2008 Annual Report—Highlights of the Year

Highlights from Our Year

2008 Record-breaking Circulation: 2,496,313

2007 – 2,278,555
2006 – 2,251,881
2005 – 2,211,187
2004 – 2,066,065
2003 – 1,957,594
2002 – 1,792,606
2001 – 1,651,804
2000 – 1,470,437
1999 – 1,405,722
1998 – 1,370,100
1997 – 1,223,864

Our 11th year in a row to achieve all-time highs in circulation!
Patrons checked out 9.6% more materials than in 2007. The number of holds jumped 23%.

During National Library Week, the Library held a “Food for Fines” event, taking $1 off overdue fines for each can of non-perishable food. Patrons responded by bringing in 3,600 lbs. lbs. of food to help fill the shelves of Hoosier Hills Food Bank.

Library Strategic Plan
With help from a dedicated committee of community, Board, Friends of the Library and staff representatives, the library completed a strategic plan to guide our work from 2009 through 2011. The process resulted in revised statements of mission, vision, and values for MCPL.

Job Search Initiative
In response to local layoffs and the tough economy, the library partnered with WorkOne on a Job Search initiative. We added new resume, interview, and career resources in print and online, including the full complement of WorkOne tools and then trained reference staff to assist with job search requests. At our booth at the Monroe County Fair, we promoted the new initiative and our “Getting Hired” event with local employment experts.

New Downloadable Audiobooks
The library began offering downloadable audiobooks. Patrons embraced the new format, borrowing 1,100 audiobooks by the end of the year. They “checked out” these titles just like a book, but with automatic return and no overdue fines.

Free software allowed patrons to download audiobooks to their personal computer for listening, transferring to an MP3 player, or burning to a CD.

Awards and Grants

MCPL Rated Top Ten Library
The library was ranked #2 in the country in its population category by Hennen’s American Public Library (HAPLR) Rankings, which were published in American Libraries, the journal of the American Library Association.

Tom Zupancic Award
The Indiana Library Federation honored Monroe County Public Library with the Tom Zupancic Award, recognizing the library for outstanding efforts “in advocating the importance of libraries and literacy programs in a community.” Tom Zupancic and the World Champion Indianapolis Colts are active promoters of Indiana libraries as partners in literacy.

CATS Awards
Community Access Television (CATS) received three Philo T. Farnsworth Awards from the Central States Region Alliance for Community Media for excellence in programming.

Three Early Literacy Computers – ISL Grant Award
A $8,400 grant through the Indiana State Library (ISL) provided three new early literacy (AWE) computers to MCPL for children pre-kindergarten through 5th grade.

The new computers helped the library fulfill its mission to serve as an important community source for the promotion of literacy. The AWE software crosses all curricula: reading, art, music, math, geography, and more. All games are available in English and Spanish.