Dear Library Friends, I have a story to tell about Rawlins Library. Introduction. 2007 was a great year in the life of our Library! We provided more programs in the Library as well as in the community. We circulated a record number of items and the collection grew to meet the needs of our patrons. We upgraded our computers, promoted our wireless technology, added an online encyclopedia and provided both electronic and traditional reference assistance. We delivered materials to nursing homes, retirement centers and the women’s prison. We traveled across the Missouri River and brought collections and programs to children and teens. And whenever we were open, we were glad to provide whatever library services our patrons needed. Although statistics can not tell our entire story, they do provide an objective view of our operations so I have included below last year’s summary. Please read the following chapters that tell the rest of our story.
Chapter II. Library Staff, Board and Volunteers The Library’s staff includes 7 full-time and 6 part-time friendly, knowledgeable librarians. Our wonderful Library Board includes Pat Clark as the Chairwoman, with Karl Adam, Linda Clair, Don Rounds and Liz Vogt as Board members. In addition, several generous community volunteers provide many hours of assistance. Chapter III. Funding Rawlins Municipal Library is well funded primarily by the City of Pierre so that our library may contribute substantially to the high quality of life area citizens enjoy. We also appreciate receiving additional funding from Hughes County and the City of Ft. Pierre. Unfortunately, Stanley County chose to discontinue its six years of financial support; therefore, citizens who reside outside of the Ft. Pierre city limits in Stanley County will be required to pay a fee to obtain a library card in 2008. Chapter IV. The Facility We were flexible! That statement accurately describes how we managed to provide the services, programs and collection in our often-crowded 15,840 sq. ft. building. We held three programs in three places at the same time; plus we utilized the newly paved areas on the east side of the building to hold summertime programs. The new-to-us metal picnic tables on that same side became a place where kids used their laptop computers and gathered to visit after school. We carefully scheduled activities to maximize the use of our Dakota Historical Collection Room so that community groups could also use it. We moved collections of materials to make them more accessible and we displayed seasonal and theme collections in every available space. We are fortunate the building’s design enables us to avoid barriers to access and, instead, let us create unique spaces devoted to special collections and patrons. Our children’s area, youth area and magazine reading areas all benefited from our ability to move furniture and shelves and effect redesigns in those popular places. Chapter V. Library Vehicle New-to-us this past year is the 1993 Chevy Lumina van that we are able to use to deliver programs and materials. We are happy to have this method of transportation to facilitate our ever growing outreach services. Chapter VI. Programs. We had fun introducing new programs to both children and teens this past year and our excellent presenters enthusiastically demonstrated the fun of reading and the fascinating information that is found in books. Our participation in the annual Kids Safe Saturday and Bicycle Safety events allowed us to provide casual one-on-one storytimes and to give away more than 75 preschool and children’s books. In the spring, we held a Read for a Bunny and a Book raffle and more than 35 kids read books, told about them to our staff, and won large plush bunnies that had been donated to the Library. Then, because of the success of the bunny program, we held a Holiday Bear Read and Win raffle in December. More than 140 kids participated and 11 lucky winners took home a holiday-dressed plush bear. In addition, each participant in both events received a free book to enjoy at home.
The Summer Reading Celebration was another huge success with more than 2,833 kids participating in the 90 programs. 871 kids read 1,192 books and we gave away more than 1,740 paperback books, too. This year, we expanded our Poolside Reading Parties at the area swimming pools and during those 9 programs, 234 kids enjoyed popular and humorous stories and got book recommendations from Lizzie the library clown and her cousins Lucy and Star.
We placed a collection of children’s books at the Ft. Pierre Community Youth Involved Center (CYIC) and we refreshed it several times this summer. And this fall, we implemented a weekly after-school Reading Adventure series at the CYIC that included stories, a theme craft and an opportunity for kids to choose a new book to take home, too. Teenagers decorated their area of the Library with stunning, creative artwork based on popular books. And throughout the year, more than 400 attended a variety of fun, literary programs that inspired them to read. Teens were consulted about their interests and we added titles to our youth collection accordingly. The result was a higher circulation of youth materials than ever before. Teens continued to use the computers and those with laptop computers learned the Library is a great place to hang out with friends while they use their laptops.
Our 7th year of providing storytimes at the Capitol Christmas Celebration was a joint effort by enthusiastic staff and community volunteers. More than 600 people enjoyed listening to the classic and contemporary holiday stories that were read beside the children’s trees in the Capitol. Chapter VII. Services. We make it simple for you to get the best charge card ever – a library card from Rawlins Municipal Library. Our application is short and we accept a variety of documents that verify your residence. When you live in Pierre, outside the City of Pierre in Hughes County or in the City of Ft. Pierre, the card is free.
This year, we promoted our wireless technology so more people than ever before used their laptops wherever they wanted to in our Library and both cozy corners and study tables were often full. We upgraded our public access computers and our word processing computer station now includes a scanner. We also increased access to a variety of information databases for a total of 18 and most of them can be used in your home simply by entering your library card number. We added a laptop computer and LCD projector for groups to use when they meet in our Dakota Historical Collection/community room. We added a surveillance system. The new time management reservation system was installed and it has facilitated the equitable use of our public computers and also enabled us to ensure correct use by minors. In addition, our new print management system ensures patrons they will only print the pages they actually want and that saves a lot of paper. Our website has been redesigned and it is more friendly, colorful and useful than ever before. Just go to http://rpllib.sdln.net and learn about what is happening at Rawlins Library. You may also browse our collection, renew items and place items on hold easily from our website. Our ability to give away so many books at various programs and events was largely due to grants we received from Oahe First Book. This local chapter of a highly respected national non-profit organization is dedicated to providing books to children and youth who otherwise might not have any books of their own. Our new adult outreach service has been very popular and we now deliver materials to nursing homes and retirement/senior residence facilities. In fact, more than 1,000 items were personally selected and delivered. This fall we also began delivering selected paperback books to the women’s prison and the response from those readers has been quite positive. We provide recycled cloth tote bags in an effort to be as environmentally friendly as possible. We also recycle all of our donated books, magazines and audio-visual materials either by adding them to our collection, selling them so as to use the proceeds to purchase new materials, or by giving them away. We are so fortunate that so many people are generous with their discarded titles. In addition, we have a wonderful memorial gift program in place that facilitates making contributions to the Library. After consultation with the donor, we select an appropriate title for our collection and then place a handsome memorial plate in it identifying the person in whose memory it was given and by whom. I also recommend gifts of this type as honorariums or for special remembrances. We definitely appreciate suggestions and encourage you to put yours in the suggestion box at the circulation desk or send it to me. Our goal is to provide you with an excellent library collection in a library that has the programs and services you need and if I may be of assistance, I will be happy to help! Just contact me at the Library, 773-7421 or by e-mail blewis@sdln.net. Chapter VIII. Conclusion. The Rawlins Library story doesn’t have an actual ending because our collection, programs and services will keep expanding each year. However, as with many books, there is something at the end that encourages the reader to anticipate the next title by the same author. Therefore, here is that something. In 2008, look for a coffee and tea service on really cold days. Benefit by being able to print in color. Watch for more new audio books than ever before. Keep an eye out for informative new databases to be added to our online collection. Be ready when we host those exciting South Dakota Big Read events. Help us celebrate the Library’s 103rd Birthday in March! Get ready for an exciting Summer Reading Celebration that will offer kids more opportunities to practice their reading skills. And be sure to watch for information about the debut of the Library’s own Rawlins Reading Club. Thank you very much for your continued support of Rawlins Municipal Library!
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