Hamden Public Library

catalog | research | events | kids | teens

About...

Library Director Bob Gualtieri

If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions for improvements to the library, please do not hesitate to contact me:
Phone: (203) 287-2686, ext. 7
Fax: (203) 287-2685
email: bobgual@hamdenlibrary.org
Enjoy your tour through our web site, and I'll see you at the library

Hamden Public Library Annual Report 2006/2007


Mission Statement

The Hamden Public Library, the community’s information center, provides a variety of library resources, access to innovative technology and a knowledgeable staff to improve the quality of life and meet the informational, educational and cultural interests of the entire Hamden community

Hamden Public Library continued its ongoing commitment to excellence by providing traditional library services along with services requiring technology. The library provided programs and services through the hard work and dedication of staff, a supportive Library Board and an active Friends of the Library. The library benefited from the generosity of the Friends for equipment, library materials and programs. Miller Memorial Central Library is the main provider of library services to the Town while the two branch libraries, the Whitneyville Branch and the Brundage-Community Branch, are popular with neighborhood residents.

Service Highlights

  • Our successful Sunday schedule from 1 – 5 PM continued for the fifth year with 26 Sundays open.
  • The PC network has grown to 71 work stations, including the replacement of 12 older PCs.
  • Our Children’s Room “Castles in the Sky” pre-school area was dedicated in October.
  • The Brundage-Community Branch participated in the fourth year of the successful PACK grant ( Parents and Communities for Kids ), providing outreach to families in Highwood.
  • Head of Children’s Services Nancy McLaughlin arranged a creative program series called “Rhythm and Reading” through the New Haven Symphony combining music and reading stories to children. The 6 session series had over 190 audience members.


    • Collection

    The Hamden Library web site hamdenlibrary.org has access to the card catalog, databases, the Internet, links to other web sites and program information. Our expanding collection continues to meet the demands of the diverse Hamden community.
  • 197,179 books and magazines
  • 21,180 DVDs, videos and audio cassettes


    • Staffing

    Even though the staff authorization was 27 full time and 14 part time employees, staffing was impacted by filling vacancies due to retirements and the early hiring freeze. As vacancies were filled last summer through internal promotions and outside recruitment, there was a learning curve as staff adjusted to new assignments, duties and responsibilities. The Librarian IV- Head of the Technical Services / Cataloging Department and the Librarian III- Head of Information Technology positions were vacant most of the year, along with 2 part time Page positions. We also experienced several long term medical leaves. The cumulative impact on our staffing meant we struggled to provide our core services, delays in reshelving materials, ordering and processing new books for circulation, and periodic waits at the public service desks.


    Excellence in Service

    We are very proud of our public service staff. Their extraordinary service at check-out desks, reference desks, children’s room and the branches is often appreciated by the public. Less recognized are the support staff that makes possible everything library users see and experience at Miller and the branches. Support services range from maintaining the computer system, the web site, purchasing and cataloging materials, maintaining our buildings, operating a central business office and handling thousands of other tasks. Examples of our excellence:
  • We received 25 written comments from our “How Are We Doing?” suggestions complimenting staff and thanking them for a wonderful library experience.
  • Librarian IV Celeste Krahl, who recently retired, received the Connecticut Library Association Librarian of the Year Award in April.
  • Head of Public Services Irene Nolan researched a new vendor to manage our magazine subscriptions at a savings of $2,058, resulting in a net increase of 60 new subscriptions at Miller and the branches.
  • The new print release station at Miller is more efficient saving paper and ink since users must pre-pay for their copies. The time management feature allocates 1 hour time sessions for the public ensuring access to all without the staff intervening when others are waiting to use the computers.
  • A recently installed self check-out station is gradually being accepted by the public as an alternative to waiting in lines.
    • The demand for services to children continues to grow at all locations. Story times, craft programs and special event programs are popular and filled to capacity.
    Total number of programs Total attendance Summer Reading Club
    404 est. 81235 est. 364

    Statistics

    Circulation 423,201 items
    Reference transactions 63,518 questions answered
    Visits to the library 354,120 entering Miller and the branches
    Registered Hamden borrowers 36,747
    Computer workstations 31,049 sessions
    Web Site Visits 164,174 visitors
    Sunday Usage 12,558 entering Miller; 16,666 items borrowed; 1,170 computer usage sessions

    Goals