Winter Library Hours: Mondays & Thursdays 2:00-6:00
Tuesdays & Wednesdays 9:00-6:00 & Saturdays 9:00-12:00
Story Times: Tuesday mornings at 10:00 & Wednesday mornings at 11:15*when school is in session
Trustee Meetings: First Wednesday of the month at 5:30. *No meetings in March, July or August
Here are just a few highlights from our year here at the
Highgate Public Library:
- In January, we were awarded $2,500 in grants from The Winnie Belle Learned Fund and Ben & Jerry’s. Together these two grants allowed us to fund a new program, which we have named Little Explorer’s. Through this program, children ages 3-5 and their families are presented with an exciting opportunity to interact with nature & their environment in a hands-on and fun way! Our goal is to bring a program, full of fun, education, and hands on activities to children these children.
- We were very fortunate to secure over $500 in grants and donations from various sources to help increase the quality and number of programs that we were able to offer during out 2011 One World, Many Stories summer reading program.
- We had 18 children attend our first annual art camp in June, which we co -sponsored with Exordium Adventure of Franklin. This was the first art camp of its kind to be held in Franklin County.
- Over 50 youth were certified and or licensed this summer through one of our 3 safety course offerings (boating, hunting and babysitting).
- In August the Children’s Literacy Foundation approved the library’s Rural Library Sponsorship grant and on October 26th presented the children of Highgate with over $2,000 worth of new books at an assembly, which was held at the Elementary school. They also visited our local daycare, Kidz Kneedz, while they were here and presented each child with 2 books to add to their home collection.
- Building Brighter Futures approached the library over the summer to form a working partnership and to help bring quality programs to the children and families of Highgate. In October word came from the district that the library/Highgate would receive $2,570 for programming over the next 4 quarters.
- E-rate, which is a program of the Universal Service Fund, continues to help fund seventy percent of the library’s phone bill, which this year saved us $930.
- Highgate residents now have access to over 500 online non-credit Continuing Education Courses through the library for FREE. In order to have access to this service (which you can get to through a link on our website), you need to contact us for a personalized registration number. Your current library card number will not work for this service.
- E-books became available to our patrons through Listen UP! Vermont, which also provides a wonderful selection downloadable audio books.
- Library usage increased 24% over last year and circulation of materials (items checked out) also increased by 47%. These numbers show us that residents value their library and the services that it provides.
- In November the trustees and select board met to discuss safety concerns and unwanted behavior that had been occurring at the library over the past year. After much thought and discussion, it was decided that a security camera system was needed to help staff adequately and safely monitor the building. This decision was not made lightly, nor was it one that anyone wanted to see happen. However, this decision was necessary to ensure the safety of staff, patrons and the community. This system cost $3,500 and was purchased with funds appropriated by the Select Board, Library Trustees and the Friends of the Library.
In closing, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all those who have assisted in making the programs here at the library so successful. Without such a supportive community, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish all that we have for the children and youth of our community. It warms my heart to see that residents continue to take pride in their library and the services that it provides. If you have not visited the library lately, I invite you to stop in and see all that we have to offer.
Sincerely,
Liza L. Comiskey, Librarian
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