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!