Darien Library

Report to the Representative Town Meeting

April 2015
Process:

Approved by the Darien Library F&B Committee:

Approved by the Darien Library Board:
Approved by the Board of Selectmen:
Approved by the Board of Finance:

January 7, 2015
January 12, 2015
February 11, 2015
April 7, 2015

Budget Summary
The Librarys budget proposal for fiscal year 2015-2016 calls for expenditures of
$3,506,220, an increase of $23,038, or 0.7%.
The budget makes provision for a 3% increase in staff and administrative
salaries.
Library and Building operating accounts increase by $15,246, with increases in
Electricity, Gas and Fuel, Insurance and Audit Expenses partially offset by
decreases in Building Operations and Maintenance and Service.
In accordance with guidance from the Town, we have budgeted a 3.2%
decrease in Retirement, and we have budgeted an increase of 15% for Workers
Comp and Property and Liability Insurance. Because Darien Library was able to
negotiate a significant reduction in Health Insurance costs for the current year by
switching carriers and changing terms, we are able to show a decrease in
Health Insurance costs for next year, despite a projected 15% increase. The
overall reduction in Health, Insurance and Retirement is $54,225.
These, and other actions, are detailed later in this report.
The table below outlines the major categories affecting the budget proposal:

Increase/(Decrease)

% Budget
Increase

Personnel

$62,017

2.9%

Operating Accounts

$15,246

2.5%

($54,225)

-8.5%

$23,038

0.7%

Category

Health, Insurance and Retirement

Total

Darien Library

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Report to the Representative Town Meeting

April 2015

Summary of Budget Increase Components

% of Total Contribution
Budget
to Budget
Increase Percentage
Darien Library Staffing Decisions
Salary Increases
Total Staffing Decisions

$ 59,852
$ 59,852

FICA

Total of Staffing Decisions

$ 62,017

269.2%

1.8%

$ 15,246

66.2%

0.4%

$ 15,246

66.2%

0.4%

$ (54,225)

-235.4%

-1.6%

$ 23,038

100.0%

0.7%

2,165

Darien Library Operating Adjustments

Operating Accounts
Life Insurance
Electricity, Gas and Fuel
Water and Sewer
Building Operations
Maintenance/Service
Internet/Telephone
Audit
Total

$
(305)
$ 16,646
$
328
$ (4,556)
$ (3,713)
$
1,846
$
5,000

Total of Operating Increases

Externally Determined Appropriations

Health Insurance
Retirement
Insurance
Total

$ (56,722)
$ (4,862)
$
7,359

Total of Externally Determined Appropriations

Total Budget Increase

Darien Library

$ (54,225)

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Report to the Representative Town Meeting

April 2015

The Highest Level of Library Service

Darien Library is a resource actively used by the whole community. It is open 72
hours a week, 52 weeks a year.
85% of all Darien residents, including at least one member from nearly every
household, has a library card.
During fiscal year 2013-2014, the Library was visited 361,833 times, 51,774 people
attended programs, librarians answered 119,327 questions, 94,078 people logged on
to the Librarys computers, and 105,551 users accessed the Librarys Wi-Fi
resources.
Connecticut State Library statistics show that Darien Library is unsurpassed within
the state in per capita measured services to the community:

First in residents circulation

First in visits
First in computer use
First in reference questions
Second in collection turnover
Fourth in program attendance

21.4
17.0
12.3
4.2
4.0
2.4

Active use by visitors to the Library has increased:

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

%
Increase

Reference Queries

95,408

104,797

119,327

25.1%

Computer Logins

92,466

82,080

94,078

1.74%

Wi-Fi Use

83,225

86,722

105,571

26.9%

Program Attendance

44,446

46,477

51,774

16.5%

Darien Library is the most actively-used library in the state.

Most importantly for the citizens of Darien, the library has demonstrated that its
services, resources and welcoming atmosphere are a critical element in the
fabric of the community.

Darien Library

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Report to the Representative Town Meeting

April 2015

Effective Business Practices

Darien Library operates at the least possible cost to the citizens of Darien by
emphasizing efficiencies in staffing. We have done this by investments in technology,
by reorganization and by outsourcing, with the result that Darien Library has a
reputation as being one of the most innovative and best-run libraries in the nation.
The automated RFID-enabled materials handling system, the first to be installed in
New England, allowed for significant staffing efficiencies in the new building.
Libraries such as New York Public Library, Worcester Public Library and Cambridge
Library have visited to evaluate its effectiveness, as a first step towards their
adoption.
The Librarys contracted cataloguing and book processing system, which is known as
the Darien model in the tri-state area, has provided measurable staff efficiencies.
As one measure of these efficiencies, the following table shows the relative cost of
circulating an item at Darien Library compared to peer libraries, calculated from total
salaries divided by items circulated, converted to an index. Note that Darien Library is
21% less costly than the next closest peer, based on 2013-2014 statistics.

180
160
140

Staff Salary Costs per Item Circulated 2013-2014

(Indexed to Darien Library = 100)
163 163 164
157 160
143
121
100

120
100
80
60
40
20
0

Darien Library

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Report to the Representative Town Meeting

April 2015

Budget Development Details

Staffing
Staff costs and the associated cost of FICA will increase by $62,017, or 2.9%.
The staffing budget this year is driven by two factors, a 3% compensation increase
for staff and a reorganization of staff responsibilities due to the resignation of our
Finance and Accounting employee:
1. Library employees both salaried and hourly -- will be granted an increase
that for most employees will be 3%. This is treated as a merit increase
because exceptions are made after a review of performance.
This follows from the previous years of increase shown below:
Budget Year

Increase

2009-2010

2.0%

2010-2011

2.25%

2011-2012

0.0%

2012-2013

4.0%

2013-2014

3.0%

2014-2015

3.0%

2015-2016

3.0%

7-year compound rate

2.45%

2. We have chosen to allocate the functional activities of a retired finance and

accounting employee, rather than hire a replacement, by dividing the
responsibilities of the position into 3 areas:
a. An existing staff member will take over payroll.
b. We have hired a part-time full charge bookkeeper.
c. The Librarys auditors will take on responsibility for reviewing financial
and accounting activities that were undertaken by the retired
incumbent.
3. We are also moving to full time a part-time valuable employee.
Total staffing will equal 30.2 FTEs for the 2015-2016 budget, a decrease of 0.2.

Darien Library

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Report to the Representative Town Meeting

April 2015

The following chart shows the trend of staffing in the Library over the past 14 years:

Full Time Equivalent (FTE)

Sstaffing Totals

Darien Library Budgeted Staffing

32 32
30.6
29.229.429.4

29.7

29

27.3

29.229.229.2

29.9

30.430.2

First year in new building

Fiscal Years

Note that staffing for next year is projected to be lower than it was in 2009-2010, the
first year in the new building.
As a result of the actions we have taken with respect to staffing, total personnel
compensation costs including FICA will increase by $62,017, or 2.9%.
Operating Accounts
The Librarys Operating Accounts are budgeted to increase by $16,991. Major
factors are an increase in Electricity, Gas and Fuel and in Audit expenses, partially
offset by decreases in Building Operations and Maintenance and Service.
Operating Accounts with Major Increases
1. Electricity, Gas and Fuel will increase by $16,646. The elements of this
account are:
2014-15

2015-16

Increase

$107,061

$124,015

$16,954

Street Lights

$1,300

$1,300

Natural Gas

$2,400

$2,500

$100

Diesel (generator)

$3,700

$3,292

($408)

$114,461

$131,107

Building Electricity

Total

Darien Library

$16,646

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Report to the Representative Town Meeting

April 2015

The major change in budgeted electricity for the building relates to three
factors:
a. A correction on the amount of electricity used, based on experience.
We budget based on average KwH usage per month, from the date we
moved into the new building. In the last two years, our usage in the
summer has spiked, apparently because of geothermal pump usage.
Using the average of five years of experience would call for Building
Electricity budgeted at $119,525, an increase of $12,464. However, we
are budgeting an additional factor:
i. An increase of $4,490 that reflects the fact that our KwH usage
last summer was even higher. We believe we have corrected a
pumping issue that caused that spike, but we cannot be sure
until next summer. If this increase is not needed because the
pumping issue is corrected, we will return these funds to the
Town.
ii. To summarize: the $16,954 increase in Building Electricity is the
result of three factors:
1. Applying average usage factors: $12,464
2. An additional increase based on recent experience:
$4,490
b. We increase Natural Gas by $100 based on average experience.
c. The allocation for Diesel is for the generator installed by the Friends of
the Darien Library last year. We have agreed with the Board of
Selectmen to budget half the cost of filling the fuel tank in the event fuel
is used when power is off. The amount that is held harmless is $3,292,
half the cost of a full tank at $2.49 per gallon (a reduction from the
assumption used last year), and if it is not used, would be returned to
the Town.
2. Audit will increase by $5,000. This is one element of the reorganization of our
Finance and Accounting responsibilities. We are contracting for additional
accounting services in this first year of transition, to assure we maintain the
accuracy and quality of our procedures. We do not anticipate continuing in the
future at this rate. Including this increase, our total expenditures on Finance
and Accounting responsibilities will decrease as the result of the
reorganization.
Other Operating Accounts
3. Building Operations contains the budget elements relating to outsourced
cleaning services, grounds maintenance, snow removal and other services.
We have reduced our allocation for snow removal because last year, in a very
snowy year, we did not expend our full budget. The reduced allocation for
snow removal is the reason for the reduction of $4,556 in this account.

Darien Library

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Report to the Representative Town Meeting

April 2015

4. The Maintenance/Services Account primarily supports maintenance and

warranty services for the Librarys building equipment (elevators, HVAC
systems, geothermal pumps, generator, sorting equipment) and operating
services, (such as the building management and integrated library system
catalog), together with building repairs. We are reducing the account by
$3,713 because a contract for maintenance expenditures incurred when we
moved into the new building has expired, and the reduction we experience
offsets some increases in other accounts.
5. Outsourced Cataloging provides the funds for the services of out-sourced third
party preparation of books, DVDs, CDs, Books on CD and other items to make
them shelf ready. We began this initiative several years ago, and it has proven
very cost-effective, allowing us to reduce staff time by 2.4 FTE.
$67,000 of this account relates to this initiative, and the outsourcing initiative
replaces a staffing model which would have estimated costs of $137,910,
resulting in a savings of $70,910.
6. Internet and Telephone expenditures will increase by $1,846, because the
Schools and Library Corporation E-Rate program is being reorganized, and
the 40% reduction in telephone expenses we have experienced in recent
years will be reduced to 20% next fiscal year (and to 0% in the following year.)
Health Insurance, Retirement and Insurance Accounts
Health Insurance
7. Health insurance expenditures are projected to decrease by $56,722, or
12.7%. The basis for this reduction is the fact that the Library was able to
contract for health insurance for its employees for the current 2014-2015 fiscal
year with a new insurer, and under terms that reduced expenditures
substantially. We are projecting a 15% increase in expenditures for 2015-2016
per our brokers worst-case assumption, but the reduction in the current year
is substantial enough that, even with the projected increase, we show a yearto-year budget decrease.
Pension
8. We have budgeted the Pension account with the amount determined by the
Town -- $148,785 which represents a 3.2% decrease.

Darien Library

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Report to the Representative Town Meeting

April 2015

Insurance
9. We have budgeted a 15% increase in Workers Compensation and
Property/Liability/Auto and General Insurance, together with an additional
amount to make up for our being under-budgeted this year. The increase in
this line is $7,359.

The Librarys Central Role in Darien

The Library is the communitys most actively used resource.
As noted, more than 85% of Darien residents have an active Library card.
Members of the community on average take out 21 books, DVDs, books on CD
or other items each year, and this is far and away the highest circulation rate of
any library in the state, and one of the highest in the nation.
82.2% of Darien seniors use the Library, more than any other organization or
program in the community, according to a survey by Aging in Place/The
Community Fund in the fall of 2009.
The table below lists the five organizations or programs most highly used by
seniors, according to the survey:
Program/Service

Use Now

Will Use in Next 5 Years

Darien Library

82.2%

85.0%

Place of Worship

64.8%

68.4%

Darien Community Assoc

36.3%

41.5%

Darien Senior Center

30.0%

44.9%

YMCA

24.4%

Aging in Place in Darien

52.1%

At the other end of the age spectrum, the Library is used by young children and
their parents and care-givers often the Library is the first public space a young
child ever visits -- and by a growing number of middle school and high school
students who have made the Library the place to visit for studying, especially
during midterms and finals, when the Library remains open until 10:30 PM,
allowing students to study alone or in groups.

Darien Library

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Report to the Representative Town Meeting

April 2015

For everyone of all ages, the New Darien Library is a community center; a
distribution center for books, magazines, DVDs, videos, books on tape,
technology and other materials; a cultural center for programs for all ages; a
haven for study and research; a busy technology and continuing education hub;
a resource for Town government and many community organizations. Library
users constantly ask that we extend our hours.
Recent use trends build on past successes. For many years the Darien Library
has proven to be a high-profile example of extraordinary customer service
provided in a remarkably cost-efficient manner.
Service to the Whole Community
The Library collaborates with many Darien and other organizations to provide
services to the community. The expanded Librarys many meeting rooms have
been made available at no expense by Board of Trustees policy to the Town of
Darien and its Boards and Commissions.
Community Support
We provide space in the Library for many community activities, including:

Americares

Darien Senior Men Book Group

Amnesty International

Darien Senior Men Genealogy Group

Boy Scouts of America

Darien Summer Strings performance

Chinese Education Association

Darien Tree Conservancy

Congressman Jim Himes

Darien Public School Librarians

Connecticut Library Consortium

Darien Town Hall

Council of Darien School Parents

Darien Youth Hockey Association

Darien Adult Chamber Music Group

Darien YWCA

Darien Arts Center

Darien YWCA - Stand Against Racism Festival

Darien Advocates for Education of the Gifted

Delafield Island Tax District

Darien Board of Education Staff education

Fairmead Road Association

Darien Board of Education - Administrators

Family & Children's Agency

Darien Health Department

HomeCare/Nursing Flu Clinic

Darien Jr. Sailing

League of Women Voters - BOE Candidates

Darien Volunteer Fire Departments

League of Women Voters

Darien Land Trust

Make a Wish Foundation

Darien Little League

Miami of Ohio University

Darien Public Schools (Special Ed. Dept.)

Mothers of Multiples

Darien Sail & Power Squadron

Noroton Bay Neighborhood Association

Darien Senior Men Investment

Noroton Yacht Club

Darien Library

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Report to the Representative Town Meeting

April 2015

Norwalk Grassroots Tennis

Royle School Yearbook Committee

Obie Harrington-Howes Foundation

Senator Bob Duff meeting

Odyssey of the Mind

Senator Chris Murphy Office Hours

Perpetual Insights

Shakespeare on the Sound

Person-to-Person Scholarship Committee

Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities

Person-to-Person Staff training on Excel

Tax Aide

Pinnacle Sailing Club

Tiny Miracles Foundation

Post 53 Blood Pressure Clinic

Trout Unlimited

Red Cross Blood Drive

Trust for Public Land

Coordination with the Schools

Childrens librarians visit the elementary schools and Middlesex for book-talking
in each classroom; they coordinate programs with elementary librarians; hold a
Teacher Orientation for all new teachers at the beginning of the school year;
visit PTO meetings; visit preschools throughout the community; many teachers
ask their students to write their book reviews for summer reading on the Darien
Library web site in place of submitting written papers.
Middlesex students write their summer reading reviews on the Librarys web
site as well, and the Library puts together the 8th grade summer reading list for
students, and purchases enough copies to supply student needs.
The Library stays open until 10:30 PM during midterm and final exam weeks for
the High School.
Not-for-profit Technology Support
The Library plays a central technology role in the on-line presence of the
community, assisting 36 community non-profits to maintain their web
presences. The Library makes available technology to help non-profits with their
activities, for example by lending notebook computers to assist with registration
drives, and video projectors to assist in public presentations.
A Cultural Center of the Community
The Darien Library provides a much greater range of resources to the
community meeting spaces, quiet study areas, accessible collections,
services to the young and mature alike as an extension of its role as the
cultural center of Darien. A broad range of community residents, from Senior
Citizens to young children to Middle and High School students who fill the
Library to study, from community residents who use the Library for enjoyment or
as support for their work, all find support and resources available to their needs

Darien Library

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Report to the Representative Town Meeting

April 2015

and interests, matched by extraordinary customer service that has a national

reputation for the highest level of service to the community.
The Communitys Foremost Example of a Public-Private Partnership
The New Darien Library
This year, January 10, 2015, was the sixth anniversary of the opening of the
New Darien Library. The $28 million project to fund construction of the New
Darien Library is the largest gift to the Town by any measure, and stands alone
in terms of commitment to the future of the community and its residents.
During fiscal year 2014-2015 the Library Board continued its commitment to
updating the Library by investing $960,000 in building improvements, including a
new generator, an update to the geothermal well system, and maintenance
improvements on the building.
Annual Support
Each year, as they have since at least 1963, the Library trustees raise all the
money the Library spends on books, DVDs, research services, programs and
other materials through an annual fund drive. We also pay for all on-going
capital expenses from the Friends Fund. (This year we expect to spend
approximately $300,000 on technology projects, as part of a total Friends
expenditure of more than $1,200,000.)
For years the community of Darien has been the recipient of private funding
from many community residents that replaces the use of tax dollars for the
collection development, technology initiatives, programs and services that have
allowed the Darien Library to become a community asset.
In addition, from this private funding has come the investment in productivity
measures that helped make Library employees the most productive in the
region, at a considerable savings in labor costs that would have been borne by
the taxpayers.

Darien Library

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Report to the Representative Town Meeting

April 2015

The Darien Library Budget Proposal

The major elements of the Librarys budget proposal are summarized below,
and we ask that they be considered in the context of three important
considerations:

Darien Library employees are remarkably efficient. We do not seek to

compare their schedule to other employees of the Town or School District, but
we do know that our employees work harder, are more productive, and
provide better service than any other library. We ask them to do so with the
understanding that they will be provided the support necessary to match their
efforts. This year they continue to make extraordinary sacrifices in workload
(all Library full-time employees who work with the public are scheduled to work
one night a week and one weekend a month as part of their schedule) while
they are providing extreme customer service at a time of substantially
increased use of the Library.

The Friends of the Library made significant investments to promote

productivity and efficiency for Library staff, and they are committed to continue
their role in the Public-Private Partnership, as they have this year by installing
a generator at no cost to the Town. The Friends gift of the New Darien Library
to the community was a watershed event in the history of this community. The
Public-Private Partnership between the Town and the Library continues to
provide a substantial benefit to the residents of the Town of Darien.

The Librarys administration has demonstrated over many years that it will ask
only for the resources it needs, and that it can be trusted to manage those
resources in an exemplary manner. The funding we request is the minimum
necessary to provide the community the services it requires to meet the
increased use of the Darien Library.
Highlights of increases and decreases in this years budget request:

Darien Library

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Report to the Representative Town Meeting

April 2015

1. Salary Budget: ......................................................................... $ 62,017

The Library staff will receive merit-based pay increases averaging 3%.

We are reorganizing Accounting and Finance activities due to the retirement of

an employee.

2. Darien Library Operating Expenditures: ............................... $ 15,246

Electricity, Gas and Fuel will increase by $16,646, accounted for primarily by
our need to budget for recent experience.

Audit expense will increase by $5,000 as part of our Accounting and Finance
reorganization.

3. Health Insurance and Retirement Expenses: ...................... ($ 54,225)

Health insurance expenditures will decrease by $56,722, because of a change

in provider and contract terms.

Retirement expenditures will decrease by $4,862 per the allocation directed by

the Town.

Total Budget Increase (0.7%) ...................................................... $ 23,038

The Board of Trustees of the Darien Library urges your support of this budget
proposal.

Amy Cholnoky
President, Board of Trustees

Darien Library

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Report to the Representative Town Meeting

Salaries
Administrative
Member Services
Support
TOTAL
Fringe Benefits
Social Security
Town Retirement
Health, Dental and LTD
Life Insurance
Unemployment Comp.
TOTAL
Building Operations
Electricity, Gas and Fuel
Water & Sewer
Insurance
Building Operations
Maintenance/Service
TOTAL
Library Operations
Library Supplies
Janitor Supplies
Postage
Printing
Staff Development
Internet/Telephone
Audit
Outsourced Cataloging
TOTAL
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS

Darien Library

April 2015

2013-14 to 2014-16
$
%
Increase
Increase

Proposed
Budget
2015-16

2014-15 to 2015-06
$
%
Increase
Increase

Actual
2013-14

Budget
2014-15

337,725
1,287,633
441,151
2,066,509

245,659
1,386,356
437,679
2,069,694

(92,066)
98,723
(3,472)
3,185

-27.3%
7.7%
-0.8%
0.2%

214,875
1,422,400
492,272
2,129,547

(30,785)
36,044
54,593
59,852

-12.5%
2.6%
12.5%
2.9%

151,826
142,266
399,597
3,984
1,500
699,173

157,338
153,647
445,194
3,617
1,500
761,297

5,512
11,381
45,597
(367)
62,124

3.6%
8.0%
11.4%
-9.2%
0.0%
8.9%

159,503
148,785
388,472
3,312
1,500
701,572

2,165
(4,862)
(56,722)
(305)
(59,725)

1.4%
-3.2%
-12.7%
-8.4%
0.0%
-7.8%

123,478
9,116
37,394
133,483
165,438
468,909

114,461
7,364
36,999
150,499
172,656
481,980

(9,017)
(1,752)
(395)
17,016
7,218
13,071

-7.3%
-19.2%
-1.1%
12.7%
4.4%
2.8%

131,107
7,692
44,358
145,943
168,944
498,044

16,646
328
7,359
(4,556)
(3,713)
16,064

14.5%
4.5%
19.9%
-3.0%
-2.2%
3.3%

29,907
18,546
2,000
1,350
1,500
10,880
9,450
92,341
165,974

30,000
19,750
2,000
1,350
1,500
11,161
9,450
95,000
170,211

93
1,204
281
2,659
4,237

0.3%
6.5%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
2.6%
0.0%
2.9%
2.6%

30,000
19,750
2,000
1,350
1,500
13,008
14,450
95,000
177,058

1,846
5,000
6,846

0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
16.5%
52.9%
0.0%
4.0%

3,400,565

3,483,182

82,617

2.4%

3,506,220

23,038

0.7%

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Report to the Representative Town Meeting

April 2015

Salary Budget

Staff members will receive a 3% merit-based increase.

Town Retirement

Based on Town allocation.

Health Insurance

We are budgeting a 15% increase from the lower rates we received by converting to a
new provider and new contract.

Unemployment Compensation

Library is self-insured for unemployment compensation.

Electricity, Gas and Fuel

We are part of the Towns electricity bid, and are making an adjustment based on recent
experience

Water and Sewer

Adjusted to reflect usage experience.

Insurance

We are assuming a 15% increase.

Maintenance/Service

Maintenance, service and repairs on the buildings systems. This includes HVAC, the
geothermal system, elevators, building management, security and phone systems.

Building Operations

This includes contracted cleaning, snow plowing by our staff, grounds, cleanout of our
water retention system, lawn care and other services.

Library Supplies

This represents paper for copiers, office supplies and other building needs.

Janitor Supplies

Primarily plumbing, electricity and HVAC parts, cleaning supplies and paper products for
the public restrooms.

Postage and Printing

We continue restrict postage by using electronic payment processes.

Staff Development

We have reduced staff development to an absolute minimum of staff hours.

Internet/Telephone

This account provides funds for maintenance of our fiber connection to the State of CT CEN,
and our telephone lines and usage. The increase results from a change in the SLC E-Rate.

Audit

Engagement fee for the Librarys GAAP audit. Increased in line with reorganization of
Finance and Accounting functions.

Outsourced Cataloging

Outsourced cataloguing services to reduce the need for staff hours.

Darien Library

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Report to the Representative Town Meeting

April 2015

Darien Library
Fact Sheet
2015
Darien Library is highly ranked by Library Journal, one of four Star
Libraries in CT.
Darien Library is the busiest library in Connecticut on a per capita basis.
Darien residents borrow more books on average (21) than any other
community.
85% of Darien residents have library cards.
Usage of the Library has increased significantly since the new building
opened.
The Librarys services to the communitys senior citizens are broad-based
and significant:
o A recent survey showed that seniors rely on the Library more than
any other community resource for programs and resources.
During the past year, there were 361,833 visits to the Library, staff
members answered 119,327 queries, and there were 24,094 participants
in Childrens Library programs, such as Storytime, Born to Read,
Sleepytime, Drop-in Storytime, preschool, elementary and Middle School
visits; attendance at Teen Programs was 2,051 and at Adult programs
was 25,629.
Users cite superior personal service given by the library staff as the
primary reason they prefer Darien Library.
The library is a model of excellence in the use of new technology and
hosts the web pages for 36 local community organizations.
The Librarys innovative website and SOPAC are providing both
information and entertainment to those members of the community who
wish to use a new form of communication, and have gained national
recognition.
A study by the CT State Library in 2004 showed Darien Library had the
lowest cost per circulation item of all libraries studied. This is still the case.

Darien Library

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Report to the Representative Town Meeting

April 2015

THE DARIEN LIBRARY VISION

Our vision is to inform, educate, entertain and enrich our community .

THE DARIEN LIBRARY MISSION

The Library will provide access to a broad array of content, as well as training

and assistance to help people successfully navigate and use information.

The Library will provide a broad array of programs and services to educate,

entertain and enrich people.

The Library will be proactive and creative in anticipating and responding to

community needs for resources, programs and services.

The Library will be accessible: physically to people during convenient hours

and electronically twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and three
hundred and sixty five days a year, and without charge to the individual user.
The Library will be the heart of the community, providing flexible and

inviting environments within which to access and enjoy its resources .

The Library will be a customer-driven organization with friendly, professional

staff dedicated to creating a positive and fun library experience.

The Library will attract, develop and sustain a highly professional staff in an

environment where teamwork, high standards and esprit de corps support

excellence.
The Library will collaborate with other town agencies and community groups

to serve the needs of the community.

The Library will be a public-private partnership, funded annually by a

combination of taxpayer dollars and individual donations sufficient to

sustain a library of excellence.
The Board of Trustees will obligate itself to continually attract new trustees

who are accomplished individuals with diverse expertise who have the time,
interest, and dedication required to support the Library in pursuit of its
vision and mission.

Darien Library

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