Library Director's Report for April 2015

Designer RFQ ready  – Booksale May 16th  – Summer begins

Circulation

April circulation activity was 4,414.  This is 6.9% lower than last month, and 5.2% lower than April of 2014.

Laptops: 6.  Nooks: 1.   Games: 44.

Unique Patrons

April 2015: 1,697 items checked out to 697 unique patrons.

Digital Content Use

BYKI: 3 users for 3.15 hours, top languages: ESL for Spanish speakers and French.

Overdrive: eBook circulation to Upton patrons: 335, eAudio circulations: 100.

Wowbrary:   We have 142 active subscribers to Wowbrary. (-1)

New Patron Registrations:  12 new patrons registered in April.

New Items: We added 246 items to the collection in April.

Passport Applications  processed in April: 8.

 

Programs
Library book group:  5 people met on April 29^th.
Senior book group: 10 people met on April 14^th.

Thursday storytime 4 sessions, averaged 6 children.
TinyTots lapsit 3 sessions, averaged 6 children.

Library Table: 5 visits, averaged 8 patrons and 18 items.

ESL classes: 2 classes, averaged 2 students.

Friends of the Library – Met on May 6^th.  Fulti will present a slate of 3 directors to be appointed.  They are looking for additional members willing to serve as directors.  Booksale is May 16^th, 9am to 2pm.

Plans for Next Month
1) Publicize designer RFQ
2) Emergency exit repaired

3) Begin attic cleanout

Special Events

School vacation week programs: 37 children painted sea turtles with Artworks on April 21^st.  62 children learned about earthworms with Hands on Nature on April 24^th.

Author Visit with Diane Lewis – 7 attendees on April 25^th.

Upcoming May Events

Booksale – Saturday, May 16^th, 9am-2pm

Walt Whitman one-man show with Stephen Collins, Tues May 26^th, 7pm

3^rd Grade field trip / library tours, Weds, May 27^th.

Planning and Design Grant

Building Program has been accepted by the MBLC, the final version is posted on the uptonlibraryplanning website for everyone to see.

Our request for payment of the first 80% of grant funds has been processed by MBLC and is in the hands of the state comptroller’s office.

Feasibility Committee has recommended a Designer RFQ.

Work on the Site RFP continues, we have a solid draft that just needs minor corrections.

In May, Matthew will reach out to the COA to explore ideas for a shared building program.

Visit: http://sites.google.com/site/uptonlibraryplanning for the latest information on the planning and design process.

Library Improvements

Contractor Steve Petrie provided a price quote of $4,000 for the emergency exit, radiator repairs and front door repairs.

I have discussed this project with the Town Manager and we have reached a plan to split the cost between library funds and selectmen’s funds.  A date for the work has not yet been scheduled.

Budget: Our share of the remaining repairs will use up all of the library improvements fund and require $350 from state aid funds.

Parking Lot/Sidewalk

DPW employees patched the building sidewalk with new concrete, and will be applying some large patches to the worst areas of our parking lot.  I appreciate the Town Manager’s office’s assistance with these repairs.

Storage / Attic

Friends of the Library booksale will be May 16^th.  After May 16^th, no booksale items will be stored in the Knowlton-Risteen building attic.

I have completed another pass through our storage area, removing items from the collection.  After the booksale I’ll do a final storage inventory.  It looks like we’ll end up with approx 1,500 library items in storage, half A/V materials and half books.

This summer library staff will work on removing furniture, files and other non-circulating stuff which has been placed in the attic.  This will likely require using a dumpster to dispose of items.  I still hope to coordinate with other town departments that also store items in the Knowlton-Risteen attic.   

Summer Reading Program

Nicole has nearly completed her schedule of children’s programs and events for this summer.  We will be following a similar schedule as last year, with several of our favorite events such as Little Red Wagon and ‘Lil Folk Farm returning again, along with new programs designed by Nicole for this year’s theme: “Every Hero Has a Story.”

Registration will begin June 16^th.