Staff Meets Board Meets Friends

A new and very successful event took place earlier today--the Board of Trustees of the Library arranged a get-to-know-each-other lunch with the Library staff and Library Friends.  Although the staff was out in full force, the Board was represented by President Dave Kruger, Sue Holland (who with a friend not only arranged a terrific lunch but also imaginative table decorations), Steve MacNish, and Kathy Kruger.  The Friends who could make it in addition to this blogger were Friends President Barb Shapley and chief book sorter Mary Bunch.  It was believe that some Board members and Friends may have intended to come but were confused by a late change in location from the Firehouse to the Libary.

After everyone introduced themselves and Dave Kruger welcomed us all, we enjoyed lunch while we discussed matters of mutual interest including signs for book sales, library cards for young children, income from fines, and problems with a few patrons who act up despite being in a library.  We learned that LaGrange Library had installed a "panic button" to be used in case of a threat developing to the staff or to other patrons--something that is not as far-fetched as you might think.  It was decided that our Library should investigate adding such a button to our existing alarm system.

It was clear that our Library is blessed with a caring and competent staff, many of whom have been with the Library for more than ten years.  My view, which I suspect is shared, is that this kind of encounter ought to take place annually.  I know that although I was on the Board for 14 years, there were always some staff members that I didn't really know, and I believe that is probably true of today's Board as well. Also, neither the Trustees nor the staff always know who the Friends are.