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02/13/1997 - Packet AGENDA TIGARD LIBRARY BOARD THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1997 - 7:00 P.M. TIGARD PUBLIC LIBRARY-PUETT ROOM 13125 SW HALL BLVD. TIGARD,OREGON 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL: BECK_ BUSCH_ GUSTIN_ HOKLIN_ IRWIN LEWIS MCKAY 3. Approve Minutes of January 1997. 4. Monthly Report for January 1997. 5. Friends of the Library Report. 6. Cooperative Library Advisory Board Report. 7. "Friendly Visitor' Project Report. 8. Ballot Measure 47 -Current Impacts-Staff Reorganization -How Other Area Libraries are Being Affected -Council Inquiries Regarding Library Issues -Requested Budget Highlights 9. Modification to Study Room and Puett Room. 10. Board Training-WCCLS,CLAB, PAB. Set Orientation Schedule. 11. Other Business. 12. Adjournment. TO ENSURE A QUORUM TO CONDUCT BUSINESS, PLEASE CALL AND LEAVE A MESSAGE AT THE LIBRARY (684-5886), IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND. Agenda items for future meetings: h:\docs\connie\1ib-a TIGARD LIBRARY BOARD January 9, 1997 MINUTES Call to Order: 7:05 .m., by Chair Nancy Irwin. Roll Call: Larry Beck, Shannon Busch, Tammy Gustin, Lonn Hoklin, Nancy Irwin, Chris Lewis, and Angus McKay. Staff: Kathy Davis. Minutes: McKaymoved to approve November and December minutes, seconded b Hoklin. pp Y Motion passed unanimously. Reports: November Monthly Re ort: The library was not accepted to receive the "Poets In Person" grant. However, the library will resubmit the grant proposal at the state level. An article titled "The Library that Loves to Read" details the development of the "Writer's Resource" program from Writer's Resource member, Sheila Stephens, was accepted for publication in the December issue of Writer's Northwest. The self check-out machine is up and running. .A December Monthly Report: Circulation breaks a record for 1996. The library checked out 544,392 items, equaling more than 166 books checked out an hour, a 9 percent increase over last year's total. The Technical Services Division added 14,945 items to the library's collection, more than any other library of our size in the state. The new ADA accessible workstation will be up by the end of the month. All Internet access workstations will be relocated to the library floor soon. The new discussion group, "Hot Coffee & Hot Topics" will be meeting Thursday mornings in the Puett Room to discuss "hot topics" and current events. Coffee will be provided, giving us the opportunity to see how "coffee in the library" will be accepted. If there are no complaints, we may provide coffee on a "for profit" basis. Friends of the Library: The Solicitation Letter has raised approximately $2,000. Entertainment Books are still selling. The new baby books are almost ready. Parents of newborns at Meridian Park Hospital will receive a card entitling them to a free baby book along with lots of other helpful information. The Advocacy Committee formed to raise awareness of the Tigard Library in the wake of Measure 47. 300 letters have been sent. The first meeting will be Thursday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m., to brainstorm ideas of interesting things to do to counteract the affects of Measure 47. CLAB: Will discuss County budget issues under Measure 47 Impacts and Strategies. Recreation Round-Up Contract Revisited: The City contracted with the non-profit organization, Recreation Round-Up, Inc., to provide recreation services. They reached citizens through the City's newsletter to provide classes, tours, trips, etc. No City funds were given in exchange for services. After three years, the registrations showed more interest in trips and tours and less interest in class-based programs. After complaints from a group of citizens regarding offering too many tours and trips, City Council directed the Library Director to arrange with Recreation Round-Up to provide more classes and less tours. Recreation Round-Up decided they wanted to continue and expand the offering of tours and trips. It was then mutually decided to end the contract. To date, the City does not provide any form of recreation services. Ballot Measure 47 - Impacts. Strategies: City Level: Department's are preparing their budgets. Finance Director, Wayne Lowry, has set assumptions for this year's budget according to what the City will need to complete its five-year plan. Library Director indicated the Finance Department predicted that funds from the last levy should carry the City pretty well for the rest of the current plan with a 10 percent cut in materials and services and not filling five vacancies in personnel city-wide. Measure 47 will go into affect starting July 1997. The first year (1997-98), no layoffs are anticipated and there is no current plan for changes or reductions in hours. The second year (1998-99), the City will see pretty much the same affects as the first year. In 1999, the County wjll seek another Library levy. If under Measure 47, it is decided that organizations cannot seek levy renewals, all organizations requiring levies to survive, will cease to exist unless alternatives to property tax revenue can be developed. County Level: WCCLS could be looking at a 10-50 percent shortfall, although it has not yet been determined how each department of the County will be affected. With a 10 percent cut in WCCLS funds, the library will see a 6.75 percent reduction in circulation reimbursement. WCCLS will prepare budgets at status quo, 10% reduction, 25% reduction, and a 50% reduction in funds. State Level: The legislature has yet to decide what Measure 47 means in terms of cuts. It has not yet been determined if the State will decide the level of cuts or if the decisions will be handed down to individual jurisdictions. Clackamas County: They are due for a renewal of their levy in March. Measure 47 states that a 50 percent voter turnout must be obtained to pass a levy in a non-November election. The most Clackamas County has ever seen has been a 36 percent voter turnout. They are making cuts now, because of what may lie ahead. Director noted that Library staff may ask the Library Board to prioritize the services they want the library to provide. Adjournment: Beck moved to adjourn meeting at 8:30 p.m., seconded by Lewis. Motion passed unanimously. h:ldocs\connie\board\brdmin.doc MEMORANDUM TIGARD PUBLIC LIBRARY TO: Bill Monahan, City Manager FROM: Kathy Davis, Director of Library Services DATE: February 6, 1997 SUBJECT: Monthly Report, January 1997 • 50.000 Checkouts!: January circulation broke all records, up 35 percent over December, with Saturdays in particular showing an increase in use. Three Saturdays had 2,000+ checkouts - more than 267 items per hour! • Self Check-Out: The "self-check" machine has been installed only one month and is already almost half way to meeting our goal of handling 10 percent of all checkouts. A large sign was installed at the end of January which should further increase usage. Public response has been positive and some customers use the self check exclusively. • Bookdroo: The outside book return has been closed pending complete renovation to solve a persistent leakage problem. We are working with Building Maintenance to come up with a cost effective, long-term solution, but for now we are using the City Hall a night drop box. Regardless of the wording on the sign placed on the drop, customers are still confused any many are returning items late because they could not locate our book return. • Measure 47 Impacts To Date: When the city-wide FTE count was frozen following the passage of 47, the library lost our full-time Young Adult (teen) Librarian position. As service to this age group is a high priority, we have done some considerable shifting of duties to ensure that focus on service to teens continues. The biggest impact has been on management staff including the Youth Services Specialist, Reader's Services Division Manager, Computer Specialist, and Director. With concern growing about more potential cuts, several library employees have informed me they are seeking positions in geographic locations perceived to be more fiscally stable. Under the Shadow of 47, it will be difficult to attract professional librarians to fill these positions should they become vacant prior to a budget being finalized and strategy established. o • Collection Agency: 19 delinquent accounts were tumed over to the collection agency. Preliminary notices brought back $855 in "lost" items. A report on the return yielded by the agency will be available next month. • "Portland Power" Players Promote Libraries: We are working on a program in cooperation with WCCLS that would bring members of Portland Power Women's Basketball team into the library to talk about the importance of reading. The program would coincide with Women's History Month in March. • Internet Available on Main Floor: The Internet workstations obtained last year through a grant program, were moved onto the public floor in January. Use of this equipment has increased DRAMATICALLY as now the terminals are available 65 hours per week as opposed to 14 per week while housed in the Study Room. • Technical Services Numbers Up: 1,648 new titles were received in January. This number ties with our previous record in June 1995. However, the overtime logged to complete this work was reduced by 65 percent. • Preschool Fair: 171 people attended the annual Preschool Fair. At this event, organized by the library since 1986, area preschools staff information tables to provide parents an opportunity to learn more about their programs and curriculum. Volunteers: Volunteer Type Numbe Hours Adult 94 773.75 Youth 8 31.25 Local/Oral History 7 78.50 Adopt-a-Shelf 4 8.25 YART 4 4.00 Library Board 7 10.50 Community Service 2 26.00 Friendly Visitors 6 25.00 Internet 0 0.00 Total 132 957.25 = 5.53 FTE WORK INDICATORS JANUARY 1997 JANUARY 1996 JANUARY 1995 Adult Materials 26,119 26,573 25,398 Juvenile Materials 24,696 20.601 18.404 Total 50,815 47,174 43,802 Days of Service 27 27 26 Average Daily Circulation 1,882 1,747 1,685 Hours of Service 271.5 271.5 260 Materials Circulated per Hour 187 174 168 Increase in Circulation 7.7% 7.7% 1% Materials AddednVithdrawn 1,664/873 1,375/942 63/1,693 Borrowers Registered 428 378 445 Story Time 628 537 605 (Number of Sessions) (20) (24) (17) Toddler Time 244 228 188 (Number of Sessions) (10) (10) (8) Special Programs 238 75 175 (Number of Sessions) (5) (3) (3) Internet Users 53 0 N/A Visitors (Gate Count divided by 2) 17,365* 18,424 18,956 Increase in Visitors 0 0 N/A Fines/Fees Collected $5,022.41 $4,645.13 $ N/A Gifts Received $0.00 $34.70 $ N/A * Gate malfunctioning. h:\docs\kathy\kdmthrpt TPreschoof Faair ir PROGRAM: Tigard Area Preschool Fair! Parents involved in selecting a Preschool are encouraged to attend and check out local preschools. DATE/TIME: Saturday, January 25th, 10:00-12:00 Noon LOCATION: Tigard Town Hall (adjacent to the Library) CONTACT: Gary Lark or Terri Smith Tigard Public Library 684-6537 Representatives of local preschools will be gathered in one place to answer parents' questions on curriculum and educational .. philosophy and to discuss the services each has � . too r. Some preschools will be offering on- sate registration. Sponsored by the Tigard Public Library Children's Department. On-site childcare provided. 1997-998 REQUESTED Division Materials & Services (600's) Capital Expenditures (700's) Total 1411 (-10%) $ 36,740 (-22%) $32,700 $ 69,440 1420 (-10%) $205,970 0 $205,970 1430 (-12%) $ 13,900 0 $ 13,900 1440 (-48%) 6,036 (-98%) 733 6,769 (-12%) $262,646 (-57%) $33,433 (-21%) $296,079 1996--9_�PPROVED Division Materials & Services (600's) Capital Expenditures700's) Total 1411 $ 40,745 $41,850 $ 82,595 1420 $228,855 $ 7,220 $236,075 1430 $ 15,800 0 $ 15,800 1440 11,610 $27,295 38,905 $297,010 $76,365 $373,375 LONG-TERM-FINANCIAL PLAN - FY 1997-98 1411 $ 8,500 1420 0 1430 0 1440 0 Budget Scenarios from Status Quo to -50% cc VY97-98 Btatus Q4Q:. "Opt! -10%Budget -25%Budget -50%Budget (if fully satue vital as F'YW97.> from FY90-97 from FY96-97 from FTD&-97 funded) (pp adev, (plus MLI upgrade$) (plus MLI upgrade $) (plus WILL upgrade $) Payments to Libraries: Banks $37,556 $,`�9,5,38> $32,459 $27,786 , $18,766 Beaverton 2 308 070 - -- - - $ $2;x 22x"33;` $1 994,802 $1,707,614 _ $1,153,274 Cedar Mill $1,221,057 ' Ind $1055,326 - - $1;12 ,.... $903,393 $610,126 Cornelius $83,660 $76,9;17 $7`2,305 $61,895 $41,802 _ Forest Grove $420,420 ' [M6 $'l10 071 $;186;sid.5 $363,357 $311, , LL Garden Home $70,750 :;,$66.064:: $61,147_ $52,344 i $3G,3b'l �- ----- __ Millsboro 8� � $1,022,594 � .. . - -- -r � -- - -- - o $�4U,419 $883,800 ( $756,561 $510,960 - - - - Tanasbourne $1,056,970 $971,5T2 _ $913,078 ! $781,624 $527,887 _ Sherwood _$120,650 11u;959 $104,274 $89,262 $60,285 '15gard $1,022,072 $.939,938 ��- ---$883,349 $756,175 $510,699 Tualatin, $430,657 ;$398,0 9:: $372,205 $318,619 $2_15,186 West Slopes $306,404 4281;792 : $264,817 $226,691 $153,101 Payment Wilsonville $39,864 $34;.1821. $30,520 $23,195 $13,429 Subtotal $8,140,224 $7 i 0,4 G. $7,031,439 $0,016,205 $4,060,938 LA Countywide Programs: Administration $373,724 APO., $275,275 $234,000 $186,250 Ln ---- - U Automation $675,745 1613,280; $514,332 $420,000 $344,000 ch Courier $139,281 ' X4133 800: 104 923 $ $92,240 $92,240 Q Library Development $16,175 ;$� _ $01 _ $0 $0 co Outreach $355,053 $3U1,OQ0 _ $145,600 _ $128,000 $15,000 _ Reference $251,438 $203,249 $69,560 $0. o Regional $182,490 : ;j<9 ,954 $83,678 $0 $0 Youth Services $152,344_ --- _ $8$,558 $12,335 $0 _ $0 o Subtotal $2,140,250 X11 772;968. $1,339,392 $943,8(10 $637,490 Q ---- -- ----- L M WHA upgrade $600,000 $626r,QQ0 $625,000 $625,000 $625,000 ,Grand TOTAL $10,8801474917,Q16 $8,995.831 1 $7,685,005 $5,323,428 m Feb. 7, 1997 m LU LL 0 0 How Will Ballot Measure 47 Impact the Library? It seems every day we read in the paper about some organization announcing cutbacks in service due to the effects of Ballot Measure 47. The fact is, many of the actual impacts of this ballot measure are still unknown. All public services in the state are waiting for the legislature to provide clarification on several parts of Measure 47. Tigard finances are organized around a five-year budget plan. Rather than focusing on one year at a time, we look at what decisions will need to be made to have the City tax base last for five years. With the reductions of Measure 47, anticipated to mean a $2 million shortfall to Tigard, all City departments have been directed to prepare a budget that shows a 10 percent reduction in materials and services compared to the current year. In addition, five full-time positions have been eliminated City-wide; one of them in the library. With these reductions, the library will need to reassign some staff, and lines and the wait for new books may be longer, but we should be able to retain our open hours and programs. There are two major unknowns from 47 that may cause additional impact on the library. The first is the question of"prioritizing public safety." The legislature needs to clarify what prioritization means. If it is determined that our Police Department should receive a smaller reduction than other City services, the library could see additional cuts. The second issue will impact the Washington County Cooperative Library Services' ability to go out for a new levy when the current one expires in 1999. If the levy may be renewed, funding levels could be restored. If the levy may not be renewed, there could be a considerable impact on all libraries in the county; up to and including closure. Pay close attention to the results of the Clackamas County Library Levy, planned to go to the voters in March. Theirs will be a test case of how 47 will impact levy renewals. For now, our goal is to continue to provide, with your good help, the best level of customer service we can with the resources available to us. • ! MEMORANDUM CITY OF TIGARD, OREGON TO: Paul Hunt, City Councilor FRONT: Wayne Lowry,Director of Finance DATE: January 30, 1997 SUBJECT: Library Information At last nights council meeting, you asked me about the Library information provided to you this week. You asked how much money we received from WCCLS this year and how much the WCCLS levy raised from Tigard Properties in the same year. In the current year, 1996/97, we will receive $937,000 from WCCLS. The WCCLS levy of.'264 cents per thousand raised $1,015,557 this year on Tigard properties which were valued at $3,111,388,324. This shows that WCCLS levies more tax on the City than it gives the City in the distribution formula. Although the County levy is $1,015,557, they would only collect about 94% due to delinquencies. This results in a collection of $954,623. It is also important to keep in mind that the City not only gets cash from the WCCLS levy but also gets a wide range of county wide services including the computer system and interlibrary services. The value related to these items provided to Tigard by WCCLS was included in the earlier information. If I can clarify anv other information,please call me at 639-4171 ext. 345. cc: Bill Nlonahan, City i✓lanager Kathy Davis, Library Director • • TIGARD PUBLIC LIBRARY MEMORANDUM TO: Bill Monahan, City Manager FROM: avis, Director of Libra Service KathyY Library DATE: January 17, 1997 SUBJECT: Background Information on Library Roles, Materials, and Services Attached you will find information from a variety of sources that I hope will help explain "why the library does what it does." This question can be answered from many perspectives. I have included resource material that will address some of the philosophical, pragmatic, and economic issues that influence my decision making. The Philosophical Viewpoint: Public libraries are unique institutions in a democratic society. The premise behind them is that it is essential for the operation of our system of government that a citizens, without regard to age, gender, race, economic status, etc., have access to the resources they need to function as effective members of society and be enabled to realize their individual goals and aspirations. (Public libraries are the "great equalizers" of the huddled masses.) Because libraries should be representative of all beliefs, values, points of view, and tastes, they are staunch supporters of the First Amendment, oppose censorship and are committed to free and open access to their collection. Through time, as materials have shifted from just books, to magazines, newspapers, records, CD's, video, etc., libraries have looked at content, not format. In other words, if it is appropriate to have the book "Gone With The Wind," it is also appropriate to have the audio cassette and the video. If it is appropriate to have the Encyclopedia Brittanica, it is also appropriate to have the encyclopedia on CD Rom. In the first example (entertainment or recreational materials), each format would have a different user audience (it's hard to read when driving a car). In the second example (informational materials), we will ultimately replace the print version with the CD Rom version. There is considerable concern about libraries staying "caught up" with advances in information technology so as not to become obsolete. Please refer to attachment #1 for more background on this perspective. Pragmatic Viewpoint: Obviously, not all library users are poor, underprivileged, or downtrodden. In the last 100 years, as public library patrons have become better educated and more affluent, their expectations for what should be available in the library collection have changed. As a tax-supported institution, it became increasingly apparent that the public library needed to be more responsive to the changing needs of its users: the more a library showed sensitivity and sensibility in providing the services and materials the customers wanted, the more likely it would be to retain tax support. At the Tigard Library, I believe it is essential to retain a strong relationship with the community we serve. The materials in our collection, the services we offer, even the hours we are open, all are based on input from our patrons and constant monitoring of usage records. The Library Board serves as a "sounding board" for all decisions related to programs and services. Please see attachment #2 for more information on the "pragmatic perspective." In addition, the library strategic plan details specific objectives in furthering our customer service efforts. Economic Viewpoint: Are we making the right choices in the materials we put out for the public? If customer satisfaction may be judged by the use a service or product generates, then we must be doing things right. Not only have circulation statistics gone up tremendously in the last 10 years, they have increased exponentially when new formats were added. Because of the funding system of WCCLS, which "reimburses" us for every item checked out, it is necessary to make purchasing decisions based on sound business practices as well as traditional library philosophy. All materials in the collection and all programs must justify their existence by generating customers who check things out. If a book, video, or CD doesn't circulate, it is withdrawn; if a program doesn't bring in an audience, it is discontinued. This philosophy guarantees that the Tigard Library is a service that is current, meets the needs of its users, w-di generates much of its own revenue. Please see attachment #3 for more information on the "economic perspective." If you feel I have missed an important issue, or if further information or clarification is needed, please let me know. Attachments 0 0 r "You can take your kid to the libran', but you can't take your kid to a website." —is-year-old high school student "If you plopped a library down...30 years from now. .. there would be cobwebs growing everywhere because people would look at it and wouldn't think of it as a legiti- mate institution because it would be so far behind. . . . " —Experienced library user Executive Summary his report is about libraries and the challenges they face in the digital world. But it is also about every noncommercial insricurion—from public N to - the freenets—that provides information to the public. It uses Iibraries as an exemplar of what can happen to even our most cherished public institutions when they face the onset of the digital revolution, a seismic societal shift. The report's findings about the intersection—and divergence—of library leaders'visions with those of the public hold lessons for everyone who values and wants to pro- mote the public sphere of information and communications. This study compares library leaders' But this battle is not the libraries'battle visions for the future with the public's pre- alone.At issue is the very notion of a pub- scriprions for libraries,derived from public lic culture—that nexus of schools, hospi- opinion research that forms the backbone of Gals, libraries, parks, museums, public this study. For the purposes of this study, television and radio stations, community library leaders are defined by the instiru- computer networks, local public access, conal grantees of the Kellogg Foundation. education, and government channels of This research suggesrs chat libraries have cable television, and the growing universe their work cut out for them if they do not of nonprofit information providers on the want to reside on the margins of the revo- Internet. This public opinion research lurionary new digital information market- affirms the need for alliances among these place.The younger generation—wedded to institutions to define their relative and col- desktop computers—may provide a panic- lective roles in an expanding marketplace of ular challenge. information. 1 3 l . ......... ........... .._....�..►..- • How library leaders see tion—or at the margins. Trusting their the future libraries and seeing them as a source of com- fort in an age of anxiety,Americans support Library leaden want the library of the future their public libraries and hold them in high to be a hybrid institution that contains both esteem. They support a combined role for digital and book collections. And they libraries that links digital and traditional assume that it will be the librarian "naviga- book and paper information resources.And tor"who will guide library users to the most they accord equal value to libraries as places useful sources,unlocking the knowledge and where people can read and borrow books or information contained in the vast annals of use computers to find information and use the information superhighway.Some library online services (see the box on va¢e 6). leaders envision a digital "library without '70-irricans also strongly suppot L the key walls" in which users gain access to almosr roles of libraries,ranking the following roles unlimited amounts of information through as "very important": home computers or at remote terminals Providing reading hours and other pro- located around the community. They also- grams for children. envision a time when one library's collection; Purchasing new books and other will, because of growing electronic capabil- printed materials. iries, become everyone's collection. Maintaining and building library build- Library leaden see a continuing role for ings. the library building.As a central and valued Providing computers and online ser- community meeting space, the library will vices to children and adults who lack them. become more of a civic integrator and a locus — Providing a place where librarians help of community information on health, edu- people find information through computers cation,government,and other local services. and online services. _ Library leaders also express considerable — concern about the"information have-nots," Warning bells individuals who do not have access to com- purers or online information.And they argue But the public sounded some warning bells for a social activist role for libraries in which as well. For example, the youngest citizens could receive literacv information or Americans polled,those between the ages of acquire health and job information. They 13 and 24, are the least enth_usiasric boost- nevertheless express reservations about the 'ers of maintaining and buildine library library becoming marginalized by taking on buildings.Thev are also the least enthusias- exclusively the role of information safety net. ric or anv age group about the-importance or libraries in a digits!F.:-,,re.And they voted Public backing for libraries to spena tneu-mone. +..personal computer of the future disks rather than contribute the same amount in tax dollars to the library for pur- The public loves libraries but is unclear chasing digital information for home use. about whether it wants libraries to reside at Moreover; men were less enthusiastic than the center of the evolving digital revolu- women on almost all aspects of the library. 4 And a strong plurality of Americans said be relegated to a "kind of museum where they preferred to acquire new computer people can go and look up stuff from way skills from"somebody they know,"not from back when."Thus,the library of the future, their local librarian. While.only a fifth ot) far from being a technology leader, would respondence said they wvug,,t libraries ' function as an information archive. would become less important in the digital `;fie super bookstores, such as Borders age,"those with access to computers were{ nd Barnes and Noble, surfaced as strong most likely to feel this way. . ` :ompetitors to libraries. Not only did these A focus group of frequent library users tores have popular books in stock (some- affirmed much of the polling data,endors- hing libraries fell down on),but they created ing America's trust in libraries and sound- t welcoming atmosphere with comfortable ing warnings about the need to remain -hairs,coffee,and music playing in the back- relevant.In many respects,focus group par- ;round. ticipants saw libraries as playing an impor- The focus group participants presented Cant role in their communities.For example, an equally diminished view of the future role they seconded the library leaders' vision of of librarians. They acknowledged that a hybrid institution,containing both books librarians could perform a useful role as nay- and digital materials. They also warmly igators in the as-yer difficult-to-navigate uni- endorsed the concept of the library as a verse of the Internet.Yet they just as easily place that provided equal and free access to sanctioned the notion that trained library information, especially to the information professionals could be replaced with com- have-nots. munity volunteers,such as retirees.For these Yet, in other important ways, the focus sophisticated library users, the concept of group participants placed libraries at the "librarians as trained professionals" was fringes of modern life,especially in relation nebulous at best. to the technological revolution.Most telling, And what about funding? The focus they did not see libraries leading the way in group participants were unwilling to the digital revolution. In fact, they thought increase takes to support library services, libraries should take a reactive role,adapt- including the provision of more technology. ing to new technologies. Libraries "should Their solution to funding needs was to turn stay just behind the curve. We don't need libraries into charitable institutions,to which them to be on the curve because most peo- individuals could make tax-deductible con- ple aren't,"as one participant put it.Indeed, triburions. (The fact that libraries already in a world of tight budgetary constraints, rely on charitable donations to supplement these americans did not want to invest in their public support had escaped them.) libraries as technology leaders. Given several notable discrepancies The "behind the curve" metaphor per- bet-ween survey and focus group findings, meared the focus group participants' views additional research on these topics is imper- of libraries in other significant ways.When alive to probe specific aspects of the public's asked to think about the role of libraries in vision and values and to create a more coker- the future,they placed libraries firmly in the enc context on which the library community past. In 34 years,they said, libraries would can build a communications strategy. 5 i America's love for libraries Among other key findings of the public opinion research: There is enormous overlap among library users, bookstore patrons, and home com- puter users. While some library leaden fear that computers and bookstores will increas- ingly draw library users away from libraries, at least for now this concern appears groundless--one market seems to draw sustenance from the other markets. Americans favor spending more tar dollars and charging extra fees to supplement library operating funds and to purchase computer access and information.Given S20,they would rather spend it on taxes to aid libraries that want to purchase digital information and make it available through home computers than spend that S20 on their own com- purer software. Library users favor increasing taxes more than nonlibrary users,who prefer a pay-as- you-go fee system in which individual charges would be levied for certain services. i Like library leaders, Americans place high value on library buildings. But unlike the library leaders,Americans are less sure that the library is a significant community meeting place. The public ranks high the notion that librarians should take on responsibilities for aid- ing users who want to navigate the information superhighway.But when asked where they_ would go to learn more about using computers, a strong plurality said they would ask "somebody they know," not their local librarian. -ti Families with children were particularly strong library supporters as well as heavy com- l purer users. Garnering strong public support is the library's role in providing computer access to adults and children who otherwise lack it. Minorities favor providing computer services to information have-nots and are strong supporters of building more libraries.They are also willing to pay extra taxes and fees for more library-based digital services.Lower-income Americans are least likely to ask a friend for help in mastering computer skills,so they might be parricularly receptive to librarians acting as digital information trainers. Public policy conret-r realization of library leaders' visions for their professions and the ways that people The vision statements suggest kev roles for use libraries: libraries as collections, institutions, and Universal service and access, through i community resources in the digital age. which libraries would provide affordable Manv of the roles identified in these state- access to and use of computer networking menu rely on public policies that support— tools. or at least do not undermine or contradict Freedom of speech and the host of —these outcomes. policies that support or limit libraries' Four public policy issues will affect the ability to collect,create,and make available i 6 I L I • marerials—including those char invoke con- public opinion research,to position libraries A,% troversv—in the digital age. as key players in this new cooperative Intellectual property issues, including venture. copyright and the "moral rights" of artists Participants said char the opportunity is and authors to their work,which will affect open to create and promote models of"com- boch libraries and library users. muniry learning collaboracives" or new -- Funding or support mechanisms, espe- forms of "public service media" in which cially with the decoupling of library services libraries play a key role—and to actively and the local tax base as more collections define the public interest in the digital age. are part of digital networks with no geo- Participants also identified the need for graphic boundaries. creating a broader, educated constituency familiar with the impact of the Telecom- Scrategies to move libraries municacions Act of 1996—which creates a into the digital age new federal framework in which libraries and their partners must work if they are to At the spring 1996 conference of library and articulate their key messages about public information management leaden, partici- access,learning,and community service. pants analyzed the implications of the pub- lic opinion research findings with the aim of In sum . . . exploring common communications mes- sages and strategies char would move Americans continue to have a love affair libraries productively into the digital age. with their libraries, but they have difficulty Participants worked to build a bridge from figuring our where libraries fit in the new dig the language and concepts of their library ical world.And many Americans wov1d iust visions to the general public's ambivalent as soon turn their local libraries into muse- attitudes coward the library's identity and ums and recruit rerirees to statt_t em. role,testing messages and strategies in small Libraries are thus at a crossroads, for they groups and generally arriving at a consensus. must adjust their traditional values and ser- Participants acknowledged that libraries vices to the digital age.But there is good rea- cannoc and do nor exisr in a vacuum—char son for optimism as libraries and their libraries must join forces with the entire communities take up this challenge. landscape of institutions char contribute to Libraries have enormous opportunities public culture.They pointed to examples of nationwide to influence and direct public libraries teaming up wich other public service opinion because strong public sentiment information providers—such as public tele- already supports key visions for the future vision and radio,communiry computer net- of libraries. Moreover, the growing use of works, and local nonprofits—co form home computers seems,at least at this junc- community learning cooperatives.Several of cure, to complement—nor compete with— the grantees mentioned that such collabora- library use.So libraries and their leaders now tions already are flourishingin some areas. must chart a role for themselves, giving ., g They imagined the possibility of a coordi- meanie and message to their future institu- � P g '; nated communications campaign, based on tions and their central role in community life. 7 UbraryAdm��tratds1PQV'. 9_V Vol. XXXI, No. 9 4CANovember 1996 SUMMER PROGRAM WINS THE of information services, customizing their offerings to GOLD their library customers. The 1996 Summer Reading Program at the News Release G%vinnett County Public Library in Lawrenceville,Geor- Nebraska Library Commission gia.was a huge success! Because the Olympics were on October 1996 the minds of Georgia residents, the Programming De- partment planned a summer reading program with a sports relay theme.Children of all ages were challenged to read 260,000 books, a number based upon last NEW ROLES FOR PUBLIC summer's circulation. The library has nine branches LIBRARIES separated by 70 miles. Each mile between the branches equated to 3,917 books.To visually display the reading • �Vetu ork literacy center.The public library provides progress,children made yellow paper chains with a small training and education to the community on how circle representing a book. The chains were draped to access the Internet and new electronic infor- throughout each library, brightly decorating each mation resources. branch. • Global electronic information center.The public li- brary provides community members with"on de- dren for the summer reading program. Children read 356,404 books, for a total of 96 miles, a 37 percent in- mand"electronic information reference resources crease over the goal! and services. • Liaison for government information.The public li- News Release, G%vinnett County Public Library brary is the key point of contact and liaison for pro- September 1996 viding citizens with access to local, state and fed- eral electronic information and services. * * * • Center for electronic lifelong learning. The public library is an electronic classroom providing the com- munity with a broad range of educational opportu- NEBRASKA LIBRARIES SAVE ! nities. THROUGH GROUP PURCHASE • Public access center.The public library is a commu- The Nebraska Library Commission recently an- nity center providing public access terminals and nounced that libraries across Nebraska can now "buy dial-in capabilities for patrons to access the in bulk-the electronic information access that their cus- Internet. tomers need. `Buying in bulk"means that Nebraska li- • Community information organizer and provider. In brarians maximize their buying power to ensure local collaboration with local government,the school sys- citizens greater access to information at a reduced cost tem and other local organizations,the public library to the taxpayer.The Library Commission has arranged is the hub linking and managing local information for a statewide group purchase for access to OCLC's resources and services. FirstSearch®R reference service. The response is oyer- • Economic development center.The public library whelmingly positive. Librarians and library users are supports local economic development by providing finding a wealth of information online.Recognizing that jobicareer information and skill assessments,by it is no longer necessary for libraries to own material in aiding small businesses,and by promoting liaisons order to provide access to the information,small librar- and collaborations among local community services. ies are able to afford access to information services they would not be able to afford on their own; larger librar- Marigold Report ies get increased access without additional costs; and Marigold Library System (Alberta. Canada) all libraries are able to add rich databases to their core September 1996 -65- ...... -=: .. _ r. r I^/;.I,n.i�.ny •`�C. �7!'1 C i �iDi.3u1a.,, . a, :=tib THE PUBLIC'S LIBRARY Not many people, either within or without the profession of librarianship,seem to have noticed it yet, but the public's use of '1 the public's libraries has changed drastically in the forty-plus M years since World War H. Public libraries themselves have had little to do with this change in the public's use of libraries;many have not yet responded to the change.Worse yet,some continue to tailor their service to the world of 1938, when America was a very different place, demographically, technologically, and so- cially.The massive social changes ges that have come about in these i areas have had their effect on public libraries and the services they provide. Despite these changes, the mental image of the I library, its mission, its building, and its users is much the same ' in 1992 as it was in 1938 in the minds of not only the public itself, but trustees, administrators, government officials, and many li- brarians themselves. Many people, perhaps most people, don't I use public libraries the way the say the use libraries, the wa P Y y Y Y thev think about libraries which thev don't do very often), and ( o ), i the way they vote about the financing and support for libraries. s 1938 in 1992 In America today, the middle class, whether you describe it fi- nanciallv, sodally, or educationally, is in the majority. This is _ both an economic and political fact. Almost every family with an income of between 525,000 and 5100,000 annually,or even more, i would describe itself as "middle class," so of course the self- defined middle class is in the majority. The public library's public now is almost exclusively this mid- dle class.Not the poor.Not the rich.The big middle,where most of the taxes, the public policy, and the votes come from. This fact,of course,brings with it all sorts of social, moral, and politi- cal issues that are endlessly discussed in the public press, in our professional periodicals, and in our personal approvals and dis- approvals. These issues do not change the fact that the public 1 ,s, .. 2 The Public's Library - t * I,1 144 FlNhat A Baltimore County library in 1938 library's public is almost exclusively middle class, and has been- Y since at least 1938. Never mind that at one time public libraries Y ;: may have been seen as the immigrants'way to education and assimilation in society.Probably Carnegie changed all that when he financed the building of hundreds of library buildings right in - the neighborhoods of the emerging middle-class populations of cities, the commercial and industrial creators of the middle class. . He meant to assist the upwardly mobile immigrant,like himself. His libraries served the emerging middle class. ' Demographics have changed. Whether we approve or disap- prove, whether we see the transformation of the metropolitan _'.. areas as disastrous or whether we just don't care, the America of _•:-. 1938 is no more and the public library of 1938 is no more,either Or if it is, it shouldn't be, and its life is continued because public r, _... libraries don't cost very much in the total tax picture. And they :�* don't go totally broke, whether the service they give is relevant :+... to demand or not. There are many, many reasons, or theories, or opinions ` given by experts, politicians, and almost anyone else, for the economic decline of central cities all across America, whether be the policies of the Federal Housing Administration in the 5N , or Eos, the desire for separate houses on quarter-acre or largo lots, or the changing needs of industry. For the purposes of our .M1 The Public's Library 3 discussion here, it hardly matters. Public libraries, however much we librarians as concerned citizens might wish it, don't ` drive the demographic changes in this nation. However, if we hope to be the public's library, rather than the librarians'library, 4 or the Trustees' library, or the city government's employment program, or the newspaper editor's sentimental wishful think- ing about "culture," we must respond to the demographic and social changes that do drive the actual use of public libraries. If we wish to be effective, if we wish to continue to be an educa- tional and cost-sharing public information utility, dedicated to improving the quality of life of the middle-class citizen—our public—we must Give'Em What They Want. Give 'Em What Having said that, we know that, based on personal experience, They Want we're in trouble with many readers. Let us explain just what we mean when we say Give 'Em What They Want. And, along the way, express our puzzlement with the apparent willingness, even enthusiasm,of many public librarians who seemingly insist on the policy Give'Em What They Don't Want. Or, perhaps, Give 'Em What They Should Want, True, librarians in academic and school libraries have the guiding responsibility to support the teaching mission of their parent institutions, and are, then, fun- damentally committed to instruction, to making sure that stu- dents learn what they are supposed to learn to qualify for graduation. Along the way, these librarians try to provide the been resources to qualify the faculty to teach and to do research (which muddies the waters here a bit,because research often has raves little or nothing to do with teaching). and to Librarians in public libraries have no teaching responsibilities .when (except, perhaps, for preschool children) and cannot and should fight in not compete with the research function of universities and col- ons of leges. Public libraries make information and recreation (it is ai- class' } most always difficult to separate those two functions) affordable imself' to the general public through sharing. Like water distribution, or ? sewers, or highways. They provide educational services in the disap- : broadest sense to the broadest cross section of the public,but they 'oare not an academic institution, and an attempt to make a public jrica ca o of library into an academic institution, or to serve as yet another either. 4 academic institution in the community, kills its effectiveness as ' ?ubc the public's library—the only library the public has access to_ nd they - -ilevant Libraries in And,vet that is just exactly what many public libraries try to do, Core Cities especially those in the old center cities, cities where the decline Anions, in their economic and social viability has coincided with the for the movement of the middle class to the edge cities, along with busi- ,ether it ness and industry. The public libraries in these core cities, in- t the 30s stead of redefining their roles to serve a new clientele, those of )r larger lower income and less education, those who have not been tradi- !s of our tionally library users,have attempted to turn themselves into so- s The Public's Library `+ ' called public research libraries--institutions, however, with no re- -. search clientele. As warehouses housing millions of unneeded, unwanted,out-of-date collections of books, they have been des- ignated by state libraries as libraries of last recourse or state resource centers, at ruinous cost and extremely little use by those who provide the tax funds to support them. Why?The answer, at least to some, is extraordinarily simple: they have become totally preoccupied with their preservation as institutions, although they are not institutions without a mis- sion,without a clientele,without a reason to exist except as pub- lic monuments to public sentimentality and public pride in an illustrious past—a past which is irretrievable. There may be some hope that they can redefine themselves through using modern technology for communication and adoption of a very different mission. This mission cannot maintain the traditional role of public libraries or mirror that of an academic or research library for the scholar. Few scholars exist outside of a university setting or in high-technology industry, which maintains its own type of information facility.The mission of the past no longer is 3 viable. The mission of the future is not yet clearly defined. To be fair to library administrators and trustees, it takes ex- traordinary leadership,political consciousness,and time to rede- fine and modernize public library services to and insure relevancy to modern lifestyles and demands,whether the library is located in a core city or suburb or town. The public itself, which seldom thinks about public library service to the extent Prisoners of that they think about public education, for example, supports the Past with its money(granted,very little of it)and sentiment and nos- talgia (lots and lots of it), the vision of public libraries of 1938, whether small and cozy or.large and imposing. An example: when governmental revenues,both state and city,reached a dip- ping point in 1991, the Enoch Pratt Free Library of Baltimore, a ' shell of its former importance to the ordinary library user of the thirties through the fifties, in a city which had, over the years, lost 30 percent of its population and much of its middle class, tried to reduce its branches from 28 to 20. The newspapers ran repeated stories about the terrible educational and social conse- quences of the dosings, nearly all of the columnists of the Balti- more Sun told nostalgic stories of the favorite literary heroes or heroines of their childhoods (never, interestingly, of their cur- rent use, or nonuse,of the Pratt Library), and pickets appeared outside the branches scheduled to be dosed. The trustees and management, in an attempt to maintain some vestige of quality library service by downsizing the branch system to match the drop in population and change in use,had tried dosings before, only to have minimal infusions of funds prevent the dosings. The decline in government revenues continued, however, and this time it looked(in 1991)as if the reduction in facilities to meet the reduction in demand might succeed. It didn't: two months The Public's Library S h no re- later, a few dollars were found that kept the hardly used ceded, branches open until the end of the fiscal year.The vision of 1938 :.n des- lives on, kept barely alive by heroic measures in the face of eco- resource noetic and demographic doom. 'se who Whether, of course, it might have been much better manage- ment to close the increasingly irrelevant central library was not simple: an issue: public love for symbolism and nostalgia would have adon as made this course unacceptable, no matter what the effect on j ;t a mss- maintenance of the community libraries. And community librar- as pub- ies, in these old cities, are where the remaining public use, such { _e in an as it is, still exists. may be Given time,we have some confidence that city libraries will be .h using able to redefine themselves, or more logically, join with other ,)f a very libraries in the edge cities and communities for more equitable aditional and efficient service to the public. But, in order to do so, the research increasing tendency of many Americans to build gated commu- niversity nities, providing only those taxes to support these services that s its own are important to them personally, whether libraries, schools, or longer is sewers, will have to take an almost about tum. Certainly, there ned• are public policy issues here,but they are not issues that librari- takes ex- ans can solve or even exert effective influence upon, given our e to rede- limited numbers, limited expertise and power, and our inability d insure to deal, oftentimes, with the challenges and crises in our own he library profession. lic itself, he extent Prisoners of We librarians are, perhaps more than other professionals in supports the Past medicine, law, and formal education, prisoners of 1938, a past t and nos- that looms more important than the present both in our own s of 1938, minds and that of the public. It's a past that really never existed example: in some areas of public library service, except in our minds, in ed a dip- our hopes, and in our good intentions. ltimore, a Give'Em What They Want means to most public librarians the ser of the provision of"trash," or at least an inexhaustible supply of cur- the years, a rent best-seller fiction, which, to the eves of many librarians, ile class, nearly approaches "trash." Hence the description of the Balti- .cers ran more County Public Library by Library journal and others as "the c.al cone- bookstore librarv," filled with materials that appeal only to the the Balti- "lowest" taste of the public. This, of course, contributes to the heroes Or i very high use of the library—circulation figures that almost their cur- "prove" that BCPL isn't really a viable public library at all, com- � appeared pared (I would assume) with other libraries with lower circula- sq and of tions, higher costs, and more responsible management. of quality We are always somewhat bemused by librarians who under- match the .Y estimate,or at least misjudge, the tastes of the public they serve. -a ciosings.before, Our users are very often quite different from the kind of people . who become librarians, and placing value judgments on other ..;ever, and people's interests and reading is certainly a violation of the intel- des to meet lectual freedom which librarians profess to hold so dear. As self- .vo months appointed arbiters of taste, librarians have continued to strive to 6 The Public's Library A 1992 neon-lighted - community library i Ito. _.. er "elevate"the reading of library users, either by techniques such as booktalking their approved books, or, much more seriously, by structuring and limiting materials collections to their tastes. - Interestingly, this tendency seems to be less prevalent mi t smaller libraries, where the administrator, or the book selector, is also the librarian who has direct, day-today contact with the i library user. Only in the larger libraries do the policymakers re- move themselves far enough from the public to comfortably spend money on, say, Thr Lancet, a British medical journal with predictably few, very few, readers in even the largest public li- brary. Money spent on The Lancet is money not spent on books for preschool children, who are served by no other library, or The money not spent on the current.Mobil Guide,or Danielle Steel, to * Public in 1 199 _ put it bluntly. 3 A Fervent Hone Certainly value judgments have to be made, even if a library strives to Give 'Em What They Want. The best-sellers cannot be bought in quantities to satisfy the entire demand except in those libraries where money is never an issue. (Yes, Virginia, there are some libraries out there like that,there really are!)But it's amazing to see that libraries insist on buying materials for which there is no demand from the people they are supposed to serve.Apparently, a fervent hope on the partof a starry-eyed book selector with i impeccable "taste," a moral agenda, or a sociopolitical bent, is enough to justify the purchase of material of a type with absolutely no track record of use.it happens all the time,all over the country, Buildings in all sizes of public libraries.It wastes millions of dollars,deprives f f 2 -.s,.�.ti•-.c.7,."�%.''.'ice'..•, ^ 1 the Public's Library T millions of children and adults of library materials they need, want, and have paid taxes for. This waste is often ignored by the leadership in the profession, by library education, and by citizens who suffer the result of this mismanagement. Look in any public library that follows this policy--a policy that can only be described as Give 'Em What They Don't Want. Since actual use is not a criterion-for retention of books, weeding hardly exists, and there will be an enormous number of items, whether books, periodicals, or reference works, that show no record of use at all, or very little use in any reasonable length of time. Let's name this policy the Fervent Hope policy—representing the fervent hope of some librarians that the very presence of the material will cause its use, change a life, right a wrong, and j' thereby justify the expense. Fervent hope is seldom checked up on, seldom evaluated, and, most irresponsibly, the material is never discarded or deselected. That would be admission of fail- ure, and none of us likes to do that.The result is building addi- tions, more shelving, more heat and light, and eventually less and less money for giving the public what they want, need, and will use, which of course is the key. es such We just can't rid ourselves of the custodial ethic. There may, iousIy, in fact, be some justification for this in the academic library, but tastes. never, never in the public library. And we get away with it be- cause we're more comfortable with materials-centered philoso- elector, phies than with service-centered philosophies.Denial of this fact ,elector, abounds throughout the profession, despite adequate evidence kers re- to the contrary, and of course the practice is gleefully fed by k r s re-ablv publishers who are only too glad to get rid of their "dogs" to al with public library selectors. ublic li- books rare, or The Library's Assessing and predicting demand is not easy. N tavbe that's why (eel, to Public in 1992 more of us don't do it very well.The techniques and methods of client-centered materials selection and management, based on actual use,are not taught in library schools and are not discussed brry widely in the public library profession. lia of be While the lack of client-centered service is most prevalent, most those unnoticed,and most unc iticized by the profession itself and in the ._ere are professional literature.There are a number of other areas of current znazing public library management that contribute to limiting our impact re is no and influence as an educational and informational resource. Some arently, of them are mentioned here, but this book tries to cover some or with 4 details of one library's dogged, decades-tong, experiment-laden, eI is and continuing attempt to Gree 'Ern What They Want. lutely } Buildings Most library buildings are community libraries, whether thev ountry, f eprives i be a single library in a town or a branch of a library system in a 8 The Public's Library it fir.;'•. _ ;''r:�s_;' �«. x-a+-r.•. � _.: tip.,, �;y�. i w•�, f :rte• *•t.' ,r•-'. - .•tib=:�?"++:v?K.*-.•;+�'� •' ! _ ' Nfoney 1 t Oman Wigan— VAJ�VVUIOW A 20,000-square-foot community library—just the size for real people. J county or a city.This situation is just as it should be, to serve the ' people well—•and just what has long been, the point-of-service policy of retailing (and public libraries are retailers of materials and information). Retail chains like Wal-Mart, or Macy's, or Walden's or Safeway, all of which distribute needed goods and services, have community-based facilities. No longer do they have Iarge central stores in core cities. Regional superstores, community stores, and outlets are where they make their sales, make their profits.This is a rational,logical concept, transferable ' easily to any retail organization like libraries, where continued viability and existence depend on meeting current needs. But we continue to build massive, expensive central libraries mi , the downtown of core cities, like the recently erected, highly ex- pensive,glowering Bastille-like Harold Washington Library in Chi- cago. just before the opening of this library—which received glowing accolades from the library press--it was announced by the City of Chicago that over 300 staff members would be cut from the library's budget.Doubtless Harold Washington,the former mayor, needed a monument.Doubtless the Chicago Public Library needed new libraries, community-based libraries, to serve its population. But any modem retailer, any thinking librarian interested in the client- entered service, would and can recognize this building as a financial service and administrative disaster. The folly is being duplicated in large cities across the coun- try—Phoenix, San Francisco, Memphis, and other cities. Few leaders in the library profession have spoken out, on the record, about this massive waste of library resources,resources which,if spent on materials and services that the people we serve want and need, might increase the actual use and relevancy of public libraries in these cities. Sadly,not only in large cities;Tempe, Arizona,a wealthy sub- urban community of the middle class with an enormous univer- The Public's library 9 sity library within its limits, recently erected a public library that replicates a miniuniversity library in almost every detail, from plan to furniture to book collection.Where is a public library user to go?Evidently,the public library field supports not a few closet academic library directors. r ' Money The public library system in Phoenix, Arizona, is supported by $13 per capita. Dallas gets$15 per capita. Baltimore County gets ,5. 533. Schaumburg, Illinois gets S34, and Arlington Heights 558. - Boston spends$47. Middle Country, New York$85.They are all good libraries. They all are client-centered. They are all un- AIMM derfunded.They are all guided by responsible appropriating au- thorities, concerned trustees or advisory boards, and highly .� competent directors. How's that again? Have I missed something? Doesn't the amount of money a library spends have something to do with how good it is?Are all libraries always better with more money? serve the How much better than good since all libraries are good? i-service No matter what the per capita support, no matter what the materials policies,practices,and procedures used to administer the public acv's, or library, all annual budget decreases are seen by the American Li- )ods and brary Association, the professional periodicals, and fellow li- do they brarians as near disasters. Vlost budget increases are seen as �erstores, insufficient to maintain services. Not surprising: Drucker, the eir sales, writer on management, including management of nonprofit in- nsferabie stitutions, notes that budget increases and decreases are the ontinued most prevalent indicator of success or failure to governmental ds. administrators. —aries in This doesn't auger too well for the future:almost all economic ,; y ex- predictions say that governmental revenues in the next 10 to 20 .ry in Chi- years will have very slow growth, while at the same time the received public will resist any attempts to limit popular social programs :ed by the such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid,and public edu- from the cation. It's doubtful if libraries fall into the category of essential ;er ,:navor, public services to the extent that public safety and public health ry Needed do, and it's likely that they willget the real budget increases, not :)culation. libraries.We'll have to find ways to make the available money go :ed in the further. Lied-ing as a There is cleariv room for massive improvement in manage- ment of financial resources by many public libraries, rather than ,-he coun- concentration of effort in the kind of public relations campaigns ties. Few indulged in by the American Library Association to prove that .ie record, i libraries are well-managed, effective, important bargains for li- which•if brary users.While there may be examples of good management, erne want there are too many other examples of waste,mismanagement,or of public j worse, lack of any attempt at all to manage any aspect of public j library service, out there in libraryland. althy sub- Public libraries will never die completely.The same sentimen- us uniyer- tality and nostalgia that keeps libraries underused and un- i 10 The Public's Library dermanaged, along with the real value and use, albeit limited, - which they supply, will keep some semblance of library service going in most American communities for some time—until a bet- ter,or cheaper,or more useful substitute comes along. And that, ;~ given today's technology, looms ever more likely. Technology Technology created libraries,and productivity made possible by technology created the middle class,which created public librar- ies. How so? Well, libraries weren't much when all books were incunabula. Printing on paper, which appeared about 1300, in- creased the supply of books enough so that libraries, collections of books, could be gathered. But still, you had to have readers, produced by education and leisure time.The increase in produc- tivity per capita over 5500 years that provided the resources for mass education and leisure time also provided the willingness to spend tax resources for the public good. Hence, the public B- s brary was given a shove by Andrew Carnegie,a product of steel- making productivity. Technology has infiltrated public library operations, first by typewriters, then by copiers, then by computers, which enabled the adoption of circulation control, inventory control, financial control. Some technology that promised revolution in libraries never caught on very effectively--microfilm, for example. No- 4 body much likes microfilm. But revolutions,whether political or technological, are never avoided completely—they are only delayed. And often, like economic recessions or depressions, they are inaccurately predicted. Indications in 1991 are that a revolution in reading materials is close. How close?We would say 10 to 20 years, with a 50 percent chance in 10 years, closing to a 100 percent chance in 20 years. But don't hold us to either the low or the high estimate. The electronic book is nearly here. In November 1991, the Sony Data Discman, previously sold only in Japan, was made = available in the United States. The September 20, 1991 issue of 11 Publishers Weekly has a short article on a prototype of a commer- cially viable electronic book being shown to publishers. The Baltimore County Public library's Sonv Data Discman unit, together with the seven "books," or 2-inch CD caddies, is a por- tent of things to come, a sort of 1948, five-inch black-and-white Sonv's electronic television set. One of the discs, a book, contains the entire Bible, book:a prototype for the complete works of Shakespeare and Conan Doyle,the Book of the future? Mormon, and dozens of other documents, from the Constitution and Federalist Papers to the entire text of War and Puce.The S39.95 volume is called, interestingly, The Library of the Future. And it has word search. At S500, the Data Discman will hardly substitute for the printed word. Yet. But, it's a window on the future. The future of libraries. .--~�••.lam - `"^' ?:.P'.1`e\.t�t:-:t Y.Y•'�,"► �+� R - The Public's Cibrlry f l limited, Change is coming. Change is here. But then, it always has Service been, in one form of human endeavor or another. For public til a bet- libraries, change in the format from print on paper to print on a nd that, screen will certainly eliminate our custodial role, our storage role, probably even our "place," library buildings. But it will bring other opportunities, other responsibilities. Who will navi- >sible by gate the huge amount of information thus made available?Who is librar- will assure access to free information, even if this information is )ks were limited in amount (as it is now)? 1.:00, in- The public library will change,and soon.Our responsibility as Ilections librarians—or as information consultants, (perhaps a more ap- eaderspropriate term) will depend on our clarity of mission, our best readers,eaderstraditions of public service, and our ability to adapt to change. pro for The next 10 to 20 years will tell whether we are up to the chal- urces ess r lenge,and the following chapters will give some pointers on the vublic to BCPL's Blue Ribbon Committee's ideas of good management of li- t of steel- the public's library. This management can assure that provision of the public's access to education, education in its broadest ;, first by sense, encompassing all the resources available presently in the 1 enabled printed word, and in the future in electronic form, can be financial preserved. i libraries nple. No- )olitical or are only - aressions, -aterials is '30 percent 1_0 vears- .te. - 1991, the W as made 1 issue of a commer- rs. =nan unit, •s, is a por- i .-and-white nt re Bible, e Book of ^nstitution ;he 539.9 ste for the The future ht*,p• arnencannews-comszor/iansj r1ill'i orano�s P--mvent Thernselves for me 21st CentUrY All American Ne%vs Service articles are mailable free of charge. If vou would like to download this article tbr ftmher publication. please click on the button to the left so me can track article use. In most browsers.holdinv a mouse kev down continuously(Macintosh).or holding down the riaht mouse button(PC)while pointing,at the download link will bring,up a menu that allows you to save the article to disk as a plain text(ASCII) file. If these methods do not uu%%nioud work. see the documentation for your web browser. If vou %vowuld like to automatically receive new ANS articles as they are released. sip up for a tree trial subt,criolion. (� American News Service Article "'0 10 2 words Libraries Reinvent Themselves for the 21st Century by Tom Mitchell ANS - Eber Cobleis!h never stirred much of a fuss durine his life in Lyndonville. a hamlet in northeastern Vermont. Little is known about him. except that he had a farm and. by 1906, had saved up ()00. Colblei-,,h donated all of it to build the library that stands todav in the town's center. "all he Nvanted was to have his name on it." said Pat Hazlehurst. head librarian at the Cobleiah Public T ;I-- Iib aryl should I.-a place that I-rinLys .,,rv. "He had no family. This �Nus his offsprit Y. Hie (th, j." much happiness to people." ict *h 1%�%. s. Almost 90 vears later. Iibmwfies a.-ross A=.-ricza E-ber(CoblCieh's simnplu �ed . Cron, 91SAL 4 A%4 A A- %A 1IT41 lu 110 LAIC GUM -- b of;---r-cftv li�, OU". — It.,% t It 1-2-20 S3121%. W_,"A 1%..? li,Z%-U- tt- Flwbush branch in a I-A%-IU .I I VrAo *1,� 1".- a-d *1 librw-ies a4r.- reinventirm themselves to meet the chan-r4nm needs of rattrons. They art even Diantl-a Schull. hard to overco-kne their ima!ze as tussive. even --,r.m. instirutions. said &I 4oC- or- Vewl- xCcutive -fire.r^fT ;I,-.a-;,-s fior 4—1Cu_,,_(T n non-prof-it ac-.,nr=nizza-ti + 3, *es. d 'hull said. "But in th%. last 1. _ri�es simniv rerositor, ustv. totallv auiet." S, 14 decade and a half. the*,- shale-ing- off dhe dust." .decade he u of the living libmarv. accOr."ng te. SChull. is,uhe philosophical %enagine dri-ving 3-m-erican hbrares T -rodav ;n the Queens Do L!a!i I -1-%rnr-v i V-1. C---l– oward the c ntlury. I - : %. _. ,ei-,Xzo -.1 L.C.M., - - — have enticed their]=Yely immim--uit. workin a-c-'lass natrons with flamenco darc.-rs. firness class- for se"I;or c."_ -111-rs and ballet . I _.z. ns. sernanar.: on arLnuities_ and livinz trusts. and visits, from authors. stor;t. U %A ar. 'StS. as %v.-Il as v6t1h a 2enerous colle-.tinn oC,6deos. CDs and- of course. books. Tn n dress the im-m- ediate needs.of the Que ns communitv, said+,I,-director of Children's Services. 0^,r n_� Cern emv. the library offers a rmnz.- of services under its New Americans Proo-ram. These include ;ob tial nine. cinizenshio workshops. E.V_liC as a second laingn-mge Clalsss.-s. and literacy centers where adults Can 1%-arr. to rind. Readine oroce--ams for toddle-,-s-and v-arents. -and affter-school Dro-orams and surnmer reading classes are also- availablefor older children' Sorne rn;L-'--,%,, thzt libraries Will not- make it to the rext cent-wm-d-at th,- .-xn: lnsion of on-line 1 of 4 01/14/97 15:21:33 q nog Ro!nven(TherrS,*1yeS frr f*•' C`'nh1ryaN hrtr)' mnrnnn.awe rnmi%tnrvi;4w wu....... access to information �.vill gtiickly make libraries obsolete Scholl makes the opposite caps The telecommunications technology revolution combined with the disinte(r. tlnn nfr1gb1iC inctit��tinnc has created a need that libraries are uniquely positioned to meet. she said. "Technology won't mare libraries obsolete. Technology will make them more essential than ever." The new main library now uoin_l up in San Francisco seems to prove her point. It will have 800 computer terminals. with most of its collection accessible electronically. "The more the world is connected to the information surerhiuhway. the more need there will be for a place for free training and free access." Schutt added. "Libraries will become the navigator. a parmer in explorin_ this networked %world." Moreover. she said_ "As peoole have fe%ver places for non-commercial, non-mediated. public discourse. libraries will till that need." In that vein. some libraries seem to be positioning themselves to serve as the face-to-fhce civic _ratherina, places of choice. Grand. renovated and new libraries appearing in San Antonio. Texas and Denver. for example.devote generous amounts of space to meetine areas. Denver's is alreadv booked up well in advance. In Tampa. Fla., the public library is placed within a multipurpose cultural facility, anchored by a new museum. and in Richmond. Va.. the new library-under construction as a key part of downtown revitalization-will include a bookstore. exhibit space. computer training lab. auditorium and conference center. Lisa Owens. coordinator of the Flatbush Branch's Communitv Library Information Collaborative. an LFF-sponsored proaram. is another devotee of the living library concept. In less than six months on the iob. Owers has helped turn the branch into a miniature United Nations with progrr=s that involve Flatbush's Haitian. Cambodian. Vietnamese. West Indian and African-American communities. These include educational forums on HIV. child care workshops. and one of her newest efforts. a teenagers-only pro--ram called The Den where the aarticioants pian their own activities. "I had never taken libraries seriously." Owens says. "I had always thought of libraries as repositories of k--nowledge. But I know now that that's one- dimensional. The library is the one place that's common to every neighborhood It's our community center. It's the only free space in Flatbush. People Just needed to be reminded of that" Reminding people. Even in Lvndonville. Vt. where the Cobleigh Public Libraxv sits in the center of town. next to the hardware store and market where most of the 5.:71 residents conduct regular business, people needed to be reminded. Pat Hazlehurst realized that in 1986 when she surveyed new community planning documents. "The library«-wasn't even mentioned." she said. "At that moment I decided we needed to make a plan. Here we are in the center of town and we're not serving the population." So over the next decade Hazlehurst chanced the hours to suit the working pop_ ulation and. realizine the number of elderly in town. made the building accessible for the disabled_ Like Owers in Flatbush. Ha?lehurst now offers meeting space to the town's civic organizations and began holding workshops on subiects important to her communirv: computer literacv. basic adult f4 01/14/97 15:22:47 ines Reinvent Thernseives fcr!ne -,s,Cantury 41 nn.- 1 0 education. employment coursl!ing, and one of her newest programs. called PAA R-,\T. Parents and Kids R.ad Aloud Touetht:r. "We've all had the childhood experience of the library being a place for SHHHHH," Hazlehurst said. "That's no longer the case. It can be quiet if you want. but it's not a place %�here you're goina to (!et throN%m out if you raise your voice." Ovens, in Flatbush, a,-,rt:s that it's time libraries made some noise. "I'm excited about what libraries can be," Owens says. "Sure they're places where you can check out books. but they're also places where citizen movements can be fostered. And both views are viable." Meanwhile. in Queens. library officials there are pleased with their success. They say that the numerous community programs and the.13.6 million books that circulated last year-the highest in the nation-show 7 that the library is hvin,!. Eber Cobleii.,h would be proud. Tom Mitchell has been an -editor and reporter with a number of local ne%vspapers in Massachusetts and ivlissouri. He holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Contacts: Pat Hazlehurst (802) 626,5475: Lisa Owens(718)282-'_017; Diantha Schull (800) 542-1918: Roseann Cerriv. Queens Borough Library(718) 990-0700. (.NNIS) END C COPYRIGHT The American News Service -rig American News Service. Permission is articlesarecop% ghtedbyThe. .Axnen I Permission ,,Ta. -s Se--,;Cp -rtirlp-z under two conditions: granted to republish re roduce, or transmit Am encan Nev, Tli,- m-it r4-41 is cl,rlyidentiffied by the words "The American Ne,,%-s Service" wrid 3. qrrirle-q or nroeMrnS mrndured as a result of tl�is materialr r Tearsheers. tapes, or videotapes of all must be sent N%ithin 30 days to: The.4mericum Ve-4--s Se.mice jZR 1 31ack Fo.r Rd Brattlehoro, PT t);;n i. Nence contact its for ffinher information. R00 651-NENN'S The AnIf--i-M NeWS 5--l-ViCe Email- amOans cover net S02 25-i-516 7 RR I Black Fox Road F.A.X. 802 2-44-I2=7 Brattleboro. VT 0f,'301 hro-!.-',%-%%-w.americanne,.v!t co -f 4 01/14/97 15:22:53 BUDGET 8, CIRCULATION STATISTICS ` 1986 1991 1996 Materials Budget $ 54,946 $100,787 $198,000 Service Population 30,000 37,500 47,000 Expenditures Per Capita $1.84 2.69 $4.22 f Circulation 110,738 (no videos) 355,540(small video 522,729 collection) Circulation Per Capita 3.7 9.5 14.2 Circulation Reimbursement $259,559 $483,291 $821,751 I 1 QQLLECTION INFORMATION (Selected Collections) Number of Items Per Format Format 1986 1 1996 Books 30,611 70,455 90,814 Videos none 1,147 3,657 Audio 560 1,448 3,969 Magazines 193 277 801 ;� Circulations P�r_Eormat 1987" 1991 190 Books 144,304 276,626 358,470 Videos 0 43,734 133,750 Audio 1,880 9,124 22,688 Magazines 7,702 16,304 21,584 1987 is the first year computerized tracking of cires. by format was available. REVENUE GENERATED VIA WCCLS PER FORMAT rate rate rate Format 1987 ($1.50) 1991 ($1.13) 1996 ($1.55) Books $216,456 $312,587.00 $555,628.50 Videos 0 49,419.42 207,312.50 Audio 2,820 10,310.12 35,166.40 Magazines 11,553 18,423.52 33,455.20 • Videos have become a major source of revenue for the library since the late 1980's. Although the collection is small relative to the number of books we carry, they have a much faster turnover rate (three days as opposed to three weeks). • The average video costs $25 and will circulate 400 times over its lifetime, bringing a return of $620 for a $25 investment. • The average video circulates 37 times per year, generating $57.35 per year. • The average book costs $25 and will circulate 20 times over its lifetime, bringing a return of$31 for a $25 investment. • The average book circulates four times per year, generating $6.20 per year. Comparlsori of Selaclad 1995.96 Public Library Statistics for Tigard Public Library Official Name No of books, Number of Number of Number Number of Number o1 bound serials, microforms audio of video computer other library documents materials materials software materials Albany Public Library 107,492 8,556 2,796 1,958 5 9,524 Beaverton City Library 234,232 21,066 7,366 29,601 Cedar MITI Community Llbrar 92,648 13,553 5,273 2,962 27 4,341 Hillsboro Public Library 145,317 15,005 7,785 5,009 19 3,865 Lake Oswego Public Library 126,424 20,949 7,460 6,282 0 2,216 Ledding Library 05,428 2,520 4,407 2,852 0 41 Tigard Public Library 90,814 3,969 3,657 14 9,409 Tulatin Public Library 53,188 23,850 •2,635 1,588 12 1,058 As reported on the 1995-96 Oregon Public Library Statistical Report. (� Blanks Indicate that the numbers are either not collected or not reported. H Numbers not verified as of 1/15/97. x o w 0 Uo In U0 .n n 0 I w .n rn .n 0 Oregon State Library 1/15/97 s � TIGARD PUBLIC LIBRARY MEMORANDUM TO: Bill Monahan, City Manager FROM: Kathy Davis, Director of Library Service DATE: January 24, 1997 SUBJECT: Library Costs; Library Funds C: . Wayne Lowry Funds collected through the WCCLS levy are made available to participating libraries in two ways: 1. Direct reimbursement for each item circulated. The reimbursement system is structured to encourage "customer service oriented" collections. The assumption is - the higher circulation is, the happier the citizens are with the quality of library service they are getting. Tigard Public Library will receive $937,669 in reimbursement during this fiscal year. It would cost the City of Tigard 31.06 cents/$1,000 assessed valuation to generate this amounf'internally." 2. Access to shared county-wide services. The basis of our library operations is the WILI automated catalog system. This is one of many central services that the l remaining WCCLS levy dollars provides. The cost of all central services in this fiscal year will be $1,838,359. Our share of those services (12%) is $220,603. It would cost the City of Tigard an additional 7 cents/$1000 assessed valuation to replace the cost of these services. • Total cost for City to generate funds at current WCCLS level: 38,06 cents/$1,000. • Current cost of WCCLS levy to Tigard citizens: .32 cents/$1,000. In addition, start up costs for putting in a replacement computer system to perform the WILI functions including all the rebarcoding and recataloging would be several hundred thousand dollars ($300,000 - $400,000). Overall service levels would be reduced, as customers would be limited to accessing Tigard's collection of 90,000 items as opposed to 4,000,000 items currently available county-wide.