Annual Report, July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2006

Annual Report 05-06.pdf, [95.7KB] This file requires the free Adobe Reader.

Central Maine Library District Information

Mission Statement

“The purpose of the Central Maine Library District is to promote improved service for the constituents of its member libraries.”

Service Area

The Central Maine Library District serves Androscoggin, Franklin, Lincoln, Kennebec, Oxford, Sagadahoc, and Somerset Counties.

Contact

The District Office is located at the Maine State Library.

Mailing address: 64 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0064.
Phone: 1-207-287-5620, or 1-800-322-8899.
District Consultant: Bonnie Dwyer.
Web site: www.maine.gov/msl/cmld

Executive Board, 2005-2006

Kathy Brunjes, Special Libraries Rep.,Central Maine Medical Center
Shelly Davis, Academic Libraries Rep. Mantor Library, Univ of Maine, Farmington
Vaughan Gagne, Public Libraries Rep., Wilton Public Library [Chair]
Jo Hipsher, School Libraries Rep., Brunswick High School [Vice-Chair]
Betty Hughes, Member-At-Large, Bath
Matthew Pollack, Trustee Rep., Topsham Public Library
Pam Bonney, School Libraries Rep., Hall-Dale High School
Rick Speer, Public Libraries Rep., Lewiston Public Library

Ex-Officio

Karl Aromaa, Commission Representative, Rumford Public Library
Bonnie Dwyer, Central Maine Library District
Linda Lord, Maine State Library

CMLD District Goals

To increase public awareness, use, and support of Maine libraries
To facilitate professional development
To encourage resource sharing and regional cooperation
To foster literacy
To improve communication among libraries and library organizations
To foster improved library service

Highlights

District Council Meetings

Forty-four librarians and library staff members attended the fall council meeting September 22, 2005, at the Waterville Holiday Inn. Speakers presented information about special collections in Maine libraries and museums during the program entitled “Hidden Treasures in Maine Libraries.”

A combined spring council meeting, Together We Are Better: Great Library Service Through Collaboration and Cooperation” was held with the Southern Maine Library District in the Marsden Hartley Cultural Center at the Lewiston Public Library. 75 participants attended the May 19, 2006 event which featured several collaborative programs and projects in Maine libraries: Community “Reads,” Library Tours, Reader Dog Downeast, “Boys to Men” (race car drivers to appeal to boys/men), Family Place Libraries, and more.

PR/Advocacy

The major focus this year has been to promote awareness of libraries to the general public, with an emphasis on the MARVEL! online information resources. The CMLD PR Committee rented exhibit space at the fall 2005 Family Literacy Fair to promote reading and libraries, as well as at the spring 2006 Maine Association of Retirees Annual Conference to promote MARVEL!

Family Place Libraries

Maine has become the 23rd state to join this national emergent literacy initiative, thanks to a generous grant from the Sandy River Foundation. Five CMLD libraries have received training and grants to purchase materials to institute the Parent-Child Workshop, a key component of the initiative. One more CMLD library will be selected to participate in 2007.

CMLD Executive Board Committees

Program Committee

Kathy Brunjes, Central Maine Medical Center Library, Special Libraries Rep.
Shelly Davis, Mantor Library, University of Maine at Farmington, Academic Library Rep.
Betty Hughes, At-Large Rep.
Rick Speer, Lewiston Public Library, Public Library Rep.

2006 Executive Board Handbook Revision Committee

Jo Hipsher, Brunswick High School, School Library Rep.
Betty Hughes, At-Large Rep.

District Committees

Family Place Libraries

Norway Memorial Library: Ann Siekman and Karen Ellis
Wilton Free Public Library: Vaughan Gagne and Sandra Warren
Hubbard Free Library, Hallowell: Beth Sweet/Melody Norman-Camp
Topsham Public Library: Kate McGowen
Waterville Public Library: Kathleen Kenny

Public Relations Committee

Penny Brown, Livermore Public Library
Shelly Davis, Mantor Library, University of Maine at Farmington
Sandra Fowler, School Librarian, Retired
Melanie Taylor Coombs, Bailey Public Library, Winthrop
Sarah Sugden, Waterville Public Library.

Summer Reading Celebration Committee

Kate McGowen, Topsham Public Library
Mary Pinkham, Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library
Maureen Stomont, Boothbay Railway Village
Nyree Thomas, Patten Free Library, Bath
David Schumacher, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta.

Regional Library System (Statewide) Committees

Maine Library Excellence Award Committee

Sally Bannen, Maine Library Association Rep.
Sue Moseley, Friends of Maine Libraries Rep.
Mary Strnad, Maine Library Trustees’ Association Rep.

Mascot Committee

Shelly Davis, Mantor Library, University of Maine at Farmington (CMLD)
Lynn McCarthy, Portland Schools (SMLD)
Laurie Rose, Orono Public Library (NMLD)
Sarah Sugden, Waterville Public Library (CMLD)

General Information and Statistics

Communications:

The Central District published its Noteworthy newsletter twice this year: fall 2005 and spring 2006. Continuous updating of the web site allows member libraries to learn about programs, services, workshops, trainings, and other continuing education opportunities sponsored by the district. Email distribution lists are employed to alert groups of upcoming meetings.

Membership:

Membership stands at 164: 76 public, 59 school systems (204 individual schools), 8 academic, and 21 special library members.

Professional Collection:

The CMLD Professional Collection of library management-related titles is housed in the District Consultant’s office. In the current climate of easier methods of requesting books among Maine libraries, this collection (listed in URSUS) is readily available to anyone through the requestor function. It may be time to re-evaluate housing this collection separately.

Inquiries to Consultant's Office:

The district consultant responded to 63 telephone inquiries from the field which resulted in extended consultations. Email queries are numerous, and while a definitive count has not been kept, a conservative estimate of 2 to 3 per week would equal 130 for a 12 month period. Areas of greatest concern continue to be fiscal constraints and trustee-director conflicts. At the same time, there are several libraries planning expansions or new facilities. Consequently there are many inquiries about fundraising, capital campaigns, and grant-writing. The need for very basic library training (weeding, cataloging, collection development) is evident both on MeLibs and from the inquiries received in the district office.

Book Review Program:

The "Five for Five" children’s book review program continues, offering new publishers' books to reviewers in exchange for a written review and one dollar (to defray related expenses, such as copying and shipping). 1682 books were received from publishers during FY 2005-2006. 1433 written reviews were submitted by CMLD book reviewers and sent to the publishers. Books which do not get reviewed are given to libraries at various meetings.

Second Summer Reading Celebration

More than 200 summer readers, their families, chaperones and caretakers enjoyed the second annual Summer Reading Celebration at the Boothbay Railway Village on Friday, August 19, 2005. The celebration is planned by a CMLD committee of children’s librarians to inspire participation in library summer reading programs. Entertainment included train rides, clowns, storyteller, author read-aloud, folk singer, and a high-energy performance by Double Vision. The attendees represented more than 30 CMLD public libraries.

District Level Continuing Education Events

Public Library Directors' Round Tables

January 5, 2006, Lithgow Library, Augusta, 8 attendees. Working with Boards.
March 31, 2006, Topsham Public Library, 11 attendees. Policy & Procedure Manuals
June 2, 2006, Rumford Public Library, 5 attendees Library Advocacy

Written meeting comments continue to indicate that, in addition to the focus topic, primary reasons for attending these sessions are: seeing other libraries, networking, open discussion, and sharing ideas.

S.P.A.R.K. (Stimulating Programs And Resources for Kids)

November 7, 2005, Lithgow Library, Augusta. 13 attendees. Family Place Maine.
January 10, 2006, Lewiston Public Library, 11 attendees. Book Discussion Groups
March 13, 2006, Cumston (Monmouth) Library, 6 attendees. Children’s audio Coop
May 8, 2006 meeting was replaced by Kathy Ross program on crafts for Collaborative Summer Reading Program. This program was planned cooperatively with MSL Outreach Services.

This core group of 6 to 8 individuals is joined by others who attend when they can. Attendees are almost entirely from public libraries, including children’s librarians and friends of libraries. Reasons most often cited for attending are: to get programming ideas, to see other libraries, and to learn about a particular topic. Attendees who turned in evaluations unanimously stated the meetings met their expectations. A sub-committee of this group planned the 2005 Summer Reading Celebration in August at the Boothbay Railway Village.

Area School Librarian Meetings

Networking and learning about the focus topic were cited as reasons for attending these meetings. Attendance seemed to have fallen off for these meetings.

CASL- Capital Area School Librarians

February 28, 2006. 2 attendees. MARVEL!
April 6, 2006, Maine State Library, 3 attendees. Sharing favorite new titles.

WASL - Waterville Area School Librarians

November 15, 2005, Waterville High School, 4 attendees. Sharing new Reference Titles.
March 30, 2006, Williams Middle School, Oakland, 4 attendees. Subscription services and sharing favorite new titles.

Farmington Area Librarians

A newly-formed group convened at the Farmington Public Library on March 7, 2006 for networking, collegial support, and discussion of a focus topic. Eleven library staff members from Franklin, Somerset, and northern Kennebec Counties attended this inaugural session to discuss Working with Boards. The group decided to continue meeting quarterly; Farmington Public Library Director Jean Oplinger offered to host all future meetings. A second meeting was held on June 6, 2006, with three attendees. There are plans for two meetings in the fall.

Maine Regional Library System Projects

The following projects were planned and facilitated by the three library Districts of the Maine Regional Library System -- Central, Northeastern and Southern -- working together.

MaineLibraries: Something For Everyone

Public Awareness

The three districts continue to promote libraries to the general public through the work of their PR committees. Exhibiting at conferences to raise awareness oflibraries and the services they offer. Educating people about the MARVEL! databases continues to be a major part of most exhibits and promotional activities.

A committee representing all three districts began work to develop a “Maine Libraries” mascot which will be launched in 2007.

MaineLibraries Website continues to provide library information to the general public. This site was launched in 2004 as part of the Maine Libraries: Something for Everyone campaign funded by a New Century grant. The issue of long-term sustainability of this site is being addressed at the Maine State Library. Plans are underway to move the site to the Maine State Government’s server and to be under control of the MSL web coordinator and district offices. After this transition, which is expected in late 2006, the District Consultants and PR Committees will re-launch efforts to encourage librarians to update their information and events.

Public Library Directors' Institute

The 10th Annual Public Library Directors’ Institute was held June 13, 2006, at the Augusta Civic Center. Consultant and co-author of Great Meetings!, Dee Kelsey, was the featured speaker. She presented a program about improving meeting productivity to the 75 attendees. The Institute included brief afternoon sessions about podcasting, library exhibits, and computer maintenance. The program also included updates from the Districts, the Maine State Library, Maine Library Association, and the Maine Library Commission. By special arrangement, several library school students from the University of South Carolina program attended as guests Twenty five people, including the USC students, attended the New Directors’ Orientation June 12 at the Maine State Library.

Maine Library Excellence Award

CMLD facilitated the work of the statewide Excellence Award Committee through its second year. This award was created in 2004 to recognize excellence in Maine public libraries of all sizes. South Portland Public Library was the sole recipient of the award for the year 2005 for its Adult Summer Reading Program.

Summary of District Level Meetings, Workshops, and Programs

(Attendance is in parentheses.)

Council Meetings (119)

September 22, 2005 - Hidden Treasures in Maine Libraries, Waterville Holiday Inn (44)
May 19, 2006 - Together We Are Better Combined Spring Council Meeting with SMLD, Lewiston Public Library (75)

Executive Board Meetings

September 22, 2005 - Waterville Holiday Inn
January 19, 2006 - Maine State Library
March 16, 2006 - Maine State Library
June 22, 2006 - Annual Meeting, Hilton Garden Inn, Auburn

Public Library Directors’ Round Tables (24)

January 5, 2006 - Lithgow Library, Augusta (8)
March 31, 2006 - Topsham Public Library (11)
June 2, 2006 - Rumford Public Library (5)

Farmington Area Librarians (15)

March 7, 2006 - Farmington Public Library (11)
June 6, 2006 - Farmington Public Library (4)

School Librarians’ Meetings (13)

November 15, 2005 - WASL, Waterville High School (4)
February 28, 2006 - CASL, Maine State Library (2)
March 30, 2006 - WASL, Williams Middle School, Oakland (4)
April 6, 2006 - CASL, Maine State Library (3)

Children’s Librarians’ Meetings (S.P.A.R.K.) (30)

November 7, 2005 - Lithgow Library, Augusta (13)
January 10, 2006 - Lewiston Public Library (11)
March 13, 2006 - Cumston Public Library, Monmouth (6)

Special Events

January 11, 2006 - Maine Libraries Week Celebration, Hall of Flags Exhibits
June 12-13, 2006 - Public Library Directors’ Institute, MSL & Augusta Civic Center
August - Summer Reading Celebration at Boothbay Railway Village

Member Libraries

164 ~ 76 public, 59 school systems (204 individual schools), 8 academic, 21 special

Public Libraries

Albion Public Library ~ Andover Public Library ~Anson, Stewart Public Library ~ Auburn Public Library ~ Augusta, Lithgow Library ~ Bath, Patten Free Library ~ Belgrade Public Library ~ Bethel Library Association ~ Bingham Public Library ~ Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library ~ Bowdoinham Public Library ~ Bremen Public Library ~ Bristol Area Library ~ Buckfield, Zadoc Long Free Library ~ Canaan Public Library ~ Carrabassett Valley Library ~ China, Brown Memorial Library ~ China, South China Public Library ~ Clinton, Brown Memorial Library ~ Damariscotta, Skidompha Public Library ~ Dixfield, Ludden Memorial Library ~ Dresden, Bridge Academy Public Library ~ Eustis, Stratton Public Library ~ Fairfield, Lawrence Public Library ~ Farmington Public Library ~ Fayette, Underwood Memorial Library ~ Gardiner Public Library ~ Georgetown, Laura E. Richards Library ~ Greene, Morse Memorial Library ~ Hallowell, Hubbard Free Library ~ Hartland Public Library ~ Jackman Public Library ~ Jay-Niles Memorial Library ~ Kingfield, Webster Free Library ~ Lewiston Public Library ~ Lisbon Library Department ~ Livermore Falls, Treat Memorial Library ~ Livermore Public Library ~ Lovell, Lewis Dana Hill Memorial Library ~ Madison Public Library ~ Mechanic Falls Public Library ~ Mercer, Shaw Public Library ~ Mexico Free Public Library ~ Monmouth, Cumston Public Library ~ Monhegan Memorial Library ~ Mount Vernon, Dr. Shaw Memorial Library ~ New Portland Community Library ~ New Sharon Town Library ~ New Vineyard Public Library ~ Norridgewock Free Public Library ~ Norway Memorial Library ~ Oakland Public Library ~ Oxford, Freeland Holmes Library ~ Paris, Hamlin Memorial Library ~ Paris Public Library ~ Phillips Public Library ~ Phippsburg, Albert F. Totman Library ~ Pittsfield Public Library ~ Poland, Ricker Memorial Library ~ Rangeley Public Library ~ Readfield Community Library ~ Richmond, Umberhine Public Library ~ Rumford Public Library ~ Skowhegan Public Library ~ Solon, Coolidge Library ~ South Bristol, Rutherford Library ~ Southport Memorial Library ~ Squirrel Island Library ~ Topsham Public Library ~ Turner Public Library ~ Vassalboro Public Library ~ Waldoboro Public Library ~ Waterford Library Association ~ Waterville Public Library ~ Wayne, Cary Memorial Library Wayne ~ Weld Public Library ~ West Paris Public Library ~ Wilton Free Public Library ~ Winslow Public Library ~ Winthrop, Bailey Public Library ~ Wiscasset Public Library ~ Woodstock, Whitman Memorial Library

School Libraries

Auburn Schools ~ Augusta Schools ~ Bath Schools ~ Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor CSD ~ Brunswick Schools ~ Carrabasset Valley Academy, Carrabasset ~ Gould Academy, Bethel ~ Hebron Academy, Hebron ~ Jay Schools ~ Kents Hill School, Readfield ~ Lewiston Schools ~ Maine Central Institute, Pittsfield ~ Maranacook CSD - (Manchester, Mount Vernon, Readfield, Wayne) ~ Monmouth Schools ~ Mt. Merici Elementary School, Waterville ~ Oak Hill CSD - (Litchfield, Sabattus, Wales) ~ Peru Elementary School ~ Richmond Schools ~ St. Athanasius School, Rumford ~ St. John School, Winslow ~ St. Joseph's School, Lewiston ~ St. Mary's School, Augusta ~ Waterville Schools ~ Winthrop Schools ~ Wiscasset Schools ~ SAD 5 (Owl’s Head, Rockland, South Thomaston) ~ SAD 9 (Chesterville, Farmington, Industry, New Sharon, New Vineyard, Temple, Vienna, Weld, Wilton) ~ SAD 11 (Gardiner, Pittston, Randolph, West Gardiner) ~ SAD 12 (Jackman, Moose River) ~ SAD 13 (Bingham, Caratunk, Moscow, The Forks PLT., West Forks PLT.) ~ SAD 16 (Farmingdale, Hallowell) ~ SAD 17 (Harrison, Hebron, Norway, Otisfield, Oxford, Paris, Waterford, West Paris) ~ SAD 21 (Canton, Carthage, Dixfield) ~ SAD 36 (Fayette, Livermore, Livermore Falls) ~ SAD 39 (Buckfield, Hartford, Sumner) ~ SAD 40 (Friendship, Union, Waldoboro, Warren, Washington) ~ SAD 43 (Byron, Mexico, Roxbury) ~ SAD 44 (Andover, Bethel, Greenwood, Newry, Woodstock) ~ SAD 47 (Belgrade, Oakland, Sidney) ~ SAD 49 (Albion, Benton, Clinton, Fairfield) ~ SAD 50 (Cushing, St. George, Thomaston) ~ SAD 52 (Greene, Leeds, Turner) ~ SAD 53 (Burnham, Detroit, Pittsfield) ~ SAD 54 (Canaan, Cornville, Mercer, Norridgewock, Skowhegan, Smithfield) ~ SAD 58 (Avon, Eustis, Kingfield, Phillips, Strong) ~ SAD 59 (Athens, Brighton PLT., Madison, Starks) ~ SAD 74 (Anson, Embden, New Portland, Solon) ~ SAD 75 (Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Harpswell, Topsham) ~ Union 29 (Mechanic Falls, Minot, Poland) ~ Union 30 (Durham, Lisbon) ~ Union 37 (Dallas PLT., Lincoln PLT., Magalloway PLT., Rangeley, Rangeley PLT., Sandy River PLT.) ~ Union 42 (Manchester, Mount Vernon, Readfield, Rome, Wayne) ~ Union 44 (Litchfield, Sabattus, Wales) ~ Union 47 (Arrowsic, Georgetown, Phippsburg, West Bath, Woolwich) ~ Union 48 (Alna, Dresden, Westport) ~ Union 49 (Edgecomb, Southport) ~ Union 51 (Chelsea, Jefferson, Palermo, Somerville, Whitefield, Windsor) ~ Union 52 (China, Vassalboro, Winslow) ~ Union 74 (Bremen, Bristol, Damariscotta, Newcastle, Nobleboro, South Bristol)

Academic Libraries

Ladd Library, Bates College, Lewiston ~ Hawthorne Longfellow Library, Bowdoin College, Brunswick ~ Central Maine Community College Library, Auburn ~ Miller Library, Colby College, Waterville ~ Kennebec Valley Community College Media Center, Fairfield ~ Marriner Library, Thomas College, Waterville ~ Katz Library, University of Maine at Augusta ~ Mantor Library, University of Maine at Farmington

Special Libraries

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences Library, West Boothbay Harbor ~ Central Maine Medical Center, Lewiston ~Chewonki Foundation, Roger Tory Peterson Library of Natural History, Wiscasset ~ Department of Veterans Affairs, Togus Learning Resources Team (CI01), Togus ~ Franklin Memorial Hospital, Turner Memorial Library, Farmington ~ Maine Criminal Justice Academy, Vassalboro ~ Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection & Dept. of Conservation Library, Augusta ~ Maine Division of Alcohol & Drug Abuse, Augusta ~ Maine Law & Legislative Reference Library, Augusta ~ Maine Maritime Museum, Bath ~ Maine Municipal Association Resource Center, Augusta ~ Maine Public Utilities Commission, Information Resource Center, Augusta ~ Maine State Library, Augusta ~ Margaret Chase Smith Library, Skowhegan ~ Medical Care Development Library, Augusta ~ McLaughlin Foundation, South Paris ~ Miles Memorial Hospital, Medical Library, Damariscotta ~ Pine Tree State Arboretum, Augusta ~ Redington Fairview General Hospital, Health Sciences Library, Skowhegan ~ Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Lewiston ~ Stephens Memorial Library, Norway