2013-2014 Annual Report - Washington County Free Library

2013-2014 Annual Report
A word from the Director
The Washington County Free Library has come through another amazing year culminating with the
opening of the Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Branch in Hagerstown. Only opened since
October we have already seen records broken in library card registrations, customer check outs of
materials and program/class attendance.
While catching our breaths and recovering from a hectic and busy summer, I took the opportunity to review and
reflect on this past year. In doing so, I realized the success of our library system is about people, not buildings; the
fine staff who work throughout our system and the citizens that use and depend on their library. As I look back on
the years during which the Fletcher was being built I came to understand that some acknowledgements are in order.
First I wish to thank our branch staff who bore the brunt of having to absorb the increase in customer demand due
to the Hagerstown branch being closed for almost three years. You all did an amazing job of meeting that challenge
when Hagerstown was reduced to the two small temporary branches and the warehouse.
As for our Hagerstown staff, what a time they had. First to all the “back of house” staff, who worked in less than
ideal quarters in order to do their jobs, I thank them for their spirit of cooperation and smiling faces. They kept us
going while cheerfully plugging mouse holes and working around roof leaks. Technical Services, working in dusty
cramped quarters, kept pumping out new materials for our customers. Barbara K., from her temporary office
surrounded by towering storage boxes, managed to keep new materials ordered while also working to build a new
opening day collection for the Fletcher. Our circulation and reference staff were amazing working in three different
locations, pulling books in the warehouse in freezing conditions or baking heat. I want to especially acknowledge
the hard work of Circulation and County Services. While the mother ship was closed these staff members got books
into our customer’s hands usually within 24 hours of asking for the material. Thousands of books left the warehouse
every week and thousands were returned in that same week. Over 60 book boxes had to be lifted on and off our
delivery van daily by our amazing reliable Carlos. Our facility maintenance staff managed to keep everything up and
running in the temporary libraries, the warehouse and our branches, as well as pitching in to help with deliveries.
That was business as usual – then came the move back to the Fletcher starting in August and nothing has been
“business as usual” since. To everyone who pitched in to make that move – thank you. Library staff worked
long back breaking hours to deliver this truly beautiful public asset to the community. I have to say it – A special
thanks to Jan V. who had sole charge of planning the move, engaging the movers, and scheduling a complex move
that melded three different locations and three different collections back into one. We all learned that the wise course
was simply to do what Jan told us to do when she told us to do it.
Who can forget opening day? We expected 500 people but over 2,000 showed up for the ribbon cutting. Standing
on the steps overlooking a sea of people stretching almost back to the square is a site I shall never forget. When our
doors finally closed that day, over 5,000 people came to see their new library. A special thanks to our Friends of the
Library for their help and support on opening day and all their continued contributions in time and hard work to
make our programs and classes so special.
Since opening, the positive comments I receive regarding the beauty and functionality of the Fletcher from
community and civic leaders, elected officials and the general public continue to pour in. We have truly become
our community’s living room, offering training, lectures, STEM classes for children, continuing education for all
ages, group study rooms, and an amazing collection of traditional and electronic materials.
It is more than fitting that I also acknowledge the hard work, long hours and dedication of our citizen Board of
Trustees. These outstanding community leaders gave generously of their time, as well as personal financial
support, in order to raise over two million dollars to help make the Fletcher a reality. Many times they put their
own professional and personal lives aside to attend construction and fund raising meetings, study the issues and
ask the tough questions. They were true guardians of the communities’ interests.
What will this year bring? MORE. More programs, more citizens needing our help and more challenges.
Challenges on staff time, on our collection, and on our other resources as we try and meet the needs of a growing
and diverse county wide population.
As our state and county struggles out of the “Great Recession” and the fallout from the Sequester, we look
forward to more prosperous years for our community and our citizens that live and work here. Washington
County is truly a good place to live and raise a family. To all those who work in any of our library branches or
volunteer, please take pride in knowing you have helped make Washington County better by your dedicated
service.
Director
Your library by the numbers
Citizen Usage
 Registered borrowers: 77,547
Adult: 56,785
Juvenile: 15,744
Young Adult: 5,018
 Western MD Room visits: 2,936
 Special meeting room use: 2,529
Reference assistance
 Reference Questions: 103,526
 Children’s questions: 1,183
 Reader’s Advisory: 1,499
 Web reference questions: 826
 Genealogy questions: 1,285
 AskUsNow questions: 230
 Directional questions: 6,352
 Computer help questions: 12,104
 Total questions: 127,005
Questions/day: 353
Our citizens borrowed
 Materials:
Adult: 337,170
Children: 205,861
Young Adult: 25,598
Games: 3,797
Audiobooks: 31,448
Music: 8,311
DVDs: 195,713
 Digital:
Ebook downloads: 33,951
Freegal Music Downloads: 15,198
Zinio Magazines Downloads: 2,413
Online book club: 168,290
 System Circulation: 113,447
(10 months)
 Total borrowed: 1,141,197
Interlibrary loans
 Books loaned: 12,368
 Books borrowed: 7,083
 ILL titles researched: 21,559
Community locations and bookmobile: 9
Combined hours open to the public: 323
Employees: 100 FTEs
On the web
 Page views: 2,948,784
Website visits: 1,150,916
Polaris (Catalog): 1,508,348
Polaris (Mobile): 289,520
 Unique page views: 2,015,078
Website: 730,556
Polaris (Catalog): 1,099,596
Polaris (Mobile): 184,926
 Unique visitors: 217,637
 Ave visit duration: 4:43 minutes
 Ave pages viewed per visit: 5
Database Usage
 Database Page Views: 269,773
 Database Searches: 1,204,272
 Unique Database Sessions: 643,149
Use of Public Computers
 Number of sessions: 134,168
 Service hours provided: 601,113
Print Collection Statistics
Materials Added to collection: 44,778
Total materials in collection: 361,961
Online collection Statistics
Items added:3,256
Items available to download:44,819
Total databases available: 103
Program/Class Attendance
 Total Programs/Classes: 1,807
Adult: 303
Children’s: 1,193
Family: 215
Teen: 96
 Total Attendance: 36,016
Adult: 13,027
Children’s: 21,098
Young Adult: 1,891
* Summer Reading Club
Adult: 227
Children: 3,580
* Home School Classes: 231
* Stem Classes: 1,230
Engaging & strengthe
After nearly three years of construction, the Fletcher Library opened on Saturday, Oct 5 with nearly
2,000 people attending the ribbon cutting ceremony. Over 5,000 people visited during the first day.
The community welcomes the new library. Awaiting the opening of the doors, a standing room only
crowd of two thousand people enjoy the ribbon cutting ceremony.
The Hagerstown Municipal Band performed at
the opening of the 1965 building. It is fitting that
they welcomed the library back home to 100
South Potomac St., Hagerstown, MD in 2014.
Business, government and community
leaders cut the ribbon.
Cookies and music, costumed characters and greetings for everyone on this exciting day.
ening our community
The library partnered with the City of Hagerstown and Historic City Park Neighborhoods First to bring
Hagerstown the first Storyfest in the Park. Nationally recognized storytellers, Ann Griffith, Diane
Macklin and Jon Spellman joined Hagerstown’s Authentic Community Theatre, local storyteller Fanny
Crawford and the library’s own Mr. Jeff to shine the spotlight on the art of storytelling.
Partnering with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, the library offers the annual Let’s Talk Music Lecture
Series, designed to build a greater understanding of and appreciation for the music chosen for each
concert. The Fletcher hosted the reception opening the 2013-14 concert season and served as the site
of the press conference announcing the upcoming season.
History takes the front seat at such programs as the annual Western Maryland Room McCauley Lecture
Series, and at lectures designed to explain genealogical research resources available at the library.
Over 36,000 people attended over 1,800 classes, lectures, concerts, story-times and other programs
held at the library branches this year.
Bringing people, inform
The library partnered with
Washington County Public Schools
to host Maryland History Day at the
Fletcher Library.
Reading Day 2014
A partnership with the Washington County Public
Schools and Firstbook, Inc allowed over 400 children
to visit with author Henry Cole and receive signed
copies of his book A Nest
for Celeste as part of the
library’s annual Reading
Day celebration.
At right Children meet with
Henry Cole following his
presentation at Winter
Street Elementary School
Caricature Artist Paul Merklein talks
about his craft while other Reading Day
participants pick up free books for the
youngsters in their lives.
mation & ideas together
The annual Battle of the Books brings kids from all over the county together to test
their literary skills. In honor of the Olympics, this year’s readers earned gold medals.
From visits by Amelia Earhart, music from the War of 1812, a look at the contribution of the Irish to our
state transportation history to arts and crafts activities, partnerships with the Maryland Humanities
Council, the C&O Historical Park, the American Library Association and the Washington County Arts
Council have provided lots of fun and fascinating programs for children of all ages to enjoy.
Where People &
Kids enjoy special times
from STEM related classes
to pajama and pirate storytimes to magic shows and
balloon crafting and more.
Winners of the annual Easy Picture Book Writing
Contest. The contest is open to grades 2 through
adult. First place winners in 5 age divisions
receive a hardbound edition of their book and a
copy is placed in the library collection.
Dressed as Thing 1 & Thing 2, children’s staff host
a special story-time celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
Possibilities Meet
Authors, historians and musicians are always a hit.
Author Jennifer Pharr Davis
Author Jennifer Bodine
Author Rosemary Wells
Musician Charlie Zahm
Author & Chef
Michael Twitty
Jeanette Eleff talks about
Susan B. Anthony
An active Friends organization supports our programming needs financially and with helping hands.
Friends of the Library hosted their first Quarter Auction Fundraiser with the help of local celebrities,
Mayor David Gysbert and What’s Nxt editor Peiter Bickford, encouraging the audience to bid often.
Where the money comes from...
Interest
0.09%
Donations
0.12%
Other
2.00%
Out-of-State Cards
0.15%
Fines
2.13%
City of Hagerstown
0.74%
Capital and Endowment
2.50%
State of Maryland
27.26%
Washington County
64.99%
INCOME
City of Hagerstown
State of Maryland
Washington County
Capital and Endowment
Fines
Interest
Donations
Other
Out-of-State Cards
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
31,500
1,154,648
2,752,330
106,000
90,402
4,000
5,000
84,560
6,500
Total
$
4,234,940
...and where the money goes
Administration
4.15%
General Property
9.00%
Circulation
15.85%
Salaries
59.62%
Administration
General Property
Circulation
Benefits
Salaries
$175,600
$381,321
$671,059
$482,205
$2,524,755
Total
$4,234,940
Benefits
11.39%
EXPENSES OVERVIEW
ESTIMATED VALUE OF SERVICES
Quantity
19,451
1,141,197
148,564
360
36,016
269,773
1,204,272
1417
1,112
Retail
Service
Value
Value
Interlibrary Loan
$ 25.00
$
486,275.00
Matrials Borrowed
$ 22.00
$ 25,106,334.00
Customer Queries Answered
$
7.00
$ 1,039,948.00
Public & Staff Training Sessions
$ 100.00
$
36,000.00
Program Attendance
$ 15.00
$
540,240.00
Database Pageviews
$
6.83
$ 1,842,549.59
Database Searches
$
6.83
$ 8,225,177.76
$ 70,850.00
Study Room Usage
$ 50.00
Hosting Community Meetings
$ 220.00
$
244,640.00
Total Value ----------------------------------------$37,592,014.35
At an average cost of $22 per book, the library saved our patrons over $25,000,000 this year.
We wish to express our sincere thanks to the many individuals in our community who
have volunteered their time and talents to help with and provide special programs for our
community. We appreciate and thank you.
The Library also wishes to thank the many community organizations that provide support
for our special programs and activities throughout the year.
 After Five Productions
 American Association of University Women
 American Eagle
 American Library Association
 Authentic Community Theater
 Baltimore Downtown Partnership
 Baltimore Orioles
 Barbara Ingram School for the Arts
 Bill & Melinda Gates
 Bob Evans Restaurant
 Chick-fil-A
 Chipotle
 Citizens for Maryland Libraries
 City of Hagerstown
 College Savings Plans of Maryland
 Community Foundation of Washington County
 Denny’s Restaurant
 Discovery Station
 Dollar General
 Duet with Music
 Extra Innings
 Family Recreation Center
 FirstBook, Inc.
 Food Lion Market
 Frederick Keys Baseball Team
 Friends of the Washington County Free Library
 Glaxo Smith Kline Science in the Summer
 Hagerstown/Washington County Chamber of
Commerce
 Hagerstown/Washington County Convention &
Visitors Bureau
 Hancock Area Photo Club
 Hancock Arts Council
 Hardees
 Healthy Howard
 Herald-Mail
 HMTV6
 Homewood Suites by Hilton Hagerstown
 Humane Society of Washington County
 John Hershey Family Fund
 Main Line Broadcasting—Wild 96.7
 Martin’s Food Market
 Mary K. Bowman Fund for Historical & Fine Arts
 Maryland Humanities Council
 Maryland State Department of Education
 Maryland Symphony Orchestra
 Maryland Theatre
 Master Gardeners of Washington County
 National Endowment for the Humanities
 National Park Service
 Nora Roberts Foundation
 On Stage Performance
 Potomac Audobon Society
 Priority Partners, MCO Johns Hopkins HealthCare
 Rotary Club of Hagerstown Charitable
Foundation, Inc
 Rural Maryland Council
 Rotary Foundation of Washington County
 Sheetz
 Smithsburg Market
 Southpointe Fitness
 Star Theater
 State of Maryland
 Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt
 Teens Have Choices
 Town of Smithsburg
 University of Maryland Extension Office, 4-H
 Walnut Street Community Health Clinic
 Warfordsburg Preceptor Gamma Pi Chapter of
Beta Sigma Phi
 Washington County Arts Council
 Washington County Board of County
Commissioners
 Washington County Community Action Council
 Washington County Public Schools
 Washington County Sheriff’s Department
 Western Maryland Regional Crime Lab
 Western Maryland Regional Library
 What’s NXT
 William Brish Planetarium
 WJEJ Radio 1240
2013-2014 Board of Trustees
Harry Reynolds, President, 2014
Art Callaham, President, 2013
Kathleen Poole, Vice-president
Al Martin, Treasurer
Ellie Doub
Brendan Fitzsimmons
John Schnebly
Greg Snook
George A. Stone
Margaret Trader
Our Mission:
The Washington County Free Library engages and strengthens our
community by bringing people, information and ideas together.
Hagerstown
Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Branch Library:
100 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown, MD 21740
Community Branches
Boonsboro Free Branch Library
301-432-5723
401 Potomac St.
Boonsboro, MD 21713
Sharpsburg Branch Library
301-432-8825
106 East Main St.
Sharpsburg, MD 21782
Hancock War Memorial Branch Library
301-678-5300
220 Park Rd.
Hancock, MD 21750
Smithsburg Branch Library
301-824-7722
66 West Water St.
Smithsburg, MD 21783
Keedysville Branch Library
301-432-6641
Taylor Dr.
Keedysville, MD 21756
Leonard P. Snyder Memorial Branch
Library
301-842-2730
12624 Broadfording Rd.
Clear Spring, MD 21722
Williamsport Memorial Branch Library
301-223-7027
104 East Potomac St.
Williamsport, MD 21795
WCFL Bookmobile
visit us on the web at www.washcolibrary.org