2004 Annual Report

We would like to begin this year’s annual report by remembering the words of Andrew Carnegie who stated that

“There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Public Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration.”

These words serve as background text for a new long range plan adopted by the Library Board of Trustees. The Long Range Plan was developed over the months of May through September. Plan documents were drafted by the library director who gathered and analyzed data and met with a Long Range Planning Committee of staff and community members who assisted in identifying community and library needs. A new Library Mission Statement, adopted as part of this plan, reveals the vision held by the trustees and staff:

The Orange public library, consisting of the Wheeler Memorial Library and Moore-Leland Library, is a center of community life, offering opportunities for people of all ages to come together for learning and pleasure. The Orange public library is a dependable source of reliable information, and of materials in many formats that enhance life long learning and formal programs of education, and expand knowledge of current topics. Our library encourages the love of reading and learning, offering the assistance people need to find, evaluate, and use informational resources. Our library exists to help people lead more successful, satisfying and rewarding lives.

This year marked the successful completion of an LSTA Customer Service project. With this funding, library staff discovered new ways of how to better serve our community. A new website (www.orangelib.org), seasonal newsletters, and more public programming and workshops are examples of what this project has brought to our community. The substantial increase in the number of registered borrowers (27%) and the circulation of library materials (30%) this year is in large part due to this project.

Trustee and staff changes were a prominent feature of the year. Robert P. Collen retired after 42 years of unprecedented service as a trustee. His retirement from the board coincided with the 90th anniversary of the Wheeler Memorial Library, and a celebration in April was held to honor both. The retirement of Nancy Mousley after 17 years of valued service on the board also occurred this year. Their dedicated, thoughtful, perceptive, and longterm presences on the board are missed. Suzanne Lain and Brian Eno also resigned as members of the board of trustees this year. This year’s new board appointments include Rice Flanders, Richard Senier, Jean Thompson, and Lisa Vaughan.

Candace Cross was hired as the new children’s librarian in March to replace Lester Scafidi who retired in 2003. Dianne Salcedo became the new technical services assistant replacing Lynne Jacoby who also retired in 2003. As stated in our mission statement, the trustees desire to make our libraries the “center of community life, offering opportunities for people of all ages to come together for learning and pleasure.” We express our thanks to the capable staff and volunteers who have contributed to the successful work of the past year.

Respectfully submitted,

The Board of Trustees

Sally Howe and Rachel Scherer, co-chairs

Rice Flanders

Richard Senier

Jean Thompson

Lisa Vaughan