Pawling Free Library

THE PAWLING FREE LIBRARY SEEKS TO SERVE THE TOWN OF PAWLING, INCLUDING THE HAMLET OF HOLMES AS WELL AS THE SURROUNDING AREAS, BY MAKING HIGH QUALITY LIBRARY MATERIALS AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS FREE OF CHARGE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PERSONAL ENJOYMENT, SELF-IMPROVEMENT OR ACADEMIC INQUIRY. BY MEETING THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS PERSONAL NEEDS, WE HOPE TO ENCOURAGE ENTHUSIASTIC READERS OF ALL AGES, DEDICATED TO PERSONAL ENRICHMENT AND LEARNING.

THE PAWLING FREE LIBRARY IS A FREE LENDING LIBRARY THAT ALSO PROVIDES VARIOUS PUBLIC PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS, TEENS AND CHILDREN. PROGRAMS ARE GEARED TOWARDS AN INCREASE IN LEARNING, LITERACY AND EDUCATION AS WELL AS ENTERTAINMENT AND PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT. THESE SERVICES ARE OFFERED TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF PAWLING AND HOLMES.IN THE PAWLING LIBRARY, AS WITH EVERYWHERE ELSE, 2021 WAS AN UNUSUAL TIME. AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC EVOLVED, WE ADJUSTED OUR PRACTICES AND EXPECTATIONS TO MATCH THE NEEDS OF THE TIME. CERTAIN INNOVATIONS WE ADOPTED DURING THE LOCKDOWN REMAINED IN PLACE, LIKE OFFERING CONTACTLESS CHECKOUT AND TAKE-HOME ACTIVITY KITS. AS THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DIMINISHED, WE MOVED CAUTIOUSLY BACK TOWARDS NORMAL BY RE-INTRODUCING LIMITED IN-PERSON EVENTS AND BY EASING OUR MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS.IN SPITE OF THE DIFFICULTIES POSED BY THE PANDEMIC, 2021 WAS A PIVOTAL YEAR IN THE HISTORY OF OUR LIBRARY. AS WE REFLECTED BACK ON THE FIRST ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF OUR LIBRARY'S HISTORY, WE SAW AN INSTITUTION WHICH GREW AND CHANGED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMMUNITY AROUND IT. IN 1921, WE STARTED WITH COLLECTION OF 400 DONATED BOOKS IN A SINGLE ROOM WHICH WAS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ONE DAY A WEEK. ONE HUNDRED YEARS LATER, WE NOW HAVE OUR OWN BUILDING AND STAFF, WITH SIZEABLE COLLECTIONS OF BOTH PRINT AND DIGITAL MATERIALS.IN MAY 2021, WE KICKED OFF OUR CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION WITH A JAZZ CONCERT ON THE VILLAGE GREEN. THE CELEBRATION HAS CARRIED ON WITH EVENTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST YEAR AND WILL WRAP UP WITH A CENTENNIAL GALA ON MAY 21.AS COVID-19 BECOMES EASIER TO NAVIGATE, PATRONS HAVE RETURNED TO THE LIBRARY AND OUR IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING, WHILE ON-LINE PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ENRICHING AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO MAINTAIN A DEGREE OF CAUTION. ALMOST 2,000 CHILDREN AND NEARLY 1,100 CAREGIVERS PARTICIPATED IN EARLY LEARNING AND LITERACY PROGRAMS IN 2021. WITH 262 ADULT PROGRAMMING OFFERINGS, 1,965 ADULT PATRONS ENJOYED PROGRAMS THAT RAN THE GAMUT FROM LITERARY LECTURES TO COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS. IN FACT, WHEN TEEN AND YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMMING PARTICIPATION GETS ADDED INTO THE MIX, MORE THAN 6,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE, ENLIGHTEN, AND INSPIRE.WITH INFORMATION ABOUT OUR MANY SERVICES AVAILABLE ON THE LIBRARY'S WEBSITE, COMMUNITY MEMBERS LOGGED ON 293,426 TIMES LAST YEAR, AND OUR WIFI WAS UTILIZED 14,841 TIMES FOR INTERNET EXPLORATION OF EVERY KIND. OUR ELECTRONIC OFFERINGS, INCLUDING EBOOKS, DOWNLOADABLE AUDIOBOOKS AND MAGAZINES, AND STREAMING MUSIC AND MOVIES WERE ACCESSED MORE THAN 10,000 TIMES!IN ADDITION TO THE MANY HOURS OF SERVICE PROVIDED BY OUR STAFF, MORE THAN 140 COMMUNITY MEMBERS VOLUNTEERED OVER 300 HOURS. THEY HELPED WITH EVERYTHING FROM CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING TO RE-SHELVING BOOKS TO PLANNING OUR CENTENNIAL GALA.WHILE THE RANGE OF THINGS HAPPENING AT THE LIBRARY IS IMPRESSIVE, SO TOO IS THE NUMBER 58,310. THAT'S THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR CIRCULATION, INCLUDING FICTION AND NON-FICTION BOOKS, DVDS, VIDEO GAMES, AND MOVIES, THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE ENJOYMENT AND EDUCATIONAL ADVENTURES OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF EVERY AGE. WHEN YOU ADD TO THAT ALL THE ITEMS AVAILABLE FROM OTHER LIBRARIES THROUGH THE MID-HUDSON LIBRARY SYSTEM, YOU CAN TRULY SAY THAT OUR LIBRARY HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.