For Fiscal Year 2016
The Ainsworth Public Library has gone through many transformations this year, including a new librarian and staff. Our new librarian, Sarah Snow, is a VT Certified Librarian with 10 years of library experience.
Three clerks were hired to assist the librarian, Tim Betts, Monique Hayden and Rachel Rose. The library currently has 13 active volunteers as well as a Friends of the Library group. The library is working hard to serve over 400 patrons that actively use its services. It could not do so without the dedication of its staff, volunteers, Board and Friends group.
The exterior of the library was repaired and painted this year. The interior hallway was renovated, thanks to the Beth Warrell Fund and includes a new bulletin board for library and town announcements and a beautiful bench built by Williamstown resident, Romeo Isabelle. New stairs were built for the cellar to replace an old set that was dangerous. It is the hope of the library to provide an inviting place for people of all ages.
Two new public access computers were purchased for patrons to use in the library and we added color printing for patrons with a donated color printer. The library became part of a Vermont library wide courier system that allows patrons to request materials for inter-library loan from all over the state at no charge and have them delivered to our library for pick up.
The library became a part of Listen Up Vermont, which allows patrons to access audio and e-books for free from home. Universal Classes were another addition to the library; this service allows library patrons to access more than 500 classes to take online for free. The library continues to offer fax service (25 cents a page for local/50 cents a page for long distance), printing needs (15 cents a page black and white and 50 cents a page color), and scanning (free).
The library has done a lot of programming this year for both youth and adults. Our summer reading program for youth included 3 grand prizes that were donated by the Friends of the Library. For every 15 minutes of reading that youth did, they received a raffle ticket for one of the prizes. We had 20 youth complete their reading goals, reading a combined 161 hours in two months and celebrated with a party where each youth picked a free book to take home. We established a weekly Storytime and a monthly Family Night, where we read stories, sing songs and do crafts together.
In conjunction with WES, we received the CLiF grant.The CLiF grant has allowed us to make a bridge with the elementary school, receive $1,000 in free youth books, and participate in wonderful programming such as author visits. Our library was chosen as one of the 26 Vermont libraries to receive the Federal 3 year VELI-STEM grant; this grant will allow dynamic programming and materials for youth that focus on science, technology, engineering and math. The Friends of the Library donated all of the Vermont award books for Kindergarten through High School so that local youth can be a part of other Vermont towns voting for their favorite book. We have seen an increase in youth using the library after school as a place to study and socialize.
There has been an increase in adult programming at the library. Every month, we have a Tech Day where our clerk, Tim Betts, helps troubleshoot any questions people have about their computers and devices. We have teamed up with The Gardens to offer a monthly senior book group. The Williamstown Readers continue to meet monthly. We worked with the Historical Society to have different authors visit. We have recently begun to offer adult craft and educational classes.
On behalf of the library, we would like to thank the town for their continued support. The library is a hub for the community and we are grateful to be such an integral part of the town. Please visit our website www.Ainsworthpubliclibrary.org or look for us on Facebook for pictures, information and upcoming events.
Respectfully submitted,
Sarah Snow
Librarian
