1999 Director's Report
to the Traverse Area District Library
Board of Trustees

It is with great pleasure that I present you with my annual report for 1999. It consists of this brief narrative, a list of some of the more significant events of the year, some collection and use statistics; and, an unaudited financial statement for the Library's General Fund.

What a year it was!

Following a gala preview on January 9^th, attended by 1,200 guests, the new main library's doors opened the next day to the general public. Some 5,000 visitors were simply in awe of this magnificent facility and what it had to offer.

Since then, we've had 388,000 visitors, loaned 567,000 items, presented children's programs for 10,700; and, logged over 25,000,000 web hits from our computers.

We also acquired the Kingsley Public Library as a branch, began administering tctv2; and, came to agreement as to the reuse of the old Sixth Street site.

While expenditures exceeded the budget, so did revenue and we ended up with a positive cash flow. We also ended the year with a sizeable unreserved fund balance. Now that we have a better idea of operational expenses, this balance will be reduced to accommodate future contingencies.

For next year, several things are already on the table. We've agreed to operate a branch library in Long Lake providing that the township provides a suitable facility. We're also exploring ways to make more community-centered information available from one central location. Finally, we can expect continued challenges over access to our collection and services.

My thanks goes especially to the staff who used their existing abilities, training, creativity; and, at times, just sheer determination to make this year a success.

The community has a lot to be proud of.

Respectfully submitted,

Mike McGuire, Director
2000 March 9

Significant Events of 1999

• Welcomed 388,000 visitors to the new main library.
• Loaned 617,000 items.
• Presented 378 programs for children with 16,600 attending.
• Had over 25,000,000 web hits from our computers.
• Acquired Kingsley Public Library as a branch library.
• Assumed administrative control of public access tctv2.
• Determined re-use of the Sixth Street facility.
• Booked an average of 12 meetings scheduled per week.
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• Set up the Slear Trust for Children's programming.
• Spear-headed by a grant from Mich-Con, opened the Children's Garden.
• Acquired gifts of a "Reader's Rowboat", aquarium, terrarium, puppet stage, piano, viewing scope, two globes; and, a grandfather clock.
• Increased staff by two-thirds.
• Received a thousand CD's as a gift.
• Began developing a community services database for United Way.
• Successfully integrated a blind employee in the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
• Updated the meeting room sound and lighting systems.
• Started a DVD collection and began renting DVD players.
• Offered 20 introductory computer courses per month in the Public Computing Center.
• Fulfilled a request from the American Family Association of Michigan for web sites accessed.
• Published the first two issues of The Business Connection and sent them out to the Chamber of Commerce mailing list.
• Accepted the collection from the Grand Traverse Genealogical Society.
• Held a strategic planning session.
• Passed the Y2K test with flying colors.

And we celebrated!

• Hosted a black tie Gala Preview for 1,200.
• Held a grand opening with over 5,000 showing up our first day open.
• Supported the Friends' Foundation Donor Reception.
• Held a formal dedication.
• Hosted a volunteer appreciation party.
• Thanked Phyllis Babel for her 34 years of service at a retirement party and Evie Wethy for 16 years at another.
• Held a reception for attendees of the State-wide Rural Libraries Conference.
• Co-hosted the Children's Garden Opening Day party with MichCon.
• Had a Reading Club party for over 250 children (during which we had the opportunity to test the building evacuation plan when a child set off the fire alarm).
• Hosted monthly opening day receptions for art exhibits in the meeting room.

Collection Use and Size

Items Loaned

Item Counts

1999 Financial Report
General Fund
(unaudited)