Cambridge
Public Library
Annual
Report FY01
Library
The Cambridge Public Library is a dynamic, community-oriented
library system providing excellent services, collections, and programs
to all members of our community. Each year, we strive to sustain and
improve upon our collection and services.
During the past year, we were challenged to maintain good
service as three of our branches underwent various levels of renovation.
We quickly learned how truly vital the library is to the community.
When each library was closed, there were daily calls and pleas for each
to reopen quickly. Neighbors missed the friendly faces and helpful services
of their local librarians, but all agree that our library system was
vastly improved by the newly renovated branches.
CPL by the Numbers in FY2001:
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926,057 library materials loaned out (609,788 adults
and 316,279 children’s)
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365,662 questions asked in person, by telephone,
mail or Internet, a 14% increase
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36,371 new books, cd’s, videos, tapes, etc added
to the collection
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50,258 cardholders
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62,292 specially reserved loans, including 32,136
items secured from other libraries, a 2% increase
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61,619 in-house computer sessions scheduled, an
8% increase.
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15,920 the number of hours the seven library locations
were open, providing tremendous accessibility
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4,418 people used computers at the new Rotary Technology
Learning Center, a 10% increase
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2711 programs presented to 61,619 attendees
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972 children participated in the summer reading
program, WIZARD READ, and they read 11,330 books
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750 hours were donated by volunteer literacy tutors
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385 residents joined the Friends of the Library
Highlights and Accomplishments
At its annual conference, the Massachusetts Library Association
presented the Cambridge Public Library with four public relations awards
in the following categories: bookmark, flier, video, and staff recognition.
The Library and the Arts Council sponsored "The Illuminated
Word", a citywide celebration of our libraries, the transforming
powers of light, and the importance of the written word
The library collaborated with WGBH, under the auspices
of the "Building Big" series, to bring engineering and architectural
experts to work with local children in designing and building their
own structures
The Harvard University Art Museums and the Cambridge Public
Library inaugurated a joint initiative to offer free admission to all
Cambridge Public Library cardholders
Main Library
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Present site was approved by the City Council for
restoration and expansion
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Audio Visual Room was rearranged to create a "Books
on Tape" Browsing Room and an expanded video display area
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Wynton Marsalis drew a crowd of over three hundred
to hear about his new book and hear him play his trumpet
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A new public service desk was installed
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"Seven Quilts for Seven Sisters" was presented
to a capacity crowd at the Main Library to commemorate Black History
Month
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O’Neill Branch Library was renovated and brought
into full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
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Central Square Branch installed a 3M Theft Detection
System, painted interior, replaced flooring, repainted shelving, and
purchased new carpeting
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Librarians offered 22 classes in the Rotary Technology
Learning Center, including new classes in pre-Internet preparation
and advanced World Wide Web searching
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Students in the Literacy Project produced CANDID
CAMBRIDGE, a collection of their writings and photographs.
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Librarians joined the family and friends of Dolly
Duffy at the O’Connell Branch to honor her memory through the establishment
of the Dolly Duffy Fiction Collection
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Valente Branch painted interior, replaced the public
service desk, reupholstered furniture, and installed new carpeting
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The Consul General of Brazil, the Consul General
of Portugal, and a representative from the Cape Verde Consulate all
participated in the 17th annual Manual Rogers, Sr. Program at the
Valente Branch
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Boudreau Branch was the highest circulating branch
in the library system with 72,183 transactions
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Collins Branch doubled the number of its monthly
book discussion groups
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