Library

Looking back on the year’s statistics is always fun. This year is especially enjoyable because our statistics show we are creeping back toward our 2019 numbers. I’m hopeful this means good things for 2022!

One of the buzz phrases in the business world is “Return on Investment” which is the benefit (usually monetary) you get from investing in a business, service, etc. Looking at our 2021 statistics, I decided to calculate Pryor’s return on investment (ROI) for the Library. Our total budget this fiscal year is $519,535.

In 2021, we had 8,400 active patron accounts (662 were new accounts). Those accounts checked out about 31,500 physical items and 25,000 digital items. Using an average price of $16.80 per item, our community saved $952,000 by using the Library’s collection instead of buying the same materials.

Pryor Library staff answered about 27,700 questions in 2021. I’m going to assume we averaged about 3 minutes of staff time per question or 1,385 hours in total. Using our budgeted salaries divided by the number of employees included in that budget item, we average about $11.17 per hour of paid staff time (that doesn’t include any benefits). By asking Library staff instead of finding and paying for another service for those answers the community saved about $15,500 in 2021.

With only those two services (material checkout and research help), the ROI is almost $2 for every dollar spent by the City to support your Pryor Library. These back of the napkin calculations don’t account for our internet and wifi services, our online resources beyond Overdrive, or our events and programming. Nor do they take into account savings from our four sister libraries in Mayes County. It’s safe to say that Libraries are a good deal.

Thank you for investing in your Mayes County Libraries.

We’ve made it to the last week of 2021! Hooray! I am cautiously optimistic about the new year. The Library will see a lot of positive changes (mostly with the building) in the coming year that we’re all very excited about.

A new year often brings new goals and 2022 is no different. The Library will publish its next strategic plan in July. This will set down our goals for the next three years as well as the path we anticipate taking to accomplish those goals. (We’ll be asking for community input on these goals soon)

For personal goal-setting, I’ve decided to try some reading goals for the first time. I am a slow reader, an inconsistent reader, and a busy human, so reading goals have been intimidating for me. This year, I’m setting goals while keeping in mind that they’re something to aim for and there are only things to gain from trying to accomplish them.

My biggest reading goal for 2022 is simply to keep track of what I read. I will use two tools to help me do this: my Library accounts and an app called TheStorygraph. (Lots of people use journals instead of apps. I admire their dedication.)

Both our Library system and Overdrive keep a history of what patrons check out. I have mine set to remember everything forever, but you can tweak your settings to have the system forget after a certain period of time or not to keep track at all. If you need help finding these settings, let us know.

TheStorygraph is similar to GoodReads (you can even import your GoodReads info). It was founded by Nadia Odunayo and her team who have nothing to do with Amazon. I like that about them. It is a new site/app so there are some kinks to work out, but overall I am very pleased with it.

Be sure to let us know if you have any reading (or other) goals for 2022 and if we can help you accomplish them!

I have a t-shirt that says “Some of my best friends are fictional,” which always makes me think of the fictional friends I carry in my heart.

Sophie Hatter from “Howl’s Moving Castle” by Diana Wynne Jones is a super smart, but sometimes clueless, woman who talks life into things. She sees the potential in the things and people around her and brings that potential to life. She’s great in the anime, but amazing in the book.

Lucero-Elisa de Riqueza in “The Girl of Fire and Thorns” by Rae Carson wants to eat good food (sometimes to numb strong emotions) and read. Instead, Elisa has to use her cleverness to thwart invasions and save the world all while not having much confidence that she can. The imposter syndrome is very relatable.

A new fictional friend is Agnieszka from “Uprooted” by Naomi Novick. She’s a nice mix of Sophie and Elisa. She’s impulsive, empathetic, brilliant, and unsure of herself or her standing in the world. She feels a deep sense of responsibility to her home and her people that drives most of her action.

We’d love to hear about your friends from fiction. We’d also love to introduce you to some ones!

A quick note on Library construction: Beginning December 27, the construction crews will need to block access to our main parking lot entrance, outside book drop, and more of the parking lot.

This will change three things about your Library experience. 1) Everyone will enter and leave the building through our west doors in Youth Services. 2) Parking will be in even shorter supply, so you may have to park in the First Baptist Church’s lot (we are so thankful for their kind generosity). 3) Our outside drop box will not be accessible during this time.

They’re aiming to have that area back open in about three weeks, but construction timelines are tricky.