2006 Annual Town Report

Board of Library Trustees

 

New challenges and experiences marked 2006, the first full year residing in our ‘new’ Library at 356 Commercial Street.  The welcome mat was out, word spread, and the people came!

 

As the number of patrons and visitors to the Library jumped 72% to 149,483, we were challenged to address a plethora of procedural and policy issues that accompany such a dramatic increase in patrons.  Overseeing a space triple that of the Freeman Street building required new and thoughtful approaches to providing flexible but firm guidelines for use.

 

The statistics cited above reflect the challenge for us and the staff to fulfill our commitment to the fundamental importance of providing our community with a gathering space – a place to read, meet and discuss all sorts of literature; a place to listen and interact with others, whether through author readings, exhibits, or events; a place to pursue the wide world of information made possible through the Internet and a myriad of other sources.

 

Implicit in this challenge was the knowledge that our residents are hungrier than ever for the variety of books, materials and technologies that will meet the needs of our 21st century information society.  Finally, our challenge continues to maintain and improve a facility that is accessible to persons with varying physical abilities – a vital resource center for everyone.

 

Resource Development

A library is a major part of any community’s foundation and, thanks to our many donors, Provincetown now has one of the most beautiful libraries in the country. 

 

Since 2001, more than 1,380 donors from 37 states, as well as Canada and the United Kingdom, have responded to the Library’s Building Fund appeals, with a total of $1,294,172 in cash gifts, pledges and grants.  A high percentage of these supporters have given multiple times.

 

Thanks to our donors, we were able to install a walkway to the front door on Commercial Street in 2006.  And, we extend our many thanks to the work crew members of the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office’s Community Service Program who were key to completing this project.

 

At the same time, we began working on our goal to restore/reconstruct the historic Belfry; we expect to put it out to bid in early 2007, with a contract awarded in the Spring.  A leadership gift from Michael MacIntyre and a major grant from The Hiebert Charitable Trust, along with smaller private gifts restricted to this project, are making this component of the rebuilding project possible.  If all goes according to schedule, we expect to raise the Belfry to the top of the Library in the Fall of 2007.

 

Considering that we are a public institution, it is a credit to our donors that we are accomplishing this unique project.  With the interest and gifts of folks in Provincetown, and all over the United States and beyond, we have demonstrated a perfect example of a grassroots campaign.  We have surely made history in Provincetown!

 

Boosted with a $2 million State Construction Grant and a $1 million Town contribution, we designed a $1.6 million private gift campaign to support a viable building project; a project that, from the very start, has been characterized by the hard work and integrity of a committed group of community volunteers and a Library Director with exceptional talent, expertise and energy. 

 

The challenge is to continue the fundraising momentum as we look toward other aspects of the Building Project.  This includes the exterior: 1) restoration/reconstruction of the decorative façade; 2) painting the building; and 3) completing the landscaping. 

 

Finally, we look forward to building out the Lower Level, which will house the Library’s Main Collection, allowing for the expansion of the various Special Collections throughout the Library.

 

Special Events

The “Rose” Sails Again   One of the most exciting events occurred in the Spring when we brought the sails of the Rose Dorothea out of storage and had them installed at full hoist.  At the same time, the historic Lipton Cup was cleaned and installed in a custom designed and alarmed case on the Main Floor, thanks to the effort and expenditure of the Town’s Visitor Services Board.

 

Lipton Cup Celebration   Meanwhile, in cooperation with the Town’s Office of Tourism Director Bill Schneider and in partnership with the Pilgrim Monument, we hosted the Town-sponsored Lipton Cup Celebration on June 14.  Held in the Library’s Reading Room and Main Floor, the event was open to the public; it attracted an overflow crowd of more than 200 guests.  The event marked the beginning of the Centennial Year of the Lipton Cup, won in 1907 by the Provincetown schooner “Rose Dorothea”.

 

Approximately 70 of the invited guests included members of the Francis “Flyer” Santos Family, as well as the families and descendants of the Provincetown Schooner “Rose Dorothea” owner Captain Marion Perry and its skipper Captain John Watson.  Significantly, the celebration marked the date of the incorporation of the Town of Provincetown on June 14, 1727.  Declaring it an annual event, the Board of Selectmen agreed to recognize June 14 as “Provincetown Heritage Day”.

 

Speakers included Francis “Flyer” Santos, who headed the team that crafted the 66.5-foot half-scale model of the “Rose Dorothea” that is the centerpiece of the second floor Children’s Library; Board of Selectmen Chair Cheryl Andrews; Historian Josephine Del Deo who was instrumental in establishing the Provincetown Heritage Museum; and Trustee Edward “Mick” Rudd.  Selectmen and Historian Richard Olson who appeared as a personification of Sir Thomas Lipton, stood on the bow of the “Rose Dorothea” model and offered a theatrical rendition of the famed Sir Thomas.

 

Alice Joseph Honored   On April 24, the Trustees and Staff hosted an afternoon Tea to honor former Librarian Alice Joseph, who passed away on May 21, 2004.  Given by Alice’s family and friends, the occasion marked the dedication of the “Alice Joseph Memorial Reading Corner”, recognizing her contributions to the Library as well as marking her birthday.  Alice served as Librarian from 1965—1982.

 

Packard Gallery Reception   On Friday evening, September 8, more than 100 guests joined together to celebrate the Library at the Fifth Annual Packard Gallery Reception.  Thanks to the generosity of Artist Anne Packard, who once again hosted the event and offered one of her paintings as a Silent Auction piece, we realized a $21,000 addition to the Building Fund. 

 

Art Commission

Since opening our doors in April, 2005, the Town’s Art Commission has hung more than 20 works of Town art in the Library, many of which have been in storage and never seen by the community. 

 

Thanks to the intelligent and thoughtful guidance of Stephen Borkowski and Peggy Prichett, the Commission has identified pieces appropriate for the venue and spaces in the new Library; then it had the pieces cleaned, reframed and hung throughout the building with great care.  We are ever grateful for the privilege of enjoying the depth, scope, beauty and history represented in these works.

 

Trustees

After more than six years as Library Trustee, Chair Marcia Fair submitted her resignation in November in anticipation of a move out of the area.  Lyn Kratz was appointed to fill the seat until the May 2, 2007 election, when she will run for the two-year balance of the term. 

 

Lyn brings to the Board a high degree of education, knowledge and experience in media, technology and library science.  Her most recent position as Electronic Resources Librarian at the University of Pennsylvania’s Lippincott Library of the Wharton School, underscores her wide range of organizational and managerial abilities in addition to her writing and research skills.  She will be a valued asset to the Board and its work going forward.

 

Meanwhile, Marcia was recognized for her past seven years involvement with the effort to move the Library into a new and larger space.  Most notably, her participation on the Construction Committee for the restoration/reconstruction of the Center Street building and her leadership of the Capital Building Campaign were cited with thanks. The community of Provincetown is fortunate to have leaders of Marcia’s caliber in its midst who are willing to step forward when their expertise and talents are essential to handle a project of this size and complexity.

 

In the Board reorganization, Edward “Mick” Rudd was elected Chair and Paul Benatti was elected Vice Chair.  Carol “Cj” Noyes continues as Secretary.  Cathy Metzger completes the Board roster along with new Trustee Lyn Kratz.  In October, the Trustees welcomed Jean Jarrett, long-time resident of Provincetown and an On-Call Staffer at the Library, as the Board’s On-Call Secretary. 

 

Budget

Budget-wise, we are doing what we do best – keeping expenses down and increasing services.  However, the challenge of increased Library usage as well as the demand for additional services will require a request for a budget increase for FY 2008. 

 

Considering that we are open seven days per week for a total of 48 hours, our budget over the past several years has remained at a mere 1% of the total Town budget.  It is important to note that the Library is open more hours and welcomes more folks in the community than that any other public facility in Town.  This, in turn, requires adequate funding to assure the safety and security of not only the patrons themselves, but of the facility. 

 

The Trustees, along with our Library Director, continue to take seriously the fiduciary responsibility toward our Town residents.

 

Special Thanks

Once again this year, we extend our thanks to Library Director Debra DeJonker-Berry.  Instrumental in every aspect of “library” in its very broad sense as well as in the daily operations of our fine Library, Deb works tirelessly to assure that plans are laid, managed well and carried out, goals met.  Her inclusive manner, creative mind, and technical skills and knowledge have been the key to moving this new Library forward. 

 

In addition, we offer special thanks to the very hard work and contributions of a dedicated Staff – both full-time and on-call folks, who always make patrons and visitors feel welcome, who provide assistance with a wide variety of Library materials, and handle some of the most challenging aspects of a heavily used institution.

 

Finally, thanks to the scores of volunteers who work tirelessly on behalf of the Library, and to the Trustees – both past and present – who lend their minds and hearts to this great Library love affair.  Here in Provincetown, we have learned to make music together, to play it our own way, and are now engaged in interpreting our life together in a new space. 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Marcia Fair

Chair (January—November, 2006)

 

Edward “Mick” Rudd

Chair (November, 2006 to Present)