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.