The Oliver Wolcott Library, Inc., is the principal public library of the Town of Litchfield.

Our Mission

To provide facilities, materials, services and programs that foster lifelong learning and a welcoming environment for community interaction, enhanced by staff dedicated to this vision and possessed of compassion, a cooperative spirit and strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Our Core Values

• We creatively communicate and attentively listen to ensure that our services are known and relevant to the needs of the community.

• We are innovative, dynamic risk-takers who embrace new technologies and ideas.

• We select, initiate and promote materials, programs and services that enlighten, entertain, and inform.

• We are a welcoming, friendly place for all members of the community.

• We continuously improve our efficiency and infrastructure by managing our funds and resources wisely and attracting public and private funding.

OWL Highlights

Residents’ use of OWL continues to grow, accelerating in the fourth quarter of 2008 as the economy worsens.

Library Use:

• Circulation totaled 110,760 items during 2008, compared to 96,081 in 2007. This usage represents a 15% increase for the full year and a 32% increase over the past 4 months.

• Attendance in 2008 broke a record at 72,817 visits up 65% over the past five years.

• 594 Litchfield residents became new Library members in 2008 compared to 553 in 2007.

• 3,565 participated in children’s programs during 2008 compared to 3,224 in 2007. This participation represents an 11% increase for the full year and a 247% change over the past 4 months.
   

• 34,249 visits were made to OWL Website compared to 18,650 in 2007, an increase of 84%

• 20,282 visits were made to the OWL blog in 2008 up from 6,846 in 2007, an increase of 196% (the blog was created during 2007).
  Online Usage: the Virtual OWL

Library initiates outreach programs for underserved residents, focusing on children and seniors

Outreach:

• OWL’s children’s librarian has joined with a collaborative reading in-school program with the 7th and 8th grade reading teachers. 

• In addition, OWL’s children’s librarian is providing reading support to area preschools and Headstart programs.

• OWL’s Adult Service Librarian has initiated a book lending service in Brandywine Assisted Living and homebound service to shut-in seniors.

• In addition, OWL’s Adult Service Librarian initiated one-on-one computer training service within OWL. During the last quarter of 2008, more than 47 sessions were provided to Litchfield residents.

OWL increases efficiency to serve greater demandLibrary

Efficiency:

• Annual circulation per full-time employee is the standard metric for evaluating library efficiency. OWL’s grew to 18,098 in 2008 and is or 32.3% higher than the statewide average. OWL’s performance also exceeds all nearby libraries.

• Attendance per full-time employee is an additional measure of library efficiency. OWL’s 2008 attendance of 11,898 per full time employee exceeds the statewide average by 25.3%

• We will hold the materials budget for 2009-10 constant in spite of a 15% increase in circulation. We will fund new all initiatives by reallocating resources.

• Over the past three years, we have reduced electrical usage by 24% and oil usage by 30%. We are committed to further savings in 2009-2010.

OWL increases the level of private funding but at a greater expenditure. State funding is at risk and the level of municipal funding remains a challenge.

Costs and Funding:

• State funding for the library comes directly to OWL. As advised by the Connecticut Library, we have held the budget constant. OWL, not the Town, will absorb any reduction in State funding.

• OWL’s various fundraising efforts will generate an additional 7.6% of private funding in 2009-10 as compared to 2008-09. This fund raising effort will support 29% of OWL’s budget. On a statewide basis, libraries privately raise only 9% of their budgets.

• The Town proportion of OWL's budget for 2008 was 49.9% of total operating budget as compared to a statewide average of 86.8%

• The Town of Litchfield funded OWL at a per capita rate of $30.13 as compared to a statewide municipal average of $41.96. This difference in funding levels increased in 2008