 |
The year 2007 was a very active and fulfilling year for the Plaistow Public Library. In keeping with the mission statement the library focused on serving all residents with equal access to informational, recreational and educational resources. In order to implement the goals several steps were taken such as installing new circulation software allowing enhanced access to the library database as well as additional services such as renewal and reserving materials from a home computer. Five new computers replaced the original computers in the children’s area
and our staff laptop was used to facilitate the ongoing inventory of the entire library collection. The library also joined the New Hampshire State Library Downloadable Audio Book Consortium which now allows residents of Plaistow to browse and search hundreds of titles of audio books online and download them to their computer, transfer them to a portable device or burn selected titles onto a CD. This is a wonderful service which greatly expands the available audio book selection for the patrons and saves the library several thousand dollars each year. Please call the library for additional information and setup directions to get started on this great benefit.
The library was fortunate to be able to implement and update the technology purchases through supplemental library funds with minimum tax impact to the residents of Plaistow. A Gates Staying Connected Technical Support Foundation grant in the amount of six hundred dollars was received to pay for the initial set up of the online audio book program.
The Friends of the Library again offered their great support throughout the entire year by volunteering at programs, organizing and implementing the annual book sale as well as the very profitable ongoing book sale in the library, sponsoring the annual holiday fair and purchasing passes to seven museums in the greater Boston and New Hampshire area. Without their support the library would not be able to offer such enhanced programs and the museum pass program would be greatly diminished. They are a small but mighty group and we are so grateful for everything that they do for the library.
Also in terms of support the library had a record number of volunteer hours given during the year, with an average of forty two volunteer hours per month. The volunteer projects ranged from Adopt a Shelf to helping the children’s librarian with story hour preparation to inventory of the adult collection. A thank you reception was held in June to honor all the volunteers for their dedication and time. Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to call the library for further details.
An effort was made this past year to increase awareness of the library and all it had to offer through the number of programs offered to both children and adults. As a result a total of 314 programs, with 6,430 participants, were presented including the very popular statewide summer reading program “Reading Road Trip, USA”. The library also had the privilege of “starring” in the video of the official theme song for the reading program as performed by Steve Blunt. A small sampling of the programs offered include monthly adult book discussions centered around the theme “Small Town Living”, participation in the statewide National Endowment for the Arts book discussion “Fahrenheit 451”, herb workshops, home brewing, jewelry making, flower arranging, cooking, wreath making and
computer classes. Children’s programs include story
preschool and toddler story hours, baby lap sit, children’s book discussions, Book Bites at Pollard School, family music and cooking series and teddy bear story time.
All of the above mentioned programs and services would not be possible without the supportive staff at the library. Our Assistant Librarian/Head of Youth Services librarian, Deborah Hoadley, left her position at the end of year and while we are very pleased with her own personal advancement we all miss her many, many contributions to the library. I would like to thank her and all the rest of the staff for their constant support and willingness to give their best to the library every day they come to work.
I would also like to thank the Board of Trustees for their direction and support during the past year. Tom Mullings and Karen Poznick both resigned from the board during the year and I would like to thank them for volunteering their time on the Board and giving back to the library. Between the Board of Trustees and the library staff we have a great team and I am looking forward to another productive year serving the residents of Plaistow.
2007 LIBRARY STATISTICS
Materials Purchased: |
|
Collection Totals: |
Adult…………………………………….1,058 |
|
Video/DVDs……………………………...1,400 |
Juvenile…………………………………1,371 |
|
Audio Books…………………………......1,253 |
DVD……………………………………….170 |
|
Musical CDs……………………………….252 |
Audio Books……………………………..144 |
|
Magazine/Newspaper Subscriptions……..71 |
CD/Music……………………………………1 |
|
Gift Subscriptions…………………………….2 |
TOTAL…………………………………2,744 |
|
Materials Lost/Paid…………………………26 |
Gifts added to the Collection: |
|
TOTAL………………………………….42,659 |
Books……………………………………..201 |
|
Statistics: |
DVD………………………………………..39 |
|
Total Circulation……………………….63,960 |
Audio Books………………………………24 |
|
Registered Patrons……………………..3,042 |
CD/Music………………………………….39 |
|
Visits by Patrons………………………45,265 |
TOTAL……………………………………303 |
|
Days Open…………………………………302 |
Respectfully submitted,
Laurie Houlihan
Director
| |
