Friends hold annual meeting at Kasson Public Library

The Friends of the Kasson Public Library held its annual meeting for members and guests on Saturday, Feb. 3 in the community room at the library.
Brunch was provided by Omar’s Kitchen, West Concord. 
President Will Lambert opened the meeting and welcomed members and guests, including Kasson City Mayor Chris McKern, city councilmen Lonnie Zelinski and Dan Eggler, and former member Lori Hopkins. 
Guests were recognized as friends of Friends and thanked for their support of the Kasson Public Library.
Library Director Art Tiff presented a review of last year’s activity at KPL. He compared statistics at the old building in 2015 to the recent full year of operation at the new library.  
Tiff said that, with the help of the Friends, the increased use of the library has been amazing, and that services continue to expand. He listed the many groups utilizing the community meeting room. 
Tiff said hundreds of new library cards have been issued since the new library opened. New programs have been added to the KPL’s offerings for adults and teens. 
Circulation technician Patricia Shaffer-Gottschalk recapped last year’s Summer Reading Program. Friends help fund that program and each year many members volunteer to insure its success. 
Gottschalk thanked the Friends for their commitment to the library.
Lambert presented the financial report and outlined another successful year. He said a donation of $2,200 will be given to the Kasson Public Library. The money will be used wherever the need is greatest.  
He presided over the election of members to the Friends’ Board of Directors. Linda Head was re-elected to serve another term as vice president. Beverly Jorgenson was elected to replace Tanae McMurchie, who finished her term as treasurer. 
Lambert thanked Tanae for her service on the board. He also memorialized absent friends who passed away last year: library board trustee Sue Joachim, Sybel Haugen, and Marcia Drazkowski. 
As is customary at the close of their annual meeting, the previous Friend of the Year presents that award to the next recipient. Earlene King had the privilege of presenting the 2017 Friend of the Year award to Pat Baldwin. Lambert adjourned the meeting and, on behalf of Friends, expressed thanks to director Art Tiff and the dedicated staff of the KPL. 
Friends of the Kasson Public Library, Inc. is a non-profit organization whose purposes include promoting the public library’s programs and assisting in the improvement of library services. 
Visit www.fotkpl.com for more information.