By Donna Clark, Director, Cedar Springs Public Library

The Library Board and staff would like to take this opportunity at the close of 2009 to wish all of you, our community, a very joy-filled and prosperous New Year in 2010.  We join our hopes with yours for progress toward the realization of our collective dream, a larger library facility.

We are grateful for the way you all have supported the library’s efforts to offer materials and programming that would be useful, current and foster a lifelong love of reading.  In fiscal year 2008-2009 we logged in 32,250 patron visits, 62 programs for children with 4,568 attending and 18 adult programs for 132 patrons.  This year we will be adding about 400 more adults due to the 4 Travelogue programs the Library added in October.  Our collection stands around 22,000 since we are locked into our 2,000 square foot building.  When we bring in the new, we weed out the old and worn…with the exception, of course, that the timeless classics have to stay.  It’s a tight fit.  One day we will have a larger space for collection and for YOU.

Our six public access computers have served many purposes this year.  We have seen an increase in the number of residents using them for unemployment, to look for jobs, create and send resumes, email, search Craigslist  or ebay for bargains or to sell items, shop online, listen to music, chat with friends and relatives, download photos, and some just to relax to music or play games.  Soon, there will be those filing their income tax online.

We are celebrating the partnerships we have in the community which made it possible to plan, organize, initiate, advertise and promote the Library’s services and programs this year.  Service organizations, businesses, churches, other nonprofits and private individuals,  too numerous to mention in this short article,  have wrapped their arms around their library and its efforts offering their finances, space, time, products, leadership and participation.  Your library staff see your contributions on a daily basis and are very blessed to be working for such a wonderful community as we have in Cedar Springs.

Michigan’s economy is affecting us all, the library included.  We are projecting a $10,000 shortfall due to a reduction in revenues and a $1,000 quarterly increase to belong to the Lakeland Library Cooperative.  Our Cooperative, which facilitates our sharing and borrowing materials from 80 other libraries in Western Michigan and delivers materials from around the State through MelCat, is facing a loss in revenue of right around $167,500.  How this deficit will be met is a matter of much concern to all of us who have enjoy first-class service and reciprocal borrowing for many years.  I will keep you posted as more information becomes available soon.

I do know this, Cedar Springs residents know how to stick together and work together.    As we stand on the brink of 2010, our hearts are full of hope.  We do believe in miracles.  One of those miracles is located at 43 W. Cherry Street.

Happy New Year,
Donna Clark, Director

By Donna Clark, Director, Cedar Springs Public Library

I think of the harvest and Thanksgiving when November rolls around. At the library we are reaping a harvest of seeds planted early on—seeds of programs old and new.

Our newest program is the Travelogue Adventure Series. November’s program brought in 105 people. The preshows at 6:30 p.m. are fun, too. In October we had a small ensemble of flutists, “Flauto Accordo,” and ini November we had guitar music with brother and sister team  of Alexis and Ryan Kaiserlian. We hope to get a school choir and perhaps the jazz band for March and April.

Our goal is to have ticket sales and patron donations to cover the full cost of the four programs. So far $2,633 has come in. If the last two programs (March 8 and April 12) bring in another $1000, we will meet our goal this year. This doesn’t include money donated by our patron sponsors. Our second goal is to have money left over for our new library.

We had our 3rd annual spooky event at the Library on October 29. We called it “Nightmare on Cherry Street.” We planned some ghostly stories and poems for the 4th-6th graders who came, and for a little detective fun, nothing gets kids stirred up better than a little murder mystery and a crime scene. Local actors volunteered to play their part in being interrogated by the young detectives, and once the real murderer was evident, our own local Police Woman, Officer Mandy, came to place the culprit under arrest with handcuffs! We had 17 tweens, four staff and 10 actors that evening. Thanks to Chris Bigney for rounding up a great cast of local talent: Liz Clifford, Russ Cole, Katie Myers, Laura Johnson, Laura Bonarski, Herb Vanderbilt, Wayne and Caitlyn Pierce and Aaron and Trent.

A couple of new programs this month—Girls Night Out and Boys Night Out—happening one week apart for 4th-8th graders. The point is a really good book and a really fun party/discussion around that book. For the girls and their favorite female role model, it was “Star Girl.” For the boys it was “Leepike Ridge.” We shared some snacks, a few crafts, and a lot of laughs.

The City’s “Spooktacular” was a lot of fun and really good for the businesses downtown. The Library opened from 6-7pm and joined the fun. Sixty extra people tramped through our door that evening, some for the first time.

The “Read to Ride” program for Red Flannel Day generated 314 free tickets to students from preK-6th grade who read a minimum of 3 books. We are grateful to those who worked with us to make this happen.

The Library is blessed to have an active “Friends of the Library” group who get involved with fundraising for a new library facility. You’ve seen them grilling and selling hotdogs, working at the Red Flannel Chili Cook-off, organizing our bi-annual book sales and assisting at the Travelogue Programs.

Many were disappointed that our Red Flannel Book Sale was rained out. We are rescheduled for December 3, 4 and 5 from 10am to 5pm, INSIDE at the empty store next door to Melanie’s Creations at 37 N. Main. I hear that you can fill a bag for $4. Dozens and dozens of VHS for sale for $0.50.  2009 books for only $7. If you are looking for new gifts—the Friends also have RED 2010 calendars ($4) and nice, canvas book bags ($10) for sale. Do a portion of your Christmas shopping at the Library this year.

All of us at the Library wish all of you, our friends and neighbors of Cedar Springs, a blessed holiday season filled with joy, love and peace.

By Donna Clark, Director, Cedar Springs Public Library

School has started and we are on our Fall schedule. Our Summer Reading Program is a sweet memory, with 21 programs in 7 weeks! That’s pretty spectacular, considering that in 2006, for the entire year, we had 77 programs bringing in 2,764 people, and this year our Summer Reading Program alone brought in 2,124! That could only happen because of the warmth and support of our Red Flannel community!

Speaking of RED…we had 26 preschoolers at the Library yesterday for our weekly 11:15 a.m. Story Time to hear stories about Red Flannel Day. The craft for the day was a paint stick, printed with each child’s name, a circle to color of this year’s theme, complete with ribbon and a red streamer  and a bell. Armed with their music and festive spirit, the children marched around the block with Mrs. Shannon for their very own Red Flannel Parade. It was classic.

We launched our 2nd annual “Read to Ride” program for preK-6th graders September 1. We have contacted all area schools—private, public, charter and homeschools. Our message is the same, “Read 3 books for one FREE coupon or 6 books for two FREE coupons to ride carnival rides, grab a hotdog or FREE popcorn, compliments of Elliott’s Amusements, the Red Flannel Festival and the Library!  This event has been supported from its beginning by the Jack Gillow family, in his memory.”

Reading logs are available on the Library’s website: cedarsprings.llcoop.org or on the Red Flannel Festival’s website: redflannelfestival.org. We’re on Facebook and you can come into the library for a copy if that’s more convenient.  The last minute you can cash in your reading log is 6 p.m., Friday, October 2. Logs are already pouring in by all of you Lumberjacks out there. Keep ‘em rollin’ in!

October 12 will be the beginning of an exciting NEW program for the library, with an all-out effort to please families, in particular our adult and senior population. It’s a classy, cultural endeavor—the Travelogue Adventure Series, previously hosted by the CS Education Foundation.  Four fantastic programs are planned for the second Monday of the months of October, November, March and April at the CSHS Auditorium at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6pm. We hope to have a preshow by local musicians for your entertainment.

Refreshments are generously being served by local service organizations during intermission:  Rotary Club, Lions Club, Garden Club and Women’s Club. Coffee will be provided by our new CS School Superintendent, Mr. Ron Mcdermed! A fun raffle will be conducted, as well. We’ll be giving an overnight stay at the W & W Lodge, compliments of Tim and Sue Wolfe on October 12. All ticket holders will receive a free ticket for the drawing.

We’re trying something new. Paying adults may bring school-age students for FREE. If not accompanied by an adult family member, student tickets are $3.50. We’re encouraging an inter-generational happening…so get your tickets at the Library, $25 gets you a ticket/passport for all four events. Tickets are $8 individually. Profits will go toward  our new Library Building Campaign! Come on, Community, let’s travel the world, fill that auditorium and put money in our new Library Fund! up to us. The State can’t help us, but with time and ingenuity, we can keep moving toward our goal!

The Friends of the Library are having their annual book sale on Friday, October 2 from 11a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday, October 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The CS Garden Club is partnering with the Friends for their fundraising “Perennial Plant Sale.”  You can still get your perennials to us on Red Flannel Day. Just drop them off at the Library that morning. We’ll be watching for you as early as 8 a.m. Bring cash for books and plants…and sweets!

On the 3rd Monday of every month the Library has a Book Discussion Club, discussing an interesting books at 7 p.. at the Library. If you want to jump right into October, check out the book that recently took the young adult and adult world by storm, “Twilight,” by Stephenie Meyer. It has vampires in it and is a great read for Halloween month. Read it for an interesting discussion on October 19.

Though all is well at the Library, clouds do loom on the horizon as our State faces very serious budget crises. The 42-member libraries of Lakeland and W. MI are trying to figure out how to meet the deficit that $4 million less State Aid dollars will affect library services. I’ll keep you posted to changes. I feel we can meet any challenge as long as we pool our resources as individuals and as a community.  I’ve seen the heart of Cedar Springs first-hand. We are a strong, caring and supportive community. I’m glad we’re in this together, whatever happens.  It’s a time for faith, courage, and hope. Bring your Red Flannels and your sunshine downtown to celebrate! See you there!

Donna Clark, Library Director