To: North East Borough, North East Township, and Erie County
From: McCord Memorial Library 32 West Main Street North East, PA 16428
Re: Fourth Quarter Annual Report 2007
–October, November, December REPORT Information Summary
“McCord Memorial Library is dedicated to serving the North East area by assembling, organizing, preserving, and making accessible books and materials; and evolving technologies to provide stimulation, education and recreation for all citizens” The board of directors and staff are committed to fulfilling that goal.
McCord Memorial Library is able to provide services to the North East community, in part, because of your support. To provide you with the information you need to be assured that your funds finance a vital community service, we have instituted a policy of forwarding a periodic information summary to the supporting government bodies. Our hope is that you will find this information useful.
McCord Memorial Library Board of Directors
Nancy Marshall, President Laura Graham, Secretary Dennis Priester
Beth Hutchinson, V. President Rev. David Oyler Elsie Holl
David Hatfield, Treasurer Carole Carley Richard Tefft
54 hours per week
* Monday – Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
* Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Circulation for October, November, December 2007 ILL* Patron Cards
October 5493 2,374 17
November 5133 1,938 18
December 5287 1,705 35
Quarter 15,913 6,017 70
Year –to – date Annual 70,713 24,921 8,072
*Routed items to or from McCord and special hold requests
Internet use: 1,158 people signed up to use computers - fourth quarter 2007 YTD – 5,153
At the January 2007 McCord Memorial Library Association Meeting, the budget for 2007 was approved at a projected $221,004 included: (Grant - $4,000)
· $ 45,440 - collection
· $ 135,984 - staffing costs
· $ 2,400 - computer related costs
· $ 11,000 - utilities costs
· $ 4,100 - maintenance costs (building, grounds, general equipment)
· $ 18,080 - miscellaneous services (insurance, audit, supplies, postage, access PA)
PROJECTED income from government entities RECEIVED: 12-31-07
$ 15,000 - Borough tax revenue (set at 1.4 mil) $ 15,332 - Borough tax revenue
$ 26,786 - Township tax revenue (set at 1 mil) $ 27,431 - Township tax revenue
$ 34,876 - Erie County revenue $ 34,876 - Erie County revenue
$ 53,568 - State Aid revenue (tied to local effort) $ 53,568 - State Aid revenue
$ 2,800 - Work Study & Access PA $ 3,005 - Wk Study & AccessPA aid
$ 133,030 - Government funding $ 134,212 - YTD Governmental Revenue
McCord Memorial Library
Page 2
Events & Activities
The 2006-07 Annual Appeal reached its goal of $10,000 plus. The Annual Association meeting was held here in January to apprise members of the state of the library.
VITA - volunteer income tax assistance-, helps those in need by filing income taxes, began in February, and continued through April.
Speaker Series - Our speakers this year were Library Director Mary Kieffer “A Comparative Study of Two Women of Erie County, Helen Schluraff and Mother Borgia Egan”; Sue Beates, “Pennsylvania Birthplace of the Modern Oil Industry”; Sue Mills “Two Years in the Magic Kingdom: Living and Working in Saudi Arabia”; and Lisa Gensheimer “Pennsylvania Wilds: Images from the Allegheny National Forest”.
Great Decisions is a program designed for discussion and learning about current events. In 2007, the topics included: climate change; migration; children; war crimes; the Middle East, Mexico, South Africa, and Central Asia.
Teen Tech Week – celebrated to inspire teens to get connected with different technology.
Friends of the Library spring book sale broke a record by bringing in $2,034.00 in April.
National Library week was celebrated by this year’s theme “Come together @ your library” to motivate the public to read, and encourage support and use of libraries. McCord gave away plastic book bags to our patrons for checking out items.
June July August
3 summer reading programs were offered last year to our patrons. (Children’s stats and information are in their report.)
Teens:
From June 18 through August 18, 2007, we conducted a successful reading program for students in grades 6 - 12. Prizes were given at registration and based on weekly participation, plus a special drawing. We registered 92 students. Prizes included food coupons, new books and gift certificates from our generous North East establishments. Feedback from the teens was overwhelmingly positive.
Adults:
For the last two years, McCord Memorial Library has run an Adult Summer Reading Program. It has been a fun and often “rewarding” experience for those readers that in the past had felt left out. In 2007, the theme was “I READ.” The program was based on a bingo card; readers were challenged to read different genres to earn an “I READ” and chose various prizes. One hundred and sixteen cards were handed out to interested patrons with 22 completed and returned. Our patrons earned a total of 103 prizes throughout the summer program.
McCord Memorial Library
Page 3
Events & Activities
North East businesses were very generous in donating to our reading and celebration programs in 2007, with 9 businesses participating to help insure continued interest in and promotion of reading to our North East community.
Wine Fest 2007, the last weekend in September, was celebrated by the entire community. Our McCord Memorial Library Association members, Friends of the Library, Staff, and others participated and volunteered in this community wide festival. The library’s share of the proceeds for the effort of all involved was $5,592.00.
The Friends sponsored another speaker, Dr. David Frew, a local historian who spoke about his newest book “Dreams Afloat: A pictorial history of the Nolans & Erie Boat Building.” The event was held at 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall of the Park United Methodist Church. The Friends held another book sale with proceeds of $1,754.00.
National Teen Read Week October 14-20 “LOL @ Your Library” encouraged ‘tweens and teens to read something light and humorous. Anyone in grades six through twelve was invited to check out a book and participate in a drawing. Three prizes were awarded. This opportunity was promoted at the schools as well as at McCord Library, and many of the Summer Reading Program participants also participated.
The 2007-08 Annual Appeal was launched with the theme: “Return on Investment,” informing the public on the value of library services and resources. Generally we place dollar amounts on every item available for circulation and use in the library, the cost of books and magazine, etc.; the material cost of resources, not the essential benefit realized by a community. This study commissioned by the PA Department of Education's Office of Commonwealth Libraries, in collaboration with the PA Library Association, determines the economic benefit of public libraries in Pennsylvania, and illustrates the intrinsic value of libraries.
The study concluded that for $1.00 tax support, public libraries provide a return on investment amounting to $5.50. For example, in North East our local funding is:
NE Borough $ 15,332
NE Township 27,431
Erie County 34,876 = $77,639 X $5.50 = $427,015 using the ROI formula
We reported on our strategic plan last year and needs assessments derived from that proposal. As a result of the strategic plan initiated in 2007, we have completed the following Technological improvements:
McCord Memorial Library
Page 4
Events & Activities
Thank you, Mary Kieffer
McCord Memorial Library
Library Director
CHILDREN’S LIBRARY REPORT:
Numerous opportunities for children to become involved in the library and in reading are available throughout the year at McCord. In 2007, McCord Memorial Library was pleased to host:
· There were 171 story times and programs in 2007. 1,700 children and 1,056 adults attended.
· A new Tuesday evening story time was created for a combined age group of toddlers and preschoolers.
· In May special story times were held for the N.E. Preschool classes. Also, seven Davis School Kindergarten classes were given tours. After being issued library cards, they checked out their books.
· The Summer Reading program included 30 programs with a total attendance of 622 children and 272 adults.
· Free summer reading registration books were given away totaling 372, and 1,388 weekly prizes earned by children up through fifth grade.
· The Puppet Factory hosted the summer reading kick-off. The “Make & Take” puppets plus interactive show were attended by 44 children and 22 adults.
· The Scholastic Book Fair generated $1,000 in free books for the Children’s Library.
· Granny’s Ark Petting Zoo visited in July with an estimated 500 in attendance.
· October’s Fuller Hose Field trip had an attendance of 40 children and 20 adults.
· Homemade Christmas piñatas culminated the year.
Children’s services and programs report by Rae Lindsey.