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JACKSON PUBLIC LIBRARY -- 2009
It has, once again, been a very busy and exciting year at our library. In 2009, 814 items with a retail value of $14,792 were added to the collection. Thanks to the generosity of library supporters, 381 of them ($6,958) were donations. The total number of volumes in our collection now stands at 10,491. We discarded 838 items. One hundred and three new patrons were added to our growing list of library users. Jackson Library patrons borrowed 1,688 books through the Interlibrary Loan Program, and we loaned out 524 volumes to other libraries in New Hampshire. We want to thank the Jackson Library volunteers who gave 330 very productive hours of their time to help keep us operating efficiently and economically.
Adult library visits increased by 397 in 2009. Children’s visits decreased by 64. Total print circulation was 11,428, a slight decrease (64) from 2008. Our audio-book circulation increased by more than 10% with a total of 579 books. One hundred and seventy-one patrons took advantage of our downloadable book circulation, now available to iPod owners. Total circulation for 2009 (14,336) was very close to 2008 (14,341).
Thanks in part to the Friends of Jackson Public Library, the library offered 18 more adult programs in 2009 (28 total) than it did in 2008, and attendance for these programs increased significantly (264 in 2009 vs. 89 in 2008). The number of children’s programs remained essentially the same. There is not enough space in this report to describe them all in detail, but there was a wide rage of topics. Some examples include wind power; book club discussions; Tom Ryan and his canine friend Atticus; Cartooning for Kids with Jay Piscopo of Captain Eli Comics; raising chickens; traveling the Silk Road; and writing and poetry workshops. In the future library programs will continue to be a priority.
We were sad to have to say good bye to Meg Murphy, who for four years very successfully ran our children’s and school programs. We welcome Tessa Narducci, who has enthusiastically jumped in to replace Meg. Stop by and say hello to Tessa if you have not yet met her.
Plans for Jackson’s new library have become a reality! The Trickey Barn now proudly stands with a new roof, exterior walls, siding and windows. Steven and Michael Weeder and the Tamarack Construction crew, working with timber frame expert Curtis Milton, skillfully reassembled the barn, made repairs and integrated the many necessary engineering features to give us this beautiful structure that, with your help, will be our new library at this time next year.
Jackson is indeed indebted to the hard-working volunteers on the building committee who met often, did extensive research, and made the difficult decisions that went into this very complex project. We hope that Roger Aubrey, Allen Brooks, Phil Davies, Susan Dunker-Bendigo, Sam Harding, Bob Kent, and Wendy McVey will continue to help with the planning for the second half of Jackson’s new library project.
We are also indebted to the 250 generous donors who gave or pledged $775,000 for the new library. Including the $100,000 in capital reserve, we now have $875,000 of the estimated total of $1,175,000. None of this money would be there without the many hours and courageous efforts of the Friends of the Library/Capital Campaign Committee. We hope that Phil Davies, Sam Harding, Betsey Kent, Helene Matesky, Wendy McVey, and Lynn Stevens will also continue to help raise the much needed funds to complete Phase II. Finally, the barn would not be standing without the help from Warren Schomaker and the Jackson Historical Society who not only paid for the disassembly of the Trickey Barn, but also donated generously to the effort. Thank you as well to the individual Historical Society members for their generous
donations.
You can still find news, scheduled library events and book recommendations from your librarian Susan Dunker-Bendigo in our monthly newsletter, posted on e-news or available at the library. Don’t forget that wireless internet is available 24/7, and we have four new computers for you to use during library hours. Drop by on any of the following days and Susan, Tess, Kim or one of our friendly volunteers will be glad to help you to take advantage of the wonderful resource that is your public library:
Tuesday 11 am – 6 pm
Wednesday 11 am - 2 pm (Wednesday story time at 10:00)
Thursday 11 am – 8 pm
Friday 9am – 1 pm
Saturday 10 am - 1 pm
Respectfully Submitted, Jackson Library Trustees
Allen Brooks, Chairman
Edith Houlihan, Treasurer
Joyce Allan, Secretary
Sarah Duffy
Lisa White
Sam Harding, Alternate
Betsy Kent, Alternate
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