Electronic media continues to grow in use at KML

KENT — The Kent Memorial Library saw a 5 percent increase in visitors in 2014, with 44,320 people walking through the doors in the 12 months. The Board of Directors and other library members discussed these numbers, welcomed several new board members and discussed other news and business at their annual meeting on Saturday, Jan. 10.

Sharon Hartwick, Elizabeth Radday and Michaela Lawrence were voted unanimously onto the board. Each will serve a term through December 2017. Existing board members Jannette Bornn, Kenneth Cooper, Michaela Hallows, Rudy Molho and John Youngblood were unanimously re-elected. Each member had previously served two consecutive two-year terms. According to the board’s by-laws, that means those five members can only serve a single-year term, ending in December 2015.

Library Director Donna Miller announced some highlights from the year including a third consecutive Connecticut Library Association Award for Outstanding Public Relations. The award was given to the library for the design of the 2013 Spring Gala invitation, created by Marketing and Special Events Director Lucy Pierpont.

More than 500 people attended lectures in the 2014 series, “The Impact of Media in Our Lives,” which featured talks by Tom Brokaw, David Shing and Gary Ross (from the Department of Homeland Security). 

The library also saw a substantial increase in adult attendance at its programs, with 3,597 people attending events.

KML offered a number of alternative and electronic book options. E-book use increased  to 581 in 2014 (a 4 percent increase from 2013); and 3,788 DVDs and videos were loaned out to members, a 15 percent increase. But the big uptick was in downloadable audiobooks, with 404 borrowed over the 12 months (a 106 percent increase from 2013).

Over the course of the year, the library hosted five art exhibits, one artist talk, five author talks — and a book signing by former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. 

Many workshops were offered, including “Law Matters” with attorney Metta Rehnberg and “Naturescape Your Yard” with author, photographer and garden expert Karen Bussolini.

Miller listed the library’s goals for 2015, such as creating a young adult nook within the library; continuing to redesign the library website; upgrading the photocopier; and raising funds for repairs and renovations to the old firehouse, which was purchased as a library extension.