Report of the Southwick Public Library 2009
We now have Value Line - a resource made up of more than a dozen print products which are used by more than half-a-million investors for timely information on stocks, mutual funds, special situations, options and convertibles. It was made possible by a generous 2009 grant from the Sarah Gillett Services for the Elderly, Inc. of Westfield, which supplied the funding to purchase current retirement and financial guidance materials for the library’s collection, ensuring that we had the means to purchase Value Line. Besides being requested by many of our patrons over the years, it is a response to the library’s 5-Year Plan which also created a Business and Career Center featuring timely materials on those topics from all formats including books, CD books, videos, and periodicals as well as the on-line platform LearningExpressLibrary.
We were also very pleased to receive a grant from Shurtleff Children’s Services which promoted the love of the earth, and an awareness of alternative means of preserving natural resources for preschool through high school aged children. The grant provided materials of all kinds including books and videos, and performances for two age groups (K-6th grade and 7-12th grade) by nature songwriter Jay Mankita who also explained how his “Veggie Van” ran to 44 students.
The library also received six grants from the Southwick Cultural Council, a division of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which resulted in six programs involving all-aged children. Two Theatrical make-up programs involving16 enthusiastic students who became aliens, clowns and the like; and two performances by Frisbee World Champion Todd Brodeur involving 31 cheering youngsters were staged. Also, a Mad Science program lured 95 children to a fascinating program involving air currents, and a Mother Goose program devoted to the very young saw nine of them enthralled as their nine accompanying caregivers watched.
The council also supported two other entertaining and informative programs in 2009 including: a September family program by Richard Clark entitled And Now…Mark Twain which played to 69 enthralled attendees; and an adult art demonstration by Susan Tilton Pecora attended by 16 which resulted in a completed, 20”x30” watercolor of the library which is now part of its permanent collection.
The Community Partnership Council was the supporter of a very successful Story Stars Animal Program held in two sessions in March which involved 34 children and 22 adults. The group also funded two Zoo-on-the-Go sessions in May which saw 50 children and 19 adults attending.
The Friends of the Library also provided support by funding two programs. The first saw 220 kindergarteners initiated into the library through magic shows delivered by Ed Popielarczyk in two sessions so every kindergartener could attend. The children were later given a tour of the Children’s Library as well as information as to how to become members. The second also featured two sessions-these of Chinese cooking. Staged in April, they involved 28 patrons who learned how to prepare quick-fix, low-fat Chinese entrees, and then sampled the selections.
Three other programs for adults topped off 2009’s offerings. They involved a March environmental program, which attracted 11; a June card making workshop, sponsored and hosted by Trustee Nancy Zdun, which saw 10 patrons fabricating their own greetings; and a November Broadway musical tour performed by Vincent Cassotta, which boasted 41 attendees appreciating the musical selections chosen. Also, eight adult Book Discussion sessions facilitated by Lois Justin saw 102 participants quite an increase from the 80 participants noted in 2008.
Adults broke all records of entries made by logging 310 during their 7th Annual Suntime Reading Program in 2009 compared to the 239 logged in 2008. And, they filled out 70 Annual Surveys in April which give us guidance as to the type of programming and materials patrons would like to see in the library as well as how, when, and why they come to the library.
Our table at the Kids’ Fair in the Southwick Rec Center in April saw 35 visitors who took a chance on receiving a canvas library tote filled with logoed items and reading material. Another outreach program involved Children’s Librarians who visited two schools in June gearing the students up for the Suntime Reading Program: Starship Adventure At Your Library. Librarians addressed 425 students at Woodland Elementary School, and 430 at the Powder Mill Middle School. Finally, our YA Specialist took part in an October Meet and Greet with 16 other Community Partnership participants.
Library statistics proved interesting. While our computer usage of 3870 in 2009 did not trump the 3905 uses we saw in 2008, our reference questions for 2009 of 3200 outdid the 3141 we saw in 2008, and the 2009 high of 708 new patrons bested the 664 we saw in 2008.
In addition, statistics for the online platform LearningExpresssLibrary at its two-year anniversary in July of 2009 showed 155 had taken tests covering a wide variety of college and career instruments outdoing the 67 noted in 2008.
The Children’s Suntime Reading Program in 2009 showed 1338 children and YoungAdults(YAs) visits outdoing the 1183 noted in 2008. These figures break down as 345 children and 65 YAs making a total of 1220 and 118 visits respectively. Their reading allowed them to vie for four suitable-by-age prizes a week for a six-week period in the case of children, and one appropriate prize per week in the case of YAs. Additionally, 118 children made six crafts, one for each week of the program, which reinforced the starship theme including orbiting alien, planet mobile, alien mask, space shuttle, and astronaut finger puppet. Also, 217 children and 41 YAs made drop-in crafts to celebrate the seasons and the holidays. This bested the 182 crafts made by children in 2008.
Saturday reads for kids ages 2-5 saw 80 children and their caregivers who joined in on the fun enjoying tales of the seasons, while 2008 noted 62 attendees for Saturday reads. Seven monthly storytimes in three sessions per month alternating those for 2-year-olds, and those for 3-5 year olds saw 180 on hand to listen, and then take part in crafts, and song activities. A special, family storytime for Dr. Seuss’ March birthday was staged and featured Asst. Principal Jonathan Rodgers of Woodland Elementary School who entertained the 29 children and their caregivers with the wacky tales.
Besides the reads and those programs already noted that were funded by various agencies, several programs hosted by the Children and YA Librarians were staged during 2009. In April a National Library Week Contest saw 12 participants while a family film series in July noted 14 attendees. A Suntime Reading Space Rock Scavenger Hunt noted 134 eager participants and a brown bag Book Discussion featuring Sign of the Beaver noted nine attendees. The activities were rounded out by 43 children who completed the Favorite Book/ Tree Bulletin Board. We should also note that 12 birthday pencils and five baby kits, to welcome Southwick newborns, were distributed in 2009.
In February and October a total of 24 YAs attended a two-day training session to become volunteers at the library. Twelve participated in a March Teen Art Scavenger Hunt using Picturing America Grant artwork, while 15 participated in an April Teen Poetry Contest. In July, eight teens painted rocks for the Suntime Reading Program, followed in August by three teens who participated in The Red Kayak book discussion, and in October by eight YAs who let their opinions be known through a YA Fun Survey.
In addition to the support of the generous contributors already noted, the library wishes to thank Trustees Michael McMahon for his gift of serials, and Carol Geryk for her Knitting Program.
Also, we are indebted to the support of the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners as well as the many local businesses that support the library’s activities, and the teen and adult volunteers who unselfishly contribute to the well being of the library thereby ensuring its smooth operation.
Respectfully submitted,
Anne M. Murray, Director