Library board approves placement plan for donated art, agrees to donate Carrollton drawing to Perry Middle School

The Farmers Branch Library Board approved a placement plan for donated artwork and voted to donate a pen-and-ink drawing of the former Carrollton schoolhouse to Perry Middle School during its Thursday meeting.

Board members spent the largest portion of the meeting reviewing Larry’s art inventory, a packet of roughly two dozen donated pieces ranging from small prints to large framed quilts and canvases. Trustees and staff agreed to assign most small and medium works to study rooms and interior columns, reserve two large bright canvases for the mezzanine, and place several library-themed photographs near the main entrance and circulation desk for higher visibility. Facilities will install pieces “in the general area” labeled on the board’s spreadsheet and will have latitude to make minor adjustments to fit available wall space.

The board moved and approved a separate donation: a pen-and-ink drawing of the old Carrollton schoolhouse (described in the packet as a framed pen-and-ink). The motion to donate that drawing to Perry Middle School passed with no recorded opposition. Board members said the recipient school will be contacted to confirm the preferred acceptance format and whether the school prefers a ceremonial presentation.

Members discussed installation details at length. They flagged vandalism risk for items placed near public entrances and favored placing some pieces adjacent to the circulation desk so staff can monitor them. Several large pieces were proposed for the mezzanine and for column faces between stacks; smaller pieces were earmarked for the study rooms and the makerspace. Some works will be accompanied by small plaques noting the artist or donor where relevant.

Facilities staff and the board agreed to use the annotated inventory that accompanied the packet as the working placement plan. The board asked the library director to confirm with Perry Middle School how it prefers to receive the donated Carrollton drawing and to report back at a future meeting.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes for Sept. 12, 2024 — motion approved; no opposition recorded. - Motion approving placements and authorizing facilities to install donated artwork as labeled in the board packet — motion approved; no opposition recorded. - Motion to donate the pen-and-ink drawing of the former Carrollton schoolhouse to Perry Middle School — motion approved; no opposition recorded. - Motion to adjourn — approved.

The board asked staff to give installers some discretion to move works within the general area noted in the packet if exact dimensions or site conflicts make the initially labeled spot impractical. Board members also requested that staff attach donor information and accompanying plaques when appropriate, and to keep a record of which donated items leave library custody if a donation is transferred to another institution.