Annual Report 2008

ANNUAL REPORT

Check out some interesting charts showing Quincy library use trends:
Comparative Usage, 2000-2008
Current Usage, 2008-2009

Read stories from Quincy library users about how the library improves their lives: Your Stories

Annual Report of the Thomas Crane Public Library (.pdf version)

July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009

Quincy’s branch libraries received a strong endorsement from people around the city who turned out for three neighborhood meetings in April 2009 to support keeping branches open, despite budget challenges. While communities across the country struggling with the economic downturn have cut library budgets, often closing all library branches, Mayor Koch and the City Council worked with the library Board of Trustees to find a way to sustain library services throughout the city. Quincy loves its libraries!

Library usage continued to grow as it has each year.

Attendance – 846,020 people came to the library.
Materials checked out - 718, 813 items were borrowed, 70% print. People still read lots of books in Quincy.
In-library computer use – people logged in 9,053 hours per week on the library’s 105 public computers.
Website hits – the library site, a virtual library branch, had 15,030,631 hits.
Program attendance – 754 programs were attended by 19,519 people.

Adult Programs
Thanks to the hard working library staff and the support of the Friends of the Library, an amazing variety of programs were offered for people of all ages. Musical concerts included summer concerts on the lawn and monthly concerts on Sunday afternoons featuring jazz, acoustic, Appalachian, chamber music, blues, music of the Depression and World War II, Brazilian, Celtic and Chinese music.

Monthly film showings included prize-winning foreign films, and current feature films like Mamma Mia! and Milk. Two scholar-led discussion series were held: The World War II Years and Love and Forgiveness in the Face of the Enemy.

A variety of book discussion groups for children, teens and adults met each month to discuss books.

Programs were presented on the Brinks robbery, traditional Chinese arts, coyotes in Quincy, the Tall Ships, Henry Hobson Richardson, Quincy architectural landmarks and historic homes, and Amelia Earhart. Travelogues described trips to Ireland, Myanmar, Disney World, the mountains of Maine and cruising the Mediterranean. The library was filled with delicious smells as cooks demonstrated How to Bake Sourdough Bread, Creating Edible Landscapes, Simple Spring Suppers and Appetizers. Gardeners learned about planting vegetable and herb gardens.

Computer classes were held teaching about Word, Internet basics, Picasa, Powerpoint basics, Excel, Facebook, Resume writing, eBay, and Publisher.

Artworks from area artists were exhibited each month at the main library. Popular exhibits included the annual shows of Quincy Public Schools and the Quincy Art Association.

Children’s Programs
Children’s programs were offered nearly every day, year round. Some of the special programs included storytellers, puppet shows, magic shows, Sharks of New England, monthly Mad Science experiments, feature films, drop-in crafts, a talent show, anime, monthly bilingual story hours, poetry karaoke, and the Museum of Science Travelling Planetarium.

Community Outreach
Collaborations with a variety of community groups and agencies allowed the library to reach out to many more people in the city. These included:

Outreach on Wheels delivered over 1,700 items to homebound residents, in partnership with Quincy Elder Services
Health Matters @your library bilingual series for older adults attracted over 400 participants, in partnership with Quincy Medical Center, Quincy Asian Resources, South Shore Elder Services, and Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center
Successful program collaborations with the Park Department’s Quincy Environmental Treasures program
Monthly Green Reads book discussion group, co-sponsored with the Quincy Environmental Network
China Revealed program series in partnership with the Chinese Culture Connection of Malden and the Episcopal Quincy Chinese Center
Library booth at the 22nd annual August Moon Festival at which library staff and a bilingual volunteer displayed and distributed information about the library, including over 100 take-home craft kits for children
Award-winning monthly At the Library television program, produced in collaboration with Quincy Access Television

Grants
Grant funds enable the library to expand the programs offered each year.

$2500 – Let’s Talk About It: Love and Forgiveness in the Face of the Enemy. Quincy was one of 50 libraries nationwide to receive funding from the American Library Association to present the Fetzer Institute’s five-part scholar-led reading and discussion series.
$4500 – Nellie Mae Education Foundation to help fund the library’s English language Talk Time groups.
$5000 – Marjorie Harris Reynolds Fund to support tutor and student training in the library’s literacy program.
$14,815 – Mass. Dept. of Education funding for the library’s literacy program.
$2500 – Quincy Arts Lottery funds for the summer storytelling festival.
$1100 – Quincy Rotary funds to purchase children’s books.

Staff
Three staff members retired. Marian Ciccariella left after 40 years working as children’s librarian at the Wollaston Branch. Hope Brand worked 16 years in the library reference department, and Jeannine Thubauville left after working in reference for 11 years. They left with 67 of combined knowledge! Our best wishes to them for many happy years ahead.

Friends of the Library
The Library Friends work all year long to raise funds to support the museum passes and the hundreds of programs enjoyed by people of all ages each year. In 2009 the group hit a milestone with over 500 members, one of the largest Friends organizations in the state.

Thanks to Friends President Harold Crowley, whose dedication has made the Friends group so dynamic. The Friends Executive Board includes Harold Crowley, President, Eunice Charles, Vice-President, Ann Yeomans, Secretary, Alicia Coletti, Treasurer, and Members-at-Large Bonnie Ashworth, Peggy Doyle, Betty Molloy, Marianne Murphy, Geraldine Storella and Susie Wilkening.

Trustees
Each year the Mayor appoints six trustees to serve for one year to oversee library services. In 2009 Mayor Koch appointed Alicia Coletti, Harold S. Crowley, Jr., Harold DiMattio, Dr. Janet DiTullio, Lawrence J. Falvey, Jr. and Sandra McCauley. Mr. DiMattio passed away during this year and left behind a legacy of support for the library and his beloved North Quincy Branch.

Annual Reports from Previous Years
FY2008
FY2007
FY2006
FY2005
FY2004
FY2003