Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Another record year!
Chambers County
Library System – July, 2014
Summer
Reading Snapshot:
Books
read – up 87%
Children’s
enrollment – up 9%
Teen
enrollment – up 15%
Program
attendance (kids) – up 20%
Program
attendance (teens) – up 4%
Overall
circulation – up 29%
46,371
items checked out during July, a 35% increase from 2013.
Which county boasts the biggest bookworms? After this year, we would definitely have to
say Chambers County! 2014 was our
biggest Summer Reading in the library’s history, and we’ve got the tired staff
to prove it! The week of July 21st
ended the 6-week summer with science and magic shows for the little ones; dodge
ball, movies, and crafts for the teens; and wine-making and a painting class
for the adults. To say it’s been a busy
summer is an understatement. But we love
it that way.
A special thanks to our sponsors who donated their time,
money, and coupons for the Summer Reading Program. Without their
contributions we would not be able to provide the quality programs we offer
each year. A big thank you to the Friends of the Chambers County Library
System for being the major underwriters for the program, and also to NRG, LLC
for being this year’s corporate sponsor.
The Friends of the Chambers County Library System found
time to hold a book sale at Mont Belvieu during party week. With the amount of walk-in traffic we get
during the final week of summer reading, the $1,000 made in 3 days was worth
it.
Chambers County Library in Anahuac continued to have
very well attended GED and ESL classes.
This is the first year we’ve been able to continue classes during the
summer, and it’s because of the grant funding received from the Anahuac
Municipal Development District.
This year, County Librarian Valerie Jensen chose to
offer some adult programs during summer that aren’t typically considered your
“traditional” library programs. It’s
important not to lose sight of our adult population, and with more and more
libraries focusing on adult enrichment programs, summer was the perfect
opportunity to give it a shot. Three
programs were held at Anahuac this year beginning with Bayou City Paranormal
presenting their findings of the Chamber Home and Dr. Schilling’s office. Next we held a Wine-Making program with a
special guest speaker from Nederland, Jim Catalina. And finally we held a Painting with a Twist
program where participants got to paint and take home a “Neon Heron”
masterpiece. All the programs were well
attended with comments for more. I’m
hoping in the near future we continue these types of programs not only at
Anahuac, but system-wide.
Other programs ongoing were book club and movie days –
there wasn’t a day that the libraries weren’t hopping!
County Librarian, Valerie Jensen and Assistant County
Librarian, Annie Vass continue working closely with the new library working
group for the Sam and Carmena Goss Memorial Branch Library. A meeting was held on the 28th to
discuss the next stage of design and included Branch Librarian Missy Parham at
the meeting. Renderings of the outside
and inside design were shown to the group.
It’s such an exciting time seeing drawings and floor plans slowly take
shape.
And finally,
July is the time we prepare budget packets for the upcoming budget year.
Each year we make notes on items or services we would like to add for the
citizens of the county. This year we’re looking long term at capital
improvements and personnel. We’re also
asking for an increase in our materials budget to keep up with increasing costs
of books, eBooks, audio/visual materials, and other items.
Until next month!
# posted by Valerie @ Wednesday, September 10, 2014 
