2012 Annual Report

HAZEN MEMORIAL LIBRARY

 

The Hazen Memorial Library is a community center where all age groups gather for meaningful programs, social interaction, wireless internet access, free public computers with printing, fax service, copy machine, recreational reading, research, magazines, newspapers, audios, movies and online services such as e-books and databases. Parents and caregivers of young children are all welcome to enjoy programs specifically designed to encourage literacy and social skills.

We encourage you to use your town library and take advantage of all its services and programs. Visit our website at www.shirleylibrary.org, where you will find the information you need to know about using the library and gives you access to electronic resources, such as e-books, videos and audiobooks to borrow for free on your own device, and databases for your research needs. Or, please stop by in person – we’d love to meet you!

Hazen Library cards are free, and they also give you borrowing privileges at many other libraries in the central and western region of the state. Check it out!

Hazen Library Building

The library building is now 15 years old, and in addition to the regular preventive maintenance activities, the following improvements were made this year: the meeting room was painted with help from the students at Job Corps. Toilets were replaced with low-water usage models. Copy machines were purchased in January 2012 to replace older models that could no longer be repaired. Color copying is now available for those who request it at the front desk, at 50 cents per page.

 

CIRCULATION/SERVICES

The Hazen Memorial Library is pleased to report a 12% increase in circulation in FY12. On average, 1,046 people visit the library each week, and borrow 2,700 library items. Refer to the table for more statistics.

 

 

PROGRAMS

Children

Children’s programs are a vital aspect of library services, and we provide a rich children's collection including picture books, board books, beginning reader, fiction, non-fiction, magazines, music, movies, audio books on CD, and resources for parents and child care providers, reference books, databases and computer stations with internet access. Many children especially enjoy the play and reading area with puzzles, building blocks, a train set, and new “tree” dollhouse, generously provided by the Friends of the Library.

“Mother Goose on the Loose”, a program for babies up to age 3 is still going strong since its inception in 2005. Preschool story time attracts families with children ages 3-5 eager to hear age appropriate stories and create fun craft projects. New programs included the Kindergarten and First Grade after school story time, and 2nd and 3rd grade Book Club.

The Youth Services librarian developed and led 198 programs in FY12, for infants to teenagers, with attendance of 4,938. This is a 55% increase in programming since FY11.

The Friends of the Hazen Memorial Library sponsored Tykes Itsy-Bitsy Yoga, Harry Potter Party, Trick or Treat Magic Show, Teen Scavenger Hunt, Pizza and Pages, Creature Teachers, Hunger Games Trivia Party, Ice Cream Social and summer reading prizes, Music with Nancy, and a Pumpernickel Puppet Show. In addition, the Friends fund all the craft supplies for story time.

Summer Reading

Hazen library supports and provides resources for the summer reading requirements of all area schools. In addition, we offer a summer reading program based on a nationwide theme. A total of 154 children participated in the library’s 2012 “Dream Big - Read” summer reading program. All funding for the program comes from sources outside of the town budget, as follows: The Shirley Cultural Council, a major donation from Bemis Associates, the Library Trustees Fund, and the Friends of the Hazen Library.

Summer programs included: Magic by Scott Jameson, Jedi Knight Training program, Museum of Science “Super Cold Science” program, Pizza and Pages, teen scavenger hunt, weekly Lego club, daily reading prize giveaways, kite raffles, and the grand finale ice cream social and reading prize award night, with the grand prize, an i-pod, as chosen by the participants.

Adults

Adult programs are funded by sources outside of the appropriated budget, mainly the Friends of the Hazen Memorial Library. Programs held in FY12 were: summer reading program for adults, with prizes such as Kimball’s ice cream coupons, Barnes and Noble gift certificates, and the grand prize, a Sony e-reader. Funding for adult summer reading came from the Library Trustees Fund. Gardener’s Exchange meetings; book reading and signing with Peter Longley, a presentation from author David Brody; candy making classes, Shirley Recreation’s Senior and Adult Yoga classes. In FY12, the library sponsored or hosted a total of 195 programs for adults with 3,254 participants. This is a 10% increase from FY11.

GRANTS

1. The minimum State Aid requirements were met therefore the library was certified to receive $9,164 from this grant.
2. The Small Libraries in Networks grant was also received, which applies a $2,500 savings on our C/W Mars network membership fees.
3. An LSTA grant from the MBLC for $7,500 was approved and implemented from October 2011 to September 2012. Staff members were provided training in reader’s advisory, and the library’s collection of historical fiction was supplemented with books, audios and videos for all age groups. The grant also funded “A Visit with Louisa May Alcott”.
4. The Shirley Cultural Council awarded us a grant to fund the summer reading kickoff event with a performance by magician Scott Jameson.

DONATIONS

The library gratefully acknowledges donations from the following:

1. A donor who wishes to remain anonymous gave $2,000 to fund music programs for children.
2. Arthur Banks donated 150 books of our choice from his estate.
3. Bemis Associates donated $1,000 to the Friends of the Library to support our summer reading program.

FRIENDS

Many popular events were again made possible in FY12 by the hard work and inspiration of our Friends. All the following museum passes are paid for by the group’s fundraising efforts: Butterfly Place, Boston Children’s Museum, Ecotarium, Fruitlands, Massachusetts State Parks, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Museum of Science, and the New England Aquarium. Summer reading prizes, programs and other children’s special performances are funded entirely by the Friends. Visit the Children’s Room to enjoy the new tree doll house so generously given by our Friends of the Library.

The Friends sponsored the Holiday Fair and giant cookie sale fundraiser in November, and an Antiques Appraisal Day in March. You can also support the Friends’ efforts by buying books from the ongoing lobby book sale, and by purchasing items from Amazon from the carousel on the library home page, www.shirleylibrary.org. A portion of each purchase benefits the Friends.

Your Friends membership dues and other donations keep these programs and museum passes available to all. Look for the Friends membership flyer in the spring, and consider renewing your donation, or become a new member. The Friends are a 501(c)3 organization, and membership dues are tax-deductible. If you are looking for a rewarding volunteer experience, check the Library’s online calendar of events and come to a Friends meeting. Every library needs Friends!

VOLUNTEERS

As library services become more in demand, the contributions of our faithful volunteers are more important than ever. We give grateful thanks to all our volunteers for their dedicated service. The Senior Work-Off program has been very helpful for us at the library. A very special “thank you” goes as always, to Barbara Masiero for her many years of exceptional service to the library. We are so fortunate to have you on our team.

We also thank our teen volunteers who help Miss Kathleen in the Children’s Room with decorating, crafts, and keeping the shelves looking great!

STAFF

Thanks to the Hazen Memorial Library staff: Director Debra Roy, Sue Cusick, Kathleen Farrar, Chris McNeal, Mary Lou Clark, Carol Landers, Steven Banks, and Shirley Lanteigne, whose commitment to provide the best customer service possible make our library successful and this board a pleasure on which to serve.

Our very special thanks and best wishes go to Mary Lou Clark, who “retired” in May 2012, after many years of service to the library and the townspeople of Shirley. Mary Lou, nobody can catalog quite like you! You are greatly missed, and we wish you all the best in your retirement!

Respectfully submitted,

Trustees of the Hazen Memorial Library, FY12

Elizabeth Quinty, Chair

Elizabeth West, Vice-Chair

Heidi Korhonen, Secretary

Dwight W. Smith, Treasurer

Judy Stanislaw

Cornelia Donovan