@ the Westfield Washington Public Library

A publication of Friends of the Westfield Library

Volume 7, Issue 2

Westfield
Annual Report 2010
Washington In 2009 the Westfield Washington Public Library continued seeking out new and expand-
Public Library ing current partnerships in order to increase service to our patrons. We entered into an
agreement with the Westfield Washington Schools to use one of their modular class-
Board of Trustees: rooms to house our Adult Literacy Program. The facility allowed us to free up meeting
room space in the library and provide an area more conducive to the needs of this pro-
gram. We continued our agreement with WWS to provide cleaning and some mainte-
Carolyn Wheeler,
nance services. This partnership has allowed the library to reduce costs in both of those
President areas.
Mike Thomas,
The Directors of all Hamilton County libraries have met monthly for a number of years,
Vice President but in 2009 the Hamilton County Library Trustees began meeting and discussing ways in
Paul Catlin, which the libraries might collaborate and share resources. This led to an educational pro-
gram for all Hamilton County Library Trustees. All of the Hamilton County public libraries
Treasurer participated in the first countywide One Book One County Program in 2009.The program
was called Hamilton County Reads and was the first coordinated countywide effort. In the
Bob Richardson, fall of 2009 the Trustees of the five Hamilton County Libraries voted to allow Reciprocal
Secretary Borrowing among the library systems effective January 2, 2010. This agreement intro-
duces a wider variety of materials and programs to residents throughout the county.
Nedra Hoard
Mic Mead In October of 2009 the library board decided to enter the Evergreen Indiana Consortium.
David Weiss Evergreen Indiana is an online catalog system that will allow our patrons access to mate-
rials at other participating libraries throughout the state. The software also allows patrons
of member libraries to view the catalogs of other member libraries. As with any change
The Library Board there was a period of adjustment, but the benefits of this new system definitely outweigh
the challenges.
meets on the
second Wednesday The Library also received an $11,500.00 grant from the Betty Overman Endowment fund
that allowed us to purchase some very badly needed furniture for the Children’s Depart-
of each month at ment Reading Area. An award winning book collection area was also created with these
7:00 p.m. funds, and the grant will also supplement the summer reading prizes.

In preparation for creating a new long range plan for the library, we held focus group ses-
sions with the staff in May of 2009. In the summer of 2009, a survey was created that was
Library Hours inserted in the library newsletter, available in the library and on the website and mailed in
the water bills. We received over 1200 responses. We hope to use the input from this
Monday-Thursday survey when developing the library’s long range plan. We also asked for individuals to
10:00 AM-8:00 PM volunteer to be in focus groups, and over 200 individuals indicated a willingness to partici-
pate. We hope to schedule those meetings during the 1st quarter of 2010 and have a new
Friday long range plan before the end of 2010.
10:00 AM-6:00 PM
The Westfield Washington Public Library strives to provide quality services to meet your
Saturday educational, informational, technological, cultural, and recreational needs. During these
10:00 AM-5:00 PM difficult economic times your local library has had to reduce operational hours because of
shrinking revenues due to the property tax caps. In order to provide the same level of ser-
Closed Sunday vice our patrons expect, we will need to seek alternative funding sources. One source is
The Friends of the Westfield Library, whose mission is to provide financial support to the
library, and they have done so in numerous ways. Through the fundraising efforts of their
Continued on Page 2
Page 3
Westfield
Washington
Public Library
Arms-Commander
by L. E. Modesitt
A decade ago, the women warriors of Westwind at
the Roof of the World routed their male dominated
neighbors. The all female nation went back to
minding their business while the men surrounding
them smarted in defeated. New men move in and
fail to heed the warnings from those defeated by
women.
The Morning Show Murders
by Al Roker
Treachery abounds in Roker’s riotously thrilling
debut novel - at once an ingenious murder mystery
and a delicious behind-the-scenes look at network
TV. As fact and fiction collide and the backbiting
ignites, The Morning Show Murders will make you
wonder: How much of this stuff is real?
The Sweet By and By
by Sara Evans and Rachel Hauck
Jade Fitzgerald left the pain of her past in the dust
when she headed out for college a decade ago. But
then Jade's hippie mother, Beryl Hill, arrives in
Whisper Hollow, Tennessee, for Jade's wedding
along with Willow, her wild younger sister. Their
arrival forces Jade to throw open the dark closets
of her past - the insecurity of living with a restless,
wandering mother, the silence of her absent father,
and the heart-ripping pain of first-love's rejection.
Right Now: A 12-Step Program for Defeating the
Obama Agenda
by Michael Steele
Republican National Committee chairman Michael
Steele blows the whistle on the entire Obama
agenda. Setting aside appeals for caution in taking
on a popular president, Steele throws down the
gauntlet, insisting Republicans must expose and
refute the policies lying at the heart of this admini-
stration’s attempts to resurrect a discredited brand
of extreme liberalism.
Death’s Mistress
by Karen Chance
Dorina Basarab is a dhampir: half-human,
half-vampire. Back home in Brooklyn after the
demise of her insane Uncle Dracula, Dory's hoping
her life is about to calm down. But soon Dory real-
izes someone is killing vampire Senate members,
and if she can't stop the murderer, her friends may
be next.
February 2010
Paris Vendetta
by Steve Berry
The Paris Vendetta is yet another book to feature Steve
Berry’s signature hero, Cotton Malone, and it really
doesn’t disappoint. Cotton is easy to like in this book,
though he’s torn between duty and friendship. This
volume in the series reveals another layer to the
complicated man that is Cotton Malone.
Remarkable Creatures
by Tracy Chevalier
From the moment she's struck by lightning as a baby, it
is clear Mary Anning is marked for greatness. When she
uncovers unknown dinosaur fossils in the cliffs near her
home, she sets the scientific world alight, challenging
ideas about the world's creation and stimulating debate
over our origins.
Interesting Times
by George Packer
Spanning a decade that includes the September 11
attacks and the election of Barack Obama, Packer
brings insight and passion to his accounts of the war on
terror, Iraq, political writers, and the 2008 election.
Across these varied subjects a few key themes recur:
the temptations and dangers of idealism; the moral
complexities of war and politics; the American
capacity for self-blinding and self-renewal.
Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and
Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime
by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin
Based on hundreds of interviews with the people who
lived the story, Game Change is a reportorial tour de
force that reads like a fast-paced novel.
Character driven and dialogue rich, replete with
extravagantly detailed scenes, this is the occasionally
shocking, often hilarious, ultimately definitive account
of the campaign of a lifetime.
Imperial Cruise
by James Bradley
In 1905, Roosevelt was bully-confident and made
secret agreements that he though would secure
America's westward push into the Pacific.
Instead, he lit the long fuse on the Asian firecrackers
that would singe America's hands for a century.
 THANKS TO THE FRIENDS OF WESTFIELD LIBRARY FOR PROVIDING SNACKS!

Single? Been dumped? Or do you have someone special? Whatever your

situation, you are invited to make cards (happy or sad),
have snacks, and play games.

Tuesday, February 9 from 2:30 to 4:30

Hang out, play the Wii, eat, talk February 8 & 22
or do whatever. at 3:00
Watch anime & eat
snacks!
Ages 13 and up
or parent
Tuesday, February 23 at 3:00 signed permission
Help us choose and plan teen library slip.
activities.

Thursday, February 11 from 3 to 5

Video Games, Cards, Board Games & Snacks.
Baby Love Birth to 18 months CLUBS
Fridays, Feb 5, 12, 19, & 26 at 10:15 School Age Tuesday, Feb 2
Freebuild
3:00 to 5:00
Toddler & Preschool Storytimes
Mondays, Feb 1, 8, 15, & 22 All ages Thursday, Feb 4
Toddlers 18 mo to 3.5years at 10:30 4:30 to 5:30
Preschoolers 3.5years to K at 1:00
Tuesdays, Feb 2, 9, 16, & 23 All ages Wednesday, Feb 10
Preschoolers 3.5years to K at 10:15
10:15 6:30 to 8:00
Toddlers 18 mo to 3.5years at 11:15

School Age Stories Grades K-to 4

All ages Thursday, Feb 11
5:30 to 6:30
Wednesdays at 4:30
Feb 3 I Made That!
Feb 10 Stupid Cupid
Feb 17 WWPL Silly SA Olympics POTTERY by Jeremy South
Feb 24 In a Galaxy Far, Far Away
Little Learners in Clay Ages 9 mo to 3 years
SPECIAL PROGRAMS Handprint Mania! - Friday, Feb 12
*Pre-registration required
10:15 to 10:45
Cost: $8.00
Homeschool Days All ages
Thursday, Feb 4 11:00 to 1:00 More Than Clay
Friday, Feb 12
Paws and Read All ages If you came to a More than Clay class in January
Saturday, Feb 13 at 10:30 come back to finish your project with beads, wire, and
more to make a truly unique piece..
Spring Break Camps Preschool Ages 3 to 6
School Age Ages 5 thru adult
at 11:00 or 2:00
at 12:00 or 4:00
Spring Break Chess Day Camp School Age
*Pre-registration required

Thursday, April 8 10:00 to 1:00

*Pre-registration required Cost: $22.00 (Early Bird Special)
Instructor: Aaron Dean’s Learning Through Games Group

Spring Break Pottery Camp Ages 7 to 11

Friday, April 9 February 11th is Jane Yolen’’s Birthday
Jane Yolen is an author and poet. She has been called
Pottery Wheel Mania 10:15 to 1:15 the Hans Christian Andersen of America and the Aesop
Creation Station! 1:45 to 4:45 of the twentieth century. Her books can be found in
*Pre-registration required Cost:$30 per participant per program almost any section of the library.
 Page 6 February 2010

Westfield Outreach
Washington Services
Public Library

The library values all members of the community, and seeks to enrich the lives of
patrons who may not have access to traditional library services.
The Library’s Outreach Service delivers books and materials to senior
communities and homebound patrons in Westfield.

Do you know the library delivers books to

people’s
people s homes?
WWPL provides monthly delivery to Westfield patrons who are
not able to leave their homes.
What types of items can be borrowed? We deliver regular print and Large
Print books, audio books on CD or cassette, and music CDs.
Can specific items be requested? Yes, outreach patrons can request specific
titles by calling (317) 896-9391, or they can let our librarian choose based on
some of their favorite authors and subjects.
How often is delivery? Once monthly on a regularly scheduled date.
Is there a charge for outreach delivery service? No, outreach services are
free to senior community residents and homebound patrons (temporary or
otherwise) with a Westfield Washington Public Library card in good standing.
How do I get started receiving this service? Call the Westfield Washington
Public Library at (317) 896-9391 and ask for Outreach. A librarian in our
Information & Reference Services Department will speak with you regarding
the service and schedule a future delivery of materials.
 Page 7

Information Technology Audio/Visual

In 2009, the Information Technology Department: The DVDs have well surpassed the VHS tapes in regard
• Offered one-on-one technical support for patrons as to circulation. We have been discarding those tapes that
requested. have not been circulating to make room for the 1200
• Offered a weekly Microsoft Office Suite class for DVDs that have been added to our collection this year.
Homeschool children. The VHS tapes are put in the Friends of the Westfield
• Maintained over 200 pieces of equipment. Public Library book sales. The books on CD circulate
• Purchased one new staff computer, 5 new LCD moni- more often than the cassettes, so these are added to the
tors, a hand held scanner and a receipt printer. Friends sale, as well.
• Replaced 15 staff and public computers with newer
donated computers. In 2009, the AV Department introduced a new audio for-
• Repurposed 5 old staff computers to upgrade very old mat to the collection – PLAYAWAYS. They are a fully-
catalog computers in order to compensate for extra loaded audio book on a player that is smaller than a
resources needed to access the Evergreen catalog deck of cards and weighs only two ounces. By using
online. Other old staff and public computers, too obso- your own earbuds, you can bring pages of a book to life
lete to be repurposed, were discarded. with just the press of a button!
• Worked on increasing the library’s web presence so
that we can reach more people. The downloadable audio service provided through our
• Collected, interpreted and reported technology statis- website has done very well in its second year, with an
tics monthly. increase of 100% in books being downloaded to home
computers
• Implemented various technologies to help staff with
their daily job duties.
• Assisted our staff and the state library staff with
preparations for the migration to Evergreen. Young Adult Services
Teens had many programs offered to them in 2009. The
Children’s Services Anime Manga Club attracts teens every Monday after
school to enjoy all things related to the popular Japanese
art forms. The club also hosted four after hours Anime
In 2009, monies from the Betty Overman WWPL Endow- Fests throughout the year. Whatevah Time for Teens is
ment Fund were used to create the Betty Overman Chil- held monthly in the craft room, providing a positive envi-
dren’s Reading Area. Two new chairs were purchased, as ronment for teens to be themselves. Regular activities
well as a chair and a half especially sized for family mem- include playing the Wii, doing homework, socializing and
bers to sit in and read together. There is also a Betty enjoying snacks. In December, the Competition Game
Overman Award Winning Children’s Books Area. The Club was held for the first time. Cards, video and board
Newbery, Caldecott, Young Hoosier Book Award Win- games are provided to teens for some friendly competi-
ners, Coretta Scott King Author and the Illustrator Award tion.
Winners are shelved together on new wooden book-
shelves provided by the Overman Endowment. The 2009 teen summer reading program had an in-
crease in participation of 37%. For the first time, our
Two grants were received by WWPL: The We the People Friends group provided a budget specifically for the pur-
“Picturing America” Bookshelf grant; and the NEH’s Pic- chase of prizes just for teens. Members of the Teen Ad-
turing America visual arts project. These 2 complimentary visory Group (TAG) helped choose prizes. Supervision of
grants were provided by The National Endowment for the the teen summer reading program was also moved from
Humanities in cooperation with the American Library As- the adult staff to the children’s staff, allowing young adult
sociation. librarian Will Smither to be more directly involved in the
day to day activities.
The Children’s Services programs and activities continue
to grow and to be very well attended. Area businesses New young adult books were regularly added to the col-
generously donated coupons, prizes and prize packages lection, with the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer con-
in 2009 that were key to the success of the WWPL Sum- tinuing to be the most popular. Twilight Fest was held in
mer Reading Program. In addition, the Overman Endow- the summer to celebrate the books and the movies and
ment will fund the purchase of paperback books every was well attended.
summer for the Children’s Summer Reading Program
prizes.
 Page 8
Phone: 317-896-9391
FAX: 317-896-3702
www.wwpl.lib.in.us
Westfield Washington Public Library
333 W. Hoover Street
Westfield, IN 46074

Director, Sheryl Sollars

Asst. Director, Sandy
Rowland

The Westfield Washington

Public Library will strive, in
partnership with local
organizations, to provide
quality services, materials
and facilities that fulfill the
educational, informational,
technological, cultural and
recreational needs of the
entire community.

Friends of the Westfield Library

Friends Board:
Virginia Fiscus, President
Carly Schull, Vice President
Jeanette Wachtel, Treasurer
Marie Albertson, Secretary
Book Sales in 2010:
Feb. 5: Preview 6-7:30 pm
Feb. 6-13, regular sale
Apr. 9: Preview 6-7:30
Apr. 10-17: Regular sale
The Friends of the Westfield
Library is an organization
designed to promote and support
the mission of the Westfield
Washington Public Library.

June 4: Preview 6-7:30 pm Through its fundraising efforts,

The Friends meeting will be held
on Thursday, February 11
at 6:00 p.m.
Everyone is invited to attend.
June 5-12: Regular sale primarily book sales held every
other month, and our Annual Craft
Aug. 6: Preview 6-7:30 pm
Aug. 7-14: Regular sale Bazaar and Silent Auction, the

group raises money used to fund

Oct. 1: Preview 6-7:30 pm
Oct. 2-9: Regular sale library programs and to purchase
items that are not in the library's
Nearly New Sale:
operating budget.
Dec. 3: Preview 6-7:30 pm
Dec. 4-11: Regular sale