It’s well trodden ground that the only thing that is constant is change
(thanks Heraclitus), and we’ve had more than our full share of that here over the past year.
We’ve completely overhauled our computer system, we’ve added Kindles and iPads, expanded our band-width and improved our WiFi network. We added a new, updated AWE Early Literacy Learning Center workstation in Children’s Department (thanks to a grant from the Union County Freeholders). We’ve had some major staff turnover and added some wonderful, new faces here (say hi to Mandy and Meredith and Monica) that, along with those of us that remain (Dan, Susan, Nancy, Jill, Sheldon, Anita and all our fabulous pages), have strengthened the team and are helping to make a significant difference in the day to day services we can provide.
We embraced a new logo and upped our social media visibility with both Twitter and Instagram pages to go with our Facebook presence and, along with e-notifications for coming due materials and check-out receipts, we’ve started a monthly e-newsletter. We designed and launched a new website, and now, with an ongoing eye towards improved usability and being responsive to the variety of mobile platforms we’re being accessed on, as well as stability and security, we’ve recently re-worked and re-launched our recently re-designed website.
And at the very end of 2015 we had some holiday fun on a national level when the Library’s own Hook & Needle Club’s crocheted bowls were featured in the fantastic Chex Mix yarn bombing campaign video.
And there’s plenty to look forward to coming up in 2016 – we’ve kicked off a new Family Friendly First Sunday Series with great programs for everyone to enjoy together. We’ve started regular Monday afternoon Fanwood Maker Lab sessions, to go along with the weekly Tuesday afternoon Hook & Needle knitting and crochet group and Wednesday afternoon scrabble club.
So as the new year gets under way, we’ll resolve to continue to embrace change, strive to improve our services and broaden our outreach, and stay flexible and responsive to all members of our Fanwood community and the wonderful families and library users we serve. We are confident that 2016 will (inevitably) continue to bring more, exciting changes and improvements to the already amazing Fanwood Memorial Library… and we’re ready!
Dan Weiss
Dan is currently the director of the Fanwood (NJ) Memorial Library. Since he accepted that position in 1997 he has dramatically taken this small suburban library into the 21st century with improvements in facilities, staffing and service. He has served locally, regionally and state wide on many civic and library related committees and boards. In his current position Dan gets to do it all, from overseeing web development, graphics design and renovations, to public relations and fund-raising, all while being the go-to-guy for overflowing toilets and salting the front walk. With his colleague, Meg Kolaya, Dan started the consulting firm Library Connections that developed the nationally recognized and award-winning Libraries and Autism: We’re Connected project. They produced a customer service training video (updated in 2014) and website primarily for library staff to help them serve individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families more effectively. Dan and Meg have given many customer service and autism workshop presentations and keynote addresses, participated in conferences, taught online courses and consulted both locally and around the United States. After hours, Dan continues his varied music career, now with well over 50 years of performing, singing and playing the guitar. He loves all kinds of music with a special fondness for vocalists (Hank Williams, Ray Charles, Billie Holiday and George Jones), bluegrass, honky-tonk, and acoustic roots country. Check www.dannyweiss.com to find out where to hear him next.