610 Quincy St. ź Rapid City, SD  57701

605-394-4171 ź www.rapidcitylibrary.org

 

 

DIRECTOR’S REPORT:  APRIL  2005

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

Community, Governmental and Interlibrary Relations:  The City Attorney’s office is developing a draft agreement for a library coffee shop.  This agreement will be based on information and criteria that the Management Team gathered.  A draft for administrative review is expected in early April. G. Chapman and R. Ponzio attended a SD Digitizing Newspaper Planning Committee meeting in Pierre, G. Chapman is one of the three statewide coordinators of this project along with State Librarian D. Liegl and Huron Librarian C. Smith, G. Chapman was appointed to the SDLN Fee Structure Committee charged to revise the SDLN membership fee structure because the existing fee structure will not apply in the new system; Exlibris statistics do not correspond with PALS statistics.

According to Mark Posthumus, who handles our parking at Highmark: “There are absolutely no plans to change the status the parking lot for more than a year.  We are looking at building options but financing is a huge road block.  I can safely say that we will give at least six months notice of any changes on the horizon.”

A comment was received from a patron who commended the library staff’s professionalism.

 

Building & Grounds: Procedures continue to be identified and written for the ongoing maintenance of equipment and seasonal grounds maintenance. Items completed in March (All units filter change, grease, belt replacement and roof inspection) Looking into costs to change out pea gravel to 1 – 2 inch river rock. Pea gravel has proved to be problematic with everyday maintenance. Total savings for February high ceiling light cleaning and replacement $3,700. Phase two expansion of Network office is being considered for mid May.

 

 

Public Information and Programming:

 

·         Summer Reading Program – created Parks and Rec. booklet advertisement, 30/60/90 day reading log and school flyer

·         Publications – Apr. newsletter, calendar and computer courses; SDLA west forum follow up postcard; National Library Week signs, psa, flyer; Volunteer Week banner; new renewal policy on date due slips; Gamer Evolution flyer; flyer to Chamber for National Library Week and Foundation Dinner; brochure and rsvp for Foundation Dinner; flyer and button for Homework Help promotion; signs, flyer, and postcards for Spring Poets’ Coffee House

·         Signage and Displays – April Evening Story Time; Gamer Evolution; Teen SRP; MedlinePlus computer topper

 

Training:  Renee, Jeanie, and Terri participated in a web seminar on the topic of “Why Library Futurists Can't Predict the Future and How You Can”.

 

City Attorney, Jason Green, joined the staff at a meeting to discuss patron incident reports.

 

All staff received a demonstration of the new “Ask a Librarian” service. The reference department provided the demonstration.

 

Technical Services staff received OCLC Connexion training.

 

Ed, Greta from staff and Monte and Jim the Board attended the “Thinking Ahead” Conference in Salt Lake City.

 

Patty Mechling, former head of Mainstream at Behavior Management, gave a presentation to staff on patron mental health awareness. Discussion included the recognition of symptoms and strategies to deal with and diffuse situations.

 

PUBLIC SERVICES/YOUTH

 

Programs: A total of 93 people attended the Every Child Ready to Read series.  We finished our “No School Days” Gadget series for this school year.  This series has been very well received and we anticipate offering this type of programming for the 2005-06 school year.  

           

Services:  We shared information about Library resources at the 10th Annual Parent University at Jefferson Academy.  Parents and educators were pleased with the online databases and homework help resources available to students.

 

We took the Mobile Computer Lab to Stevens High School to share our resources with students and staff.  The Principal and educators were very excited about Live Homework Help, and will share this online resource with their students. 

 

PUBLIC SERVICES/ADULT SERVICES-REFERENCE

 

Programs:  Jeff Buechler presented the third in the SD History Series, with a talk on mining in the Black Hills. The audience was very interested and appreciated the slides of early Lead and Deadwood.

 

Services:  Reference proctored 25 tests in March, several of the online tests. Reference started the Roamer service this month: staff went out into the stacks for 2 hours in the afternoons with a tablet PC to proactively provide assistance to patrons.

 
  • RCAS Professional Development Course:  Sights, Sites & Cites – April 2, 9 and 23 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  This workshop uses our wireless laptop computers to help participants enhance their knowledge of research skills and complete projects for their classrooms.

 

SUPPORT SERVICES/CIRCULATION
  • Interlibrary loan has moved completely to Circulation. Staff continue to refine procedures and develop routines for serving patron requests.
  • We have found a way to get lists of newly-ordered books from Aleph, allowing us to continue sending out lists of new materials to interested patrons.
  • OUTREACH:  Volunteer Recognition week is April 17-23; gifts funded by the Friends of the Library will be distributed by staff and a display “Hats off to Volunteers” will be in the lobby. Three tours will be given this month to adult civic groups. Two Readers’ Corps volunteers will begin their work at community senior homes.

 

SUPPORT SERVICES/NETWORK SERVICES

 

Services: 

  • Working on updating web templates for city and RCPL
  • Maintenance of servers
  • implementing new firewall and access points
  • Replacement of old switches
  • Research wireless projection

 

 

SUPPORT SERVICES/TECHNICAL SERVICES

 

Services: 

  • Electronic ordering with Ingram has been working smoothly; tracking and dealing with cancelled orders has been resolved
  • With assistance from Circulation, we have set up a system for removing duplicate orders without effecting either the budgets or the catalog