Full Text
TO: PARMLY BILLINGS LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES FROM: BILL COCHRAN, DIRECTOR RE: REPORT MEETING DATE: JULY 10, 2008 ACTIVITIES REPORT I participated in the 6-12 meeting of the Mayor’s Committee on Homelessness. I joined Library Board Liaison Denise Du Pont at the 6-17 meeting of the Foundation Board. With MSU-B Facilities Director Eakle Barfield, I Co-chaired the 6-19 Community Library Committee meeting. Cindy Patterson went to Lame Deer on 6-19 to present a Story Time workshop to the Native American Children’s Literature Class at Chief Dull Knife College. With the Management Team and Library Board member Denise Du Pont, I presented the Library’s FY09 budget to the Board of Yellowstone County Commissioners 6-23. With Assistant Director Jim Peters, Systems Administrator Dee Ann Redman, and Senior Administrative Coordinator Sandy Raymond, I attended a City/Montana Municipal Insurance Authority Workers Compensation Course 6-24. Cindy Patterson presented a program titled What’s New in Children’s Literature on 6-24 With Library Board Chair Lloyd Mickelson and Redman, I participated in the 6-25 High Plains Book Award Committee meeting. Peters is supervising practicums for Library Certification from the University of Montana-Western interns Deedee Grubbs and Connie Russell throughout the month of July. I spoke to the Downtown Exchange Club about Library programs and services and the Community Library at the College of Technology campus 7-1. FY 2007-2008 YEAR END STATISTICS Circulation FY 2007-2008 FY 2006-2007 Change New books 60,539 62,599 -3.29% Other Adult books 190,628 198,365 -3.90% Teen books 24,743 24,058 2.85% Children’s books 210,241 209,927 0.15% Audiovisual 454,032 442,296 2.65% Other 11,354 9,639 17.79% Total 951,537 946,884 0.49% Persons in Library 341,183 358,192 -4.75% Public Services: Reference and Assistance Adult Services 16,532 18,420 -10.25% Children’s Services 29,640 28,634 3.51% ---PAGE BREAK--- UPCOMING EVENTS 7-10 Library Board meeting, Noon 7-10 Library Catalog Class, 4 p.m. 7-11 Freaky Friday Films, Invasion of the Body Snatchers 7-12/13 Library at Summer Fair 7-14 Author program with Bonnie Nestor, 7 p.m. 7-16 Teen Program, Unmask the Inner You, Part 2 7-17 Film Noir, The Postman Always Rings Twice, 7 p.m. 7-19 Spanish Conversation, 1:30 – 3:00 7-19 Internet Basics, 2 p.m. 7-20/23 Site visits to community college/public libraries in Colorado and Wyoming 7-23 Teen Program, Ghost Hunting 101, 2 p.m. 7-22 Foundation Board meeting, Noon 7-24 Online Database Class, 4 p.m. 7-25 Freaky Friday Film, Creature From the Black Lagoon, 2 p.m. 8-13 Friends of the Library Board Meeting, Noon 8-14 Library Board meeting, Noon ---PAGE BREAK--- STRATEGIC PLAN STATUS REPORT Completed • Objective 1.4 Formally solicit Library Board representation in community planning efforts that might impact existing Library facilities or pose opportunities; ongoing, and BSEDA official presented at Board meeting as of 7-12-07 and Downtown Partnership presented at 12-13-07 Board meeting. • Objective 1.5 Provide ‘The Study’ to be made available for group study, book clubs, etc.; available for public use. • Objective 1.5 Free up additional space by weeding adult print collections by one third; adult nonfiction has been weeded by approximately 17%. • Objective 1.5 Improve seating and work space options for customers; new seating ordered 5-08 and most received. • Objective 1.6 Infomobile improvements including interior improvements and online connection for patrons; upholstery replacement and carpet installation completed. • Objective 1.7/3.1 Patron request card at point of checkout and “What changes would you like to see” for roving assistance combined; printed and in use. • Objective 1.8 Customer service training for staff; FISH training completed 6-6. • Objective 1.9 Incremental improvements in the safety, functionality and appearance of the Main Library; accent painting completed on first and second floors. • Objective 1.9 Replace or update automatic doors; added new sensors and updated doors March 2007. • Objective 1.9 Repair or replace picture book bins in Children’s Services; repainted and trim installed. • Objective 1.9 Painting of the second floor of the Library; scheduled to be completed by 1-9-08. • Objective 2.1 Library sponsorship of four community issue oriented events; Yellowstone County Elections Office program 1-15 and 5-15; the 5-29 Food for Thought included conversations on the influence of money on politics, recycling in Billings, separation of church and state, the Montana film industry, the future of family ranching and many more relevant topics; and Dead in the Water, a panel discussion on freshwater dead zones in Montana 6-18. • Objective 2.2 Library’s web page as a virtual commons; achieved 4-28 as part of City website redesign project. • Objective 3.2 Patron request link is on the Library’s web page as of 10-29-07. • Objective 4.1 Develop a program idea form to be distributed to patrons; form has been printed as a postcard and is being distributed. • Objective 4.3/8.3 Facilitate a virtual program advisory group; wiki for Adult Programming Committee created and in use. • Objective 4.4/8.4 Quarterly calendar of events; available on webpage. • Objective 5.3 Workstation modified for persons with disabilities; to be ordered with Gates Foundation grant funds by 6-30. • Objective 6.1 Assessment of staff skills in evaluating information sources; assessment tools administered 10-5-07. • Objective 6.5 Design & acquire a mobile computer lab for classes; lab acquired and in use. • Objective 7.1 Community assessment of resources available to self-directed learners; completed by Management Team 3-21-07. • Objective 7.2 Discuss cooperative efforts for lifelong learning; seven-part series on “Listening to Classical Music” scheduled for 3-12-08 through 5-28-08. • Objective 7.3 Collection assessment of library sources for self-directed learning; assessment has been completed. • Objective 7.4 Allocate 5% of collection budget to self-directed learning materials; allocated in FY08 budget. • Objective 7.5 Staff training on lifelong learning and adult education; Cochran, Peters, and Robins attended “Strategies for Adult Learning” at MSU-Billings 1-23-08. ---PAGE BREAK--- In Progress • Objective 1.1 Joint Community Library; joint planning committee met 7-26, 8-30, 9- 27; 11-1; 12-6; 1-17; 2-21; 3-20; 4-17; 5-15; and 6-19.. • Objective 1.2 Community process to develop plan for downtown facility; Facilities Committee met 4-7 and 5-12. • Objective 1.3 Study feasibility for a Heights branch library; under study of the Board Facilities Committee, which met 4-7 and 5-12. • Objective 5.1 Community needs assessment for Internet & electronic information training; review of training providers completed/assessment of needs will be done. • Objective 5.2 Public Internet & electronic information resource classes; ongoing existing classes returned in September; more to be developed per Objective 5.1. • Objective 6.2 Staff training based on technology assessment in 6.1.; individual meetings to develop training plans have been completed. • Objective 6.3 Public classes to identify & evaluate information resources; curriculum has been developed. • Objective 7.6 Develop a plan for preservation of and access to historical records; meetings with representatives of MSU-Billings and Western Heritage Center held 1- 29, 2-26, 3-18, and 4-3. • Objective 8.5 activities for newborns and parents; cooperative planning underway among Children’s Services, Foundation, Friends and Junior Women’s League. To Be Completed By October 1, 2007 • Objective 6.4 Links from Library’s website to recommended Internet sites. January 1, 2008 • Objective 1.5 Re-evaluate best use of Montana Room, Teen Pit & Internet stations. • Objective 3.3 Expand new book display shelves. • Objective 5.4 Internet and online classes at retirement facilities. July 1, 2008 • Objective 1.6 Infomobile improvements including interior improvements and online connection for patrons; online connection will be rescheduled for next year.. • Objective 4.2/8.2 Conduct focus groups for programming.