June 7, 2018
STEWART LIBRARY BUILDING PRESERVATION GROUP
Meeting Minutes
June 7, 2018
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM
Attending: Serena Bemis-Goodall, Bill Condon, Ken Dow, Jackie Emerson, Jamie Irving, Lee Kaufman, Donna Lambert, Jim Louder, Galen McKenney, Carl Smith, Linda Smith
Attending members of the group were sworn in by the Town Manager.
Other members should stop in to the Town Office to be sworn in.
The meeting minutes from May 3, 2018 were approved.
Financial Balances Report
Jim reported the following balances:
Funds reported by the Town Office as of 05/31/2018
Library Preservation Account (Donations) $66,623.01
Private Library Grants Account (Davis) $6,706.37
Maintenance Endowment payout from MCF $3,320.21
Funds at the Maine Community Foundation
Stewart Agency Fund $62,743.49
SLB Designated Maintenance Endowment $285,106.07
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Construction Subcommittee
Special Collections Room
The built-in dehumidifier is needed in the special collections room as called for in the original plan. The Construction Subcommittee will follow-up on having that installation done.
Construction priorities report (document attached)
The attached report was presented to the group. It lays out the priority of future construction projects. The consensus of the group is in agreement with the report.
Advisory Committee Subcommittee - Progress report (document attached)
A report on progress by this subcommittee was presented. It describes the purpose of the Stewart Library Building Advisory Committee, the rationale for its formation, a mission statement, and a chart of the proposed structure. The consensus of the group is in agreement with the development so far.
It was suggested that the "Community Representative" element on the chart be change to the "Stewart Library Building Preservation Group".
The formation subcommittee will continue the development of the proposal.
OTHER BUSINESS
The World In Your Library speakers program (document attached)
A description of The World in Your Library program was presented including details of the three featured speakers.
It was suggested that the programs be presented in the auditorium. A guided visit of the Private Library will be offered after the presentations.
Promotional materials will be sent out to the local papers and online media in the next few days.
Other Business
Serena has said that the town crew will help with mounting the remaining fund raising plaques. Ken will coordinate this with Serena.
It was suggested that the text panels should be mounted on the reader rails in the Private Library in time for the first speaker on June 21.
Next meeting – July 12, 2018 at 6:30 PM
Adjourn at 7:55 PM
Construction Priorities proposed by the Construction Subcommittee - June 2018
1. Complete payments to NOD - expect one more invoice of about $500.
This invoice will come in June.
2. Install the dehumidifier in the special collections room.
ABM says they can do this in the near future.
Get a price.
If OK, go ahead with the installation.
3. Complete the sewer line change over and finish the custodial closet.
Include plan for renovation of the Town Office (enlarge Manager's office and second exit).
Perhaps there could be some Town participation in the Town Office work.
Three possible approaches:
a. Move the sewer line, install the plumbing for, and complete the custodial closet.
b. Do the above (a.) plus install under-floor plumbing and capped Y's for the restroom fixtures.
This will require development of a plan for fixture count and future placement.
Consult with the Code Enforcement Officer to determine fixture count.
Stub in plumbing for the conference room sink and drain.
Perhaps leave the restroom portion of the floor unfinished.
c. Do the above (b.) plus install fixture flanges up to a finished floor. Finish the floor.
4. Upgrade the data network in the building.
Relocate network demarcation point in the new electrical room in the basement. ($5,100).
Improve and expand wireless network service on the first floor and extend it to the second floor.
Coordinate with the Maine School and Library Network, the internet service provider.
Install additional wired network outlets and service hardware throughout the building. ($2,500)
5. Renovate the west exit from the basement. Bring it up to code, improve security, energy efficiency.
Further developments in the basement will not be usable by the public until the exit meets code.
6. Install the restrooms and complete development of the ramp/hallway leading to the restrooms.
7. Renovations and improvements for secure storage areas and the Corinna Heritage Room.
Change over the heating system in the Town Office to improve efficiency and allow removal of duct work in the jail cell area.
Open the wall archway into the Corinna Heritage Room area.
Construct partitions for secure storage areas.
8. Construct the Conference Room and hallway improvements leading to it.
Advisory Group Formation Subcommittee - June 5, 2018
Purpose
This group is meeting to develop a proposal for the formation of an advisory board that will make recommendations to the Corinna Select Board regarding the maintenance, operation, use, and governance of the Stewart Library Building. The group will work to create clear communication among the stakeholders, and to clarify roles and responsibilities.
Rationale for forming the Stewart Library Building Advisory Group
- The Stewart Library Building is an important town asset, an architectural and historic treasure, and a multi-use facility central to the civic and cultural life of Corinna.
- The building has unique and complex maintenance, operational, and preservation requirements.
- The Stewart Library Building Advisory Group will act as a support service, making informed recommendations to the Town of Corinna Select Board.
- The Group will provide a consistent communication channel to the SB, representing the various stake holders who have hands-on experience with the building and programs.
- The reputation of the Building, the Town and the Select Board will be enhanced by decision making based on informed recommendations.
Mission Statement
The Stewart Library Building Advisory Group will provide the Town of Corinna Select Board with information and recommendations for the coordinated governance, use, operation, maintenance, preservation, and promotion of the Stewart Library Building. The group will recommend strategies to ensure that it remains usable and sustainable while preserving it's architectural and historical integrity and support for Levi Stewart's vision of the building as a cultural center for the community.
The Levi M. Stewart Private Library Museum, Corinna, Maine
Presents
The World in Your Library
From the Maine Humanities Council in partnership with the Margaret Chase Smith Foundation
Funded by The Betterment Fund, The Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust, and
The National Endowment for the Humanities
A speaker series of high-quality, hour-long presentations by well-known regional experts
focused on topics of local interest and wide-ranging scope.
FREE ADMISSION
Stewart Library Building, 8 Levi Stewart Drive, Corinna, ME 04928
The Civil War - Abraham Lincoln's High-Wire Act
The grand strategy of the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln's path to the emancipation of slaves.
Thursday, June 21, 2018 at 6:00 PM
Patrick Rael - Professor of History, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine
Patrick Rael is a specialist in African-American history and the author of numerous essays and books. His most recent book, Eighty-Eight Years: The Long Death of Slavery in the United States, 1777-1865 (University of Georgia Press, 2015), explores the Atlantic history of slavery to understand the exceptionally long period of time it took to end chattel bondage in America.
The Electoral College and Maine
Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at 6:00 PM
Jim Melcher - Professor of Political Science, University of Maine, Farmington, Maine
Jim Melcher teaches a wide range of courses on American politics, government and political thought. He also serves as pre-law adviser. He has become known throughout the University of Maine system for his work on the Maine Public Policy Scholars program, and has become a frequent "voice of the University" in his numerous interviews as a political expert with media both within and outside Maine.
Protecting and Preserving Native American Basket Making Traditions
Tuesday July 31, 2018 at 6:00 PM
Darren Ranco - Associate Professor of Anthropology and Coordinator of Native American Research University of Maine, Orono, Maine
Darren Ranco teaches classes on indigenous intellectual property rights, research ethics, environmental justice and tribal governance. As a member of the Penobscot Indian Nation, he is particularly interested in how better research relationships can be made between universities, Native and non-Native researchers, and indigenous communities.