If you’ve visited the Library in the last year or so, you’ve probably noticed that it’s been busier than ever before. We’re really proud to report that we set a Library record in 2009 for the most items checked out in a year: 290,429 items to be exact. That’s up nearly 10% from our previous record, set in 2008. We set monthly records eleven out of twelve months last year.
We also made some notable additions in 2009. We expanded our open hours, opening earlier weekday mornings and staying open later on Sunday afternoons. We added a brand new Health & Wellness collection, thanks to funding from the Madison Community Foundation. Thanks to Monona Pie Party proceeds, we added an additional early literacy computer for children, and we painted the walls in our teen area and children’s bathroom. 755 local residents received new Library cards last year from our Library.
But we did a lot more than lend books and films to our patrons. Over 7,700 people attended a Library program, ranging from Early Literacy classes for toddlers to Green Tuesday programs and film discussions for adults. We had over 500 teenagers attend Library programs last year, including over 100 teens who flooded the Library over two December days for the Harry Potter Fest.
Our website had 94,033 visits. Our public computers logged 28,160 sessions. People use our computers to check email, visit local news sites, search for jobs, create resumes and cover letters, and a whole lot more. Last year, we began lending laptops for our patrons to use inside the building so that you could sit near the windows or by the fireplace while working.
In addition to regular Library business, our building serves as a public meeting space. Over 9,300 people from Monona and beyond attended meetings in one of the Library’s three public meeting rooms. We host City Council meetings, other City of Monona functions, plus local non-profits and community groups.
Finally, we’d like to mention the many people who donated to our Booked for Life endowment fund. Fundraising is never easy, but it is particularly difficult in a recession. Over 100 people from Monona and farther afield contributed to our fund, helping us to raise over $93,000 – no small achievement in a down economy. Special thanks go to the Monona Library Foundation, who spearheaded the effort, and to the Madison Community Foundation, who provided the match incentive.
It was a great year, certainly, but we won’t be resting on our laurels in 2010. We are planning to double the size of our Health & Wellness collection, greatly enhance our early literacy resources, and make several changes to the layout of the Library to make finding what you want easier. We invite you to share your ideas with us as we go! Patron communication forms are available at the main desk or email us at ask@mononalibrary.org.
Demita Gerber & Erick Plumb
