FOL Executive Board Q3 Meeting – July 18, 2026 – Woodstock Library

Sarah Reed called the meeting to order at 1:12 pm.

Executive Board members/members in attendance:  
Kyle Bennett
Pat Bull
Amy Brown
Dianna Gunter
Joan Hill
Tom Hill
Alexia Pistachio
Sarah Reed
Kara Rumble
Judi Smith
John Sylvester

FOL executive board members not in attendance: Heather Thorne, Jessy Diaz, Susan Stanton, Darlene Odenwald, Cathy Bridges, Parker Branch and Abbi Branch

Tom made a motion to approve the minutes from April 18, 2026, motion seconded and motion approved. 

Treasurer’s Report: Tom Hill
Through June deposits, $22,990.74, FOL total expenses (Jan-Jun 2026): $3,315.70; as of 7/1, FOL fund balance is $11,515.89; as of 7/3 total General Fund Balance (checking account) was $18,089.53.

Tom made motion that FOL distribute a total of $11,500 to the five Libraries – Kyle seconded the motion, motion passed.

Question to Tom about what expenses are spent for - $3,315 (year to date). These expenses are for: Square Terminal, eBay shipping expenses, materials for shipping; speakers, postcards and postage for annual meeting, Square Weebly renewal, Speaker Honorarium, P. O. Box renewal, Susan White Award Plaque, Art Competition Awards, Vista Print Business cards, 

Book Sales thru week of July 1, 2026

Woodstock Library Book Sales
7,696.08

Hickory Flat Library Book Sales
7,311.63

eBay Book Sales
2,390.62

  Total:
17,398.33

Discussion on 10 cent books. No Longer Bound (nonprofit) are given FOL’s 10 cent books when the determination is made it’s time for FOL to dispose of them – usually after book sales. FOL tends to keep the fiction. Non-fiction usually donated first to NLBB because these books are not always relevant.
When FOL board members sort donations, they should hang on to history related books (nonfiction). 

Discussion held on the need to (1) provide guidelines on sorting the donated books and (2) the need to review the sign-up process when FOL board members sort books – have written instructions, and perhaps a log in the FOL work room to notate when you sorted – date/time/name.

Possible schedule for sorting (which should have a sign-up sheet) Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday – sort donations – at Woodstock Library and Hickory Flat Library.

BETA used at set-up time and help take down after the sale.

Director’s Report – Kara Rumble (see handout) 
Thanks for presence events hype nights, fishing for books; events supported by FOL members. Kara provided handout and touched on strategic Plan and Reinhardt University Sequoyah Spot. Highlights from the branches

Membership Report – Alexia Pistachio
12 new members this year; 154 total number of members.

Grant Report – John Sylvester
Have not received or applied for grants this quarter.

New Business – Sarah Reed
Cherokee County Highschool Art Competition 
High Schools coordinate competition and Libraries determine where to host the art. Most judges are trained/professional in art. Highschool competition only. Sarah will secure the dates when the art will be displayed to include the info in the FOL newsletter. 

Need an official vote for FOL to approve $1,000 for this endeavor; 2027 for the Commissioner Art Competition (at the Buzz community center – by Veterans Park); motion made and approved. The art will be displayed for three weeks at the Rose Creek, RT Jones and Woodstock libraries.

Discussion was held on how to estimate the number of visitors to the “live sales” at Woodstock and Hickory Flat libraries. Possible ways – include # of credit cards and cash sales (this last book sale, “tick marks” were made for those using cash). Do this for 3 months (July Aug Sept) at Woodstock and then determine the same for the Hickory Flat book sales. 

Tom: average per patron – Hickory Flat: $6.10 on credit cards $7.97 per patron at Woodstock - $8.04 per patron at Woodstock cash; divide by patrons; we are trying to track “live” sales. The library asked the question about FOL sales to include in their numbers for event happenings at the libraries. This will help justify numbers using the library room being used as FOL bookstore.

Looking at dates for Hickory Flat sale – September break for school (21-25) – need help with monthly sale. Weekend after 25th or next weekend; Lisa (librarian at Hickory Flat) asked to use community room – use 4-6 tables; sale on 26th. Better plan to have it after the break – which would be the 26. Set up Friday, sale 9/26 set up on 9/25.

eBay (Sarah) question asked as to what kind of things sale on eBay – 209 sales since Dec 2025. Sarah shared examples of what has been sold on eBay.

Sarah: On day of the Woodstock Library FOL sales, Beta Kids (Highschool) arrive around 4:00 or before:  3-5 need adult present at the bookstore; discussion was held on needing more help on Thursday set up.

Sarah: Joey (Woodstock librarian) asked about Better World Books; need to ask Kara about if we can piggy back on their Better World Books that the library uses – for those boxes (to be shipped to Better World Books) that don’t fill with the library books - FOL could help add to the SRLS Better World Books.

Tom: we run ten cent books through two sales before disposing of them. 

Meeting adjourned at 3:13 pm.