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ANNUAL
REPORT
Annual
Report of the Thomas Crane Public Library (.pdf version)
July
1, 2002 - June 30, 2003
Library services in the City of Quincy have always been popular. The construction of the main library addition has demonstrated just how many Quincy citizens love their libraries.
- 49,722 people have library cards
- 500,000 people visited the Main Library during FY'03
- 482 programs were held for adults and children, attended by 2,026 adults and
9,375 children
- Attendance at children's programs increased over 50% from FY'02
- The library circulated 540,121 items, up 27,534 from the year before
- 25% of all the items borrowed were audiocassettes, videocassettes, CDs and
DVDs
- The Reference Department answered 42,393 questions
Library services at the Main Library were available seven days a week September through June. The weekends continued to be the busiest days, especially for families.
Library staff rose to the challenge to provide outstanding library services to the city, despite fiscal constraints. The Quincy people made it very clear that the library is an important part of city life.
Friends of the Library
The Friends of the Library organization continued to grow. They sponsored a
number of successful fundraising events which raised money for a variety of
library programs. For children, the Friends sponsored Saturday morning storytimes,
Saturday music programs and Saturday science programs. They sponsored special
events during school vacations and holiday times including "Magic for Muggles,"
"Poems that Go Bump in the Night," and Waffles the Clown.
An April concert series on Sunday afternoons drew large family crowds to hear nationally acclaimed artists Bill Staines, Cheryl Honemeyer and the duet of Mark Leighton and Peter Bloom.
The Friends purchased museum passes which Quincy residents can borrow with their
library cards. Passes provide free or reduced admission to the following museums:
The Science Museum, the Children's Museum, The Franklin Park and Stoneham Zoos,
the J. F. Kennedy Library, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Aquarium.
Grants
Understanding Islam
The library received a Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities
Grant to provide a reading and discussion series on "Understanding
Islam." This four-part series explored the roots of Islam
and some of the important issues facing the Muslim world today.
Led by a humanities scholar from Smith College, the series
offered thought-provoking insight into the world of Islam.
Telling Family Stories
The MetLife Foundation Reading America program funded an intergenerational film and discussion series, "Telling Family Stories." 34 students from Quincy High School, Al-Noor Academy and Archbishop Williams High School met after school from March through May to learn how to uncover their family histories. They viewed films, learned about library resources, interviewed family members, developed family timelines and concluded the project with a potluck supper with foods of their native lands.
Literacy Volunteers Quincy received grants from the Mass. Dept.
of Education and the Mass. Board of Library Commissioners to fund programs in
the library's adult literacy tutoring program.
Special Events
H. H. Richardson Desk
In October 2003 the library was given an original partner's desk designed by the library architect H. H. Richardson for the library at the University of Vermont. The donor stipulated that the desk be put in a public area so that people could use it and enjoy its beauty as he had while it had been his desk.
Quincy Symphony Orchestra held its annual Holiday Concert in
the library atrium in December to a standing-room-only crowd.
Operation Day's Work students from Broad Meadows Middle School,
led by teacher Ron Adams, worked weeding and planting flowers in the Peace Garden
they have planted outside the Children's Room. Each year the Operation Day's
Work Program raises funds for building schools in poor countries. This year
the students chose Bangladesh. They presented a teach-in in the afternoon which
included Quincy businessman Sheik Raman.
Lt. Governor Kerry Healey visited the library in April 2003.
She toured the renovated library, met with local and state library officials
to discuss library funding, and read a story to Quincy children.
Board of Trustees
2/1/02 - 2/1/03
Alicia Coletti
Harold S. Crowley, Chair
Aileen Eleey, Secretary
Michael Furey
Sandra McCauley, Treasurer
Paul Picarski (resigned 7/02)
Lawrence J. Falvey, Jr. (7/02 appointment)
2/1/03 - 2/1/04
Alicia Coletti
Aileen Eleey, Secretary
Lawrence J. Falvey, Jr., Treasurer
Dr. Carol Lee Griffin
Sandra McCauley, Chair
Robert P. O'Connell
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