Annual Message to the Community
2023 was another very busy year at the library!
Our staff was excited to re-introduce some pre-pandemic programs, such as bus trips and the ever-popular Life-Sized Candyland. In conjunction with our status as a certified Sustainable Library, we launched the NexTrex Challenge, helping our community take soft plastic film out of the waste stream. We introduced the community to the Great Backyard Bird Count, a fantastic national citizen science program. New services were added to the makerLAB with a sublimation printer, which allows for more creative experiences for our patrons. We upgraded our wireless network with a faster and more reliable system, improving internet access for mobile users in the building. Many great new programs were planned and presented by our staff, including our first-ever Plant Swap, a Craft Supply Swap, the Kovarik Author Talk with Ridley Pearson, and Magic Tree House: the Musical, just to name a few. We embarked on some new collaborations: partnering with LIEOC to present high-quality English language classes for our English language learners, and collaborating with other libraries in the county for the fun Summer Library Tour. As always, we continue to enhance our collections: new travel-related items were added to our Equipment & Gadgets collection, and in the Teen Department, a new set of tablets with full manga series were added. At the end of December, our Circulation Department introduced the convenient option for patrons to renew their library cards online.
A Few Statistics from 2023
- More than 489,000 physical items were checked out or renewed. In addition, eBooks, movies, music and audiobooks were streamed or downloaded more than 181,000 times, a 10% increase over the previous year.
- Computers were used more than 37,000 times, and the library’s wireless network was accessed more than 117,000 times. These represent increases of 25% and 5% over the prior year.
- Library staff planned and produced 2,027 in-person or virtual programs with 38,351 attendees or viewers, a 12% increase over the previous year.
- The library’s convenient mobile app was launched more than 33,000 times during the year.
2024 Plans
The library provides incredible value for the community’s modest investment. Your support in 2024-2025 will allow the library to continue our current excellent level of services and programs.
Current services include:
• The ability to stream and download free eBooks and eAudio from Libby, Hoopla, Freegal and Kanopy
• Free museum passes to dozens of museums on Long Island and in New York City
• Equipment & Gadgets, our Library of Things collection
• Classes and events for all ages, including concerts and performances in our theatre-style Community Room
• Access to classes and appointments in the makerLAB, our makerspace
• Thousands of books, movies, audiobooks and more, with access to millions of additional titles through our shared county catalog
• Access to public computers with librarians who can provide guidance, as well as one-on-one tech assistance
• A wonderful playspace for families with young children, plus the interactive Learn & Play Children’s Garden
In addition, your support will enable the library to introduce:
- The Community Yarn Project, a library-wide program for all ages, spanning most of 2024
- Additional programs and services in the makerLAB
- Programs focusing on April’s near-total solar eclipse
- A podcast produced by teens
- A middle school reading challenge
- The first Repair Café held in our community
Long Range Plan of Service
This plan of service for 2022-2025 was approved by the Board of Trustees in December 2021.
