FOSL AGM 2018 – 11th September, 7.30pm Stirchley Library
Present: Kerry, Jess, Mark, Theresa, Matt, Andrew, Sandra, Rosie, Alison, Jo, Phil
Apologies: Kate, Cllr Mary Locke, Laura, Rebecca, Liz Parkes
Welcome & Introductions
Current Committee:
Theresa – Chair
Mark – Treasurer
Jessie – Projects
Kerry – Secretary
Successes / achievements over last 12 months
We applied for and was successful in getting funding from the Local Innovation Fund to buy a self service machine, some equipment., and to hire a Volunteer Coordinator
More or less the entire library stock has been tagged.
Volunteer network coordinator – Matt Andrews
Monthly code club – run by Mark & Neil, third Saturday of the month. Post Jan there will be tablets available – and we hope that the group can grow, with increased publicity as the group will be able to handle more people.
Successful in S106 funding, towards library repairs. The council will pay for the boiler, and the S106 would hopefully nbe enough for the other repairs
Oct 2017 we joined last year’s fun palace, and we’ll be doing the same again this October
We’ve joined in the local Stirchley Community Market and Stirchley late summer bash.
Organised lots of craft sessions including last week’s Heritage Open Weekend – making clock faces to coincide with Stirchley History Group’s event.
We held an event with Kings Heath Action for Refugees.
Volunteer network
Matt Andrews – introduction. Helping to establish volunteer network, to make sure its self sustainable and complements (not replicates) the Stirchley Library service. Using the new kiosk, helping navigate the library, helping on FOSL events, volunteer presence to help library open over lunchtimes, trying evening openings, to make the library accessible to more local people. Also helping residents set up events at the library to expand the use of this important building. There’ll be more training sessions end of Sept and in Oct. Matt will provide ongoing support over the next few months. Making it sustainable so it supports itself and the library.
Q – what’s the relationship with the management of the library – volunteers will be FOSL volunteers, short term by MA, long term by FOSL, the library has its own volunteers. The library are supportive, because it makes the library accessible for more people – we’re the first library to work in this way in Birmingham. They help with craft sessions and reading groups – not library roles. We do not advocate volunteers running the library – we want to support the library staff.
We want the volunteers to also be champions of the library and encourage other people to use it.
The situation in Selly Oak – Touchbase Pears – children’s books only. A local library model that’s being tested. The FOSL committee very much want to keep the library open in this particular building. It’s open 7-7, it’s not necessarily better or worse, but a different model. A library is what the community makes of it – encouraging people to use it. Ideas of how to do that needs to come through the community too.
More residents in Stirchley responded to the consultation in Jan 2017 than any other areas.
Safety concerns – always more than one person. Minimum of three in the building – however the volunteers are not replacing the staff. Different processes for whatever the event / reason for being open / reason for needing volunteers are.
[email protected] – is the email address to contact Matt Andrews about the volunteer network.
Committee Roles
Thanks Kerry for her time. Standing down.
Chair, Theresa – Treseaser, Mark – Treasurer, Jessie – Projects, proposed by Sandra, seconded by Phil
Secretary – Rosie Boodell, Theresa propose, Matt seconded
Social Media – sharing social media role, Laura Killeen & Rebecca Shales, Theresa propose them joining the committee, Matt seconded
Advisor to the committee – Kate Andrews, volunteer for now / advisory capacity – committee member when Matt not in paid role.
Andrew, Theresa propose join committee, Rosie second
Treasurer’s Report
Two sources of income – fundraising last year, £170. LIF Bid, £20,000.
Public liability insurance we paid for by the cash fundraising.
Kiosk was £10,200
Bank account currently stands at: £8,100.
If the kiosk breaks down the maintenance is with the library service. It’s under warranntee at the moment.
Note – find out who is responsible for future service charges. TS speak to Liz
The money has to be spent within 12 months.
KHAR / Library of Sanctuary
We had an exhibition called Schools of Sanctuary, we held an event called Hope Not Help – how to communicate effectively the conversations to do with migration – this was our first evening event when the library would have otherwise been closed.
FOSL is working on becoming a Library of Sanctuary – refugees are initially housed at the Kensington Hotel, we’ll be partnering with KHAR’s welcome walks, showing people what local public services/areas there are available to them – we want to be able to offer temporary library cards. Making it so new people know where we are. A sheet for new people showing how we can help / being welcoming! Maybe a returns box at Kensington Hotel. Making library staff and volunteers aware of what those invisible barriers might be for those people to be able to access those services.
Birmingham is a city of sanctuary – https://birmingham.cityofsanctuary.org/
Update on the boiler
Asbestos was successfully removed. Acivico could only give an estimate for the cost of the boiler prior to the asbestos removal. Now the actual quote has come thropugh, it is three times their original quote. This will now be going out to tender rather than through Acivico. It will need to be a commercially registered boiler-person. Will Acivico be doing the other work? TS speak to Liz
Can English Heritage provide any weight with the council for it to go to a specialist contractor?
AOB
Sandra – the library has applied for listed building status.
Kate – suggestion to introduce a working area in the library – more tables – in the future tea and coffee on an honesty box system/ or suggested payment amount. There are a huge amount of people in stirchley that hot-desk in cafes, lots of small businesses and freelancers that would benefit with having an area to work, and would work in the library if it were open and if there were spaces. How can we make this happen? Circuit-breaker non-trip hazard plugs needed, permission from library. The suggestion of purchasing 2-3 tables like the Baths have with the wheels on (fold-down ones). – Theresa to speak to Liz.
How can Stirchley History Group and FOSL work together – and link with the Baths. Better use of the front porch area for displays? Better use and promotion of the local history collection. SHG & FOSL to attend each others meetings.