2015 Annual Report

2015 was a year of new challenges for both the the town of Orange and the Orange Public Libraries. Steady activity at the libraries continued, with the library collections and the public computers seeing heavy use not only for pleasure but also for research and job hunting. Children’s programming flourished, with new children's librarian Mia Cabana leading the youth of Orange through a successful 2015 Summer Reading program.

We are, as ever, grateful for the continuing support of the Friends organization and our friends in the community at large. Throughout the year the library was able to bring many wonderful programs to the community through the support of the Friends, including the annual book sale, a visit from local author Lauren Roy, the second annual Robert P. Collén Poetry Competition, and a wildly popular author visit with bestselling authors Jane Yolen and Mira Bartok.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Walt Owens, Library Director, our online presence has continued to expand. Our library website, blog, Facebook page, and Virtual Branch Library provide resources such as downloadable audio-books and e-books, digital magazines, various databases, and genealogy resources, to name just a few. October of 2015 brought both the end of Mia Cabana's tenure as Children's Librarian, and the announcement of Walt Owen's impending retirement as director. Mia's presence in the library will be deeply missed, and we wish her all of the best in her new career as Head of Youth Services at the Jones Library. Walt has already begun preparations to make the transition to new leadership as smooth as possible, and the search committee has received several promising applications for the position. Plans are also underway to celebrate Walt's ten years of service to the library and the community, and to congratulate him on his retirement.

The Trustees continue to be deeply concerned over the lack of accessibility at the Wheeler library, as well as its crowded conditions. We are currently in the process of forming a Building Committee to move this long-needed project forward, and hope to work with the new director to apply for the 2016 construction grant offered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Trustees