Mission Statement

"The mission of the Daland Memorial Library is to provide the community with access to a wide variety of resources for education, socialization and enrichment. Particular emphasis is, and will continue to be, placed on stimulating children's interest and appreciation of reading and learning, as well as on providing intellectual and social stimulation for the elderly. The door to life-long learning will always remain open for patrons of the Daland Memorial Library."

Facility

Studies over the past ten years, including the 1989 Master Plan, have noted the inadequate space in the library. The major deficiencies are described and addressed in the 1997 Needs Assessment and Building Program for the Daland Memorial Library, Mont Vernon, NH by Frances Wiggin (hereafter referred to as the Needs Assessment). Most notably more space is needed to provide services and programs for the community, to house the collection and for administrative functions.

A Library Study Committee has been working on plans for expansion and/or building of a new library for many years. The Committee plans to propose building a new library on Lot 4-45, north of the post office on Grand Hill Road, on land purchased by the town in 1997 with library funds with the intent to put a library there. At this time, the towns' possible ownership and use of the old library building is being reviewed. Whether or not the old library building will be used as a library, care should be taken not to jeopardize its interior or exterior architectural integrity.

The 1979 American Library Association standards formerly used to analyze a library's capacity have grown obsolete, as library value shifts away from a per capita measure of floor space needs, to a community-specific measure of local needs and priorities. Library space requirements have radically increased due to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act; for instance, space between shelves must now accommodate a wheelchair, and shelves must be within reach of someone in a wheelchair. The Library Study Committee's Needs Assessment has attempted to reflect Mont Vernon's needs for its library not only to provide information and education-related services and programs, but also to serve as a cultural center.

The most recently recognized space needs planning guide is that of Anders Dahlgren of Wisconsin (Public Library Space Needs: A Planning Outline/1998). According to Dahlgren's guidelines, Mont Vernon would need 1,370 plus square feet to house the library's present collection and two computer work stations. Adding to that ADA-requirements for space for reader seating, public access computer stations, children's programs and activities, staff work space, circulation desk and entrance foyer, a 1,150 sq. ft. meeting room, bathroom, furnace/utility, storage, and corridor space as determined by the Needs Assessment, results in a 6,265 square foot building. This size library would be optimal to serve Mont Vernon now and for years to come.

The new building design should:

• Follow design guidelines for the Historic District Commission if a new building is constructed or enlarge the current building while following standards for renovation set by the Department of the Interior
• Have a meeting room equipped with good quality audio visual equipment
• Have downward-oriented outdoor lighting fixtures
• Apply for free landscaping design through the NH Association of Landscape Designers

Services

The library is currently open 31 hours per week, Tuesday through Saturday, up by 6.5 hours since 1990. The hours are adequate at this time but should be revisited as the population grows.

Collection

Source: Daland Memorial Library & Mont Vernon Town Reports

Starting in the year 2000, "circulation" figures will include counts of "electronic patronage"; that is, patrons using the Internet, online indexes, CD-ROM reference sources, software, and accessing the newly-evolving online catalog both from home and within the library.

Through the library's membership in the 15-town Hillstown Cooperative, Mont Vernon residents have access to a much larger collection of volumes, as well as audiobooks and videocassettes. Interlibrary loans are available through the state library system. The library director recommends revisiting the possibility of membership in a larger regional cooperative in the future, if the community can support it, to broaden access to materials.

The children's programs, such as the summer reading program, story hours, and Halloween night festivities, are the most popular library events. The number of children with their parents and siblings that wish to attend story hour exceeds the space available. Indoor story hour must be limited to 10 children, 35 for outdoor crafts and special events. One hundred children participated in the 2000 summer reading program. The library typically entertains 400 children and adults on Halloween night. Obviously Mont Vernon has enough young patrons to justify a larger facility.

The Friends of the Library (currently 43 members) provides extra support to the library by sponsoring the summer reading program and other special events. They arrange book discussions, guest lectures, field trips to cultural events, an annual book sale, and other social and educational events for the community.

Staff

The Library Director is paid for approximately 20 hours work per week, the part-time Children's Librarian is paid for 13 hours work per week, and 3 part-time employees work a total of 18 hours per week. This totals 51 hours; the equivalent of 1.3 employees. Volunteers provide approximately 2 hours of service covering the library weekly, and the librarians contribute substantial volunteer time. Although the most pressing need at this time is for space, it must be acknowledged that our library manages to operate adequately now because of the substantial volunteer time contributed by staff and community members. Adequate compensation — to pay staff for all the time required to do their jobs — should be a consideration close on the heels of the provision of adequate space.

Equipment

Since 1990, the library has seen the addition of two computers, two printers, a copy machine, and fax machine. Patrons have access to the Internet, and the librarians are able to access the state library computer system. The process of bar-coding the collection is underway, in an effort to provide patrons with access to a computerized catalogue. While the new equipment has helped modernize the library, it contributes to the crowded circumstances. Patrons may use the computer, but there is no proper work station.

Operations

The library obtains funding from the Daland Trust and the Town. The Daland Trust pays for utilities, library materials, and technological upgrades, and maintenance of the building and grounds, such as the new oil furnace, installed in 1987. The Town pays staff salaries, purchases reading and listening materials and covers some other operating expenses. Income from various trusts also contributes to purchase of books and supplies.

Summary of Action Items

The library’s ability to provide services today is limited in every aspect because of inadequate space. The book collection is small and limited because of insufficient stack area. The librarians constantly must select books to throw away to make room for new ones. The children’s program is limited because of space. The electronic services are limited because of space. Periodicals are virtually non-existent because there is no place to read them. Today the library is unable to serve any portion of the community at anything more than the most basic level.

All current library problems are caused primarily by lack of space. Without more space the library cannot correct any one problem, much less all of them. Therefore correcting the space problem by building a new library is the only proposed action item at this time.