2007-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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Oak Bluffs 93,989 ject. September 7th was truly the most exciting day of Truro 36,495 2007 for the library staff and supporters. We are Wellfleet 99,609 finally on our way towards a new library. Dennis Public 65,483 East Dennis 14,514 Community support has been strong as demon- Dennis Memorial 52,955 strated by passage of two debt exclusions(in 2004 and S Dennis 14,533 2007) for the local share of the project. Article Five W Dennis 16,034 passed unanimously at May Town Meeting and was CLAMS Total 2,837,533 followed by passage of the debt exclusion question. Many who voted said they came especially to vote Above is a comparison of Mashpee's library to YES for the library.I'd like to express my thanks to the other Cape & Islands libraries. The chart illustrates Trustees, staff, Friends of the Library and volunteers circulation activity at each CLAMS library in 2007. who put so many hours into asking voters to come out While Mashpee is physically one of the smallest of the and vote.Thank you to all the voters who took the time thirty four CLAMS libraries, it was the seventh high- to vote on Question One. est in number of transactions. This activity level demonstrates how much Mashpee residents value the I was very interested to tour the Ashland Public resources available to them at our library. Library. The demographics, building size, and staffing are very similar to Mashpee. Viewing that library gave In May, I attended a meeting at the Ashland me a good idea of what a 22,000 square foot library Public Library for the libraries on the 2005 State will look like. The building was constructed on two Construction Grant waiting list. Robert Maier, levels with a meeting room about the same size as the Director of the Massachusetts Board of Library one we are planned for the new library. The Young Commissioners (MBLC) gave an update on antici- Adult area and Quiet Study spaces were also features pated movement of the building grant waiting list. we have planned for the new library. Senator Turkington,of Falmouth,had introduced a bill asking for a 15%increase in the basicgrant awards for The Town has interviewed Owners Project all libraries on the waiting list. Maier stressed that it Manager (OPM) firms to oversee the library construc- was critical that Governor Patrick include library con- tion project. Any project over $1,500,000 must struction money in his Five Year capital Plan. Maier employ an OPM by state law. A company has been suggested that towns contact the Governor's office to selected and contract negotiations are underway. The ask that the funding be included in the plan. His plan OPM will assist the town in locating a temporary loca- was released in July and included $100,000,000 in tion for the library during construction and will help library construction funding over five years. Mashpee coordinate the two moves that will be necessary at the was in the second position on the list and expected to beginning and end of the project. They will also be receive funding in first years of the plan. charged with keeping the project on time and on bud- get. I anticipate moving to temporary quarters in the Many residents called the Governor's office to spring of 2008,followed by construction at the current ask that library construction money be included in his site beginning in the fall. The staff is working to with- Capital Plan and that a bond bill be passed to authorize draw any outdated books and old equipment.This will funding the plan.Inclusion in the Governor's plan was simplify moving and lessen the storage expense of half the battle but we are still waiting for passage of items that will not be used in the new library. the bond bill.We are still waiting for passage of a bond bill to authorize the funding. Most recent information Debbie Umina rejoined the library staff as a suggests legislative action early in 2008. Summer Circulation Assistant. Up until 2007, we had been trying to meet customer service needs without Meanwhile in September, Mashpee reached the any additional staffing. We circulate 25%of the year's top of the waiting list and was awarded$2,551,775 for total in just July and August. By 2006, it became construction of a new library. The grant will fund apparent that we had reached the tipping point and about one third of the cost of the project.The proposed could not keep up with the pace using existing staffing. bond bill includes an additional 15% increase on all The library needed extra help during the summer. awards to cover the unprecedented increase in con- Many patrons will remember Debbie because she straction costs since Hurricane Katrina. We are still worked at the library for a number of years before very interested in the passage of the bill because that moving to a position at another library. We were very extra 15% increase is vital to the success of our pro- pleased to welcome her back and having her available i 125 I