The mission of the Milford Town Library is to maintain “a vibrant library where people want to be. It meets the needs of a diverse and growing community…and provides free, easy, equal and confidential access to a wide variety of materials with timely quality service to patrons of all ages.”

The library offers a wide variety of materials for borrowing, including books, magazines, DVDs, Videos, CDs, software, audio books, digital eBooks, and e-audio books. In 2005, over 196,000 items were borrowed from the library. Beyond the borrowing of materials, we offer meeting rooms, children’s story times, a range of adult and special family programs, and free Internet access. Librarians answer reference questions, give library tours, and make outreach visits to local schools and organizations. During this calendar year over 26,000 reference questions were answered, patrons accessed the Internet over 33,000 times at the library, and attendance at the library increased 11%.

We offer an English as a Second Language program staffed by volunteer tutors. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 17% of Milford’s population spoke a language other than English. This number has continued to grow rapidly over the last 6 years. The library offers free Drop In Conversation Classes Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights from 7-8:30 PM. In addition volunteer tutors are trained three times per year and matched with students for free individual or small group classes as well. In 2005, more than 2,700 adults attended these Drop In ESL classes, making the library a primary source for individuals seeking this service. A collection of materials focusing on learning to speak and read English is also available for borrowing. Thank you to Hannaford Supermarkets and Wal-Mart for helping to fund this program in 2005.

For Young Adults, the library offers the Chillin Zone After School Program on Mondays through Thursdays from 2:30-4:30 PM during the school year. The program offers homework help, laptop computers for research and recreational use, movies, games, arts & crafts, and special programs focusing on teen issues. It also offers all the kids coming after school a place to chat with friends without disturbing other library patrons. We consider serving these youth a wonderful opportunity, because kids who use the library at this age become library users for life!

In 2005, the library also added a number new resources, and services. A new and easy to remember web site was launched at www.milfordtownlibrary.org. Through the web site, users can access their library account, chat with a reference librarian 24/7, and access full text articles from magazines, reference books and newspapers. From your home PC you can also read the latest library newsletter, reserve a book or video, sign up for children’s programs, or check the library events calendar. Book jacket covers, book summaries, and other additional information were added to the library online card catalog.

An exciting new feature, also available on the web site, is downloadable books and audio books. If you enjoy listening to books, or like reading eBooks on your handheld device, this new service is for you! Patrons may check out these books and audio books using their library card from their home computer. Then the user downloads the material to his/her home PC, handheld, or MP3 player. The material returns itself after the 2 week checkout period. No overdue fines! No necessary trip to the library!

Thanks to the Friends of the Milford Town Library, patrons may now reserve a museum pass online, and check museum pass availability from home. The Friends also purchased passes to the Discovery Museums in Acton, Tower Hill Botanical Gardens, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 2005. (This is in addition to the seven passes all ready offered including the Museum of Fine Arts, the Boston Children’s Museum, New England Aquarium, and more.) A lovely new sign out in front of the library lets those passing by know what’s happening. We are deeply appreciative of the Friends hard work and the many resources and programs they provide!

Also new in 2005, a History Book Group which meets once a month on a Wednesday night. A historic Milford walking brochure created by the library’s Health Resource Committee, promoting Milford history and healthy exercise! This year we offered a new and expanded monthly library newsletter, available at the library, online, and various other buildings in town. New foreign language materials, multicultural programming, and signs were provided through a Library Services and Technology Act Grant.

The Board of Library Trustees meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 7 PM for general business meetings and these meetings are open to the public.

For additional information about the library see our website, read our featured weekly column in the” Milford Daily News” on Monday, or just come in and visit. We have something for everyone at the library.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the 205 volunteers who helped us this year, and the other town departments who make such an effort to help us do our job better. Our gratitude also goes out to those at town meeting who approved our $1.45 million renovation project at the October Town Meeting. We looked forward to an exciting 2006.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jennifer M. Perry
Library Director