Library Board Continues to Assemble Fundraising Team

Helen Matthes Library board members Monday heard that work continues to assemble their capital campaign fundraising team.

Fundraising Consultant Steve Meier said they are gathering campaign leadership and putting a committee together.  The committee will be charged with raising the bulk of the funds needed to convert the former 5th/3rd Bank building into the new library.

In the meantime, Library Director Amanda McKay said they continue to have success in obtaining donations, including a gift of stock accepted at Monday's meeting valued at about $5,000.

The Board also heard from Joe Fearday of Wells Fargo that the library's investments continue to return a gain of more than 1% above fees.

Library board members voted to renew liability insurance coverage through the City of Effingham for an increase of no more than 30%.  McKay said City officials are indicated the increase will actually be about 8%.

The Board discussed renewing a lease for a parking lot south across Market Avenue from the library for evening use, and appeared agreeable toward continuing to lease a nearby gravel area owned by Taylor Holdings for parking if Taylor decides to continue making the space available.

Board members heard that the Illinois Heartland Library System will be migrating to a new online catalog this spring.  McKay said the new catalog is expected to cost more, but she said the change should lead to a substantially improved product that should be much easier for patrons to use.  The Board also canceled their December meeting so agreed to pay their December bills, and heard that the library will hold staff training on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January with the Charleston Carnegie Library joining in.