May 20th, 2012
So far, so good.
That’s the assessment given by Lancaster Public Library officials almost seven weeks after a collection agency began tracking down thousands of patrons who owe money for unreturned items.
As of Wednesday, Keystone Credit Services LLC, of Lancaster, had collected $12,720 from 398 individuals, said Kathy Leader, the library’s executive assistant/circulation manager.
“I think it’s been going well,” she said. “We’re happy with it.”
The money charged to people is the replacement cost for books, DVDs and other materials they never brought back. So far, 691 items have been paid for.
About 5 1/2 percent of Lancaster Public Library’s inventory of approximately 320,000 materials are borrowed and never returned, said Executive Director Herb Landau. And that doesn’t even include what’s stolen off the shelves.
The library operates the downtown Lancaster location and branches in Leola and Mountville.
Landau said about 7,000 people who owe $370,855 for 20,579 unreturned items — going back to 1996 — had their names sent to the collection agency at the beginning of April.
There was some concern on the library’s part that Keystone Credit Services might not find people who moved away, Leader said, but she knows of a woman in California who’s already been contacted.
The largest single amount recovered to date is more than $200, she said. There’s also someone who owes almost $300 and is using a payment plan to eradicate that debt, Leader said.
About 50 long-overdue materials have been returned to the library as well, she said. One patron left a note saying she found the book under a bed.
Unfortunately, some of the tomes are in such bad shape (mold being one culprit) that they can’t be put back on the shelves, Leader said.
Patrons contacted by the collection agency have a variety of reactions.
There are people who say they never received a notice from the library about unreturned items. Others, Landau said, admit “they never took the notice seriously.”
A handful of individuals also “are irate” about being referred to a collection agency, he said.
The move is having other repercussions as well.
Some library patrons are now paying fines for overdue items more quickly to avoid having to deal with the collection agency down the road, Leader said.
And people pay more attention to when materials are due, Landau said.
Overall, the library’s decision to go the collection agency route has been very well received, Leader said.
Lancaster Public Library is sending its next batch of names to the collection agency — for patrons with unreturned items due in March — June 1, she said.
Ephrata Public Library also hired Keystone Credit Services. Executive Director Penny Talbert said in an email that the library has collected close to $3,000 so far.
Leader and Talbert are giving a presentation on this topic to other libraries in the county, Landau said, and two of them are already considering bringing in a collection agency.
Contact Sunday News staff writer Paula Wolf at pwolf@lnpnews.com.
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May 20th, 2012
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Library Receives Grant for Roof Repairs
The Aurora Town Public Library was one of four branches in the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System recently named as recipients of state grant money. The library received $108,200 for roof repairs. The money was awarded through the New York State Library.
Engineering Firm Reports on Bullis Road Drainage Problems
A recent engineering study indicates the clearing of trees and brush on Bullis Road for a landscape and gardening business did contribute to an increase in water flow and drainage issues, but on a smaller scale than residents in the area may believe.
National Fuel Sues Wales Over Permit Restrictions
National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation has filed a lawsuit against the Town of Wales seeking to void specific noise restrictions set by the town’s permit for the company’s planned compressor station. Notification of the federal lawsuit arrived in Town Clerk Melinda Eaton’s office May 2. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Buffalo on Jan. 17. As a result of National Fuel’s legal action, the town last week hired special counsel at $185 per hour to defend it in federal court.
Hawk Creek Will Move to Mill Road
It’s official: Hawk Creek Wildlife Center is staying in the Town of Aurora. Hawk Creek founder and executive director Loretta Jones announced last week that the nationally renowned wildlife rehabilitation center, celebrating its 25th year of caring for eagles, owls, raptors, birds, mammals and reptiles (and its newest resident, a week-old golden eagle chick) on its Luther Road property, will be relocating, but only a few miles away to 1963 Mill Road.
School Budget and Election Results
East Aurora
East Aurora Mulls Sidewalk Options
The East Aurora Village Board of Trustees revisited the topic of upgrading sidewalks in the village during its work session on May 7. The work session was the last scheduled, as the board will begin holding regular meetings twice a month, rather than one meeting and one work session.
Many Choices For Holland Voters on Tuesday
The voting booth is full of propositions for Holland Central residents this year that will have an impact for years to come. The vote is May 15, between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. at the High School auditorium lobby.
Iroquois Officials Explain Budget Process
The Iroquois School Board held its public hearing on the 2012-2013 budget May 2. The lightly attended hearing, scheduled for 30 minutes, wrapped up well over an hour after it began, with Superintendent Douglas Scofield repeatedly challenged by one member of the public—who admitted he hadn’t attended any of the four budget development meetings held by the School Board earlier this year—on everything from the assistant principal positions in the middle and high schools, to the need for the district’s transportation fleet, to the adequacy of funding of the technology budget.
Elma Library Unveils Community Room and Children’s Area
The Elma Public Library has officially dedicated the new community room and renovation at the children’s library. Both features have been hailed as improving the atmosphere and providing more opportunities to engage the community.
EA District Reviews Budget Before Public Vote
The East Aurora School budget presentation last week completed the final overview for next year’s expense plan. There were no further questions from the board or public on the topic.
Elma Site Joins National Register of Historic Places
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation has notified the Town of Elma that one of the community’s treasured landmarks has been placed on the prestigious National Register of Historic Places, a designation few in the nation receive. In a letter sent to Town Supervisor Denny Powers, and read aloud at the Town Board’s May 2 meeting, Ruth L. Pierpoint, New York’s deputy commissioner for historic preservation, said that the “Newton-Hopper Village Site” on Ostrander Road has been placed on the federal registry.
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May 20th, 2012
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Residents of Chelsea may soon add a new verb to their vocabulary — “geek.”
Chelsea District Library is participating in Geek the Library, a community‐based public awareness campaign. The campaign highlights what people are passionate about and how libraries can support them, in an effort to heighten awareness about the critical funding issues public libraries face.
A launch event will take place noon to 2 p.m. June 4 on the library’s lawn. Geek posters will be unveiled, revealing initial “geeks” featured throughout the first phase of the campaign. Residents in Chelsea and surrounding communities are invited to this event to learn more about the campaign, pick up free Geek swag, share what they geek, and sign up to be on a geek poster.
Geek the Library features local educational material that introduces geek as a verb, and encourages the public to talk about what they geek — whether it’s engineering, superheroes or art. The public awareness campaign illustrates the fact that everyone is passionate about something — everyone geeks something — and that the library supports them all.
“This campaign is designed to provoke conversation about the vital role that public libraries and librarians play in today’s challenging environment,” stated Cathy De Rosa, global vice president of marketing for OCLC, a nonprofit library cooperative which led campaign development and conducted a pilot campaign from June 2009 to April 2010, in a press release. “We hope it will spark important community discussions about how public libraries can remain strong.”
The awareness campaign features Chelsea community members on promotional materials, social networking elements, a website and grassroots community initiatives to draw attention to the need for increased library support. The campaign website, www.geekthelibrary.org, provides information about how people can get active and support their local library.
As the economic downturn slowly recovers, millions of Americans are turning to local libraries for educational opportunities, job‐searching resources and entertainment, according to a press release from the Chelsea District Library, and that increased demand for library services is taking a toll on libraries already experiencing flat or decreasing budgets. State and local cuts are impacting public library hours, programs and staffing, forcing some libraries to close indefinitely, according to the press release.
While most people have visited their public library and understand its important role in their community, the Chelsea District Library believes many do not know that libraries are at risk or that local funding for libraries is heavily influenced by community members.
This public awareness campaign hopes to start a conversation about library funding to inspire more people to take personal responsibility for keeping their local public libraries vital in their communities. The campaign will not support or oppose any candidate for public office, nor attempt to influence legislation.
The Chelsea District Library is nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide equal access to quality resources that serve the lifelong cultural, educational and informational needs and interests of all people. The library currently serves 14,000 residents in the Chelsea district – City of Chelsea plus Dexter, Lima, Lyndon and Sylvan townships and more than 20,000 individuals visit the library each month. For more information, visit chelsea.lib.mi.us.
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May 18th, 2012
Oli Scarff / Getty Images, file
A woman looks through donated books which are available for free loan outside Kensal Rise library in London, England.
LONDON — A British library opened more than a century ago by one of America’s greatest writers is being closed because of austerity budget cuts.
Kensal Rise public library, in north-west London, was unveiled in 1900 by Mark Twain while he was living in the city.
He donated five of his own works to its initial collection, which had been established in celebration of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
But 112 years later — and days away from the Diamond Jubilee of Victoria’s granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II — the library is facing its end as part of spending cuts by the local council.
Oli Scarff / Getty Images, file
Protest posters on Kensal Rise library in London, England.
It has been locked up and unused for more than a year. Workers for Brent Council attempted to clear out the remaining books on Wednesday but were met with resistance from local campaigners.
Since the closure was announced, a group of activists has called for it to be saved, enlisting modern British literary figures such as Alan Bennett to their cause.
For the activists, the library is a piece of history worth holding on to but the council says the number of users is too low to justify keeping it open.
It is one of six libraries closed in the area, representing a 50 percent cut in services. The council says it has used some of the savings to support a remaining library within a civic center that is more popular.
The building was donated to the community by Oxford University’s All Souls College through an Act of Parliament. Under that law, the facility can only be used by the council as a free library. The library’s closure means ownership will pass automatically back to the college.
A spokesman for All Souls told msnbc.com: “This is not something we engineered, this is not something we ever contemplated happening and we regret what is happening.”
Campaigner Margaret Bailey expressed anger at the closure and pledged to continue the fight, praising “the support of the local community.”
The protesters have set up a small free-loan library outside to distribute books to the community.
Bailey hopes to present a proposal to the college to establish a private volunteer-run library at the site.
The council has suspended its closure plans the removal of books in order to consult further with the campaigners. But for now the books will stay in their boxes and the library will remain closed.
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May 18th, 2012
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Library Receives Grant for Roof Repairs
The Aurora Town Public Library was one of four branches in the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System recently named as recipients of state grant money. The library received $108,200 for roof repairs. The money was awarded through the New York State Library.
Engineering Firm Reports on Bullis Road Drainage Problems
A recent engineering study indicates the clearing of trees and brush on Bullis Road for a landscape and gardening business did contribute to an increase in water flow and drainage issues, but on a smaller scale than residents in the area may believe.
National Fuel Sues Wales Over Permit Restrictions
National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation has filed a lawsuit against the Town of Wales seeking to void specific noise restrictions set by the town’s permit for the company’s planned compressor station. Notification of the federal lawsuit arrived in Town Clerk Melinda Eaton’s office May 2. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Buffalo on Jan. 17. As a result of National Fuel’s legal action, the town last week hired special counsel at $185 per hour to defend it in federal court.
Hawk Creek Will Move to Mill Road
It’s official: Hawk Creek Wildlife Center is staying in the Town of Aurora. Hawk Creek founder and executive director Loretta Jones announced last week that the nationally renowned wildlife rehabilitation center, celebrating its 25th year of caring for eagles, owls, raptors, birds, mammals and reptiles (and its newest resident, a week-old golden eagle chick) on its Luther Road property, will be relocating, but only a few miles away to 1963 Mill Road.
School Budget and Election Results
East Aurora
East Aurora Mulls Sidewalk Options
The East Aurora Village Board of Trustees revisited the topic of upgrading sidewalks in the village during its work session on May 7. The work session was the last scheduled, as the board will begin holding regular meetings twice a month, rather than one meeting and one work session.
Many Choices For Holland Voters on Tuesday
The voting booth is full of propositions for Holland Central residents this year that will have an impact for years to come. The vote is May 15, between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. at the High School auditorium lobby.
Iroquois Officials Explain Budget Process
The Iroquois School Board held its public hearing on the 2012-2013 budget May 2. The lightly attended hearing, scheduled for 30 minutes, wrapped up well over an hour after it began, with Superintendent Douglas Scofield repeatedly challenged by one member of the public—who admitted he hadn’t attended any of the four budget development meetings held by the School Board earlier this year—on everything from the assistant principal positions in the middle and high schools, to the need for the district’s transportation fleet, to the adequacy of funding of the technology budget.
Elma Library Unveils Community Room and Children’s Area
The Elma Public Library has officially dedicated the new community room and renovation at the children’s library. Both features have been hailed as improving the atmosphere and providing more opportunities to engage the community.
EA District Reviews Budget Before Public Vote
The East Aurora School budget presentation last week completed the final overview for next year’s expense plan. There were no further questions from the board or public on the topic.
Elma Site Joins National Register of Historic Places
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation has notified the Town of Elma that one of the community’s treasured landmarks has been placed on the prestigious National Register of Historic Places, a designation few in the nation receive. In a letter sent to Town Supervisor Denny Powers, and read aloud at the Town Board’s May 2 meeting, Ruth L. Pierpoint, New York’s deputy commissioner for historic preservation, said that the “Newton-Hopper Village Site” on Ostrander Road has been placed on the federal registry.
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May 18th, 2012
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Library Receives Grant for Roof Repairs
The Aurora Town Public Library was one of four branches in the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System recently named as recipients of state grant money. The library received $108,200 for roof repairs. The money was awarded through the New York State Library.
Engineering Firm Reports on Bullis Road Drainage Problems
A recent engineering study indicates the clearing of trees and brush on Bullis Road for a landscape and gardening business did contribute to an increase in water flow and drainage issues, but on a smaller scale than residents in the area may believe.
National Fuel Sues Wales Over Permit Restrictions
National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation has filed a lawsuit against the Town of Wales seeking to void specific noise restrictions set by the town’s permit for the company’s planned compressor station. Notification of the federal lawsuit arrived in Town Clerk Melinda Eaton’s office May 2. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Buffalo on Jan. 17. As a result of National Fuel’s legal action, the town last week hired special counsel at $185 per hour to defend it in federal court.
Hawk Creek Will Move to Mill Road
It’s official: Hawk Creek Wildlife Center is staying in the Town of Aurora. Hawk Creek founder and executive director Loretta Jones announced last week that the nationally renowned wildlife rehabilitation center, celebrating its 25th year of caring for eagles, owls, raptors, birds, mammals and reptiles (and its newest resident, a week-old golden eagle chick) on its Luther Road property, will be relocating, but only a few miles away to 1963 Mill Road.
School Budget and Election Results
East Aurora
East Aurora Mulls Sidewalk Options
The East Aurora Village Board of Trustees revisited the topic of upgrading sidewalks in the village during its work session on May 7. The work session was the last scheduled, as the board will begin holding regular meetings twice a month, rather than one meeting and one work session.
Many Choices For Holland Voters on Tuesday
The voting booth is full of propositions for Holland Central residents this year that will have an impact for years to come. The vote is May 15, between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. at the High School auditorium lobby.
Iroquois Officials Explain Budget Process
The Iroquois School Board held its public hearing on the 2012-2013 budget May 2. The lightly attended hearing, scheduled for 30 minutes, wrapped up well over an hour after it began, with Superintendent Douglas Scofield repeatedly challenged by one member of the public—who admitted he hadn’t attended any of the four budget development meetings held by the School Board earlier this year—on everything from the assistant principal positions in the middle and high schools, to the need for the district’s transportation fleet, to the adequacy of funding of the technology budget.
Elma Library Unveils Community Room and Children’s Area
The Elma Public Library has officially dedicated the new community room and renovation at the children’s library. Both features have been hailed as improving the atmosphere and providing more opportunities to engage the community.
EA District Reviews Budget Before Public Vote
The East Aurora School budget presentation last week completed the final overview for next year’s expense plan. There were no further questions from the board or public on the topic.
Elma Site Joins National Register of Historic Places
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation has notified the Town of Elma that one of the community’s treasured landmarks has been placed on the prestigious National Register of Historic Places, a designation few in the nation receive. In a letter sent to Town Supervisor Denny Powers, and read aloud at the Town Board’s May 2 meeting, Ruth L. Pierpoint, New York’s deputy commissioner for historic preservation, said that the “Newton-Hopper Village Site” on Ostrander Road has been placed on the federal registry.
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May 16th, 2012
Blood flowed in a Brooklyn library Tuesday night when a man — enraged because another library user was viewing porn — stabbed him in the chest, fire and police sources said.
The alleged attacker, Ralph Neptune, 46, who is homeless, was with his wife on the second floor at the Brooklyn Heights Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library when he spotted the racy videos on the 52-year-old victim’s screen around 7:20 p.m., police sources said.
“He was with his wife and he accused the other guy of looking at porn,” one police source said. “The guy looking at porn picked up a chair and hits him. The guy who was offended said, ‘I have a knife,’ and stabs him in the chest,” the source continued.
Then Neptune’s wife started screaming, “How are we going to get back to Peekskill?” the source said.
The victim, who was conscious and talking, was brought out of the library in a wheelchair, police sources said.
The wounded man was taken to Bellevue Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
Neptune was charged with assault, criminal possession of a weapon, menacing and criminal possession of marijuana, police said.
kburke@nydailynews.com
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May 16th, 2012
Posted: Wednesday, May 16, 2012 8:54 am
Library’s Latest Chapter: Generating Revenue
By TIM O’CONNOR
Journal & Topics Reporter
Journal & Topics Newspapers
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Those who rent rooms at the Des Plaines Public Library may soon have to pay for the privilege.
The library board first discussed charging for meeting room rentals several months ago. However, the idea was put aside at the time because the building lacks a credit card machine at the first floor information desk to take payment, according to Library Director Holly Sorensen.
Staff has been working on setting up a credit card payment system and Sorensen said they could have one put together within the next six weeks. That would make the possibility of charging for room rentals more feasible.
“That’s certainly something that could work as a revenue generator,” Sorensen said.
The library board’s finance committee planned to discuss the library’s cash position and revenue generating ideas like charging for rooms at their 5 p.m. meeting Tuesday, May 15.
Also on the agenda was establishing operating reserves, examining other expense controls like health costs, and changes to the DVD charge.
Sorensen said she didn’t know what ideas the committee members would have regarding those items.
She is hoping they won’t recommend too big a change in the library’s property tax levy, which is also up for discussion.
The library reduced the levy by 5% in 2012, following a 0% change in 2011 and a 7% decrease in 2010. Sorensen said they’ve been holding the line on taxes the past few years.
“I’m hoping they just want to keep that in place,” she added.
The library typically works on the budget during the summer and presents a draft to the board in September.
Once approved by the board, the city must still sign off on the budget in the fall.
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May 16th, 2012
CAPE ELIZABETH – The Cape Elizabeth Town Council reversed course Monday, voting 5-2 to seek resident approval for what could be a multimillion-dollar renovation and expansion of Thomas Memorial Library.
Just two months ago, at a March 5 workshop, councilors split the opposite way on the issue, agreeing 4-3 that they could issue bonds on their own authority to pay for what has been pegged as an $8.5 million project.
Now, town and library officials will begin an effort to push the issue on the public, which, except for a universal aversion to the council issuing bonds without voter approval, has shown little interest in the project.
“We need to have a major [public] conversation, but nobody seems to care at all,” said library trustee Chairwoman RuthAnne Haley, at a steering committee meeting held last Thursday.
Monday’s vote ends discussion regarding how the issue would be decided. A ballot issue in November will ask voters if they agree in principle with the library project. If that passes, a bond would go on the ballot sometime next year, complete with a design proposal and a price tag.
State law requires a public referendum only for school bonds, councilors noted in March, and while Cape’s town charter does let voters veto capital projects on the municipal side, nothing compels the council to seek permission before initiating the process.
“I think we are elected to make responsible decisions,” said Councilor Jessica Sullivan, at the time. “If you send every tough decision to voters, it’s kind of a copout, I think.”
But on Monday, Sullivan and Councilor James Walsh altered course without necessarily changing position. Both held firm to their right – in fact, their “duty,” as Walsh put it after the meeting – to borrow on behalf of the town. However, both said public outcry over who gets to authorize the bonds has distracted the public from the larger issue –whether Cape needs a new library and, if so, what it should offer in terms of space and services.
“By deciding we were following our fiduciary responsibility as provided by the town charter, we got a lot of citizens engaged, but not engaged in looking at the project itself,” said Walsh. “I came to the conclusion that in order to get discussion going on the library and whether we are going to do anything with it, we had to take the process question off the table.”
“This has been so distracting,” agreed council Chairwoman Sara Lennon. “It’s all anyone’s talked about. Everyone was obsessing on the process and we want to get on the substance, i.e., what kind of library do we want?”
The problem, everyone seems to agree – marking why it was important not to get bogged down over whose hand is on the money sluice – is that the public has so far shown little interest in rebuilding Thomas Memorial Library.
“Our frustration is that nobody is paying any attention to this,” said Lennon.
Haley, Sullivan, Lennon and Library Director Jay Scherma have begun meeting to map out ways to get residents interested in the renovation project. So far, that’s a task easier said than done.
In fact, while condemnation of councilors for daring to bypass voters was nearly universal, based on emails addressed to the council, the volume was comparatively light. Lennon reports seeing “about 20 emails,” Walsh “eight or nine,” along with a couple of calls and the occasional mid-aisle conversation at the IGA.
“We got more response to the roosters,” said Walsh, referring to a recent attempt at noise control in town.
“It’s a complete mystery to me why no one is involved,” said Lennon. “I just hope they start to get engaged.”
The idea that Cape Elizabeth needs a new library has percolated since 2007, when Himmel & Wilson Library Consultants, of Milton, Wis., prepared a needs assessment for the town. That document listed 102 “deficiencies” in the building, which is actually an erector set of three old school houses, dating from 1849 to 1910, stuck together in 1985 with two “connector” buildings.
Scherma said the combined buildings are “about 6,000 square feet too small.” Beyond that, Himmel & Wilson cited floors that can’t handle the weight of books, aisles that do not meet disability standards, issues with moisture and humidity, heating and cooling, poor ventilation, antiquated plumbing and no facilities to run computer wiring.
“If this was a school building, it’d be shut down,” Haley has said.
In January, Pennsylvania-based Casaccio Architects submitted a concept sketch for a new library that retained the old Pond Cove School, which fronts the library on Scott Dyer Road, but wiped out the older buildings behind it in favor of a new, 23,000-square-foot, two-story structure with dormers designed to evoke a Colonial-era feel.
That proposal replaced an earlier version submitted last July that envisioned a larger, all-new, single-story library and community center. As late as the second draft, the unofficial plan cited by Scherma and Town Manager Michael McGovern was to seek voter approval for borrowing this June, with construction to begin as early as September.
However, at about the same time the revised concept plan was submitted, Portland consulting firm Demont Associates said a public vote should be delayed until November. Hired for $30,000 last fall to assess fundraising potential, Demont conducted a non-scientific survey of 57 local residents, including library trustees, foundation board members, town officials, a construction study oversight committee and people identified as likely donors. Even with a study group presumably stacked in favor of rebuilding the library, Demont noted that while 81 percent of those polled said they’d give something, a mere 26 percent deemed the library a “priority” for their philanthropic efforts. The bottom line, said company founder Bob Demont, is that while the means exist in Cape to raise as much as $2 million in private donations toward the project, the will to do so is weak.
Although it was just weeks later that the council ended talk of a bond referendum in favor of unilateral action, Sullivan says that decision was not based on any fear extrapolated from the Demont survey that voters might reject borrowing as much as $7 million for the project – a figure that, with interest, could ultimately cost taxpayers more than $10 million, according to town financial adviser Joe Cuetara.
“Four of us just kind of came up with the thought independently,” said Sullivan. “We just happened to say, ‘I don’t know what we’re talking about a referendum for. We should just go ahead and vote. That’s our job.’”
Now, with a public referendum back on the table, the council sees its job as facilitating debate on the proposed library project, while trustees focus on “education.”
A “public engagement” meeting has been set for May 31, at which library officials hope to hear what residents want from their library. The Casaccio plan, Lennon stressed, is one idea only. The final product can take whatever form the public demands.
“I think there’s a sense out there that this plan is final, but that’s not the case at all,” she said.
Following the May 31 meeting, library trustees plan five months of “extensive outreach” in hope of generating interest in the library renovation that has, to date, been lacking. The culmination will be the referendum approved by councilors Monday, which, McGovern said, will likely take the form of a straw poll at the general election this fall. If voters support in principle rebuilding the library, a building committee will be formed, leading to detailed plans and a formal bond vote sometime in 2013.
On June 4, councilors will hold a workshop to hammer out wording of the November referendum question. At that time, they also will debate the possibility of amending the town charter to add a so-called “referendum trigger,” to put to bed the larger questions of when the council must put an issue out to voters.
As for the library, Lennon and her fellow councilors report some residents have claimed Cape does not need a larger one in the digital age. However, Scherma points out that total circulation is up 10.4 percent since 2007, despite a 2010 increase in lending periods from two to three weeks, which theoretically should have slowed the pace.
According to Haley, cities and towns in the region with newly renovated public libraries – some of which Cape councilors plan to tour in June – have seen an additional spike in usage.
“The data has showed us that in every case, the traffic is up, programming is up, the circulation is up, but nobody knows about that,” she said. “They just care about how much it’s going to cost.”
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May 14th, 2012
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The Chelsea District Library can now add two more awards to its resume: “Best of Show” in two categories: library newsletter and promotion of a website.
The Library Leadership and Management Association Public Relations and Marketing Section PR Xchange Committee announced May 10 the results of this year’s “Best of Show” competition for library publicity materials.
Several hundred entries in print and electronic formats were submitted from a wide array of libraries including public, academic, school, state and consortiums. Entries were appraised on the quality of content, originality, design, format and effectiveness.
The library entered its fall 2011 newsletter and print materials promoting the library’s local history website, Stories of Chelsea. Both entries won “Best of Show” in its class, libraries with annual operating budgets under $2 million.
“The ‘Best of Show’ awards are another significant tribute to the dedication of the Chelsea District Library to providing the highest degree of quality service to our library patrons and community,” said Bill Harmer, director of the Chelsea District Library. “Anna Cangialosi is the marketing coordinator and mastermind behind the design, branding and layout of our newsletter and deserves all of the accolades and recognition for her efforts and talents. We are very proud of her and of our extraordinary Library for winning such a prestigious honor.”
Judges considered factors such as the uniqueness of the approach, audience appeal, presentation of information in a clear and informative way, attractive appearance, appropriateness of design/graphics/photos and uniqueness of format. The panel of judges, including a graphic designer, a professor of advertising, a marketing/communications professional, and a website designer, enjoyed reviewing the submissions and found them to be innovative and compelling.
A complete listing of this year’s winners is available at: http://www.ala.org/llama/awards/prxchange_winners.
Winning entries will be on display 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. June 24 in the exhibit hall of the PR Xchange Program at the ALA Annual Conference. Awards will be presented at 12:30 pm. Limited quantities of the winning entry materials will be available for conference attendees to take home.
The Chelsea District Library is nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide equal access to quality resources that serve the lifelong cultural, educational and informational needs and interests of all people. The library currently serves 14,000 residents in the Chelsea district – City of Chelsea plus Dexter, Lima, Lyndon and Sylvan townships and more than 20,000 individuals visit the Library each month. For more information, visit chelsea.lib.mi.us
The Library Leadership and Management Association, www.ala.org/llama, advances outstanding leadership and management practices in library and information services by encouraging and nurturing individual excellence in current and aspiring library leaders. LLAMA is a division of the American Library Association.
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