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In This Issue
"Social Seating" Coming to Mead
Change is coming to the first floor of Mead Public Library! As Mead Library continues to become a place for community members to gather and connect, we're creating an inviting and relaxing social seating area where the large print books are now located. The vending machines and cafe tables will be located there. Talking, eating and drinking will not only be permitted, but encouraged!

Another change will move the Customer Service Desk to the center of the first floor to improve opportunities to assist patrons who want or need help, not only with accounts and checkout, but in getting suggestions or finding library materials.

Some collections may be relocated to another part of the first floor. The goal is to create more space in order to add to collections that are becoming more popular, such as graphic novels.

Public Services Manager Melissa Prentice explained, "We want the community to view their library as an engaging space to connect not just with our collections, but with each other; as a place that meets their educational, recreational, AND social needs. We know the library is an anchor of community life in Sheboygan and we hope this 'social common' will help foster social and collaborative interactions in the community."



footnotes
Volume 24, Number 3
May & June 2015     
New Summer Hours at Mead
Mead Public Library's summer hours will begin on Tuesday, May 26. In a change from the previous summer schedule, the library will now be open on Tuesday and Thursday evenings until 8 p.m. Being able to visit the library will add to the summer fun being planned on Thursday evenings in downtown Sheboygan. Mead Library will offer special fun activities for families on Thursday evenings preceding the concert series that is planned, so stop by and check it out!

Also, on May 26, registration begins for all of our Summer Library Programs, for children, teens and adults. Stop in or sign up online. We have lots of fun activities and rewards to keep everyone reading all summer long!

 

Mead Public Library 2014 Annual Report
Mead Library implemented a new meeting room policy, offering more opportunities for businesses, organizations, and members of the public to use space at the library.

A reorganization of Mead Library staff members reduced the number of managers to two, and five departments to three teams: Public Services, Support Services, and Administration. Behind-the-scenes tasks were reorganized and many staff members cross-trained for greater efficiency. Melissa Prentice was hired as Public Services Manager; Diane Kallas was promoted to Support Services Manager.

A new self-service area for picking up held items gives patrons faster service and allows staff members to focus on patrons who need or want personal help.

Mead patrons began using Zinio, a service offering many current and back issue magazines online. Over 2,000 magazines were downloaded by Mead cardholders.

The Friends of Mead Library raised over $12,000 selling used books and other items, including a special "garage sale" of file cabinets, furniture and other large items no longer needed by the library. The Friends also started an outreach program to donate used books to community organizations to develop their own libraries.

E-content, including books, audiobooks, video and magazines, was downloaded 38,634 times in 2014, up from 27,172 in 2013.

Beginning in August, Mead Library was able to compile statistics on the number of users of its wifi network-over 29,000 in just over four months. In 2015, the number of wireless device users will likely surpass the number of patrons using computer workstations in the library building.

Many new programs and events focused on hands-on learning activities, including Sheboygan Connects, Art4Fun and Science-4-Fun, LEGO Club, Make It @ Mead, the Mead Seed Library, and Book to Art Club. A Digital Media Lab for teens and a "makerspace" is being developed with the help of grants from the Green Bay Packers Foundation and the Kohler Foundation, Inc. In 2014, 835 free public programs were offered at Mead, compared to 502 in 2013. Many programs are funded by the library's Everhard-Forrer Fund, the Friends of Mead Public Library, and the Mead Public Library Foundation.

The ACUITY Cool Picks Summer Reading Program had nearly 600 participants who read 2,453 books (250 more than 2013). More teens completed the program by reading at least five books, and program attendance was up over the previous year.

A first-time event, Sheboygan Connects, offered dozens of hands-on programs to all ages including crafts, cooking, music, technology, and even stilt-walking! Hundreds of people of all ages attended the free events, thanks to the sponsorship of the Mead Public Library Foundation.

The Sheboygan Children's Book Festival attendance was the highest ever, and up 32 percent overall, including over a thousand people who came to programs and events held at Mead Library to see and meet a talented group of authors and illustrators. The Mead Public Library Foundation is a sponsor of the Book Festival.

A total of 1,411 children participated in the Summer Library Program and more than half accomplished the goal of 20 hours of reading. That earned a child a free book to keep thanks to the Friends of Mead Public Library and Thrivent Financial. Attendance at the summer movie series and storytimes increased.

The Mead Public Library Foundation funded an equipment "wish list" for the library, including technology equipment for hands-on learning, book shelving, projector, sound equipment and podiums for meeting rooms, book carts and upgrades to self-checkout units.

The Friends of Mead organized "Information Day" so the public could ask questions and exchange ideas with board members and learn more about the library.




Mead Public Library Facts and Figures

City of Sheboygan population    49,203
Items in collection    488,897
City of Sheboygan cardholders   30,670
Items checked out    648,034
Reference questions asked    26,954
Library visits    312,363
Program attendance    15,911
Website average daily page views    1,218

Main Revenue Sources
City of Sheboygan    $2,305,741
Sheboygan County    521,615
Ozaukee County    8,838
Other    280,118
Everhard-Forrer Fund    11,184

Main Expenditures
Personnel     $2,215,360
Library materials    391,517
Information technology    23,905
All other expenditures    514,917

The complete annual report will be available on Mead Library's website.


Up and Coming Events at Mead

Adults
"Monday Movie Matinee" - 1:30 pm
May 4:    "They Were Expendable"
May 11:   "Strangers on a Train"
May 18:   "It's Love I'm After"
June 1:    "The Whole Town's Talking"
June 8:    "The Enchanted Cottage"
June 15:   "Gigi"
June 22:   "Paths of Glory"

"Exploring Wisconsin's Outdoors" - With David Kuckuk, Tuesday, May 5, 6:30 pm
Thousand Mile Trek on WI Ice Age Trail

"Books on Tap" - Book discussion at Urbane Bar and Grill, 1231 N. 8th St., Tuesday, May 5, 6:30 pm, "The Martian"

Affordable Care Act Info - Wednesdays, May & June, 1-5 pm

Book Discussion Group - With Joe Milicia, Thursday, May 7, 2 pm, "The Goldfinch"

"Make It @ Mead" - Makerspace program, Thursdays, May 7 (featuring beading) & June 4 (stepping stones), 5-7:45 pm

Drop-in Computer Basics - Thursdays, May 14 & 28, 1-2 pm

The Loft Knitting Circle
- Saturday, May 9, 1 to 3 pm

Spanish-English Conversation Groups - Monday, May 11, 6 to 7 pm

Nonfiction Book Discussion Group - With Leighanne Metter-Jensen, Tuesday, May 12,
5:30 pm, "White Girls"

Library Poetry Circle - With Karl Elder, Wednesday, May 20, 6:15 pm

"Echoes from Our Past" - Illustrated program, 1939-1950, with Bill Wangemann, Wednesday, May 20, 1:30 pm

Fiction Book Discussion Group - With Nanette Bulebosh, Thursday, May 21, 6:30 pm,
"Ideas of Heaven"

Friends of Mead BookStore Clearance - Saturday, May 23, 9-5 pm

Mead Library Board - Thursdays, May 28 & June 25, 3:45 pm

"The Men of Omaha Beach" - With Robert Mueller, Saturday, June 6, 10 am

Tai Chi - Intro to Yang style short form with Evelyn Prevnas, Mondays, June 29-Aug. 10,
1 pm


Teens 
Arduino Drop-in - Friday, May 8 & 22, 3-5 pm

Movies - 2 pm
June 10:    "Ferris Bueller's Day Off
June 12:    "Poltergeist"
June 17:    "X Men Days of Future Past"
June 19:    "Back to the Future II"
June 23:    "Into the Storm"
June 24:    "Guardians of the Galaxy"
June 26:    "The Goonies"
June 30:    "Unbroken"

Wii Games - Thursdays at 2 pm
June 11: Mario Kart Tourney
June 25: Bowling Tourney

ACUITY Cool Picks Carnival at ACUITY Headquarters - Food, fun & games, Tuesday, June 16, 5:30-7:30 pm, grades 6-12

Arduino and Hour of Code - Thursday, June 18, 2 pm

Most adult programs also welcome teens. Call 459-3400, ext. 3422 for information.


Children
Bess the Book Bus Visit - With "Miss Wisconsin," Tuesday, May 5, 2:30-4:30 pm. free book for each child

Preschool Storytime - Wednesday, May 6, 9:30 and 10:30 am

Wii gaming
- Grades 2-6, Wednesday, May 6, 3:15-5 pm; Thursday, June 25, 10 to noon

LEGO Club
- Wednesday, May 6, 3:15-5 pm

3D Printer Demo
- Thursday, May 7, 6:30 pm

Preschool Dance Party - Wednesday, May 13, 9:30 & 10:30 am

Science-4-Fun - Wednesday, May 13, 3:15 pm

Art4Fun
- Wednesday, May 20, 3:30 pm

Summer Storytime
- Tuesdays, June 16-July 28, 9:30 & 10:30 am

Tom Pease Concerts - Thursday, June 18, 9:30 & 11 am, and 2 pm (free tickets required)

Monday Movies for Kids - 10 am & 1 pm,
June 22: "The Incredibles"
June 29: "Alexander"

"Dave Seebach Magic Show" - Wednesday, June 24, 10 am & 1 pm (free tickets required) 
 
Persons with disabilities who need other accommodations should e-mail to [email protected] at least 7 days in advance. Mead Library may take photographs and video at programs. Notify a staff member if you do not want to participate. Library programs are free to the public, funded by the Mead Public Library Foundation, and the Friends of Mead Public Library.

May Regular Library Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 9-8   *   Friday & Saturday 9-5  
Summer Hours begin May 26: Mon., Wed. & Fri. 9-5   *   Tues. & Thurs. 9-8    *  Sat. 9-1
Closed on Monday, May 25