Librarian’s Report to the Board

January 23, 2007

ALA – SEATTLE PL

Kay Eldon and I met at ALA in Seattle. Both of us got tours of the 3-year-old library – mine from my old friend Lois Fenker, Manager for Collections and Technology, and Kay’s from Head of Public Services Jane Appling, formerly Director Newport PL! We both felt we had the inside scoop.

It was exciting to be among librarians on the cutting edge of both service and technology. Reference librarians wear tiny Vocera communication devices – the latest in walkie-talkies – around their necks so they can be called upon to give subject specialization reference no matter where they are in the 11-story building. A sea of public computers was intently addressed by a hundred+ library patrons, so quiet and busy they asked the librarians to keep their noise down.

I attended a staff demonstration of Overdrive, the main company for downloading audio books because Seattle is adding the capability to download books in the library where the computers may be speedier than at patrons’ homes. One average-sized book took six minutes to download to a thumb drive, named to describe its size. The drive went into a Creative Lab’s $49.00 MP3 player the size of a thumb and a half. They passed it around and we each listened to it.

We could talk about the architecture, color and quiet of the Seattle PL for a long time. The main things I noticed were how quiet it was for such a large, open, well-used library and how service-oriented the staff are.

Kay and I met with representatives from Libramation who showed us the DVD dispenser. We liked the dispenser. It works great. However, we were less than impressed with the vendors who had no Internet hookup to show us what it’s like online. Although we had seen a demonstration of the catalog last fall, we wanted to see it in person. I wonder how this company will survive if they are not demonstrating total access to the DVD collection at ALA.

Recorded Books is now offering downloadable audio books. I talked with the regional manager who is willing to give us a good deal if we sign up for this service for patrons. Kay, Lynn and I will discuss this, bring it to a staff meeting, and if all goes well will be offering the service for patrons at home in a couple of months.

PROGRAMS

January local author programs were held on Saturday afternoons with good audiences of 12 to 15 people and interesting talks from authors Brookshire and Waugh. Next Saturday Herk Martens, aviation historian, will speak at 2:00. On February 12 Ralph Salisbury and Ingrid Wendt will read poetry at the library. Sheryl Eldridge reports that the Oregon Literary Award winners will be coming to our library the last week in April. And in between February 12 and the last week in April is NEWPORT READS ZORRO!

January’s Teen Night at the Library was Music Trivia. About 20 teens attended and were quizzed by DJ-Jennifer Haggerty on all sorts of popular music.

Children’s program contacts in December were over 1200. This includes library programs and school visits.

DECEMBER CIRCULATION

Due to some glitch in programming, the initial statistical figures we received for January through November of 2006 were inflated. Wade Guidry, CRSN systems person caught the error and his refigured the statistics. I will send you corrected figures for July through November by email later this week.

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Circulation really was up 2% in December, interlibrary loan 11%, Internet usage 28% and daily attendance 11%

LIBRARY POLICY REGARDING UNNECESSARY NOISE

Staff have recently discussed our policy regarding noise in the library and we may have a patron attending tonight who will bring a complaint about noise in the library. I thought this would be a good time for us to review the first item under Prohibited Conduct from our policy manual.

5.10 PROHIBITED CONDUCT

In the interests of protecting the rights and safety of library patrons and staff members and to preserve and protect library materials, facilities, and property, the Library prohibits the following conduct on library premises:

Disruptive or unsafe activity or behavior that interferes with the use of the library by others or with staff performance of duties

Examples may include but are not limited to: climbing, running, talking or other unnecessary noise, throwing things, pushing and shoving, verbal or physical harassment or threat

Smoking, eating or drinking in the library, except that food and drink may be permitted in limited areas for special events by prior arrangement

Anything in violation of federal, state or local law

Destroying, damaging or defacing library property

Leaving a child under the age of six unattended, except when the child is participating in a library-sanctioned activity

Bringing animals other than library-approved assistance animals into the library

Using skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, or other sports equipment in the library or on library property

Using library facilities for the purpose of bathing or sleeping

Failing to maintain a reasonable state of dress or personal hygiene