Grafton Public Library

Library Updates

Library CLOSED Monday April 17 in Observance of Patriot’s Day

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The Grafton Public Library will be CLOSED in observance of Patriot’s Day on Monday April 17, 2023.

Please pick up museum passes for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before the Library closes for the long weekend at 6pm on Saturday April 15.

Please visit our online digital branch 24/7 at www.graftonlibrary.org – you can even get a digital card for the OverDrive catalog if you do not have a library card.

For a complete calendar of 2023 Library closings, please visit https://graftonlibrary.org/2023-closings/

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Weekly Report February 19-25, 2023

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This week we circulated 3,189 items, received 617 items in transit and sent 412 items. We requested 465 items and filled 217 hold requests; registered 23 patrons for library cards, and added 142 new items. The most popular book this week is Spare by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. We hosted 14 meetings in our conference, study, and tutoring rooms for 29 people including Boy Scout Troop 107 Astronomy Merit Badge class, as well as private -work, study, homeschool, and tutoring sessions.

The Library was closed on Monday, February 20, 2023 in observance of President’s Day. The Library also closed early on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 8:15 p.m. and remained closed Thursday, February 23, 2023 due to inclement weather.

Admin
Beth submitted bills and working on a staffing plan through July, updated the website and staff schedule, prepared for the Library Board of Trustees meeting, managed several sessions of the Escape Room program and covered the YA room for 11 service hours. She monitored weather in case of need for closures, reviewed staff telecommute documentation and reviewed and submitted payroll. Board of Library Trustees had a brief meeting to approve minutes, bills and a funding request for $28,000 for temporary staff to cover youth services gaps.

Eileen maintained the collection of periodicals, took care of incoming mail, processed invoices, and prepared bills. Debby compiled the Weekly Report, worked on upcoming social media posts, posted to social media, and completed tasks for payroll, scheduling, as well as tasks for the Board of Library Trustees.

Borrower Services
Staff managed service desks, delivery, museum passes, the lobby, room reservations and Automatic Materials Handling equipment. They assisted patrons, placed holds, performed readers’ advisory, and supervised volunteers.

Kara reviewed industry publications and added spring titles to upcoming order lists, submitted an updated Hours Log for a Borrower Services volunteer, ordered high demand e-audio and e-book Overdrive titles, reviewed adult fiction standing order titles for March, checked ALA GNCRT’s 2022 Best Graphic Novels for Adults Reading List against the collection to add items to upcoming order lists, and prepared and submitted the second adult fiction order for February.

Jane posted the New York Times Best Seller List for print and audio fiction and recommended titles for purchase, corrected patrons with the wrong home library, continued the Niche Academy homelessness training, and prepared an endcap display for March of books set in Ireland or by an Irish author. Ranjita posted the New York Times Best Seller List for print and audio nonfiction and recommended titles for purchase, processed ComCat requests, processed pending library card applications, performed a routine check of the Library of Things and processed new items, continued the Niche Academy homelessness training, and helped prepare for the re-opening of the seed library. Sandhya managed out of network requests for materials, cleared expired holds from the hold shelf, and followed up with patrons. She worked on interlibrary loans and followed up with patrons, contacted patrons to pick up new library cards, processed pending library card applications, and worked on the home delivery service, including ordering items, making calls, and coordinating volunteers. She prepared for the re-opening of the Seed Library, including assembling packaging and taking inventory. Allie performed troubleshooting on the lobby and Children’s Room self-check machines, continued the Niche Academy homelessness training, helped a patron locate business resources, and prepared content for the March newsletter, including graphics, events, and spotlights.

Children’s Services
Children’s Room staff have been hard at work running programming, discussing upcoming gaps due to unexpected staff absences, and managing the school vacation crowds. Sarah co-ran two sessions of Sewing Club, monitored the library escape room program, met with CR staff to discuss upcoming programming, put together a book order, and assisted many patrons. Jen met with CR staff to discuss upcoming programming, updated EventKeeper, posted to the library’s social media, and assisted many patrons. Cyndi co-ran two sessions of Sewing Club, monitored the library escape room program, met with CR staff to discuss upcoming programming, and assisted many patrons. Stacie ran two sessions of Galaxy Slime, a session of Saturday Stories, and assisted many patrons. Mare coordinated with volunteers and assisted many patrons. Kristin ordered books for the local schools and assisted many patrons.

Teen Services
Allison has been telecommuting, working from home on graphics and lists for displays, ordering, and prepping for summer reading. Sarah S managed the Escape Room program, inventoried manga collection and updated the manga release spreadsheet; researched nonfiction and graphic memoirs to add to the collection; worked on reader advisory bookmarks for teens and tweens, checked in and shelved new YA fiction, tween fiction, and manga; oversaw four of the escape room time slots; changed out manga reader advisory cards and worked on making new cards for added series; printed and laminated new endcap display cards, and finished watching the Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness training.

Reference Services
Heidi and Eric assisted with tech and reference questions as well as circulation. Heidi hosted the Daytimers Book Group discussion of Death in Kew Garden by Jennifer Ashley.  She also hosted the GPL Mystery Book Group’s discussion of Under the Alaskan Ice by Karen Harper. Eric reached out to Ominigraphics to help collect Teen Resource Center stats and worked on the March staircase display.

Technical Services
Cynthia ordered new books and unpacked items as they arrived; cataloged new young adult fiction, adult fiction and nonfiction; completed the Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness training; sent in requests for records to the CatCenter, fixed problem items, and worked on creating documentation for ordering from Baker & Taylor.

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Teen Gaming Space At Library CLOSED Tue 1/24/23 & Wed 1/25/23 Due To Carpet Cleaning

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text "teen room update" coming out of a megaphone against a white chat box on a purple backgroundUPDATE 1/27/23: The room is now available! The Teen Game Room will be unavailable from now until Thursday afternoon to give our newly cleaned carpet a chance to dry.

The Maker Space and computers remain unavailable as construction is ongoing to make the space more accessible for patrons.

The Teen Room is still open for browsing, study rooms, and hanging out.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
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Weekly Report Week of Jan 9-14, 2023

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This week we circulated 2,757 items, received 598 items in transit and sent 592 items. We requested 652 items and filled 455 hold requests; registered 39 patrons for library cards, and added 135 new items. The most popular book this week is Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. We hosted 40 meetings in our conference, study, and tutoring rooms for 175 people including Boy Scout Troop 107 Astronomy Merit Badge training, Cub Scout Troop 107 AoL Den meeting, Girl Scout Troop 11225, MetroWest Building Officials Association, Boy Scout Troop 106 Deb meeting, as well as private work, study, homeschool, and tutoring sessions.

The Library will be closed in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday, January 16, 2023. The Library will have a delayed opening at 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 19, 2023 for professional development.

Please join us in congratulating Eileen LeBlanc on 20 years of service to the Grafton Public Library.

Admin
Beth worked on submitting outstanding minutes for Board of Library Trustees, updated the Procedures manual, made website updates and managed staff. She contacted our lighting company about some ongoing issues with sensor lighting throughout the building, accepted a quote for phase one of cupola restoration, and called American Alarm regarding a corrupted board on the fire panel (the system is operational, and the panel was subsequently replaced this week). She reviewed the FY24 budget submission, and met with IT on installation of MS Office 365/Outlook and an authenticator app. She paid bills, dealt with an HVAC issue, attending training for a new book vendor, covered in the Children’s Room due to a staffing shortage on Monday evening and met with the Library Planning and Building Committee. She trained a new volunteer who will be scanning historical documents for us, completed a Department of Labor RFI survey, in coordination with IMLS and others, for information related to digital literacy and digital resilience in relationship to workforce development. She worked on budget, the nonfiction book order, the final construction report, and grants.

Eileen maintained the collection of periodicals, took care of incoming mail, and prepared bills. Debby compiled the Weekly Report, worked on upcoming social media posts and the agenda and activities for the professional development next Thursday, January 19, 2023 and completed payroll and scheduling tasks as well as Board of Library Trustees tasks.

 

Borrower Services
Staff managed service desks, delivery, museum passes, the lobby, room reservations and Automatic Materials Handling equipment. They assisted patrons, placed holds, performed readers’ advisory, and supervised volunteers.

Kara set up a graphic novel display for January, worked on weeding the adult fiction collection, reviewed industry publications for titles to order, checked CWMars top titles against the library collection, placed an order for adult CD audiobooks in fiction and nonfiction, placed pre-orders for upcoming adult e-audio and e-book titles, prepared the adult fiction order for January, and responded to volunteer requests. Jane collected items with alerts for cataloging corrections, posted the New York Times Best Seller List for print and audio fiction and recommended titles for purchase, worked on a circulation report for the Library of Things collection, and began displaying the “snow joke of the week” at the borrower services desk (a new joke will debut every week this month). Allie worked on shifting holiday books to a separate shelf near the staff room, helped create a fiction weeding plan, communicated with patrons about returning books through the AMH, planned February’s endcap display and requested books, weeded duplicate books and marked as storage, discussed email communication with patrons with CR staff, recorded 7-day and 3-week fiction book statistics for October titles, prepared materials for volunteers, added magnetic labels to Borrower Services sorting room shelves, stickered and displayed New to Collection books, stickered new January titles, checked in, and displayed new 7-day and 3-week fiction, large print, graphic novels, and manga. Sandhya touched base with a community group and discussed adding daytime programming for adults, managed out of network requests for materials, worked on interlibrary loans and followed up with patrons, cleared expired holds from the hold shelf and contacted patrons about pickup, processed pending library card applications, prepared for the main display for February, coordinated with volunteers about scheduling, researched ideas for February programming for adults, sent renewal forms for two museum passes to billing department, and worked on the home delivery service, including ordering items, making calls, and coordinating volunteers. Ranjita caught up after her time off, performed the monthly AED check, and performed the weekly check on the Library of Things.

Children’s Services
Sarah met with staff, corresponded with patrons, scheduled future programming with YFCP and STEM Beginnings, ran two sessions of preschool outreach with Busy Bee Academy, ran a Storytime at Willard House and Clock Museum, created book orders, worked on collection maintenance, and planned upcoming programming. Jen planned upcoming programming, updated EventKeeper and social media, worked on the CR newsletter, and troubleshot tech issues. Cyndi began to put away items in the CR program room after HVAC work was completed, planned upcoming programming, met with staff, organized donated fabric, finalized the Library of Things binder. Stacie removed damaged Magnatiles from use, planned upcoming displays and room decorations, planned upcoming programming, and troubleshot tech issues. Kristin ran 3 sessions of Book Worm Book Club, ran a session of Comic Creators Club, delivered books to NGES and SGES, and planned upcoming programming. Mare has been out sick this week although periodically communicating with volunteers and staff. 

Teen Services
Allison continued to weed the fiction collection to make room on the shelves for new books, prepared carts of books to order, and has been working on a large book display to put up in the teen room next week: books based on astrological signs.

Reference Service
Heidi and Eric assisted with tech and reference questions as well as circulation.   Heidi hosted the “Not Just for Young Adults” book group discussion of A Castle in the Clouds by Kerstin Gier.  She also worked on program planning and PR. Eric also organized and displayed new non-fiction arrivals and ordered non-fiction books

Technical Services
Cynthia ordered new books and unpacked books as they arrived, cataloged new children’s books, large print, adult nonfiction, and DVDs, sent in requests for records to the CatCenter, worked on fixing problem items and changing labels for children’s books, as well as attending a training meeting with Baker and Taylor.

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2023 Library Closings Announced

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Monday, January 2 CLOSED – New Year’s Day
Monday, January 16 CLOSED – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Thursday January 19 DELAYED – Professional Development Day – open at 2 p.m.
Monday, February 20 CLOSED – President’s Day
Thursday, March 9 DELAYED – Professional Development Day – open at 2 p.m.
Monday, April 17 CLOSED – Patriots’ Day
Saturday, May 27 CLOSED – Memorial Day weekend (unpaid)
Monday, May 29 CLOSED – Memorial Day
Monday, June 19 CLOSED – Juneteenth
Monday, July 3 EARLY CLOSING – Close at 5 p.m.
Tuesday July 4 CLOSED – Independence Day
Thursday, August 17 DELAYED – Professional Development Day – open at 2 p.m.
Saturday, September 2 CLOSED – Labor Day weekend (unpaid)
Monday, September 4 CLOSED – Labor Day
Monday, October 9 CLOSED – Indigenous People’s Day
Thursday, October 19 DELAYED – Professional Development Day – open at 2 p.m.
Friday, November 10 CLOSED – Veterans’ Day
Wednesday, November 22 EARLY CLOSING – Close at 5 p.m.
Thursday, November 23 CLOSED Thanksgiving Day
Friday November 25 CLOSED Thanksgiving holiday
Saturday, December 23 CLOSED – Christmas (unpaid)
Monday December 25 CLOSED – Christmas (observed)
Monday, January 1, 2024 CLOSED New Year’s Day

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Weekly Report: Nov 28-Dec 2, 2022

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We have been prepping for our Grafton Celebrates the Holidays Open House on Sunday December 4 from 12-4pm. This year we are offering henna, storytime, seasonal crafts from Grafton RISE, and a Friends table with book bundles, canvas bags, notebooks, bookmarks and memberships for sale. We will host the Girl Scouts Gingerbread House contest and a table from Central MA Foster/Adopt MA Initiative – please stop by!

This week we circulated 2,361 items, received 723 items in transit and sent 742 items. We requested 462 items and filled 403 hold requests; registered 15 patrons for Library cards, and added 323 new items. The most popular book this week is Mad Money by Jodi Picoult. We hosted 29 meetings in our conference, study, and tutoring rooms for 78 people including Brownies Troop 65197, BSA Scout Troop 107 Astronomy Merit Badge class, Cub Scout Pack 107 AOL Den as well as private work, study, and tutoring sessions.

Admin
Beth was out on sick leave for most the week, but responded to urgent email and had phone conversations with the Trustee Chair and Capital Campaign chair. She completed the Library’s December newsletter, 2024 Action Plan, and October MPLCP construction grant report. She setup Niche Academy enrollment for all staff, who will be participating in a year-long online training initiative for responding to marginalized populations, including homeless, teenagers, and mentally ill patrons. She attended a policy subcommittee meeting where we discussed art display, security cameras, meeting room and facility rental and parking We will allow for up to 4 consecutive books for groups or individuals meetings daily, weekly or monthly, and re-evaluate in March 2023—we had been allowing one booking at time to encourage turnover and equity of use. We anticipate installation of a replacement distributor for an HVAC issue on Friday.

Eileen maintained the collection of periodicals, took care of incoming mail, and prepared bills. Debby compiled the weekly report, attended and took notes for the Board of Library Trustees Policy Subcommittee meeting, watched the “Good Kids, Bad Behavior” webinar, and completed ordering, scheduling, and payroll tasks.

Borrower Services
Staff managed service desks, delivery, museum passes, the lobby, room reservations and Automatic Materials Handling equipment. They assisted patrons, placed holds, performed readers’ advisory, and supervised volunteers.

Kara pulled materials for Crescent Manor and made the monthly visit with Susan, ordered requested e-audio materials, reviewed CW MARS top lists against our collection, reviewed a report on top hold titles for CD audiobooks, brainstormed ideas for collection development and readers’ advisory next year, continued processing incoming volunteer applications, re-started a previous volunteer, worked on the ARIS and circulation statistics for November, and prepared the circ narrative. She put up a display of fiction and nonfiction titles for December to celebrate Jane Austen’s birthday, created signage, and prepared a list of titles for the library’s website.

Jane posted the New York Times Best Seller List for print and audio fiction and recommended titles for purchase, corrected records for patrons with the wrong home library, collected items with alerts for cataloging corrections, and corrected typos on the library website. Ranjita posted the New York Times Best Seller List for print and audio nonfiction and recommended titles for purchase, processed ComCat requests, processed new adult fiction titles, performed a routine check of the Library of Things, added new puzzles to the collection, and provided orientation and training for a new volunteer. Allie created laminated shelf labels, proofread and edited the general e-newsletter, inserted alternate text descriptions for screen readers for newsletter graphics, added contacts to the newsletter distribution list, printed copies of the Tough Topics flyer, researched and solved problem with self-check receipts in System Manager, updated the Bibliotheca issues sheet with serial numbers and IPv4 addresses of all the self-check machines, and provided direct web addresses to edit all the self-check machines from the computer. Sandhya managed out of network requests for materials, worked on interlibrary loans, cleared expired holds from the hold shelf and sent follow up emails to patrons. She performed troubleshooting on the AMH, purchased materials for the upcoming book folding programs, processed online library card requests, and worked on the home delivery service, including ordering items, making calls, processing holds, and coordinating volunteers.

Children’s Services
This week in the Children’s Room wrapped up our big Dinovember program and began the transition to all things winter. We also started up our winter sessions of storytime programming!

Sarah ran four session of outreach preschool programming for SGES, ran two sessions of outreach preschool programing for Busy Bee, planned and prepared for GCTH, co-ran a session of Sewing Camp, followed up with staff, met with Allison to discuss programming, followed up with members of Grafton RISE to discuss the craft they will be running during GCTH, lesson planned for upcoming preschool, toddler, and outreach programming, and met with Cynthia to discuss spine label text.

Jen ran a session of Library Babies, planned for upcoming storytime sessions, ran a LEGO Brick Builders program, finalized and sent out the December Children’s Room newsletter, planned for New Year’s @ Noon, began the January Children’s Room newsletter, and updated EventKeeper. Cyndi painted items to hide for the December passive room hunt. She planned programs, window displays, and room decor for the next 3 months and organized the Library of Things. Stacie ran a Dino Egg session, prepped book displays, planned room themes. Mare assisted a patron with placing holds on materials from outside the network, continued to manage volunteers, replenished display books, and assisted patrons by placing holds. Kristin dropped off C.A.R.E.S. books to NGES and SGES, planned for upcoming programs, provided outreach to the local schools, and began planning the January bulletin Board.
 Teen Services
This week the teen room worked on new displays for Pearl Harbor Remembrance, Gifts to Make, and Holiday Books as well as using some of the larger displays to showcase the new books to the collection. Allison worked on monthly stats and book orders.

Reference Services
Heidi and Eric assisted with tech and reference questions as well as circulation. Heidi also worked on PR, Readers’ Advisory with patrons and preparing for Grafton Celebrates the Holidays.  Heidi also hosted the “Reads Well with Others” book discussion of The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley and the Inspirational Book Group (and Guided Meditation) discussion of Friendfluence: The Surprising Ways Friends Make Us Who We Are, by Carlin Flora. Eric shifted books to make more room in the non-fiction collections and received training on how to use the Ingram website and shifted book displays for December.

 Technical Services
Cynthia ordered books, unpacked new books, worked on revisions for the Ingram processing/spine labels project, and cataloged new young adult graphic novels, children’s graphic novels and nonfiction, and adult nonfiction.

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Behavior Management Procedure Change Effective Immediately Tue 10/4

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Due to the ongoing crisis with managing the middle school population at the Library, Department Heads met yesterday to develop a new plan for managing behavior expectations in the Library. To give the entire staff a much needed break and time to prepare for procedural changes, the Teen Room will be closed for the remainder of this week Tuesday-Saturday and reopen with new guidelines on Tuesday, October 11, 2022. If you are a parent or guardian of a child in grades 6-10, we urge you to please speak with your child about the value of the newly renovated and expanded public library with an engaging Teen Room.

Effective Immediately 10/3/2022

  • There is no open seating for middle schoolers on the upper level through 11/10/2022.
  • The meeting rooms on the Upper Level (202, 219, 228, 229) are restricted to for adults and high school students with high school ID AND library card. If high school students do not have a library card, they can get one with a school ID.
  • A library card is required to make a meeting room reservation for any room, including in person. All teens in the meeting room must have a library card to be in the room.
  • Once you’re in the meeting room, no in-and-out. Restroom breaks are fine.
  • Room limits on EventKeeper will be enforced – Group Study 202 is for 4 people, tutoring rooms for 2 people.
  • The Teen Room is closed temporarily for the remainder of this week. We apologize for the inconvenience. The room will reopen on Tuesday 10/11/2022 with new protocols.

Effective Tuesday 10/11/2022

  • Beginning next Tuesday 10/11/2022, we will implement a new system to communicate behavior expectations, enforce consequences, and limit numbers of middle school students. Tentative procedures are being drafted by the youth services team and include:
  • The Teen Room will be open to ages 13-17 with a library card (no crossover with the Children’s Room, which is 0-12 only; that age group has to have parent in the library)–with the following limits:
  • Teens will need to sign in to use the room and show an ID / Card to get into the room. No card in system = no entry; no card present = show on phone or confirm identity with two pieces of data (address, date of birth, phone number on file, email on file).  The library card would allow us access to their contact information should we need to reach out to a parent. If the students have the library card on their phone, this can be used to confirm their information.
  • We will enforce an occupancy of 22 in the Teen Room [2 in each of 2 tutor rooms; 2 groups of 4 in the gaming room; 10 seats for open seating (computers, maker space passive programming, general seating)]
  • Once you’re in the Teen Room or Meeting Room, you stay in the Teen Space. Students will need to locate all of their friends ahead of time who are signed up to be in the room and to come with everything they need. Restroom breaks are fine as long as they are not using them to play and be loud in the hallway.

Other Things to Know:

  • The Teen Room Staff are working on signage that clearly states specific unwanted behaviors with consequences and a behavior expectations contract modeled on what Boston Public Library does for their teen space.
  • We will not offer Teen Room Access on early release days for the rest of the school year; the Teen Room will open at 2pm.

Thank you for your compliance in these procedures.

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Library Weekly Report September 26-October 1, 2022

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This week we circulated 2,641 items, received 763 items in transit and sent 684 items. We requested 485 items and filled 592 hold requests; registered 25 patrons for library cards, and added 146 new items. The most popular book this week is The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict. We hosted 28 meetings in our conference, study, and tutoring rooms for 106 people including Tai Chi, Marvel Champions, Pleasant Street Neighbors group, and Girl Scout Troop 65070 as well as private work, study, and tutoring sessions.

Admin
Beth was out for two days for Rosh Hashanah observance. She worked on the financial part of the ARIS report, due on Friday October 7, and requested final FY22 figures from the Town Accountant’s office. She prepared meeting materials for next week’s policy committee meeting, attended the Library Board of Trustees meeting, and managed the Teen Room for part of the early release day. We had to close the room at 1pm due to lack of staffing. Teens were dispersed from the building and police were called to multiple locations on the Common in response to the crowds of middle school students.

Beth responded to a public records request and reviewed and edited Library page updates for the new Town website. She reviewed requests for camera footage—our cameras focus on library property, and we are unable to provide footage of the Common, Upton Street, or South Street. She reviewed and edited meeting room requests, tested A/V equipment, and met with a League of Women Voters member about their upcoming program. No one attended the Friday evening movie night last week, which Beth ran. She hosted a piano karaoke program that no one attended and worked with Apple Tree Arts on the October Ukulele 101 program. Beth reviewed incident reports, corresponded with the construction team, and worked on the July MPLCP report. She worked with IT to determine HDMI cable issues. Jonathan brought to our attention that the televisions are not properly secured, Beth will bring this up with custodial. She met with Cynthia regarding ordering new library materials; once we have straightened out which accounts from our jobber, Ingram, are coming in shelf ready, we can commence with ordering. Part of the delay is due to the long outstanding FY22 balance due to the new accounting system, but with this week’s warrant, we should be up to date and back in good standing. Beth requested a quote for new barcode scanners (two have stopped working) and will have to ask Trustees to fund as there is no budget for new equipment in FY23. Signet returned to manage staff key card issues and program our doors with the approved September Calendar. She completed and sent the October newsletter and paid bills. She reached out to a contractor for a quote on cupola restoration, and reviewed options for renewing our popular Wi-Fi hotspots, as the free program ends October 1.

Beth coordinated with Willard House and Clock Museum staff installed a Willard clock, made in Grafton, in the Historic Reading Room. This is on temporary loan. Willard House and Clock Museum: 50-Years of Collecting Excellence: An Illustrated Lecture will be presented by Robert C. Cheney on Monday November 14 at 7pm with a wine and cheese reception to follow. Registration begins Saturday October 1.

The Friends are planning their third Caddy Stacks mini-golf fundraiser, which takes place in the Library this Sunday October 2 from 12-4pm. Tickets are available in advance online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/caddy-stacks-2022-tickets-416733700717. Thanks to all of our local businesses who are sponsoring holes!

Eileen maintained the collection of periodicals and prepared and prepared the weekly warrant for payment. We received a $1000 check for our grant from the Coalition from a Healthy Greater Worcester and a $50 memorial gift. This week Debby worked on diagnosing and trying to resolve concerns with the phone system, created graphics and communicated with vendors for the Emotional Wellness Fair. She planted new mums on the front porch, created and posted content to Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts, attended the Board of Library Trustees meeting, and continued to work on scheduling, payroll, and Board of Library Trustees tasks.

Construction Update
Our stair gate arrived for installation on Thursday and we anticipate completion on Friday. The panel insets do not match what was selected by the Interiors Committee. Veterans was on site working on HVAC system. A solution for handles for the display case was provided by the architect.

Borrower Services
Staff managed the adult circulation desk, delivery, museum passes, the lobby, room reservations and Automatic Materials Handling equipment. We assisted patrons, placed holds, performed readers’ advisory, and supervised volunteers.

Kara placed the large print fiction and nonfiction book order for October, processed damaged fiction titles and media, began working on an October endcap display, and attended training on using the A/V equipment in the meeting rooms.

Sandhya managed out of network requests for materials, worked on interlibrary loans, cleared expired holds from the hold shelf, followed up on missing holds with lending libraries, performed troubleshooting on the AMH, assisted patrons with technology questions and using the Libby app, answered patron questions on social media, and began decorating the Borrower Services areas for Halloween. She worked on the home delivery service, including ordering items, making calls, processing holds, and coordinating volunteers.

Jane posted the New York Times best seller list for print and audio fiction, recommended titles for purchase, collected items with alerts for cataloging corrections, and prepared an endcap display for October for National Pizza Month. She worked with Allie on using the A/V equipment in the meeting rooms and provided training to Kara, Mary, and Cynthia.

Allie finalized content and graphics for the October newsletter, gathered materials for an endcap display, talked to young adults about appropriate behavior in the library and the Code of Conduct, and worked with the Bibliotheca support representative on troubleshooting instructions, including problems with the security gate and external return issues.

Ranjita posted the New York Times best seller list for print and audio nonfiction and recommended titles for purchase, processed ComCat requests, performed a routine check of the Library of Things, processed new hardcover adult fiction, and assisted patrons with technology questions.

Mary attended training on using the A/V equipment in the meeting rooms.

Children’s Services
In addition to shelving, assisting patrons, and managing volunteers, the Children’s Room staff worked on the following projects:

Sarah presented two Toddler Time programs and one Preschool program, communicated with YFCP and STEM Beginnings, shopped for Octoberfest donation baskets, attended a Blackstone Valley Youth Services Roundtable meeting, coordinated Tumble Bus and provided storytime to children waiting, discussed Halloween outreach programming, planned November programming, and reviewed the schedule and brainstormed possible solutions.

Jen provided storytime to children waiting for their turn on Tumble Bus, sent out the October Children’s Room newsletter, worked on the November newsletter, updated EventKeeper and posted to social media, planned November programming, and presented a successful session of Library Babies. Cyndi prepared the October room decorations, shifted collections, planned for October, began preparing for November, and made the program room more accessible. Stacie cleaned and organized the program room closet, began decorating for October, prepped book displays, and reorganized the CR toys.  Kristin covered lunches in the Children’s Room, dropped books off at both SGES and NGES, and communicated with the schools.

Teen Services
This week Allison shopped for and put together two themed baskets for Octoberfest at South Grafton Elementary School: Hocus Pocus and Bluey! Wednesday was a half day and there were dozens of tweens & teens in and around the library. Allison also ordered the remainder of items needed for Halloween and Grafton Celebrates the Holidays, and created and sent out the October Teen Newsletter.

This week Sarah helped the teens to change out games in the Nintendo Switch from Super Smash Bros. to Just Dance and put on an afternoon movie on Tuesday. She put up displays for LGBTQ History Month, Space Week, and Fall themed books. She made Halloween bookmarks as well as stenciled bats and werewolves for seasonal decorations.

Reference Services
Heidi and Eric answered reference, circulation, and tech questions.  Heidi created library cards for people, worked on program planning and statistics. In honor of National Library Card Sign-Up Month, she hosted the “Reads Well with Others” book discussion of The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson as well as the Inspirational Book Group (and Guided Meditation) discussion of The Writer’s Library: The Authors You Love on the Books that Changed their lives, edited by Nancy Pearl and Jeff Schwager.

Eric organized and repopulated book displays and planned for future displays. He continued weeding the non-fiction collection, worked on troubleshooting databases with GALE, and made more patron-requested seasonal bookmarks.

Technical Services
Cynthia has been working on cataloging Young Adult fiction, new adult fiction, and large print books. She unpacked and organized new shipments of books that came in and worked on fixing damaged items.

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