Following a busy and successful year at the County of Prince Edward Public Library and Archives, the Library Board and staff are looking forward to continuing to serve the community in creative ways as it faces challenges in 2010.
"Due to budgetary restrictions, the library will need to make a few changes in the new year,” says the Public Library’s CEO Barbara Sweet.
One of the these will be the implementation of new hours.
As of January 5th, the Picton Branch will now open at 11a.m. rather than 9:30a.m. on Tuesdays, but remains open Tuesday evenings until 8pm. Sunday hours, which were discontinued in December at the Picton Branch, are discontinued indefinitely.
Beginning Tuesday, January 19th, the Ann Farwell Branch in Milford will be open from 12p.m. to 4p.m. on Tuesdays, discontinuing the evening hours, however, Thursday hours will change to 11a.m. to 7pm.
Also on the 19th of January, the hours of the Bloomfield Branch will now be 3p.m. to 7p.m. on Tuesdays.
The reduction in hours is one of the most effective ways of reducing operating costs, according to Sweet. The changes, however, were decided with consideration of patron usage during these hours and the hope is that the modifications will cause little disruption of service.
"We are also looking to patrons to help shape library offerings by communicating what they expect of us,” says Sweet. "We invite community members to tell us what they would like to see the library provide in terms of materials and services.”
Plans are to hold focus group sessions in the near future and anyone who would like to be involved is asked to contact Branch Managers or Mrs. Sweet.
Creative solutions are being sought to continue to provide the very best service possible and this includes the recruitment of more volunteers, especially for programs. Staff that is busy manning circulation desks and helping patrons cannot, unfortunately, also be planning and running programs. "So volunteers with skills to share become increasingly important,” explains Sweet.
"We have developed many popular programs and initiatives in the past year or two and we do not want to forgo the ground we have gained in offering these to the community, but” she adds "the reality is that there are only so many resources.”
There are a number of ways that library users and all residents of Prince Edward County can affect changes at their public library. One way is to provide input by completing the Municipal Budget Survey currently available at Shire Hall and at all branches of the library. Another is to speak to municipal councilors about these matters, and letting voices be heard.
The public library is actively looking for viable solutions as well. A very successful fundraising effort, for example, recently wrapped up. The "Support Your Library Book Sale” raised over $2000, according to Tracy Daley, the library’s Office Manager and Bookkeeper. She credits the over 35 volunteers involved, headed up by Marilyn Dean, for the phenomenal accomplishment. The temporary store, set up in the vacant Main Street retail space provide free of charge by Christopher Skeet, ran six days a week, six hours a day for almost 5 weeks.
The plan is to continue to hold library book sales around the County in various locations throughout the year. Anyone interested in helping with this endeavour is asked to contact Tracy Daley or Barbara Sweet at 613-476-5962.
"The goal,” says the Library’s CEO, "is to implement a number of ideas that are self-sustaining and use the limited resources available in the best possible way to provide excellence in library services.
For more information on the County of Prince Edward Public Library, visit the website at www.peclibrary.org
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