| fopl_chairpersons_report_agm_20.11.19.doc |
ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING FRIENDS OF THE PROSPECT LIBRARY (FOPL)
Wednesday 20
November 2019
David Kilner - Chairperson’s Report
SUMMARY
SINCE THE 2018 AGM
A QUIET YEAR
At the 2018 AGM it was decided that the
Friends of the Library would have a quiet reflective year while the new Library
is under construction.
The opportunity was taken in 2019 to
research the operations of Friends organisations elsewhere including interstate
and overseas, to see if ideas for the
future of the Prospect Friends could be found. This research reinforced the idea that success
depends on having a close working relationship with the Library and a good
understanding of the roles and expectations of the respective organisations.
However there is no one single model of how Friends organisation work. The
following were all shown to be important activities: fundraising; promotion of
libraries and reading; author talks and book launches;
CLIC: COMMUNITY HUB LIBRARY & INNOVATION CENTRE
With the
need for the Library to vacate its current premises in 2019 there has been a
continuing focus this year on keeping up to date and having input into the
planning process for the new centre.
Prue
Blaikie continued to represent the Friends of Prospect Library at the monthly
meetings of the Community Reference Committee.
Information has been provided and feedback requested at committee
meetings.
Tonight
Library Manager Ben Footner will provide us with an overview of the
opportunities presented by the new Library.
I
believe that the Friends of Prospect Library should continue in operation for a
further year to assess the possibilities in the new building.
Detailed
information can also be found on the Prospect Council website: https://cityofprospect.engagementhub.com.au/community-hub-library-innovation-centre.
BOOK SALES
Because
of the success of the Pop Up Book Sales, the need to turn over books quickly
because of the lack of storage space, the necessity to provide working
accommodation to council staff during the transition to the new centre and the
consequent uncertainty around the library space available during the year, it
was decided not to hold any large book sales either in the Library or at the
Prospect Spring Fair in 2019.
Transporting books to the Fair was seen as particularly problematic.
While
the Friends helped to set up at least one of the Pop Ups, the staff have taken
over the management of the sales – and they have been much more profitable than
the previous larger sales earning around $? since our last AGM.
We need
to examine carefully the opportunities for book sales, including donated books,
in the new building.
GENERAL ACTIVITIES
The FOPL
Committee has met four times since the last AGM.
We have
set up a Facebook page and a website to make ourselves more visible to the
community.
No General
Meetings have been held.
We donated
$10,000 to the Library for the installation of a mural in the Children’s Area
at the new Library.
THANK YOU
Thank
you to all FOPL members who have participated in meetings and especially to our
hard working Committee – Secretary John Ryan, Treasurer Brian Brown and
Committee members Carrie Brown, Lesley Attema, Julia Archer and Kristina
Barnett.
My
best wishes for a very Happy Christmas and New Year to Library Manager, Ben
Footner, to the Library staff and to you all!
David Kilner (Chair) 20 November 2019
