The document provides an overview of the Albany Public Library's (APL) activities and accomplishments in 2015. It discusses the library's four pillars of technology, programming, role as a community space, and access to information. In 2015, APL saw increases in WiFi usage, program attendance, cardholders, and community partnerships. The library also updated one of its branches and expanded its technology offerings like 3D printing.

2. W
elcome to APL’s first-ever community report. 2015 was my first full year as the execu-
tive director of Albany Public Library, and it was a memorable one! We are excited to
show you the good work we did last year, thanks to your investment in our city. We
pride ourselves on being an open organization, and welcome the opportunity to share
this information with you. In this report, you’ll also learn a little bit about my vision of the modern pub-
lic library and how your Albany Public Library is meeting those expectations.
The library is a structure with four pillars, each one representing a ser-
vice we provide to the community: (1) technology, (2) programming, (3)
role of the “third place,” and (4) access to information. All four hold
equal importance to our mission and often intersect with each other. As
you’ll see, the pillars are all well used by the community and we are al-
ways looking for new ways to strengthen and grow them.
It’s not uncommon to see people lined up in front of our libraries waiting for the doors to open in the
morning. These individuals don’t want to borrow materials; what they most need is the internet access
that we provide. APL is a bridge over the digital divide for many people in Albany. Through our hard-
wired and WiFi connections, every day we are able to link individuals to fami-
ly, friends, businesses, and employment. Last year, we saw an incredible in-
crease in the public bringing their own devices (laptops, tablets, mobile
phones) to our locations to utilize the WiFi. In fact, APL hosted 536,610 WiFi
sessions in 2015, an increase of 12%.
We recognize that we are also the gatekeepers to both new and old technology. The library holds onto
older technology so that all members of the community can make the transition at their own pace. In
2015, we opened our Albany Made Creative Lab, a makerspace at our Washington Ave. Branch that
hosts two 3D printers. But on the other side of the building, you will still find a trusty typewriter set up
and ready for use. This year, we will be increasing our effort to provide more digital literacy instruction
and additional services for those who use their own
devices at our locations. Whether it’s a 3D printer or
an old-fashioned typewriter or anything in between,
the library provides access to technology people
need, but that isn’t readily available for home use.
Our biggest success last year was our programing.
The library hosted 4,398 of its own programs with
57,249 attendees, which is an increase of 15%. We
provided well-respected early literacy programs for

3. preschool children, STEM programs for young adults, and an
array of financial classes for adults, to name just a few. We also
hosted 10,184 classes, meetings, and programs for our communi-
ty partners, an increase of 114% over last year. Programming
does not stop out our doors, but importantly, also includes out-
reach to the community. Our librarians and staff venture out of
our branches to raise awareness of the great resources we pro-
vide, and to create relationships with community partners. In
2015, we tripled the number of collaborators, fostering relation-
ships with Albany Promise, Albany City School District, Albany
Department of Recreation, and many more.
The city is lucky to have seven branch libraries nestled among
our diverse neighborhoods, providing spaces for individuals,
small businesses, entrepreneurs, and civic groups to meet and grow. Li-
braries like ours are often the “third place” in a community—a neutral,
comfortable, social space separate from home and work. In 2015, we
made a significant change to our hours of operation to provide library
service on every weekday evening. This change made it possible for eve-
ry member of our city to have library service within five miles of his or
her home. We believe this is why APL now has 86,015 card-
holders, an increase of 15%. In 2016 we will finish work at the
Washington Ave. Branch, the first time that building has been
significantly updated since 1999. When that work is complete,
we will have quadrupled that branch’s public seating and ex-
panded space for meetings and programs.
Books, movies, and music are still a huge part of our business,
and last year APL loaned more than one million items. That’s an average of almost 3,000 books, DVDs,
CDs, magazines, and other items every day we are open. Our users went home with tons of movies, mu-
sic, and books—in both physical and digital formats. Books are not
going anywhere, and while we continue to grow our eBook collec-
tion, we are working hard to provide the titles you want in a physi-
cal format. We have made 2016 the “year of the book,” with a re-
newed effort on promoting literacy in our community.
Our four pillars—technology, programming, “third place,” and ac-
cess to information—support:
 An organization of passionate individuals who care about infor-
mation equality;
 A Board of Trustees that makes every effort to govern an open
and receptive organization;

4.  An administration that works diligently to run a lean operation and make
the public’s investment go as far as it can; and
 Most importantly, a staff made up of your neighbors (67 percent of library
employees are Albany residents) who work hard to educate, entertain and
empower their community.
Thank you for continuing to support the work we do and to make the most of the opportunities Albany
Public Library provides.
Scott C. Jarzombek
Executive Director, Albany Public Library
The APL Foundation is proud to champion the library to our wider community. The Foundation’s efforts
to raise friends and funds directly impact the library by supporting special projects and programs.
In 2015, the Foundation’s fundraising program included: the second annual Literary Legends gala that
honored authors Gregory Maguire and Barbara Smith and raised more than $25,000 for the library; the
Albany Reads event; two annual appeals; and sale of APL-logo merchandise. Funding from these efforts
enabled the library to present two art shows at the Pine Hills Branch, create a Library Link program to
deliver books to homebound senior citizens around the Bach Branch, and provide assorted special pro-
grams for our patrons.
The Foundation looks forward to expanding its efforts in 2016 with a workplace giving campaign, as
well as estate planning options, and naming rights for library facilities. We expect these initiatives to
yield even more funding that the library can use to improve programs and services to the community.
We invite you to get involved with the APL Foundation—attend an event, contribute to an appeal, or just
become a library champion in your own neighborhood. The library thrives on your support!
Holly McKenna
President, Albany Public Library Foundation

5. A
s president of the APL Board of Trustees, I know I speak on behalf of all trustees when I say
that we are proud of our libraries and the excellent staff who serve our patrons. 2015 was a
very successful year! We have met nearly all of the goals and addressed the objectives of the
comprehensive strategic plan that we developed three years ago. Last year we were able to:
 Change our service schedule so that there is library service sev-
en days and four nights a week
 Enhance the comfort and usability of the Washington Ave.
Branch with more and better seating and lighting, a refurbished
children’s room and new community meeting room, and improved
layout of service points and the collection
 Add more partnerships with community organizations for pro-
grams, outreach, and assistance to the public, including CDTA, Al-
bany Department of Recreation, and Albany Promise
 Increase usage of our meeting rooms, study rooms, and WiFi;
increase attendance with programs and visits; and add cardholders
At the same time we implemented these improvements, APL focused on becoming a leaner organiza-
tion, identifying ways to cut costs while providing excellent service.
Our libraries add value to the community in so many ways. Small business-
es use library infrastructure—study rooms, WiFi, computers, copiers, and
fax machines—to do their work. The library is also a destination for people
who have retired, and for children and teens after school. As some of the
most attractive buildings in their neighborhoods, the libraries’ positive pres-
ence makes it easier for others to open businesses. Libraries also improve the
value of homes, and “walking distance to the library” is often noted in house
sale descriptions as a desirable benefit.
We are ready to initiate the next planning cycle and, again, will seek community input through surveys,
interviews, and focus groups on what is wanted, and needed, most from the library. It is critical to in-
clude the voice of those we serve in this process, so I hope that everyone will participate. As always, we
appreciate your support of this valuable resource.
Mary-Ellen Piché
President, Albany Public Library Board of Trustees

6. DID YOU KNOW?
The library has some great technology tools and other resources available for you!
Use the App as Your
Library Card
APL’s free mobile app
offers great convenience!
You can request books,
check the program calen-
dar, look up branch sched-
ules and locations, and
download eBooks and digi-
tal audiobooks.
The app stores your library
card barcode so just show
us your app to check out
materials at any branch!
Borrow a Tablet with Built-in WiFi Hotspot
You can borrow an Android tablet—with built-in
WiFi hotspot—from any
APL branch for two
weeks. Use the tablet to
read eBooks, play games,
keep up on social media,
and as a source of free
wireless internet access
for all the devices in your
household!
Use Study Rooms as Your Office
Whether you are writing
a paper, meeting with a
small-business client, or
cramming for an exam
with your school group,
our study rooms are the
perfect spot for some
quiet work. All APL
branches have study
rooms, which can be
booked for free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Kids Get Tutoring and Homework Help
Most APL locations host free
tutoring and homework help
sessions during the school
year provided by several of
our community partners—
Albany College of Pharmacy
and Health Sciences, Albany
Medical College, and Two To-
gether.
Make Something in Albany Made Creative Lab
Let your creativity flow
in this makerspace at
the Washington Ave.
Branch. The Albany
Made Creative Lab fea-
tures a 3D printer and
scanner, screen
printing press, sewing machine, silhouette craft
cutter, crocheting and knitting implements, audio
and video editing equipment, color laser printer,
hand tools, and more. The space offers free one-
on-one instruction, group classes, and assistance,
or you can just use the equipment to work on
your own projects.
Attend Museums with Free Passes from Library
There are lots of wonderful
museums in the Capital Re-
gion and surrounding area,
and you can visit them for
free by borrowing museum
passes from the library! Mu-
seums provide amazing op-
portunities for learning, exploration, and discov-
ery, and we want every resident to have access to
the magic and mysteries found in our regional art,
history, and science museums.

7. We Want to Hear from You!
Share your thoughts with us:
 Fill out a comment card at any branch
 Visit our executive director during his
branch office hours
 Complete a survey
 Speak at the public comment period during
a monthly library board meeting
 Send an email via
www.albanypubliclibrary.org/contact/
AWARDS AND HONORS
We’re proud to have been recognized by the community for the work we do,
and to celebrate the contributions of others!
Celebrating Albany’s History
The Albany History Race has
participants solve clues and visit
historic sites in an “Amazing
Race”-style scavenger hunt. This
fun and popular event was pre-
sented with the “Adult Program
of the Year” award by the Up-
per Hudson Library System!
Recognizing Neighborhood Champions
The Delaware Trolley Tree Sculp-
ture was dedicated to Albany his-
torian and booster Virginia Bow-
ers. Crafted by artist Matt Hart
from trolley tracks that used to run
along Delaware Avenue, the sculp-
ture is installed on the
back patio of the Dela-
ware Branch. The li-
brary worked closely
with the Delaware Ar-
ea Neighborhood As-
sociation and the Delaware Avenue Merchants
Group on this project.
Honoring Literary Legends
The 2015 APL Literary Legends
inductees were Barbara Smith and
Gregory Maguire. Smith is a long-
time Albany resident, activist, and
author. Maguire is an Albany na-
tive best known for writing the
“Wicked” novels. The APL Foun-
dation is our partner for this love-
ly annual fundraiser, the proceeds
from which benefit special library
programs and services.
Acknowledging an Important Local Writer
We recognized Paul Gron-
dahl, noted author and Times
Union reporter, for donating
interview notes and research
from his biographies on Alba-
ny Mayor Erastus Corning 2nd
and U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt to the
Pruyn Collection of Albany History.

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