BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2007

To the Residents of East Longmeadow:

The East Longmeadow Public Library continued its mission to serve the cultural, informational, educational, and recreational needs of the community.  Entering its fourth year in a new, expanded building, the library continued to provide more service to the community with an overall increase in circulation of over 11 percent from the previous year.  This continued increase in circulation reflects an ever-increasing number of patrons from both East Longmeadow and surrounding communities using the library for programs and services, as well as the library’s constant efforts to offer a comprehensive collection of materials.  In addition, total items requested by patrons through the library’s C/WMars automated circulation system showed a sizeable increase of 36% from the previous year.  It is also worthy to note that in 2007 the library again filled more requests from non-East Longmeadow library patrons than it received items requested by our patrons.  This statistic again shows that our collection is not only in demand by neighboring libraries, but is comprehensive, current, and is able to meet the needs of our patrons.  

The library was not immune to change during the past year, however.  In the spring, Trustee Maxine Connor decided not to seek re-election after serving on the Board of Library Trustees for three years.  Her dedication to the library and experience as a Trustee will be missed.  This vacancy on the Board was filled by David Boucher who ran unopposed in the spring town election.

Library staffing also underwent changes during the year when Janie Morris, part-time Children’s Librarian Assistant, left her position in May to re-locate out of state.  Joanne Parisi, part-time Children’s Library Assistant, was hired to fill that position.  At the beginning of July of 2007 the library received additional funding from the town to add a part-time position in Children’s Services.  To achieve full staffing of the Children’s area, Jennifer Kinder and Kay McCormack were hired to fill these two positions.  Also that summer, Kristi Chadwick, Library Cataloger, left her position to accept a Librarian position with C/WMars in Worcester.  After an extensive search, the library hired Kristen Savaria to fill that crucial position.  At the end of the summer, part-time Library Assistant in Technical Services, Connie Gallagher left her position to re-locate out of state.  The library was once again fully staffed when Robin Siniaho was hired to fill that position.  This was truly a period of transition for the staff, and although former employees were surely missed, those hired to replace them brought both experience and talents that were sure to benefit the library and the community as a whole.
 
The library once again participated in the state-wide Summer Reading Program.  This year's theme, “Catch the Beat @ Your Library” was the most successful program to date.  More than 900 children participated in reading for pleasure and taking part in a number of activities organized and coordinated by the Children’s Department staff and fifty “junior volunteers”.   The library was also fortunate to have the help of a student intern from Connecticut College, Jane Oliveri, who helped coordinate these volunteers and assist the Children’s staff with the many activities planned throughout the summer.  The Friends of the Library donated funds for 20 basket incentive prizes helping to keep children motivated to read over the summer.  Two or three special programs were planned each week including: Catch the Beat with musician John O’Neill;  a cartooning workshop with Michael Cady; Howl at the Moon with a Wild Thing Tune featuring Tom Sieling; Karaoke with D.J. Brenda Lee; the Toe Jam Puppet Band Variety Show; Bubblemania with Casey Carle, world renowned Bubbleologist, and a visit from the “Read to Rover” program, given by Kelly Phillips and her reading therapy dog Lassie.  To conclude the Summer Reading Program in August, over 275 summer readers and their families attended a Roller Skating Party at Interskate 91.  In summary, more than 1,200 children and their families attended these summer programs and almost all were filled to capacity.
 
In addition to offering regular story times, pajama night story times, drop-in story times, and a Babies and Books program throughout the year, other Children's programming included a three- part workshop  “Beyond the Castle: Creating Mythical Creatures” that was filled to capacity. The idea for this program was sparked by the imagination of Children’s staff member Ms. Jenny (Kinder) whose inspiration came from the library’s very own “Castle”,a cardboard creation built out of over-sized shipping boxes by library patron Stavroulla Koetsch.  During February and April school vacation weeks various programs attracted over 450 children and their families.   Every program was a hit with the audience and they were filled to capacity.  In December the Children’s area once again had a Giving Tree to benefit the families of Our Place Shelter in Holyoke. More than 40 families received gifts over the holidays donated to this organization.  In February, the library held its first “Food for Fines” month in an effort to get back long overdue materials.  Library patrons were encouraged to return overdue items, with overdue fines waived in exchange for canned goods to benefit the Open Pantry of Springfield.  By the end of the month over 900 pounds of non-perishable goods had been collected for this organization, while in return the library received many of its long overdue items.

Use of the library’s two meeting rooms continued to be popular.  More than 300 local meetings and events were held over the course of the year, with each room providing a comfortable space for a variety of programs and events that benefited the entire community.  Utilizing these rooms, the library held some very special and interesting events this year including a Cooking workshop for kids and a Chinese Cooking demonstration sponsored by the Friends.   In April the library sponsored Mr. Haven Williams to run a Chess Tournament for children in grades 2 through 6 and 7 through 12.  This event proved to be very popular and Mr. Williams provided prizes from area colleges and businesses for all those who participated.  The library also played host to a well-attended regional Library Legislative Breakfast in March, and provided much appreciated space for Council on Aging members to hold weekly events while their facility underwent renovations.   A lively Adult Book Discussion group, led by Library Trustee Susan French, also met each month.
   
The Library Trustees wish to acknowledge the generous funding provided by the Friends of the Library, without which many of the above-mentioned Children's programs would not have been possible.  Many other Children’s programs were funded in part by the Western Regional Library System and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.  Additional program funding came from the Early Childhood Resource Center’s East Longmeadow, Wilbraham, and Hampden Community Partnership Council.  Throughout the year, several performances either received support from local businesses, or were generously discounted by those performers themselves.  The Library Trustees appreciate the community’s generous support, for without it we would be unable to deliver the many educational and recreational activities this community enjoys.

The library continued to facilitate communication among the schools via the library’s website, and more specifically, by providing teachers with an “Assignment Alert” form as an easy way to notify the library staff of up-coming homework assignments.  Cindy MacNaught, Children’s Librarian, also continued her participation on the Meadowbrook School Advisory Council and the Community Partnership Council of East Longmeadow, Wilbraham and Hampden.  Her relationship with the personnel at the three elementary schools as well as with other local educators has proven to be an excellent way to communicate the needs of each institution, and a means to help these local educators make every resource tool available to our children.

The Library Trustees continue to be proud of the library’s informative “web presence”.  In our constantly changing world, the need for both up-to-date and accurate information remains crucial.  New features appearing on the library’s web site included two web logs or “Blogs”—“Leroy the Library Dragon Blog” for children, and a Teen Reading Blog.  Thanks again go to the creativity and hard work of the Information staff, most notably, Sharon Bellenoit, Reference Assistant and Library Webmaster, along with Susan Teale, Assistant Director and Reference Librarian, for providing an informative, comprehensive, timely, and enjoyable way to access information about your public library.

The Information staff, with support from Library Director Susan M. Peterson and other library staff members, continued to focus its attention on reaching out to the teen community in East Longmeadow during the past year.  More young adult books and DVD’s were added to the collection, and the Teen Advisory Board (T.A.B.), under the supervision of Reference Assistant Sharon Bellenoit, planned events and programs which had “teen appeal”.  The Anime & Manga Club met throughout the year to screen and review a different anime film.  

In closing, while witnessing a busy and challenging 2007, the library continued to offer its patrons the services and programs they come to expect and enjoy.  These services and programs would not have been possible, however, without the hard work of a dedicated library staff and the support of many others who volunteer their time and energy to your public library year after year.

The Board of Library Trustees wants the community to know that we take our elected duties seriously, and our intention is to provide the best public library service possible for this community.  Your input is encouraged and always welcomed. 
 
Respectfully submitted,

Gregory M. Thompson, Trustee Chair
Susan French, Trustee Vice Chair
Diane A. Tiago, Trustee Secretary
Virginia Robbins, Trustee 
David Boucher, Trustee
Kathleen Cordier, Trustee

Susan M. Peterson, Library Director

Circulation Totals:  185,161 (FY2007)
East Longmeadow Library Card Holders: 10,920 (does not include registered borrowers from neighboring towns)
Library materials: 78,250 (FY2007)

 

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