Highlights:

Friends Day at CLA
1998 Annual Meeting Minutes
President's Report
1999 Annual Meeting agenda
Ontario Report
From the editor
News forum
 

FRIENDS DAY AT CLA – SAT. 19TH JUNE, 1999  9AM – 2PM
METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE

THIS YEAR’S CLA CONFERENCE THEME IS “FACING THE CHALLENGES: A PRACTICAL
 SURVIVAL GUIDE” - FRIENDS ARE PART OF THE ANSWER – COME AND LEARN HOW TO HELP YOUR LIBRARY IN THE COMING MILLENNIUM!

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOTH 413 – EXHIBITION HALL

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BAGS SPONSORED BY PACKAGING ALTERNATIVES
FRIENDS CANADIAN BUTTONS SPONSORED BY GROLIER EDUCATIONAL
FRIENDS BOOK MARKS SPONSORED BY WATTERS MARKETING

FRIENDS DAY SPONSORED BY RANDOM HOUSE OF CANADA

(36 in attendance)

1) Formation of the National Association, Friends of Canadian Libraries.  Chair: Valerie Ethier Friends of the Greater Victoria Public Library,  introduced the following speakers who were part of the Steering
Committee established in June 1997 at the First Friends Day  at the CLA in Ottawa.
-  Tom Foulkes, Trustee, Nepean Public Library spoke on the background to the formation of FOCAL, the work of the Steering Committee and the process of drafting the constitution and bylaws.
- Gary Archibald, CLTA and Karen Harrison, Past President of CLA gave an overview of the constitution and bylaws.
- Val Marshall, Friends of the Ajax Public Library, announced the names of the Board of Directors for a term of two years with half the initial board serving for three years.

THE ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS – THE ROLE OF A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION was chaired by Sylvia Teasdale, Nepean Public Library.  The following priorities and recommendations were made:

1) Membership – Increase membership with reciprocal membership in other organizations.  Establish a fee structure.  Benefits of membership in FOCAL to act as a clearing house, coordinate and facilitate education and resources.  Nominating committee for the future with elections by mail ballot. The constitution  and bylaws to reflect a national perspective.  Develop a strong link with CLA.  Clarify roles of CLTA and Friends.  Delegate responsibility from executive to others to use their expertise.  Identify a Provincial location for the mid-term meeting.

2) Advocacy – CLTA and Friends have a common ground. Training in Advocacy and media relations is important.

3) Communications –  FOCAL to build a communications network both internally and externally.  All types of libraries to be included.  Suggest a Communications Director.

FRIENDS EXECUTIVE AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President – Val Marshall – Friends of the Ajax Public Library
Vice-President – Jami Van Haaften – Friends of the Sudbury Public Library
Secretary – Ken Sparling – Toronto Public Library – North York
Treasurer – Tom Foulkes – now Treasurer of the Smiths Falls Friends of the Library
Directors: Western Canada – Lee Teal, Sooke, BC
                  Prairies – Nicholas Spillios, Friends of the Edmonton Public Library
                  Central Canada – Dianne Neitzel, Friends of the Nepean Public Library
                                              Eric Moore, Friends of the Ottawa Public Library
                  Atlantic Canada – Yvonne Le Blanc,  Friends of the Clare Public Library, Nova Scotia
CLTA Representative: Gary Archibald, Western Counties Regional Library
CAPL Representative – Sylvia Teasdale, Nepean Public Library
CLA Representative – Michael Burris, Vancouver.
  BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE 1998 ANNUAL MEETING

MEMBERSHIP: Stands at 95 members.  Membership fees were approved by the Executive. (See March 1999 edition of FOCAL POINT).

SPONSORSHIP:  Random House of Canada, McClelland and Stewart, Grolier,  The Library Depot – Library Consulting Services, Novello Café, Packaging Alternatives, Tundra Books, Watters Marketing and the Canadian Library Association, the Ontario Library Association and Southern Ontario Library Service.

BYLAWS AND CONSTITUTION: Amendments to our Bylaws and Constitution can be found on our website and will be presented at the AGM by Tom Foulkes.

INCORPORATION & APPLICATION FOR CHARITABLE STATUS: Thanks to our Treasurer, Tom Foulkes, FOCAL is incorporated and we have applied for Charitable through the Charities Division of Revenue Canada.

ADVOCACY & EDUCATION: Thanks to support from many people in the library world, relevant programs were presented at Friends Day at OLA in January, plus more great topics for Friends Day at CLA.

COMMUNICATIONS:  FOCAL POINT was issued in September, November and March with a special Show Edition for OLA in January.  Vice-President, Jami Van Haaften, has the Friends Website up and running –  www.cyberbeach.net/~vanhaaft/focal.htm   she has the domain name now approved –  www.friendsoflibraries.ca –  Southern Ontario Library Service has generously agreed to host our domain.  Jami has also developed a “listserv” for members to communicate. Our website is also linked to many others including Friends of Libraries USA. Other Friends groups and our sponsors.  Members of the executive have also been active in the promotion of FOCAL visiting Friends Groups, providing information on starting Friends Groups (Thanks to the Kit from Terry Sarazen of SOLS), samples of constitutions, etc.  Nancy  Goodman of SOLS is keeping Ontario Libraries up-to-date in the SIGNAL, we’ve been featured in FELICITER, the CLA magazine and promoted with a great write-up in Quill and Quire.

PRESIDENT’ S REPORT

Thanks to the Executive and Directors, our Friends Members and Sponsors, Friends of Canadian Libraries has made incredible progress in it’s first year.  With growing membership, incorporation, a fantastic  website and listserv – thanks to the expertise of Jami Van Haaften, plus educational and social programs and great networking through Focal Point.

Still, there’s much work to be done in the coming year.  FOCAL POINT will have a more professional look thanks to Don Mills, Ingrid Dalton and the Mississauga Public Library.  Through the generous sponsorship from SOLS, our website will be up and running under our domain name – www.friendsoflibraries.ca – (Watch for our new bookmarks sponsored by Watters Marketing advertising our site!)  We need to increase our membership and encourage all Friends groups to join, including educational and special collections, as well as associations and individuals.  For $25 a year, you can have your own copy of our newsletter. FOCAL is also collecting data on the numbers of Friends Groups, their members and activities so that we can demonstrate a strong national voice in the promotion of Canadian Libraries. We also need input from all Friends Groups so we can boost our networking in FOCAL POINT.

FRIENDS GIFT SHOPS are springing up in libraries and FOCAL is working to give our members access to great product.  The Library Depot has produced a gift catalogue.(copy with this newsletter).  They are also handling the warehousing of the Khalsa Retrospective posters. (See the order form).  Order forms will also be available for the Booklovers Diaries for 2000. McClelland and Stewart have produced a special Canadian Trivia Game – Come and play the game at our booth and buy your supply at a discount price.

FOCAL needs your expertise.  If you have special programs or skills, please volunteer.  CLA will be in
Edmonton for June 2000  - a great venue for another Friends Day  and our Annual Meeting.  Your help is needed!

FRIENDS OF LIBRARIES WORKING WITH TRUSTEES AND ADMINISTRATION TO
PROMOTE  THE DEVELOPMENT OF EXCELLENT LIBRARY SERVICE FOR ALL CANADIANS

Val Marshall, President.

1)  WELCOME BY PRESIDENT VAL MARSHALL –GRACE & TOAST TO THE QUEEN
      INTRODUCTION OF FOCAL    EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTORS. INTRODUCTION OF
     SPONSORS
2) MINUTES OF THE INAUGURAL MEETING – 20TH JUNE 1998
3) BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
4) PRESIDENTS REPORT
5) TREASURERS REPORT – TOM FOULKES –
     PLUS  AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION/BYLAWS
6) NEW BUSINESS – FRIENDS OF THE YEAR AWARDS – DIANNE NEITZEL AND NANCY GOODMAN.

ADJOURNMENT

ONTARIO REPORT – DIANNE NEITZEL
Attended CLA in Victoria, B.C. June 98 and also OLA in Toronto in January 99.  A great opportunity to network, share ideas and sell the idea of membership in FOCAL to new members.  Participated in manning the FOCAL booth on Friday.

Presented some initial ideas and structure on the introduction of FOCAL Awards to the Executive at OLA in Toronto in January.  Along with Nancy Goodman of the Ottawa Friends have worked on and will present to the Executive the details prior to CLA in June.  This information will subsequently be introduced to the Friends attending CLA starting out as a Y2K project and expanding in the future.  The sponsor has not yet been solidified, but the first right of refusal is Random House.  Received some information from Sandy Dolnick of FOLUSA on their selection criteria that we may be able to adapt for use with our process.

I will be speaking at the West Carleton Friends AGM in May.  Another great opportunity to share ideas and pitch FOCAL.
Dianne Neitzel.

FROM THE EDITOR…….Photocopy this issue and give it to your members, especially the CLA program and Registration Form.  Another great day for a bargain price thanks to our sponsors.

FRIENDS are also invited to join the CLTA and CAPL on Friday night, 18th June, for a special reception at the top of the CN Tower!  Great views and great Friends.  (Session 350 on your Registration Form).  If you’re in the mood for dancing after our Friends Day, sign up for a spectacular evening at the Royal York Hotel. (Session 428).

Marketing Friends Groups – Our Treasurer, Tom, has come up with yet another great idea!  We know how to form Friends Groups (thanks to Terry Sarazens’s great kits), but how do we encourage people to join and participate..the care...the hands on help that some groups need.

AM I A FRIEND?  - Because my library needs me
                                          It makes me feel good
                                         It gives me the satisfaction of contributing in a tangible way to
                                         my  community.

CAN YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION?  GIVE US YOUR IDEAS – EITHER IN WRITING – FAXES – ON THE LISTSERV OR AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.  Then FOCAL can put together a marketing sheet to help Friends groups in the smaller communities.

INITIATING A FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY GROUP – This great publication from the Southern Ontario Library Service has just been updated and is available both in English and French.  (The order forms are included with this newsletter).  The booklet explores the role of Friends of the Library, their activities and how to get started, together with sample Constitutions and Bylaws, newsletters and selected Web Sites.  There is even a chapter on Revitalizing a Friends Group.  SOLS has already distributed many copies of this great publication free of charge.  However, the demand for both English and French publication has grown to the point where they must charge a nominal sum.  Thanks to Terry Sarazen from SOLS for an excellent booklet.  Every Friends group will want at least one copy!

KHALSA RETROSPECTIVE POSTERS – from Tundra Books.  Coloured pictures depicting the large posters are also enclosed with this newsletter.  Be sure to complete the order form on the reverse.  Great poster for your Friends Group to sell, or even to donate to the Children’s Library.  Plus the paperback book, “How Pizza Came to Our Town” is available at a 40% discount.

FRIENDS ACROSS CANADA…...Jami Van Haaften had a booth at the Ontario Library North Spring Conference in Sudbury at the end of April – With Nancy Thurston, she will be presenting at the Ontario
Library Technician’s Association Perspectives ‘99 Conference in Sudbury 13th May to 16th May.  Val
Marshall has spread the Friend’s Word at the Quebec Library Association in Montreal, plus the Annual Meetings of Belleville Friends of the Library and the Kingston-Frontenac Friends, the Nova Scotia
Provincial Association —–plus the British Library Convention in June.

PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP..THE “RED” DOT IS A REMINDER.  THANKS TO MISSISSAUGA FRIENDS FOR NOT ONLY RENEWING THEIR MEMBERSHIP IN FOCAL – BUT ALSO FOR SENDING A DONATION OF $200.00.
 
 

...FRIENDS OF THE NEPEAN LIBRARY raised a whopping $7, 300  in two days at their mammoth book sale. They even made arrangements to donate the “left-overs”……

.MOOSE JAW FRIENDS’ mandate is “A Chance to Enhance”. Their present fundraising goal is $20,000 for audio-visual materials for their library adult department.  There annual “jig-saw puzzle and used book sale raised over $800.  “Town N’ Country Mall” again chose the Friends to be one of the charitable organizations for the
“Christmoose Shopping contest”.  They promote the Friends with fridge magnets to keep the their name in view and hold their annual meeting at noon along with dessert and coffee!…

..THUNDER BAY FRIENDS continue with “Community Bingo” events and two “Used Bookstores”.. A busy, busy library with many corporate sponsors and community partners.. plus Reading Clubs, Internet Classes, a “Novel Lunch Bunch” and a “Writer’s Circle”.

FRIENDS OF THE OTTAWA PUBLIC LIBRARY  have initiated their Millennium Project -”Friends 2001 and are of to a flying start with $1,500 already in donations. Their appeal for new members – with visits to Branches – has resulted in many new friends!…

...STRATHCONA COUNTY LIBRARY FRIENDS in Alberta assisted with “Patron Appreciation Day” at the library and hosted an  “Open House” in the front lobby of the library.  Members assisted with a User Survey by handing out the surveys at the library, worked the Registration Desks at the Home Based Business Trade Fair as well as running their booksale and helping with the library’s major fundraiser – Bill Richardson at Festival Place – All great ways to create awareness in the community!….

BELLEVILLE FRIENDS has been in operation since 1996 with members and activities steadily growing.  Arts and Crafts Shows, Raffles, Book Sales, Speakers, Library Bags and Grocery Receipts.  Their “Titanic Dinner in 1998 was a tremendous success and brought the community’s attention to the style of life in 1912.  It happened at exactly the right time and was an instant hit.  All tickets were sold in record time.  Author, Rick Archbold, who wrote the “Last Dinner on the Titanic” recalled the fateful evening in April 1912 and the culinary feats that were popular.  To-date, the Friends have raised $13,000.  With Belleville’s plans to move the library and also create a cultural centre, their 99 members are going to be busy!

AJAX FRIENDS held a “McLibrary Day” in May.  McDonalds in Ajax printed 18,000 cards and posters for the library branches and when these were presented at the restaurants in town on the scheduled evening, 15% of the food bill was donated back to the Friends.  Friends enjoyed “working” a shift at Mcdonalds and handing out pamphlets and buttons – “We Love our Library”.

 COBOURG FRIENDS are holding their spring Book Sale on Saturday, 29th May.  Their twice-yearly book sales are a major source of their funding.  Their Membership Drive is starting at the same time with some special benefits just for Friends.  Thursday evening talks are planned for June and July.  Speakers will include Eric Winter, Cobourg’s Poet Laureate and Mike Walsh, new publisher of the Cobourg Daily Star.