Circulation and Technical Services
October was another steady month for Circulation and Technical Services, and “steady” still means a lot of moving parts. Staff helped patrons at the service desks while keeping physical materials moving through the library and across the consortium. The department recorded 33,438 physical and digital (Libby) checkouts, with 5,181 individual borrowers using our collections. That’s within 2% of September’s 34,059.
Holds were where the action was this month. Staff filled 4,864 holds, up nearly 9% from September’s 4,475. We received 3,145 items from other libraries to be picked up at SSPL, up from 2,999 the month before, and pulled and transferred another 2,222 items to fill requests elsewhere.
At the desk, staff issued 207 new library cards and 152 parking permits. That’s up from 121 permits in September. Staff mentioned that permit questions seemed to pick up in the second half of the month, and the numbers prove them right. There was a noticeable uptick in daily issuances in the last week of the month.
Behind the scenes, Technical Services added 1,046 new physical items to the collection, and withdrawals building-wide totaled 1,167. That’s fewer additions than September, while withdrawals rose from 667. This steady cycle of bringing in new materials and retiring the ones we no longer need keeps our collection current and useful, and makes the most of our shelf space.
There’s good news on the vendor front: the ongoing fulfillment/receiving issues with our primary book vendor, Ingram, should be resolved. In November, we expect an additional 440 backordered books added to Technical Services’ usual workload. The reason given for the backordered items was because Ingram had changed our processing profile to receive “enhanced cataloging,” which we do not require. Changes that need to be made to catalog records received from vendors are made via an automated process handled system-wide by SALS.
October’s numbers demonstrate the ongoing trend that this work goes well beyond the most visible measure of “items checked out.” With circulation holding steady, staff still handled more holds, moved thousands of items between libraries, welcomed new cardholders, and kept the collection fresh through more than 2,200 additions and withdrawals combined. Patrons rarely see most of it, but it’s what gets materials into their hands.
Outreach Services
Senior Services, Persons-at-Home (Sarah Derven)
In October, Sarah continued her work, bringing the library to senior communities and to those unable to visit us in-person. She visited 13 outreach sites, served 220 patrons, and loaned 698 items.
Much of Sarah’s work happens one person at a time. She made 73 phone calls, selected and placed 350 items on hold, renewed 156 items, and visited 14 individuals to deliver materials in person. Those visits and regular check-ins keep folks we don’t see in the building connected to the library, with materials custom-matched to their interests.
Sarah also led three Memory Care Writing Groups and launched a brand-new “Bricks for Better Brains” LEGO group at Raymond Watkins. She represented the library at the YMCA Healthy Aging Event, too, sharing information about our services with older adults in the community.
Community Events, Partnerships, Mobile Library (Jennifer Ogrodowski)
In October, Jennifer Ogrodowski kept the library on the road, with Mobile Library visits and attending local events organized by our community partners. Her stops included the Shelters of Saratoga and Her Story book groups, the Saratoga Farmers Market, Middle Grove Park, Wesley Craft Day, and the Saratoga Book Festival KidZone.
Jennifer made seven mobile library stops during the month, reaching 282 attendees. She loaned 11 library items and issued or renewed four library cards.
Two events stood out. At the Saratoga Book Festival KidZone, held at the Children’s Museum, the library van joined a well-attended event that even featured a visit from Upset the horse. And the Saratoga Farmers Market went all Halloween this year, with children, families, and even dogs arriving in costume. Visitors to our table made their own Halloween pals, choosing a friendly ghost, pumpkin, or Frankenstein. It was a fun, creative way to give families one more reason to stop by.
Adult Literacy and English Language Learning (Mary Ann Rockwell)
October brought rising attendance across all of our English language classes, as teachers grew more comfortable and settled into their roles with the fall semester underway. The program held 17 classes with 140 attendees, along with 37 English Language Learning tutoring sessions and two Adult Basic Education tutoring sessions. Volunteers contributed a total of 170 hours. With attendance growing, we may onboard additional tutors in November (and beyond) to meet the demand.
The Spanish-language book collection has been relocated and reorganized, with fiction and nonfiction now grouped in a more accessible arrangement. The Literacy Collection has also moved to the remaining shelving units nearby. The early results are encouraging: on two occasions this month, patrons were seen sitting by the collection, browsing books and chatting together. It’s a small moment, but exactly what we hope for, a collection that becomes a place to discover materials and share interests.
Mary Ann’s October Poetry Café featured poems by Hispanic poets, focusing on contemporary writers from across the Western Hemisphere. Four participants attended and enjoyed both the selections and the lively discussion that followed.
We also welcomed Saratoga Springs poet laureate Jay Rogoff, who led four poetry workshops this month with a combined attendance of 53. They gave community members another way to explore poetry and their own creative voices.