Gibson Library Society 28 members and 2 non-members signed the attendance book.
1. Apologies for absence Apologies were received from: Judy Brook, Dominic Davey, Catherine Fiddick, Lord Haslehurst, Diana Hoy, Clare Mulley, David Pearl, Tessa Pilsbury, Judith Rodden, Paul and Heather Salvidge, Bernice Smith, Margery Taylor and Bruce Tice.
2. Minutes of the previous meeting Minutes of the 2023 AGM had been posted on the website. They were taken as read and were accepted as a true record. Proposed: John Oswin-Smith Seconded: Gillian Mulley Unanimously agreed. There were no matters arising.
3. Chairman's Report: Martyn Everett's report has been posted on the Society website. He highlighted the following to the AGM: Talks given by Martyn Everett (ME) and Kelly Cole to local Womens' Institute groups, and, for the fifth year in a row, visits to the Library made by around fifty A-level Geography students. These were followed by good feedback from the visitors and their organisers / teachers. A successful event for about fifteen local artists showcasing art-related books and material in the collection. He hopes that a second art-themed event can be organised in the near future and this could be a model for similar subject themed visits, e.g. for literature, history, botanical and horticultural studies etc. UDC grants had enabled the purchase of audio-visual equipment, some of which was being used for the first time at the AGM. The support of the Gibson Walden Fund - The resumption of book-binding had been significantly delayed due to the retirement of our previous binder but he was hopeful this would now be resolved over the summer using the services of J S Wilson. Work of the volunteers had been severely disrupted over the winter due to the discovery of RAAC concrete in the building and the complete and subsequent partial closure of the library. We are currently looking for volunteers to fill two specialist roles in digital archiving and copy typing. Two new members have been co-opted onto the committee: Barbara Light and Martin Turnbull (MT). MT's book co-authored with John Tennant featuring historic photographs of Saffron Walden had sold well and proceeds from the sale are divided between the Gibson Library and Saffron Walden Museum; we have already received the first tranche of money from this source. ME had one downside to report, the decision by the former Society secretary Gillian Williamson to step down from the committee following this AGM, although she has offered to continue her involvement in some projects. GW had done a huge amount of work, not just as the secretary, but also organising exhibitions, helping to identify people featured in local photographs, acting as the "Readers' Champion", maintaining records of users/visitors to the Study Room, and a wide range of other important tasks. He expressed his deep gratitude to GW and requested a round of applause from all present for her contribution. ME noted that wider cultural changes in society suggest that the Society will have to adapt to new ways of reaching out to and engaging the support of the community in Saffron Walden and beyond. He expressed his intention to be addressing these with the committee and Society members in the coming year. The forthcoming book by Clare Mulley about the Gibson Library is making progress. ME concluded by thanking all the committee and members for their support and contribution to the Gibson Library over the past twelve months. One question came from John Oswin-Smith regarding the schedule for outstanding corrections to complete the removal of RAAC from the building. Clive Arrmitage (CA) from ECC did not have those details to hand but would keep the Society informed of any news or developments. There being no further questions, the report was taken as read and accepted. Proposed: Howard Newman Seconded: Peter Walker Unanimously agreed.
4. Treasurer's Report: The report and accounts for 01.04.2023 to 31.03.2024 had been posted on the website. Peter Walker (PW) drew particular attention to the following: Income had risen by 14%. Interest rates had increased to 6.25% and the Society had benefitted from advantageous rates on its account with the Saffron Walden Building Society. This had resulted in our income for the past year being considerably higher than the previous twelve months. There have been costs of £3,295 for the forthcoming book on the Library. In addition we would normally have incurred expenditure for book-binding but this had not been spent so far this year. There is an overall surplus on income over expenditure of £1,523. The accounts had been examined and confirmed by the Independent Examiner, John Oswin Smith (JOS), who was thanked, and were accepted: Proposed: Kelly Cole Seconded: Zofia Everett Unanimously agreed. ME thanked PW for his continued work on the accounts. He also thanked JOS for his support and for helping PW in preparing and completing the accounts in a very short time frame.
5. Libraria's Report:
There was no report as such to present but ME was pleased to welcome to the meeting two newly appointed 'ECC Library Managers, Clive Armitage, Area Manager and Matthew Haydon, Team Leader covering Saffron Walden and surrounding libraries.
Addressing the meeting Clive Armitage thanked ME for having the opportunity to meet the Society's members. He said that he had been in post for seven weeks and he had already visited the Gibson and County Libraries and had met with ME and Saffron Walden managers and teams. He is based at Chelmsford and his area covers 20 of the 74 libraries in Essex. He said that the county service had recently undergone a significant restructuring and it was working towards the delivery of the new Library Plan by 2026 to ensure the service remains relevant and well used across Essex. He stressed that he would ensure communication with the Gibson Library would be better and he emphasised that he and ECC would continue to support our work and aims.
Matthew Haydon noted that he had been in post for a shorter time than CA, just 14 days. Like CA he came direct from a career in retail management rather than a library or public sector background. He too had already visited the Libraries and had been greatly impressed by the GL and its extensive collection. He was already engaging with the teams at Saffron Walden to improve on what he described as "this great asset". He was looking to find ways to reach the potential of the library service much more effectively and to get across to all residents and users than they have a tremendous local resource on their doorstep. He emphasised that the work and and commitment of GL volunteers should be fully acknowledged and continue to be supported by ECC. He thanked Sarah Turpin of the County Library and the GL Society and its volunteers for their welcome and he looked forward to working with us.
ME was pleased to note that the attendance of CA and MH at a Society AGM was the first for many years by any representatives from the county service. He thanked them for their attendance and supportive approach and he in turn looks forward to working with them.
6. Election of Officers and Committee of the Society:
Election of President: BM had confirmed his willingness to cntinue in the post.
Nominated: Martyn Everett Seconded: Martin Turnbull Unanimously agreed.
i) Election of Chairman: BM took the Chair for the election of the Chairman, ME having confirmed his willingness to continue in the post. He thanked ME, the officers and committee for their roles in the continued success of the GL.
Nominated: Howard Newman Seconded: Gaia Shaw Unanimously agreed.
ii) Election of Treasurer: ME resumed the Chair. Peter Walker confirmed his willingness to continue in the post.
Nominated: Pat Gregory Seconded: Charles Reese Unanimously agreed.
iii) Election of Secretary: Ian Willard confirmed his willingness to continue in the post.
Nominated: Zofia Everett Seconded: Anna Martin Unanimously agreed.
iv) Election of current committee members:
All committee members with the exception of Gillian Williamson confirmed their willingness to continue in post and were re-elected en bloc: Kelly Cole, Ben Cowell, Pat Gregory, Howard Newman, Ljiljana Ortolja-Baird, Charles Reese and Bruce Tice.
Nominated: Gillian Mulley Seconded: Carolyn Wingfield Unanimously agreed.
v) Independent Examiner: John Oswin Smith confirmed his willingness to continue in the post.
Proposed: Martin Everett Seconded: Peter Walker Unanimously agreed.
7. Any Other Business:
There being no other business the meeting was closed at 8.00 pm.
Return to the AGM 2025 page.
