610 Quincy St. Ÿ Rapid City, SD  57701

605-394-4171 Ÿ www.rapidcitylibrary.org

 

DIRECTOR’S REPORT:  FEBRUARY  2005

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

Community, Governmental and Interlibrary Relations: G. Chapman, Eric Abrahamson, Jim Olson, and staff members attended SDLA Legislative Day in Pierre, Wednesday, January 26. Approximately 100 people attended. This included legislators, librarians and public members. Senate Bill 161 is the SDLA bill for support of school media programming to reinstate voluntary school media standards. The prime sponsor is Julie Bartling from Burke, SD. Other legislators who have signed onto the bill are Tom Dempster, Sioux Falls, Burt Elliott, Aberdeen, and Elaine Roberts, Sioux Falls. The bill is expected to be heard in the Senate Education Committee. Ann Smith, Sioux Falls Media Coordinate will testify on behalf of SDLA in favor of the bill. G. Chapman also attended a monthly training session for Department Heads on January 27.  The training session, presented by personnel of Rapid City Regional Hospital, focused on management and the development of staff 

 

Building & Grounds: Procedures continue to be identified and written for the ongoing maintenance of equipment and seasonal grounds maintenance. Research is being done on the elevator contract for a possible cost savings. Additional help has been acquired through the JSC Program and the Volunteer Program. Every Tuesday, 2 – 8 boys and girls, accompanied by a juvenile Correction officer, are assigned community service cleaning tasks at the library. In addition, a volunteer job description allows for other volunteers to do light cleaning tasks.

 

Public Information and Programming:

 

·         IMLS grant – first draft of abstract, narrative, budget written, with abstract submitted to Library Board

·         Publications – Feb. newsletter, calendar, and computer courses; paleontology presentation book marks, Every Child Ready to Read flyer

·         Signage – replaced all computer station signage, Ask A Librarian posters for posting around town, Jan. No School Days Gadgets series. Christmas and New Years Day closings, Jan. Family Story Time, 2005 staff appreciation card, computer system update signs

·         Digital photos – Mad Scientist/Geek Squad, Robo-fest

 

Training:

Susan Sanders from the National Weather Service presented information on winter weather awareness and survival to staff on January 4th and 5th. This was a RCPL Safety Manual training activity related to weather related emergencies.

 

Youth Service staff members visited with the volunteer Readers’ Corp on Monday, Jan 24, about storytelling techniques.

 

The reference staff has been offering instruction to patrons and RCPL staff on using the new OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog.)  Although short sessions have been scheduled and advertised, instruction on the use of the OPAC is available at any time.

 

Jennifer Irwin attended ALA Midwinter as the South Dakota Chapter Councilor.

 

 

 

PUBLIC SERVICES/YOUTH

 

Programs: Staff went to Lincoln Academy and reviewed our Homework Resources, Including Live Homework Help with 80 students and 8 educators.  Staff also shared Homework Resources with ten Online Academy educators.  

           

Services: Kidscat – The children’s catalog has been very well received by both staff and patrons. 

                       

 

PUBLIC SERVICES/ADULT SERVICES-REFERENCE

 

Programs: Staff took the “wireless lab” out to the Montessori school to show the students and staff materials available to them through the library, as well as the KidsCat. The students will bring their parents to the library in February to show them some of what they learned.

 

Services:  Four tests were proctored in January. Staff has also conducted OPAC classes that do not require sign up; they encourage patrons already in the library to come and learn more about the online catalog. A summary of the computer classes offered last year gives a clear breakdown of the make-up of those attending and the types of classes that were the most popular.

 

 

Collections: Staff has been working on learning the new acquisitions system from Aleph.

 

 

SUPPORT SERVICES/CIRCULATION
  • A round of testing was completed on the Aleph Interlibrary Loan module.
  • The Readers’ Advisory station has been converted to a display area, currently highlighting classics in various media.
  • Selection areas were re-distributed among selectors and a new de-selection procedure was put into place.
  • The Homebound Web Page was posted; Homebound services will be promoted to drug and grocery stores; Readers’ Corps volunteers are being placed in nursing homes at desired times this month; Volunteer webpage was updated; a plan to promote youth tours will be developed
  • Staff have begun implementation of the department’s annual planning goals, including the Service of the Month, highlighting library services for patrons.

 

 

SUPPORT SERVICES/NETWORK SERVICES

 

Services: 

  • Loaded PCCOP to replace Pharos for Patron computer logon
  • Upgraded Online calendar program
  • Working on updating web templates for city and RCPL
  • Maintenance of servers

 

 

SUPPORT SERVICES/TECHNICAL SERVICES

 

Services: 

  • We have been fine turning our Aleph acquisitions procedures

○        Setting up a reports

○        Setting up a procedures

○        Setting up budget permissions

○        Setting up electronic ordering accounts with Baker & Taylor
  • We cleaned up the last of a large backlog of uncataloged materials (with help from other departments)
  • Chris took on the role of newspaper column editor for the Library’s Journal column
  • Ed submitted a preliminary agenda for the western meeting of SDLA’s One-day Spring Forum
  • Chris completed check-in records for all 320 of our magazines