By Pamela West-Finkle
I hope everyone’s 2020 has gotten off to a great start! I am so glad to be back working at the library. My shoulder surgery went well. A huge thank you to Deb Slating and Gloria Carlson who covered for me. They did a fantastic job!
I just finished tallying our 2019 statistics and thought I would share some with you. Despite being closed for our move for two weeks, and all of the upheaval we experienced last year trying to get the construction project moving forward, we served almost 3,000 adult library patrons, and 261 youth. Our programs, including the very successful Navy Band Concert, served 1,151 adults and 128 youth, and we provided 52 people with computer technical support and training. We circulated 1,997 of our own books, 2,314 of our own DVDs, and 634 books and DVDs from other libraries through Interlibrary Loans. Well over 400 people used our computers and internet Wifi. The total number of people served in 2019 was close to 5,000. We received $14,071 in donations (THANK YOU!), a $1,000 youth program grant, and $279,470 in grant money toward our handicap accessibility and efficiency construction project. Lastly, we have barcoded close to three quarter of our entire collection, putting us in line with our New York State deadline of January 1, 2021. Not bad for a tiny library in the mountains!
The year 2019 also brought some changes to our Board of Trustees. As many of you know, our former Andes Town Supervisor and Library Board of Trustees member Marty Donnelly left in the Spring and relocated to the Carolinas. Debbie Abbate also left at the end of her term, but is still our go-to volunteer for help with events and bake sales. Claire Durante joined the board and took over as Secretary for the year, but just recently announced that she will be moving to Michigan to be close to her children and grandchildren. Bill Duke also joined the board and we have a wonderful fundraising event planned at Willow Drey in June of 2020.
In a letter addressed to the Town of Andes, our Board President, Judy Garrison said the following about our newest Board Members: Diane Lockspeiser, Sue Cole, and Ellen Rosman:
The Andes Public Library Board of Trustees at its September, 2019 meeting voted in Diane Lockspeiser as a new trustee. Diane has been a Saturday volunteer and frequent library user. At our November, 2019 meeting the board voted in Susan Cole as a trustee. Sue, somewhat recently retired from her management position at Mountainside Residential Care, has been a frequent library borrower for many years. The board also voted in Ellen Rosman, a library volunteer, with extensive administrative experience. They have all accepted the volunteer fiduciary position and signed the oath of office.
Welcome new Board of Trustee members! We look forward to seeing your talents in action and appreciate your service to our library and to our community.
Lastly, our construction project is moving along nicely. The contractors did uncover some rotten subflooring and leaking, rotten pipes in the historic portion of the building, so we cut back on a few of the project details to help save money. Otherwise the new subfloor and insulation is in, the bathroom fixtures and plumbing have been installed, the sheetrock is going up as I write this, and once we reinstall our circulation room shelving, our HVAC/Plumber can install the radiant floor and new wood-look vinyl laminate floor throughout the downstairs. We are hoping to start moving storage items in through the back door in early Spring while the porch and roof are being redone, once the freezing temps leave us. If all goes well, we hope to be back home at 242 Main Street by late May/early June! ~