Caldwell Public Library

Download: The CPLF Brochure (pdf) | The Caldwell Public Library 2008 Annual Report (pdf)

Calendars and Notecards to Benefit the Library (pdf)

"The Caldwell Public Library's mission is to provide our diverse community with a wide array of literary, cultural, historical, educational and social resources through personal service and innovative programs utilizing a range of learning technologies in a welcoming environment.”

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CALDWELL PUBLIC LIBRARY - 2008

Initiatives/Landmarks of Special Note

1248 hours of work processing “The Collerd Collections” was contributed in 2008 by team of volunteers and staff under the direction of a professional archivist. A “Finding Aid” is due to be completed by early spring 2009.

Second grant award for “The Big Read” from the National Endowment for the Arts (“NEA”) - $8,000 grant was matched by the Rotary Club of the Caldwells and the Caldwell-West Essex Kiwanis Club. Spring 2009 Big Read of Cynthia Ozick’s The Shawl will involve all members of the community as well as JCHS, MSDA, Caldwell College and Essex County College.

New website for library introduced in June 2008 – www.caldwellpl.org

Official word received from IRS in May 2008 that The Caldwell Public Library Foundation is recognized as a 501 (c) (3) Foundation - with an effective date of exemption of September 17, 2007.

“Welcoming Library Spaces for the Autism Community & Their Families” grant recipient with partner, The Children’s Institute, in Verona, NJ (“TCI”). $10,000 grant award provided for technological equipment, programming and materials for TCI and CPL communities.

Library was 1 of 50 libraries in the nation (3 in NJ) to receive Frontline/WORLD (PBS) Social Entrepreneurship Film Series Grant. Partnered with Caldwell College’s Business and Teach for America-Newark, as well as the Caldwell Community Center, on programming and materials with $500 grant award.

Library awarded “Created Equal” Book shelf Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (“NEH”), which grant provided the library with books and other media, fiction and non-fiction, focusing on equal rights and equality – in view of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th Birthday Celebration in February 2009.

Community Involvement/Collaborative Efforts

8th year of student interns from The Children's Institute volunteering at the library twice weekly, along with a job coach.

7th year of reading to, and sharing library’s summer reading program with, Camp Caldwell campers. Program changed in 2008 such that campers came to the library - vs. library going to the campers – four days each week.

4th year of ESL students/tutors meeting in the library in connection with a program coordinated by John Dillon, through St. Aloysius Parish.

Collaborated again with the Caldwell Environmental Commission, for both Earth Day Contest and September 20th’s Green Day.

Partnered again with Tara Domzalski, Dietitian at Shop-Rite in West Caldwell and Parsippany, and she returned in November 2008 (“Nutrition Month”) to offer special programs as part of our regular story hours.

Partnered with English Department at Caldwell College for two service-learning poetry programs – leading to poetry readings by two area poets, as well as an overall panel presentation by the students in the class. All publicity and programming work was done by the college students, with library and community benefitting there from.

Signed on with Caldwell LIVE to be a partner, and assist this exciting new venture in any way Library is able - especially in view of the large number of seniors served by the Library.

Between September and December 2008 four professional development offerings were developed by library staff and promoted to area teachers as a way to obtain their necessary continuing education hours close to home, and right after school. These programs were created, and publicized, mainly through the efforts of educators, Susan Reeve and Jackie Colley, who both worked at the library during the summer of 2008.

Caldwell Public Library’s Children’s Department was a presence at the Essex County Environmental Center as part of the Center’s “Bug Fest” and “Fall Fest”.

Collection Development

"Dr. Pascal Collura DVD Collection" – started in late 2005 by the Collura Family – continues to expand, with over 750 DVDs currently available.

Overdrive downloadable books continue to be available to – and well received by – patrons.

Continue to maximize use, and value, of membership in PALS Plus Consortium, Jersey Cat State Library interlibrary loan system, Essex County’s Reciprocal Borrowing system, as well as rotating collections (LISTEN box and CD Circuit) – for the benefit of Library patrons.

Technology Updates

New library website unveiled June 2008, with positive feedback still being received. Much credit goes to innumerable hours of work provided by Technology Committee (comprised of Library Board members, Claire Beth Nogay, Bruce White and Christine Corliss), as well as talents and input from web designers/developers, Carla and Alex Khost, and technology consultant Luis Hernandez.

“Cplchatter” – a library intranet (‘wiki’) developed in August 2006 - continues as excellent resource and communication device being updated, and used, by staff daily.

Events/Art/Poets & Authors/etc.

Programs of Note: Published poets George Witte (Editor of St. Martin’s Press) and Tina Kelley (New York Times reporter) were featured during Poetry Month (April), but numerous poets read throughout the year, including Jessica Colley, Laura Freedgood, Loren Kleinman, Rick Mullin, and John Chorazy. Visiting authors included Ethel Lee Miller, Barbara Kukla, The Write Group, Donna Ebert and Glory Read. Other programs offered included CASA advocates, Scrapbooking/Cardmaking, information from the Library for the Blind and Handicapped, Anne Cummings, Alzheimer’s Awareness, S.C.O.R.E., career counseling programs, as well as some very unique boxing programs in December.

Art: Jessica Colley and Colin Lawless (Poetry, Graphic Art & Multimedia program), Bruce White (photographer), James Caldwell High School and Mount Saint Dominic Academy (annual art exhibits in March and May), Pat Flaherty (& her students), Kenneth Weiner, Essex Photo Club (annual exhibit by members of the Club) Marge Samuels (& her students), Gregory Hill (illustrator and author), and Mike Peters (official photographer for Montclair State University, as well as independent photographer).

Book Groups: The “Early Morning Book Group” meeting at 8 a.m. one Saturday each month started its 5th year this past September. The Wednesday afternoon book group (“The Enlightenmint Group”) revived itself in the fall of 2007 by participating in “The Big Read” and continues to meet. A “Beyond the Big Read” book discussion group started in November 2007 to build upon friendships started with the first Big Read, and continues to meet one evening each month.

Over 1500 people attended the 140 programs planned for adults in 2008. Facilities ~

Downstairs conference room was put under “lock and key” to adhere to the terms of the Deed of Gift with the Collerd Family. Shelving was installed in the locked “local history vault.”

The Gene and Kathryn Collerd Local History Resource Room, officially dedicated and redesigned in anticipation of the library’s 90th anniversary on October 12, 2007, hosted different monthly exhibits throughout 2008, and is “booked solid” through December 2010.

Audiovisual system in the Resource Room upgraded to include a 52 inch wall mounted screen enabling Library to offer movie afternoons/evenings, as well as enhancing some of the exhibits. LCD projector, laptop and “wii” system also allowed for additional program offerings for all ages.

Children/Young Adults

Extremely successful Summer Reading Program – “Catch the Reading Bug” – with kickoff featuring local teen a capella quartet, and guest readers including teachers and administrators from the Caldwell/West Caldwell School system (including Dr. Gerardi, Mr. Bachenheimer and Mr. Brown) as well as countless teens from both Mount Saint Dominic Academy and James Caldwell High School. Also incorporated into the summer program were local talents such as Ann Marchioni (doing a “green” workshop for the children) and Teen Library Assistant Nora Snoddy, whose talents include ballroom dancing, taught youngsters the jitterbug. “Wii”, Knitting, and movie nights were also introduced for our pre-teen/teen patrons. (Visits were made to all four K-5 public schools in Caldwell/West Caldwell, as well as Trinity Academy, to encourage children to participate in Summer Reading Program.)

Continued successful programming year-round, with multiple weekly offerings of Pre-School Story Hour, Toddler Time and Wee Time, as well as “Kindergarten Kids” - a new program created by Children’s Programmer Deborah Khost for children attending half-day kindergarten. Children 6 months and older each have programs designed specifically for their age.

“Curious George” (and Mrs. Khost) visited The Children’s Institute in Verona, the Mt. Carmel Guild Pre-School Program in Newark and also thrilled the youngsters at the Caldwell Public Library.

Over 6800 people (adults and children) attended over 325 programs offered for children/young adults in 2008 – with almost 3000 children and adults benefitting from 151 of those programs between June and August (“Catch the Reading Bug”). Staff/Volunteers/Board

After over twelve years of working with the library, Deborah Khost became a full-time employee in October 2008.

Countless hours of volunteer work from Mary Nolfi, Karen Volz, and Nancy Von See continued to be deeply appreciated.

3d year of The Caldwell Public Library and The Cedar Grove Public Library (also a member of PALS Plus) partnering to take advantage of INFOLINK’s offering, and shared funding, of Onsite Staff Development.

Pattie Mathieson and Deborah Khost attended bi-monthly Essex County Children's Public Librarians meetings, as well as New Jersey State Library meeting designed to assist with the summer reading program.

Karen Kleppe Lembo attended bi-monthly Essex County Library Directors meetings as well as monthly PALS Plus Board Meetings (vice-president of the Board). Invited to be a member of the Caldwell College Business Advisory Council in fall of 2008. Invited to be a speaker at first “Senior Day” at St. Aloysius in fall 2008.