Town of Hampton - Lane Memorial Library

ADULT SERVICES
Darrell Eifert, Head of Adult Services, launched the year’s programs with a series of films to watch
and discuss; the concept has proved popular and was repeated later in the year. The Summer Program
for adults was titled HAMPTON READS and was based on a bingo game. Adults had to read 5 items
from a game card of 30 choices, ranging from reading something humorous to reading a “fat” book.
Several people took part and remarked on how interesting it was to read something in another genre
not familiar to them. Grand prize was a gift card to Barnes and Noble. A new audio format was
introduced with Playaways, audio books on a device similar to an MP3 player – no more switching
audio tapes or CD’s – just the one book on the player. They’ve proved great to use when exercising or
cleaning house or wrapping lots of presents! Look for another new audio format, downloadable audio
books, in 2007. Darrell’s able staff, Barbara Chapman, Elli Cyr, Claudia Cyrus, and Mary Twomey,
split up Sandra Kent’s hours when she retired in October after 8 years of great customer service; they
continue their good work daily.
CHILDREN’S SERVICES
Joanne Mulready’s regular story times continued throughout the year, culminating with the ever
popular Polar Express party in December. National Library Week in April featured Wayne from
Maine in celebration of the library’s 125 th anniversary. Summer was celebrated with Treasure Reading
as the theme under the direction of Marybeth Varney. There were lots of pirate decorations and
adventures, though no one walked the plank! Gold doubloons, eye patches, and “Avast there mateys!”
were evident throughout the summer. In August we welcomed Paulina Shadowens, a 2006 University
of Rhode Island Library School graduate, as the new Head of Children’s Services. Paulina comes to
Hampton with much experience in libraries and with children.
Cheryl French, the Young Adult Librarian, worked with Darrell Eifert as the large print collection was
moved, and used part of that area to make a new Teen Area. She continued the Teen Advisory Board
and several book groups begun last year. The kids were active with a fund raiser during the Friends of
the Library book sale, raising funds for the SPCA. During National Teen Week they read enough
pages (over 1600) in a challenge devised by Cheryl, which resulted in her having pink and green hair
for a day!
REFERENCE SERVICES
Alice Alford and Marija Sanderling continued their excellent reference work, breaking records almost
monthly for questions answered and interlibrary loans filled. We continue to lend more to other
libraries than we borrow. Marija is undertaking a review of the adult nonfiction and will be updating
resources as she finds outdated materials that need replacing. Don't forget to check out the new
databases available on our website. These excellent, trustworthy research tools can be used from
home 24/7.
TECHNICAL SERVICES
Bill Teschek, Head of Technical Services and resident genealogy expert, continued adding to the
genealogy and history books in the NH Room. He continues to maintain and upgrade the Library’s
website, as well as our 35 public and staff computers and 5 servers. In June, Jean Keefe, our cataloger
and long time adult services assistant, retired after 29 years! We hired Isabel Danforth from
Connecticut to take over her duties. Between Bill and Isabel, every item in the Library is cataloged and
accessible to the public through our online catalog. New this year - you can be notified about new
items in our collection through RSS feeds. Call Bill for an explanation of RSS!
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