7538-R2_ML&P_TownOfBuxton_2019-2020_Web

Berry Memorial Library 93 Main St., Bar Mills, ME 04004 (207) 929-5484 www.berrylibrary.com berrylibrary93@gmail.com

The past year has been a strange one for the Berry Memorial Library, as I’m sure it has been for most businesses and organizations, due to the COVID pandemic. I had only been here as the Library’s Director for 7 weeks when we had to, along with other Town of Buxton departments, close due to the pandemic. I continued to work at the Library during the lockdown to do some administrative projects. In June, we re- opened for Contactless book signout only, meaning patrons could email book requests and then pick them up on a table in the Library’s entryway, and return them to our outdoor bookdrop. In July, we re-opened the Library building with Covid protocols and restrictions in place. Those are still in effect. We allow a maximum of 4 patrons in the Library at any one time, for a maximum time period of 30 minutes. We still have a few families who prefer and feel safer using our Contactless book pickup. The current Library hours are the following: Mondays: 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.; Tuesdays: 4 – 7 p.m.; Saturdays: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. The Library continues to offer FREE internet access, both Wi-Fi and also public access computers for patron use. Photocopying and printing services are available for $.15 per page. We also offer Inter Library Loan service. All of these services are offered only within Covid protocols. Also, the Library offers print books for all ages, audiobooks, and a small collection of DVDs. The Library has a website (www.berrylibrary.com) In addition to posting announcements on the site, our automated card catalog can be accessed by any computer or device through our website. We also maintain a Facebook page, which we use to announce upcoming events. During the year, we replaced our printer and one of our computers. These replacements were badly needed. This past summer, even in the pandemic, we collaborated with 3 other area libraries in offering a summer reading incentive program for children.We received a grant from the Narraganset Foundation to help us obtain new children’s books and programming supplies. At our Library, we had 10 – 12 kids actively participating in our incentive reading program. They read a total of 92 hours collectively. We hope to continue collaboration with the same libraries this year in, once again, offering a children’s summer reading incentive program. Because we are unable to offer in-person programming for either kids or adults right now, due to the pandemic, I have started offering monthly Take & Make Craft packets for kids for the Fall, Winter, & Spring months, and offering them each WEEK during the summer. Also, on the Library’s Facebook page, I have been sharing recordings of me reading stories for young children. (approx.twice per week) Our goal is to serve the community. Please let us know how we can best meet your literary needs . Happy Reading! Respectfully Submitted,

Valerie Messana Library Director Berry Memorial Library 93 Main St., Bar Mills, ME 04004

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