Monday, January 23, 2012

LIBRARY AGAIN HITS MILLION MARK

The Library’s fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 and again this year Livermore library patrons borrowed over 1 million items during the year! Most amazing about this mark, is the fact that both branch libraries are open fewer hours than in past years, yet Livermore patrons continue to use their libraries extensively.

The total borrowing for 2001-2011 was 1,014, 644, item borrowed. However, this number is down 8% from the past year and does reflect the reduction in hours. Reference transactions also decreased, down 28% at 64, 493 questions asked. This decline reflects the reductions in staffing as a result of layoffs resulting in fewer staff to help patrons. Program attendance continues to be popular with 22,000 attendees at over 500 programs throughout the year.

The Library at year end had 55,769 active borrowers or 65% of the population served of 85,312. The library collection increased by .5% for total holdings of 264,734 items. Staffing levels declined for the past year, down 5 FTE Contributions of volunteer hours were just under 30 hours of service provided by community volunteers for special projects.

The Civic Center Library remained open with 65 hours per week. However, the Rincon Branch Library has lost half its hours from 53 per week to 24 and the Springtown Branch Library is only open one day per week, for 8 hours. These reductions in hours have been caused by significant cuts in the library’s operating budget. Even with budget cuts, the Library had a busy year and remains one of the best bargains in Livermore.

NEW BUS ROUTE

The new bus turnaround on the south end of the Civic Center campus adjacent to the Civic Center Library is up and running. This new turnaround allows bus route #11 from the Tri Valley RAPID bus system to service the Civic Center Library. The buses go south on So. Livermore Ave, turning into the turnaround just before reaching Arbor Vista and then travel through the south parking lot of the library back to So. Livermore Ave. A new bus stop and shelter has been placed on the south side of the library plaza.

This project was funded by the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority and managed by the City. We are very pleased that bus service is now available at the Civic Center Library. In the past, the closest bus stop was the one at Pacific Avenue which required a walk to the library, especially difficult in inclement weather.

Buses are currently seen at the Civic Center four or five times a day during the week. As yet, no weekend service is planned.

LIVERMORE READS TOGETHER

It’s almost here—the annual Livermore Reads Together celebration! In February, the community will be reading John Hersey’s A Bell for Adano. Supported by a generous contribution from the Friends, the month long celebration has been kicked off with a special program featuring KQED Forum host Michael Krasny on Sunday, January 22 at 2 pm at the Civic Center Library.

During the month a photographic exhibit of scenes from World War II Sicily is on display in the Civic Center Art Gallery. Other events include a USO Dance featuring music of the 1940”s by the Royal Society Jazz Orchestra, a family program featuring the Alleluia Ringers, a handbell performance group, a program featuring Italian cooking with Viola Buitoni, programs on World War Ii in Italy and a special showing at the Vine theater of the classic movie, The Secret of Santa Vittoria. All of the events are listed on the library website http://www.livermore.lib.ca.us/ and in brochures available at all libraries.

NEW CHECK IN EQUIPMENT FOR BORROWED ITEMS

Through a onetime expenditure of accumulated State grant funds, the Civic Center Library has up dated its materials handling equipment or, as fondly called by the staff, “the Dragon”. The new dragon junior or “DJ” for short, provided by the EnvisionWare Corporation, is a state of the art automation solution to the check-in of library materials. It runs quietly at less than 55dbd and is designed to use standard electrical power rather than compressed air. It has a much smaller footprint than the old system and will open up additional space in the book return area of the library.

The user interface into the system is an automated, self-service return window which provides the patron the option of a receipt for returned materials. As items are placed into the return slot they are checked in. It is much more reliable and efficient in checking in the over 900,000 items borrowed each year from the Civic Center Library. Rapid, automated self-service check in improves the success of self service in the library.

LIBRARY BUDGET

It is that time of year again when the City and the Library begin working on the next two year budget, 2012 to 2014. The recent budget message to the City Council indicates that money is still tight. The City has done a good job of holding down expenses but revenues have failed to reach anticipated levels. As a result, the City came in over budget at the end of June ( the end of the fiscal year) and had to borrow from reserves to balance the budget. There is no indication that revenues will increase by much in the coming budget cycle as cities always lag behind the general economy so the City is again in a hold the line situation. If any new services or expansion to existing ones is to be done, money will need to be taken from something existing to do so. At this time we do not anticipate any more layoffs nor do we anticipate additional reductions in library hours. However, we will still need to be very diligent in our spending.

The Civic Center Library continues to remain open 7 days per week, evenings and weekends for a total of 65 hours per week of access to the facility and the library collection of varied materials as well as the public computers. The Rincon Branch Library is currently open 3 days per week and is well used on those three days. Continuing programs at this facility include storytimes, the Homework Hangout and Lawyers in the Library.

Staff are working on a grant funded project to expand access to the Springtown Branch Library. That facility is currently open on Tuesdays from 12 to 8. The Springtown community has adapted quite well and the branch is very busy on its one day of operation. It is hoped that additional self service adaptations can make access to the facility and its materials available other days as well.

The City is asking for input from citizens on the budget and what they think the City's priorities should be. A citizen engagement workshop will be held on Thursday, February 16 at the Robert Livermore Community Center from 7:00 PM until 10:00 PM. What makes Livermore a great place to live, work and play? Let us know with a "penny for your thoughts"!

Library staff continues to be committed to offering the best possible resources and services with limited staffing and financial resources. I continue to expect that the community will use the library and its wealth of resources and continue to bear with us as we cope in these difficult times .