Annual Business Meeting & Dinner, October 12, 2011

Minutes

• Annual_Mtg_Minutes_2011.pdf

Summary of Attendance

The attendance report was given by Pioneer Library System trustee Carolyn Meisel: 158 people attended the meeting, representing 34 member libraries;
and 67 library trustees were present.

Election of PLS Trustee

Mary Reagan, Warsaw Library trustee, on behalf of the Wyoming County Library Advisory Council, nominated Carolyn Lyons to serve a 5-year term
beginning January 1, 2012. With no other nominations from the floor, the president declared the nominations closed. Motion carried with no opposition.

Harry Givelber, Geneva Library trustee, on behalf of the Central Library board of trustees, nominated Joanna Whelan to serve a 5-year term beginning
January 1, 2012. With no other nominations from the floor, the president declared the nominations closed. Motion carried with no opposition.

Remarks by the System Director

Executive Director Cassie Guthrie shared her story of working as a reference librarian in the Westchester Library and helping a woman who not only needed information, but empathy and understanding. Cassie spoke about libraries as being in the people business. Although libraries are facing many challenges and charting a course for the future, to quote from a SUNY librarian, “it‘s a great time to be a librarian. Everything we do matters.”
Cassie expressed being grateful for the strong partnership that exists between the 42 member libraries and the system, and for the good work of the system staff.

Assistant Director's Remarks

Cassie introduced Pioneer Library System Assistant Director, Betsy Morris. Using props to illustrate the progression of technology used in libraries, Betsy spoke about some of the ways technology has enhanced the way libraries provide services to their patrons.

Awards

Pioneer Awards:

• 2011 Library Director of the Year – given for significant achievement in providing improved library services
  to a community or region – awarded to Carol Shama, Wood Library.
• 2011 Library Trustee of the Year – for significant contribution to the improvement or development of library service,
  which exceeds normal expectations of trustees – awarded to Barbara Hamlin, Wood Library.
• 2011 Library Advocate of the Year – given to an individual who makes a significant or unique contribution
  to promote library visibility and relevancy – Barbara Henry.

Ludlum-Holroyd (Livingston County Award): presented by Renate Goff to Kathleen Brown

Keynote - Author Anne Panning

Anne shared 4 short stories of how libraries have fit in her life, no matter where she lived. She finds libraries to be open, tolerant, comforting, providing books to escape into and providing a window to other worlds. She then read the first chapter from her new book Butter to be published November 2012.

Photos

• Anne-Cassie_-_Copy.JPG: