Library Leader

Aside from building new buildings, what is the Library planning to do to keep relevant in the 21st century? With OCLS moving all of its services online, the ease of finding book texts online, and the use of the PEP delivery service what is the Library doing to attract patrons to their physical locations? I've overheard that door count is down system wide. But yet you're building and staffing more buildings.

Thank you for asking! The OCLS is committed to creating services relevant to the 21st century user. For a sample of some of our newest services check out Innovations @ OCLS accessible from our home page. Building the Virtual Library has been on our agenda for a number of years. Providing remote access to information, the ability to sign up for classes online, book a meeting room, download audio books, pay fines and fees and chat with staff, all contribute to creating a new level of service compatible with today’s expectations and the schedules of our users. In the next year we expect to provide services via text messaging, expanded access to taking classes online and more downloadable content in the form of popular films.

However, there remains a strong dedication on the part of the Library to be a community place. To fulfill that role we must be accessible to our communities. Currently we feel that we are under-represented for our east side residents where a great deal of growth has occurred. Current facilities in the east cannot support additional users and yet there are new residents in those communities seeking library services. For September 2006 our door count is up 5.75 % over the same period last year. And while our virtual services are very popular, unique visitors to our website for the year through September 2006 is 577,802 compared to over 4,000,000 in person visits to our locations. Clearly our bricks and mortar still are vital to our users.

We will continue to look for new ways to attract users to our facilities including exciting new programming and usable spaces. At the Main Library downtown we have begun a regular after-hours event called Arts and Appetizers. Our storytimes for toddlers and preschoolers are extremely popular events, with standing room only. Programs and classes are other products that we offer which have drawn new audiences to our buildings. Our “Learn English” sessions via Ellis software have quickly become our fastest growing service. Our access to the Internet and Microsoft Office Suite software computer sessions have a very steady audience in all of our facilities. Technology classes offering hands–on ability to learn valuable job skills have experienced a 300% increase since we started them.

At our newest location we plan to reinvent the branch environment by creating an active atmosphere while fulfilling our traditional role of lifelong learning. Gathering spaces will be multipurpose. New and popular materials will be displayed in a bookstore setting. Separate spaces will offer an Internet café atmosphere, a family area for parents and children, a room for silent reading and study space for Teens to call their own. Teaching labs will offer technology training and language learning. Staff will be mobile, serving customers throughout the branch whether assisting in finding materials or introducing new do-it-yourself tools.

Thanks for your questions and we welcome any suggestions that you have for keeping the Library relevant to your information and learning needs.

Well, this all sounds very exciting! And for the record, I very much enjoy the library's programing. I agree that this is what the community needs and will likley be that which draws patrons in.