New Canaan Library Inc

PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES.

COLLECTIONSNEW CANAAN LIBRARY, AS THE COMMUNITY'S PLATFORM FOR LEARNING, PROVIDES EXTENSIVE COLLECTIONS OF PRINT AND DIGITAL BOOKS, MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, AUDIO/ E-AUDIO BOOKS, FILMS AND DOCUMENTARIES (BOTH STREAMING AND DVD). THE LIBRARY ALSO PROVIDES A BROAD ARRAY OF SUBSCRIPTION DATABASES AND MUSEUM PASSES. THESE COLLECTIONS SERVE TO REFLECT AND ANTICIPATE THE COMMUNITY'S INTERESTS, ALLOWING FOR BOTH CURSORY AND DEEP EXPLORATIONS OF IDEAS AND CONCEPTS. THE COLLECTIONS SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY'S PURSUIT OF SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING, CULTURAL APPRECIATION, AND RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCES. A PROFESSIONAL TEAM ACTIVELY MANAGES THE COLLECTION, TO ENSURE THAT IT IS FRESH AND IMPORTANTLY, THAT IT IS MEETING THE NEEDS OF READERS. IN LINE WITH OUR VALUES, THE COLLECTIONS ARE BROAD, DIVERSE, AND INCLUSIVE AND OUR LENDING AND OTHER POLICIES AIM TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO ALL. OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM FACILITATES ACCESS TO THE COLLECTIONS AND ENSURES THAT MATERIALS ARE WELL MAINTAINED AND RETURNED TO THE SHELVES SWIFTLY TO ENSURE MAXIMUM ENJOYMENT OF THE RESOURCE BY THE COMMUNITY.OUR CURRENT COLLECTION OF PRINT MATERIALS INCLUDES 41,418 BOOKS FOR ADULTS, 35,575 FOR CHILDREN, AND 6891 FOR TEENS. OUR AUDIO-VISUAL COLLECTION CONTAINS 10,391 ITEMS FOR ADULTS AND TEENS AND 2829 ITEMS FOR CHILDREN. TO PROVIDE DIGITAL CONTENT, WE DIRECTLY PURCHASE AND MAKE AVAILABLE 17,088 EBOOKS AND EAUDIOBOOKS. HOWEVER, OUR DIGITAL COLLECTIONS ARE LITERALLY INNUMERABLE AS WE ALSO PROVIDE FREE ACCESS TO OUR MEMBERS TO A VAST AMOUNT DIGITAL CONTENT THROUGH A SEVERAL PAY PER USE SUBSCRIPTION PLATFORMS SERVING UP A VARIETY OF E- CONTENT (BOOKS, MAGAZINES, STREAMING MEDIA) THAT GROWS AND CHANGES CONTINUALLY. 2022 SAW TOTAL CIRCULATION INCREASE BY 7.5% WHILE CIRCULATION OF PRINT ONLY MATERIALS INCREASED 14% AND CIRCULATION TO TEEN INCREASE BY 9% FROM THE COVID IMPACTED LOWS OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR. IT IS LIKELY THAT REDUCED ACCESS TO OUR BUILDING DUE TO CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW LIBRARY HAS DAMPENED THE REBOUND OF CIRCULATION RATES FROM THE COVID PERIOD. IN ADDITION TO THE RELATIVE INCREASE IN CIRCULATION, IT IS NOTABLE THAT OUR TURNOVER RATES (CIRCULATION / COLLECTION SIZE) WHICH SHOWS THE COMMUNITY'S ACTUAL USE OF THE COLLECTION AND THE ALIGNMENT OF THE COLLECTION TO THE COMMUNITY'S INTERESTS - ARE ABOVE AVERAGE FOR A LIBRARY OF OUR SIZE: TEEN TOTAL COLLECTION 2.89 ADULT FICTION COLLECTION 3.11 CHILDREN'S TOTAL COLLECTION - 4.33 (PICTURE BOOKS: 4.57) ADULT AUDIO-VISUAL COLLECTION - 2.39 CHILDREN'S AUDIO-VISUAL COLLECTION - 3.37

LEARNING PROGRAMSADULTSAS THE COMMUNITY'S PLATFORM FOR LEARNING, THE LIBRARY PROVIDES THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION IN OUR YOUTH AND ADULT POPULATIONS. WHILE OUR COLLECTIONS PROVIDE FOR SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING, OUR PROGRAMS OFFER IMMERSIVE AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. WE STRIVE TO PROMOTE OUR COMMUNITY'S PURSUIT OF LIFELONG LEARNING THROUGH THOUGHTFUL AND VARIED PROGRAMS. ATTENDEES CAN ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN INTELLECTUALLY ENRICHING CONTENT WHILE BUILDING BONDS WITH ONE ANOTHER THROUGH THE SHARED LEARNING EXPERIENCE. WE AIM TO DELIVER PROFESSIONALLY PLANNED CURRICULA OF LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR OUR ADULT AUDIENCE WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT MANY DIFFERENT STYLES OF LEARNING ARE AVAILABLE INCLUDING LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, CLASSES, HANDS-ON, MAKER, DISCUSSION GROUPS AND MORE.THE YEAR FROM JULY 21-JUNE 22 SAW A SLOW RESUMPTION OF FORMER LIBRARY USE AS NEW WAVES OF COVID-19 COUNTERACTED BY THE DISTRIBUTION OF FURTHER VACCINE BOOSTERS SAW PEOPLE RETURN TO VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF LIBRARY SERVICE AT DIFFERENT RATES. ATTENDANCE AT IN-PERSON PROGRAMS INSIDE THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN SLOWEST TO RETURN, WHILE OUTDOOR PROGRAMING HAS SEEN ENTHUSIASTIC ATTENDANCE. VIRTUAL (ZOOM ETC.) PROGRAM ATTENDANCE HAS SUBSIDED, POSSIBLY DUE TO AUDIENCE FATIGUE WITH THE MEDIUM.NEW CANAAN LIBRARY OFFERED 236 TOTAL PROGRAMS TO OUR ADULT COMMUNITY IN FY 22 BOTH IN-PERSON, INCLUDING OUTDOORS, AND LIVE-VIRTUAL. 8956 INDIVIDUALS ATTENDED THESE PROGRAMS AND A FURTHER 1597 WATCHED RECORDINGS OF THE VIRTUAL PROGRAMS ASYNCHRONOUSLY.OF PARTICULAR NOTE:" ART PROGRAMING COMBINED MONTHLY ART HISTORY LECTURES WITH OVER 100 ATTENDEES EACH WITH IN PERSON HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS IN THE SAME MONTH THROUGH WHICH ATTENDEES LEARNED THE TECHNIQUES OF THE STYLE TAUGHT IN THE LECTURE" OPEN TECH: THIS PROGRAM OFFERED AT THE LOCAL SENIOR CENTER PROVIDES COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH 1-1 ACCESS TO A LIBRARIAN FOR INSTRUCTION AND TROUBLESHOOTING. 209 COMMUNITY MEMBERS PARTICIPATED" IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NEW CANAAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND NEW CANAAN LAND TRUST, WE OFFERED A GUIDED LOCAL HISTORY WALK DURING WHICH PARTICIPANTS LEARNED ABOUT INDIGENOUS AND COLONIAL HISTORY IN TOWN" OUR READERS' ADVISOR INTERVIEWED NY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR MICHELLE ZAUNER, OF CRYING IN H MART, FOR A LIVE ZOOM AUDIENCE OF 61" A BROAD CURRICULUM OF FILM OFFERINGS INCLUDING LECTURES BY DIRECTORS AND FILM SCHOLARS AS WELL AS VIEWINGS AND DISCUSSION GROUPSFAMILIES (CHILDREN AND TEENS)OUR LEARNING PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN 0-12 ARE PROFESSIONALLY DEVELOPED AND DELIVERED AS PART OF A CURRICULUM OF LITERACY DEVELOPMENT THAT INCLUDES DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE, SCAFFOLDED LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN FROM 6 MONTHS - FIVE YEARS AND THEN FURTHER AGE APPROPRIATE LITERACY DEVELOPMENT FOR OLDER CHILDREN WITH BOOK GROUPS AND A SUMMER READING PROGRAM WHICH IS BOTH WILDLY POPULAR AMONG OUR FAMILIES AND ALSO ENSURES THAT STUDENTS IN OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS DO NOT LOSE GROUND ON THEIR READING COMPREHENSION DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. ALL OUR PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN SUPPORT OUR LOCAL FAMILIES' LEARNING/LITERACY GOALS AND SUPPLEMENT THE FORMAL LEARNING IN OUR SCHOOLS.IN ADDITION TO THE LITERACY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMING, WE ALSO OFFER A BREADTH OF OTHER LEARNING AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING A MAKER CURRICULUM, NUMERACY, SCIENCE, AS WELL AS STRONG ARTS PROGRAMMING WITH MUSIC AND VISUAL ARTS.DURING FY 22 OUR FAMILIES TEAM SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING, DELIVERING 544 LEARNING PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND 104 FOR TEENS, WITH 13687 AND 1140 ATTENDEES RESPECTIVELY. THE TEAM RESUMED OUTREACH VISITS TO PRESCHOOLS AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND WORKED HARD TO TAKE OUR PROGRAMMING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY TO MITIGATE FOR THE MANY CHALLENGES OF OUR BUILDING AND THE PANDEMIC, PARTNERING WITH MANY COMMUNITY NONPROFITS TO DELIVER A WIDE VARIETY OF LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR MAINLY OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING FOR FAMILIES INCLUDE: " JULY 2021 HARRY POTTER BIRTHDAY AT KIWANIS PARK WHICH WAS OUR FIRST LARGE PROGRAM SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC" OUR TEEN PODCAST WITH OVER 1000 INDIVIDUAL LISTENS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL WAY TO ENGAGE OUR OLDER TEEN/YOUNGER ADULT " KID CREATORS CLASS FOR AGES 4-6 INCLUDED 12 SESSIONS IN '21- '22 WITH AN AVERAGE OF 12 ATTENDEES EACH. OUR PROFESSIONAL LIBRARIANS DEVELOPED AND DELIVERED THIS SERIES TO BUILD PRE-K EARLY LITERACY SKILLS." THE RUBY BRIDGES PARTNERSHIP WITH GRACE FARMS IN FEBRUARY 2022 INCLUDED 3 ONLINE AND ONE IN PERSON SESSION WITH A TOTAL OF 357 PEOPLE ATTENDING " OUR SUMMER 22 READING KICK OFF AT KIWANIS PARK IN JUNE 2022 HAD 268 ATTENDEES AND WAS FIRST SUMMER KICKOFF SINCE 2019. " WE HAVE HAD AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN OUR SUMMER READING PROGRAM WITH 1048 CHILDREN AND TEENS TAKING PART.TEEN FOCUSWE RETURNED TO IN-PERSON AND HYBRID PROGRAMS, DOUBLING OUR NUMBER OF PROGRAMS, AND SEEING 130% INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION. OUR RESUMPTION OF IN-PERSON PROGRAMS SAW CONSISTENT INTEREST IN BOOK GROUPS AND COOKING CLASSES. NEW CANAAN TEENS CONTINUE TO LOOK TO THE LIBRARY AS A PLACE TO SOCIALIZE, LEARN NEW SKILLS, AND DISCUSS BOOKS-AND OUR PROGRAMMING HAS FULFILLED A VITAL ROLE IN HELPING THEM TO RETURN TO A SENSE OF NORMALITY POST-PANDEMIC.

SPACE:PROVIDING A VARIETY OF ACCESSIBLE SPACES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS FROM OUR COMMUNITY TO MEET AND WORK IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OFFERING. OUR COMMUNITY IS ENRICHED BY A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF VOLUNTEERISM, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND NON-PROFITS. THESE GROUPS CONTRIBUTE TO AN EXCEPTIONALLY STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY THROUGH THEIR VARIOUS MISSIONS, WHICH ARE BOTH SOCIAL AND PHILANTHROPIC IN NATURE. THE LIBRARY'S PROVISION OF MEETING SPACES FOR THE BOARD MEETINGS, COMMITTEE WORK, ETC. OF THESE GROUPS IS CRITICAL TO OUR ROLE AS AN ANCHOR INSTITUTION IN THE TOWN. SPACE TO WORK, READ, AND RESEARCH FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS (STUDENTS, BOOK GROUPS, ETC.) IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THE LIBRARY'S UNIQUE ROLE AS PROVIDER OF INCLUSIVE, ACCESSIBLE SPACES. LIBRARY SPACES ARE OF COURSE ALSO CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE HOUSING OUR COLLECTIONS AND FOR PROGRAM AND SERVICE DELIVERY.TO MAINTAIN CLEAN WELL-FUNCTIONING SPACE REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT MONETARY AND HUMAN RESOURCE. OUR CURRENT FACILITY IS IN ITS FINAL YEAR OF OPERATION AND CREATES A SUBSTANTIAL DRAIN ON OUR RESOURCES DUE TO FAILING PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT REQUIRES CONSTANT REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE TO, FOR EXAMPLE, KEEP THE ELEMENTS OUT AND THE ANTIQUATED HVAC SYSTEMS RUNNING.