The Friends of the Library has new leadership following a meeting June 29 and another on July 12. The new officers as follows are: President Ed Miniatt, Vice President Joseph Miniatt Treasurer Quintin Grützmacher, and Secretary Lib Quinn.

With the June 29 meeting beginning at 5:01 p.m. and running for a total of 31 minutes, the first order of business had to do with finances. A bank statement from Northwestern Bank was passed around showing the Friends account to have $1,358.99. From the$200 that had been taken out for the purchase of potential library books by a Friends associate was later returned to the account, outgoing lead administrator Nevin Lein stated. From there it was into other announcements, including one of the mic system.

Long story short, a mic system for library board meetings debuted during the Spring of 2020 had been cancelled for legal liability concerns, Lein stated. From there it was into the establishment of a new Friends board, with two positions still technically open to be filled as of adjournment June 29– those of secretary and treasurer.

As to the new Friends president, his name is Edmond Miniatt, also the father of library director Elizabeth Miniatt. After hearing that the local Friends of the Library needed some revitalization and with no one running in opposition, Ed Miniatt was made the Friends president with a show of hands by those present. In addition, Joseph Miniatt was made the Friends vice-president, also by a show of hands and running unopposed.

A meeting and election held in July after some objected to the appointment of officers over having an election has now filled out the board, with secretary and treasurer One individual present June 29 appeared to believe that video recordings of the Library Board meetings were Friends property and asked if Mr. Lein’s video recordings of Library Board meetings would be made available to the Friends. Mr. Lein stated that these recordings were a personal project of his and had never been a Friends project or on the Friends meeting agenda. The individual did not continue with further questions.

Mr. Lein further stated that he and then Friends of the Library President Susan Anderson agreed during the year 2015, to end the practice of receiving dues because it was uncertain whether the group had legal members beyond just the officers at the time.

As to the meeting of June 29, the new Friends president and the library director both revealed an interest to once again restart a Friends of the Library webpage within the library website in order to present Friends of the D. R. Moon Library information to the public. Such a webpage was previously in operation from around 2009 until the early months of 2016, per meeting notes from June 29. After 2016 the Library posted periodic Friends group information on the Library’s Facebook page at that time.

The meeting concluded with a measure of cheer and applause among attendees.

Friends of the Library President Ed Miniatt is seen at right during the June 29, 2021 Friends of the Library meeting. Photo courtesy of Nevin Lein.