Turner Public Library looks back on year of growth

TURNER — Turner Public Library marked another growth year in 2018. Each year, the staff and trustees of Turner Public Library look for three benchmarks indicating how the library has grown — patron visits, circulation and financial support, and collections and programs to address the community’s needs and to advance its interests.

Patrons visited the library nearly 5,000 times during 2018, an increase of more than 40 percent over the previous year. TPL welcomed more than 150 new library patrons in 2018, and patrons credit Turner Public Library’s social media presence with increasing awareness of library business hours, programming and special additions to the collection.
Growing the Library’s collection of books, audiobooks, and other items in order to meet the requests and encourage the interests and curiosity of its patrons has translated to an increase in circulation. TPL increased its circulation by more than 10 percent, circulating approximately 8,500 items, including more than 1,000 items through CloudLibrary and Interlibrary Loan. The most popular items for the past two years have been children’s picture books, digital video disks, and adult fiction, in that order.
The collection has long been known for the wide variety of materials available to patrons. Over the past two years, the library has augmented its collection of “real life learning” materials, including a telescope, a microscope and prepared slides, a rock hounding kit, a basic home tool kit, and mostly recently, a sewing machine and accessories. The collection of tabletop games allows patrons, their family and friends to try new games frequently.
Of the many popular offerings, programming continues to be a highlight of the year. Over the past two years, the library has increased its programming with the additions of regular family-friendly board game nights, open table role playing game nights, and special events such as a guided nature walk at The Androscoggin Riverlands. Additionally, there have been author talks by Monica Wood and Paul Doiron, musical performances, an ancestry online workshop, a personal branding workshop, and the first fiber festival. In 2019, the library will welcome naturalist and author Bernd Heinrich March 9 and Maine children’s author and illustrator Kevin Hawkes March 30. The programming goal for 2019 is to increase the number of family-friendly activities for all ages.
Library Director Kelli Burnham recently spoke about some of the ways the Turner Public Library is growing when many other libraries are not.
“At a time when many libraries are facing questions about their relevance and seeing a decline in patrons, we are proud to say that over the last year, we have seen an increase in circulation and foot traffic here in Turner. More and more students at Tripp Middle School and Leavitt Area High School are visiting us after school, playing board games, chatting with friends and enjoying the resources we have to offer,” Burnham said. “In order to serve our teen population better and create a safe welcoming space for them to hang out, in the last year we have secured grant funding for a new Teen Space in the Oakes Kilgore room. Over the next two months, we will be redecorating the room with new furniture, including custom tables built by local artist Eric Groenhout. We have also added an Xbox One gaming console with four controllers for after school gaming.”
The Library continues to seek grants for programming, collection acquisitions, and capital equipment. The Board of Trustees, along with dedicated volunteers, researches, writes and applies for grants from state and national organizations supporting public libraries. Suggestions from the public for additional sources of funding are welcome, as are direct contributions of support.
Opportunities for the public to volunteer at the library are available. To become a volunteer or a corporator, contact the library at 207-225-2030.
All Turner residents are invited to obtain a library card free of charge. TPL provides library cards with full privileges to residents of other communities for a $5 annual contribution. All Maine School Administrative District 52 students and staff, no matter where they live, are eligible for a free library card.

PPHOTO: Turner of Turner tries to make a decision about which books he will take home. (Submitted photo)