Grafton Public Library

Weekly Report: March 28-April 1

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We collected 121 pairs of pajamas for the Boston Bruins / Cradles to Crayons Pajama Drive! Thanks to all who donated.

Tickets to the Friends Spring Egg Hunt went on sale on Saturday; please purchase in the Lobby during Library operating hours (Mon-Thu 10am-9pm, Fri-Sat 10am-6pm).

In celebration of National Library Week April 3-9, 2022, we are hosting a number of events all month, including a free concert on Friday April 8 with Matt York, who will share music from the Highwaymen. Tickets are available at EventBrite.

Share a favorite (g-rated!) joke on April 1, ask for a typed poem on April 8, or participate in Poem in Your Pocket Day on April 29 to get a free library magnet. The Grafton Farmer’s Market returns Wed April 13 from 1-5, as well as GUM Jam, our monthly “bring your own ukulele and play”  group, which will meet at 6:30 after a long hiatus.

We are also celebrating our Community Read in April this year. The new library expansion includes a “green” roof, planted with sedum as both a decorative and environmental feature. To celebrate the multiple green building practices used during the renovation and expansion project, as well as Earth Day, the Friends of the Grafton Public Library chose The Overstory by Richard Powers, a novel about nine strangers summoned to save the continent’s few remaining acres of virgin forest.

Please visit our online events calendar for a complete list of upcoming Library programs.

We circulated 2,699 items in the last week, added 21 new borrowers, placed 526 holds, filled 480 hold requests, sent 707 items out in delivery and received 737, and added 146 items. Our most requested title was The Maid, a mystery novel by Nita Prose.

Several staff, including Beth, were out sick with spring colds (not COVID). Beth attended a construction meeting and placed a nonfiction book order, responded to email and meeting room request, and signed off on bills. She forwarded information about the Central and Western MA Library Legislative Day, which will take place via Zoom on April 6, and sent the April Library Newsletter.

All Borrower Services staff managed the lobby; circulation desk; meeting room reservations; placed holds for patrons, answered patron questions; checked material in and out; managed the AMH system, reported issues to Bibliotheca; and processed delivery each day.

Sandhya updated Museum Pass info, sent renewal forms to order passes for 2022-23; processed Interlibrary Loans in-state and out-of-state; collected books with umbrellas on the cover for April display, created signage for the display; cleared expired holds, rearranged Hot Spot location and signage and ran a pull-list. Jane handled NYTimes booklists, and the monthly Patrons with wrong home library report. Ranjita worked on Library of things, relabeling items to be returned inside the library and not through the AMH return slot; and did the monthly AED check. Susan supervised the team; ran transit and missing reports for volunteers to search; worked on a list of items in storage; started the first step of a fiction weed (removing duplicates); prepared for a staff review; requested obscure music titles for a patron; created a display for April; delivered books to four homebound patrons; and ordered electronic content from Overdrive.

All CR staff met for a Children’s Room staff meeting. Sarah communicated with local schools (NGES, MSES), shepherded the Young Scientists STEM program, planned for the Summer Reading Program, assisted patrons, communicated with STEM Beginnings and YFCP, and helped train a temp for working in YA.

Jen wrote CR publicity, updated EventKeeper, scheduled social media posts, planned April & May programming, and worked on the May newsletter. Mare coordinated with volunteers and assisted patrons. Stacie worked on planning displays for April and assisted patrons. Kristin communicated with local schools and planned upcoming book and comic clubs.

Teen Services reports that teen behavior continued to be disruptive and rowdy which is frustrating. Several attempts were made at one-on-one talks with several teens, but it doesn’t seem to stick. Personal boundaries continue to be an issue as well as throwing food, but several seem to take it upon themselves to pick up after the group to an extent. Impromptu pop-up games of Apples to Apples and Exploding Kittens were attempted but neither group managed to actually quiet down and concentrate on either task.

In addition to maintaining the space while it’s busy, Allison met with Sarah to continue planning summer programs, particularly choosing dates for events. We changed some endcap displays and Allison took on another moving and shifting project to maximize the best use of the space. Allison also working on the April book order and newsletter for teens. Sarah S. created a form to get feedback on a Manga book club she’d like to start and Allison created two forms to solicit opinions on movies to show this summer as well as color choices for sound dampening tiles in the gaming space. (If they are successful she’d like to order additional ones for the Maker Space.)

No reference report or visitor statistics were provided.

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