Claire M. Greene, Chair
Robert Baldridge
David Hegarty
Martin Santis
Pamela Talbot
JT Hsu
Melissa Saalfield
Walden Pond closes at dusk, the North Bridge Visitor Center closes at 4 p.m., but one Concord landmark is open 24/7.
At the library website, citizens can download audio books, read magazines, get book suggestions from a librarian, chat online with a reference librarian, even view photos and maps from the library’s world-renowned special collections.
Hits to the website-zero in 2000-exploded to 246,000 for 2007.
These numbers tell a story about the way Concord citizens use the library. Today, Concord has three libraries: the bustling Main Library, the heavily used Fowler Branch, and the always-open website, www.concordlibrary.org.
The two “real” libraries and one virtual library complement each other, with online access to the library catalog driving circulation and library visits. For example:
Concord resident borrowed an average of 20 items per year, more than double the State average of 8 items.
Five years ago,
Concord residents borrowed 10,455 books, dvds, music cds, and books on tape from other towns’ libraries. In 2007, benefiting from free requests and an easy-to-use online catalog, they borrowed 32,400 items from other towns.
The Library Committee collaborated with the Trustees of the Concord Free Public Library Corporation, the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library, and library staff members to look at some of the challenges created by the increasing importance of technology and the changing roles of libraries.
Committee members David Hegarty, Melissa Saalfield, and Pamela Talbot assisted the Fowler Building Committee in evaluating the future needs and uses of Fowler.
The Library Committee welcomed the high school students’ suggestion for extended hours before exams and volunteered to monitor the extra hours. cchs students handled all publicity from the extra hours, which attracted as many as 70 students per hour.
The Library Committee worked to assure a welcoming and easy-to-use library, both online and off:
For the “Real” Library:
Commended library staff for outstanding results on the survey of citizens’ evaluation of Town services.
Discussed book selection and culling policies.
Reaffirmed the longstanding policy permitting family members to pick up materials for each other.
Reaffirmed the library policy that no posters or signs may be posted in the library advocating political points of view. The bulletin board is for notices of events that have a specific day and time.
Reaffirmed the policy that all meetings at the library must be noncommercial and permit anyone to attend. Petitioners may not approach patrons on library grounds, inside or out. The art gallery space is juried.
Monitored utility costs.
For the Virtual Library:
Commented on the new e-newsletter and suggested increased frequency.
Discussed the importance of it expertise for library staff positions.
Discussed rfid technology and recommended that the transition to rfid be considered as part of any work at Fowler.
Discussed ways to promote the reference databases.
Statewide budget challenges.
The committee voted unanimously to deny library services to Medway cardholders if Medway were decertified by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. (Medway subsequently was decertified due to inadequate town funding.)
The Library Committee meets on the second Tuesday of the month, 7:30 p.m. at the Main Library. Observers are welcome.
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