March 7th meeting minutes
Welcome to Kirk Weaver, CEO of the Pelham Library
Announcements:
AKWigg, Hockey tournament for the EarlyAct club took place March 7 th
Rotary Leadership Training - March 24 th in Sanborn New York, please sign up if you are interested in
attending
Joint Club Meeting - April 18 th – Joint meeting of all 14 clubs, this will be a lunch meeting not a morning
meeting – more info to follow
Joint Social Planning Meeting – March 20 th at 5:30 p.m preceding the board meeting, all welcome, please
recommend business partners and organizations to invite.
TV Auction Report – Hugh Graham reported on the success of this year’s auction.
- Overall the auction did very well, combined increase for all clubs
- The number of items was lower but our % take increased
- Fonthill did well with over $17,000 ($15,814 after costs with a $1200 cash donation) at auction and collected in total
- The goal for next year will be to increase this
- Club thanks Hugh and team for their efforts
- Thanks to all the donors – letters will be sent to them directly
Mudfest Report
- Advance registration has gone well
- Corporate teams will register on race day
- Pen Financial donated two banners – one specifically for Mudfest and one for Rotary
- Please be sure to mark your calendar for set up date, Sunday, April 29 th 10 a.m. and the race day itself, May 5 th .
Guest Speaker
Mel introduced our Guest speaker, Kirk Weaver, CEO of Pelham Library. Kirk has been a public servant
for over 20 years and has been CEO of the Pelham Library since 2015.
Kirk highlighted the following interesting and new updates on the library:
Their core business remains lending materials however they are shifting to becoming a community hub.
All of the board terms are tied to Council terms so all members need to reapply
Kirk highlighted the changes in mindset needed by library staff as the library becomes a gathering space,
with free access to materials and communication. The focus is on the lifelong learner, the new comer,
children and adult programming. The traditional community came to the library for information, now
the library needs to go to the community, reach out more and be an active community member. This
not only changes the staff mindset but the needs of the volunteers and staff.
The library staff track the increase in access to the website and number of visitors. There is an increase
in children’s programs. Mad Science has been a successful program. Still looking for teen programs.
Some examples of the community engagement initiatives include: partnership with the John Howard
Society to ensure there is a trained worker on site twice a week. Participation in the Green Streets
Challenge, Summerfest, Peace Park Thursday Nights, Schools visits, placement of a coop student.
Maple Acres – re-opened to the public in January 2017. Increased program offerings and hours of
operation. Increase in number of new cards, number of visitors and positive feedback. Increase in
number of students who come to the library at the end of the day.
Hope for Fonthill branch to complete some renovations to move some office space downstairs.
Accessible service counter, more public space.
Pelham Community Centre – reading nook in partnership with the Rotary Club of Fonthill will allow
families to engage more readily.
Other new initiatives include: adding more Chromebooks, LiNC Cooperative ( lending between several
Niagara libraries and Niagara College) expansion and adding HOOPLA. With HOOPLA, customers can
access eBooks, digital movies, music etc.
To operate need $25,000/yr from fundraising. This is done through book sales, euchre tournaments,
clothing sales and Trivia Night. There is also an endowment fund through the Niagara Community
Foundation.
Paul thanked Kirk for his sharing all the great things happening at the library.
