Library Committee 2025 Annual Report:
Susan Claggett, Janet Kemp, John Leon Donoghue, Paige Tilghman
Not available: Ellen Schecter, Lorraine Claggett
The Library Committee met on 05 04 2026 in the Brick Meeting House. We reviewed the current collection of books located in the THFM Library, including the 400 Pendle Hill pamphlet collection, the bibles and hymnals, and many books that have been recently donated. We reviewed the current classification for ordering books and determined that it was out of date. We also noticed that many of the labels on the current books were faded. John-Leon, a professional Librarian volunteered to review the classification and to recommend a new system for documenting the books with new labeling. We reviewed the current process for borrowing books which was active and simple and appears to be working well with several books recently lent out and returned.
Susan Claggett offered to organize the Pendle Hill pamphlets and is looking for five wooden boxes about the size of shoe boxes in which to store the pamphlets so they can be accessed by number order.
We apprised the collection of books in the Common Room and determined many of them were very old, had not been used and were at risk of deteriorating. We agreed that these books needed to be inventory, researched for value, and stored in a more accessible and conducive environment for old books. Janet Kemp and Ellen Schecter have begun to catalog and research the value of the older books. Paige Tilghman and Janet Kemp visited with the Director of the Maryland Room at the Talbot County Free Library to gather information about their criteria and interest in accepting books into their collection where they would be available to a greater number of people. The Maryland Room would only be interested in books about early Maryland Quakers and we agreed to consider this information.
We toured the upstairs of the Brick Meeting House. We determined that the library could provide a sample collection of books that are in the library to the proposed lounge area for members to use and to encourage reading of Quaker thought and material. We recommend the historic and valuable books be placed in glassed book cases in the Clerk’s Office, adjacent to the Clerks Desk. This would provide for a safe, secure and controlled environment while also being accessible to members. Ellen Schecter has offered to search locally for Barrister bookcases that would fit in this space.
The Library Committee will request to be placed on 6th month Business Meeting agenda to determine if the Library Committee can relocate the old and valuable Quaker books to the Clerk’s Office, which is climate controlled on the second floor of the Brick Meeting House.
We agreed to meet on Wednesdays and are considering a work day in the future.
Discussion: Re: desk and book case space in the clerk’s office. Paige Tilghman and Mary Yancey will meet prior to planning committee’s next meeting to discuss Brick Meeting House renovated rooms’ use. Pendle Hill Pamphlets are now organized and available for reading.