By PAULENE POPARAD

Residents of Westchester Township saved more than $4.6 million last year and probably didn’t even know it.

That’s the value Westchester Public Library assigned in a recent report to the estimated savings realized by patrons who used WPL services like borrowing rather than buying toys, hardback or paperback books, videos, CDs, audio books, CD-ROMS, DVDs and magazines.

The estimated value of the 384,872 such items checked out in 2006 was set at $5,849,926.

When adding magazines and newspaper read at Thomas and Hageman libraries, reference questions answered and programs attended, the estimated value of services provided rose to $6,273,024.

WPL director Phil Baugher told the Library Board that when deducting the $1,591,199 cost to operate the library system last year, the total estimated savings to residents was $4,681,825.

“This is one method libraries use to demonstrate their value to the community,” said Baugher.

Another statistic released Thursday was based on WPL delivering 463,083 public service units or PSUs in 2006, each one being an opportunity for WPL to provide a service like visit its web page, or for a patron to use library materials, computers and facilities.

Libraries only recently have begun logging PSUs as a more comprehensive way to document the services they provide their respective communities.

Baugher said using the Westchester library district’s 18,133 population, 25 PSUs per capita were delivered by WPL last year. The largest category was circulation of materials at 384,080 followed by 175,122 web page visits and 157,364 materials used in-house. WPL’s public-access computers were used 51,137 times; program attendance totaled 21,430 and there were 14,634 reference questions answered. Public meeting rooms were used 705 times by at least 5,237 people. Visitor count at WPL’s facilities was 232,396.

WPL patrons recently had the opportunity to participate in a user survey conducted by the Indiana State Library. More than 300 paper survey forms were returned and mailed, and additional surveys were completed on-line at WPL’s webpage and submitted to ISL, said Baugher.

It was announced the popular summer concert and film series presented by WPL and partially funded by the Chesterton-Porter Rotary begins June 15. All events take place on Friday evenings at Thomas Centennial Park in downtown Chesterton with the music beginning at 7 p.m. and the film at dusk.

In the event of rain the concert/films will take place in the nearby Library Service Center, 100 W. Indiana Ave. A special band concert only by the Valparaiso Community/University Band will be presented Tuesday, June 20 at 7 p.m. at Hawthorne Park in Porter; no film will be shown.

The Thomas Park events:

•June 15: Band Music, Valparaiso Community/University Band; the film is “Happy Feet” PG

•June 22: Songs of the Great Lakes, Lee Murdoch; “Charlotte’s Web” G

•June 29: Celtic Harp Music, Cynthia Shelhart; “Happily N’ Ever After” PG

•July 6: Cowboy and Western Music, Western Rangers; “Arthur and the Invisibles” PG

•July 13: Jazz Music, The Patti Shaffner Trio; “Flushed Away” PG

•July 20: Music of the 70’s and 80’s, For Amusement Only; “Monster House” PG

•July 27: Bagpipes and Drums Music, NW Indiana Pipes & Drums; “Curious George” G

•Aug. 3: Tall Ship Music, Country Minstrels; “Doogal” G

•Aug. 10: Old Time Good Time Music, Pinhook Bogtrotters; “Open Season” PG

The Westchester Township History Museum, operated by WPL at the Brown Mansion, 700 W. Porter Ave. in Chesterton, has a number of upcoming events over the next five weeks.

There are also three temporary exhibits slated for the museum --- Chesterton, Aug. 9, 1913: A Panoramic View now through July 29; Through the Lens: Antique Cameras, Projectors and Photographs, May 30 through August 15; and a Day in the Life of Westchester Township, July 1 through Aug. 31, a series of photographs to be taken June 15 as a typical summer day in Duneland.

Beginning Saturday through May 26, it’s Spring Cleaning in the Museum Gift Store with bargains on sale 10 to 25 percent off that week only.

The special programs, free of charge at the museum, are Deborah Beard’s demonstration of the art of hardangar embroidery, a form of delicate threadwork, Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.; Matt Bowen discussing his Civil War Memorabilia with artifacts from his extensive collection Sunday at 2 p.m.; and Eva Hopkins sharing House History Hints to research your home’s past May 26 at 2 p.m.

Additional programs are Joan Baruffi showing the art and techniques of the ancient craft of spinning June 3 from 2 to 4 p.m.; Hopkins and Stephanie Poegel tracing the history of local factories, businesses and residences from 1893-1943 using the Chesterton / Porter Sanborn fire insurance maps June 13 at 2 p.m.; and Suzanne Keldsen discussing the life of Hoosier writer Gene Stratton-Porter and her classic story “Girl of the Limberlost” June 16 at 2 p.m.

Posted 5/16/2007