DECEMBER 2007

Please select the answers that best represent your opinion. Any additional comments you can provide will help us improve our services. A container will be at the Circulation desk throughout the month for your completed surveys. Thank you for your input.

Do you have a library card issued by this library?

q Yes

q No

Why would you like to visit the library?

q Check out books read newspapers or Magazines

q Use the Copier

q Check out audio books, C.D’s, movies

q Meet with friends

q Use Public meeting room

q Study/Research/ Use History room

q Attend children’s or Adult programs

q Use Electronic resources/computers

Are there any other services you would like the library to provide?

When you visit the library, are you able to find what you are looking for?

q Always

q Frequently

q Sometimes

q Seldom

q Never

How satisfied are you with the overall services of the library?

q Extremely

q Very

q Somewhat

q Not very

q Not at all

How helpful is our staff?

q Extremely

q Very

q Somewhat

q not very

q Not at all

7. Please rate your satisfaction with each of the following services provided by the library.

Service

q Very satisfied

q Satisfied

q Dissatisfied

q Very dissatisfied

Electronic Resources (databases)

q Very satisfied

q Satisfied

q Dissatisfied

q Very dissatisfied

8. Are there any other comments you would like to provide concerning the library, its staff, services and/or programs?

9. If there is one thing that you could change about the library what would it be?

10. OPTIONAL: Please provide information for the person completing this survey.

Male female

Child (up to 12 yrs.) Teen

Adult senior

Thank you, for completing the library survey!

FROM THE DIRECTOR

As we approach the season of giving the library staff and I would suggest that the library has something to give to the citizens of Princeton. You have generously supported us with your gifts and your library attendance and it the season for us to give back to you.

Gift #1 is the opportunity for all citizens to take advantage of the library’s online databases and to be able to do research while the library is closed from December 24-26 for the Christmas holiday.

If you’re wondering how to do that, it is fairly straightforward. The first step is to have your library card handy and a computer hooked up to the Internet. The second step is to go to the library web page; www.matsonpubliclibrary.org and click on the LINKS box/button found on the left hand side of the page. When the page opens at the top there is a list of 5 databases, and 2 of those, namely News Bank and Gale General Reference Center can be accessed from the comfort of your home computer. You’ll be asked for your library card number, and you can search once that has been entered.

While you are at the web page there are some other neat things you can do. You can look at the library online catalog and manage your library account. You can search not only the Princeton Public Library catalog, but also the

holdings of many of the libraries in our system as well. You may be able to renew items and put items on hold for pick up at the library; we will give you a call when the item is available for pickup.

Also on the website you’ll find the opportunity to look at pictures of the new library construction process and the open house that was held when the new library opened. They, along with a library brochure, will be found under the CAPITAL CAMPAIGN box/button on the left side of the Homepage.

Gift #2 is the convenience of being able to return library items when the library is not open by using the drive up book drops. You may return your books 24/7 by using the drive ups located on the west side of the building. There are two drops for books and one for audio-visual materials such as videos, books on tape and CD, DVD’s and music CDs. Not only will this work well for the holiday season, but any day of the year when you don’t want to get out of your vehicle to return books. Think of it as the luxury of being able to return library books in your PJs.

Gift #3 Is the commitment of the library staff to making the library better in every way. We have been adding more materials in different formats and soon enough will be able to offer books in the Playaway audio book format. We have a renewed commitment to library programming, and we will be reaching out to our business community as the library participates in the “Taking Care of Business” grant. 2008 promises to be a year when your community library intends to become part of your life. We look forward to seeing you here.

Carol Bird, Library Director

HOLIDAY GIFTS

This year we will begin a special “commemorative puzzle” which we hope to continue annually. A one hundred ten piece jigsaw puzzle is now for sale at the Library. This first puzzle depicts the Paddock Stained Glass Window, which is both a feature in our new Library, and was part of the Matson Public Library building. The cost of the puzzle is $15.00.

The Friends of the Library are once again selling the “Book Lover’s Calendars which many of us enjoyed last year. The cost of the calendar is $5.00.

FROM THE CAPITALCAMPAIGN

“Building a Brighter Future”

2007 is almost over and what a year it has been!

The renovation is, for the most part, completed although there are still a few things to be done. We are adding to our collections, bringing in more patrons, providing programs on site, and making the PPL a vital part of the community. All of this could not have been accomplished without your support.

Please consider a donation to the Campaign as a gift that continually keeps giving not only for yourself but for the whole community.

We will accept pledges/donations through December 31. Those of $250.00 or more will be included in the donor wall of the café area. And of course, all donations are tax deductible under the provisions of Section 501©(3) of the Internal Revenue code, and your gift qualifies as a charitable deduction under Section 170 of the IRC.

While a direct donation is always appreciated, we are also grateful for other support such as a pledge over several years, donations of assets, or possibly remembering the library in a will. If it is more convenient, you may consider a pledge with payment(s) beginning next year or any time before January 12, 2012.

For further information or if you have any questions or comments, please contact the Campaign office at 815-875-8400. Brochures are also available in the café area of the Princeton Public Library.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and thank you for making our wish a reality.

FROM THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY

The Friends of the Library share in the excitement of our new library. With this excitement comes a renewed commitment of support and service to it. FOL provided the funds for the new circulation desk. We were proud to make this contribution to such a community asset.

In the spirit of increased support, FOL is proud to announce that Pam Byrne has agreed to serve as our new program chair. As we have the new community meeting room to use, we felt that the time was right to increase our programming for the community. Pam arranged for Rebecca Hunter of Elgin to speak on Sears barns and Sears homes. The program was well attended with about 125 people attending either the afternoon session on barns or the evening session on homes. We filled the room to capacity! We were happy to work with Jill Frueh and the Bureau County Farm Bureau to present these programs. Pam also arranged for Ben Martinkus to speak on temporary public art and how it affects the communities in which it is placed. The program was interesting and drew a good crowd of enthusiastic audience members.

Pam is planning more programs after the new year. Watch the papers, local fliers, and library posters for more information.

Because we have such a nice facility with ease of access, FOL member Catherine Schultz has organized a book discussion club. The group meets the second Thursday of the month in the community meeting room at 4:00pm with discussions lasting about 1 hour. There is no registration needed, just show up ready for good conversation and new viewpoints on some good books.

The group has read The Kite Runner and Glass Castles. Watch the paper, library fliers, or call the library for this month’s selection. Come join us – you needn’t commit to every month, all readers are welcome!

With a bigger facility and higher usage, the staff finds itself stretched for time to do everything that needs to be done. FOL has stepped up to help. Jeanne Austin has organized a volunteer group to help out. Volunteers work for 2 hours a day doing tasks such as shelving books, reading shelves, covering books and generally helping out as needed. Thank you to our volunteers who have stepped up to pioneer this service. Interested in helping? Contact Jeanne Austin for more information.

FOL continues our financial support to the library. Our book sale chair, Pat Reinhardt, reports that the committee is busy sorting, packing and preparing for our annual April book sale. Remember to bring your donations of good, used books to the library any time. Plan on attending this great sale. This is our biggest fundraiser and helps us continue to strongly support your library.

Did you know that among the things we provide for the library is a commitment of $3600 a year for new additions to our book collection? Without your dues and support, it is hard to continue our work. Membership chair Sarah Cooper is planning an “after-hours” gathering of the FOL in March. Plan on attending, renewing or beginning your membership and learning how you can support PPL.

Jackie Davis, President