April 2009 Report

Library Director’s Report- April 2009 

Our PACT (Partnership Academy for Community Teamwork) session was very successful with 34 of 38 participants rating the library’s presentation as excellent (4 rated it good). These citizen sessions which inform residents about city services is a tremendous communication and community building program. Folks were amazed at how much the library is doing to help our community thrive. Many of the PACT participants go on to volunteer in one of the many opportunities available in the library and/or city; many become more active in our government or their neighborhoods; and all are more knowledgeable (and grateful) about city services and how they are delivered.

 Library use is increasing. Visitors to our libraries are up 20% and materials lent increased  14% compared to April 2008. The Shores Library continues to be as busy as ever, with no decrease in business since opening day.

 Through our PLS consortium we are applying for federal stimulus dollars to upgrade our materials checkout technology to RFID which will create many process efficiencies, enhance customer satisfaction and reduce our loss rate. Another package includes purchasing laptops for public use.

 A group of 15 librarians, designers and architects from Virginia Beach, Virginia received a tour of the Redwood Shores Branch Library on April 2. The group is in the process of building a joint-use facility in Virginia Beach and wanted to see our new library. They were extremely impressed with the facility and commented and remarked on how they loved all aspects of the building. The group was very grateful for the tour and remarked how fortunate Redwood City is to have such a library.

 The library completed the review process of the Request for Proposals (RFP) that were submitted for the café space at the Redwood Shores Branch Library. The library has accepted the RFP that was submitted by Fresh & Natural Food Service Group. Library staff and City staff are working and meeting with Fresh & Natural Food Service Group staff in regard to the details and logistics of the café. A “Coming Soon” sign has been placed in the café space informing library customers of the anticipated arrival.

 The Dia de Los Niños/Dia de los Libros was celebrated at all the libraries with a week full of literacy events. There was a big kick-off event on Sunday April 26 in the parking lot between Fair Oaks Branch Library and the Fair Oaks Community Center where about 1,500 people attended; 910 people visited the library to listen children bilingual storytellers. All families received a bag with library information, a book, bottle of water and a box of raisins.  On Monday, 4/27 there was a special presentation at all libraries by Lucia Gonzalez, author of many children bilingual books. 

 The Downtown Library’s adult nonfiction collection is getting an infusion of over 2,000 new items; the relocating of the fiction collection is slated for May; and the 2^nd floor remodel is being finalized to go out to bid.

 We have created a new position, Library Recreation Leader, to create a positive atmosphere for teens in the library. We want these staff members to know teens by name so that teens will feel part of a community. Sarah LaTorra created an extensive manual that will help these new workers to accomplish their job.

 The Customer Service Team has created customer service outcome measures and will be discussing with all staff for feedback. The outcome measures were added to this customer service goal statement to make it measurable: Provide a customer service experience that strives for the highest level of customer satisfaction. Measures include make eye contact, smile, greet/acknowledge, approachable and pleasant demeanor, positive attitude, pleasant tone of voice, make a teachable moment, walk customer to materials/locations (no pointing), circulate – roaming in public areas (do not be tied to the desk), follow-up, the use of customer satisfaction surveys and personal appearance.

Staff from the library and PRCS is undergoing training in the Youth Development Learning Network principles. We are planning the next phase of the YDLN process—an organizational review of the effectiveness of our services to youth. The inter-departmental Youth Agenda team is working on a coordinated website of city services for youth and families; a possible “youth card”; capturing data for John Gardner Center analysis; and aligning with Redwood City 2020’s strategic plan.

The library is in collaboration with Familias Unidas at Hoover School. Familias is a wonderful program developed by a Hoover teacher which is designed to introduce families to various aspects of their child’s education. Parents are taught how to read report cards and contact teachers. The whole family works on projects together, such as reading a book and illustrating the theme, the main characters, and the plot on posterboard. The creativity and variety of responses are on view in the Family Place. The program has been so successful that it has attracted grant money and expanded from one session a year to three. Cristina Thorson is part of each session to promote reading. She gave out seventeen new library cards at this past session. She also gives the closing speech at graduation. Graduation is a big party, with everyone wearing their best, and each participating parent going to the stage to receive a diploma.

The 2009 San Mateo County Reads: One Book, One Community selection is Divakaruni’s The Mistress of Spices, a best-selling novel set in the San Francisco Bay Area, and explores the Indian immigrant experience through prose and poetry.  “Divakaruni’s prose is so pungent that it stains the page, yet beneath the sighs and smells of this brand of magic realism she deftly introduces her true theme: how an ability to accommodate desire enlivens not only the individual heart but a society cornered by change.” Read more about the book the publisher here http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385482387

 A faithful library customer, Peter Adams finished his book, An Annotated Index to Selected Articles from The Musical Courier, 1880-1940 Volume 1 and Volume 2.  In the acknowledgements he states, “I am also deeply indebted to the library staff at the Redwood City Public Library, Redwood City, California, where I completed this lengthy project, especially to Carol Moniz of the Redwood City Public Library for procuring the microfilm of MC that allowed me to complete this index.