Friends of the Library News

Shades of Brown: Current Issue of the Friends Newsletter: January/February 2012

Past Issues (Friends of the Library Newsletters)

Please join the Friends of the James V. Brown Library

The Friends Spring Book Sale will be held at Pine Street United Methodist Church
on April 19, 20, and 21

Friends of the Library Book Review Luncheon
Friday February 3, 2012

Lowry Theatre, Brown Library’s Welch Family Wing.

The February reviewer will be Dr. Deborah Morris,  English faculty member at the Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Since February 7, 2012, is the bicentennial of the birth of famous author Charles Dickens (born 2/7/1812), her topic will center on the last years of Dickens’ life and a novel he was working on at that time.  Specifically, she will be reviewing the novel Drood by Dan Simmons.

Drood explores the unsolved mysteries of Dickens’ last years and could provide some answers to the puzzle of Dickens’ uncompleted novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

Dr. Morris graduated from Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, where she majored in English.  She continued her studies at the Pennsylvania State University, subsequently earning a doctorate in Victorian Literature. After teaching at Louisiana State University and Pennsylvania State University, she joined the faculty
of the Pennsylvania College of Technology in September, 1999.  She and her husband, John Poritsky, live in Williamsport with their two sons, Joel and Robert.

Book Review Luncheons are open to the public and are free of charge unless you choose to order the light lunch that is available. The lunches cost $5.00 each and can be reserved by calling the library Information Desk atv326-0536 no later than 3:00 PM the Wednesday before the Luncheon (Wednesday, February 1).  Your own bag lunch or take-outs are also welcome.

The luncheon starts at noon with the program beginning at 12:30.  Those interested may attend the 12:30 talk without lunch.  These  events are held in the Lowry theatre on the third floor of the Welch Family wing of the JV Brown Library.

The Book Review Luncheons for March and April are still pending but will be held on the first Friday of each of those months.

The Friends of the James V. Brown Library Annual Membership Meeting

Treasurer David Wright provided a review of the year’s finances, and announced that he will meet with the officers to complete the proposed 2012 budget for the January meeting.

Barbara McGary and Harold Hershberger, expressed appreciation for the funding that has been donated to the library by the Friends organization.  The treasurer confirmed  it was $32,000 during 2011.  McGary spoke about some projects that are in the planning stages for 2012.  One of these involves moving the Friend’s book sorting room to the fourth floor to be closer to the Friends Favorites Lightly Used Book Store.

The Book Store has been doing well and Tuesday has been added to the list of open half days.  Staffing is improving as more people have been using the store and volunteering to help out.  Several are waiting to be trained at present. The  treasurer gave a preliminary year end report noting that the totals for December are still not available.

Each standing committee chair reported on their activities for the year.

Program Planning – which deals with finding timely topics and reviewers for the programs at the First Friday Book Review Luncheons.
Membership – now at 460
Publicity – which goes out to the newsletter and various media outlets depending on the activity being reported; Newsletter – included in Publicity.
Volunteer Recognition – this committee needs to have more people and clearer division of tasks.
Special Events – this year it was the Friends involvement in the Paula Poundstone program.
Sorting – a good system seems to be in place and they are anxiously awaiting their move to the fourth floor.
Mailing – a faithful group of volunteers respond to the chair’s call when a newsletter or membership notices are ready to be mailed; Governing – has a slate of members and officers ready.
Book Sale – the Spring Sale will be held at Pine Street UM Church on April 19, 20, and 21.

Board members renewing their commitment for another three years are Alison Hopper, Nancy Lady, Linda Schramm, Patricia Shipman, and David Wright.  There being no other nominations these directors were elected unanimously.  The present team of officers have another year remaining in their posts and all agreed to continue.

They are: President – Patricia Shipman, Vice-president – Linda Schramm, Secretary – Mark Noe, and Treasurer – David Wright.  Board members’ selection of committee membership was tabled until the January meeting.

The next board meeting will be held in the Lowry Room on Tuesday,  January 3, 2012, at 5:15 PM

Since the library will be adjusting their weekend hours in order to be open on Sundays once more, the Saturday book store hours will be changed to opening at 12:15 PM and closing at 3:00 PM

Past Issues – Friends of the Library Newsletter

2011
November/December ’11 |September/October ’11 | May/June ’11 | March/April ’11 | January/February ’11

2010

November/December ’10 | Sept/Oct ’10 | May/June ’10 | March /April ’10 | Jan/Feb ’10 | Nov/Dec ’09