Annual Reports

Annual reports for the Library, published as part of the Town's Annual Report.

2007 Annual Report

The Gleason Public Library respectfully submits the 2007 Annual Report to the people of Carlisle. 2007 marks another consecutive year of growth in the use of the Library by townspeople. The collection of books and media, programs for children, teens, and adults, and welcoming and accessible facility together demonstrate the important value the Library has for the people of Carlisle.

The mission of the Gleason Public Library is to enrich lives through excellent services, programs, and collections that promote lifelong learning. As a valued cultural center of the community, the Library offers access to a variety of materials and creative services to satisfy the diverse recreational, educational, and cultural interests of the people of Carlisle.

Branding and communications were goals for the Library in 2007. Thanks to the efforts of librarian Nancy Boutet and help from all staff, improvements were made both internally and externally, to better inform the community about the many varied programs, collections, and special services available. The print newsletter started in January followed by an electronic version in November. The e-newsletter “Library Latest” was made possible through volunteer assistance from Priscilla Stevens and Ann Rosas and funding from the Friends of the Gleason Public Library (FOGPL).

Facilitating and offering an array of programs in 2007, the Library, with the support of the FOGPL welcomed guest speaker Lori Grant and authors Tracy McArdle, Leonard Gibbs and Marcella Pixley. The Library partnered with the Council on Aging to host three separate multi-part lectures series by Elliot Lilien, John Tischio and John Clark, and with the Historical Society to host Tom Blanding and Peter Alden. The Library celebrated 30 years of Star Wars with a trivia contest and movie screening. Summer music concerts on the lawn continued with performances by Hatrack Gallagher and Ric Maure and Carlisle’s own Dot-n-Doc. Local Charlie Allman led a new monthly armchair travel series. Artists joined Gregory John Maichack for a pastel workshop funded by the Carlisle Cultural Council.

For parents and those interested in parenting related programs, the Library welcomed authors Gina Gallagher and Particia Konjoian. The Library collaborated with First Connections and Carlisle Parents Connection to host guest speakers Marilyn Buckle and Deborah Weinstock-Savoy. For the third year, the Library hosted a pre-school panel for parents, facilitated by Sally Quinn Reed, Center for Parents and Teachers. The Library would like to thank the Children’s Advisory Committee for their assistance in parenting programs and planning for children’s programs.

Shelagh Tomaino offered three computer-training workshops, including basic Internet and library catalog use and more advanced use of the Library research databases. Sharon Colvin held a one-time special program to introduce new Internet tools including tagging. All reference staff provided one-on-one training on an as-needed basis.

With the Council on Aging, the Library offered home delivery for residents with transportation limitations, funded through the Concord Carlisle Community Chest.

In 2007, the Library was fortunate to receive an Equal Access grant. This grant provided professional development for Martha Patten and Sharon Colvin and funds for each to assess and plan services for specific audiences, older adults and teens. The grant continues through 2008.The grant is being administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) with funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. As part of the grant requirements, both Patten and Colvin participated this past spring in the four-day Equal Access Institute, a professional development program in community-responsive librarianship that was developed by Libraries for the Future.

Grades five through high school received much attention by the library in 2007. Thanks to the combined efforts of library staff and two successful grants focusing on teen services and space, the teen services are now more organized with specific goals in line with what parents and teens have asked the Library to provide. In addition to the Equal Access grant mentioned above, the Library received support from the Manton Foundation.

Of note, the Teens of the Gleason Advisory Group (TOGA) started the summer of 2007. This effort, led by Sharon Colvin at the start of the year and continued by Erica St. Peter, who succeeded as teen librarian, encourages teens to participate in planning what the library provides for them, including special programs. Programs in 2007 were the monthly early release day movies, assisted by Shelagh Tomaino and Nancy Boutet, the third Harry Potter party, celebrating the release of the final Harry Potter book, “Who Done It,” a mystery event planned and led by Lisa Lofdahl, and Teen Game Night. Extra efforts were made to coordinate more closely with the public school and high school and identify areas of collaboration around reading and books.

The children’s department offered an array of programs throughout the year. Weekly story times were offered for children ages 0-2, 2-3, 3-4 and 4-6 as well as monthly drop-ins in the afternoons and weekends for ages 2-4, and special visits to and from local preschools, including the Concord Montessori School. A Cub Scout den visited the library for a tour. This programming was planned and led by Children’s Librarians Marty Seneta, Kay Edelberg, Nancy Boutet, Seana Rabbito and Shirley Pearlman. Visits were made from Noah’s Ark and to the Carlisle Extended Day, the preschool in the Carlisle public school and the Children’s Place. In addition, each month PJ-clad children ages 3 and up joined in the pajama Story Time.

Children’s programs throughout the year included a drop-in printing and stamping workshop during the February school vacation, a Henry Lappen performance during the April vacation, a Dr. Seuss party, and four singalongs offered by Liz Buchanan, Deb and Tom Foote of ABC music, and one special singalong performed Carlisle musician Kerry. The 24 th annual Great Pumpkin Spectacle included storyteller Carolyn Martino, and a year full of creative pumpkins from Carlisle children grades K-3. The Library welcomed costumed trick-or-treaters on a beautiful Halloween night, and in the fall hosted a preview of the Three Apples Storytelling Festival.

“Catch the Beat at Your Library,” 2007’s summer reading program, was open to all ages. Spurred on by a challenge from the Friends and Trustees of the Gleason Public Library, Carlisle residents read a total of 142,885 pages to raise funds for Heifer International. For the first time, adults were invited to join children to log their readings as part of a townwide reading program. Some highlights included Story Times and a puppet show for Ages 0-5. One hundred forty-seven children in grades 1-6 participated in the children’s reading program including crafts, Alex the Jester, the Spoon Man, David Polansky, and parties for the participants. Needless to say, the summer is a special time at the Library.

Led by the volunteer efforts of Andrea Urban, Brooke Cragan, and Shirley Lynch, the Arts at the Gleason program coordinated six contrasting and enlivening art displays throughout the Library. Artists in 2007 included Emerging Artists of Carlisle: Alex Moskowitz, Grace and Charles Fitzpatrick, Pam Ziehler, and Dayna Talbot, Carlisle Garden Club, Carlisle Public Schools student artists, students of Sally Santuossos, Joan Rolfe, and Studio 7 Artists.

Throughout the Library, library staff regularly provides displays around subjects and collections, as well as writing material for local press outlets and blogs. In addition to these regular communications and displays , there were several historical displays of Historical Society/Gleason Public Library Collections, curated by Janet Hentschel, and the Photo display of images from H.W. Gleason’s work complimented by excerpts of Thoreau’s writing, curated by Conni Manoli-Skocay with permission from the Concord Free Public Library. These Carlisle area special displays kept the wandering eye and curious spirit satiated in 2007.

This year, children’s librarian of over two decades, Kay Edelberg, stepped down from her children’s duties and reduced her hours. Library visitors are happy that she continues on at the Library. The Library said farewell to Sharon Colvin and Conni Manoli-Skocay. New additions to the staff were Nancy Boutet as part-time children’s/reference librarian and Erica St. Peter as part-time teen/reference librarian. The mostly part-time staff does an outstanding job juggling many responsibilities while attending to visitors requests. We acknowledge the contributions of the Linda Dodge, Martha Patten, Jean Forman, Joan Hoffman, Shoba Ramapriya, Sukie Reed, Deena Scaperotta, Charles Schweppe and those mentioned throughout this report. The two library pages, Alex Knobel and Elisabeth Karafotias, helped us keep up with the ever-increasing business of libraries by aiding with special projects and shelving through the summer and fall. We are fortunate to have custodians Dan Brainard and Fred Jones keeping the library building aesthetically pleasing and well maintained.

Benefiting from energy, expertise, and enthusiasm, the Library has a dependable and indispensable team of volunteers. Another year of over 1,500 volunteer hours contributed to the orderly shelves, displays, programs, landscaping, and completion of special projects. Volunteers help the Library keep up with circulation and ensure community involvement in the day-to-day functions of the Library. Not counted in this number are the hours committed to the administration of the Library by the Trustees, who balance the varied needs and limitations of resources, public, building, and time to keep the Library operating at a high level in which the town can be proud.

The Friends of the Library held a record-breaking book sale in 2007 on Old Home Day. This occurred in the midst of a busy year of community events and resources to benefit the Library, including the Potluck Supper, the Pumpkin Fest, and sponsorship of all Summer Reading events in 2007. Collection additions of note in 2007 included three foreign language periodicals, movie and audio book titles, a cleaner and polisher for DVDs, and passes to sixteen area museums. The Friends provide necessary volunteer and financial support for most of the programs offered by the Library, from refreshments to speaker honoraria, including many of those listed in this report. The Library is grateful to have the Friends’ encouragement and support.

A Library at its finest is used and enjoyed by many, a source of pride in a community. The Gleason Public Library benefits from and greatly appreciates the public support given by the people of Carlisle. This public support is supplemented by monetary gifts given to the Endowment, through membership and donations to the Friends, and through the generous donations of materials, collaborations, time and expertise provided by many organizations and individuals. Your support is genuinely appreciated and needed. This report was prepared by Angela Mollet, Library Director.

GLEASON PUBLIC LIBRARY STATISTICS

Number of items 60892

Number of holds picked up 15540

Number of patrons 4473*

(*The decrease from previous years reflects efforts to clear inactive accounts)

Circulation 132163

FY2007/Fine money of $ 11804 was paid to the Town Treasurer.

Felix Conti, Chair Term Expires 2008

Dale Ryder, Treasurer Term Expires 2009

Priscilla Stevens, Secretary Term Expires 2010