Chester Springs Library

Collection development: in 2022 funds spent on collection development continued to reflect the materials that our Library users wanted. This included physical books, magazines and downloadable material. Because we are a small Library and shelf space is limited, we relied heavily on downloadable resources in 2022. Items were chosen based on patron requests, popularity, current holds ratios, trends, calendar events, local interests, best seller lists, local school curriculum, new releases, and/or availability. These are the areas of spending and their amounts: adult nonfiction - $4,926.77; adult fiction - $6,921.25; children's - $4,537.73; young adult - $ 346.76; large type - $179.46; periodicals (including downloadable) - $2,604.81; e-material (including ebooks and eaudiobooks) - $7,375.63; Library processing supplies - $480.02; book replacement - $116.01. Pennsylvania Library code requires that 12% of our operating budget be spent on collection development. In the interest of serving our Library users well we spent 14%. Total circulation of Library materials for 2022 was 50,219, a 3.4% increase in total circulation compared to the previous year.

Pennsylvania office of commonwealth libraries program recognition: in august 2022, the Library's summer reading program included a preschool nursery rhyme fair. Summer is for special programs, and we created the fair for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers because they are an age group that often gets overlooked during summer programming. We designed the fair to be a fun sensory learning experience, and used early learning standards to guide us. It was a huge success and we received compliments from parents, grandparents, and teachers. The nursery rhyme fair caught the attention of the pa office of commonwealth libraries and is featured in their Pennsylvania summer Library program showcase. The budget for this program was $600.

Library programs: people say they drive miles for our programs because other libraries do not offer anything like them. Our children's events include early literacy programs, arts and crafts, stem activities, music and movement events, one-of-a-kind activities, and summer reading fun. Our adult programs include crafts, cooking, games, and learning about Library resources. We also have a seed Library available to gardeners each march. Our programs are mostly in-person, held on and off-site. We use virtual delivery options if needed. In 2022, there were 364 programs enjoyed by 6,507 participants. We also had 15 passive programs enjoyed by 441 participants. We hired a new children's person in 2022 and she does a fabulous job, effortlessly winning the hearts of all the families we serve. She also developed a fantastic rapport with our local homeschooling community and provided them with educational and enrichment programs based on their needs. Plus, she juggles, and offered two day-long juggling workshops in 2022; complete with pizza lunches and a kid's performance for parents at the end of each event.

To serve the area by providing access to materials, services and programs that promote education, lifelong learning, early literacy, leisure opportunities, individual growth, and connections that build a healthy and vibrant communitypennsylvania Library association star Library award: in july 2022, Chester Springs Library earned the pa forward silver star Library award from the Pennsylvania Library association. Star Library awards recognize libraries that are community centers offering engaging programs and services that incorporate five key literacies - basic literacy, information literacy, civic and social literacy, health literacy, and financial literacy.