Roswell Public Library

Deputy City Manager

Mike Mathews

Library Director

Enid Costley

Our Journey from January to December in 2021. . .

Visitors:

42,984 people visited the Roswell Public Library between January and December 2021.

During a library visit • 4,139 informational reference questions were provided • 1,570 new library cards were issued • 57,237 items were checked out • 3,313 people attended a program offered by the Roswell Public Library

Services:

M.M’s great grandfather forgot his glasses, so she helped out by reading him the paper

Hours:

The library was open to the public 2,125 hours. Service Hours were adjusted throughout 2021 based on staffing levels. In January we were open 128 hours (8 hours for 4 days) and in December we were open 225 hours (9 hours for 6 days). We are working to increase service days to 7 days a week. There was an increase in Items Borrowed in June due to the summer reading program and again in August when we opened up the children’s area.

Online vs. Print. . .

In 2021, 14..8 % or 11,002 items were checked out online. 85.2 % or 63,659 physical items were checked out; included in this number is the 28,803 items checked out from the children’s area. Roswell Public Library has a collection of downloadable e-books and audio books which may be borrowed.

E-books & Audio books

Outreach: Activities held with another organization such as Farmers Market, Pina Festival and Trunk or Treat.

Synchronous: An event on library grounds such as weekly preschool programs, STEM programs, Galaxy Club, Girls Who Code, music and cultural events.

Asynchronous: Summer Reading Programs, scavenger hunts, and drawings.

Weekly Programs for Young Children:

We offered two programs specifically for young children. Mother Goose on the Loose was offered on Tuesdays (244 attended) and Music and Movement was offered on Wednesdays (146 attended).

Program Highlights. . .

Synchronous Programs chart

May:

Hired Children and Youth Services Librarian.

4,714 Summer Reading Program flyers were delivered to the schools.

Offered a Summer Reading Program to 486 participants.

With a donation and help from Altrusa, we created and delivered 836 bags. Began offering Preschool Programs (390 participants) and STEM Programs (279 participants).

Collaborated with the Roswell Hispano Chamber of Commerce on Día De Los Muertos event (estimated 600 participants).

Reached milestone of 589 students through library tours and visits.

114 people celebrated a Yuletide Festival at the Library with music, cookie decorating and storytelling. 112 people celebrated the New Year with music, dance, treats and a balloon drop at noon.

June:

July:

August: September:

October:

November:

December:

57,237 Items Checked Out

An educational program which celebrated Hispano Culture

Roswell Public Library as a Third Place:

Urban planners seeking to stabilize neighborhoods are focusing on the critical role that “third places” can play in strengthening our sense of community.

Third places is a term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg and refers to places where people spend

time between home (‘first’ place) and work (‘second’ place). They are locations where we exchange ideas, have a good time, and build relationships. For young Americans, many third places are now virtual – from Facebook and chat rooms to group texts. But as Oldenburg notes, the most effective ones for building real community seem to be physical places where people can easily and routinely connect with each other. Taken from “Third places as community builders” by Stuart M Butler and Carmen Diaz (brookings.edu)

Partnerships:

A partnership with the Roswell Hispano Chamber in September helped us share information with an estimated 600 people during the Piñata Festival. A partnership in October brought an estimated 600 people into the Library to participate in a cultural and educational program around Día de Los Muertos.

Farmers Market:

September through October, the Roswell Public Library set up a pop-up tent and shared information with 462 people on programs and also provided free educational materials.

Mornings with Mike Winters:

11 times (monthly), Library activities and programs were featured on 106.5 Roswell Talk FM.

Facebook Posts:

The most popular posts (over 1,500 views) was the December 31 program to welcome in 2022. The second most popular was Día de Los Muertos with 1,400 views.

• 358 postings • 21,891 views • 2,575 people like us • 2,775 people follow us

Popular Adventurer T-Rex Reader was posted all summer

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