BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2003

 

To the Residents of East Longmeadow:

 

            Local library users told us in many ways that they can’t live without their library.  During eighteen months in temporary housing, library staff found out that our local library matters to East Longmeadow residents.  The public library opened its doors for public service at the temporary address of 317 Westwood Avenue, East Longmeadow, on November 12, 2002 and once people knew we were open and available, they came to check out books, videos, newspapers, magazines, cds and audio books.  In spite of the fact that we could offer only 30% of our collection to the public in our reduced quarters, people checked out over 69,000 items, which is equal to 51% of previous years’ circulation statistics.  Cramped quarters, a separate location for children’s programs, and no meeting room space, did not deter people.  Their actions said that this library matters to them. 

During 2003, all children’s programs were provided at the Little Red Schoolhouse, courtesy of the East Longmeadow Cultural Affairs Committee.  The support and cooperation of the committee was greatly appreciated because without this facility, East Longmeadow families would have been without children’s programs for this period of construction.  Attendance of over 1,100 people in 2003 at the 65 children’s programs indicates that children and parents adapted to the location change.  They truly appreciated the efforts of library staff and the generosity of the Cultural Affairs Committee in making the Little Red Schoolhouse available.

Moving from 10,000 square feet to 3,200 square feet of space meant the staff restructured work procedures, moving between the mini library and the church building.  A big thank you goes to the New Life Baptist Church for being so flexible in their offer to use the church building.  The church graciously allowed both staff and public to use their rest rooms, storage areas, and fellowship hall for meetings and staff meals.  Residents wouldn’t have had library services for eighteen months if it weren’t for the New Life Baptist Church. 

While library service was provided to the public, the new library facility continued to be built.  The tough job of erecting the steel frame continued through the extremely cold winter months of 2002 and 2003.  Summer saw the exterior being worked on and by fall it was completely enclosed.  Concrete floors were poured and interior walls were built.  For approximately eighteen months, weekly construction meetings were held with the architect’s Project Manager, the general contractor’s Project Manager, the Superintendent of the Construction Project, the Clerk of the Works, Chairperson of the Library Trustees and Building Committee, as well as the Library Director in attendance.  Due to several scheduling setbacks, construction progress was delayed by several months, but all books and materials were moved into place in December 2003.

December 2003 found the library staff and professional movers working together to move and integrate books from many locations to the shelving stacks in the new library building.  When all our books were moved out of the mini library, we offered many furnishings to town departments as we had in the original move. 

Meanwhile, the library applied for and received a federal grant of $7,500, administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, to develop and implement a community wide program where everyone in town is eligible to read the same book and participate in a book discussion group.  A committee composed of representatives from agencies, such as the School Department, Council on Aging, The Reminder Publications, and the Chamber of Commerce, is working to develop activities for “On the Same Page.”

Individuals and groups can purchase commemorative bricks for the “Literacy Path” at the new library where the bricks will be installed in time for the Grand Opening Celebration in the spring of 2004.

The Board of Library Trustees wishes to thank the many individuals and groups who have helped the library in so many diversified ways, from our indefatigable staff members, the employees in all town departments, devoted spouses who helped us move, and many financial supporters to the wonderful individuals who were morale boosters when we most needed encouragement.  Thank you to all!

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

East Longmeadow Board of Library Trustees:         Diane Tiago, Chairperson               Shirley Herrick             Barbara Hill                        Carol Munro              Virginia Robbins                                 Cheryl Sheils