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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009 Annual Report - Public LibraryREADING PUBLIC LIBRARY Message from the Chairman of the Library Board of Trustees The Reading Public Library continues to shine as a cherished and essential institution in Reading. By nearly all measures, Library usage and circulation has grown substantially from last year, extending a long-term trend. Although the Library has been no stranger to the strains and sacrifices of these tighter economic times, the dedicated and professional staff members persist in their cheerful and efficient service to the community. The Library completed its five year long range plan in early 2009. Library Director Ruth Urell and her team have already rolled out many new programs to connect across generations, and to provide new ways to engage, inspire, grow and learn, as she described in more detail below. The Library also enhanced its role as a lifelong education center, with a focus on literacy activities from birth through adulthood, computer education, teen enrichment, and classes for adults of all ages, languages and interests. These supplement the full array of regular and highly popular programs. As any patron will attest, the librarians and staff always keep current and seek new ways to better serve the community. One good example is the development and deployment of the Library's new website; which acts as both, a portal for patrons, and a platform from which the Library can provide relevant and customized information to the community. The Library enjoys the ongoing support of many dedicated volunteers, private donors and community groups such as the Reading Garden Club (donating the greenery at the Library's entrance completed this year) to whom we are grateful. We also thank the Friends of the Library and the Reading Library Foundation for their devoted support and advocacy for the Library. The Friends conducted the annual house tour as well as a successful used book sale raising considerable funds to finance many programs and activities. The Reading Library Foundation generously provided a $5,000 gift to enable an upgrade to the public address system in the large meeting room. During 2009, the Trustees reviewed the community's expectations and demands for Library services currently and for the future. It has become clear to us that the Library building is not adequate in its current condition and configuration to meet the Library needs of Reading. Accordingly, we hope to obtain funding from the Town to begin a more detailed assessment of our building options particularly on the Library's current site and retaining the current landmark building. These highlights are only the tip of the iceberg of Library accomplishments and news this past year. As noted below, the Library continues to win awards. We are proud to be associated with such a fine staff and all of the community stakeholders who make the Reading Public Library as wonderful as it is and who share our dreams for the future. Respectfully submitted, David P. Hutchinson, Chairman of the Library Board of Trustees 373 Reading Public Library - rt {c I\w j ~fF Trustees 1. to r., front row: Cherrie Dubois, Victoria Yablonsky, Karyn A. Storti (Secretary), (second row) Jeffrey J. Doucette, Richard H. Curtis (Vice Chairman). David P. Hutchinson Director's Report New Plan Early in 2009, the Trustees approved Creating New Ways to Connect & Explore - Engage & Inspire - Learn & Grow, the Library's new Plan of Service for 2009-2014. During our first year implementing new directions, we focused on several initiatives to meet six first year action goals. Connect Across Generations The Library made some new friends in 2009 as new programs were introduced. Programs like cross generational hikes in the Town Forest, Summer evening picnics on the lawn, new Fall Sit `n Knit series, and parent-child Chapter Book Chats drew generations together and expanded the Library experience in new directions. A Summer drop-in crafts program attracted many first time participants to the Library, and set a model for more programs in the future. Several new marketing efforts resulted in boosts to circulation of selected collections as displays featured new media and a new emphasis on different formats. 374 Reading Public Library Create New Messages The Library took to the streets to serve everyone: From Summer into early Fall, librarians provided books, recipes and more to shoppers and busy commuters at the Farmers' Market/Train Depot. The Library commissioned a new logo design to use digitally for new electronic outreach avenues, and began branding with a colorful "Reading red" banner. Several librarians made the most of the successful Fall Street Faire to spread the word about the Mass Memories Road Show and partnered with other Town organizations. The Fall Street Faire's Library Pocket Lady was a hit with young and old alike but children only were invited to take part in the quiz that rewarded winning answers with a pocket prize. Customize and Personalize Service Casual browsers are enjoying several simple new low-tech marketing efforts: Simply designed "New This Week" bookmarks draw attention to the hottest and latest picks, new "Staff Picks" cards for CDs and DVDs, and an added emphasis on all media formats throughout the Library are helping browsers find staff favorites, and add pizzazz and personality to selections. Thanks to the Friends, patrons can purchase Reading Public Library reading journals to keep track of their books. Librarians added several children's formats to the "What's New" lists on the website, and we hope we'll implement a customizable new readers' advisory electronic service early in 2010 to send personalized news blasts about new acquisitions to patrons who sign up for the service. Early Literacy 375 Reading Public Library The birth of a baby draws many new parents to the Library as they realize the importance of their child's early learning experiences! The Reading Public Library is proud of its outstanding. tradition of service to this important part of our community, and has renewed its commitment to its youngest patrons (and their parents) through new and ongoing services including: • Outreach through pediatrician's offices, convenience stores, churches. • New logo (specially adapted) for the Children's Department. • Kids page link that coordinates preschool programs and services for parents and children, birth through age five. • Drop-in Playtimes on alternating Fridays. • Smart Start bags to new'families. • Lapsit stories and more for toddlers and parents, offered daytimes and evenings. • . Singalongs on first and third Fridays of every month. The Family Experience As part of its efforts to serve all families, the Children's Department began offering evening lapsits in early 2009, day and evening drop-in story times Fall 2009, and monthly Sunday Family Storytimes in early 2009. Chapter Book Chats also started in 2009 as a new high-quality book discussion specially tailored with 'reading and discussion for parent-child interaction. The Children's Department sponsored a special story time with RISE, and teamed up with Teen and Reference Services to participate in the Reading Public School's "Blue Ribbon Excellence" day. The Reading Public Library is committed at its core to exploring new ways to better serve people and families from all backgrounds, with many different abilities, learning styles and educational needs. In 2009, the Library's commitment to universal access and comprehensive service was recognized when it was chosen as a lead Library for a Federal/State Autism grant administered through the Northeast Regional Library System. In November, Shelley Quezada, Literacy Specialist, Outreach Services Coordinator for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and. Adjunct Professor at Simmons College provided training for Reading Public Library staff in Family Literacy. 376 Reading Public Library Lifelong Education Library staff designed, translated and conducted a survey of Library services, reaching out particularly to people who are NOT frequent Library users through the Senior Center, Chinese population,, at the Festival of Trees, and Police and Fire Departments. The Library invited English at Large to partner with us to create a new U.S. Citizenship Class which is now entering its second season. We acquired a large collection of Russian language books from another area Library, and added some to our collection and re-distributed many to other libraries and education centers. The Reading Public Library regularly provides a rotating deposit collection of Guajarati books from the, Framingham Public Library. The Library created two new brochures - one for ESOL and the other for English speakers to learn foreign language - and is distributing them in the community to broaden awareness of the full range of materials and services available. An important aspect of serving lifelong education needs is the increasingly popular access to public computers at the Library. In 2009, we upgraded and added several new public computers and replaced some that were broken. A brand new introduction, very popular with small groups of students working on projects together, is the addition of three bra public laptops that can be borrowed for use in the Library. With enhanced wireless access throughout all floors of the Library, this is a great service! 2009 Highlights Friends, Foundation, Trustees and Library staff worked with the Reading community on several new successful initiatives in 2009. We are profoundly grateful to the many organizations. and individuals who made 2009 a spectacular year for the Library! We also recall with . sadness that the Library lost several good friends in 2009:. Community leaders, volunteers, dear patrons. We especially note the passing of Robert Costello ("Bobby") who was a loyal, long-term volunteer in the Circulation Department, and Ben Nichols who led countless community initiatives and was particularly helpful to our local History Department. We will miss them here at the Library. 377 Reading Public Library Here are some highlights from 2009: • A new website 17151 • A new logo 1 _ • Reading Fall Street Faire participation t r ; , • Mass Memories Road Show • Celebration Garden - planted, weeded and dedicated! • Friends Book Sale and House Tour„• Foundation Donor Event' w • Teens of updated with Grant funds ~ • Job Search Skills Series - • Let's Talk About It: Love, Forgiveness & Wisdom Book Discussions • Kill a Watt Kits • Meeting Room Sound and Video System upgraded • Trustees' Presentations of Long Range Planning process and conclusions • Summer Camp reading clubs, picnics, sleepover and hikes • ' Three Massachusetts Library Association Awards - First Place for Summer Reading Programs • Blue Ribbon Conference participation • Health Access Grant • Grant for Center of Excellence in Lifelong Access • Staff Development skills assessment survey and plan, including special tour for all staff of Kennedy Library and Museum The Number Story Door Count (people visiting) 206,728 Volunteer Service Hours (In-house; i.e., excluding Friends, Foundation, etc. 746 Magazine Subscriptions 295 Collection 126,126 Books 108,973 Video, DVDs, CDs 17,153 Meeting Room Bookings 712 Reference Questions 61,568 Program Attendance (Total number of attendees at Library Programs 16,380 Adults and Young Adults attending programs and classes 2,688 Children attending programs and classes 13,692 Circulation 489,844 Registered Borrowers (87% of Town population) 20,676 The charts that follow illustrate the role of the Reading Public Library in the community. People rely on the Library to be the center of the community - the Library is full every day with people reading, meeting, using their own or the Library's computers and wireless access, students being tutored and doing research, parents visiting with children of all ages, attending programs and borrowing things to take home. 378 Reading Public Library them, we rely At the same time that business of all sorts increases, the Library is constantly doing "more with less" - more interlibrary loan, more circulation, more assistance with computers and technological resources while budgets remain flat, prices of books and materials increase, and State aid and grant funding shrinks. While Reading residents rely on the Library to be there for inter LIOrary to O ~r CO W r r to N t1) r V' N O CO M N = r^ M d' iv C'~ c0 ti LO d 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 .Fiscal Years on the Town for 92% of Library funding. 480,000 460,000 440,000 C 420,000 0 400,000 L v 380,000 E w. - 360,000 340,000 320,000 300,000 413,841 395,872 400,498 380,583 363,540 342,197 1335,734 325,741 11 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 F ig&O Years Financials State, trust income, grants and other sources of outside support for the Library are becoming more tenuous. The Library is part of a consortium that relies heavily on State aid for technological infrastructure, licensing and continuous updates. The Library relies on the State for - many electronic resources, professional development and essential staff continuing education in all facets of technology and evolving services. The Library also relies on other libraries for a substantial portion of its lending (interlibrary loan), and on primate donors and its Friends and Foundation for 100% of its programming budget and many major improvements (computer lab, meeting room a-v system, additional computers, etc.) We do not expect that we can sustain current services indefinitely with level funding as-costs increase and demand grows. Revenue FY 2009 Municipal Appropriation $1,206,822 State Aid $33,376 Friends & Foundation $22,000 Trust & Endowment Income $21,676 Gifts $7,509 Grants $23.,700 Revolving Fund $5,187 Capital (Book Drops) $12,000 TOTAL $1,313,270 Revenue FY 2009 Trust & Gifts Grants Endowment o 2% Revolving Fund Income 1 O 0% Friends & 0% Foundation 7 Capital 2% (Bookdrops) 1% State Aid 3% Municipal Appropriation 91% 380 Expenditures FY 2009 Reading Public Library Salaries $927,674 Grants $16,500 Books & Materials $189,727 Continuing Education $8,989 Tech Support $9,285 Book Drops (Capital) $12,000 Programs $17,260 Public Computing $21,000 Software & Network $46,481 Supplies $19,050 State Aid and Donations Revolving $45,304 TOTAL $1,313,270 Expenditures FY 2009 Tech Support Continui ng Education 1% Books & Materials 15% Grants 1% Programs Bookdrops 1% (Capital) 1% Public computing 2% Software & network 4% Salaries $81 Reading Public Library Friends of the Readine Public Librar r f may:. E rF 'z: at yy~~ y/ AMC ='t t Officers and Committee Chairs Suzy Axelson President Beth Klepeis Vice-President/Treasurer Jackie Storti Assistant. Treasurer Jean Clark Recording Secretary Membership Anne Schofield Music Series Lynne Freeman and Jenny DiMuseo Book Sale Eleanor Delaney House Tour Co-Chairs Cherrie Dubois and Johanna Anderson Photo Contest Terry Hale Holiday Book Store Sharon Grottkau Members at Large Cathy Hoodlet, Nancy Larson, Karen O'Connell Library Staff Liaison Dorota Socha ReadinI Public Library Foundation, Inc. 382 Reading Public Library Officers and Directors Bill Hecht, President Bob Nordstrand, Vice President Neil Cohen, Secretary Amy Coumounduros, Treasurer Directors Bill Anthony Bruce Austin Jerry Fiore John Brzezenski Russ Graham Lynne Cameron Gene Nigro Dick Curtis Maria Silvaggi Reading Public Library Personnel Director - Ruth S. Urell Assistant Director - Dorota Socha Administrative Secretary - Nancy Smethurst Reference Division Division Head - Lorraine Barry Adult & Elder Services Librarian - Nancy Aberman Local History Librarian -Rachel Baumgartner Young Adult Librarians - Susan Beauregard, Amy Lannon Promotional Services Librarian - Kathleen Miksis Reference Librarians - Eileen Barrett, Patricia Kelly,_ Danielle Kimerer Technical Services Division Head - Jamie Penney Senior Library Associate - Allison DaSilva Senior Technician Dawn Colford Pages - Mary DeSisto 383 Reading Public Library Circulation Division Division Head - Michelle A. Filleul Technicians - Donna Beaulieu Carol Macomber Dawn Didham Colford Patrice A. O'Donnell Maureen Conwell Joanne H. Penta Mary Ellen Downey Christine Rutigliano Susan R. Haggerty Danielle Kimerer Louise Hetherington Pages - Neftali Gonzalez Patrick Holland Nancy Hunt Lisa Li Isabel Spence Children's Room Division Head - Corinne Fisher Children's Librarians - Brenda Wettergreen, Rachel Baumgartner, Ashley Waring, Carol Bender, Kathryn Geoffrion Scannell Library Associate - Mary McIntire Pages - Kathleen Bowe Meaghan F. Kinton Judy A. Newton Molly O'Donnell Nikita Shah Custodian - John Davis Ruth Urell, Library Director 384 Respectfully submitted,