AGENDA #4f
|
TO: |
Roger Stancil, Town Manager |
|
FROM: |
Kathleen Thompson, Library Director |
|
SUBJECT: |
Authorization of Funds for the Library’s 50th Anniversary Celebration |
|
DATE: |
October 22, 2007 |
The attached budget ordinance would authorize an additional expenditure of $22,000 for special events and activities in celebration of the library’s 50th anniversary in 2008.
In December 1958, the Chapel Hill Public Library was established by the Board of Aldermen on the recommendation of a study by the Community Council, an organization of more than 60 local organizations concerned about local library resources. Prior to 1958, citizens were served by University Library. The Mary Bayley Pratt Children's Library, established in 1929 by local clubs and located in the elementary school, served as both school and public library for children.
In August 2007, representatives from the Chapel Hill Public Library Foundation and the Friends of the Chapel Hill Public Library formed a Celebration Committee (Attachment 1) to discuss ways to celebrate the library’s 50th anniversary in 2008.
The Committee has met with Town staff twice since August. To date, they have prepared a list of possible programs (Attachment 2) to be offered by each group and agreed on the need to hire a professional designer to prepare a logo for the year-long event, based on a unifying theme (“CHPL: 50 Years of Dreams and Discovery”). Members also agreed to present the Committee’s ideas at the regular September meetings of the Foundation, Friends and Library Trustees.
On October 10, 2007, the Chapel Hill Public Library Foundation Board voted to partner with the Town of Chapel Hill, including the Chapel Hill Public Library Board and the Friends of the Chapel Hill Public Library, to celebrate the Library's 50th Anniversary. The Board also agreed to consider contributing to expenses for 50th Anniversary events, programs, publicity, etc. as specific plans are presented to the Board.
Also on October 10, 2007, the Executive Board of the Friends of the Chapel Hill Public Library voted to partner with the Foundation and the Town in the celebration of the Library's 50th anniversary by including the use of the logo and theme for Friends' regularly scheduled events and further agreed to consider additional funds for special activities as plans develop.
On October 8, 2007, the Library Board recommended that the Town Council authorize $22,000 from Library Gift Funds toward expenses associated with planning and implementing the Library’s 50th anniversary celebration.
Most of the Library’s proposed activities included in the attached list are ongoing and funded each year in the Library’s operating budget. These activities can be linked to the library’s anniversary with no additional cost. Examples could include assigning the “Dreams and Discovery” theme to the Summer Reading Program and webpage design, and using the celebration logo to stamp children’s tee-shirts, bookmarks and informational handouts.
We anticipate a project budget of $22,000 for library activities not included in the adopted operating budget. Proposed expenditures include: one 10 hr/wk events coordinator (10 h/wk x 52 weeks @ $25 p/hr + FICA=$14,000); logo design ($1,000); 50th anniversary memorabilia ($3,000); outdoor banners ($1,000); posters and miscellaneous printing ($1,500); program supplies ($1,500).
This evening we are requesting approval to use $22,000 in library gift funds to cover Town expenses for this year-long project. Of this amount, we estimate sale of event memorabilia will generate $2,000 toward this project.
Both the Friends and the Foundation have agreed to link their activities in 2008 to the library’s 50th anniversary celebration theme and logo. Both organizations have agreed to consider additional funding for special anniversary activities, for their own organization’s activities and for partnered events during the year yet to be determined. In addition, the Foundation Board intends to use the celebration’s visibility to step up fundraising efforts for its “Ensuring Excellence Campaign” and for the library expansion project.
We recommend that the Council enact the attached ordinance amending the 2007-2008 budget up to $22,000 to be used for costs associated with the library’s 50th anniversary celebration in calendar year 2008.