Never Can Say Goodbye

What's that saying about the best laid plans? The emergency staff meeting last month ended up being a notification instead of a preparation. I learned that unless a major source of funding comes through, the three branches and the bookmobile will cease operations by year's end. Worse than that, I was informed that my beloved Outreach Program was being discontinued, effective immediately. I have spent the last three weeks breaking the news to my devoted senior patrons, collecting outstanding materials, tying up loose ends, and saying goodbye. My patrons won't know me in a professional capacity any longer. I will no longer bring them books, movies, and CDs to help them pass the time enjoyably. As of October 30, these wonderful people will no longer be my patrons. They'll simply be my friends. You see, I've spent a year getting to know these people - really getting to know them. I know who lives alone. I know who likes mysteries and who likes romances. I know who cross-stitches and who knits. I know who likes musicals and who likes comedies. I know who reads books on CD and who needs books on tape. I know who is battling a serious illness and who is losing the fight. I know who has relatives who visit regularly, and I also know who doesn't. I've been a witness to their lives, and they've been one to mine. They tease me about my noisy cart. They ask about my children. They fuss over pictures of my dog. They fret when I am sick. We bonded over books initially, but that common thread wove itself into a real and lasting fabric of friendship. The loss of the outreach program is sad, but fortunately, our investments in each other as people and as friends remain secure.

Where Do We Go From Here?

RPL employees have been summoned to a special staff meeting tomorrow. We will be apprised of the current budget situation and its ramifications for the staff. Speculation is running rampant; will there be talk of layoffs? Tomorrow's meeting is purely informative. No one knows what will unfold when the state finally passes a budget, but it's difficult to remain positive when the financial circumstances are so dire. I do not know how long my program will continue. I'd be upset, of course, to find myself unemployed in the foreseeable future, but what would upset me more is the thought of no longer visiting with my elderly patrons every two weeks. Several of them have expressed sincere remorse at possibly losing their mobile library, the personalized service, and my kind voice/smiling face (their words). These people have made my job so rewarding, professionally and personally. I make people so happy just by showing up and lending them books! Many of the patrons regard the Outreach program as a lifeline - something to look forward to, something that perpetuates the cognitive and emotional connections made in their minds and hearts. Knowing my program has made such an impact is both heartening and humbling for me. Until I'm told otherwise, I will be operating full "read" ahead. I've got new Nora Roberts, Nicholas Sparks, and Dan Brown novels to lend!

Struggles with Brevity

I'm preparing for the PaLA Conference in October. My boss submitted a poster session proposal for the outreach program, and it was selected to participate. I am creating a tri-fold poster that explains the program and spotlights patrons in action. I took some wonderful pictures of the seniors perusing the collection and checking out materials. Now I need to arrange the text and the photos on the poster board so that the overall presentation is clean, concise, and aesthetically pleasing. Doing that may not seem difficult, but it is when the assembler is wordy and detail-obsessed! How can I possibly encompass this wonderful, beneficial program in a synopsis and a few bulleted points? Rambling, hyper-detailed descriptions are my specialty, but they won't serve well in this project. I plan to triumph over the temptation to besiege the reader with a plethora of prose. Game on!!

Save Our Libraries

Within the last several weeks, many Outreach patrons have expressed concerns to me about the future of the program. Will it continue next year, and if it does, will I still be the administrator, and will there be any new materials? I get a lump in my throat when elderly patrons tell me how much they depend on the program and the library to "keep them going." Unfortunately, I don't have definitive answers for them. With the state considering a 50% reduction of library funding and the possibility of the city of Reading withdrawing all financial support by the end of 2009, circumstances seem dire indeed for the Reading Public Library and its branches. Many people feel helpless to remedy the situation, but there is something we can all do to help. The Main library, the branches, and the bookmobile have been stocked with copies of a newsletter from the library's Board of Trustees President, Ronald Hatt. In his letter, he urges patrons to "contact your local and state representatives to express your support of RPL. You must ask government officials at all levels to reconsider the anticipated cuts in funding which will decimate the valuable services RPL provides for the entire community." Please look for this pink-colored newsletter at the circulation desks (you will receive one with any materials you borrow), and email or phone in your support. Contact information for city/government representatives is listed on the reverse side. Let your voice be heard in support of Pennsylvania libraries!

Happy Days

"You've made me so happy, Miss." That was a departure comment I received from a new patron three weeks ago, and it has echoed in my ears ever since. He's 96 years young and likes to read westerns. Because of physical limitations, he's been unable to access library materials for several years. The outreach program was recommended to him by a lady who volunteers at his facility. He was pleasantly surprised to discover my crates were stocked with books by several popular western authors. He remarked what a good idea a "traveling library" was and also stated he felt particularly blessed to be the lone male among several female participants! I just saw him again a few days ago: he was waiting for me outside the community room. As I placed the desired book he mentioned at the last visit in his hands, his astonishment rendered him speechless. After a minute or so, he smiled at me and said warmly, "Miss, you've made me happy again." Those words are fuel for the perpetuality tank of the outreach program.

Summer Reading

Hello, Reading Public Library Patrons! Please remember to visit your local libraries and stock up on beach reads, DIY books, cookbooks, and gardening manuals for the approaching summer season. Moms and Dads, keep your kids reading over the summer by joining the summer reading program offered at the main library and its branches. This year's theme is "Be Creative," and kids are sure to experience the enthusiasm generated by incentives (prizes!) offered for the number of books read over the course of the summer. The Bookmobile and Bookmobile Outreach Program are also ready for summer reading. New print and audio/visual materials will be available within two weeks, and we have summer reading recommendations for all ages. We also take requests! Come see us; we'll keep you entertained all summer long.

May is Older Americans Month

I thought my bookmobile patrons might like some information on an upcoming event at Reading Area Community College (RACC) in recognition of Older Americans Month. From May 24-June 5, RACC is holding a Senior Festival of the Arts, sponsored by our good friends at the Berks County Office of Aging. The celebration kicks off on Sunday, May 24 with the opening of the art exhibit. Plan on attending the reception from 2 to 5 p.m. Events include an art contest and the exhibit, poetry, music, demonstrations, lectures, and dancing. There will also be a remembrance of John Updike at 3:15 p.m. on May 24 in the main campus building. There will be plenty to see and do for young and old alike! For more information, please contact the Berks County Office of Aging at 610-478-6500. Hope to see you there!!

Partnership

Today's staff meeting focused on the importance of community partnerships with regard to increasing support of and patronage at the library. I sat across from Matthew, the Bookmobile Coordinator, and as I listened to the lecturer describe how to forge productive partnerships with local organizations, I realized that I haven't attributed enough credit to Matthew for the success of the Outreach Program. I couldn't do what I do without Matthew's assistance. He drives the Bookmobile and knows the city like the back of his hand. Parking is always an issue on crowded and narrow city streets, but Matthew always manages to get close enough to the entrances (most times he has to be creative) so that the distance I have to travel with a cumbersome platform truck is manageable. At each elderly housing site, he helps me unload and reload extremely heavy book crates, which saves me time and energy. Because he is so well-read, he can make informed recommendations as I stare blankly at the fiction shelves (remember, I'm a non-fiction gal). He answers my computer system questions, organizes and tracks holds, and maintains the material collections on the bookmobile itself. Thank goodness he also happens to be good company. He has a great sense of humor and an infectious laugh, and I really enjoy chatting with him during the breaks in the schedule. Kudos to you, Matthew, for all that you do to help me keep the outreach program running smoothly. Thank you!

Sign of the Times?

I just launched my monthly circulation report to the powers that be: last month saw a 10% increase in borrowed items. My boss seems pleased with the continuing upward trends regarding patrons served and materials circulated. Initially, I thought perhaps more people were taking advantage of the Outreach Program because of the tanking economy. People are tightening their belts, staying home and enjoying low-cost or no-cost recreational activities. The library is an excellent source for free entertainment: books, CDs, and DVDs are great tools to keep folks occupied and entertained. Remember, though, I work with the elderly. Most seniors tend to stay in regardless of the economic climate. I began to think in earnest about the reasons for the higher numbers. As much as I would like to assume credit for my winning personality (wink, wink) and excellent customer service skills as the driving forces of those ascending numbers, I am but a small part of the equation. The real reason the numbers continue to rise is attributed to a simple matter of inclusion. The seniors are now part of a larger circle, one that extends beyond the four walls of their apartments. The Outreach moniker applies not only to the library program but also the to seniors themselves. They are getting involved in their residential communities. Many of them have started book clubs or coffee klatches. They look forward to discussions about books and current events. They recommend reading materials to one another and to me, too. The Bookmobile is a treasured community service for our elderly city population, and I feel privileged to administer an outreach program that fosters such positive growth among its participants.

War, Romance, and Murder

January was an exceptionally busy month for me in Bookmobileland. Two new stops provided many new patrons and many more challenges to my fraying memory with regard to preferred genres and authors. For the most part, my male patrons prefer non-fiction work: they enjoy stories of war and/or presidential courage in times of adversity, biographies, and travel. The overwhelming majority of my female patrons prefer romantic fiction penned by Debbie Macomber, Fern Michaels, Nora Roberts, Danielle Steel, and Wanda Brunstetter. I work with two ladies who are quite taken with the work of Susan Wiggs: I managed to procure a copy of Just Breathe for both of them, and they were beside themselves with excitement and appreciation. One of them actually caressed the book jacket and murmured fondly, "I do love to read Susan Wiggs." I do have one female patron who reads non-fiction exclusively. She's such a gem -- 90 years old (yes, ninety) and a voracious reader of true crime novels. She prefers crimes of passion, specifically those dealing with spouses. When she felt she had exhausted the supply of interesting tales in that subject, she requested that I choose similar material. I delved into serial killer profiles and forensic evidence explanations. Initially, I was fearful of offending her delicate sensibilities with such subject matter, but she has a strong constitution and was pleased with my selections. I make sure I peruse these books, too, in preparation for the discussion upon my return trip. The next time I see her, we'll talk about Patricia Cornwall's assertion that Jack the Ripper's true identity was that of renown artist Walter Sickert. If anyone would like to suggest a true crime novel this lady would enjoy, please comment.