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Duxbury Free Library
Annual Report, FY02 for Jan – June 2002
The Duxbury Free Library continues to carry out its long-range plan that was written and approved in 2000. This plan has seven broad goals that direct library service; these include providing meeting spaces, upkeep of the facility, an up to date collection of materials, educational activities and programs, training and instruction, lifelong enrichment opportunities, and oversight of local history materials.
In FY02, the library implemented a new automated system comprised of Sirsi Corporation’s Workflows and IBistro modules as part of the Old Colony Library Network. The first half of the year was dedicated to staff training and the development of policies and procedures. The second part of the year was spent troubleshooting, learning advanced features of the product, and educating our users. The library’s revamped web site, www.duxburyfreelibrary.org, won an award as best web site on the South Shore
With the assistance last year of Jack Canty, a study was done to ensure that the building would be adequately maintained. As a result, the HVAC maintenance contractor installed an energy economizer on the HVAC system, and repaired or upgraded areas that were not functioning correctly. Library custodians developed and implemented a schedule to paint and clean high traffic areas, study areas, and meeting rooms. New downspouts were installed and drywells and irrigation pipes were added to the grounds. Funding was donated by the Duxbury Community Garden Club for shrubs and plants; this serves as a start to an overall landscape improvement project.
The library staff continues to negotiate as a collective bargaining unit under Service Employees International Union, Local 285. Six new volunteers joined us this year to assist the staff with shelving, shelf reading, file maintenance, and special projects. They join 19 other regular volunteers whose hard work and dependability provided the library with over 2,000 hours of service. In FY02, the library realized a healthy 3% growth in circulation statistics and an overwhelming 18% growth in the amount of materials received for our residents and provided to other libraries via the inter-library loan system. There was also 3% growth in the number of reference transactions and 6% growth in the number of library programs held. All of this was accomplished without the addition of new positions, but with the hard work and dedication of our
outstanding staff.
School/library cooperation remains an important objective. The children’s, young adult, and reference librarians actively collaborate with the schools to provide summer reading lists, classroom visits, and library/online research instruction. The head of children’s services and the director serve on school councils. The reference department and the children’s department work with the Duxbury Bay Maritime School, private schools, and home schooling families to provide booklists and to develop parts of the library collection to support their programs.
The library is an active participant in the community. It is an active member of the Duxbury Cultural Alliance, a network of non-profit educational institutions in Duxbury. The Alliance annually sponsors an event for the community built around a common theme. The library develops its collections to support community interests and community organizations. In the aftermath of September 11th, The Duxbury Interfaith Council and the library collaborated to provide a series of four informational evenings, Islam in the Modern World. The library Writers’ Group presented a stirring program of writings and reflections on 9/11 for the community. The young adult department sponsored programs on a young reporter living in Beirut and on young men from the Sudan who now live in Duxbury.
The library enjoys the continued support and advocacy of the Friends of the Library. This year the Friends sponsored a children’s storytelling festival and donated funds for a free-standing book return and for printing costs. The library is also grateful for its support from Duxbury Free Library, Incorporated, which manages an endowment to supplement materials and program costs.
Respectfully submitted
Elaine W. Winquist, Library Director
Board of Trustees: Theodore J. Flynn, Chair
Nancy Delano
John Hill
Margaret Lougee
Carl Meier
Lynne Walsh
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