before the meeting, Joan, Joyce, Greta and Sara were sworn in as officers, and Sara was sworn in to a new 5-year term as Trustee.
Bob Olson reported that the Town has carried over funds from last year and noted that the library is now fully staffed. The Town is launching a campaign for volunteers to work with land use issues and is actively recruiting to fill openings on the Zoning and Planning Boards.
Joyce is now a liaison to the Friends of the Horicon Library. Debra Eves is interested in serving on the Library board.
The minutes for the December 18, 2023 meeting were read with the following correction: the theme for the 2024 reading program will be determined by the State of New York, not the librarian. Joan moved to accept the corrected minutes and Greta seconded. Approved
Old Business: Lou Ann Guthrie’s performance as Library Clerk was rated very good to excellent. She needs another voucher for the HP computer. The 2024 reading theme is “Adventure Begins in the Library.” In December, about 100 patrons visited the library. Approved
Treasurer’s Report: Vouchers 2024-01 through 2024-08 were signed and approved. Donations include $500 from the Horicon Golf Tournament, $500 from the Senior Citizens and $500 from Laurence Meltzer. Approved
Director’s Report: Kawana has completed the 2023 yearly report. 2022 and 2023 reports have been recorded on Google Drive. The maximum allowed for petty cash is $75. Kawana reported that more than half of the library’s holdings are in circulation, an “unusually positive situation.” To date, 1,809 items have been transferred. Item circulation by collection also includes items obtained through interlibrary loan.
Webinars are available through the Mid-Hudson Library System.
Dungeons and Dragons attendance remains steady. Christmas at Brant Lake attracted 72 children and 90 young-at-heart adults. Kawana noted that last summer’s Food Truck Friday events attracted many visitors to browse the library.
Colleen Murtagh, Town Historian, has recordings available of Dan Smith’s popular “First Roads of the Adirondacks” presentations.
New Business: Potential library funding sources include the ADK Foundation for children’s non-fiction and Penguin Random House Grants for Small & Rural Libraries. Deb and Sara will research other opportunities.
Children’s summer programming: Kawana will set up a Dancing Turtles program and two other Saturday programs. The Friends Summer Reading Program runs from July 11 – 15 and will include a birding backpack for participants. Erik Schlimmer is available on May 11 for a children’s wilderness program.
The Library Board’s second reading assignment in the 2003 Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State is “Laws and Regulations” pp. 9 – 19.
Next Meeting Date: Tuesday, February 20th, 2024