Grafton Public Library: Weekly Report December 6-11, 2021

Press release from Grafton Public Library:

2021-12-10

The Library welcomed over 850 visitors during Grafton Celebrates the Holidays on Sunday December 5. The LEGO library model was a big hit and we ran out of the keychain craft by 3pm.

This week as of Friday morning, the library circulated 2,871 items, of which 785 were automatic renewals. Patrons placed 385 holds, and we fulfilled 403; 524 items went out in delivery and 501 items came in. We added 32 new borrowers, and 39 new items, of which 32 were unique – no one else in system owns it! The most requested title was Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty.

This week, Library Director Beth Gallaway worked on the FY23 budget and capital requests; submitted an FY23 Action Plan to the MA Board of Library Commissioners; updated policies; worked on agenda, minutes and reports for next week’s Board of Library Trustees meeting; met with IT; worked on MPLCP reports, reviewed the Donor wall proof, placed ordered for requested software and peripherals (webcam, speakers, mic) that did not come standard with new library computers; dealt with a social media issue; and met with the Salary and Classification consultants.

She ran a staff meeting and attended Library Planning and Building Committee meeting, where a clock for the Large Print Reading Room was approved. Staff got a reminder about not coming to work sick, and completing daily health self-disclosures, and reviewed protocol for close contacts with Grafton Board of Health (volunteers or staff can come to work IF fully vaccinated and IF symptom free).

Beth attended the Friends of the Library meeting, where the Spring Egg Hunt was scheduled for Saturday April 9, 2023. Thanks to all who supported the Friends many fundraising items for sale during GCTH!

Beth scheduled installation of a second green roof to go over the vestibule at the parking lot entrance; provided a list of additional signage to Capital Campaign; scheduled installation and training for panic buttons; got a demo for Meeting OWL Pro 360 camera and worked on procurement of 2 for the library to own; discussed delivery and installation of the dedication plaque, and dealt with other Ribbon Cutting details, including incentives, invitations, press release and room bookings.

A technician from Chandler was on site to adjust the timing of the door opener, and an electrician was scheduled to review additional outlet locations. Beth reviewed schematics for the still incomplete sliding doors for the maker space, and arranged for the project manager from DRA to come over the weekend to verify punch list items are complete.

Beth approved and denied Meeting Room requests, recommended 2-person meetings meet in tutor rooms as designed, and planned a Winter/ Holiday Farmers Market with Grafton Farmer’s Market, to be held Wed 12/15 from 12-4pm. Over a dozen vendors will participate. She planned an upcoming Learn to Play Ukulele course with Apple Tree Arts, to start in 2023, and is working with Blackstone Valley Watershed on their annual meeting. She also met with Patti Keller from Grafton High School to discuss G-Term.

She drafted new policies for Group Visits, Vehicle Charging and Privacy and Confidentiality and then met with Town Legal Counsel to review in advance of Board vote, Beth handled an Unattended Child incident, and has made a recommendation to Board of Library Trustees to consider lowering the Unattended Child minimum from age 13 to grade 5 (age 10/11), pending ability to use the Library independently.

Public Wi-Fi continues to be inconsistent throughout the building.
The Town’s custodial crew assisted with building and grounds cleanup, hanging clocks and bulletin boards, GCTH cleanup and salted/sanded walkways in advance of the first snow on Wednesday evening, which was much appreciated.

Eileen kindly helped coordinate gifts for our sponsored family for the Christmas season.

Borrower Services continue to cover the lobby and the adult circulation desk, manage the AMH system, help patrons navigate self-check in, self-check out, room reservations, copier use, finding items on the shelves, answer questions about material, register new borrowers, check out museum passes, manage out of network requests and returns, process delivery daily, place holds, monitor room reservation requests, document questions and comments from the public, and monitor youth behavior in the adult spaces.

Ranjita worked at the Grafton Celebrates the Holidays event here at the library.
This week Allie and Sandhya gave an impromptu tour to the Grafton Police School Liaison officer.

Allie and Susan did remote troubleshooting with Bibliotheca to repair one of our antennae plates (to lock and unlock the RFID tags), and we have a scheduled session to investigate a problem with the sorting machine. Jane worked on the NYT bestseller lists, and handled a lot of the checking in of delivery items.

We’ve gathered a lot of Christmas movies from other libraries, as well as our own, and have them available to borrow.

Sarah and Stacie worked Grafton Celebrates the Holidays this week. Stacie helped patrons in the Children’s Room while Sarah ran the craft in meeting rooms A & B.

Sarah ran preschool and toddler time story time sessions, shepherded the Young Scientists program, completed November stats and narrative, corresponded with patrons, prepped and ran a tween painting program, worked with Allison C and Beth G to revise the Unattended Child Policy, Coordinated with the Friends of the Grafton Public Library regarding Grafton Celebrates the Library, assisted patrons, organized in the children’s program room, and worked on book orders.

Jen continued to work on the January newsletter, updated social media and EventKeeper, ran library babies, put together book displays, assisted patrons, organized in the Children’s program room, and helped to decorate the room.

Cyndi organized in the Children’s Program Room, assisted patrons, worked on the Library of Things for youth, and helped to decorate the Children’s Room with Stacie for a festive seasonal atmosphere. Stacie also put together book displays, and assisted patrons. Mare coordinated with volunteers and assisted patrons.

Kristin assisted patrons, coordinated and communicated with the schools, and prepped for next week’s book clubs.

The Reference Team put together seasonal and themed book displays, including Hot Books for Cold Nights and Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day (It was December 8, if you missed it, maybe you can go back in time to revisit). Kate, one of our temps, offered to add genre stickers to Romance novels, and Erin offered to package our donation of Seeds so our seed library can debut this spring.

Teen services is working to schedule some tween programming and resume Dungeons and Dragons.

Donna kindly continues to catalog all the strange and interesting items we want to add to the collection, including – coming soon, just in time for winter boredom – puzzles for adults, a bulb planter, and banjoleles.

This press release was produced by Grafton Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.