July 2008 Report

Library Director’s Report- July 2008

The organization has been focusing on the Redwood Shores Library.
• We put (in order!) 27,000 books on the shelves at the Shores Library in one and a half days!!!! (pictures in board packet). An additional 7,000 books will be arriving soon.
• 10,000 dvds and cds have been processed by staff.
• Staff interviews will be held first week of August.
• Technology plans in place and items ordered—computers, copy/fax, self-checkouts, flat screens, power point monitors, phones.
• Furniture arriving. Some shipping dates cutting it close.
• Interpretive Center approved by Council, ready to install later this month.
• Café Agreement on Council agenda. Tenant improvements needed and may not be ready for opening.
• Saturday, September 6, Grand Opening Celebration plans finalized—speakers (Mayor Foust, Councilmember Pierce, Board President Madrigal, State Librarian Hildreth, Shores Cub Scouts flag ceremony. Bands, children’s activities, give-aways and refreshments. Library card processing and additional checkout stations will be added to help ease crowding within the library.
• Community art wall displays set for opening and policy written for future rotation. Art in Action will display children’s art from Sandpiper School on a monthly basis in the children’s area.
• Community Room usage policy needs to be finalized.
• Children’s storytime schedule set. Future programming underway (ie movies, speakers, book club).
• Punch list activities pending; HVAC issues need to be resolved before building is turned over to the City.
• Most signage has been installed.

Meanwhile, business as usual in a busy summer:

The Summer Reading Club is in full swing with over 2,000 readers, listeners and parents signed up to make books an integral part of their summer plans.

New banners will be gracing Middlefield Road—watch for them this fall. Our plastic bags are about to become obsolete as all Redwood City libraries go green with new cloth totes, available for sale starting September 6th. RFP for coffee kiosk with ads on various websites announcing this unique opportunity.

The 2nd floor remodel (new teen room, three study rooms) and the tech lab upgrade have been approved for bid. The construction should begin in October. This project is also replacing the HVAC units for the entire library.

The Fair Oaks Library network has been upgraded to accommodate more computers without delays in speed. Fiber has been installed by ATT, and a new network closet will be added. Fabric has been ordered to replace all benches and chairs. New carpeting will go in sometime this fiscal year. It has been placed in the CIP replacement budget (first time this has happened). The Library Foundation met at Fair Oaks Branch and has formed a working team to explore and recommend funding opportunities for the North Fair Oaks community. The Library will have a booth at the North Fair Oaks Festival on August 24. Sequoia Adult school is meeting with their student parents at the library once a month after 5:00 pm on Fridays. Along with educational presentations, participants can check out library materials and children are delighted with storytelling and craft programs. Looking forward on Angelica Jaimez to return to Fair Oaks after two months of maternal leave.

Local History Librarian, Molly Spore-Alhadef. wrote an article for the local Spectrum Magazine’s “Redwood City Through the Years” section.

Start Your Own Blog was a great addition to July programming. In addition to learning basic blogging skills, all 23 participants left with a G-mail account and exposure to advanced blogging features. Thanks to Sarah for recruiting three teen volunteers who served as lab monitors for the class. More computer classes for the public will be a focus this coming year.

Youth Services
• Five weekly programs were held at all three library sites to promote the Summer Reading Club. The programs featured percussionist James Henry, musical group Hey Mom, magician Timothy James, funny man/juggler/magician Daffy Dave, the library’s own puppeteer Chuck Ashton at Schaberg, and puppeteers Swazzle at Fair Oaks and Downtown. 100 folks attended the Fair Oaks program!
• The monthly first Saturday Dad and Me @ the Library featured Chuck Ashton in a program of stories, songs and puppets. We didn’t expect much of an audience since it was the morning after the 4th of July, but some 25 library aficionados still found their way into the library for the program.
• Chuck was asked by one of his ex-students at San Jose State to present a program at the Cupertino Public Library where some 400 children and parents came to see the program of stories, songs and puppets.
• July has been a busy month for the Traveling Storytime Program with the addition of eight new volunteers to the program, four of which have already been placed in new sites. Jan also saw increased attendance at her weekly Tiny Tales, with an all-time high of 45 on July 15. Jan concluded the Tiny Tales storytime for the summer with a “Teddy Bears’ Picnic” themed day as she said good-bye to many of the children that she has been reading to for the last eighteen months. In September these children will be moving on to one our Toddler storytimes. Jan also filled in for Jacky at her storytimes.
• Long-time Youth Services staff member Cristina Thorson’s father died in late July. Cristina spent time with him at Stanford Hospital and arranging for his care before he passed away. All of our hearts go out to Cristina in her time of loss and we look forward to her return after her bereavement leave. Cristina asked that in lieu of flowers that anyone inclined to do so please make a contribution to either Project READ or to the Interpretive Center at Redwood Shores.
• 26 teen volunteers worked a total of 165 hours. On average, each volunteer worked at least 6 hours. The teens helped keep the children’s collection in order by shelving and shelf reading, they assisted at the Duct Tape program, they led the weekly art activity, three volunteers assisted at the Adult Blog program by helping adults use the computers, and finally a few of our volunteers helped with Summer Reading Club activities such as SRC sign-ups and programs.
• Sarah was contacted by Canada College’s librarian to help create an Urban and Historical Literature Bibliography. She selected titles, added descriptions of the books, and found reviews of each title. Sarah also met with Stacy Wenzel, an English teacher from Sequoia High School, to develop a series of class visits with her struggling readers during the upcoming school year. They will meet, acquire library cards, visit the library, learn about databases and Tutor.com, work on research papers, and perhaps visit the library a second time to see the completed teen space.
• Sarah led a Duct Tape Art program in which 15 teens made wallets, purses, and flowers out of colorful Duct Tape. Three lucky teens won $15.00 to Jamba Juice by entering the One Word Book Review. To enter, the teen wrote the title and author of a book and reviewed the book in one word. This 6 week raffle will continue for three more weeks.
• Sarah attended a meeting by the Youth Development Learning Network. She will meet with representatives from the group to decide if their program meets the needs of the library. If so, then she will be part of a year long program that connects services throughout the area.
• Sarah was contacted by the publisher of Bay Area Parent and asked if they could write an article about Jobs For Youth visiting the library. They hope to include an article in their Fall addition. Jobs For Youth met at the library and assisted 3 teens in developing their resumes. The teens found that by participating in sports, they had something to put on their resumes. Being in sports shows that you know how to be on time, you can be a team player, and you can take direction.

The City’s General Plan is moving forward. The following was input from the library for inclusion. It is good information about our library services.

Partnerships (Human Services Element)
 Seek partners in the community that can help us provide better literacy services and bridge cultural divides.

Community Building and Volunteers (Culture Element)
 Create an environment within the library that helps people meet, interact, and participate through a “third place.”
 Sustain and enhance a vibrant, community-centered Library system.
 Sustain meaningful volunteer opportunities that connect the city with the community.
 Be responsive to the community’s needs and expectations.

Education (Human Services Element)
 Assist and support life long learning for adults through computer training, programs and library collections.
 Help all community members to reach a functional level in reading, writing, math and critical thinking skills in English.
 Help raise a literate and educated next generation by sustaining or increasing library literacy storytime programs; and continuing the level of traveling storytime daycare/preschool visits each year.
 Assist all children to become School Ready by developing the love of reading, learning and libraries from birth to kindergarten.
 Actively support the efforts of students from Kindergarten through 12th grade, including emphasizing the love of reading.
 Sustain or increase the at-risk teen/elementary student tutoring program; and the after school homework help centers.
 Continue to collaborate with the School District through the sharing of library staff, expertise and programs.

External Communication (additional element to consider)
 Public Relations
 Marketing