Grafton Public Library: Director's Report: September 2021

Press release from Grafton Public Library:

2021-10-28

The Select Board proclaimed September to be National Library Card Signup Month in Grafton MA! Although we were not open to distribute cards, the online registration form allows patrons to get a card number and then come in and pick up their card. We gave out ten cards to local residents and seven Grafton residents got cards at other local libraries.

Grafton Public Library was open 0 hours in September, but hosted multiple tours, virtual programs, and continued to provide remote reference and reader’s advisory. Staff placed holds for patrons to pick up at other CW MARS libraries.

The Director attended construction meetings and Building Committee Meetings and continued to get pulled for impromptu conversations around issues related to IT, the AMH, security, alarms, phones, policy, procedure, and logistics. We continue to have outstanding furniture and shelving, with no ship date.

We continued to be closed to the public for the month of September due to the construction project and lack of:

Beth attended a Capital Planning Summit; Library needs in the next 5-10 years are:

Beth worked on reopening logistics, the Small Stones Festival of the Arts programming, FF&E procurement, policy revisions, and submitted a MOD ADA grant for nearly 60,000 worth of software and equipment with assistance from Disability Commission, especially Kristie Proctor.

Children’s Services
September was a month filled with highs and lows. We are all so excited to be in our new space and eager to have everything set up and ready for when we welcome visitors back to the library. Another nod to getting back to business as usual was the scheduling of NGES and SGES virtual school visits. We are so happy to be able to support the schools in whatever way we can.

We spent the month moving furniture and maximizing the space for comfort and visibility. Sarah met with Cori from Tucker Interiors to finalize manipulative placements and get the final order for the approved items. We are eagerly awaiting their arrival and when we can see them set up in our new space.

Suspicions that the amount of shelving in the Children’s Room wouldn’t be enough for the collection began in late July/early August when we originally began to move into the new space.

As more and more shelving began to trickle in throughout the month, it became clear that there was inadequate space for Media, Nonfiction and Graphic Novels and Easy Readers. The oddly sized picture book bins are too narrow to fit many items in the collection. Beth began the process of procuring additional shelving due to this oversight.

Teen Services
We did not host any teen programs in September. Allison is working with Spandana Vagwala, who is a high school student and girl scout who is working on her gold award, to put together a multi-week program called Let’s Talk About Race. It will start in October and finish in December.

Summer Reading Program winners have been chosen and will be contacted soon. Cyndi is assisting with collecting gift cards from around town. Allison put together photos that we received this summer of patrons completing various activities they received from the library.

Allison also worked on the Disney-inspired winter reading program and getting the teen room ready for patrons.

Adult Services
The month of September was devoted to opening preparation. Shifting material, organizing workstations, figuring out workflow, filling the shelves, practicing with the new automated materials handling system, processing holds, creating signage, looking for places to store items not in use, ordering office supplies and setting up storage for supplies, and much, much more!

Crescent Manor BookWagon had 14 participants. There were 31 items checked out, and 11 requests.

We had 2 volunteers who put in 6 hours. We received two new volunteer applications, bringing the total to 31, not counting the folks we know are returning (at least 7 so far). We will review the new applications soon and begin the process of bringing them onboard.

We offered the following virtual programs:

Other Adult Programs:
No Grafton residents attended our partnership program with MBLC Watch Party: a Conversation with Isabel Wilkerson, author of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.

Virtual Class:
Get started with eBooks and Libby – the one tap reading app

Technical Services
200 items were added in September. Donna did repairs and re-cats as needed, and original cataloging and processing of items for the Library of Things.

Staff Update
Staff enjoyed lunch from the Grafton Inn provided by the Friends of the Library on September 9. We were very grateful!

Patron Comments
9/30 “They took the two hydrangeas down from in front of the library!!!???? I am so pissed. If they were going to take them down I would’ve dug them up and put them in my yard!! That was ridiculous because they were gorgeous and in great condition.” -CZ Note: one was in great condition, the other was half dead from root disruption -BG
9/27 “We are looking forward to visiting the library again, we have missed it!” -HF
9/27 “… please tell me for the open the actual library landscaping will be done. The addition is fine and all but that front looks almost abused and in need of some love.” -HF We are under construction – it’s in process.
9/20 “So excited for the new library and hope you are all doing well!” -HF
9/20 “Can’t wait to see the new Library and all of you ladies again.” -HF
9/15 “We are looking forward to the library reopening.” -HF
9/13 “I can’t wait to see the new library!” -HF
9/13 “I am looking forward to the opening. I have missed the library so much.” -HF
9/13 “Do you know when the library is opening? I’ve been trying to get this passed since I moved to town in 1988. My kids were in kindergarten then. Now they are adults with kids of their own. They really enjoyed Mrs. Granger’s storytime and she really encouraged a love of reading in them. We can’t wait to see the new building. I drive by every couple of days to see if the sign is down.” -HF
9/6 “Oh thank you Sarah! We are really having a lot of fun with library programs and activities!!” In response to email assistance regarding SLP and activity codes. -SB

Respectfully submitted,

Beth Gallaway

This press release was produced by Grafton Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.