FY22 Annual Report

At our first in-person Annual Meeting in several years, The Board of the Friends of the Hamilton Branch Library presented the following narrative and fiscal information to those attending.  Notes of the meeting will be posted in the coming weeks.

www.friendshamiltonbranch.org
ANNUAL MEETING AGENDA
Monday, Dec. 5, 2022
6:30 pm In-person and via Google Meet:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/sbc-frfd-xzf
Or dial: ‪(US) +1 575-686-2133 PIN: ‪619 878 880#  
6:00 Doors open, light refreshment
6:30 Conversation with David Payne, Chief of Neighborhood Services for Enoch Pratt Free Library, and Gabrielle Miller, Hamilton Branch Manager
7:15 Business Meeting: presentation of Annual Report and Vote on Proposed Bylaws 
7:30 Adjourn 
Contact us at [email protected]

FY 2022 Narrative Report
If there were a theme for the Friends of the Hamilton Branch this year, it might be “reawakening.”  Covid presented enormous challenges to the entire Enoch Pratt Free Library, as every branch ensured user access to library services within the narrow and often harrowing context of a deadly pandemic.  For its part, the Friends worked with library staff to raise public awareness of the branch’s efforts to ensure that the library remained a vital community resource even during a lockdown, while also looking to the future by supporting the courtyard renovation, celebrated at the beginning of this fiscal year, and gardening initiatives.   This year, like the rest of us, the library has been emerging from Covid restrictions. This transition presents its own challenges, as each branch, including Hamilton, has to accommodate new and returning users, ensure that the physical space is both safe and welcoming, and provide access (both “real life” and virtual) to its services and programs.  Consequently, during FY 2022, the Friends have focused on helping the branch’s transition as smooth as possible.

This support took many forms, from providing a holiday cookie platter last December to publishing profiles of new staff members for the Friends newsletter, introducing them and their priorities to the community. Those profiles are now part of a new page at our website: www.friendshamiltonbranch.org. We used our newsletter and Facebook page posts (also shared with the Harford Road Community Collective) to promote library events and programs. We included several library staff members as page administrators so they could publish to the community directly.

Friends members also worked to raise the profile of the Hamilton Branch by holding used book and CD sales at the Tuesday Farmers Market and the Lauraville Fair.  While these events raised important funds for the Friends, they were also opportunities for Friends and staff members to let the public know about the many programs and services available at the Hamilton Branch.  The also turned out to be terrific recruitment events!

Additionally, the Friends collaborated with local businesses on behalf of the library.  During Banned Books Week, Snug Books welcome Friends members to read “subversive” picture books to their youngest customers; they also generously donated 5% of store sales that week to the Friends.  We, in turn, offered $5 Snug gift cards to promote $15-level memberships. We hired Signature Landscapes, a local firm, to upgrade the tree pits on Harford Road and Glenmore Avenue, making a long-term investment in perennials, our largest financial outlay on behalf of the library.  

Perhaps the most significant work the Friends undertook this year is the least glamorous.  Thanks to the hard work of board member Derek Simmonsen, the Friends will be voting on new by-laws, which will provide greater clarity about Board roles and procedures.  Hopefully, the by-laws will give the Board the flexibility to continue supporting Hamilton Branch as it continues to serve our community.

Respectfully submitted, Deborah Mason, Secretary, Friends of the Hamilton Branch Library

FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR: FY2022 (11/1/2021 – 10/31/2022)
BRANCH NAME & NUMBER: Hamilton Branch Library    EIN NUMBER: 46-3895681
PREVIOUS BALANCE: (10/31/2021)                                                       $   660.30
INCOMING FUNDS:  (11/1/2021 – 10/31/2021)
               A) DONATIONS                 :                                                         $  1,100.00
               B) FUNDRAISERS:                                                                       $    108.58
               C) MEMBERSHIPS:                                                                      $    677.59
               D) INTEREST EARNED                                                                $           .15
               E)  TOTAL                                                                                       $  1,886.32
 OUTGOING FUNDS: (11/1/2021 – 10/31/2022)
               F) GIFTS TO BRANCH:                                                                $    1,641.73
(Staff treats, Tree pit landscaping, garden hose,
workshop supplies)
G) ADMINISTRATION                                                                                $   232.88
H) OTHER EXPENDITURES (payment fees)                                          $       22.89
 I) TOTAL                                                                                                     $   1,897.50
 TOTAL FUNDS CURRENT ACCOUNTING PERIOD:                         $       (11.18)
NEW BALANCE (10/31/2022):                                                              $     649.12
Prepared by: Malissa Ruffner   Date: November 17, 2022

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