NEWS RELEASE 

For Immediate Release:  June 13, 2007

Contact:  Sam Gnuse, Altamont Public Library Board President

Subject: June 2007 Altamont Public Library Board of Directors meeting

The Altamont Public Library Board recently met on June 11, 2007. On the agenda was the status of building maintenance and repair, and 100^th Anniversary ideas, bookshelf pricing, non-resident fee and fine schedule report, the budget, and the summer reading program.

The list of bills to be paid for June was presented.  These bills included charges for books, pest control, utilities, computer repair, replacement fax machine, summer reading material, building maintenance, and library supplies.    

Beth Speers, Librarian, gave a brief overview of the May’s circulation figures, which included our service of interlibrary loans.  In May, there were a total of 163 books and items borrowed, and 314 loaned through the Shawnee Library System interlibrary loan program.   Through May, there were a total of 921 library cards being used, with two new resident cards and eight non-resident card renewals.  Over 1,600 people used the library during May and over 1,800 items were checked out.  The Illinois Public Library Annual Report has been submitted.  A replacement fax machine has been purchased and will be set up.  A local teen has volunteered to be a summer intern, and will begin working during the summer reading program to assist the library staff with the additional workload.  Librarians have been providing a short program to Lutheran Care Center Day Care students, who have been utilizing the library on Fridays with 8-10 children each time.   

Mason’s Masonry Restoration has begun repairs to the exterior library building tiles.  The library staff ask the library’s patrons for patience during this renovation.  The library board is also grateful to The Cookie Jar for their patience and support during this renovation. 

Bids for a new library bookshelf are accepted and Lustig Cabinets in Effingham will build a three-section double sided library bookshelf.

The 2007 Summer Reading Program (Mission Read: To the Library and Beyond) was discussed.  Currently there are 125 children registered in the program.  There will be a storyteller program on June 28 at 3:30 p.m. at the Altamont Living Museum, by storyteller Marilyn Kinsella titled “Dancing with the Stars”.  Members of the community are invited to meet at the library at 3 p.m. and walk as a group to the Altamont Living Museum.  The Altamont Junior Women’s Club has underwritten the program through half the proceeds from their recent Cuddly Bunny fundraiser.  The Library is very grateful to the Altamont Junior Women’s Club for their continued support of the summer reading program. Budget restraints limit activities for the annual Summer Reading Program, and any donations from the community would be appreciated. 

A donation from the Kull family has been received to help cover the costs of the Altamont Garden Club’s flower lamppost projecdt.  The library board thanks the Kull family for their continued support of both the Library and the Garden Club.

Discussion was held on possible events to celebrate the 100^th Anniversary of the Altamont Public Library in 2008.  More details will be worked out in the upcoming months.  Any interested community member can volunteer to assist the Library staff and board members with the events.  Just stop at the circulation desk and let us know of your interest.