2006 Town Report
It has been a busy year at Tucker Free Library! Increased circulation occurred during the traditionally slow months of August and December to round out the total circulation for 2006 at 27,301.
- During the year 213 residents became NEW patrons of the Tucker Free Library; including four non-residents! This brings our total number of patrons to 2560 (53% of Henniker residents are library patrons).
- Our goal for 2007 is to get more of the registered patrons using the library while continuing to increase the number of new patrons signing up to use the library.
- 1100 patrons took advantage of our free internet service, including many who utilized our wireless internet.
The staff of the Tucker Free Library worked diligently and creatively to increase useable space in the library stacks. The reorganization of the non-fiction collection provided the space needed to create a comfortable new fiction browsing area in the New Hampshire Room. Biographies, which were lost at the end of the fiction collection, are now in the non-fiction room. The children’s area and the Junior Room were also evaluated and reorganized to create a more useable space.
Other building and service enhancements this year included:
- Installation of a new walk-up, handicap accessible Book Drop located near the rear entrance of the building. This Book Drop is open for 24 hour returns.
- The rear portico and entrance, handicapped railing, and windows on the lower level were all painted during 2006.
- A wireless environment was created for patrons with laptops and other portable devices to use the internet.
- The Tucker Free Library was a first round participant library in the New Hampshire Downloadable Audio Book Program. This service offers over 1200 audiobooks that can be downloaded onto personal MP3 players 24 hours a day/365 days a year. In five months 125 titles have been downloaded by Henniker residents. (funded by the Friends of the Tucker Free Library)
- Expanded Reader Advisory Service including online reading lists and in-stack read-alike displays.
- Tuesday morning Pre-school Activity Time is now offered by library staff.
- ART (Art and Reading Together). Local artists designed artistic renderings of their favorite books using the universal symbol for library. Community and library staff members had the opportunity to submit their efforts. All contributions were part of a colorful display on the Main Floor in March.
- Expanded display areas for new library materials.
- Library courtesy cards for Henniker Community School and New England College non-resident staff members.
- The Tucker Free Library continues to participate in the college work-study program with New England College. This program benefits the library, the college, the community, and most importantly the student.
- Collaboration continues with the Henniker Community School. Three classes come to the Tucker Free Library bi-weekly. The HCS librarian has provided the summer reading list to Tucker Free Library. This enables us to purchase books on the list so Henniker students have an opportunity to read all the recommended titles.
- Second copies of all the Great Stone Face books were purchased this summer because of the demand for these titles. It is anticipated that the same may happen with the Ladybug books next spring. Single copies of the Isinglass and Flume books are available in the expanded Young Adult collection on the Main Floor of Tucker Free Library.
- Talk It Up at Tucker Free, our adult book discussion group explored Chinese history. During 2007 we will read and discuss titles that deal with human sensory perception.
During the winter of 2006 the Tucker Free Library launched a new circulation package that enabled the Henniker community to access our catalog and their library records using a home internet connection. This new application catapulted library services to our patrons into the 21st Century.
- Staff worked to launch our own website with enhanced library content on the site (funded by the Friends of the Tucker Free Library).
- The Tucker Free Library online catalog provides patrons the opportunity to check on the availability of materials at the library as well as checking on the status of their personal accounts all from the comfort of their home on their computers.
The circulation package was selected because it was a new generation of product from our then current software vendor. Database migration was basic and expense was minimal. Unfortunately, during the summer of 2006 this software company was sold to a larger one with its own software packages.
- Customer technical support plummets to non-existent immediately following the buyout and support for upgrades is promised but sporadic.
- A large list of Tucker Free Library issues goes unaddressed. When these issues are finally acknowledged and recognized as problems they are “escalated” to the Development Department; these issues have yet to be resolved.
- Because of the proprietary nature of the software package, glitches that we reported to the company remain unresolved. Tucker Free Library is unable to consult with independent database experts to correct the identified problems.
It is for these reasons the Trustees of the Tucker Free Library have directed library personnel to start investigating new software packages. It is our goal to find an affordable program that allows us to maintain the level of service our patrons have grown accustomed to.
- Thus far in our research, there appears to be no options available in the same price range that we have been paying; $950 for the software with an annual support fee of $450.
- New packages range in price from $14,000 to $70,000 with annual fees of approximately $2500-$3500.
- We believe we can maintain the current system for two to three years. There is time to save money for a new circulation package.
- It is critical to continue offering ONLINE services to our patrons.
All of the activities and projects at the Tucker Free Library are possible because of the support of the taxpayers of Henniker, volunteers, and special contributions. Without this support, the Tucker Free Library could not be the integral community resource that it is.
The Friends of the Tucker Free Library provide not only volunteer support at library programs but have made significant financial contributions for special projects. This support is possible because of the monies raised at the annual Bookfest.
- The Friends fund the Summer Reading Program.
- The Friends have paid our annual fee for the New Hampshire Downloadable Audio Book Program.
- The Friends have paid our annual service fee for our website, .
- The Friends fund the holiday craft program and they are funding the Pre-School Activity program.
We are especially grateful to the officers of the Friends for their years of dedication, support, and service: Janine Bates, Marilyn Borgendale, Mary Corsetti, Laurie Goldberg, and Marilyn Knapp.
Library staff, big kids, little tykes, parents, and Friends danced to music of a disc jockey on the front lawn of the library to kick-off the Tucker Free Library summer program. A yellow boa constrictor in the New Hampshire Room, a giant sea turtle at the main circulation desk, and many guest readers were a few of our visitors to the Tucker Free Library this summer.
- The Summer Reading Program of 2006 began on the last day of school. This strategy allowed us to hook the kids on reading before the life of leisure took control.
- 92 Henniker children read 620 books!
- The Friends of the Tucker Free Library donated over $950 to support the Summer Reading Program!
- DJ Dave provided the musical atmosphere free of charge and White Mountain Kettle Corn donated snacks for all in attendance.
The Bookfest, (previously known as the Friends of the Tucker Free Library Book, Bake, Flea, and Plant Sale) was held on a beautiful Saturday of Columbus Day Weekend.
- Continuing to bridge the gap between the library and community resources, we sought out the assistance of New England College Athletic Department to move our books. The women’s lacrosse team came to our aid and quickly moved over 400 boxes of books from the attic to the grange for the sale.
- Members of the Honor Society at John Stark helped breakdown the sale on Saturday.
- The support of the community, both in the assistance with the sale and the people who purchased the used books, was greatly appreciated.
|
|