July Monthly Report

The past twelve months have been very active for the Library and Adult Services! The following is a sampling of key accomplishments and events over the past year. Thanks to all Adult Services staff members for their hard work and dedication over the past year.

• Fiction, Movies and Music area opens in summer 2007, with new a new service desk and improved shelving and signage.
• YA staff implements video gaming as part of their programming, attracting non-traditional users to the library.
• Periodicals collection moves to new self-serve shelving near reference stacks. Back issues of magazines are now shelved with the most recent copy, enabling patrons to easily browse the collection.
• Bookletters expands to include different genres and formats, including new e-newsletters for genealogy, business, and library news.
• Cook Library Genealogy Networking group debuts in April.
• Job descriptions updated for many Adult Services staff members.
• DVD checkout limit doubled to 10.
• Harry Potter Lock-In Party attracts 32 teens who enjoyed an overnight of fun as the highly anticipated book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was officially released in July.
• Nearly all of the library’s 4,500 adult videocassette titles are sold to the public in order to proceed with the relocation of the DVD and CD collection to the main floor.
• New Family Film Collection is completed, offering over 550 family-friendly DVD titles.
  English Language Learning collection is established, consisting of books and multimedia materials to help adults improve their reading and comprehension.
• ELL reading and discussion group established, offering book discussions for non-native English speakers in a leisurely, fun setting.
• Instant messaging implemented, enabling patrons an additional means to communicate with reference librarians.
• Adult Services shelving operations reorganized, including naming 2 lead shelvers.
• Legal Forms and Small Business Resource Center databases added.
• After months of preparation and training, new online catalog system, Millennium, is launched in February.
• Monthly Pioneer Press column begins in April, exploring historical topics and events local to Mundelein, Vernon Hills and Libertyville.