Circulation and Technical Services
Circulation and Technical Services had another busy month in September, even with the expected drop in circulation as summer winds down. Staff continued assisting patrons at the service desks while handling the behind-the-scenes work that keeps materials moving throughout the library and our consortium.
There were 34,059 physical and digital (Libby) checkouts in September, including 27,730 physical items, 3,816 eBooks, and 4,504 eAudiobooks through Libby, Hoopla, and Comics Plus. Patrons also accessed 468 streaming videos, 30 streaming music titles, and 2,829 digital magazines through Kanopy, Hoopla, and Libby. Overall circulation was down from August’s 37,865 checkouts, while digital use remained steady.
Holds continued to generate a significant amount of activity. Staff filled 4,475 holds in September, slightly more than the 4,431 filled in August. This included 2,999 items received from other libraries for local patrons and 2,323 items pulled from our shelves and sent to other libraries. Each hold represents a fair amount of behind-the-scenes work as materials are pulled, processed, crated, and moved between libraries.
Staff also processed 246 new library card applications and issued 121 parking permits. Technical Services added 1,293 new physical items to the collection and withdrew 667 items, keeping the collection current while making effective use of available shelf space.
September’s numbers show that circulation is only part of the department’s workload. Even as checkouts declined from the summer, thousands of materials continued moving between libraries, more than 4,400 holds were filled, new patron accounts were created, and more than 1,200 new physical items were added to the collection.
Outreach Services
Senior Services, Persons-at-Home (Sarah Derven)
Throughout September, Sarah Derven continued bringing the library directly to seniors and individuals who may have difficulty accessing library services on their own. She visited 13 outreach sites, served 212 patrons, and loaned 703 library items.
Sarah also made 66 phone calls, selected and placed 326 items on hold, renewed 153 items, and visited 10 individuals to deliver materials. She led four Memory Care Writing Groups, providing participants with an opportunity for creativity and social connection in a setting where a traditional library visit may not be possible.
Sarah also completed training and certification to become a Chair One Fitness instructor. She is now developing her first chair dance class, selecting music and learning choreography with the goal of bringing the program to her senior patrons.
Community Events, Partnerships, Mobile Library (Jennifer Ogrodowski)
Jennifer Ogrodowski continued to bring the library into the community through the mobile library, local events, programs, and partnerships. September activities included the Saratoga and Greenfield Farmers Markets, Summer Meals Van Visits, the Shelters of Saratoga and Her Story book groups, Wesley Craft Day, the Town of Greenfield Garage Sale, and a table at the Mexican Consulate visit to the Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church.
Jennifer made 12 mobile library stops, reached 230 attendees, loaned 56 library items, and processed 35 returns.
A highlight of the month was Wesley Craft Day, where residents made miniature fall topiary trees to decorate their rooms. The hands-on activity provided an opportunity for creativity and conversation while giving residents something they could take with them.
Adult Literacy and English Language Learning (Mary Ann Rockwell)
September marked the beginning of the fall semester for the Adult Literacy and English Language Learning program. Classes began September 14, with an in-person beginning-level class, an online beginning-level class, and a hybrid intermediate and conversation class. Attendance has been good, and two students who had not participated since before the COVID-19 pandemic returned to the program.
The program also welcomed a new Adult Basic Education student who has shown strong motivation to learn. Volunteer instructor, Mike Gormley, may eventually take over working with this student after completing a ProLiteracy course focused on teaching reading.
Mary Ann also participated in the Mexican Consulate visit sponsored by Lifeworks, staffing the event on September 22 while Jennifer participated on September 23 and 24. Lifeworks reported that approximately 350 people received services. Mary Ann made several potentially valuable connections with local organizations and service providers that could help introduce the library’s literacy and English-language services to additional learners.
Mary Ann’s online Poetry Café focused on poems about work and workers, with two regular participants and one new participant. Mary Ann also completed a Center for Applied Linguistics course on scaffolding in the classroom, which she found valuable and which will provide additional tools for working with learners at different levels. “Scaffolding in the classroom” is an instructional approach in which a teacher provides temporary, structured support to help learners accomplish tasks they could not yet complete independently, gradually reducing that support as their skills and confidence grow.
Getting Spooky at Saratoga Book Festival 2026
Photo Gallery
The Friends of the Saratoga springs Public Library Saratoga Book Festival 2026 is “in the books!” Trevor had the opportunity to moderate a panel of horror authors again this year, that included Paul Tremblay, ClayMcleod Chapman, Saratoga Schaefer, and Christoph Paul. Each author was celebrating recent book releases, and we explored a variety of themes appearing in their books. The crowd of about 70 people seemed to enjoy themselves, as did the authors, and it showed at the book sales & signing line that followed the presentation. Trevor’s thanks goes out to the participating authors, the attendees (especially the one who made the horror panel stickers and bracelets to give the authors), and to the Friends for their continued commitment to showcasing horror and other genre fiction at Saratoga Book Festivals!
Respectfully submitted by Trevor Oakley, Head of Access and Outreach Services