Gowanda Free Library
Annual Report to the Community
for 2003

     In the valley of Gowanda, the library located along Main Street in the village opened on Sept. 11, 1936. Our Library was chartered in 1905. This library has a special “olde”- time feeling of days gone by and an ambiance that is enjoyed by all who enter the doors.

     We are a member of the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System. The interlibrary-loan system filled over 150 requests last year alone. Our library system has 36 member libraries that span out over an area of 2,415 miles. If our library system does not have a particular book for a nominal fee of $1, they will search the United States for it and deliver it to your local library for you.

     In 2003, we updated our four computers from Windows NT to Windows 2000. This upgrade was donated by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Our computers continue to be a very popular reference resource for school students as well as adults.

     Last year, we accomplished many goals and we continue to strive to accomplish others. The most important goal we achieved was obtaining permanent funding from the taxpayers of the Gowanda school district in the amount of $30,000 a year, and funding from the village for $13,000 a year.

     As you know, we had lost Erie County funding several years ago and needed permanent funding to replace those dollars.

     We are an association library and we are funded similar to the others in our system. We sincerely thank all of you who voted for funding your local Gowanda Library. We offer many services for a very small amount of tax dollars per household. It actually costs less than the price of a cup of restaurant coffee a month.

     In general, there were 15,202 library visits and we had 2,390 registered resident borrowers. We circulated 20,279 materials, handled over 5,000 reference inquiries, and enabled 2,590 sessions on the computers. Also in 2003, we had a highly successful summer reading program. Prizes were awarded along the way and ice cream treats from McDonald’s in Gowanda , Goode’s Restaurant in Collins and Art’s Grocery Store in Gowanda sweetened the rewards. At the end of the program, hardcover books were presented to all children and adults who successfully completed the requirements. We had 160 people who joined in on the fun.

     In the past year, 27 adult sessions were offered for entertainment and education. Thirty-six programs were offered to children and we had four young adult programs. Among the programming, we had Bonsai tree night, poetry club meetings, the “Reminisce Series” that included many area people who shared their memories with us. Individual Girl Scout troops took turns entertaining and reading to the children with a series of story hours. We had a special series of animal story hours that included amphibians, dogs, cats, alpacas, and Kilo the police dog. The Shakespeare Players came to the town park for a performance of “Much Ado About Nothing,” presented by young adults from the Springville Players. Mike Randall presented the most remarkable evening of entertainment as he portrayed Mark Twain. Our library partnered with Saint Joseph’s Church and had a very successful evening for the hundreds who attended. (The latter two were funded through grants that were awarded to the library from the Cattaraugus Arts Council paid for by New York State.) The last but not least important of the events was the visit of Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus as they read stories to the children, and Santa read “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” A total of 2,342 people enjoyed these events.

     This library is very dear to my heart. It is a special place for many and I will continue to strive to maintain a safe, educational and comfortable place for all to enjoy. We are always interested in your comments and your questions or different points of view. Our door is always open to you and if you have ideas that you would enjoy discussing with me, please feel free to come and express yourself. This library belongs to the people of Gowanda and the surrounding areas. We service the many diversified interests of the patrons who visit. This library is here to offer enjoyment for all. We truly hope that you choose to do so.