The library is a department of the Town of Wilmington. The six member Board of Library Trustees appointed by the Town Manager is authorized to set policies for the library. The Library Director is appointed by the Town Manager upon recommendation of the Board of Library Trustees.

Wilmington's first official public library opened in 1871 in the rear of what was then the Town Hall (currently the Wilmington Arts Center). It was moved in 1890 to the Center School House (currently the Fourth of July Building) across from the Town Common where it remained for nearly eighty years.

Rapid growth of Wilmington, especially during the 1950s, was reflected in the growth and use of its public library. Plans to build a larger library were made in the early 1960s. The new library, built only a short distance from the old library near the Town Common, was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1969 and renamed the ?Wilmington Memorial Library in honor of all Wilmington veterans.

From 1970 until 1987, the library experienced steady growth and provided traditional services. In 1987, the library joined the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) an automated network. Computerization of the library improved the quality of service and increased the level of activity. The rapidly changing technology of the 21st century continues to influence the kinds of services the modern library can and is expected to provide. MVLC membership currently includes computerized access to over 2 million items, circulation control activities, centralized cataloging, Internet access, access to commercial databases, web hosting, and staff training.

The library is also a member of the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System (NMRLS) one of the six multi-type library regions in the state. Interlibrary loan delivery services, continuing staff education, and consulting services are among the many valuable support services the region provides.

A total of 5,100 items were added to the collection in FY04 and 14,832 items were withdrawn. The library's total print collection has decreased in the last five years by approximately 10% due to an aggressive and systematic weeding project. In the past twenty years, weeding the collection has been done only sporadically. This recent project primarily targeted the adult collection and has achieved the following: 1) insured that the collection is up-to-date and relevant to user needs and interests 2) provided space for the overcrowded book collection and the growing non-print collection and 3) improved access to the book collection by eliminating high book shelves. Weeding the children?s book collection has begun and will most likely reduce it by 10%.

The non print collection, on the other hand, has increased by 238 % in the last five years. Given the increasing availability and demand for videos, DVDs, audio-books and compact discs, the non-print collection will likely continue to grow faster than the print collection for the next five years.

It should be noted that the 107% increase in the teen collection is a result of realizing a goal of the previous Long Range Plan to give teens improved access to library materials for reading, viewing and listening.

Average total holdings 92,935

The number of computers available for public use is limited by lack of space. There are two PCs in the Adult Department and two in the Children's Department dedicated to the online catalog. There are three Internet workstations in the Adult Department and two in the Children's Department. This is an increase of two PC workstations since 1999. There is also a preschool computer in the hallway outside the children's room and a PC that is not connected to the Internet on the stairwell landing. The five Internet PCs are almost always in demand with patrons often having to wait their turn for an available PC. According to the reference desk Internet sign in log, the five Internet PCs were used 8,576 times in FY04. In order to meet the increasing demand for Internet access and for basic computer needs (word processing, school projects, resumes, etc) the library plans to add three additional PCs near the reference area by eliminating two study tables in 2004.

Membership in the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) and the Northeast Regional Library System (NMRLS) provides access to a variety of subscription databases including full-text periodicals as well as health, business biographical and literary resources. These databases are available not only in the library but also at the home or office with Internet access and a library card.

The library's new revised website www.wilmlibrary.org debuted in April, 2003 providing access to information about library services and programs, to the online catalog and to the above databases.

*Change was made in the method of counting transactions.

Library activity increased in all areas in the last five years except in the number of reference questions answered by staff. Reference staff report that patrons are now locating many of the routine questions on the Internet themselves. However, reference staff are spending more time teaching patrons how to use this technology to find information as well as answering more complex research questions.

Comparative data for Wilmington's population group (15,000-24,999) in FY03:

Average circulation 206,670
Average reference transactions 16,075
Average annual visits 175,685
Average number of programs 250

Many residents participate in the social and cultural activities provided by an active town Recreation Department, a local arts council and numerous local civic and social organizations. The Elderly Services Department provides services and programs to the senior community. ?Fun on the Fourth? held during the week of July 4th on the Town Common is a popular annual event attended by many residents. The Wilmington Historical Commission, Friends of the Harnden Tavern and the Wilmington Minutemen are involved in historical programs and preservation. The Wilmington Memorial Library provides a variety of cultural and educational programs for all ages.

The public library's share of the municipal pie (FY02) 1.12%

The Friends of the Library was organized in 1997 and has grown to over three hundred members. The Friends provide support for many library programs, museum passes, furniture, and equipment. The Friends sponsor two important annual fundraisers- the Wilmington House Tour and the Annual Book Sale.

In accordance with The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, the library building must provide barrier free access to all library services and resources. The library?s parking lot includes two handicapped parking spaces. Although there are three entrances into the library that are all at street level, only the entrance on the side of the building has been retrofitted with an automatic handicapped door. A unisex handicapped restroom was added on the second floor of the library (with elevator access) but there are no handicapped accessible restrooms on the first floor. Aisles in stack areas do not meet the required 36 inch width. None of stack areas have the required 48 inch turnarounds needed for a wheelchair. Travel routes in a wheelchair throughout the building are not wide enough for a wheelchair. Drinking fountains are not accessible to patrons in wheelchairs. The library?s PC workstations do not have adjustable heights to accommodate a wheelchair. Other ADA issues that need to be addressed include signage, assistive listening devices, and adaptive software for PCs.

The library has the following adaptive technology: a TTY telephone (teletype device for the deaf), a Kurzweil reading machine, and a CTV video magnifier. The library?s collection includes large print books, audio books, and a few descriptive videos.

The library has developed two formal five year long range plans, with the first plan covering the years FY1995 to FY2000, and the second plan covering FY2001-FY2005. Both long range plans with annual action plans were approved by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, establishing the library?s eligibility for certain grants including the state library construction grant program. The library has achieved many of the goals set forth in these plans including expansion of library hours, the development of the Friends of the Library, increase in the number of programs for adults, development of teen services, and expansion of the non-print collection. The first long range plan also established the need for an improved library facility. The library followed the objectives and the action plans that were established to reach this goal. A library building program and feasibility study were completed and short term creative space solutions were implemented. Since the town rejected plans for a new library in August, 2002, the long range plan for FY2006 to FY2010 will need to reevaluate the goal set by the two previous plans regarding the need for a new library facility.

Sources: Comparative data provided by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (www.mblc.state.ma.us)