Summer 2012

LIBRARY BUDGET
The City and the Library have been compiling the budget for the next two years, 2012 to 2014. Even though the economy is very slowly rebounding, the most recent budget message to the City Council indicates that money is still tight. Revenues are flat or only slightly increased over the previous two year cycle. In addition, the City had postponed numerous expenditures to balance the previous two year budget and the various funds which had not been supported must now begin to be brought up to date.

Each of the City departments was asked to provide a 5% cut from the current budget in order to balance the budget for the next two years. To meet that cut, the Library has given up vacant positions it was holding and has determined not to fill vacancies caused by anticipated upcoming retirements. As a result, we will be losing another 2.65 FTE positions from our staffing compliment. Since the budget losses began in 2009, the Library has lost overall 10.13 FTE or 17 people since we use many half time staff.
In addition to staffing reductions, the Library will again be reducing our hourly employee budget and our materials budget. Since 2009, we have seen a 29% decline in our hourly budget and a 36% decrease in our materials budget. In 2009 we had $400,000 to spend on library materials and we now have $257,000. The Friends of the Library have been instrumental in helping bridge this gap by providing funds for many of our electronic resources.

The Library has experienced a 16% decline in its operating budget since 2009 and has significantly reduced open hours at both branch libraries, resulting in the Rincon Branch being open only 3 days per week and the Springtown Branch open only one day per week.

The good news is that 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 availability of free public computers.

Much of our ability to cope with these significant reductions has been helped by the addition of numerous self service options at all facilities. These include patron self check, automated materials return and the virtual library which allows our patrons to conduct much of their business online either in the library or from home.

Staff continues to work on a partially grant funded project to expand access to the Springtown Branch Library. The “Easy Access” library has received additional funding from the City Capital Improvement Budget in order to move forward with providing more self serve options and greater access at this site.

We continue 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 .
Our volunteer opportunities continue to grow. If anyone would like to volunteer, please contact Librarian Blanche Angelo at 925-373-5500 Ext. 5574. Your help is very much appreciated.

“EASY ACCESS” LIBRARY SURVEY

As previously mentioned, the Library is developing expanded service options for the Springtown Branch Library. The Easy Access Springtown Library will be an innovative service model providing a mix of staffed and unstaffed service hours.

In the Easy Access model, the Springtown Branch will continue to be open and staffed on Tuesdays from 12 noon to 8:00 pm. During the remaining six days of the week, patrons will have access to an unstaffed part of the building during the same hours that the Civic Center Library is open. Patrons will be able to access that part of the building using key card access (similar to Anytime Fitness). During non-staffed hours the main library collection will be closed off using a grill gate, similar to how the Post Office operates during non-open hours.

The Library is considering what services to offer during the unstaffed library hours. If you are interested in using the “Easy Access” Library, please participate in the survey to voice your opinion about which of the possible services would be most important to you. The survey can be accessed through July 15 at www.surveymonkey.com/s/springtown or in print at the Springtown Branch Library during open hours. Please tell us what you would like to see in this innovative opportunity.

SUMMER READING FOR ALL AGES AT THE LIVERMORE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Summer reading is for everyone at the Livermore Public Library! Children who are independent readers can participate in the “Dream Big, Read!” Summer Reading Program while pre-readers are invited to take part in a special reading program designed just for them. Teens entering grades 6-12 can participate in the teen reading program where they can earn raffle tickets and enter to win exciting prizes. Even adults can join in with a program tailored just for them. Prizes will be awarded in all programs, with the goal of reading, sharing what was read, and having fun! Sign up at any of the Livermore Public Library locations starting June 8. All programs run through August 11, 2012.

“Dream Big, Read!” is the theme of the 2012 Summer Reading Program for children who are independent readers ages four and over. The Summer Reading Program encourages children to improve their reading skills over the summer, while earning prizes along the way. Children can earn book charms to put on their lanyard as they progress through the game. Additional prizes will include swim, bowling and rock climbing passes, coupons to a variety of Livermore food vendors, an Olympic-style medal and a presentation to the City Council as a Super Reader. As an added bonus, readers who bring in their lanyards from last year will receive two prize points toward their goal.

Younger pre-readers, including babies, can enroll in the Pre-Readers’ Program. In this Program, parents and their children read together and receive points and stickers along the way. Those who complete the reader’s log win a special prize!

Complementing the Reading Programs will be a host of activities and entertainment—from storytimes and crafts to magicians, music and dance from a variety of cultures, cowgirls, wild animals, puppets, and performing dogs! These events are free and open to the public, however, in order to participate in the reading programs and win prizes, registration is required. This year, you may register online beginning June 8 at www.livermorelibrary.net, then come in to pick up your reading log and start reading!

Teens who love to win prizes are invited to join in the summer reading fun as well. Participants in the teen summer reading program are eligible to win a Barnes and Noble Nook, a Macy’s gift card, movie passes, or a Target gift card! Go online at www.livermorelibrary.net starting June 8 to register and begin recording the books you have read. For every two books you read, you receive a raffle ticket to put toward the raffle prize of your choice. Read 10 books and receive a small prize and an extra raffle ticket!

Don’t let the kids have all the fun! In addition to Summer Reading programs for children and teens, this year the Livermore Public Library will hold its fourth annual Summer Reading program for adults. Go online at www.livermorelibrary.net starting June 8 to register and begin listing your books and writing your comments about what you have read. For every three books you read, up to a maximum of 12, you will be entered in a raffle for a chance to win a Barnes and Noble Nook, movie tickets, restaurant gift certificates, or a Target gift card!

DISCOVER & GO MUSEUM PASSES

Are you looking for some exciting summer activities? Check out the new Discover & Go Museum Pass service at the Livermore Public Library. As part of the Discover & Go Network, the library now offers cardholders free and discounted passes to a number of Bay Area museums and cultural institutions including Aquarium of the Bay, Bay Area Discovery Museum, Bedford Gallery, Cartoon Art Museum, Exploratorium, Lawrence Hall of Science, Lindsay Wildlife Museum, Tech Museum of Innovation, and many more.

Passes can be printed online at http://discover.livermorelibrary.net/ or by going to the Library’s website at www.livermorelibrary.net and clicking “Museum Passes” on the left, under “Quick Links”. Cardholders can search for available passes at a particular venue or can search for passes available on a particular date. Patrons without Internet access can reserve a pass by visiting any branch of the Livermore Public Library. Each patron account can have two active reservations at a time, using a regular library card. Temporary library cards created online are not eligible for this service until activated as a permanent library card by visiting one of the Library’s branches.