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#4 Reports A. Activities Report Hedberg Public Library Activity Report May 2009 Adult Services René attended the Wilson and Jackson Elementary Schools Latino Family Day/Night events. She read stories, spoke about services and programs for Latinos at HPL, and handed out fliers with information about upcoming library events. Mary Krisco of the UW-Extension Office and René teleconferenced about plans for three health- related programs next spring at our library. The programs will be offered as part of a grant the Extension Office is applying for. They will be able to provide some materials, staff and promotion of the events. René contacted local agencies regarding partnering for library programs. To date, the Janesville Police Department invited her to participate by having a table at two events this summer (National Night Out and Wilson Elementary School Bike Rodeo). On May 27 and May 28, René observed and evaluated the final semester project presentations of the Mexican students enrolled in the Janesville Academy for International Studies. The students thth invited René for May 27 and May 28 programs. René and Carol Kuntzelman met to discuss language learning programs which may replace the Tell Me More program. They are currently evaluating several options. Also during the month, René helped patrons in the library, translated the Summer Library Program brochure, interpreted for patrons at the public service desks, planned and hosted the First Friday Family Fiesta, and attended the Head Start Advisory Committee meeting to present information about library programs. Jean attended the monthly Rock County Health Assessment Committee meeting at the Job th Center. The committee will present their plan to the public at HPL on June 9. Programming at local senior living facilities continued in May with programs on romance novels, Janesville history and the origins of words and names. The two book groups at Riverfront, Inc. are going strong. Eight women are currently participating. It is hoped that more will join the groups in the future. The monthly county immunization clinics have moved to the Public Meeting Room from the Program Room for the summer months. Fewer people attend the clinics during the warm weather so it is sensible to move the clinic downstairs. Jean attended the biweekly meeting of CORD (Community Organizations Responding to Dislocation), an area group which is responding to the current economic conditions in Rock County. Mary will represent the library at future meetings at the Job Center satellite office at the UAW Hall. Building Operations Various building maintenance projects were scheduled and completed in May. The annual test of the sprinkler system was done; the interior and exterior of all the building’s perimeter windows were cleaned; and carpet cleaning was done in both public entrance areas, the Ground Floor, past checkout and the entire children’s room. Interior painting was done on door and elevator frames, wall areas, and baseboard heaters. Additional stain and varnish was applied to all of the wood windowsills in the building. An ongoing project this summer is applying touch- up stain and varnish to all of the wood chairs in the adult department. Central Services Overall circulation was slightly lower than May 2008. Some collection areas that showed an increase include, adult DVD kits, large type books, magazines, and children’s feature DVDs. Format changes such as video to DVD affect circulation showing gradual decreases as the public purchase appropriate equipment. Adult feature video circulation has continued to decrease. Currently adult audio-books on cassette usage are declining. Circulation for books on cassette decreased 29% while books on CD increased 74% compared to May 2008. Materials held for patrons generate processing activity for circulation staff. The number of reserves filled this month increased by 1,224 from last May. The highest number of reserves in a day this month waiting for patron pick-up was 935. Patrons placed reserves on 2,569 “on the shelf” items which were pulled by circulation clerks with an 87% “fill” rate. The Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) conference was held at Wisconsin Dells. The conference theme, Saving Our Stories, offered such sessions as: Spring Bird Migration in Wisconsin – John Bates, author and It’s Just Walking 2176 Miles – Vicki Reuling, Wisconsin Valley Library System Trustee which were sponsored by Wisconsin Library Trustees and Friends. Both were attended by Linda Rogers, Head of Central Services. Collection Development The Collection Team discussed procedures and circulation rules for a new HPL collection format to be unveiled this summer—video games. Money was added to the 2009 materials collection for the purchase of games to be housed in the Young Adult collection. The group agreed that only games in PS2 format will be ordered. Items will check out for one week only, with no renewal, a limit of one game at a time, and fines of 50 cents a day. Items can be reserved and are able to be checked out to other ALS library patrons, but will not be loaned to non-ALS libraries. Young adult librarian Laurie Bartz will be selecting titles with a rating of ‘T’ or ‘E’ using such standard reviewing sources as Library Journal. The Team is excited about offering a new collection that will be popular with teens and perhaps their parents as well. Human Resources/Accounting Laura Fitzsimons received an “I Made a Difference” award for her initiative and hard work in boxing up withdrawn materials. Theresa Biele received an “I Made a Difference” award for her exemplary customer service in Interlibrary Loan. Volunteer job descriptions and a volunteer handbook are being developed. Sharon Alfano has been meeting with staff supervisors of volunteers to discuss improving procedures. In Accounting, Computer Services is overspent by $6,574, in part due to an unexpected increase in the cost of Millenium. As far as is possible, this overexpenditure will be covered by underspending in other accounts. Reference Services Statistics from the Reference Department: ? Patron questions asked at Reference Desk – 2682 ? Patron questions asked at Service Desk – 2416 ? Combined total of questions at both Desks – 5098 Statistics from InterLibrary Loan: ? Items requested from other libraries for Hedberg patrons – 420 ? Items received from other libraries for Hedberg patrons – 396 ? Requests received from other libraries to borrow Hedberg materials – 718 ? Items lent to other libraries from the Hedberg collection – 506 The library has started a subscription to the Alldata auto repair database. Alldata will replace the Mitchell Web On Demand product we have subscribed to for the past year. Both databases cost the same and have equivalent content. Alldata, however, has more efficient screen layouts and search functions. One of the City offices had two framed Janesville maps. One map shows Janesville as it existed in 1919, the other shows a vision of what Janesville would look like in 1920 and beyond. The City did not want to keep the maps any longer, and gave them to the library. The maps are attractive, nicely framed, and show useful historical information about Janesville. The maps will be hung near the Janesville room, one on each side of the door to the Reference office. Question of the month: A patron wanted a picture showing the location of the timing marks on his Monte Carlo. The librarian tried the new Alldata database and found a great picture with the exact information he wanted, and printed it out for 15 cents. The patron said the only other way he knew to get this same picture was to purchase the shop manual for $150. He was glad he came to us first! Technical Services Head of Technical Services Carol Kuntzelman spent a day at the annual Wisconsin Public Library Conference, attending a number of sessions on readers advisory and on conducting book discussions. She was able to incorporate a number of suggestions when she led the discussion on the title selected for May, Angels & Demons. The evening session had a good turnout and a good discussion, ending with participants receiving movie-related items donated by the film distributor. Youth Services Children’s Services Children’s Room staff wrapped up spring semester programs. Library Explorers, led by Shannon Murphy-Tollefsrud and Karin Timmermann, created wonderful portraits that will be used to decorate the room for the upcoming summer reading program, Be Creative @ Your Library. Julie Westby introduced the summer theme to Family Fun Night attendees. Children’s room staff also visited 10 elementary schools (2375 children and 184 teachers), with a fun-filled 15-minute skit created by Jamie Swenson, outlining the summer program and encouraging children to participate. School visits will continue through the first two weeks of June. Young Adult Services Promotion for Teen Central’s 2009 Summer Library Program, Journey Through Time, began at local middle schools in May. Five presentations for sixth and seventh graders reached 560 students and teachers. Fliers and posters were distributed during the visits. Laurie Bartz visited TAGOS Leadership Academy where students were instructed in the use of RockCat, subscription databases and primary/secondary sources of information, including he library’s Web page which links to many useful local history sources. The summer library program and new YA books were also highlighted. TAB members enjoyed bowling at Rivers Edge during their last meeting of the year. Certificates of Appreciation were given to each TAB member and officers and graduates received small gifts. Kari Klebba from Wildwood Theatres met with Sharon Grover, Julie Westby and Laurie Bartz to discuss partnering to promote books that will be released as movies this summer and fall, starting with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.