Pelham News : library

Pelham Library goes fine free

Salem Editor — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:26:00 GMT

Are you concerned about returning your overdue library materials because of the mounting fines on your account? The Pelham Public Library wants you to know that we understand the rough economic times that face us these days and we want to help.

Introducing Fine-Free Fridays: Starting on Friday, Aug. 7, bring back your overdue materials and we will wipe away the fines with a smile. Think of how good it will feel to start fresh with a clean slate.

Library director Sue Hoadley said Fine-Free Friday is not only good for patrons, but also good for the library.

“Basically, all we want is our books back. It’s much more important to have the materials back in circulation for other patrons to enjoy than to collect the fine money.”

So, look under those beds, search between those couch cushions and stimulate your own economic future at the Pelham Public Library.

The Pelham Public Library is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Thursday, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call the library at 635-7581 or visit the Web site at www.pelhamweb.com/library.

Note: Replacement costs for lost or damaged items are not included in Fine-Free Friday.

Pelham library budget strains under higher demand for services

Salem Editor — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:53:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

The economy is dealing a double blow to the public library where staff have seen an 83 percent increase in circulation while struggling through the third year in a row without a budget increase.

“We’re still doing the absolute best that we can, and we’re trying hard not to give people the short shrift, but especially in this last year or two, probably, our patrons are starting to notice that we are just running around here,” said Library Director Sue Hoadley. “It’s incredibly stressful. It impacts our ability to be able to focus and serve people when you see the line (at the check-out desk) queuing up.”

Since the library moved into a larger building in its present location alongside the town hall and the police station in 2003, attendance has risen by 300 percent. In that same period of time, the library’s budget has grown only 5 percent, according to Hoadley.

Other public libraries in the area are also seeing a dramatic increase in circulation and attendance. In nearby Windham, business at the library has risen by 21 percent over the past year while circulation has jumped from 180,000 items loaned in 2007 to 201,000 in 2008. Though a change in the way circulation is tracked in neighboring Salem has made comparisons between years inaccurate, officials there report an increase in registration as patrons have turned in large numbers to borrowing rather than purchasing books, movies and albums.

With only five full-time employees, three part-time employees and an on-call staff of six, Hoadley said the rise of business has given the librarians less time to spend on a one-to-one basis with patrons.

One measure Hoadley has taken has been to delay the opening of the library on Thursday – the slowest business day of the week – from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. According to Hoadley, the late opening gives her staff enough time to finish their administrative work, processing interlibrary loans and checking on overdue books, with the least impact on customer service.

Earlier this month, library patrons fought a move by the budget committee to cut the library’s budget a further $2,447 and restored the funding to the town’s operating budget. While that will keep the library on level with years in the past, what Hoadley said the facility really needs is the ability to hire additional staff to meet the demand.

The budget crunch has come just as patrons need the services provided by the library more than ever, Hoadley said. The number of people coming in to use the facility’s computers and Internet access to search for jobs has increased greatly. While the staff has tried to help patrons find the resources they need to navigate the ongoing economic storm, from trying to save their homes to posting their resumes online, meeting the tripling demand has been a struggle, according to Hoadley.

“We’re getting a lot more adults getting in and using the computers looking for jobs,” Hoadley said. “That’s the irony. As people are losing their jobs and the town has less funds to distribute to town services, our services are needed more than ever.”

Library money restored in Pelham

Salem Editor — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:15:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

Supporters of the library won a victory at Pelham’s deliberative session of Town Meeting when they persuaded voters to restore $16,000 to the library’s budget.

The move came when voters took up the town’s 2008 proposed operating budget, one of 20 warrant articles discussed during the Tuesday, Feb. 5, session at Pelham Elementary School. The $16,000 restored some of the money previously cut from the library’s budget by the Budget Committee.

Debbie Kruzel, who asked for the $16,000, said that if the money was not restored, the library would return to its 2004 spending level.

The number of patrons coming into the building and number of library programs have increased significantly in recent years, she said.

“The library actually provides services for every generation in town,” said Kruzel, who wore a red shirt that read “We Support Our Library.”

Library director Sue Hoadley said the money would allow her to provide modest pay increases to employees and restore the library’s operating hours to 50 hours a week. It had been reduced to 42 hours.

Tammy Wilson said it’s upsetting to take her family to the library only to discover it’s closed.

“It seems like a small amount of money for a big benefit for a lot of people,” she said of the $16,000 request.

Budget Committee Chairman John Lavallee said that budgets of other town departments were cut, and he took issue with a comment made by one resident that the cut to the library’s budget was arbitrary.

By adding $16,000 to the library budget, the proposed town operating budget now stands at $10,893,184.

Earlier in the meeting, there was little debate on a $4,273,000 warrant article to build a new central fire station, although some residents said they preferred a substation to be built in another part of town.

In advocating for a new central station, Selectman Bob Haverty said the town’s 37-yearold fire station, located in the town center, can no longer meet the needs of the community. The building, Haverty said, has inadequate living space for full-time firefighters, cramped garage space, a failing septic system and no room for larger, additional equipment needed as the community grows. It doesn’t meet local fire and electrical codes, federal occupational, safety and health standards, and the recommendations of the National Fire Protection Association.

The building plan being proposed is cheaper than the one voters turned down last year, Haverty said.

“This station was designed to be no bigger than is needed in the immediate future but will easily expand as the town undoubtedly grows in the future,” he added.

Because it’s a bond article, it requires a 60 percent majority at the March 11 elections.

Supporters seek to restore library budget

Salem Editor — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:14:00 GMT

By Darrell Halen

Supporters of the Pelham Public Library, unhappy that the Budget Committee reduced its funding for this year, will try to put $16,000 back into the library’s budget at the deliberative session of Town Meeting.

Library trustees had asked for $245,308 for 2008. The Budget Committee cut that figure to $216,978 – about what the library’s budget was in 2004 – and 5 percent less than last year.

According to library director Sue Hoadley, about a dozen library supporters -– staff, trustees, Friends of the Library in Pelham and others – attended the Budget Committee’s Jan. 15 reconsideration hearing in hopes of restoring some funding.

But John Lavallee, Budget Committee chairman, said at the meeting that the panel didn’t want to hear anything about the library unless it was new information, according to Hoadley.

As a result of the budget cut, library hours have already been scaled back from 50 hours to 42 hours a week and most full-time salaries were reduced by close to 5 percent.

The Budget Committee had suggested that a 40-hour-a-week adult services position be reduced to 20 hours, said Hoadley.

Lavallee said previously that many town departments took a hit in their new budgets and that Hoadley can “make it work” with less money. Many taxpayers are angry about higher property tax bills they received last month and are facing expensive proposals on the ballot in March, including a new high school and new fire station, he said.

Hoadley said library supporters at the deliberative session will ask that $16,000 be added to the town’s budget to bring the library’s funding to $232,978.

That money will allow the library to return to 50 hours, restore pay for full-time workers and provide them with a 3 percent cost of living adjustment and raise pay for part-time workers.

“It’s a small amount of money, but it will make a world of difference for the library,” Hoadley said.

The town budget can be changed at the deliberative session as long as a majority of voters present support it. The session begins at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at Pelham Elementary School.

Voters will accept or reject the budget when they go to the polls in March. If they reject it, a default budget – the previous year’s budget with certain adjustments – would go into effect. That would mean the library would be at its 2007 spending level.

Pelham Library sets new story schedule

Salem Editor — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 20:19:00 GMT

By Darrell Halen

There will be books, songs and activities at the Pelham Library this week about ice and snow as the children and Miss Debbie continue to explore the theme of “Winter Wonderland.”

Miss Debbie will share two of her favorite books, “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats and “Katy and the Big Snow” by Virginia Lee Burton.

Note the new days and times for preschool and toddler story hours.

Families of Pelham are reminded about the science program which is to begin on Thursday, Jan. 24, at 3:30 p.m.

KnowAtom Science from Manchester, Mass., will be here at the library on this day and continuing for the next nine weeks to present a hands-on science program to children in grades 1 to 3. There is a $225 charge for this special enrichment program. Stop in at the library soon to get a registration form and more information about this wonderful opportunity for those children who are excited and inspired by the wonders of science.

There will be Book Time with Baby on Friday, Jan. 18, from 11 to 11:45 a.m. So brave the cold and snow and join the group at the library for a simple story time and an opportunity to connect with other parents and young ones.

The library will be closed on Monday, Jan. 14, in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

The new schedule for story hours is as follows:

Preschool story time for ages 4 to 5, Tuesday, 11 to 11:45 a.m.

Toddler story time for ages 2 to 3, Wednesday, 11 to 11:30 a.m.

Book Time with Baby, ages newborn to age 2, Friday, 11 to 11:45 a.m.