The Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of The Company of the Redwood Library and Athenæum took place on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 in the Harrison Room. 

Newly elected to the Board of Directors were: Ann F. Conner, a broker with Gustave White Real Estate Co. and veteran of numerous local and state Boards and Commissions; Edwin G. Fischer, MD, an Associate Professor of Surgery (Neurosurgery) at Harvard Medical School and Neurosurgeon at the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston; Jeffrey Siegal, a founding partner of Metalmark Capital; and Dennis Stark, a retired banking and financial executive.  Re-elected were John J. Slocum, Jr. and Katherine D. Williams. 

At the meeting, the shareholders voted to set the Fiscal Year 11 annual assessment at $150.  Douglas Riggs, President, reported on the successful steps that the Board of Directors had taken during the past year to update and improve the Redwood's governance practices.

Following the meeting, the Board of Directors met to elect officers for the current year.  Elected were: Ann F. Conner, President; John E. Marshall, III, Vice President; Linda G. Gordon, Secretary; and Michael Warren, Treasurer.

 

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REDWOOD LIBRARY STRATEGIC PLAN SUMMARY

September 2008

 

 Context

 The Redwood has accomplished a great deal in the past ten years through the completion of its comprehensive 250th Anniversary Renewal and Restoration Capital Campaign and historic restoration, renovation and expansion project.  Although the Redwood still needs to raise $2.1 million to finish paying for the project which was substantially completed in 2006, the beautiful building that stands today serves more than 1,500 Proprietors and Subscribers, scholars and students, and the more than 20,000 members of the general public who visit each year.

 

Recognizing external and internal challenges and opportunities in the library and museum worlds, Redwood’s leadership sought a strategic way to overcome the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities.  The Board of Directors and staff believe that by embracing its history as an athenaeum, the Redwood stands poised to become a leading intellectual and cultural center, based in Newport, serving local, regional and select national audiences.  As a repository for books, an athenæum preserves our history and allows continued access to that history.  Beyond that function, an athenæum is a convening location where members of the community meet to read, learn, and discuss current events. With the decline in participation in civic organizations, libraries and athenæums are two of the few remaining places that function in this manner. They—and the Redwood—are necessary for preserving the past and, critically, building for the future.

Our vision is that people will be drawn to the Redwood to participate in provocative and sophisticated programming that draws together exciting lectures by scholars and intellectuals, well-curated exhibitions, and intimate book and discussion groups.  The Circulating Collection will continue to serve as a robust lending library that complements the themes of the programming, the Special Collection, and the taste of the members. Attendance at the Children’s Library will rise as grandparents bring their grandchildren to foster early learning. As access to the Special Collection increases, researchers and scholars will recognize the true value of the collections, making them vital in their areas of strength.

 

The future success of the Redwood depends on capitalizing on its remarkable strength yet differentiating and emphasizing its role as an athenaeum promoting intellectual pursuits. 

 Our Mission remains the same…

Founded in 1747 by forty-six proprietors upon the principle of "having nothing in view but the good of mankind," our mission continues more than 250 years later….

The Company of the Redwood Library and Athenæum is an educational and cultural institution “propagating Virtue, Knowledge and useful Learning.”

 Vision

The Life of the Mind

• The Redwood will integrate collections, art, books, programming and discourse to stimulate the “life of the mind,” leveraging each aspect to achieve an even greater whole.
• The Redwood will be known as a cultural and intellectual magnet for those who live in Rhode Island and for selected audiences regionally and nationally.

Timeline

 

• Board undertook plan initiative                                July 07
• Internal/external research/analysis                            Fall 07
• Hypothesis formed                                                  Jan 08
• Board retreat                                                          Mar 08
• Member survey                                                      Apr 08
• Constituent outreach                                               May 08
• Plan approved                                                        Aug 08

 

           Research and Member Survey Highlights

Regionally our demographics reveal a healthy and growing population of people interested in intellectual programming 55+ and highly educated. The research indicates this age group increasingly decides where to live based on community vibrancy.

National and regional research indicates increased interest in books and libraries in tandem with use of electronics and technology, particularly among the 55+ group we target.

Our member survey yielded a 35% response rate, which is considered excellent. The respondents reflect our target base, people at midlife+ in the Newport area. Members have been here for some time and are highly educated. And members LOVE the Redwood…99% indicate they will renew. This finding shows true dedication and indicates that new members will stay members.

Members see the top benefits to membership as these:

• Support and preserve a community asset and historic resource
• Book borrowing privileges
• Lectures, programs, and intellectual events
• Access to the building…a quiet place to read and study.                                                                             

The survey also validated that the Redwood has strong potential to increase involvement and commitment of current members (and attract new audiences) through emphasizing an athenaeum model.

Research and the member survey results supported the premise that The Redwood’s Special Collection is not well known or understood and if access increases, the organization can gain more local, regional and national recognition.

 

Goals 

• Assure good governance and fiscal responsibility with oversight procedures
• Establish Board Level Governance Review Committee
• Focus Board and staff on eliminating debt
• Form ad hoc personnel committee
• Reach a broader audience and increase participation of current members
• Create themed seminars, lecture series, and exhibits that tie to the   collections
• Partner with local and regional institutions to offer the highest level of programming
• Continue to promote the circulating collection with emphasis on lecture series and content
• Focus the children’s library
• Invest in appropriate staffing and marketing
• Increase use of the Redwood’s special collection
• Focus on cataloguing and improving access
• Promote collections to scholars and academics
• Consider adding to the collections based on member interests
• Invest in appropriate staff and systems to care for the collections
• Increase revenue and funding to build a sustainable organization
• Increase membership and consider levels of membership
• Form national advisory board
• Increase annual fund giving through increased membership
• Consider revenue stream from digitizing portions of the library collection

 

 Next Steps 

• Meet with committees and staff over next two quarters to ensure implementation
• Co-ordinate with debt reduction and fund raising initiatives
• Begin branding process
• Build in annual review

The complete Strategic Plan is available for review at the Circulation Desk.