7548-R1_NewGloucester_2019-2020_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 faced as staff, volunteers and citizens, both budgetary and with regard to the Coronavirus public health emergency. 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 over 1000 hours of their time this past 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. In particular, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the work of trustee Allison Kostovick for her years of service, as well as our very first youth trustee, Ceci Keddy, who have both gone on to new pursuits. 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 $99,100 budget. Keep in mind when reviewing this year’s activities that the library was closed due to the Coronavirus emergency from March 17th to June 18th, 2020, before resuming services curbside. Some of the services included in that figure are: • Over 10,000 items checked out for circulation • 361 eBooks/Audiobooks downloaded • 198 People who signed up to use the computers/internet (does not include people who bring their own devices to use WiFi) • 142 new patrons to the library Another effort to keep costs down is successful because of your donations of books and movies. This year 359 books and movies which were donated by patrons, were placed on the shelves. This added approximately $8,975 to the library collection without having to ask the town for additional funding. This makes a huge difference in what we are able to offer our patrons, as the value of the donations almost doubled our annual book and audio/ visual budget of $7,050.

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