Director's Message

Each year I write a annual report on the activities of the library in the past year.  Here is the report for 2007.  2007 was a busy year and 2008 is starting out just the same.  The staff of the library looks forward to serving you in 2008.

WELLINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

ANNUAL REPORT

JANUARY 1 – DECEMBER 31, 2007

Board of trustees                                           Library Staff

Larry Noel, President                                     Director:  Gene Ann Trant       

David Noe                                                       Assistant Director:  Karen Cagle

Mike Steely                                                     Library Clerk:  Helen Boggs     

Karen Ziegler                                                  Library Clerk:  Kim Keiss

Mishie Daknis (Term began 4/06)                  Friends Representative:

Travis Vieira (Term began 4/06)                           Peggy Holford

Travis Stevens (Term began 4/06)

PERSONNEL

The Wellington Public Library has four employees.  Library Director Gene Ann Trant and the Assistant Director Karen Cagle are full time employees. Library clerk, Kim Keiss works 18 hours per week and Helen Boggs the other clerk was hired as a temporary part-time clerk.  She worked between four and ten hours a week.  The Town of Wellington funds the Library at 110 staff hours per week.  Total hours open to the public are 42.5. The difference of 67.5 hours is used for staff flex-time and overlapping hours.  The library utilized seven volunteers that work several hours each on a weekly basis.  Other volunteers, including youth, volunteer on an as-needed basis for special projects and during the summer.

CIRCULATION SYSTEM

The library continues to use the automated circulation system, Sirsi/Dynix Horizon, version 7.3.4.  The system is still administered by the Automated Systems Consortia Colorado (ASCC).  The library’s catalog is available on the Internet (http://wellington.ipac.dynisasp.com).  Patrons can look up materials, renew the items they have checked out, and place reserves on items.

EQUIPMENT

There are four computers available for public Internet usage, one computer that is used for the automated catalog that can be used for the Internet if needed, and four staff computers.  All the computers with the exception of one have Norton Internet Security on them.  The remaining computer from the Gates foundation has Cyber Patrol and AVG virus protection.

The library has a wireless hub.  The wireless router serves as the router for the library’s Internet network.

Usage by the public of the fax and photocopier continues to increase. 

FACILITY

Library space for books is becoming more cramped as the collection grows.  We are continually looking for ways to make space by rearranging the collection and weeding little used books.

The inside books drop is a great addition to the library.  With the books coming into the building there is less damage from the weather and sprinklers.

Cleaning of the library is done on a regular basis by the same individual that cleans for the town of Wellington. 

INTERNET USAGE

Usage of the four public access computers continues to increase. There were approximately 6,450 computer users in 2007, compared to 4,980 users in 2006.  This is an increase of 23% from 2006.  The computers are used primarily for educational research, job searches, and word processing.  US Cable is the library’s Internet provider. 

PATRON DATABASE

Approximately 70 new patrons were added to our patron database each month and include city and county residents.  Total number of new patrons in 2007 was 830 compared to 725 new patrons in 2006.  There are now a total of 4,981 patrons in the database.  80% are from Wellington and 20% are from the county or are libraries that are part of the interlibrary loan system.

In 2007 there were 28,400 patron visits to the library.  In 2006 there were 21,000 patron visits to the library.  This is an increase of 27%.

COLLECTION AND MATERIALS

 Total Holdings in Collection      21,127

New Titles Added                      1,561

Weeded Titles                               227

Total Annual Circulation in 2007           40,660                           21% Increase

Total Annual Circulation in 2006           32,160

The collection was increased by 1,561 new titles.  All areas of the collection had an increase in holdings.  227 items that were lost, damaged, outdated or were not circulating were weeded from the collection.  Total number of materials held in the library collection is 21,127.  The monthly circulation high of 4,586 items occurred in June.  The monthly circulation low of 2,452 items occurred in February.  Total material circulation for 2007 is 40,660 compared to 32,160 for 2006.  This is an increase of 8,500 volumes or a 21% increase.

 The library participates in SWIFT, the statewide interlibrary loan program, to provide access to materials that the library does not own.  As a part of SWIFT the library also loans our materials to other libraries.  Materials borrowed from other libraries in 2007 totaled 427 items.  Materials loaned to other libraries in 2007 totaled 377 items. 

We participate in the statewide courier service.  The success of the interlibrary loan service is dependent on the statewide library courier service.  We contract with a courier service through the Colorado State Library.  The service transports books and materials, correspondence and other mailings to and from libraries in Colorado.

 PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS

The Wellington Library Friends continue to raise funds for the library with the large book sale in November and the ongoing used book sale in the library. 

A library article was submitted monthly to the local newspaper, The North Forty News.  Features in these articles include upcoming events and programs, new book titles, and general library news.

Preschool story time was held twice a month in 2007.  Attendance at the story times stayed pretty consistent with 2006.  In 2007 attendance was 403 children and adults and in 2006 attendance of children and adults for story time was approximately 460 participants.  Library tours were conducted throughout the year for several classes from Eyestone Elementary, and the local preschool, Creative Kid’s Corner. The library has Accelerated Reader lists on hand to assist students with book selection for this reading program used at Eyestone Elementary.  Tours were also given to the adult ESL classes that are held at Eyestone Elementary.

 SUMMER READING

The summer reading program had 520 children and young adults ages 3-15 signed up for the program. In 2006 465 children were registered for summer reading.  Prizes were awarded based on time read.  The participants read a total of 3,890 hours.  Karen Cagle did an excellent job of obtaining prizes.  She was able to get many passes and gift coupons donated.  We had a contest to guess the titles of books that had been cut into pieces.  Six programs were held and approximately 350 persons attended these programs.  Our program presenters were Joann Thomas who presented a bird programs, therapy animals, magician Cody Landstrom, a detective play presented by a Poudre High School theater group, a food mystery program presented by Kathie Reynolds, and Joe Clingan and his police dog.  We also had two book discussion groups, one for older readers and one for younger readers.  We had 50 readers participate in the book groups.  The Wellington Friends of the Library served cookies and ice cream to at the first program.

Posters were placed around Wellington to advertise registration and the programs and fliers were sent home with Eyestone Elementary students and Wellington Junior High students.  Library articles in The North Forty News also promoted the program. 

The library worked in cooperation with Wellington Junior High to offer students who completed the summer reading program a voucher for “First Locker Choice” privileges.  This joint project has been highly successful as well as popular with the students.

Additional funding for the summer reading program was received as a grant from the Colorado State Library

 PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS/EDUCATION

 In Apri,l the director attended a two day training session in Greeley put on by the Colorado Library Consortium (CLiC).  Karen Cagle attended a workshop on the summer reading program in Greeley that was held in October.  In November, the Library Director attended a leadership institute put on by the Mountain and Plains Library Association at Ghost Ranch near Abiquiu, New Mexico.  The director also attended meetings of the Front Range Library Directors and the Front Range Circulation Directors.  The director attended bi-monthly Library Board of Trustees meetings.  

FUNDING

Total revenue to the library from the Town of Wellington equaled $143,132.  The amount of funding for the library from the Town of Wellington’s General Fund was $121,382.  General Fund Capital Expenditures to the library were $24,250.  Personnel costs including salaries and benefits for 2007 were approximately $98,582.  Other budgeted operating costs associated with purchasing books and other materials, supplies, the summer reading program, equipment maintenance, education and travel, courier service, utilities, and other expenditures total $44,550.  For actual costs see the 2007 Town of Wellington budget.

In addition to the revenue from the Town of Wellington General Fund the library receives Library Impact Fees.  Impact Fees for 2007 totaled $18,000.  This revenue from building permits is used for capital improvements and capital purchases such as additional books (based on per capita of the population) as local population increases. 

The library received a $175 grant for summer reading from the Colorado State Library in February. 

In November the library received a grant from the Library Services and Technology Act and the Colorado Department of Education to equalize services for senior adults and patrons with low vision.  The library received $4,900 to purchase a computer to use with screen magnification and screen reader software.  Part of the grant money will also be used to purchase more large print and audio books.

 LIBRARY WEBSITE

In September the library website that is hosted by the Colorado State Library went live.  The Wellington Public Library staff adds and deletes content as needed.  We can add announcement of upcoming events, holiday closures, etc.  The address for the site is

http://wellington.colibraries.org