Libraries in the Tri-Town were busy this year, as patrons borrowed thousands of books, checked out online resources, and participated in new and returning programs. 

Elizabeth Taber Library

The Elizabeth Taber Library in Marion circulated more than 28,000 items including books, DVDs, magazines, audiobooks, and items from the Library of Things. Tech-savvy patrons checked out nearly 10,500 digital downloads, including almost 7,000 ebooks. Staff helped patrons with more than 12,000 curbside transactions.

The Library of Things collection expanded this year to include items like pottery wheels, marble runs, board games, a Polaroid camera, and wi-fi hotspots.

The library helped people get creative, distributing 243 take-and-make craft kits and helping visitors make more than 1,000 buttons using the in-house button maker. 

In-person summer reading returned this year, with 718 participants attending events like a concert and a visit from performing dogs.

Librarians, trustees, and community members worked together to create a 5-year plan to guide the library’s future. 

Mattapoisett Library

Between New Year’s and the end of November, readers checked out 70,362 items from the Mattapoisett Library. Staff added 5,038 items to the collection during that time — for a total of about 55,750 items. 

Mattapoisett Library users logged on and checked out 12,873 digital items from OverDrive, including ebooks, digital audiobooks, magazines and online classes. New digital resources this year include Kanopy and BBC Landmark — both video streaming services.

The library added a number of new programs and services this year, including the nonfiction book club called “Well-Read Wednesday,” the Cookbook Club, Teen Advisory Group, and a Graphic Novel Book Club for kids. 

Each month, the library hosted an exhibition of work by a local artist.

Joseph H. Plumb Library

The Joseph H. Plumb Library in Rochester checked out 26,869 books between January and November this year, plus 7,633 DVDs, 722 magazines, and 54 wi-fi hotspots. Digitally-inclined readers borrowed 4,663 ebooks this year.

Between January and May, the library offered curbside pick-up. Librarians delivered 1,304 bags of library materials to grateful borrowers’ cars during that time.