Friends of Washoe County Library

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Friends by the Numbers
Mission Statement
2010 Leadership Group
2011 Leadership Group
Life Members

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2010 Annual Report

Washoe Library Supporters Rise Again to the Occasion

Friends of Washoe County Libray suffered with the Washoe County Library System through a challenging year, but when the numbers were in for calendar 2010, the 30-year-old Nevada non-profit put yet another $100,000 back into the system it was created to support.

Slower but still strong book sales and much-appreciated dues support led the way, backed by income from our Second Century Endowment Fund and activities at the Northwest Reno Library's Secondhand Prose book and gifts store.

Based on requests from Library Management, the result was $15,000 designated for the Programming Pool, $11,000 for Technology, $5,000 for Marketing, and the remaining $69,000 for Library materials.

Earlier, $16,000 from the Friends 001 Campaign was re-allocated for materials and equipment.

While the Library budget for materials was diminished as further cuts were made, FWCL allocations came to the rescue. Continuation of programs so popular in branches throughout the System was made possible by money injected by Friends.

One of the more obvious contributions was Friends participation in the Library's expanded public internet connections. Those connections had been on DSL lines, and download and capacity put a severe strain on computer users. FWCL donated $12,500 to help with the new Charter program that increased capacity by some 17 times and allows concurrent surfing, email and downloading on all the PCs on the public network.

The expansion was done at Spanish Springs, Sierra View, Sparks, South Valleys, Downtown Reno, and Northwest Reno branches.

Following election of Board members during the 2009 annual meeting and selection of officers during the traditional December planning session, Directors moved in January to align terms with amended bylaws that specified that approximately one half the Board would be elected each year, serving now on a calendar year basis. By prior agreement, terms were drawn by lot with the following results:

Two-year terms, through December 2011 -- Treasurer Lois Crocker, Vice President Lucina Moses, President Len Crocker, and Directors Martha Gould and Kathy McLaughlin.

One-year terms, through December 2010 -- Secretary Linda Sanderson and Directors Betty Watts, Vivian "Chickie" Roberts, Mary Jones, and Terry Kirschenheiter. Sunny Solomon was named to fill
the vacancy created by resignation of Director Kathy McLaughlin.

Officers and Directors were bonded as part of Administrative updates.

In a move to become better known throughout the community, Friends added membership in Truckee Meadows Tomorrow and the Friends of Nevada Libraries organizations to its long-standing
affiliation with a division of the American Library Association.

FWCL President Lucina Lea Moses represents the group on the Citizens Advisory Committee on the Future of the Washoe County Library, where Board member and former Library Director Martha
Gould is an at-large representative.

Friends Directors earned 100 percent Board Giving recognition from the Community Foundation of Western Nevada, as every Board member contributed financially, in addition to volunteer time. We took part in a very successful Senior Adventures Transit
Fair staged by the Regional Transportation Commission at its sparkling, new Centennial Plaza on Sparks' Victorian Avenue. Our color photos of Washoe County Library Branches served by RTC buses, and the routes that reach them, drew applause from RTC.
We'll be there again on May 24 this year, in partnership with the Library for a joint display, rather than separate, adjoining setups.

Friends by the numbers

December 2010 Statementof Financial Position
Assets    
          Current Assetts    
Cash & Equivalents   $86,768
Inventory   3,067
Prepaid expenses   5,214
          Total current assets   $95,049
          Property & Equipment    
Furniture/office equipment   $23,897
          (less accumulated depreciation)   (14,208)
          Net property & equipment   $9,688
          Other assets    
          Refundable deposits    
          Investments:    
          Temporarily restricted funds $181,765  
          Permanently restricted funds 355,000  
               Accrued interest income 1,787  
               Adjustment to market value 413  
          Total investments   $538,965
          Total other assets   541,415
          Total assets   $646,152
Net Assets    
          Net Assets    
               Designated   $19,962
               Undesignated   86,725
          Temporarily restricted   184,465
          Permanently restricted   355,000
          Total net assets   $646,142

Year-end membership count: 976 (includes some 2009 with update pending). New memberships logged before year-end are led by two at $750 level and six at $500 level.

Volunteer hours worked: Booksale 9,353; Secondhand Prose 2,544; Administration 711; total 12,608.

Mission Statement

Friends members work actively to strengthen public libraries in Washoe County. Backed by a belief that libraries are uniquely democratic, they promote, advocate for and seek funding for libraries. Through its projects, Friends strives to give children an educational head start, encourage literacy, and foster lifelong learning and recreation for adults.

The 2010 Leadership Group

The 2011 Leadership Group

Life Members