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Friday, January 17, 2020
Calvert Library invites you to the Smithsonian Water/Ways Exhibit Kickoff
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Calvert Library hosts Thinking Money for Kids exhibition (press release/photo)
Full press release attached for those who would like a longer article. If you’re able to give credit for the photo, the photographer was Faye Kepner. Thanks!
Robyn Truslow
Public Relations Coordinator
Calvert Library
850 Costley Way
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
410-535-0291
410-535-3022 (fax)
From: Robyn Truslow
Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2019 1:45 PM
Subject: Calvert Library hosts Thinking Money for Kids exhibition (press release/photo)
Caption:
Elected officials and community members gather at Calvert Library Prince Frederick to celebrate the opening of the Thinking Money for Kids exhibition being hosted there through the week before Thanksgiving. School Board member Pam Cousins, Delegate Michael Jackson and Educational Systems Federal Credit Union Relationship Manager Terry Grant talk about the importance of financial literacy and getting an early start. Thinking Money for Kids was developed by the American Library Association Public Programs Office in collaboration with the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, whose support made this exhibit possible.
Robyn Truslow
Public Relations Coordinator
Calvert Library
850 Costley Way
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
410-535-0291
410-535-3022 (fax)
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Calvert Library hosts Thinking Money for Kids exhibition (press release/photo)
Caption:
Elected officials and community members gather at Calvert Library Prince Frederick to celebrate the opening of the Thinking Money for Kids exhibition being hosted there through the week before Thanksgiving. School Board member Pam Cousins, Delegate Michael Jackson and Educational Systems Federal Credit Union Relationship Manager Terry Grant talk about the importance of financial literacy and getting an early start. Thinking Money for Kids was developed by the American Library Association Public Programs Office in collaboration with the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, whose support made this exhibit possible.
Robyn Truslow
Public Relations Coordinator
Calvert Library
850 Costley Way
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
410-535-0291
410-535-3022 (fax)
Monday, October 21, 2019
Warm Up to Art (press release)
Calvert Library Art Tour—“Warm Up to Art”
October 21, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Robyn Truslow
410-535-0291
Did you know that all four Calvert Library locations display local artists’ works year round? In a special celebration of the exhibitions and artists, Calvert Library is hosting a “Warm Up to Art” passport activity. The community is encouraged to visit each Calvert Library location from November 30 to December 21 to pick up and complete a “Warm Up to Art” passport. The passport will include some “I Spy” activities and a matching game. Get the passport stamped at every branch and become eligible for a grand prize basket of art-related goodies. If your family is looking for holiday fun, add Calvert Library “Warm Up to Art” to your list!
For more information, call Joan Kilmon at 410-257-2411.
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Robyn Truslow
Public Relations Coordinator
Calvert Library
850 Costley Way
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
410-535-0291
410-535-3022 (fax)
Monday, September 23, 2019
Get Your Passport at Calvert Library (press release)
September 23, 2019
For Immediate Release
Prince Frederick, MD
Planning to Travel Abroad? Get Your Passport at Calvert Library Prince Frederick
Prepare for upcoming travel and apply for your U.S. Passport today at Calvert Library Prince Frederick. As a convenience to the community, Calvert Library is now a State Department-approved passport acceptance facility. While there, you can pick up books and other materials about your destination. You can even download the library’s Mango Languages learning app to make communication easier!
U.S. citizens planning international travel may apply for their passports at Calvert Library Prince Frederick, 850 Costley Way, Prince Frederick during the following times:
| Monday | 3pm – 7pm |
| Tuesday | 3pm – 7pm |
| Wednesday | 10am – 7pm |
| Thursday | 3pm – 7pm |
| Friday | No passport hours |
| Saturday | 9am – 3pm |
| Sunday | closed |
Calvert Library Board of Trustees President Carolyn McHugh said, “Calvert Library is pleased to offer yet another service that assists the people of Calvert County. Becoming a passport acceptance facility lets Calvert Library provide more convenient hours for our citizens to prepare for their travel experiences. Plus we add a new revenue stream for the library.”
Calvert Library Executive Director Carrie Willson adds, “We know people visit the library for their international travel planning already…whether for language resources, travel guides or to stock up on reading for the flight. It makes sense to add passport services, especially since we can offer hours outside those offered by the post office.”
Passport forms, passport fees, information on how to apply and more can be found on the Department of State’s official website for passport and travel information, travel.state.gov and bit.ly/calvertpassports.
Related Links
Calvert Library Passport Services
Robyn Truslow
Public Relations Coordinator
Calvert Library
850 Costley Way
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
410-535-0291
410-535-3022 (fax)
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Calvert Library BOLT Votes in Fine Free Permanently (press release)
Calvert Library BOLT Votes in Fine Free Permanently
FOR RELEASE August 20, 2019
Contact: Robyn Truslow
410-535-0291
Calvert Library’s Board of Library Trustees (BOLT) announced at the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, August 20 that they have voted to adopt the “fine free” policy that they have piloted since early March of this year. Board President Carolyn McHugh said, “We wanted to be sure that the practice had more positive outcomes than negative. We now feel confident that being fine free has not significantly impacted material availability and we are delighted to be able to remove barriers to information access for our community.” In a press release announcing the pilot in March of 2019, Ms. McHugh said, “Calvert Library plays a critical role in early literacy from birth through preschool age when brains are growing the most. We inspire student excitement about learning and help build academic success that is a strong precursor to financial success. The library helps customers build job skills and connect to resources that may enable them to create successful businesses or improve the community. We want all Calvert Countians to have access to library services and to feel comfortable using the library. We want Calvert to experience the economic and quality-of-life benefits that accessible lifelong-education provides to the community.”
Materials shared in the tri-county area checked out at Calvert Library locations will not incur late fees. Materials obtained from other libraries in the state will continue to accrue late fees. Automatic renewal will continue for four circulation cycles if no one is waiting for the item.
When library Executive Director Carrie Willson was asked about the impact of lost revenue she said, “Last year overdue fines amounted to less than $35,000 a year for Calvert Library, which is less than 1% of the library’s annual budget. We expect to offset some of that amount through income from offering passport application and renewal services. We can offer hours that are not available at our post offices, which will help many Calvert Countians with scheduling challenges. We don’t have another county library system with our population density offering this service so our estimates are imprecise but we hope to recoup $15,000 this year and $30,000 in future years.” When asked if she’s seen any other savings, Willson added, “Not dealing with fine transactions allows us to deploy staff in a much more economically impactful way for the community. Increased access to information, technology, lifelong education and career building support will increase the economic vitality and quality of life. And decreasing stress for customers and staff is a priceless impact.”
Ms. Willson and BOLT members presented their proposal to the Board of County Commissioners at the December 4, 2018 meeting. Commissioner Pat Nutter raised concerns about materials, particularly those high-demand items like DVDs, being returned in a timely manner. The research the library did prior to their trial indicated that there would be a small increase in short-term overdues but long-term overdues would not be impacted. Calvert Library has actually experienced a small decrease in short-term overdues during the trial. Prior to the trial, an average of 2,107 items were overdue by 3 days or more and during the trial, the average was 2,045 overdue (a decrease of 2.9%). Overdue items account for less than 1% of the items available for circulation.
Nationwide, physical circulation of materials has been flat or slowly decreasing for libraries. People are using libraries more for classes, access to technology and a community gathering space and checking out fewer physical books and more digital books and audio-visual materials. During this fine free trial, Calvert Library saw an increase of 1.62% in circulation compared to the same time period the previous year. Book circulation specifically is up 3.8% and popular video circulation is up 1.82%.
Prior to the trial, the library had about 25,000 active cardholders, which represent about a 38% household penetration. That number increased by close to 4,000 people during the trial period. President McHugh said, “We are delighted to see customers returning to the library and finding so much on offer that will improve their lives.”
For more information, call Robyn Truslow at 410-535-0291.
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Related Links
ALA Resolution on Monetary Library Fines as a Form of Social Inequality
Robyn Truslow
Public Relations Coordinator
Calvert Library
850 Costley Way
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
410-535-0291
410-535-3022 Fax
Monday, May 20, 2019
Calvert Library Conducting Strategic Plan Process (press release)
Calvert Library Conducting Strategic Plan Process
May 20, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Robyn Truslow
410-535-0291
Calvert Library is planning their next five years and is asking for community-wide participation. The Ivy Group, a strategic planning consultant, is conducting a community survey that can be accessed at http://bit.ly/2019LibraryPlan. Participants will be asked to evaluate the services offered such as meeting space, wifi, classes, downloadable books/movies, workforce development, small business support, research support and computers. They will be asked which of the library’s role(s) in the community are most important. Community members will also be asked what service areas the library should expand such as more technology available to borrow, opportunities to learn more about cutting edge technology or online safety, or resources for oral histories, vlogging, and digitizing analog resources. The survey will run through the end of May.
When asked why the library needs a strategic plan, Board of Library Trustee President Carolyn McHugh said, “Calvert Library is not your grandmother’s library. We are a mover and shaker in the community…building job skills for a more robust workforce through classes both online and in person, supporting job acquisition through resume classes and partnerships with Maryland Workforce Exchange, and supporting parents in raising resilient learners by helping them take advantage of the critical brain growth that happens in the first five years of life and continuing with engaging classes and events throughout their learning career. Calvert Library has an exceptional and dedicated staff who clearly want to exceed community expectations and to build community. This strategic planning process is helping us gather the information we need to do so.” Executive Director Carrie Willson agreed, “The commitment our staff have to the community shows in the excellent customer service they provide on a daily basis. The community survey will help us tailor that service to exact needs in our community. I hope those who haven’t used the library since their children were in school or since they were children themselves will take this opportunity to consider what else the library could do for them. The survey gives everyone a chance to weigh in and share their ideas to make Calvert Library their library.”
This strategic planning process is being coordinated with the Southern Maryland Regional Library Association, Charles County Public Library and St. Mary’s County Library thanks to a grant from the Maryland State Library funded by LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) through Institute for Museum and Library Services. For more information, call Robyn Truslow at 410-535-0291.
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Related Links
Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Robyn Truslow
Public Relations Coordinator
Calvert Library
850 Costley Way
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
410-535-0291
410-535-3022 Fax