Sherborn Library - 2007 Annual Report

   The Sherborn Library enjoyed a significant increase in use of the Library’s collection in 2007.  The library profession refers to these statistics as “annual circulation,” a figure which is generated by reporting programs in the computer system.  The circulation statistics are derived from the numbers of items that are checked out of the Library to the public.  The Library’s annual circulation in 2007 increased 16% over 2006.  A grand total of 91,929 items were checked out, more than 20 items to each resident throughout the year.  The amount of material borrowed in 2007 is equal to every man, woman, and child visiting the Library about twice a month.  There are currently 4,193 people who have Sherborn Library cards.

   Among the most active collections this year was the young adult book collection, as its usage nearly doubled.  In 2006, the prior year, the usage of the young adult collection increased 20%.  The young adult collection consists of a relatively small collection of 1,217 books that appeal to readers between the ages of 13 and 17.  A 2007 Pew Survey on libraries and the Internet showed that nation-wide, young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 are the most active library users.  Apparently, with this rise in the use of the Sherborn Library’s young adult collection, we are preparing their younger siblings to continue that trend when they leave home for college.  The increase also shows the growing up and natural progression of the good readers that Library families have made of their children, beginning with the constantly strong use of the picture book collection.

   Other areas of the collection and their respective enthusiasts that contributed to the 2007 circulation increase are the reading of biographies written for the grade school child to support homework assignments with a 33% increase in use over last year, and the use of the children’s and family DVD collection, which increased by 25%.  Adult Library patrons clearly enjoy a good mystery story, as borrowing increased 48% in that genre, along with a 15% increase in the use of the recorded books on CD, an 11% increase in the use of large print books, and 7% increase in the use of the non-fiction collection.  The non-fiction readers borrowed most heavily from the history, geography, and travel collections as well as from the applied arts and sciences.  The books and media that the Librarians acquire for the collection are chosen after a selection process that factors in literary reviews, local interest, popular demand, and public requests.

   An interesting and relevant collection is one factor that attracts the public to the Library.  Yet a great deal of the momentum for participation and support is also generated by the Friends of the Library.  The Friends of the Library is a Sherborn-based, charitable, non-profit organization that is governed by a group of volunteers who tune into the community’s ideas for the Library.  The Friends hold an annual appeal to gain membership dues from residents to raise money for the array of Library programs that they fund, including materials for the collection, technology, educational and cultural programs for children and adults, the museum passes that allow reduced admission to Boston area museums.  In 2007, the Friends added a new membership pass to the Peabody Essex Museum of Salem. 

   The Friends voted to increase their level of support for child and adult programs in 2007 rather than maintaining the budgets at historic levels.  The additional support enabled the Library to offer a two-part session on digital photography, MP3 player technical support and instruction, a meditation series, nature and history talks, and films, as well as science and magic shows for children, marionettes, children’s authors, and a Harry Potter-fest.  The summer “Concerts on the Green” are arranged and paid for by the Friends.  All of the programs that the Friends support are free and open to the public regardless of membership in the organization.  The Sherborn Cultural Council has contributed funds to many of these programs.  Their support helps keep the quality high.   

   Several Friends of the Library initiatives were unique in 2007 and flourished.  The second annual Harvest House Tour was held in September and raised a net profit of $9,568 which the Friends have added to their reserve for future improvements to the children’s room.  The Library is very grateful to homeowners Susan and Peter Bernard, Marc and Tina Freedgood, Steve and Carol Geremia, and Bill and Lyn Herbert for opening their homes for the afternoon, and for the many generous donors of festive provisions and flowers.  The Library would also like to give special recognition to Lisa Easley and Marie Owen for organizing the Harvest House Tour event for the second consecutive year to benefit the Library and delight the community. 

   Another unique component the Friends have introduced is a monthly art raffle.  For many years, the Friends have attracted and scheduled artists, collectors, and nonprofit organizations to exhibit their work in the Library Conference Room Gallery or lobby display case.  Under the creative leadership of Exhibit Coordinator Tricia Caldicott, exhibiting artists have agreed with alacrity to donate a piece of their work for the Friends to display for a silent auction.  One hundred percent of the winning bid is a donation to the Library.  The Community has received this art auction with a great deal of enthusiasm.  In Fiscal Year 2007 this initiative raised an additional $1,395 with perhaps the least amount of volunteer time donated except for Tricia Caldicott’s wealth of energy.

   In May, the Friends of the Library held their Annual Arts and Crafts Fair, a mainstay of their budget and of Sherborn life since 1971.  The weather cooperated, which made it more profitable than in the past years’ streaks of bad weather, and the Friends’ raised $10,040.  The amount coupled with the annual membership dues provided the Friends with a 2007 operating budget of $22,040 for recurring programs they have established.  The Annual Arts and Crafts Fair is the most labor-intensive event that requires months of planning on the part of the Friends’ volunteers and a significant sacrifice of time, and the Library thanks all the Fair workers for their amazing commitment, especially Fair Coordinators Kristina Gallant and Kristiina Almy who pulled it all together with aplomb.

   The Library Trustees thank all of the Friends who completed their terms this year for donating their time, talents, and moral support to the Library.  More than a generation of individuals serving on the Friends of the Library Board and supporting the Library’s public services continues to be a vibrant network of people who still respond with delight and care about the health of this institution.  Outgoing Friends’ President Liz Lerch contacted many past Friends members about future involvement and continues to work with 2007/2008 President Anne Hovey to develop this invaluable human resource.  Because of the enormous impact the Friends of the Library have upon the Library and their enrichment of Sherborn, the Trustees feel it is appropriate to recognize them in this report to the Town.

   The Library’s website continues to attract thousands of searches throughout the year.  The Guide to Sherborn by Anne Shaughnessy now resides on the website as part of our historic e-book project, a monumental effort not only achieved by the many cited names of Sherborn people who helped research the original 1974 book, but also in the work of Library Trustee Ed Perry, whose patience, skill, and commitment to digitizing the historic works and make them more widely available are extraordinary.  The Library is also a wired hotspot for public Internet searches which, combined with the hosting service for our website, are free services to the Library through Comcast’s visionary Library Connections Partnership.

   One of the biggest accomplishments in 2007 was the Library’s receipt of a $40,000 state grant to the Town for Library Planning and Design.  This grant was awarded after an arduous application process and internal study of future physical improvements and deferred facility maintenance.  The Library’s self-study is currently ready for a final review by the Trustees before its submission to the state.  The grant is available only to small towns and enables the Library to hire an architect to evaluate the space and design options to improve the layout and capacity of the 37 year-old building.  The internal study focuses on the need to replace the heating, venting and air conditioning systems with energy efficient and alternative Green systems, to enlarge the children’s area, and to meet the standard compliance of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The Richard Saltonstall Charitable Foundation matched this grant with a $20,000 donation that served as the local commitment of funds necessary to procure the state grant.  The Trustees discussed the pursuit of the grant and its potential outcomes with the Board of Selectmen and Advisory Committee, who were supportive of the opportunity.  The Trustees recognize that the care and future projections of maintaining a facility as beautiful and valuable as this Library is the charge of responsible management.

   The Library also received matching funds from the state in a grant award called the Public Library Fund.  This is a new state-funded incentive program to encourage and reward Friends of the Library groups and other fund-raising endeavors for public libraries with a matching contribution of ten cents on every dollar raised that is to be earmarked for the enhancement of library services.  In the first quarter of the program’s inception, the Library received $1,053 and plans to use the grant to help stage in new hardware.

   Numerous grants were awarded the Library in 2007.  The Tiberio Foundation awarded the Library $3,000 for the acquisition of audio visual equipment.  The pursuit and logistics of garnering the grant was initiated by Eleanor Webster.  Ellie served as a Library volunteer for many years, was a long-time member of the Friends, and was very involved with the Sherborn Historical Society.  Shortly after the grant and implementation was realized, Ellie passed away, never to see the outcome of her benevolence.  It will be with great fond memories of Ellie that the Library makes use of its new equipment for programming and performances.

   The Sherborn Lions have been steadfast in their continued contributions in support of the audiobook collection.  Also, the Civic Beautification Fund helps build annually the Library’s landscape maintenance resources.  The two garden clubs have sponsored books for the collection and our museum pass to Tower Hill Botanical Garden.  Many private citizens have opted to memorialize or honor the important people in their lives by sponsoring books for the collection.

   The Library Endowment Fund also received significant contributions in 2007.  The estate of a former Library Trustee, Edward Fischer made a gift of $17,169.  Mr. Fischer served as Library Trustee from 1951-1977, and he was one of the instrumental personalities who helped see the design and construction of the Saltonstall Library to completion.  There are still many people in Sherborn who remember Ed and Ellen Fischer and Ed’s influence upon the community, which has clearly endured.

   The Board of Library Trustees is an elected Board of nine residents who serve three year terms overseeing the management and municipal governance of the Library.  In 2007, Trustees Stacey Brandon, Marie Owen, and Holly Taylor-Young were reelected to the Board and continue serving with Bruce Eckman, Tom Faldetta, Rafe Lowell, George Motley, Ed Perry, and Dudley Willis.  The Trustees manage 13 endowment funds that are restricted to special programs in recognition of the donors’ stated intentions.  In Fiscal Year 2007, $23,254.51 was disbursed from the income earned on the funds, $21,367 of which helped comprise the municipal operating budget for the Library from the Saltonstall Operating Fund and the Dowse Memorial Fund.  Another $1,887.51 was expended on books, media, and children’s services from the Friends’ Book and Media Funds, the Henry B. Roberts Modern Fiction Fund, the Margery Babson Memorial Fund, and the Children’s Endowment Fund.  The market value of the investments managed by The Bank of New York as of 11/30/07 was $1,427,311 including the FY07 additions of $100,000 from the Richard Saltonstall Charitable Foundation to enhance the Saltonstall Operating Fund, and the $17,682 from the Fischer Family Trust.

   The Library’s operating budget represents 1.7% of the total municipal budget.  The Library’s conscientious management of the public operating budget and private resources has enabled it to offer the community an estimable array of services.  However, these would be lifeless if it were not for the energy, talent, and commitment of a truly motivated staff and team of volunteers who keep the people coming back for more, and the Library Trustees truly enjoy sharing their limelight.

Respectfully submitted,

Dudley H. Willis

Chairman

Board of Library Trustees

Elizabeth Johnston

Library Director