1998-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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11.48 items per capita from a collection that is 40% presentations) while allowing the storyteller to have smaller. her hands free for puppets or fingerplays.A new book- case has arrived for the Parenting Collection. These Some of the major accomplishments at the library books are housed in the Children's area for the conve- were adding a Children's Librarian to the staff,receiv- nience of parents who'd like to browse while their ing an Early Childhood Mini-Grant, adding Friday children are attending programs. The library will con- afternoons to the library's schedule and providing a tinue to add materials on topics of interest to parents. personal computer with word processing software for We welcome suggestions for topics you would like the public use. Some of the furniture has been rearranged library to add to this collection. in the Reference and Children's areas, to accommo- date new furniture and to make these areas easier for The library had received a number of requests to patrons to use. Some of the lounge chairs have been add some hours of service on Fridays. These requests replaced with a table in the Reference area. This has were made after the library's budget had been made using heavy reference books easier since patrons approved and there was no money included to expand have a place to set them down while browsing through hours.The Library Trustees and I worked on a plan to them. see how this request might be accommodated within the constraints of the existing budget. After surveying Janet Burke, our new Children's Librarian joined patron usage of the library at various times of day, a the staff in September. Since then, she has visited all decision was reached to rearrange the Tuesday/Thursday the elementary schools in town and has hosted field hours from noon to one o'clock. Using funds which trips to the library for all the first grade classes. Janet had been set aside for the Children's Librarian (posi- is a masterful storyteller, so the children and teachers tion was vacant during candidate search), plus the have had quite a treat hearing her read them a number hours from Tuesday/Thursday, the library was able to open from one to five on Fridays. A budget request to of stories. She's also taken over the preschool story continue these hours is included in the library's programs on Monday mornings. All sessions have FY2000 budget request. Patron usage of the Friday been full and children and parents have enjoyed her hours has grown steadily and many have commented stories, songs and crafts. Her graphic skills have that they like being able to use the library on Fridays. brightened up the Children's area and given it a warm, inviting look.If you haven't been in lately, stop in and The library now has a personal computer available meet her and see the wonderful atmosphere she's cre- ated on a reservation basis for people who would like to do for the library. word processing. This should be helpful to patrons who are doing resumes and to students who need to I was very pleased to be awarded amini-grant of type school reports. Patrons interested in using the PC $6,000 from the Board of Library Commissioners for should register at the circulation desk and reserve a Early Childhood programs. Mashpee was one of six- time slot. We would love to be able to offer more teen communities chosen throughout the state. The online services and workstations, but we've used up purpose of the grant is to provide materials and pro- all the available floor space.The library is working on grams for children under six; an area where the library plans to expand the library and more details on that U: was not already providing services. The focus of our will be available during the upcoming year. grant was to provide programs for children under three, to create a collection of Parenting materials and Respectfully submitted, to provide programs and outreach to parents, nursery { schools, and daycare providers.Programs and services Helene B. DeFoe for the young child are a critical need since research Library Director has documented that so much of brain development takes place in the infant/toddler years.The grant cycle A runs until the end of September 1999. Thus far, the library has increased its collection of board books for toddlers, added toys and puppets, and purchased a cassette/CD player for using music in the programs. An All-In-One Storycenter, which com- ;, bines a flannel board, white board and an easel for holding over-sized Big Books,has proven to be a very ' popular purchase.Teachers and visiting librarians who have seen it have been amazed at its versatility. It has been invaluable for providing a place to rest the Big I Books (a very large format of picture book for group 130