The conference has been excellent. First day I took an optional full day tour of the new libraries being built/or recently opened in DC. They are opening 12 libraries in 18 months!!!
I fell in love with the Anacostia Library. It is a beautiful modern building that has become a place of pride for the local community. It was designed with flexibility in mind, all areas can be reconfigured to serve a different purpose if the needs of the community change in the future.
Other libraries visited on the tour included the new Benning Library, and one other but the name escapes me at the moment. We also visited the historic GeorgeTown Library that is being extensively refurbished after a fire in the early 2000's. Today I walked down to the Martin Luther King, which serves as the central public lending library in DC. When the economy picks up there are plans to rebuild on this location. It is needed. I've also visited the Library of Congress whilst in Washington and it is truly a magnificent library.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Columbus Ohio
Arrived here just after lunch today. Tomorrow we will visit the Columbus Library - recently awarded Library of the Year 2010).
Tuesday
Arriving at the Central Library you can see immediately why they won Library of the Year. The building and collection are beautifully presented and maintained. This library is so clean everywhere. Popular book displays are constantly kept filled. Multiple copies of titles displayed as in a book store. Fiction books do not have spine labels or other stickers placed on them. One stamp appears on the spine and the barcode on the back of the book. Staff are enthusiastic and very helpful. Even with significant budget cuts the atmosphere is very positive. The staff and the community love their library and it shows!!!
We visited the Gohanna branch and I'll write about this soon.
Wednesday
Visited OCLC
After the beautiful Thompson Library at the University.
Tuesday
Arriving at the Central Library you can see immediately why they won Library of the Year. The building and collection are beautifully presented and maintained. This library is so clean everywhere. Popular book displays are constantly kept filled. Multiple copies of titles displayed as in a book store. Fiction books do not have spine labels or other stickers placed on them. One stamp appears on the spine and the barcode on the back of the book. Staff are enthusiastic and very helpful. Even with significant budget cuts the atmosphere is very positive. The staff and the community love their library and it shows!!!
We visited the Gohanna branch and I'll write about this soon.
Wednesday
Visited OCLC
After the beautiful Thompson Library at the University.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Chicago
Arrived in Chicago this afternoon. Members of the group spent the late afternoon at the Art Gallery. They have an amazing collection.
Tomorrow we will visit the Central Library in Chicago.
Visit to the Chicago Central Library - located in the South Loop area. (Chicago has a population
of 3 million)
The design we see today was the result of a design competition. The building is solid and majestic in design, Adorning the exterior roof is magnificent large gargoyle style art work. Upon entering the building it seems quite unbelievable that the structure is only 20 years old. Classical in design and with the extensive use of granite throughout the building, it would be easy to believe that the building had existed for many centuries.
The construction of this imposing building in a challenged neighbourhood saw a positive major transformation of the area. This building anchored and turned around the neighbourhood. At a cost of over $144,000,00 million the Council made a significant investment in providing a world class facility. 2 million of the budget was expended on the acquisition of public art. This has been one significant learning for tour group participants.
Some of art works include a large mosaci telling the story of the Mayor of Chicago.
SOme significant collections at the library include;
a large Civil War collection
President Grants saddle and numerous artworks and sculptures placed throughtout the building.
There is a popular borrowing collection - this is where all holds are collected. Placed with name down (privacy). In this area a large audio visual collection is housed here.
Located at the Central Library is the YouMedia centre. This area is only accessible for teens 13-19 years). Adults can not use this area. This area includes lots of couches and digital media. There is also a professional sound studio. In this area alone there are 150 laptops for teens to use. This is a gathering space for the teens of the City. Mentors come from the University to teach digital media type classes. Blogs etc created by the users of the You Media area are regulated by staff. Digital cameras are available for the teens to check in and out. There is an emphasis on user generated content.
DUring the Global Financial Crisis circulation stats have risen by 60%
There are 70 branches across the City. There are 1500 staff across the library service and 500 at the Central Branch.
LMS use is CarlTLS
Security is prevalent through out the Library. Anyone caught attempting to steal "City" property is handcuffed and taken away by Police.
There is a beautiful central reading garden area that is now rented for function use.
SOme other interesting facts.
No home delivery service
No book mobiles
Looking at vending machines
Large e-book collection
Revenue $121 million, including $3 million in fines and fees.
Large E-Book collection
300 different community languages
Uses PC reservations to manage all computer bookings.
Expenditure $62 million (staff)
17.8 million on materials
Large ESL collection
Most procurement is done centrally - branches do have discretionary funds to meeting changing needs quickly. Most materials are received shelf ready.
Tomorrow we will visit the Central Library in Chicago.
Visit to the Chicago Central Library - located in the South Loop area. (Chicago has a population
of 3 million)
The design we see today was the result of a design competition. The building is solid and majestic in design, Adorning the exterior roof is magnificent large gargoyle style art work. Upon entering the building it seems quite unbelievable that the structure is only 20 years old. Classical in design and with the extensive use of granite throughout the building, it would be easy to believe that the building had existed for many centuries.
The construction of this imposing building in a challenged neighbourhood saw a positive major transformation of the area. This building anchored and turned around the neighbourhood. At a cost of over $144,000,00 million the Council made a significant investment in providing a world class facility. 2 million of the budget was expended on the acquisition of public art. This has been one significant learning for tour group participants.
Some of art works include a large mosaci telling the story of the Mayor of Chicago.
SOme significant collections at the library include;
a large Civil War collection
President Grants saddle and numerous artworks and sculptures placed throughtout the building.
There is a popular borrowing collection - this is where all holds are collected. Placed with name down (privacy). In this area a large audio visual collection is housed here.
Located at the Central Library is the YouMedia centre. This area is only accessible for teens 13-19 years). Adults can not use this area. This area includes lots of couches and digital media. There is also a professional sound studio. In this area alone there are 150 laptops for teens to use. This is a gathering space for the teens of the City. Mentors come from the University to teach digital media type classes. Blogs etc created by the users of the You Media area are regulated by staff. Digital cameras are available for the teens to check in and out. There is an emphasis on user generated content.
DUring the Global Financial Crisis circulation stats have risen by 60%
There are 70 branches across the City. There are 1500 staff across the library service and 500 at the Central Branch.
LMS use is CarlTLS
Security is prevalent through out the Library. Anyone caught attempting to steal "City" property is handcuffed and taken away by Police.
There is a beautiful central reading garden area that is now rented for function use.
SOme other interesting facts.
No home delivery service
No book mobiles
Looking at vending machines
Large e-book collection
Revenue $121 million, including $3 million in fines and fees.
Large E-Book collection
300 different community languages
Uses PC reservations to manage all computer bookings.
Expenditure $62 million (staff)
17.8 million on materials
Large ESL collection
Most procurement is done centrally - branches do have discretionary funds to meeting changing needs quickly. Most materials are received shelf ready.
Visit to Gates Foundation
We were met by Deborah Jacobs. Her team spoke of the different programs they are involved in and discussed their work with Libraries in Africa.
Seattle Public Library
This library is amazing, the building is a solid anchor in the City of Seattle. The day we visited the public computing area was full. There were two security guards just supervising the computer area. The Library Police are common place it seems in USA Libraries. Seattle does have quite a lot of homeless people who spend considerable amounts of time in the library.
Los Angeles Public Library
Los Angeles Public Libraries
Syliva kindly took us on a tour of the newest public library in the system - Silver Lakes.
This new library has been designed with the environment in mind. There are photovoltaic cells on the library that generate 30-40kw of energy. Lots of emphasis has been placed on using sustainable products throughout the library. Bamboo has been used throughout the library and the library customer service counters have been constructed from recycled materials.
Key statistics.
33 computers
75% usage of self serve machines
Techlogic Automated Materials Handling - 5 bins
EFT 7 staff
Key learnings
Automated Materials Handling - can be problems with audio books - many cd's
Patrons can borrow 30 items + 3 DVD's
We then continued on and visited the Chinatown Library.
Donations supplement the budget
Key Statistics
360,000 loans per year
26-30,000 visitors per month
Large Chinese collection
50,000 items are couried per month
Home Delivery service is no longer offered
Home
Syliva kindly took us on a tour of the newest public library in the system - Silver Lakes.
This new library has been designed with the environment in mind. There are photovoltaic cells on the library that generate 30-40kw of energy. Lots of emphasis has been placed on using sustainable products throughout the library. Bamboo has been used throughout the library and the library customer service counters have been constructed from recycled materials.
Key statistics.
33 computers
75% usage of self serve machines
Techlogic Automated Materials Handling - 5 bins
EFT 7 staff
Key learnings
Automated Materials Handling - can be problems with audio books - many cd's
Patrons can borrow 30 items + 3 DVD's
We then continued on and visited the Chinatown Library.
Donations supplement the budget
Key Statistics
360,000 loans per year
26-30,000 visitors per month
Large Chinese collection
50,000 items are couried per month
Home Delivery service is no longer offered
Home
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