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Retired Library Staff Interest Group Meeting Notes 11-9-07

Minutes, Meeting of November 9, 2007

The meeting was called to order by Ron Frommeyer, Convener, at 11:00 AM

Present: MaryAnne Bucher; Cristina Dieffenbach; Ron Frommeyer; Gerry Williams; JoAnne

Young; Allison Rolfes, SWON Libraries; Miriam McKenney, PLCH, Guest.

 

The first item of business was a presentation by Miriam McKenney, Manager, Homework Central at the Main Library of The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. This is a new Department at the Main Library and will open the second week of January, 2008. Homework Central is a place where students K through 12 can drop in and do their homework in a quiet study space independently or with the help of a volunteer. Miriam indicated this program is tied into the America Reads Tutor Program.

Miriam has approached the Retired Library Staff Interest Group to ask for volunteers to help staff Homework Central due to the skills library staff have doing research, reference, use of online databases, etc. Those interested in volunteering should be able to commit a minimum of two (2) hours a week to Homework Central.

Potential volunteers are also being recruited from other sources in Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati, e.g., retired teachers, retired engineers, businessmen, lawyers, etc.

Homework Central will have 10 new computers equipped with Microsoft Office.

Anyone interested in volunteering to help out in this exciting new Department at PLCH should contact Miriam at: 513-369-3121 or by e-mail at Miriam.McKenney@CincinnatiLibrary.org.

Miriam did indicate that there are plans to expand this program to the PLCH Branches.

After discussion among the group and input from Allison Rolfes it was agreed that SWON Libraries would help publicize the need for volunteers for this new program by using the SWON Libraries Listserv and through announcements at the SWON Libraries Directors Council meetings. Our Interest Group members should also publicize this new venture by using word of mouth among those we know who are retired or who are planning to retire

After Miriam left the meeting there was discussion about the name of this Interest Group. It was agreed by all present that the name should be changed from “Retired Librarians Interest Group” to “Retired Library Staff Interest Group” in order to encompass all library staff who have retired or are considering retirement.

Ron Frommeyer told the Group about a new publication: What Color Is Your Parachute? For Retirement: Planning Now For the Life You Want by Richard N. Bolles and John E. Nelson. Published by Ten Speed Press, P.O. Box 7123, Berkeley, CA 94707, c2007. This is a very good book to read or reference for anyone planning to retire or who has just retired.

There was quite a bit of discussion about workshops that could be sponsored by the Retired Library Staff Interest Group through SWON Libraries.

Some possibilities that were offered for consideration are:

Ron knows the President of a Financial Planning Company (Haire Bohmer Wealth Management Group located in West Chester, Ohio). This company does a lot of financial planning with retirees and those planning for retirement including the University of Cincinnati and The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. They are well versed in all retirement systems: TIAA/CREF; STRS; OPERS etc.

It was agreed that Ron will ask David Haire, President of this Group, if he or one of his financial planners would be willing to conduct a Financial Planning for Retirement workshop sometime in Spring, 2008 through SWON Libraries. If David is agreeable to do a workshop Allison will then make arrangements with him or one of his financial planners to finalize the date, time, location, etc., for the workshop.

JoAnne mentioned that regarding part-time work for retired library staff a good idea would be for SWON Libraries to publicize any Job Fairs that might be offered in our area that would emphasize part-time work. If anyone in our Interest Group becomes aware of any such Job Fairs please let Allison know so that she can get the word out to our Interest Group and other interested library staff, especially those considering retirement.

Plans are to continue to have free registration for those attending meetings of the Retired Library Staff Interest Group.

The Retired Library Staff Interest Group meeting closed at 1:00 PM with lunch at the SWON Libraries office. Discussion during lunch centered on what each member is doing (traveling, volunteering, etc.) during their retirement years.

Ron Frommeyer

Convener

NOTE: In light of the Interest Group’s discussion about volunteer work, please see the Monday, November 26, 2007 edition of The Cincinnati Enquirer, the front page article: Need doesn’t end with holidays. All-year helpers are hard to find. The article discusses doing volunteer work. On page A4 where the article is continued, there is a two column list of Volunteer Opportunities in the Greater Cincinnati Area.