HIGHLAND COUNTY DISTRICT LIBRARY
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Fred Yochum, President
Jeff Cloud, Vice President
Kim Douglas, Secretary
Stephen Hunter
Larry Nartker
Mary Ellen McCarty
Ted Rosenmayer
Jennifer West, Director
Emily Evans, Clerk-Treasurer
Margaret Magee, Greenfield Branch Manager
Sharon Aukeman, Leesburg Branch Manager
Elaine Williams, Lynchburg Branch Manager
Highland County District Library
Annual Report - 2015
Jennifer West, Director
2015 was a great year for us, bringing visits from such celebrities as the mega-popular author Beverly Lewis and a 3D printer!
The annual circulation for 2015 was 454,280. This number includes the circulation of e-formats (e-books, digital or downloadable audio, and videos) which was 18,926.
Our meeting room has been used by the Daughters of the American Revolution, Ohio Home Care, ECOT, the Audubon Society, Medi-Gold, Ohio Virtual Academy, Hopewell, Buckeye Online, FRS, the Ohio Attorney General’s office, a Home Schooling open house, the African American Awareness Research Council, and the Writer’s Block group as well as scout groups, tutors and private investigators.
We were visited by authors Michelle Lyn Shields Roberts (“Is He Still My Prince?”), beekeeper Christine Tailer (“Sixty Thousand Sisters: Daughters of the Queen”), sports writer Hal McCoy (“The Real McCoy – My Half-century with the Cincinnati Reds”) and Beverly Lewis (far too many titles to list)!
Millennium Business Systems has installed a “Book Scan” station at the Hillsboro, Greenfield and Leesburg libraries. This set-up allows patrons to scan documents and fax or email them privately. We have asked Millennium to extend this service to the Lynchburg library in 2016.
We borrowed a 3D printer from the SWON consortium and watched it “print” a number of objects in plastic filament – the London Bridge, cowboy boots, a hedgehog, an owl, the Yoda character, a pug dog, a sailboat, a dinosaur, an octopus, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
State Representative Cliff Rosenberger, Senator Bob Peterson and Jim Millikin of the Secretary of State’s office have also used the libraries to meet with the public. The four libraries remain a drop-off location for “Holiday Mail for Heroes” cards to be distributed to military service personnel, their families and veterans. We took part in Veteran Appreciation Night hosted by the Highland County Veterans Service Commission, and an open house at Hillsboro Elementary School.
I proctored 3 exams and made monthly visits to Bell Gardens, Crestwood Ridge, Heartland of Hillsboro and the Laurels nursing homes. Kaitlin McMullen has taken over the monthly visits to the Hillsboro Head Start location. I serve on the Head Start Policy Council and participate in Head Start’s annual self-assessment day. I also took part in the judging of the Hillsboro Rotary’s 4-Way Speech contest and attend the Hillsboro City School’s Business Advisory Community meetings.
Brenda Fisher Schaub left us in November after 23 years as our Computer Services Librarian. When she started at the library there was one computer. We wish her a happy retirement and welcome Kayla Seip, our new Technology Manager. We also welcome our new Children’s Department Manager, Gabrielle Pitzer. Sadly, we lost a library board member, Sharon Higgins. We welcome Ted Rosenmayer who was appointed to represent the Lynchburg area.
NUMBERS:
County Population (2014 estimate): 43,589
Circulation: 454,280
Per capita circulation is 10.4 items
|
Registered Borrowers: |
|
|
Adults |
22,511 |
|
Juvenile |
3,219 |
|
|
25,730 |
Circulation for 2015:
|
|
Hillsboro |
Greenfield |
Lynchburg |
Leesburg |
Totals |
|
Books |
119,815 |
54,371 |
33,731 |
34,943 |
242,860 |
|
Periodicals |
8,744 |
2,848 |
1,534 |
669 |
13,795 |
|
DVD/VHS |
73,633 |
24,597 |
11,988 |
13,097 |
123,315 |
|
Music |
2,315 |
1,277 |
724 |
777 |
5,093 |
|
Audiobooks |
6,477 |
1,514 |
782 |
1,214 |
9,987 |
|
ILL to other libraries |
21,065 |
7,138 |
7,260 |
4,841 |
40,304 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTALS |
232,049 |
91,745 |
56,019 |
55,541 |
435,354 |
|
E-formats |
18,926 |
||||
|
TOTAL |
454,280 |
||||
The circulation for CD-ROMS, toys, storytelling kits, mystery kits, maps and pamphlets are now included in the Audiobooks category.
Also at the request of the State Library of Ohio, “computer use” and “in-house use” are not added to the circulation statistics. We are instructed to count all materials in all formats that are checked out for use outside the library.
|
Computer Use |
16,752 |
7,708 |
3,748 |
4,345 |
32,553 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In-house Use |
19,694 |
8,921 |
6,109 |
5,692 |
40.416 |
"In-house use" includes use of newspapers, periodicals, microfilm reels and honor paperbacks.
|
Average library attendance in a Typical Week |
2,740 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Reference Transactions in a Typical Week |
174 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Non-Reference* Transactions in a Typical Week |
541 |
|
(*directional, policy, mechanical)
PROGRAMS:
|
Hillsboro |
17 |
Adult Programs |
352 |
Attendance |
|
|
123 |
Juvenile Programs |
2,947 |
Attendance |
|
|
|
Other Locations |
250 |
Attendance |
|
Total: |
140 |
Programs |
3,549 |
Attendance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greenfield |
41 |
Adult Programs |
869 |
Attendance |
|
|
69 |
Juvenile Programs |
1,772 |
Attendance |
|
|
|
Other Locations |
393 |
Attendance |
|
Total: |
110 |
Programs |
3,034 |
Attendance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leesburg |
71 |
Adult Programs |
1,150 |
Attendance |
|
|
162 |
Juvenile Programs |
3,124 |
Attendance |
|
|
|
Other Locations |
738 |
Attendance |
|
Total: |
233 |
Programs |
5,012 |
Attendance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lynchburg |
56 |
Adult Programs |
709 |
Attendance |
|
|
93 |
Juvenile Programs |
1,271 |
Attendance |
|
|
|
Other Locations |
746 |
Attendance |
|
Total: |
149 |
Programs |
2,726 |
Attendance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Totals |
185 |
Adult Programs |
3,080 |
Attendance |
|
|
447 |
Juvenile Programs |
9,114 |
Attendance |
|
|
|
Other Locations |
2,127 |
Attendance |
|
Total: |
632 |
Programs |
14,321 |
Attendance |
OUTREACH:
Outreach was provided to 481 elderly or disabled residents at the Bell Gardens, Crestwood Ridge, Heartland of Hillsboro and Laurels of Hillsboro nursing homes by Jennifer West, serving as outreach librarian. Programs included Elvis, Valentines, Burma Shave signs, campfire stories, “do you remember”, poems by James Whitcomb Riley and Shel Silverstein, and bad puns.
HILLSBORO CHILDREN’S DEPARTMENT
Written by Gabrielle Pitzer, Children’s Department Manager
2015 was a busy and fun-filled year in the Children’s Department. It was also a year of many changes.
Storytime was held on Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. for 0-2 year olds and 11:30 a.m. for 3-5 year olds for a total of 64 times. During the summer, story time was held once a month for three months. In addition to story time at the library, it was also presented on the first Wednesday of the month at Head Start. Story times were presented by Nikki Fain, Kaitlin McMullen, and Gabrielle Pitzer.
Fun with Legos was offered to children ages 6-14. January through May the club met every week with Emily Fryman conducting the meetings. After summer, Kaitlin McMullen took over the meetings, meeting twice a month. In the course of a year, 158 children and 94 parents came to meetings.
Our summer reading program, “Every Hero has a Story” was a great success. The theme was superheroes and over 300 children signed up. The kick-off program “Superhero Training” was well attended despite having no power in the building for half of the morning. The children received prizes based on the number of books they checked out. Programs and croft nights were held weekly.
In September, the kindergarteners from Hillsboro Elementary once again visited the library as part of their Community Day. During their visit, they heard a story, were given a tour of the Children’s Library, and were given the chance to go through an obstacle course set up in the meeting room.
15 contests were held with over 1,000 children participating. 927 children participated in out monthly Guess How Many contest. 189 children signed up for our monthly Birthday Prize. Over 1,080 children participated in our various passive programming.
Our Santa’s Reading Workshop was popular once again. Over 150 children signed up between November and December 5th. For every 10 books read, children earned a golden ticket for a total of five golden tickets. The program ended with children attending a craft day and story time with Santa.
CHILDREN’S DEPARTMENT: Gabrielle Pitzer, Nikki Fain, Kaitlin McMullen, Emily Fryman, Courtney Morgan, Barb Barker, Sandy Duplain, and Karen Davis.
ADULT DEPARTMENT: Lyn Tone, Lora Davis, Sandra Jenkins, Vickie Johnson, Diane Mason, Donna O’Dom, Kayla Seip and Vanessa Turner.
GREENFIELD BRANCH LIBRARY
Written by Margaret Magee, Branch Manager
2015 is now in the “books”! It has been a year that we have enjoyed serving the Greenfield community and meeting informational and entertainment needs. It’s been a year with many new patrons and great new items.
We had some great adult programs here at the library and they included: CET Ready to Learn workshops for preschool caregivers, book sales, Summer Reading contests, Summer Reading kick-off, Genealogy Club headed by Earlene Scott, Ohio Benefit Bank tax preparation, the Quilting Club led by Lisa Fields and Carol Brady, an author signing by Michael Cook and a puzzle table.
Children also had many great programs as well. These were story hours each week for ages 2-4. The Summer Reading program theme was “Every Hero has a Story”. We had a sign up of 354 for the summer. A Season Readings Christmas Club with 91 children involved which was concluded with the Christmas Gift shop on December 12. We gave school class, 4-H, Scout, preschool and Head Start tours and programs. We also had a Library Summer Camp with 413 in total attendance, Drop-In Kid’s Crafts and a Mother’s Club program for children.
We have worked with local agencies to provide more and better services. These include Edgewood Manor, Village of Greenfield, Concerned Veterans of Greenfield, Greenfield Head Start, CET, Highland County Board of Elections, Greenfield Farmer’s Market Committee, Greenfield Historical Society, Greenfield Soccer Association, Greenfield Mothers Club, Ohio Home Care, Johnson Controls, Highland County Community Action Organization, Ohio Virtual Academy and others.
We received donations from many local businesses, clubs and individuals including New Sabina Industries, Greenfield Mother’s Club, McDonald’s, Burger King, Star Cinema, The Willow, Domino’s, Subway, Save-A-Lot, Jett’s Professional Embroidery, 3 Spoons Diner, Advance Auto, Wendy’s, Community Market, Robbins Village Florist, Bob Evans, Roller Haven, The Glitz, Long’s Retreat, Kroger’s, Pizza Hut, Dakota’s, Greenfield Chiropractic, Buck’s Tire Service, Tecumseh, Gold Star, Big City Pizza, Merchant’s Bank, Walgreen’s, Frisch’s, Petland, Kathy Decker, Kings Island, Newport Aquarium, Trendsetter, The Beach Waterpark, Chillicothe Paints, COSI, Renaissance Festival, Cruz Thru Pizza, Long John Silver’s and many items from our patrons.
There were many wonderful displays in our showcase this year: Raymond Smith (wood carvings), Susan Thompson (Vintage hats, gloves and purses), Library Quilt Club (Quilt display for National Quilt Month), Bev Lyons (Flue Covers), Summer Reading prizes, (Greenfield Historical Society (items celebrating the 100th year anniversary of McClain School), Constitution Week, Head Start artwork - Week of the Young Child, George Foltz (Old Greenfield business items) and Mary Mick (Gingerbread items from her collection).
Our community room has been in continual use this year. Besides our library programming, many community groups (Greenfield Concerned Veterans, Divas, Greenfield Mothers’ Club, Greenfield Farmers Market meetings, Johnson Controls orientations, GSAY Soccer Meetings, Y Gradale, Ohio Home Care, Greenfield voting precinct, Ohio Virtual Academy testing, Highland County Community Action Organization workshop, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, London Academy) have used the room for their meetings and events.
2015 has moved by quickly. Our staff, patrons, and community working together make a great team to enrich our community. We look forward to serving our community in 2016.
Greenfield Staff: Margaret Magee, Branch Manager; Debbie Wise, Linda Fugate, Kathy Patton, Jessica Leaverton, Melinda McGee, and Kathy Van Matre.
LEESBURG BRANCH LIBRARY
Written by Sharon Aukeman, Branch Manager
We had another exciting and fun-filled year here at the Leesburg Library. We continue to welcome new patrons into our library family and strive to provide the best service we can to meet all of their informational needs.
Attendance at our regularly scheduled programs including our teen and adult book clubs and our Knit Together group remains strong. We also had nice turnouts for our Veteran’s Appreciation, Luminaria and a book talk by local author Kris Thomas.
The Leesburg Library offers 2 story times every Thursday morning for children from 6 months to 36 months and then from 3 years to 5 years old. We had a wide array of topics this year which included a pirate treasure hunt and a beach party in our story time room. We also had a visit from Amanda Wyatt with her Kindermusik program.
Our summer reading program theme, “Every Hero Has a Story”, provided us with many opportunities to reach Leesburg area readers with programs and activities. Besides Ronald McDonald, we learned about Super Heroes in Nature with naturalist Heidi Devine, and about taking care of our eyes and our Super Vision with Dr. Tausha Barton. We truly appreciate area residents taking time out of their busy schedules to provide programming for our young patrons.
Our fall/winter reading program this year was “Jingle Books”. Our young readers completed a reading log to turn in for a ticket to our Jingle Books day at the library where they did crafts, munched on Christmas cookies, decorated ornaments and got to visit with Santa.
Ashley Rainey continues to grow and lead our SPARX teen reading group. We have a faithful following of teens who show up monthly to discuss the book of the month and enjoy pizza and pop in the process. The SPARX group also participated in summer reading programs including a Guitar Hero tournament.
We enjoy working with local organizations to provide services to the community at large. Some of these programs/organizations include Fairfield School, Leesburg Fire Dept. and Life Squad, and the Leesburg Lions Club. Our library also participated in the Holiday Mail for Heroes during the Christmas season.
The Leesburg Library has again been blessed by donations from local businesses and patrons. Through their donations of books and other materials, we were able to hold two book sales which help us to provide materials for our story times. We also appreciate financial donations that assist us with our summer reading programming.
In April we had a surprise “visitor” appear in our community room. During a violent thunderstorm, lightning hit a nearby tree causing a huge branch to separate and land on and through our roof. While we were placing buckets and plastic sheeting around the community room to prevent water damage to tables, chairs and other items in the room, Hillsboro was able to call a local roofer to immediately come out and patch the multi-pronged areas where the branch punctured the roof. Eventually we were able to get that area of our roof repaired as well as some other areas where leaks have caused problems with our inside drywall and outside rooflines.
As always, our staff will endeavor to meet the needs of our patrons and the Leesburg community as best as we are able in the New Year.
Leesburg Staff: Sharon Aukeman, Branch Manager; Rebecca Howard, Shirley Fetters, Belinda Baldwin, Ashley Rainey, Justin Faulconer
LYNCHBURG BRANCH LIBRARY
Written by Elaine Williams, Branch Manager
In 2015, the Lynchburg-Clay Elementary school called on the library again to support the curriculum. The children’s librarian spoke to four third grade classes in the fall about Lynchburg history and the changes residents have seen over the years. The children wrote letters and drew pictures of the scenes that they remembered from these talks: Turtle Creek, filled with turtles; the battle between the Shawnee and Simon Kenton’s party; and the switch used by old-time teachers on their students! The teacher sent the letters and pictures to the library with a thank-you note. In the spring, the librarian brought her own experiences as a kindergartener during the Xenia tornado and presented information to four kindergarten classes at the elementary for their annual unit on tornado safety. A fifth-grade math teacher used the library this year to tutor students on Thursday evenings.
Our Pageturners Book Club celebrated its tenth anniversary in October 2015, and we gained two more members over the year as well. We lost a few of our Knit-n-Stitch group to health problems, but we hope to build that membership up as well.
This year’s summer reading theme, EVERY HERO HAS A STORY, was about superheroes, and really captured the imaginations of kids and adults! June and July were packed with programs and stories about superpowers and the people who wield them. A scientist from Science Matters Across America visited us for the second time this year and presented a show called Amazing Feats of Science that was attended by 48 guests. We also offered the Adventures of Captain Underpants, Create Your Own Superhero, a Superhero Training Academy, Fun with Super Letters, a Name the Hero Contest, and a Library League Scavenger Hunt. The children’s librarian dressed as Wonder Woman to promote the program to all elementary school classes. This year, 27 teens and 201 children signed up. Several parents told us at registration part of the reason they were signing their children up was to get the kids off of their electronic devices. Our summer reading club for adults had 75 participants as well.
We continue to offer three story times a week; all ages are welcome.
We look forward to serving the public in 2016!
Lynchburg Branch Staff: Elaine Williams, Branch Manager, Beverly Wilkin, Carol Frost, Jean Bush, Debi Dillon.
ADULT PROGRAMS:
HILLSBORO: Black History Month program honoring Charles Harris, programs on essential oils and “green” cleaning supplies with Ann Schlater, book sales, Plant Swap, Jim Milliken, representative from Ohio Secretary of State office, and Barb Barker, monthly craft programs. Author visits from columnist Christine Tailer, Michelle Lyn Shields Roberts, sportswriter Hal McCoy and Christian fiction writer Beverly Lewis.
GREENFIELD: Genealogy Club, CET Ready to Learn workshops, Ohio Benefit Bank tax preparation, Book Sale, Quilting Club, Author Signing – Michael Cook, Summer Reading, Puzzles.
LEESBURG: Teen and adult book clubs, Knit Together group, Veteran’s Appreciation, Luminaria, and a book talk by local author Kris Thomas.
LYNCHBURG: Pageturners Book Club, Knit-n-Stitch group, New Year’s Resolution contest, Women’s Heart Health, Name the Hero contest, and the Annual Christmas Tea.
ARTIST’S DISPLAYS:
Jim Moore, Connie Barrett, Darlene Furee, William Shafer, Mike Sellers and Gary Schultheis.
DISPLAYS:
HILLSBORO: Sandra Duplain (Dolls), Black History Month, Diana Harvey (Appalachian Artisans Guild), National Library Week, Summer Reading, Charlotte Pack (Ink Wells), Lyn Tone (Lighthouses, Scary Dolls), Jim Miller (Arrowhead collection), Judith Sydensticker Cross Stitch).
GREENFIELD: Raymond Smith (wood carvings), Susan Thompson (Vintage hats, gloves and purses), Library Quilt Club (Quilt display for National Quilt Month), Bev Lyons (Flue Covers), Summer Reading prizes, (Greenfield Historical Society (items celebrating the 100th year anniversary of McClain School), Constitution Week, Head Start artwork - Week of the Young Child, George Foltz (Old Greenfield business items) and Mary Mick (Gingerbread items from her collection).
LEESBURG: Brent Toews (Legos), Brenda Armstrong (Cabin Arts Festival), Virginia Purdy (Cows), Library Staff (Easter), M & M Swap Shop (Super Heroes), Library Staff (Summer Reading), Knit Together members (Knit Together projects), Library Staff (Reading Group promotion), Library Staff (RRR/SPARX Reading group), Belinda Baldwin (Thanksgiving) and Carol Gustin (Gingerbread collection).
LYNCHBURG: Holly Hobbie, Pet Shop brand toys, Matchbox cars, Retro Pop Bottles, My Little Pony toys, Russia, Rocks & Minerals, Limited Edition Dreamsicles, Halloween Masks, Nutcrackers and Star Wars toys.
DONATIONS AND GIFTS
Hillsboro: Nancy Perin Axmacher in memory of her grandmother, Christine Tailer donated a copy of her book “Sixty Thousand Sisters Daughters of the Queen,” New Sabina Industries gave a donation for the Summer Reading Program, Sharon Ann Hickey donated a copy of her book “It Could Only Happen to Me,” Evelyn Baker gave a donation in appreciation for help with research, Altrusa of Highland County gave a donation to the Summer Reading Program, R. Matthews Plymire gave a donation for help with research, Walter Scott Gallimore gave a donation to the library, and Mary Jane Fueston gave a donation to purchase children’s books in memory of Lane Everett McCoy and Colleen Marie Winkle.
Greenfield: New Sabina Industries, Greenfield Mother’s Club, McDonald’s, Burger King, Star Cinema, The Willow, Domino’s, Subway, Save-A-Lot, Jett’s Professional Embroidery, 3 Spoons Diner, Advance Auto, Wendy’s, Community Market, Robbins Village Florist, Bob Evans, Roller Haven, The Glitz, Long’s Retreat, Kroger’s, Pizza Hut, Dakota’s, Greenfield Chiropractic, Buck’s Tire Service, Tecumseh, Gold Star, Big City Pizza, Merchant’s Bank, Walgreen’s, Frisch’s, Petland, Kathy Decker, King’s Island, Newport Aquarium, Trendsetter, The Beach Waterpark, Chillicothe Paints, COSI, Renaissance Festival, Cruz Thru Pizza, Long John Silver’s and many items from our patrons.
Lynchburg: Darlene Michael. Altrusa of Highland County, New Sabina Industries.
Leesburg: Altrusa of Highland County, Batter Up Bakery, Chakeres Theaters, Chillicothe Paints, Cincinnati Reds, COSI, Crossroads Diner, East Ambulance, Fifth-Third Bank,
Frisch’s, Hardy Memorials, Heritage Club, Highland Lanes, Hillcrest Productions, Jani-Chem, Kay Simmons Insurance, Kings Island, Leesburg Hardware, Leesburg Market & Meat, Mane St. Salon, Newport Aquarium, New Sabina Industries, Ohio Renaissance Festival, Saucy Sisters Pizza, Southern Hills Community Bank, Small Town Gals, Star Cinema, Tecumseh, The Beach Waterpark, Wellers Plumbing & Heating, Blair & Sharon Aukeman and Becky & Jeff Johnson
Blair Aukeman, Sherri Barrett, George Bonney, Theresa Boone, Shirley Brewer, Carrie Carter, Casey Carter, Leroy Cobb, Debbie Cook, Teresa Cudkowicz, Bianca Deckard, Sadie DeHaas, Rosalind Engle, Sandy Ervin, Maria Grimm, Elizabeth Houston, Joey Johnson, Lois Lake, Christy Larrick, Tony Lytle, Korena McArthur, Angela Miller, Maudie Porter, Stephanie Roland, Ashley Schottlekotte, Howard Schwartz, Ted Shields, Rachel Stratton, Elizabeth Stritenberger, Delia Toews, Phillip Vergamini, Jean Wood, Elaine Yoder and Bobbie Zimmerman.