by David Flint
The Stephentown Memorial Library has shown some remarkable growth over the last five years, and particularly in the past three years it’s as if, in Library Director Laurenne Teachout’s words, the library “has been springing to life.”
The story appears in the numbers handed out at the Annual Meeting held on Thursday, February 24. The Annual Statistics Comparison for the last five years show that circulation is up by 29% from about 16,000 in 2006 to close to 21,000 in 2010. The total number of registered borrowers has increased by 43%. There were 250 new borrowers added in 2008 alone, the year that SML celebrated the grand opening of the Library’s new wing.
What has brought in all these new patrons, in addition to the spacious and attractive new facility, is very likely the increase in Library holdings and programs. Holdings are up by 29%, from about 11,000 in 2006 to over 14,000 in 2010. New items added each year had been in the range of 500 but, with more space to put them, that doubled in 2008, and in 2009 new items totaled 1,258.
Taking advantage of the new facilities, the Library has made great efforts to provide more programs
that are of interest to people in the community. Program sessions increased from 51 in 2007 to 166 in 2010 and in the same period the number of people attending programs at the Library went from 844 to 1,728, quite an accomplishment for such a small library. Programs for children increased from 35 to 102 and the number of children attending rose from 605 to 1,078. The Library has recognized, too, the need to provide interesting things for young adults, the “tweens.” In 2007 there was only one program held for this group with five tweens attending. In 2010 the Library held 22 sessions for this group, attended by 255 young adults.
Another attraction for patrons of course is the availability of computers connected to the internet. Three computers in 2007 accommodated 1,040 users. The Library now has eight computers used by well over 4,000 patrons in 2010. Many people also drop in to the Library to use their own laptops or hand held devices, taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi. All of this has resulted in a 100% increase in Library visits since 2007.
According to Teachout, SML continues to see an encouraging number of new borrower registrations each month, between 8-13, including borrowers who are renewing their expired registrations and those who are discovering SML for the first time. And exciting developments coming this year include expansion of the children’s area and the development of a teen area, both projects funded with a State Construction grant.
At the Annual Meeting Library Board President Susan Brissette introduced fellow Board members Linda Griffin Smith, Pam Kueppers, Janet Ivory, Jerome Tracy, Thom Pecoraro, Mona Berg, Jennifer Cummings, John Meekins, Lynda Lewis and Betsy Feathers (not present).
Brissette presented a PowerPoint® presentation that showed the overall state of the Library with regard to its budget, long range plan and fundraising goals. She emphasized that the Library receives only half of its operating budget from the Town of Stephentown, along with the County and the State. The remaining portion must be funded through the annual appeal, fundraising events and assorted grants. While this is extremely challenging, the Library continues to operate in a fiscally responsible manner and to provide superior services to the community. A new Friends of the Library group is forming to address the fundraising needs of the Library, and all are welcome to join in this effort.
Brissette then went on to credit the many hardworking staff and volunteers who support the efforts of the Library in so many different ways. The following were recognized with a gift and heartfelt thanks: Library staff – Laurenne Teachout, Connie Ekback, Gina Mateer and Rebekkah Corbett for extra efforts above and beyond their normal job duties, and volunteers Lisa Wheeler, Jan Rogers, Frank May, Tony Beverly, Libby Cass, Drew Kells, Brittne Jon-Thomas, Madeline Peterson, Madison Roscoe, Maggie Gordon, Theresa Mateer, Lyndsey Miller, Annie Cass and Maddie Teachout.
Also commended were Beacon Power for their generous funding of the new Foundation Center database for grant seekers at SML and Cumberland Farms for providing refreshments for Tween Night events at the Library.
The meeting concluded with time for refreshments and a chance to look around the Library. Financial reports and other handouts are available at the Library for those who were unable to attend the meeting.