7928-R5_NewGloucester_2020-2021_AnnualReport_Web

ANNUAL REPORT Library

This year’s report chronicles not only the activities and significant resource that the library plays for the town, but also the challenges that we have continued to face, as new staff open in a new budgetary year during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. We are honored to be recognized by many as being at the center of our community. The library recognizes the importance of that community and strives to offer services and events to enrich everyone. As always, the trustees would like to start this report by making special mention of our volunteers. Our volunteers, which include both young adults and adults, donated 17 hours of their time in this shortened fiscal year. Having volunteers of all ages helps the library recognize the needs and stay connected with all the different generations in New Gloucester. The library is a better place because of the time and effort that our volunteers expend. The trustees are pleased to let the town know that the Maine State Library estimates the library provided well over $200,000 of services to the citizens of New Gloucester on its $102,033 budget. Keep in mind when reviewing this year’s activities that the library was open limited hours for curbside service due to the Coronavirus emergency from July 1st to Sept 15 th , 2020, before closing and staff being let go, after the budget was rejected. A special election took place on Dec 15 th to approve the above budget. Hiring of new staff was complete by mid-February 2021 and curbside services resumed from Feb 23 rd to March 29 th . The library building finally opened to browsing on March 30 th . During this truncated service year, the library staff have been able to offer to the community: • Over 3083 items checked out for circulation • 2019 eBooks/Audiobooks downloaded • 91 new patrons to the library • New library cards with a 14-digit barcode have been issued to existing and new patrons. This will allow our library to join the MILS consortium (Maine InfoNet Library System for Maine’s Small Libraries), increasing access to over hundreds of thousands of titles. The application has been submitted with hopes of joining the consortium in 2022.

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