St. Mary's County Library

2012 at Your Library

2012 Highlights

Library Board members Dear Library Customer,

On behalf of the Library Board and staff, I am pleased to present the Library's 2012 Annual Report.

Our county residents have made their public library an essential part of their lives! More than 80,000 residents have a library card and last year they checked out 1.4 million items. Our library system checks out the 4th highest number of items per capita in the entire stare of Maryland.

The Library Board is especially proud of our staff. The staff continues to keep up with their increasing workload and the introduction of many new technology enhancements. During the past year, the staff has made a special effort to learn about eReaders and eBooks and to present this information to our customers. The increasing number of eBooks being downloaded from the library's collection demonstrates the effectiveness of this effort.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the elected officials who continue to support their county library system and our very active and successful Friends of the Library Board members.

Finally, THANKS to you, our valued library customers. It is you who make the library your community hub!

Alan E. Dillingham, President

St. Mary's County Board of Library Trustees

Pictured above are Board Members (seated left to right) Vice President Joan Springer, President Alan Dillingham, Treasurer Carole Romary; (Standing left to right) Lynn Newkirk, Everlyn Holland, Carolyn Guy and Dan Burris.

Improved Services

* Electronic services continue to be enhanced to make your library more convenient:

eReader classes and demonstrations
Computer classes on a variety of topics, including genealogy
Mobile website created
Accessibility improvements to the website for customers with disabilities

kids at science program
* STEM programs and science bags were introduced to help our youngest engage in meaningful and fun science activities.

* Lexington Park celebrated ten years of service in its current building. During those ten years, the library staff checked out 5,022,000 items, greeted 2,385,000 visitors, and conducted 4,900 programs!

* The ever-popular WoW bags were expanded to include some for babies and toddlers.

* A Community Information handout was created for each branch to inform residents of their local community services.

Community Outreach

* Childcare providers received free certification credit by attending Every Child Ready to Read training conducted by library staff at each branch.

Storytime at childcare provider

* Our WoW! (Words on Wheels) Childcare Van Service made monthly visits to 56 different childcare providers and centers, sharing stories and songs, and leaving a supply of materials for the provider to use until the next visit.

* Our Book Cart Drill Team and Book Guard participated in the 1st annual Pride in the Park Parade in Lexington Park.

* Many of the staff participate in local organizations: Commission for People with Disabilities, Early Childhood Team, Highway Safety Program, Homeless Prevention Board, Judy Center, Leonardtown Business Association, Lexington Park Business Association, Local Management Board, St. Mary's County Historical Society, St. Mary's County Literacy Council, SMCPS Diversity & Equity Advisory Committee and College Fair.

Partners

* The Library Board and the Board of Education approved a Library-School Partnership Plan to help students become college and career ready by introducing them to the library's resources available both online and in the branches.

* County Emergency Management Services (EMS) Department installed an automated external defibrillator (AED) at all three libraries. The county's Human Resources staff trained 23 library staff who volunteered to learn CPR and to use the AED equipment.

* Library Family Councils and Family Information Centers were created at
the Lexington Park Library to reach families with young children. This pilot program is part of Maryland State Department of Education's Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grant.

* Southern Maryland JobSource Mobile Career Center visited the libraries to serve job seekers and has added the libraries to their monthly schedule.

* The Small Business Administration conducted small business workshops at each library.

* The Board of County Commissioner's 2013 Capital Budget includes $1.8 million for the renovation of the Leonardtown Library.

* The Friends of the Library continue to provide extraordinary support. They raised $28,000 at the book sale in March and $3,800 at the mini-sale in November. In 2012, they contributed $20,000 to each branch which staff used to purchase more materials as well as furniture.

Group receiving award * The Committee for People with Disabilities and the Board of County Commissioners recognized the Leonardtown Library with the Facility Accessibility Award.

Candy Cummings opening reception * The Lexington Park Library Art Gallery continues to thrive due to the hard work of Candy Cummings and the generous donations from Tom Daugherty, which support the artist receptions.

Fiscally Responsible

* Staff continues to be our most valuable investment! Support is provided for staff to attend Library Associate Institute, professional conferences and workshops and to earn a Master of Library Science degree. Branch management teams were reorganized to provide more promotional opportunities and greater staff flexibility.

* Payment of fines and fees can be done by credit card online and in the branches.

Busiest Year Ever!

Items checked out 1,441,092

We continue to be #4 in the state in number of items checked out per resident!

Visitors 640,105

Cardholders 80,256

Programs 43,269 attended 2,129 programs

Volunteers 277 provided 7,538 hours

Facebook Fans 1,200

Income Expenses

County $2,281,038 Staff 75%

State 588,169 Technology 5%