CONNECTING PRINCETON
2021 IMPACT REPORT PRINCETON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Connecting =
Impact
D
uring National Library Week, we collected stories about how library customers were utilizing our services during the pandemic. While reading the stories of diverse users, I was struck by the strong connection they felt to the library, whether the Sands Library Building was open or closed. I remembered the story of how the library magazine came to be called Connections: it took its name from a tile on the “Happy World” mural in our lobby reading “Only Connect.” The quote is from “Howard’s End” by E.M. Forester: “Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer.” As you read these stories, remember that the human connections the library provides — in person and virtually — are as powerful as any statistic we could offer to make the case for private support. Your gift allows people to connect with words, ideas and community. I can think of no greater impact any organization can demonstrate. — Jennifer Podolsky Executive Director
Photo by Catherine “Cie” Stroud
Connecting with
Books
W
e caught up with the Barreto Family (Holley, Erica, Elena and Nico) during National Library Week in April and asked what the library has meant to them for the past 12 months. “As a family, we missed going to the library so much,” Holley said. “It was truly wonderful when the library started the contactless pickup service and we could reserve physical books online and pick them up in a safe manner. “Our kids read hundreds of books this past year; both Elena and Nico love going into the library and exploring the shelves, so it was like Christmas when we could once again access the children’s floor. “Reading helped normalize our lives during the pandemic. It has been a lifeline to the world, especially for the kids to have a connection when it wasn’t physically possible. If it’s imaginable, they love the library even more now.”
From left, Holley, Elena, Nico and Eric Barreto
Photo by Marek Malkowski
Connecting with
Neighbors
S
taff member Anna Lewis’s devotion to the library is evident when she talks about how she connected with patrons over the past year. She had endless stories to tell. Anna described calling to check in with older customers who live alone at the start of the pandemic and how she enjoyed reconnecting with our regular customers on a daily basis when the library reopened. Anna just wanted to make sure others stayed informed. She shared how the customers she checked in with felt an overwhelming gratitude and a sense of comfort knowing she would be calling back. Anna spread the word about the library’s virtual services with her neighbors at Princeton Community Village, keeping them updated about the pandemic and its effect on our town. One woman stopped while Anna was being interviewed and exclaimed, “I’m so happy to be back!” Judging by the smile on her face, you could tell Anna felt exactly the same way.
Photo by Marek Malkowski
Connecting in
Person
T
he library is part of Tom Dolan’s daily routine: The New York Times Crossword, browsing new books and coffee on the plaza.
During the pandemic, even just seeing the Sands Library Building façade helped him through the ups and downs. “If I’m having a bad day, I see the building and am reminded of how fortunate we are in Princeton to have this amazing place,” Tom said. “It just keeps me going.” Connecting in person means the most to Tom, who stays unplugged while at home and uses the library’s public computers for his electronic outreach. He has a special appreciation for conversations with “the brilliant staff — great people who empathize and truly listen,” and is grateful for services that go “beyond any other library.” Tom is very grateful for the library’s services and takes advantage of them all. “I feel like it’s my library,” he said. “I’m beyond happy to support it.”
Photo by Marek Malkow
wski
Connecting –
When the pandemic transformed the nature of work and school, we responded by boosting the reach of our technology — literally and figuratively. With private support raised during the Bridge the Digital Divide campaign, we expanded the coverage
insideand out
of our free, high-speed Wi-Fi, creating an outdoor public workspace on Hinds Plaza. We were also able to expand our wireless hotspot lending program to include Chromebooks, providing vulnerable populations with crucial resources. Photo by Tim Quinn
Connecting with
Classrooms
F
or Princeton Unified Middle School English teacher Crystal Paek, the library has been a personal lifeline during the pandemic, one that resonates in her professional career, as well. “The library was the only place we could go to for books and they didn’t let us down,” Crystal said. “The online hold-and-pickup system was extremely straightforward and reliable. It made acquiring books for our family easy and enjoyable throughout the lockdown and remote learning months.” Crystal said the library’s impact was noticeable in her classroom, where many students read for pleasure in addition to their school assignments. Like her family, students rely on the library’s physical and digital collections for non-school reading. “Even after school buildings reopened, my students and I agreed that the library’s physical books were important as breaks from screen time,” she said. “We love to use Libby and Sora to access the extensive e-book and audiobook collections. And now we can enjoy everything the building’s top floor has to offer.”
Photo by Marek Malkowski
S
torytime is one of the things that makes Martha Liu’s job at the library so enjoyable, something that’s clear to any kid or parent who has attended one of her programs. So for Martha, the pivot to virtual Storytime Shorts is about more than just getting the camera settings and the lighting right. “It was also a big shift emotionally — to not be in a room full of children and their grownups,” Martha said. “Whenever I record, I like to visualize children, just as they would be in the Story Room at the library, but instead in their homes.” At first, it was hard to know whether all of that preparation and visualization was paying off. Eventually, Martha realized that Storytime Shorts was having a bigger impact than she imagined. “When you send these videos out into the world, it’s difficult to know how they are being received and if actual, real, live children are watching them,” Martha said. “But now that we are open again, families will come in and tell us how much they love watching Storytime Shorts. “We’ve even had children and families tuning in to Storytime Shorts from other states. In one instance, we got to see a young boy in Upstate New York interacting with a Storytime Short into which I incorporated American Sign Language. This boy is on the autism spectrum and has delayed speech, so his parents are using ASL to enhance communication. In the video of him watching my Storytime Shorts, he is signing along with me and clearly enjoying himself. It made my heart shine and gave me a renewed sense of purpose for what we are doing.”
Connecting with
Stories
Photo by Marek Malkowski
A
s supervisor of world languages for Princeton Public Schools, Priscilla Russel has always shared her passion for reading and languages with her grandchildren, 10-year-old Kai in Palo Alto, Calif., and 5-year-old Katla in Laramie, Wyo. This used to mean a lot of air travel, something the pandemic ended. But with the help of the library, Kai and Katla were able to continue to have quality time with their grandmother and benefit from her love of languages. “In April, 2020, their parents asked if I might like to set up regular reading times.” Priscilla said. “For Kai who is trilingual in Russian, Spanish and English, I decided to read some classics and started with ‘Tom Sawyer.’ With Katla, I started with the books we have in our personal library, but soon we needed more. So my son would go online to see if the library had a particular title and we’d use the hold pickup program to get the book. Hence, we’re now reading Vol. 6 of ‘How to Train your Dragon.’ We also got more Beatrix Potter books, too.” After more than a year with no physical contact, Priscilla will have extended visits with her grandchildren this summer in Princeton and Palo Alto. The family will never forget the key role the library played in providing a personal learning connection during a difficult time. “Throughout this journey, everyone at the library has been so helpful in finding the books or DVDs we are seeking,” Priscilla said. “We are really looking forward to normalcy, with more children back on the Third Floor and more fish in the fish tank.”
Connecting with
Family
Photo by Marek Malkowski
Connecting with
You
What library customers said about our services and outreach during 2020 Ever since I retired two years ago, I have been visiting the library every day, so I miss all of you and your wonderful services.
I can’t tell you how overjoyed I was to see your door open (for hold pickup) this morning when I walked around the corner. My husband and I have enjoyed reading your e-books, but you just don’t have enough of them to keep us satisfied.
Yes, I miss the library, all the wonderful, supportive, charming staff, reading the paper, looking for a good book to read and just hanging out with people from town.
That’s very kind of you to call, but not a surprise because the library is so great.
Connecting with
Stats
577average daily users of the library’s free Wi-Fi in May, 2021. This represents a 60% increase in average use compared to March, 2021. There were
75% of Wi-Fi sessions emanate from the Hinds Plaza outdoor workspace.
Thank you so much for calling. I haven’t seen a human being in ages, but I have my audiobooks, and they’re keeping me alive.
Really impressed with the princetoncovid.org website and the way it came online so fast. To have all of that information in one place was really helpful for my family. Well done.
I’m using Libby and watching out for my Dad. He misses the library more than anything. You can be sure that when you reopen, he’ll be there with his mask on.
Princeton Public Library is a wonderful asset to the community and throughout this pandemic I believe you have done a fantastic job. The online classics, which are always available, are really good.
The boys and I were so happy to visit the mini library you have in the Community Room. While it’s no substitute for the Third Floor, it was nice for all of us to connect with the staff and browse shelves.
I know a lot of people are eager to get back in the building, but I ’m not there yet. I wanted you to know that the hold pickup service has been great for me.
Connect with the Development Office 609-924-9529 Lisa Belshaw Director
Ext. 1251 lbelshaw@princetonlibrary.org
Dawn Frost Associate
Ext. 1284 dfrost@princetonlibrary.org
Stephanie Oster Administrator Ext. 1280 soster@princetonlibrary.org
Princeton Public Library Sands Library Building 65 Witherspoon Street Princeton, NJ 08542
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Produced by the Office of Marketing and Communications at Princeton Public Library in collaboration with the Development Office II 609-924-9529 II princetonlibrary.org Writing, editing and design: Tim Quinn
Happy World photo by Catherine “Cie” Stroud © 2021 Princeton Public Library