Director’s Report (February 2024)

In a continued effort to better communicate with residents, I’m going to be sending out a brief report on a monthly basis. This report will include updates from the current month, and usage statistics from the previous month.

Sincerely, Allen McGinley, Library Director

Building and Grounds

Existing analog thermostats were upgraded from analog to digital, and several connection issues between existing thermostats at HVAC systems were repaired. The library’s elevator starter was no longer meeting code and was upgraded to a new solid state starter on February 7.

Finance

The Youth Services Department was awarded a grant in the amount of $500 by the New Jersey STEM Pathways Network (NJSPN) to support the library’s plans for New Jersey Makers Day. This event is scheduled for Saturday, March 16. These funds were generously provided to the NJSPN by Comcast and the Overdeck Family Foundation. The library’s FY24 operating budget was presented to the Town Finance Committee on February 6. Priorities for 2024 include greater investment in digital content to meet the needs of residents, and increased alignment of staffing and resources with the library’s strategic goals.

In the Library

In partnership with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Westfield, the library celebrated Black History Month by hosting a series of (5) programs, (4) viewings of the History of African Americans in Westfield From 1720 exhibit, and (6) class visits to view the exhibit from 4th grade classes at Wilson Elementary School and Washington Elementary School.

17 Westfield seniors participated in the library’s first two workshops on landscape painting with acrylic paint. This new series Visual Arts for Seniors, is presented in partnership with the Westfield Art Association, Lifelong Westfield, and the Westfield Regional Health Department. Workshops will continue throughout 2024.

The library is expanding it’s ongoing Courageous Conversations series of programming to include a new quarterly Banned Book Discussion Group. This new book group will read and discuss books that have been banned in schools and libraries across the country in the past few years. This first event in this new series will be a discussion of Maus, by Art Spiegelman on Monday, March 11 at 7:00pm.

Westfield Memorial Library was included as a location on the New Jersey Open Libraries Tour (NJOLT) in mid-February. Library staff provided tours of the library to six library school students and current librarians. Westfield was one of just (5) public libraries on the tour.

Technology

Earlier this month, the library launched a new series of virtual author talks featuring bestselling, award-winning, and highly acclaimed authors from around the world. The featured writers and thought leaders will cover a wide range of topics and genres. The virtual series takes place two to three times a month and includes the opportunity to ask the author questions. In addition to these live virtual author talks, Westfield residents will also have access to the full catalog of previous recordings. Upcoming authors in March include NPR’s Nina Totenberg, bestselling YA fantasy author Christopher Paolini, and NYT bestselling author Madeline Miller.

Partnerships

The library has been working on a new series of adults programs called Learn Local, in collaboration with the Downtown Westfield Corporation. Building on the success of the recent talk with Ahrre from Ahrre’s Coffee Roastery in Westfield, a variety of local shop owners will visit the library to share their respective expertise with residents. The first event in this new series will feature Oksana Weber from American Dream Tattoo in Westfield on Saturday, March 9 at 2:00pm.

Library Organizations

Libraries of Middlesex Automation Consortium (LMxAC)

LMxAC is working with the marketing firm Infinia Group to rebrand the organization in a way to better represent all member libraries in Middlesex, Monmouth, and Union counties. This work is expected to be completed later this year.

New Jersey Library Association

On February 20, the Executive Board of the New Jersey Library Association passed a statement in support of S2421, the New Jersey Freedom to Read Bill. The organization affirmed it will continue to work with the bill’s sponsors to ensure that it meets its goal of ensuring that every New Jersey resident enjoys the fundamental American right to access books and other information. This bill has been introduced, and referred to the Senate Education Committee.