2008 Annual Report

Public libraries are known for having something for everyone! Our library is no exception with a variety of material, services and programs for all ages. Starting with the very youngest, we have preschool Story-time sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings year round. Children learn about the joys of reading, listening, and socialization and acquire basic skills to help them be ready to start school. The ever-popular Summer Reading Program reached 2,164 children this year. We offered a total of 66 programs and workshops during the summer. Participants read a phenomenal combined 3385 hours over the seven weeks of the program; this was a 35% increase over the previous year. We offer tours, orientations and school visits for students in the community and collections of books are set aside for student research. A total of 10,697 people attended programs in the library in 2008.

The monthly adult Book Discussion group has a very loyal following. Two of the sessions brought in guest facilitators thanks to a grant from the New York State Council of the Arts. The use of the online public access computer makes is very easy for the public to check for the availability of library material from our library and neighboring lending libraries.

One of the important areas of service, taken for granted by many people, is answering questions! Last year we responded to a total of 37,512 inquiries. The more specialized local history questions totaled 311. We received queries from all over the country and overseas. We utilized our licensed online databases for much of the research.

Grant funding is an important element of our operating budget. We received a generous grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to upgrade all of our public access computers. Over 9800 people used the computers in 2008. Wireless internet service is available throughout the library building. A $20,000 Special Legislative Grant through Senator Hugh Farley assisted us with book, recorded book and DVD purchases this year. We received grant funding from the Fulton County Youth Bureau to aid us with staffing for the busy Summer Reading Program. Out 12^th annual Storybook fund-raiser held at FMCC yielded over $9,000.

We wish to thank the Friends of the Library for their ambitious fund-raising and membership efforts. They helped match the Gates Foundation computer grant, assisted with funding for the preschool Story-times and the Summer Reading Program. In cooperation with the Johnstown 250^th anniversary celebration, the Friends sponsored a Historic House Tour which was very well attended.

As always, we are very appreciative for the allocation and support from the City of Johnstown. We are proud to be a department of the City. Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers that work with us on bake sales, landscaping, children’s programs and annual fund-raisers. We appreciate the Board of Trustees’ stewardship to the library. And last, the Staff continues to be committed to providing the best service possible to the patrons of the library.

COLLECTION
	TOTAL Books, Magazines, Newspapers	37,709
	Audio recordings	4,389
	Video recordings	1,521
	Miscellaneous	66
	GRAND TOTAL all materials	43,685
BORROWERS
	TOTAL adult and children	6,934
CIRCULATION
	GRAND TOTAL all materials	75,439
INTERLIBRARY LOAN
	TOTAL Borrowed	12,105
	TOTAL Loaned	3,906
PROGRAMS
	TOTAL Programs	655
	TOTAL Attendance	10,697
COMPUTER USAGE
	TOTAL Users	9,897
REFERENCE QUESTIONS
	TOTAL Local History Searches	311
	TOTAL Questions	37,512
ATTENDANCE
	TOTAL People	84,550