South Kingstown Public Library Annual Report 2009

 

 

SOUTH KINGSTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY

ANNUAL REPORT 2009

MISSION STATEMENT

 

The South Kingstown Public Library provides free, convenient and equal access to print and non-print materials, services, and technologies that support our community’s informational, educational, cultural, and recreational needs.
                       
Profile

 

A 1975 Town ordinance established the South Kingstown Public Library, uniting three previously independent libraries. This free public library system is comprised of the central library at Peace Dale and two branch libraries - Kingston Free Library, located at the corner of Route 138 and Upper College Road in Kingston, and Robert Beverly Hale Library, located on Route 1 in Matunuck.  A seven-member Board of Trustees appointed by the Town Council for three-year terms governs the library system. Annual operating revenues are derived from local tax appropriations, private endowments, overdue fines, and State grant-in-aid, appropriated under RIGL §29-6-9.

 

The Library operates with a Library Director under the direction of the Board of Trustees. Staff consists of 12 full-time and 20 part-time employees, including 8 professional librarians.  The Library is open 130 concurrent hours and 60 unique hours per week.

 

Core library services include: information for school, work or personal enrichment; access to a varied collection of print, non-print and electronic resources including digital media; educational and cultural programs for all age groups; meeting rooms and study space.  PCs are available providing access to the Internet, Microsoft Office software and online reference sources, which are also available from homes or businesses with the use of a library card.  Wireless access to the Internet is offered at all library locations.

 

A member of the Ocean State Libraries consortium, the library offers card holders access to seventy-two library collections in the state of Rhode Island.

 

Accomplishments FY2008-2009

 

Circulation

 

A total of 313,716 items were checked out to patrons in 2008-2009.  South Kingstown has the 8th highest circulation of library materials among Rhode Island’s forty-eight public libraries. Walk-in attendance remains steady with an estimated 215,600 patrons during the year.

 

Registered Borrowers

There were 14,486 registered library card holders as of June 30, 2009.

 

Information Requests

 

During the past year, library staff received 28,221 requests for information. Of this number, staff members were able to provide direct answers to 27,577 questions for a fill rate of 97.7%.

 

Electronic Information Services

 

Electronic resources are available from within the library and remotely from homes or businesses.  5,763 searches were conducted using our subscription databases. The library maintains a Web site providing information and access to the Internet; Web site information retrievals totaled 37,700. Public computer workstations are located at the three library locations and were utilized 28,323 times during the year.

 

Library Collection/New Acquisitions

 

As of June 30, 2009, the number of books in the library system totaled 66,769.  Non-print holdings (audio books, DVDs, videos, computer software and recorded music) totaled 10,132 items.

 

During the past year, 5,327 books and audiovisual items were added to the collection. In addition, 6,236 books and audiovisual items were withdrawn from the collection as a result of either being outdated (in terms of information, poor condition, loss, or damage) or decline in usage. The library subscribes to 274 periodicals and 14 newspapers.

 

Library Programs

 

Total attendance at the 684 library-sponsored programs this past year numbered 17,771. Early childhood programs accounted for 29.6% of the attendance. Programs for children in grades K-5 and young adults (grades 6-10) ranked first in attendance at 42.6 %. This category also includes classroom visits by the Youth Services Librarians to public and private schools as well as visits to the libraries by individual classrooms.  Programs for adults, the elderly and families were also presented.

 

 

Number of Programs

Attendance

Early Childhood

335

5,262

School Age

159

4,795

Young Adult

58

2,774

Adult

96

3,105

Family

24

1,713

Elderly

12

122

TOTAL

684

17,771

 

Meeting Rooms

 

The library system has three meeting rooms available for use by town, state, and federal boards, commissions, agencies and officials as well as individuals, community groups, and organizations. The Peace Dale Room was used 176 times for non library-related activities, the Conference Room, at Peace Dale, 252 times and Potter Hall at Kingston, 210 times during the year.

 

Facilities

 

A CCTV system was installed and the entrance doors were replaced at Peace Dale.  A RISE energy survey was also conducted at Peace Dale and energy saving light fixtures were installed.  A new truck was purchased replacing the van used for deliveries and maintenance.  Improvements to library grounds included new plantings in flower beds at all three locations.   

 

Grants

 

The following grants were received during the year:

  • $19,500 from the Champlin Foundations to install a security system and to replace the entrance doors at the Peace Dale Library.
  • A grant from the Champlin Foundations payable to Ocean State Libraries on the library’s behalf for technology upgrades.
  • $2,500 from the Mary LeMoine Potter Fund through the Rhode Island Foundation for adult and juvenile audio books at the Kingston Free Library.
  • $2,019 from the Nathaniel W. and Mabel C. Smith Fund through the Rhode Island Foundation for print materials.
  • We the People “Picturing America” bookshelf from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association.''

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Gifts

 

Gifts to the library during the year included:

  • Museum and zoo passes provided by the Mystic Aquarium and the Friends of the Kingston Free, Robert Beverly Hale, and Peace Dale Libraries.
  • Gift from Valerie Roy & Joan Rosengren in memory of Cheryl Ladd.
  • Gift from Valerie Roy & Joan Rosengren in memory of David Mellor.
  • Gift from Jean & Don MacLean in memory of Rhoda Fichtner.
  • Gift from Aura Brubeck in memory of Nicholas Cutitar.
  • Gift from the Kingston Book Club in memory of Elizabeth Ferry.
  • Gift from Woodmansee Insurance, Inc. in memory of Irving F. Woodmansee.
  • Gift from Marcia Campbell in celebration of Paula Simshauser.
  • Gift from Fancy Tomato, Inc. in celebration of the Pinto Family birthdays.
  • Gift from Nancy M. Rose in tribute to the Peace Dale Library Book Discussion Group.
  • Gift of genealogy and local history books from the Narragansett-Cooke-Gaspee Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. .
  • Gift from the Kingston Hill Gardeners in memory of Mildred Sheldon.
  • Gift from the Kingston Hill Gardeners in memory of Dorothy Woods.
  • Gift of a new book from the RI Weaver’s Guild.
  • Friends of the Robert Beverly Hale Library provided funds for audio books, large print books, DVDs; juvenile programming and supplies, and supplies for the DVD/CD disk repair and cleaner.
  • Friends of the Kingston Free Library provided funds for adult and juvenile programming, Summer Reading Program performers and prizes, supplies, a story hour cart, library materials and a subscription renewal to the Book Page.
  • Friends of the Peace Dale Library provided funds for adult, young adult and juvenile books and programs; Summer Reading Program performers and prizes, e-copy desktop software for the photocopy machine, calendar and scheduling software, adult and juvenile audio books, young adult music CDs, adult and juvenile DVDs, matting and framing a map of Narragansett, a DVD storage cabinet, and an extended warranty for the CD cleaner/repair machine.

 

State Standards

 

In 2008-2009 the library complied with standards set forth by the RI Office of Library & Information Services (OLIS) for continued membership in the Library Rhode Island (LORI). As a result, the library system will continue to receive network services such as interlibrary loan and delivery and the annual state grant-in-aid to municipalities for public library services.

 

Library Board of Trustees

 

During the past year, the Board of Trustees approved the Library’s revised three-year Action Plan, and Reference/Readers Advisory Policy.  Two Trustees joined the Board during the year.

 

Goals FY2009-2010

 

  • To implement the FY2009-2010 objectives set forth in the Library’s Action Plan.

 

  • To continue the library’s cooperative relationship with the school system.
    • To continue to enhance the library’s electronic resources and services.