By Sara Rogers
Submitted on September 8, 2024
Hours & Library Service
In August the library was open to the public for 99 hours. We had a total of 291 patrons, 24 of which came in to use the computer. We had a total circulation of 491 items which includes 207 items borrowed from other libraries in UHLS. For our items, 385 were borrowed by our patrons and at other libraries and 194 of these were renewed. The highest category were adult fiction at 34.%, followed by juvenile fiction at 33.2% and then adult nonfiction at 10.2%. The cash drawer for this month was $45.00 even.
UHLS & Director’s Association
There was no DA meeting in August. There is a new Library Director at the Menands Public Library, Sarah Kerr-Mace, who previously worked at the Grafton Community Library where she assisted them in providing youth services to the community as well as working at the circulation desk.
Facilities
Effective since the end of July we have been leaving the mini-splits on and running set on the cool setting, to an average temperature of 73. This appears to be more cost effective as the electricity bill for August was considerably less.
The large valance fixtures in the meeting room still need the light bulbs replaced.
Displays
The Summer reading program displays and monthly book displays increased our circulation in August. Artwork created from participants in the SRP was added to the display.
We are still scheduled to receive the Messages from Survivors display late fall, early winter but I don’t have the exact dates yet. I do have pictures of the larger scale displays if anyone would like to see them please let me know. We will be receiving 6 posters which will be 24”x48” that will need to be hung in the library for the display.
Technology
The Xerox copier was removed from the library on August 22. The new HP printer is working well and will print double sided from a mobile device or laptop. The cost of one new toner is half the cost of the toner for our older HP printer.
Responsibilities
Circulation desk
I am currently working at the circulation desk a total of 15 hours per week which primarily involves checking in the courier bin as well as any rotating collections, checking out items, assisting patrons with inquiries, fulfilling the daily paging list, and inspecting and shelving items that are returned to the library.
Cataloging
In the past 30 days, 12 new adult fiction books and 2 adult non-fiction books were added into our collection, 11 of which were purchased and 3 were donated. For our juvenile collections 1 new picture book and 2 new juvenile fiction books were added with one donation. For our DVD collection a total of 4 were added and all were donated.
Three packages of cataloging stickers were purchased (Large Print Book, Christmas and LGBTQ). Reference stickers have also been added to older, significantly worn, and/or rare books for library use only as well as the items in our local history collection.
The process of repairing, withdrawing, and replacing items in our collections remains ongoing.
Programming
We continue to offer weekly Story Time and Stitch Group as well our monthly Book Club. I am considering changing the day of our Story Time as it’s held on the same day as the Petersburgh, Grafton and Stephentown library’s Story Times. I haven’t decided on a new day yet. I would still like to offer an afternoon basket weaving and/or basic embroidery group for retired folks yet I haven’t set this up yet.
Summer Reading Program We wrapped up our SRP on August 16. I drew the winning raffle tickets for the baskets and notified the winners that day. We had a total of 6 who won (2 adults, 2 teens and 2 children). There was a post on Facebook and the winners were also listed on our website. Meagan assisted in gathering the statistics about our SRP that are required for the NYS report. I will be adding in everything to a Google form to be submitted to UHLS by the end of September.
Community Outreach
BFTL is now an institutional partner with New York State’s Talking Book and Braille Library. We have a talking book player at the library that is for demonstration purposes only. Any person(s) who would like to receive their own talking book player and book cartridge, must fill out an application. We have them at the library and it can also be found on their website https://www.nysl.nysed.gov/tbbl. Once the application is complete, it must be brought into the library and then submitted either by email, fax, or regular mail. The equipment will then be mailed to the applicant’s home, free of charge.
Our StoryWalk® is currently displaying the original book: How Do Dinosaurs Learn To Read by Jane Yolen. I created a user survey which was laminated and added to the StoryWalk® courtesy of Elisa Hammermith. I have yet to receive any responses from it. For this fall, we can have another StoryWalk® made for us courtesy of UHLS or we can borrow one from their collection.
The library hosted a community forum for the BCSD. The subject was updates to their Code of Conduct Policy with a Q & A session. There were six people who attended the meeting.
Policies
We are required by New York State Law to have a Sexual Harassment Policy. This is a question that is asked on the NYS Annual Report so it was brought to my attention that we need to add one.
E-Content
Hoopla: We currently have 42 registered users with 2 new users, a total circulation of 24, which amounts to $59.53 in spending for the month. Audiobooks amount to $58.48 and 1 ebook for $1.05.
Overdrive: In the last 30 days, we had 220 checkouts. There are currently 122 holds (81 audiobooks and 41 Ebooks) with an average wait time of 36.17 days.
Additional Notes/On-going Projects
Meagan Salisbury’s last day was on August 31. She is taking over for a staff member at the Grafton Community Library who has since left to become the Library Director at Menands Public Library. I will be taking over her Saturday shifts with the exception of one Saturday a month that Nancy will be working. There is a help wanted sign in the library posted on our bulletin board and I will be adding the opening to social media as well as to our website very soon.
New library cards haven’t been ordered yet so we will probably need to replenish them by the end of the year or the beginning of next year. The vendors that I received quotes from were quite pricey and required a minimum order of 500. I purchased a stamp with our logo which I have been using in our new acquisitions. I would also like to buy a table cover with our name/logo that can be used on a table at outreach events.