Southampton Free Library Plans for the Future

During an hour-and-a-half-long meeting Monday evening, the Southampton Free Library's Board of Trustees discussed the results of their latest fund-raising efforts, plans for fundraisers later this year and ideas on how to properly spend what money they have acquired.  

The library’s "High Tea" event, held last week, met with a great deal of success. Earnings from the door tickets, raffle, and personal donations totaled $1,052.  

With budgeted funds of roughly $9,000, the board unanimously decided to spend a considerable chunk of the money on the procurement of new computer desks.

Library Director, Kim Ingram, plans to show samples of potential desks to the board in the very near future.  She estimated the cost to be somewhere in the ballpark of $4,000.   

“I don’t want to start asking people for more money without showing them anything,” said Library Board Member Peter Lawton.  “Let’s show some results.”

The plan to install new computer desks is just one step in the library’s goal of keeping up with the ever-changing times.  

“The library is a living organism,” said Ingram.  “We have to change as the community changes.”

In addition to a rapidly-growing DVD collection (too-rapidly growing, if you ask Ingram - as one of the needs she voiced at the meeting was for a storage solution for all the excess inventory), the library also lends out e-Books and audiobooks.

According to a report from Ingram, as of last month, the total downloads for the Bucks County Library system as a whole was 19,771 which included the aforementioned e-Books and audio books.    

Other ideas floated by board members included possibilities for better marketing the library and promoting awareness of their offerings throughout the community.

A major piece on their wish list is for a new, more eye-catching sign.  However, the possibility didn’t gain much traction when Ingram informed the board that a modern, programmable electronic sign would cost upwards of $10,000.

Ingram announced the hiring of Mary Wieczezynski for the library’s open, part-time reference position.  According to Ingram, Wieczezynski is a recent retiree of the Levittown Bucks County Free Library where she worked for 18 years in the children’s and reference departments.  

Ingram also informed the board that this week’s Movie Matinee (held at the library every Friday at 2 PM from April through June 3rd) would be The Tourist.

The board is beginning the planning stages of  library fundraisers for the Fall, which will include a gift card sale for the holiday season. 

Southampton Free Library Upcoming Calendar     

05/17 - Financial Skills Workshop - Long Term Care

05/17 - Beading Class - 1:30PM

05/18 - Heads meeting

05/19 - Book Club 7 PM Bel Canto

05/20 - Friday Movie Matinee - Tourist - 2PM  

05/23 - Battle of Crooked Billet Screening and Discussion - 6:30

05/24 - Beading Class - 6PM

05/27 - Friday Movie Matinee - Country Strong - 2 PM

06/03 - Friday Movie Matinee -  Rabbit Hole - 2PM

06/14 - Friends of the Library meeting - 10AM

06/14 - Friends of the Library Luncheon - 12PM 

06/20 - Book Club - 1PM - Cutting For Stone

06/20 - Board Meeting

06/21 - Financial Skills Workshop - Special Needs Planning