South Kingstown Public Library Annual Report 2010

MISSION STATEMENT

The South Kingstown Public Library provides free, convenient and equal access to print and non-print materials, services, and technologies that support our community’s informational, educational, cultural, and recreational needs.

Profile

A 1975 Town ordinance established the South Kingstown Public Library, uniting three previously independent libraries. This free public library system is comprised of the central library at Peace Dale and two branch libraries - Kingston Free Library, located at the corner of Route 138 and Upper College Road in Kingston, and Robert Beverly Hale Library, located on Route 1 in Matunuck. A seven-member Board of Trustees appointed by the Town Council for three-year terms governs the library system. Annual operating revenues are derived from local tax appropriations, private endowments, overdue fines, and State grant-in-aid, appropriated under RIGL §29-6-9.

The Library operates with a Library Director under the direction of the Board of Trustees. Staff consists of 11 full-time and 21part-time employees, including 8 professional librarians. The Library is open 130 concurrent hours and 60 unique hours per week.

Core library services include: information for school, work or personal enrichment; access to a varied collection of print, non-print and electronic resources including digital media; educational and cultural programs for all age groups; meeting rooms and study space. PCs are available providing access to the Internet, Microsoft Office software and online reference sources, which are also available from homes or businesses. Wireless access to the Internet is offered at all library locations.

A member of the Ocean State Libraries consortium, the library offers card holders access to seventy-two library collections in the state of Rhode Island.

Accomplishments FY2009 -2010

Circulation

301,834 items were checked out in 2009-2010. There were 14,317 registered library card holders as of June 30, 2010 with walk-in attendance estimated at 176,852.

Information Requests

During the past year, library staff received 26,865 requests for information. Of this number, staff members were able to provide direct answers to 26,313 questions for a fill rate of 97.9%.

Electronic Information Services

Electronic resources are available from within the library and remotely from homes or businesses. 6,609 searches were conducted using our subscription databases. The library maintains a Web site providing information and access to the Internet; Web site information retrievals totaled 44,387. Public computer workstations are located at the three library locations and were utilized 31,108 times during the year.

Library Collection/New Acquisitions

As of June 30, 2010, the number of books in the library system totaled 68,721. Non-print holdings (audio books, DVDs, videos, computer software and recorded music) totaled 9,835 items.

During the past year, 6,021 books and audiovisual items were added to the collection. In addition, 4,108 books and audiovisual items were withdrawn from the collection as a result of either being outdated (in terms of information, poor condition, loss, or damage) or decline in usage. The library subscribes to 274 periodicals and 14 newspapers.

Library Programs

Total attendance at the 744 library-sponsored programs this past year numbered 13,196. Early childhood programs accounted for 26.3% of the attendance. Programs for children in grades K-5 and young adults (grades 6-10) ranked first in attendance at 36.5%. This category also includes classroom visits by the Youth Services Librarians to public and private schools as well as visits to the libraries by individual classrooms. Programs for adults, the elderly and families were also presented.

Meeting Rooms

The library system has three meeting rooms available for use by town, state, and federal boards, commissions, agencies and officials as well as individuals, community groups, and organizations. The Peace Dale Room was used 202 times for non library-related activities, the Conference Room, at Peace Dale, 225 times and Potter Hall at Kingston, 182 times during the year.

Facilities

New cabling for computers was installed throughout the Peace Dale Library. The Kingston Free Library’s basement flooded in March. Thanks to the Town’s insurance company and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the basement was cleaned up and a second sump pump installed. Improvements to library grounds included new plantings in flower beds at all three locations.

Grants

$46,250 from the Champlin Foundations for new circulation and reference desks, a self check out workstation and a circulation work counter at the Peace Dale Library.
A grant from the Champlin Foundations payable to Ocean State Libraries on the library’s behalf for technology upgrades.
$1,800 from the Mary LeMoine Potter Fund through the Rhode Island Foundation for furniture to store and display CDs at the Kingston Free Library.
$2,770 from the Nathaniel W. and Mabel C. Smith Fund through the Rhode Island Foundation for print materials.
We the People “A More Perfect Union” bookshelf from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association.

Gifts

Museum and zoo passes provided by the Mystic Aquarium, The GFWC Women’s Club of South County, Inc. and the Friends of the Kingston Free, Robert Beverly Hale, and Peace Dale Libraries.
Gift from members of the Willow Dell Historical Association.
Gift from Valerie Roy in memory of Marvin Tesler.
Gift from Ellen Madison and Pat Grande in celebration of David Osborn’s birthday.
Gift from the staff of the South Kingstown Public Library in memory of Barbara Fogarty.
Gift in memory of Charles H. Baxter, Jr. from Darla O’Keefe.
Gift in memory of Lisa L. Novak from Cindy and Steve Curry.
Gifts in memory of John Buxton from Jean Borchardt, Monica Hickey May, Janice Filippi, Mary Murray, Jessica Wilson and Diane L. Zalis.
Gifts in memory of Rosemary W. Wilson from Sally and Joseph Brillon, June and Edward Cohan, Judith and Ronald DeWitt, Marilyn and Leon Goodman, Margaret and Dick Gramlich, Nancy and David Gramlich, Shirley and Robert Hill, Marilyn and Charles McKiel, Karen and John Payne, staff of the South Kingstown Public Library, Margaret T. Stone, Barbara and Robert Wilson, and Grace Woodward.
Floral arrangements for the Kingston Free Library from the Kingston Hill Gardeners.
Friends of the Robert Beverly Hale Library provided funds for audio books, large print books, DVDs; adult and juvenile programming, and repairs and supplies for the DVD/CD disk repair and cleaner.
Friends of the Kingston Free Library provided funds for adult and juvenile programming, Summer Reading Program performers and prizes, supplies, music CDs and a subscription renewal to the Book Page.
Friends of the Peace Dale Library provided funds for adult, young adult and juvenile books and programs; Summer Reading Program performers and prizes, adult and juvenile audio books, and young adult music CDs.

State Standards

In FY 2009-2010 the library complied with standards set forth by the RI Office of Library & Information Services (OLIS) for continued membership in the Library Rhode Island (LORI). As a result, the library system will continue to receive network services such as interlibrary loan and delivery and the annual state grant-in-aid to municipalities for public library services.

Library Board of Trustees

One new Trustee joined the Board during the year.

Goals FY2010-2011

To implement the FY2010-2011 objectives set forth in the Library’s Action Plan.
To continue the library’s cooperative relationship with the school system.
To continue to enhance the library’s electronic resources and services.