News from Haddonfield Public Library

The library had a busy year in 2009. More than 130,000 items in the collection circulated. The good news is that the circulation is up by 1,000. It would have been several thousand higher but the six days' closure of the Children's Dept. from July 31-Aug. 6, 09, due to the flood, had negative impact. Almost every category of use was up- program attendance, children's activities, and computer use. People are using the library for new reasons in the dire economic climate. Many are using job resources. Click here to see 2009 Library Statistics.

The Children's Dept. expanded programming to weekends and babies, thanks to the Friends of the Library. Dorothy Peppard, Children's Librarian, began a baby lapsit program called Rockabye Readers that has been very successful. She also added programs on weekends by bringing in Sarah O'Brien. These programs have also been very successful. Read, Write, and Rock with Sarah is drawing about 30 kids each week. A mother and daughter knitting program will begin on Feb. 13, (Saturday) and run for six weeks.

The library's new website went live on December 1. It is now easier to navigate and has many features that were recommended by the community. Jo-Ann Pure continued to teach computer classes, branching out into business and genealogy classes. Phil Shapiro, President of the Haddonfield Friends of the Library, has been teaching Excel classes at the library as a public service. Other progress this year was replacement of our server and staff / public computers. Pam Alles, Anne Frontino, and Jeannie Reinking did a very fine job of guiding the implementation.

The Haddonfield Friends had a very successful year by expanding the annual book sale to two days. They gained many new Executive Board members who are enhancing membership. They also applied for and received funding for the Haddonfield Holiday House Tour on Dec. 10. This will greatly enhance teen services and is now in the planning.

Progress on the library improvement campaign moved slowly. Nancy Weber was engaged to explore fundraising for the project. A generous donation of $177,000 was received toward a better library. The architect, Anthony Iovino, hired by the Borough Commissioners, came up with three scenarios for expansion to the present building and handicapped accessibility.

Sophie Brookover began the year as our Teen Coordinator. She worked with local teens and together they added teen activities and collections. The Teen Corner was dedicated on May 29, and the teens love it. The room enhancements were made possible by shared services of several groups: the Friends of the Library; the Haddonfield Board of Education; the Borough of Haddonfield; the Library Board; and the Rotary Club of Haddonfield. Children's Librarian Dorothy Peppard and many teens, notably Margaret Finley and Vera Hinsey, who are Friends, all contributed much to launch the Teen Corner. Erica Braverman was hired as Weekend Librarian when Suzanne Ficara retired. She also serves as the Teen Coordinator and is expanding teen programs, since Sophie Brookover departed. Again, our Friends of the Library deserve great thanks for providing finances for teen programs and furnishings.