Waltham Public Library Annual Report Fiscal Year 2011 Library Director Kate Tranquada June 3, 2011 Waltham Public Library Vision The Waltham Public Library will be a fully-funded community hub, fostering a healthy democratic society by providing a wealth of current informational, educational and recreational resources free of charge to all members of the community. The library will be known throughout the area for its knowledgeable and friendly staff, welcoming and safe environment, accessibility, convenience, current technology and helpful assistance. Waltham Public Library Mission The Waltham Public Library provides the city's multi-ethnic, economically diverse population with popular informational, recreational and educational library resources and services. The library staff selects materials in a variety of formats to meet known and anticipated demand, strives to make the community aware of library services and materials, and endeavors to make those resources accessible to all with friendliness and efficiency. Statistical Information 4 10% Waltham s rank in circulation per resident in a population group of 20 municipalities (including Newton and Brookline) Statewide, Waltham is in the top ten percent in library hours open per week (including libraries with branches) 45 Average number of meetings held at the library each month 100 Average number of visits per hour 1,178 Downloadable audio books available as of 7/1/2011 8,199 Attendees at Library programs in a year 28,991 Registered active borrowers 48,877 Interlibrary loans received from other libraries in a year 85,908 Interlibrary loans provided to other libraries in a year 222,908 Total number of books, recordings, and other materials available to patrons 527,956 Number of loans from the Waltham Public Library building in a year almost 9 per resident Detailed information is in the attached FY2011 State Aid to Public Libraries Annual Report Information Survey and Financial Report.
Programs & Outreach This year, in addition to maintaining the library s several blogs, Facebook page and Twitter feed, we have added a monthly column in the Waltham News Tribune. More and more library staff members are contributing to the Library Blog, and the monthly column is shared by all the library departments. Small digital photo frames have been added to each public service desk, displaying informational screens about library services and programs. The Friends of the Waltham Public Library sponsors programs for all ages: Children & Families There were 233 programs for children organized by library staff last year, including a summer reading program with 441 participants. Among all the crafts, stories, songs and celebrities, a few new activities stand out. These new programs were created and implemented by library staff: After school knitting club (Maureen McEneaney) After school lego club (Aileen Sanchez & Marie Taylor) After school and vacation day video game programs (Aileen Sanchez & Marie Taylor) Teen video game programs (Laura Bernheim & Todd Strauss) Another highlight of the year was the interactive presentation of Gwendolyn the Graceful Pig, with author David Rottenberg reading the story, and young members of the Mass Motion Dance Academy performing for and with the audience. Thanks to grants from the Waltham Cultural Council, the Children s Department was able to bring additional arts enrichment programs to the library. WCC-sponsored events included an appearance by author Judith Schachner, a workshop with Margaret Helfrick on Making Music with Recyclables, and a performance of The Frog Prince by the Pumpernickel Puppets. Nancy Rea, Aileen Sanchez and Kate Tranquada attended several elementary school open houses, where they shared information about public library services and made library cards for new library patrons on the spot. This was part of a coordinated effort with school library teachers to increase the number of students with public library cards. Teens Reference librarians Laura Bernheim and Paula Cerrato maintain a popular browsing collection for teens; they also collect multiple copies of required summer reading for middle and high school students. The Teen Summer Reading Club had close to 80 participants last year, and the high school book club met 6 times during the year with an average of 7 members at each meeting. The absence of a Young Adults Librarian limits our ability to meet the needs of this age group. Adults We continued to provide programs for job seekers, including resume and interview workshops. A previous series on job search strategies continues as a weekly support and networking group for job seekers. The reference staff have added more technology instruction, including help sessions offered by Reference Librarian/Computer Specialist Todd Strauss and subject-specific classes by Laura Bernheim and Marialice Wade. In addition to the dozens of literary, musical, dramatic and informational programs for adults offered during the year, the library book club continues to draw 10-15 avid readers each month. Page 2 of 6
Seniors Circulation Department Head Louise Goldstein continued organizing programs with an over-fifty audience in mind. Bright Lights programming this year included an improv comedy troupe performance, two popular writing workshops and a meditation program. Home delivery service continues for patrons unable to get to the library for medical reasons. Coordinated by Louise Goldstein, this monthly service is based on the efforts of staff members throughout the library who select titles for recipients based on readers personal preferences. Custodian Gary Smith plays a large part in the success of this program by delivering the books with a generous helping of respect and compassion. Museum Passes The Friends of the Library sponsor passes to a total of 34 area museums, from popular Waltham attractions to major Boston museums. Passes are often reserved weeks in advance; reservations can be made in person or online. Collaborations The Library has a number of zero-cost collaborations to help stretch the budget and connect with the community, including: Saheli: This group of South Asian women work on domestic violence issues and education in Greater Boston, running popular free computer classes at the library English at Large: Provides volunteers to run three free English conversation groups each week Bentley College students: Assist Children s Room staff with story times and special events Waltham Family School: Staff and students enjoyed a multi-week Mother Goose on the Loose program presented by Children s staffer Aileen Sanchez. (Mother Goose training was paid for with an LSTA grant.) Power Program, WATCH and Family School: Classes come for library tours The Waltham Garden Club: Assists with landscaping and gardens REACH Beyond Domestic Violence: Worked with the Library Friends to put on the first annual Waltham Neighborhoods Fall Festival, a successful community-building and awareness-raising party Friends of the Waltham Public Library Never flagging in their support of public library services for Waltham, the Friends raised over $12,000 through the annual and ongoing book sales. With additional income from memberships, feature film rentals and donations, the Friends have purchased more feature films for the library, contributed to landscaping costs, and sponsored hundreds of library programs and museum passes. Friends gifts to the library this year also included a replacement refrigerator for the Lecture Hall kitchen, the 100% recycled and recyclable plastic bags used by library patrons to carry books and recordings, toys for the Children s room, sound equipment for the Lecture Hall, and additional laptops for public use. Collections, Resources & Borrowing Public libraries are constantly evolving, and the Waltham Public Library is no exception. While stacks full of books used to be the dominant feature, books are now one part of an array of valuable resources the library provides: online access, quiet places to read/think/study, rooms to work alone or with others, and meeting rooms for community groups to gather. The collections of books, magazines and recordings also evolve, as library staff work to fill the shelves with current and popular materials. One thing that has not changed is the demand for human assistance in finding Page 3 of 6
information on every topic and answers on a wide range of subjects, from local information and history to literature, film, music and science. Keeping the shelves current and popular requires regular weeding of items that are out of date, no longer in use, or damaged. This year several library staff members attended a weeding workshop provided by the Massachusetts Library System. We reviewed an intelligent and effective system for guiding decisions about what should stay, what should go, and what should be replaced. Removing books can be difficult for book lovers, and this training gave many of us the boost of confidence and energy needed to make more room on the shelves for current and attractive materials. In addition to systematic weeding of the shelves, we have been adding materials. A few areas of note: An exchange program with the French Cultural Center & Library in Boston provides us with rotating deposit collections of French language books A growing Hindi language collection, selected by Circulation staffer Bela Kaul An expanded and reorganized Career collection in the Reference Room. Graphic Novels have been given more space to grow on the first floor. Downloadable books & audio books This year the Minuteman Library Network began subscribing to Overdrive downloadable ebook and eaudiobook services. Overdrive titles appear in the catalog along with the paperback and hardcover editions; through this service, patrons have free but temporary access to ebooks through the library, just as they borrow printed materials. Waltham has purchased additional copies of the most popular downloadable titles to shorten waiting lists for Waltham residents. As the Overdrive collections have grown, our Recorded Books eaudiobook service has been eclipsed and will be dropped next year. Technology Laura Bernheim and Todd Strauss designed and implemented changes to the public computer management system resulting in easier access for library patrons. All public desktops are now available for one hour at a time, with a single waiting list managed by the Pharos system queuing station. Additional online resources Now available to Waltham Public Library patrons: Credo Reference - content from 500+ reference books in a broad range of subjects Boston Consumers Checkbook Ferguson s Career Guidance Center History Reference Center Job and Career Accelerator Novelist Plus - an online readers' advisory resource that assists fiction and non-fiction readers in finding new authors and titles; Pop Culture Universe - information on American and world popular culture, past and present Something About the Author - illustrated biographical profiles of several children's authors and artists Waltham Room Part-time Local History Specialist Jan Zwicker responds to Waltham history queries from all over the country, in person, by mail and email. In addition to the popular Waltham Room print collection, online resources Ancestry Library, Digital Sanborn Maps, and Heritage Quest continue to get heavy use. Page 4 of 6
Following a recent Preservation Survey, the following changes were made: Waltham Public Library Annual Report FY2011 Preservation copies have been created of the Waltham national register multiple resource nomination : [historic building surveys] - one of the most-used resources in the Waltham Room. Original copies will be spared further wear and tear, and patrons have easier access Emergency supplies are at the ready in case of leaks or flooding Waltham Room window shades are permanently drawn to prevent sun damage to books Staff & Service The Library Trustees and staff made several changes this year in response to demonstrated patron need: Two additional study rooms were created by rearranging computers, copier and microfilm machines A second microfilm machine (donated by NARA) is now available to library users Policy changes: o Most items can now be renewed twice (6-week total) o Limits on the number of items loaned per borrower have been removed (for all but new movies) o Patrons now have seven days to pick up requested materials. Professional leadership After serving as interim Chair, Deb Fasulo was elected Chair of the MLN Standards Working Group Louise Goldstein is active on the Conference committee for the New England Library Association Two staff members and Library Trustee Chair Joan Garniss participated in Library Legislative Day Communication: With the help of a volunteer, Todd Strauss created a staff wiki, a dynamic source of information and updates for library staff Louise Goldstein created and maintains a Circulation Department blog on library matters local and professional Training: In addition to the weeding workshop mentioned above, library staff members made the most of training opportunities offered through the Minuteman Library Network, the Massachusetts Library System, and inhouse. Topics included: Understanding the details of Innovative Interfaces Integrated Library System data Advanced training on the network reserve system Overdrive Digital Media Catalog Credo Reference What to do - What to say (on witnessing violent or threatening behavior; led by REACH) Working with patrons with mental illnesses (led by Edinburgh Center staff) This year we were fortunate to hire and train one part-time custodian, three new student pages and several new volunteers. Building & Grounds The Waltham Building Department provided many services to the Library, including: interior painting pigeon control at the Main Street entrance roof repair repair to the front steps plumbing repairs Waltham Wires Department assistance included the installation of new computer cabling in the Children s Room. Page 5 of 6
We are grateful for the support of the Waltham Police Officers, Firefighters and EMTs, who have brought their valuable professional skills to the library many times for incidents big and small. As a preventive measure, Police Officers walk through the building about once a day. Additional security cameras and a buzzer for the employee entrance were installed this year with funds from the Friends. A new key control policy was put into effect. The ground floor carpeting installation is complete. Planning With community participation and professional assistance we completed a Long Range Plan for the library, laying out a course for the next five years. In the library s Action Plan (attached) there are five goals; under each goal are several objectives, broken down into specific actions. As of June first, library staff have succeeded in completing 46 of 67 planned actions for Fiscal year 2011. One of our objectives is to plan and implement changes in use of building space to reflect current and future library needs. The groundwork is being laid to develop a building plan for the library that will guide us in modernizing facilities initially designed in the late 1980 s, before digital technology had completely transformed library use along with everything else. State funds for Planning and Design are expected to be available next year. Value The Waltham Public Library loaned nine items per Waltham resident this year. Assuming a conservative estimate of $10 per item, that s a $90 value per resident. Yet the City spent only $52 per resident for Library services. If we were to include the value of programs, reference services, wireless access and meeting space, the true return on investment would prove to be even more dramatic. In Memoriam We miss volunteer Genevieve Allison and retired Trustee Chair Father William Mawhinney, two of the Library s finest. Genny started volunteering at the Library several years ago when she was in her 80 s. She continued past her ninetieth birthday, still the most agile and energetic volunteer of all. The sight of Genny sitting on the floor fixing the lower shelf or arranging a top shelf while standing on her toes on a step stool was a common sight in the second floor stacks. Although she did her volunteer work on the isolated second floor, she managed to befriend library staff members in every department, delighting us with stories of her (still active) acting career, her yoga class, life overseas, and her latest library book. Father Bill served the Library and the City on the Board of Library Trustees for 36 years. Father Bill was a true champion of the library. He will be remembered for his major role raising funds and support for the 1994 Library addition and renovation; for speaking up and showing up for the Library at every opportunity; and for his effectiveness at seeing and doing what needed to be done. When he retired last year after over 30 years as Chair, the Friends scholarship fund was named in his honor. Upon Father Bill s death this spring, checks made out to the Mawhinney Scholarship Fund poured in in unprecedented numbers, a fitting tribute to an extraordinary man. Page 6 of 6