Library Updates

The Bloomfield Public Library is asking residents of the Bloomfield Central School District to vote on the library’s 2021-2022 funding. The library is asking voters to vote on a $179,800 tax levy, which represents a $8,050 increase from the 2020-2021 fiscal year.  In order to maintain the current level of library services and to plan for the future, the library needs to be able to keep up with the necessary COVID-19-related safety precautions and State mandated wage increases.

Details for the 2021-2022 Bloomfield Public Library Budget can be found here:

If the vote PASSES, what can be expected?

• The library will continue to purchase new materials, including bestsellers, movies, ebooks, Teen and Children’s materials, and magazines.
• The library will be able to maintain and expand offerings of programming events and classes for all ages, including early literacy and summer reading programs.
• The library will maintain the current level of computer and internet access, tutoring, and meeting room availability.

If the Vote FAILS, what can be expected?

• Fewer new books, ebooks, movies, and magazines will be purchased.
• Longer wait times on hold items.
• The library’s service hours will be reduced.
• Programing events and classes will be cut for adults, teens, and children and technology help may be reduced.
• Computer and internet access, tutoring and meeting room availability may all be negatively impacted

The proposed budget enables us to continue serving the Bloomfield community in a fiscally responsible manner, while reflecting our mission to educate and enrich by providing essential resources and opportunities.

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Trustee Election

There are three candidate names on the ballot for four open Bloomfield Public Library Board of Trustees seats. The Board of Trustees is a policy-making body that guides the development of the library and its services. Elected Trustees serve on the Board for terms of 3-years. The names of the three candidates are as follows:

• Karen Steiner
• Amy Williams
• Sarah Didas

Resolutions

Resolutions for the Library’s budget and trustee election will be included in the Bloomfield Central School District vote. A copy of these resolutions is available here:

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Important Dates

• Tuesday, May 11, 2021, at 7 pm – Bloomfield Public Library’s 2021-2022 Budget Presentation will be held virtually via GoToMeeting. Contact the library for details on attending.
• Tuesday, May 18, 2021 from 7am-8pm – Bloomfield Central School District Vot in the MS/HS Back Gallery.

Our Mission:

The mission of the Bloomfield Public Library is to educate and enrich the community by providing resources and opportunities for gathering, learning, connecting, innovating, and accessing information.

Charging overdue fines for print materials and audio books places limits on the usage of these materials that inhibits our ability to fulfill this pledge and discourages library use.

What does “fine free” mean?

• Fines are charged for overdue library materials. “Fine free” refers to eliminating the fees charged for returning print materials and audio books after their due date.
• As of April 1, 2020, print materials and audio books checked out at the Bloomfield Public Library will no longer incur overdue fines.
• Print materials and audio books will still be assigned a 3-week loan period, and patrons should continue to renew items to extend loan periods. Materials that are eligible will be automatically renewed. Items without holds can be renewed twice.
• Lost and damaged fees still apply. Items that are overdue more than eight (8) weeks are automatically marked lost.
• With approval from the library’s Director, patrons may choose to replace lost or damaged materials themselves with identical items.
• This policy change does not apply to overdue fines for DVDs, Blu-Ray, and video games.
• The library will continue to charge small fees for printing, photocopying, and faxing services.

Why is the library eliminating overdue fines for print materials and audio books?

• Charging overdue fines for print materials and audio books does not support the library’s mission of providing opportunities to all members of the community.
• Overdue fines disproportionately affect low-income families, adding another barrier to library use.
• Research shows no difference in overdue rates between libraries charging overdue fines and libraries not charging overdue fines.

Why am I still accruing overdue fines on my library account?

• Items checked out or renewed at other OWWL libraries are subject to that library’s circulation policies and may accrue overdue fines.
• Movies and video games checked out at the Bloomfield Public Library will still accrue overdue fines at $1.00 per day, with a maximum fine of $5.00.
• We cannot waive overdue fines for items owed to other libraries or waive fees for lost or damaged materials.
• Patrons with economic hardship or special circumstances that make it difficult to pay already accrued fines or for lost/damaged materials are encouraged to speak to the library’s Director.

Doesn’t the library need overdue fine money to run the library?

• Overdue fines make up a very small part of the library’s budget and have been trending downward in recent years. Since the beginning of the pandemic and the 2020, overdue fines at the Bloomfield Public Library have been waived. This has not had any discernable effect on the library budget.
• The library actually incurs expenses to collect overdue fines, including staff time collecting fines, staff time handling fine disputes, and billing postage.
• The majority of the library’s funding comes from the school district tax levy and donations.

The purpose of our library is to supply the Bloomfield community with resources that can be borrowed for education and enrichment. We believe removing overdue fines for print materials and audio books will promote literacy and increases access to the Bloomfield Public Library.

For more information on your library account, please visit the library staff at the Service Desk. Final decisions regarding patron accounts are made at the discretion of the Director.

updated 3/16/2021

Bloomfield Public Library is currently seeking interested community members, to support the library and run for Library Board Trustee in the 2021 election.

Three Trustee seats, for a three-year term each, are up for election this year. There is an additional seat up for election for a new Trustee to fill an unexpired term ending in June 2022.

Candidates running for Trustee positions at the 2021 election must be residents of Bloomfield Central School District, U.S. citizens, and at least 18 years of age.

What does it take to be a Trustee? Check out the Trustee Position Description document below:

Ready to become a Trustee Candidate? Election packets can be accessed below:

Questions? Call 585-657-6264, to speak with Margo Prak, Library Director or email bloomfieldlibrarydirector@owwl.org

The library will be closing at 3pm, today, February 2, 2021 due to the inclement weather forecast.

Weather permitting, we plan to reopen on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at our regular time of 2pm.

Stay safe! Stay warm!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our Library Service Questionnaire. Your thoughts, opinions, and views are greatly appreciated. Your input will help plan library services and influence goal development as we plan for the future. We found that there were several reoccurring themes among the responses we received. Below you will find a list of some of the most common of these and their answers.
If you have questions regarding the questionnaire or other library matters, please contact the library director at 585-657-6264 or via email at bloomfieldlibrarydirector@owwl.org.

How do I find what I’m looking for at the library? Where are the DVDs?

If you cannot find what you are looking for in our library please ask a staff member – we are here to help! During our recent interior renovation, a few areas of our collection, including Large Print and DVDs, were moved to new locations. Large Print materials are now near adult Non-Fiction, directly across from the entrance. Children’s and Family DVDs, rated G and PG, are located on the backside of the Children’s Non-Fiction shelf unit, at the end of Adult Fiction. All other DVDs are located where adult Fiction formerly began. New signage has been put up to identify the collection locations, and maps of the library layout can be found in convenient locations around the building.
To find items in our library or in the OWWL system, search our catalog by keyword, author, title, or subject. The catalog computer station in the library is located by the pillar leading into the Teen Area. From home you can access the catalog from our website or by going directly to Owwl.org A library card number and four-digit pin is needed to place items on hold or to see what you currently have checked out. If this system is unfamiliar to you, a staff member would be happy to walk you through it!

Why are eBook and digital audiobooks so limited?

OWWL2Go, our eBook and digital audiobook platform, is curated by the Pioneer Library System. The eBooks and audiobooks on OWWL2Go are purchased by and shared among the 42 libraries in the system. Without this cooperation, the Bloomfield Public Library would not be able to offer the quantity or variety of digital materials that we currently provide.
Unfortunately, for libraries eBooks and digital audiobooks tend to be more costly than their physical counterparts. Add this to publishers’ restrictive licensing terms, and it becomes very difficult to keep up with the increasing demand for content. In response to local demand, Bloomfield Public Library has increased our funding commitment toward digital content over the past several years. Plus during shutdown in 2020, the library reallocated funds from physical material purchasing to support additional digital content purchasing.

Do you offer contact-less pick up?

Yes! We offer contact-less pick up in our lobby. Go online or contact the library to place items you would like on hold. Once you receive notice that the items are ready, contact the library to schedule your pick up. When you come to collect your materials: pull up to the library’s main door, step into the lobby, collect your wrapped items from the table, and return to your vehicle. It’s as simple as that! If you are unable to come into the lobby, please contact the library, so that we may make alternate accommodations.

Do you have children’s story times?

Yes! Virtual story time videos are posted to our Facebook page on Thursday mornings. Past story time videos are also available to view at your leisure. You do not need a Facebook login to view our videos! Just go to our Facebook Videos‘ page. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 related restrictions, we are not holding in-person story time right now. We look forward to a time when we can safely welcome little ones and their families back to the library for story time again!

What about kits or virtual classes for teens and adults?

We are working to increase our virtual and take-home options for teens and adults. Various library material bundles are currently available for pick up (walk-in or lobby pick up). To see what’s going on at the Bloomfield Public Library, check out our online Event Calendar.
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 related restrictions, our ability to offer in-person groups and meetings is severely limited. We look forward to a time when we can all be together safely again.

However, we would welcome your help putting together our future programming schedule. Are you a crafter or hobbyist? Do you have a talent or knowledge in a specific field? Would you be interested in teaching others or willing to share with your friends, neighbors, and community? Please contact the library director regarding the potential for adding your passion to our programming schedule.