1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD APRIL 16, 1997 MINUTES The Paris Public Library Advisory Board met in regular session Wednesday, April 16, 1997, in the Texas History Room at 4 PM with Chairman Beth Shelton presiding. In attendance were Jackie Alsobrook, Virginia Gibbs, Rogene Patterson, Joe Rex, and Secretary, Frances Ellis. Absent were Toni Dorman, Ralph Rodgers, and Keitt Wood. Library Director, Beverly Lewis, and Friends of the Library President, Catharine Browning attended. The March 19, 1997, Minutes were approved as distributed. Ms. Lewis reported that expenditures for the first five months of the fiscal year were on target. She advised that for the first half of the fiscal year the report distributed showed expenditures of 50.031 % which were also on target. The statistical report was distributed and indicated the March 1997 increase over the same month last year was 17 %. It also indicated the circulation for the first half of the year had increased 16% over the same period last year and 141,99980 items had checked out. There was also an increase in reference assistance, reserve requests filled, memorials and gifts received, and attendance at children's programs. 993 new books, videos, audio books and music cassettes were added to the collection in March. Ms. Lewis advised the book robot is named "Billy Book ", instead of "Billy the Book ". He made an impressive debut April 14 at the "Storytime Celebration" when he greeted the First Lady of Texas Laura Bush and twenty -nine 1st, 2" and 3rd grade students from Lamar County who are the top Accelerated Readers. Mrs. Bush read an award winning story and the program also included a puppet show, poem, and classic story. Ms. Lewis described the National Library Week activities noted on the flyer she distributed and said to date all have been very successful. Over one - hundred participated in the Literacy Parade Saturday, April 12 and nearly that many attended the special presentation by celebrated children's author Bill Martin in the Library that afternoon. More than 500 guests attended the luncheon Monday when Mrs. Bush gave a talk about family literacy. Lamar County schools are scheduled to visit the Library every week through the end of the semester because the goal of the Library and the Lamar County Reading Council is that every elementary school student in the county will have a library card before summer vacation.