THE BROMLEY HOUSE LIBRARY NEWS LETTER November 2019 Chairman’s letter Our Annual General Meeting 2018/9 saw the library continuing will be held in the library on to flourish. At the end of the year Wednesday 20th November there were 1,710 members - a 2019. Each member is entitled small increase on the previous to attend. The formal notice of year. We acquired 1,137 new meeting is on page 3. I hope you books, audio books and other can attend, but I know many items, made 14,901 loans, and members cannot. In this letter provided 24 talks and a full I aim to give an update on the gallery programme. library’s position. This success would not have The meeting will consider the occurred without the support and accounts for the year ended 31 contribution of our staff team and March 2019. Copies of these the many volunteers who assist accounts are available in the with the operation of the library. library and on the website (www. The building projects create extra bromleyhouse.org). If you ask a pressure on staff and I hope member of staff, we will post you members will join with me in a copy. expressing our appreciation to all those who work in the library. What’s happening behind the door... THE BROMLEY HOUSE LIBRARY NEWSLETTER Chairman’s letter (ctd.) Trustees standing for re-election them, the other to take responsibility for conservation Annual accounts and the promotion of our special collections. It is of Maggie Else The accounts continue to show the library in a strong note, that this year we spent more than previously on After a career in local government and further education in a variety of professional financial position. In our day-to-day activities we show conservation of our older collections – an indication of roles, Maggie was awarded a Churchill Fellowship and retired from traditional work a small operating surplus in line with our budget our direction of travel. to develop and progress disability sport in the UK, through the Paralympic sport objectives. Our income from subscriptions, combined of boccia. Having chaired the sporting governing body for England and been a UK with the rents from the shops, covers the expense of the Board changes director, she now officiates regularly at national and international competitions. library operation and the running of the building. Current directors (trustees for the purposes of Charity Maggie is a chartered librarian, qualified teacher, lecturer, experienced performance Law) in addition to me are - Elaine Aldred, Zaimal Azad, and project manager and continues to work in these areas for several employers, In addition, we hold sufficient resources (with the help Maggie Else, Sheelagh Gallagher, Nigel Lowey, Martin including local authorities, charities and the Ministry of Justice. She is also a director of the grant from Historic England) to fund the current Stott, David Tilly, Richard Tresidder, David Hallett, and of several charities, chairs the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust and is Chair Elect of phase of the building works. That satisfactory position David Hoskins. Bromley House. results from years of economical use of resources combined with the generosity of many members (by I am standing down as Chairman, and from the Board, at David Tilly volunteering time, by gift or legacy), and of grant-giving the end of this year’s AGM. I am pleased the Board has David is a corporate lawyer and business adviser. He moved to Nottingham in 1994 and has worked for leading law trusts and organisations. agreed Maggie Else will be my successor, and David Tilly firms in the city ever since. He now combines legal consultancy, with Geldards LLP, with business advisory services her Vice Chair. They will make a strong team and I am and a portfolio of board roles, both public/charitable and commercial. He has chaired the boards at Nottingham The first phase of our building project sure will lead the library forward successfully. Playhouse and Nottingham Contemporary, is a trustee for Young Creatives Nottingham, is non-executive director 2018/9 was dominated by preparing for the main for a number of private businesses, a member of the Council of the University of Nottingham and a business works. By the end of 2019 we will have our new roof Nigel Lowey is also retiring from the Board at the end of representative on the board of One Nottingham, the strategic partnership for the city. and rainwater drainage system, a number of structural this AGM. Nigel has been a Board member since 2007 repairs carried out, the Thoroton room converted to contributing to the development of our IT systems and David Hoskins become a local history room, the attics fully restored bringing to the table not only his huge enthusiasm for David is a retired Civil Engineer and spent most of his career at the Environment Agency and its predecessor and many rooms rewired and lit. This has been a large the library but also much business experience. bodies working in the fields of land drainage, river engineering, potable water supply, water reclamation and flood project, causing unavoidable inconvenience to members risk management. David has a family connection with the library going back 40 years and has advised the library and staff (to both, thank you for your patience). I hope In addition to myself, the directors retiring at the AGM on issues relating to the restoration of the building for some time. He is also a Trustee and Council Member of the you will find the improved building once again a pleasure under the rotation provisions of our Articles are Maggie Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire. to use and be assured that we have secured the physical Else and David Tilly, who are both standing for re- future of Bromley House and removed a major risk for election. David Hoskins responded to our call for new the charity. trustees last summer and was welcomed to the Board in July. In accordance with our Articles he also retires at The second phase of our building project the AGM but, being eligible, will stand for re-election. For more years than I care to count, we have aspired to provide a passenger lift for members. The roof had Notes from each of the three directors standing for re- to come first but the lift is now our priority. Provisional election are on page 3 of this newsletter. plans are being drawn up by our architect and we are working to prepare a realistic budget cost, so we can President settle how we will fund the work. While all this is being It gives me pleasure to confirm that Ann Treneman ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING done, we will have the spring and summer to enjoy has agreed to continue as the library President for the the library and garden without sharing it with builders. next year. I would like to thank her for her support and NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of Bromley House Library will be held on Wednesday 20 When things become clearer, and we settle on our plans, contribution since the last AGM. November 2019 commencing at 2.15 pm in the Library, Angel Row Nottingham NG1 6HL for the following purposes:- members will be the first to know. And finally 1. To receive the report of 4. To re appoint Rogers David Hallett Bromley House Library The library operation As I stand down from the Board (having been chairman the directors and the Spencer Ltd as Honorary Secretary Angel Row While recently concentrating on putting our house in since 2005) I express my personal thanks to all of those financial statements independent examiner 11th September 2019 Nottingham, NG1 6HL order physically, the completion of these works, and the members, volunteers, directors and staff who have for the year ending 31 and to authorise the 0115 947 3134 strength of our membership, now allows the library to helped and supported me. It’s been an honour to be part March 2019 directors to fix their A member of the company www.bromleyhouse.org turn its attention to its other main aim; the delivery of a of the evolution of Bromley House and often great fun 2. To elect directors. remuneration. who is entitled to attend high standard of service to those using the library and and a hugely enjoyable experience. 3. To confirm the election and vote may appoint a Registered charity no. the increased use and understanding of our historic of Ann Treneman By order of the Board proxy to attend and vote 1074752 collections. If the measure is for each generation to pass the library as president for the in his/her stead. A proxy Company limited by to the next in not worse, and hopefully better, condition forthcoming year need not be a member of Guarantee no. 03413612 This summer, following the retirement of Nicola Rae, we than they inherited it, then I hope it can be said we the company. (England and Wales) recruited two new part-time librarians – one to oversee succeeded. our general operations and the systems that underpin Victor Semmens Page 2 Page 3 THE BROMLEY HOUSE LIBRARY NEWSLETTER ‘Up on the roof’ Members’ survey results a few photos from the building work: In the last newsletter, we asked you to complete a survey Developing our use of IT about your experience of membership to help us to think We pride ourselves on being a face-to-face library but about changes we could make to improve the library . we can also see ways in which technology can improve We had nearly 200 responses, giving us really useful, the service we offer.