FOSL Meeting Report
February 2024

Meeting Details

Location: Sumas Library, Sumas WA
Date: Feb 5, 2024 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Frequency: Monthly
Treats: Garlic butter pull apart rolls
Attendees:
- Meg, president
- Brett, acting secretary
- Lizette
- Helen
- Sarah
- Paul
- Erin
- Nancy
- Samantha
- Deanna
- Jessica
- Judy
- Maria
- Gina
- Bruce

Dates are tentative

Current balance: $5,482
Funds were spent on Cozy Winter Week for -$62 and reimbursement for Community Christmas dinner fund for -$75
Funds were gained from the Wet Bake Sale and city deposit reimbursement for +$270 total

Cedar Weaving on Feb 24 is packed! All spots are resevered with a large waiting list
Whatcom Reads Red Paint
Sumas Library is hiring a Public Services Assistant. Good luck on the advanced degree Christine!

Current FOSL president Meg relinquishes power to upcoming FOSL president Nancy. Anticipated to be a peaceful transition.
Monthly FOSL meetings now occuring on the first Monday of each month to minimize overlap with city meetings. We had multiple members who have been unable to attend in past months now able to attend due to this change.

Upcoming “Cozy Winter Week” has been rebranded to “Patron Appreciation Week” to celebrate the upcoming 1 year anniversary of reopening the Sumas Library (Feb 15)
- Treats for patrons being made by Head Baker Sarah
Winter decorations need to be taken down, likely following the next book club meeting
Suggestion to buy the library a light for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) light therapy. Light would stay in library for patron use (not to be checked out).
- starting with 1 light purchase to see if more makes sense
- initial exploration of models to take place, no purchasing request yet
- “Get your happy moment at the library!”
April will be packed with events, including a youth movie night (Marcel the Shell), Spring Cleaning bingo not (cleaning supplies “potluck”), and community clean up day
A new FOSL website is in development and temporarily available at fosl.crossinguard.dev. Send any feedback to Brett.
- website hosting is free with anticipated cost for a custom domain (e.g., friendsofthesumaslibrary.org) around $15/yr

National Library Week 2024 takes place from Apr 7 - 13 and is themed “Read, Set, Library!”
How to gether community at the library to increase use in checkouts, club participation, services, etc.
- Increase social media reach with other local Whatcom/Sumas Facebook groups for cross promotion
- Create community postcard with library info on one side and a coloring contest on the back
- Create more community events to draw people in
- Contact schools for walking trips to the library, coordinate through school librarian or teacher mail boxes with a brochure
Library Popcorn: What does the library bring to you?
- community
- motivation
- safe place
- digital content
- summer ac
- try before you buy media
- multimedia
- staff is awesome
- print services
- book club
- community leader meet & greet
- puppet house
- swing dancing
- playground
- cornhole
- discovery without an algormithm
February is “Love Your Library” month. Submit book lists, favorite memories, interact with Library and FOSL social media on Facebook
Community clean up day on Apr 6