Meeting called to order by Chairman Kim Hoagland at 4:10 PM in room 309 of the Library.  Action items in bold.

Present:   Dana Richter, Dee Vincent, Karen Hubbard, Kim Hoagland, Erin Minne, Lisa, Phyllis Johnson, Peck Cho, Faith Morrison, Reynolds (late 4:25pm)
Absent: June Hawthorn, George Love, Lynn Bjorkman, Rebecca Fitzgerald
Visitors:  Lisa Blaskowski (USG)

Kim Hoagland introduced the board to Lisa Blaskowski, a representative sent by the USG.  She was welcomed by the board.

The November minutes were reviewed.  The minutes were approved unanimously.

Secretary Morrison reported that she had contacted the USG to send a representative, and the USG had agreed to send their secretary Blaskowski.  Morrison was also directed last time to update the web page, and it is now updated except for newsletters.  Morrison will continue to work with Becky Fitzgerald to get the more recent newsletters on the web.  Morrison has also added a new feature to the web page, the Announcements section, which contains items of current interest to the Friends.  The intention is to have many of the files for the web pages reside on Morrison's university computer (chemical engineering) so that she may make frequent updates.  Hoagland asked Morrison to work with Becky Fitzgerald to get out the September dues reminders.

Treasurer’s report was tabled pending the arrival of the treasurer.

Hoagland gave a report on the Travel Grant program.  Hoagland, Reynolds and the Travel Grant Committee met to discuss the Travel Grant procedures and possible new programs.  Last time the board approved an increase in the amount available for travel grants to $1,000 from $500 and requested that the Travel Grant Committee propose a local history project.  The Travel Grant Committee decided the local history project should have a public presentation component, should be open to non-profit organizations or governmental organizations only, should be geared at getting the word out about the MTUACCHC (MTU Archives and Copper Country Historical Collection).  In addition recipients would have to acknowledge the friends in their printed materials, and the projects would be confined to local topics, local applicants.  The committee proposes a $250 annual budget and would advertise grants as ranging from $50 to $150 for, e.g., brochures, walking tours.  They requested the flexibility to combine the monies from the two programs (travel and local history) if, for instance, there were travel grant monies left over.  The Travel Grant Committee consists of University Archivist Eric Norberg, Larry Langkdon (Social Science), and George Love (Friends).

Morrison moved that $250 be expended to establish a new Friends of the Van Pelt Library Local-History Grant Program as proposed by the committee.  The grants would be administered by the Travel Grant Committee to support use of the MTUACCHC by local groups.  She also moved that the $1000 previously designated for the Travel Grant Program be amended to allow that up to $250 of the $1000 may be used to support the Local-History Grant Program if the Travel Grant Committee so designates.  Hubbard seconded.  Motion passed unanimously.

The board heard committee reports.

Johnson reported that the Fundraising Committee did not meet.  Hoagland indicated that we need to generate ideas for new fundraising projects that raise the visibility of the Friends and of the Library.

Reynolds distributed the treasurer’s report.  The accounts have increased in the last month by $60.  The pattern of the accounts is to be more or less stagnant until the book sale infuses them with funds.  Reynolds indicated that if we are to pursue any new expenditures, we need to develop some revenue-producing projects.   There was some discussion that we need to identify an exciting project and to use the same strategy that was used to finance the study rooms, i.e. get other groups (e.g. Trademark Licensing or the Senior Class) interested in supporting the library.  Johnson indicated that she is going to support some library beautification improvements proposed by a library staff committee (Love and Hubbard are the Friends’ representatives to this committee).  Johnson will check in with that committee and try to move this project forward.  This project would perhaps include a new theft-protection area ($8,000) and new furniture for a total project value of about $15,000.

Reynolds mentioned that developing a computer classroom in the library is a priority.  The cost would be on the order of $60,000.  There was some discussion of this.  Morrison noted that there is a new group, the Teaching and Learning with Technology Roundtable (tltr-l@mtu.edu) that is composted of faculty and staff who are interested in using technology in the classroom.  Maybe they would be interested in supporting the development of an electronic classroom in the library.  The board agrees that we need to identify (specifically) projects that need to be funded.  This was sent to the Fundraising committee.

Hubbard suggested that we try to increase Christmas sales of blankets and note cards.  Hubbard will work with Johnson.

Morrison reported for the Advocacy Committee.   The committee met and has begun discussions on what the role of the Friends could be to advocate the library on campus.

Hubbard reported for the Membership Committee.  They have not met, but Hubbard indicated that their goal is to increase membership to near 200 from about 140.  She would like to put membership brochures in the Archives (no objections).  Hubbard proposed that when the Friends sponsor events, we should use that opportunity to solicit Friends.  Hubbard talked about other areas where brochures could be set out where alumni would see them; Lisa Blaskowski suggested the campus store (the board agreed).  If the Advocacy Committee talks to department chairs, etc., they could solicit for membership too.  She suggested that in the next newsletter we could spotlight membership.

Dana Richter asked if we had ever mailed the brochure to alumni.  Johnson reported that we had had the advertisement for the blanket and a membership solicitation in the Alumni Magazine, but we could look into doing something more.  Hoagland indicated that we had tried to have a mailing to alumni, but for reasons we no longer remember, it did not happen.  Morrison suggested that we could send out a Christmas blanket sale solicitation with a membership paragraph on it. Lisa Blaskowski suggested that perhaps we could sell at the Mall when Santa Claus is visiting.  Johnson will call University Images to see if they’re selling the blanket and note cards at the mall. Lisa Blaskowski suggested that we could put an item in the personals of the Lode - she indicated that the students do read them.  Reynolds will do that.

Vincent reported for the Book Sale Committee.  It is not possible to schedule the sale on Wednesday, April 12 due to a banquet.  Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday are open, but the MUB will not commit until February.  The MUB person will, however, pencil us in.  Vincent asked the board which days they would prefer.  The board recommended the Thursday-Friday days (April 15 and 16th, 6th week of the term).  Reynolds indicated that we should start soliciting books.  George Love has been making solicitations, and books have been coming in.  Morrison asked if there could be a drop-box in the library again.  There was discussion on how best to do this.  Johnson will arrange for a drop-box in the library.

Johnson reported on library planning.  Kaye Gapen visited campus this week.  She is an expert on library planning.  She met with many faculty, students, and administrators on campus.  The arrangements were made in a short time, but there was a very gratifying response including visits with the GSC and USG.  The point of her visit was to put in place a process to be able to gather useful information about how faculty and students do their work.  This information will be used to plan for the new library.  She is not a library building consultant, but she came at Johnson’s request to help crystallize some of the ideas on changes needed in the library at MTU.  The current plan that has gone downstate is the Fisher-addition project.  It will be hard to hang on to that space, and it will not be enough for the library’s needs.

Johnson reported that Curt Tompkins spoke at Rotary today, and he said that he thought that Fisher project will go forward, and the current library building will be renovated to some other purpose, and a new $50 million library will be built.  Curt wants a CD or a video produced about what the new library will be so he can sell it to donors.  The time scale for this is March or April or May.  A request for information (RFI) went out to library-building consulting firms a while back, and three of the four consultants have responded to the RFI.    The next step is to check on the references of the three firms that have responded to the RFI. The ballpark price is under $50,000; the project due-date is at the end of February.  Morrison suggested that we need to share this information with the rest of campus and start generating enthusiasm.  Johnson said it will be a struggle to find the money for a new library, so we have to pursue many avenues.  Curt is supporting building a new library, but so far he seems to be the main (only?) administrative advocate for the project.  The consultants were asked to report on three plans:  maximize the use of space in the Fisher-addition project plus renovating the library, renovating the library with a different (best possible) addition, and building a totally new library.  Hubbard agreed that we should publicize Kaye Gapen’s visit and information about the building consultant issues.  Morrison will write an article for the newsletter.

Board members will contribute the following newsletter articles.
Walt Crawford's visit (Johnson),
Library Planning (Morrison)
Annual Meeting (Hoagland)
New Members (Morrison)
new board members, officers (Morrison)
book sale reminder (Morrison)
Kay Gapen visit, aka guru article (Johnson)
blanket and card sales (Morrison)
A notice that if you’re not on the list of members but you gave to the library, let us know (check on campus campaign) (Morrison)
Articles to Morrison Thursday December 10, 1998.
Hoagland will ask Becky if she is still willing to format the newsletter.

Johnson brought a Banner list of the donors to the library (gave to Morrison).  Morrison will add these names to the list of Friends and then pass the information back to Johnson and on to Reynolds (so he can check if the money actually came to the Friends).

The next meeting will be January 7, 1999 in room 309 of the library.
Meeting adjourned at 5:37pm.