Come get some pizza at Pepperoni Express on May 22 (anytime 8:30 am – 10:00 pm) and a portion of your bill will support the Grafton Public Library! Dine-in, carry-out, or delivery – no need to bring a flier or anything. And since Pepperoni Express now does breakfast, you can eat ALL your meals there for our fundraiser!
Looking for a fun, short-term after school program? Students in grades 3-5 are invited to join After School Science led by NHS (National Honor Society) volunteer Cali Cardenas. The 4 week program will be held on Tuesdays, May 15th 22nd, 29th and June 5th from 3:30-4:30 pm at the Grafton Library. Participants are expected to attend all 4 weeks of the program. Experiments will include growing plants, making quicksand, potato batteries, and volcanoes!
Cali is a junior at Grafton High School and hopes to share her love of science! For more information please contact Cali Cardenas at cardenasc2019@s.grafton.k12.ma.us or 508-714-8414.
Book Discussion Groups meet at the Library and are led by Heidi Fowler. RSVP: info@graftonlibrary.org or 508-839-4649. Copies of the book are available for checkout a month in advance.
Not Just For Young Adults Book Group
Mon May 7 at 7:30pm Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
When she is abandoned by her alcoholic mother, high school senior Ruby winds up living with Cora, the sister she has not seen for ten years, and learns about Cora’s new life, what makes a family, how to allow people to help her when she needs it, and that she too has something to offer others.
Daytimers’ Book Group
Tue May 15 at 1:30pm Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper
Embarking on a more than 3,000-kilometer walking journey from rural Canada to the East coast so that she can see the ocean for the first time in her life, an octogenarian woman has experiences that blur her perspectives between illusion, memory and reality.
GPL Mystery Book Group
Tue May 15 at 7:30pm Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
A classic novel of romantic suspense finds the second Mrs. Maxim de Winter entering the home of her mysterious and enigmatic new husband and learning the story of the house’s first mistress, to whom the sinister housekeeper is unnaturally devoted.
Reads Well With Others Book Group
Mon May 28 at 7:30pm Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
A successful caterer in Bascomb, North Carolina, Claire has always remained tied to the legacy of the Waverly family, until her peaceful life is transformed by Tyler Hughes, an art teacher and new next-door neighbor, and by the return of her prodigal sister, Sydney.
Inspirational Book Group
Tue May 29 at 7:30pm The Book of Joy : lasting happiness in a changing worldby His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Douglas Abrams
Two leading spiritual masters share their hard-won wisdom about living with joy even in the face of adversity, sharing personal stories and teachings about the science of profound happiness and the daily practices that anchor their emotional and spiritual lives.
The Children’s Room is CLOSED to the public during this program.
PARENTS/CAREGIVERS: CAN YOUR CHILD BE ALONE AT THE LIBRARY?
Children are always welcome at the library. However, the library is a public building and very busy on a daily basis. For the protection and well-being of children, the Grafton Public Library has established an Unattended Child Policy.
Please note that program attendees must also comply with the Library’s Unattended Child Policy:
0-7 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times;
8-12 must be accompanied by parent/guardian remaining in the Library;
13+ may be unaccompanied provided child is able to use Library independently and follow the Library’s Code of Conduct.
Children under age 13 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian over the age of 14.
If you enjoyed Pig Spa with Christopher Hogwood (from The Friends of the Library Community Read title, The Good Good Pig, by Sy Montgomery) than you’ll love The Good Good Spa Night. Make a sugar scrub and bath tea for a spa night at home. You are welcome to paint your finger nails as well, in the company of other Pig Spa enthusiasts.
Please REGISTER online for this program or call the Library at 508-839-4649 xt 1102
Location: Main Reading Room of the Grafton Public Library.
Passport application acceptance is now available the Grafton Public Library, 35 Grafton Common, Grafton MA by appointment only during the hours of 11am-8pm Mon-Thu and 11am-4pm on Friday and Saturday. In addition to regular passport fees, an additional $35 is charged for new passports and benefits the Grafton Public Library.
Passport applicants are advised to complete the application at home or online at the Library, print it, and bring the completed forms, along with all required documentation and a 2”x2” color photo. An important note; applicants must not sign the forms until witnessed in front of the clerk/agent.
A list of all required documentation for a passport is available on the U.S. Department of State website at travel.state.gov. Additional documents may be required and can be found on the website. Photos must meet specific requirements, which are listed on the state travel website.
To make an appointment, please call the Library at 508-839-4649 and press 1 for the Main Desk.
The State Department recommends Passport applications be submitted 6-8 weeks before the date of travel.
Passports may be renewable by mail; Passport Acceptance is also available at the South Grafton Post Office.
This month, we ran the I love my Library Valentines campaign again and got many kind responses. Heidi turned the project into a display by hanging responses on a tree. Responses to “Why I Love My Library” included:
“The Garden.” (2)
“I can find information virtually anything as well as free entertainment in the form of CD’s and DVD’s. Also great staff!”
“They have the best books. Also love the staff!”
“It is a wonderful source of books for our book club. Thank you!”
“At a time in my life was full of uncertainty and stress, you filled me with calm.”
“Because there [are] so many books to explore and have fun.”
“The librarians are the BEST!!! And the collection is darn good too!”
“Memories of my childhood visits to Grafton Library are abundant. I did a watercolor painting of Grafton Library for an art project while a Grafton High student. Over all these years, I still come to this library…the kind, knowledgeable staff, the original narrow old marble stairs, the low-speaking voices…all bring back the happy old memories and create new, lovely memories to hold close to my heart.”
Building The roof was repaired due to leaking into the Director’s office. The parking lot lights were shorting out due to water damage on the spotlights from the copper canopy and this was also repaired. Fire extinguishers were inspected.
Budget
Please see attached report.
Circulation
Circulation for February was 9,789 physical items (an 8% decrease from last month and 7% decrease compared to last February) and 1,433 digital items (increases 3% compared to last month and 22% compared to last February). February is a shorter month and we had several weather related delays. Please see the attached Circulation Report.
Collection Development
We upgraded our agreement with Blackstone Audio to the “CD12 plan”, which means we agree to purchase 12 CDs per month, for a minimum of 36 titles per three-month catalog period. Under this program, we will be billed at a flat-rate of $40.00 per title. Any title priced less than $60.00 will receive a 35% discount. Any titles over the 12 minimum are also discounted as above.
Museum Passes In February, 91 passes were reserved, 70 were picked up (a 94% increase from last month) and there were 21 “no shows.” The growth in circulations of passes is attributed to February school vacation week.
Borrowers, Attendance & Usage Statistics, Program Statistics, Reference Statistics, Web Metrics, Social Media Metrics
Please see attached ARIS statistics.
Library Renovation
The Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to accept the Building Committees recommendation of DA Sullivan for OPM. Tim McInerney began negotiations shortly following the meeting.
Next Meetings: Monday March 5, 7pm, Monday April 9, 7pm.
IT
C/W MARS is switching to a web-based client (software) for checking materials in and out, and for cataloging. Susan has taken the lead in making sure that our computers are up to par and that staff are trained. The new release, Evergreen 3.0, is tentatively scheduled to install over Memorial Day weekend.
Outreach and Partnerships
Crescent Manor BookWagon had 13 visitors, 63 check-outs and renewals, 27 requests, and 0 new registrations. Heidi attended a networking event at the Hunter’s Grille & Tap at the Grafton Inn on Tuesday, January 23rd to meet local businesspeople. She had the chance to do outreach at a car dealership in North Grafton, while test driving a car. The gentleman’s grandchildren live in Grafton and go to the library sometimes as their doctor is right on the Common. Heidi dropped off a calendar of events for the Children’s Room and he commented that he would think about bringing them more often.
Friends
The Friends donated $5,000 to the Library for museum pass renewals and to cover coffee supplies and water. At their February meeting they discussed membership, and upcoming programs such as the Egg Hunt, Paint Night, and a Container Gardening Fundraiser. The nominating committee is putting together a slate of officers for the next year’s board. The Community Read “The Good, Good Pig” commences in March. The Friends agreed to provide goodies for the staff development day in March.
Volunteers
There were a total of 34 people who put in 116 hours. Two new volunteers started this month.
We were able to provide a volunteer to an elderly patron who didn’t know how to set up her DVD player. She mentioned in passing that she couldn’t watch movies, so one of our NHS volunteers was recruited to help her out! (This is a student over age 18 who has been CORI’d).
Staff
Heidi attended the Library Legislative Breakfast at Worcester Public Library with Karen Durant and Gail Poler.
Tech Services 591 items were added in February. Donna completed Allison’s YA FIC replacements, did original cataloging/processing on electronic toys(ongoing), re-covered, re-labeled older children’s books (ongoing) and maintained the mystery section.
Children’s Room This month we launched age-specific Open Play programs. Held while our storytime programs are on hiatus, Open Play allows our storytime participants to keep a library visit as a part of their normal weekly routine. We’ve had great feedback about this offering, and have seen many new patrons who like the idea of an open, unstructured play time.
Take your Child to the Library day was celebrated with a special all-ages storytime. As an extra encouragement for our youngest patrons, we held a raffle, waived the fee for replacement cards, and offered fine forgiveness for all library visitors under the age of 18. Naturally, this last incentive was a huge hit, with many grateful families happy to have visited the library that day.
Our children’s room displays continue to attract lots of attention. This month we featured Black History picks, the Winter Olympics, Engineering, and a series of books celebrating fierce and fabulous women for a visiting girl’s scout troop. A penguin search and find was this month’s sensory table hit.
Mr. Kim performed another stellar show, and our LEGO Brickbuilders continued to impress us with their creations. Our patrons made us beautiful valentines and told us how much they love their library!
During school vacation week, the movie Wonder left us all in tears, and we offered another round of our popular LEGO free play day and Family Yoga programs.
Teen Services D&D was cancelled due to inclement weather. Allison made many plans and preparations for her upcoming leave.
Adult Services The “Not Just for Young Adults” Book Discussion Group met to discuss Every Day by David Levithan; the Daytimers Book Group met to discuss Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani; the GPL Mystery Book Group Death of a Valentine by M.C. Beaton; the “Reads Well with Others” Adult Book Discussion Group met to discuss The Secret of Magic by Deborah Johnson; and the “Inspirational Book Club” met to discuss Into the Magic Shop: a neurosurgeon’s quest to discover the mysteries of the brain and the secrets of the heart by James R. Doty, MD.
The Grafton Ukulele Musicians, a ukulele jam club partnership with Apple Tree Arts met; we have a core group of 10 regular members. The Library partnered with the Grafton Historical Society to present Victorian Huswifery with the Alcotts. The Grafton Writer’s Group and Saturday Afternoon Knitters continue to meet monthly.
We prepared to being providing passport services for March. Everyone’s training is up to date and forms are in. We had a white shade installed for the purpose of taking passport photos, and have purchased a printer for this purpose. We are beginning the program on March 1, with 5 staff members trained.
The fiction display was Books by authors from “Those Countries;” nonfiction displays included Love Your Library and a Black History Month display.
Comments from the Public:
“Whoever is putting books on the new shelf just when I need them – keep up the good work.” (She found books on display that she had read about in other books).
“I really appreciate it (Readers Advisory-fiction). Above and beyond.”
“Thank you for mentioning Dinner with Edward (by Isabel Vincent) to me.. It was engrossing. I’m thinking about buying a copy for my daughter who is a chef.”
NO Log
2/27 No, we don’t have any board books about new babies (please order! -BG)
2/26 No, we don’t have a tutoring room or quiet study space -BG
2/22 No we do not have discount tickets for the Southwick Zoo.
2/21 No, we are not hiring?
2/15 I have a hearing 1 ½ year old daughter. Can she come to the library to learn to read book and speak? (Dad is deaf) No, but she can come to the play groups and experience things with other hearing kids
2/12 No, we don’t have Barron’s newspaper-SL
2/1/2018 – No, we don’t circulate ipads at present. – MW
YES Log
2/28/18-Open Play, at least for Babies and Toddlers, has been super successful. The Moms group of Grafton-Sutton-Upton have been showing up en force, using the library as a location for their weekly meet-up, even when Open Play isn’t officially scheduled. We had 19 adults today and 26 kids. Lots of new faces, lots of new cards issued too. -JM
2/24/18 – “I overheard your Sat. storytime a few days back and it was outstanding. Keep up the good work!” (to Jen and Mare) Nice to get the positive feedback! -MW
2/15/18 Do you have a pencil sharpener my grandson can use? -CZ
2/6/19 “I love how much children love the library! I told your daughter it is really a testimony to the love all of you librarians give to the kids and their programs” –CZ
2 /5 Patrons were thrilled with fine forgiveness for kids under 18. Multiple patrons, who didn’t know it was happening, were so pleased they decided to come in today. Many had fines that would have prevented them from checking out. One regular Saturday family was especially happy. Both boys had fines, and had saved up their own money to pay them. When they found out they didn’t have to pay, they were so ecstatic. After checkout, Dad made them come back in and thank both staff in CR because “they do so much for you and they don’t always get any credit.” -JM
REMINDERS & UPCOMING EVENTS
March Sat 3/31, 10/11am Easter Egg Hunt, Grafton Common
April
Mon 4/9 7:30pm BuildCom mtg, Municipal Center
Wed 4/4 7pm Spring into eBooks class
Tue 4/10 7:30pm Friends mtg, Municipal Center
Tue 4/10 11:00pm Spring into eBooks class
May
5/1 7:30pm BuildCom mtg, Municipal Center
5/14 7pm Annual Town Meeting, Grafton High School
5/22 Town Election
Thursday, April 19 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
