ANNUAL REPORT FISCAL YEAR JULY 2012 JUNE 2013 IT S ALL ABOUT:

Transcription

1 ANNUAL REPORT FISCAL YEAR JULY 2012 JUNE 2013 IT S ALL ABOUT:

2 ENRICHING OUR COMMUNITY

3 What do YOU think of when you think of the library? Books, of course, and music, movies, magazines, too but today s library is all about SO MUCH MORE than just the items our users check out. Today s library offers a myriad of services, programs, and technology, because today s library is all about responding to the diverse and ever-changing needs of our community. IT S ALL ABOUT YOU! That s why, during the past year, we began an ambitious strategic planning initiative, to check in with the greater Des Moines community talking with our users, as well as the people who don t currently use the library. We conducted focus groups with community leaders at all six library locations, and we used telephone surveys to reach across the entire community. In the coming year, we plan to study these results and use them as our guides in designing library services for the future, resulting in an ambitious plan for tomorrow. One of the first improvements we re making as part of that plan is in answer to a need clearly identified by our users. This fall, after a year filled with research, meetings, trials, and tweaking, we re rolling out our new online presence. The DMPL s Virtual Library will be introduced as our new seventh site not a bricks and mortar library building, but rather an updated look and feel when you click on dmpl.org. Available seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, this Virtual Library offers the same wonderful services that can be found at our six locations. You can explore the library s expanding collections of e-books, e-audiobooks, and e-magazines. You gain access to thousands of articles, electronic encyclopedias, repair manuals, test preparation guides, and many other databases to help with research or answer quick questions. Mobile-friendly, the Virtual Library can be used on all types of devices: from desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and phones. Thanks to today s technology, your library can reach further than ever. Our entire community has greater access to the many valuable services we provide. Last year, more than 1.1 million users walked through our doors, and nearly 900,000 accessed our services virtually. In the coming year, we continue to be committed to providing great customer service to the people who walk in our doors. At the same time, we are extending our reach throughout our community with the new Virtual Library. Greg Heid Director Your Tax dollars DMPL Virtual is a portal to the Des Moines Public Library s entire collection. Purchased more than 1.4 million items available to be checked out by library patrons. (580,000 adult books, 86,000 young adult books, 366,000 children s books, and 368,000 videos/ audios/periodicals) DES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT

4 Connecting Through Technology

5 Just as you experiment and invest in new technology, your library strives to meet and exceed your expectations. This past fiscal year has been an exciting time with introductions of many new technologies. E-book readers have come to love our innovative new service called 3M Cloud that gives library cardholders access to free e-books via multiple platforms, including ipads, tablets, computers, and phones. Readers browse for titles on the web or at one of the dedicated touch-screen Discovery Kiosks offered at Central Library, Franklin Avenue Library and South Side Library. For folks new to the world of e-reading, the library also offers 100 e-readers available for checkout at any of our six locations. Recognizing that many of our library users are not as tech-savvy as they want to be, the DMPL has had great success offering classes throughout the year called Free Advice for Your Device. Attendees using their own smart phone, laptop, e-reader, or tablet receive assistance and instruction on how to access and use the library s many electronic resources. The monthly classes and apps are all free, plus individual sessions can be scheduled for library users needing one-on-one assistance. OneClickdigital, an audiobook download service, was offered to library cardholders beginning March 1. This new service provides access to more than 4,000 audiobook titles published by Recorded Books. Our new e-magazine service called Zinio provides more than one hundred popular magazines that can be accessed electronically by library users on tablets, computers, and smart phones. Like our other services, it is free to DMPL cardholders. Top news, entertainment, lifestyle, and travel magazines are offered, and the library adds three to four new subscriptions every month. Currently available magazines include National Geographic, US Weekly, Newsweek, Seventeen, and many more. Social media continues to play an important role in the lives of library customers. At the DMPL, a team of social media librarians keeps followers updated on all things library-related via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and the library s website. This year, the team added a link to Flipboard, where you can read interesting and fun online finds, as well as general information about what s trending. The Internet has had a profound impact on the scope of public library service, as both libraries and the public now see computer and Internet access as central to the mission of the public library. This shift has required libraries and librarians to rethink their traditional service models, and in some cases, to rearticulate their missions to accommodate the role of technology and to expand services. Today, virtually every public library in the United States provides public access Internet computers. Opportunity for All: How the American Public Benefits from Internet Access at U. S. Libraries The DMPL has: social media Facebook: 2598 fans Twitter: 2727 followers Pinterest: 26 boards and 2173 pins Flipboard: 121 readers A national telephone and web survey showed that 32 percent of the U.S. population aged 14 or over have used a public library computer or wireless network to access the Internet in the past year. Opportunity for All: How the American Public Benefits from Internet Access at U.S. Libraries. DES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT

6 TRANSFORMING LIVES

7 When it comes to making a difference in people s lives, the DMPL is at the forefront. Thanks to creative programs, forward-thinking services, and innovative technology, your library provides information to live life. A unique new program at the Forest Avenue Library called Conversations and Coffee brings together English learners and community volunteers who practice English conversation skills while enjoying light refreshments. The Forest Avenue Library s collection features materials in a variety of languages, including recent additions of works in Sgaw and Pwo Karen, languages used by refugees from the Burma(Myanmar)/Thailand border area. Speaking of foreign languages, the library also added Pronunciator, a new language-learning service offering seventyfive different languages. There s even a free app available so it can be downloaded on a smart phone. Libraries especially public libraries should be the great connector. Connecting people with information and the resources they need to make informed decisions about their lives. Connecting people with the resources they need for entertainment. Connecting people to their roots and their past. Pew Research Center The recession may have eased, but the library continues to be an important resource for unemployed workers and job-hunters. Job and Career Accelerator, available via the library s website, includes an online resume builder, ways to search local and national job listings, assistance in writing cover letters and preparing for interviews, as well as how to apply for jobs online. For folks considering a new career, there s a new test-taking resource called Learning Express Library that offers free practice exams, including civil service exams, nursing school entrance exams, and vocational and instructional e-books. Of course, transforming lives is not reserved just for adults. The library offers inspiration to children, as well. A child attending a program at the Franklin Avenue Library called, What s in a Doctor s Bag may go on to study medicine. The annual Hands- On Book Fest, cosponsored by the Des Moines Rotary Club and held at the Central Library, may inspire young people to emulate the author or illustrator or papermaker that they meet. Or, maybe it s as simple as a child feeling the love and acceptance of reading to a therapy dog during one of the library s Furry Tales programs. Hands-On Book Fest at Central Library. Furry Tales at Forest Avenue Library. DES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT

8 HELPING KIDS SUCCEED IN SCHOOL & LIFE

9 From Baby Rhyme Time to FAFSA Preparation Assistance, the Des Moines Public Library is all about kids! Our librarians strive to instill a love of reading in children of all ages. In fact, encouraging early childhood literacy is one of the library s core values. For schoolage children, the library offers homework assistance, as well as recommendations for great books to read. This past year saw some notable developments. The library s Exploration Station programs encourage children with hands-on activities. A new online service called EBSCO Kids Search is a useful tool for young students in grades K-8 needing information for school reports. Throughout the year, all six of our locations offer a variety of weekly storytimes. Additional activities include the Kids Book Club, Crafty Readers programs, after-school Do-It-Yourself Crafts, and Saturday Special activities for young families. Rosie s Forest, sponsored by the United Way of Central Iowa Women s Leadership Connection, was unveiled last March at the Forest Avenue Library. This new learning environment with colorful artwork designed by Sticks features five learning stations where children can enjoy hands-on activities using the key elements of early literacy: Reading, Writing, Playing, Singing, and Talking. New AWE Computers, provided by United Way and the Forest Avenue Library Endowment Fund, which are equipped with educational software programs were added and are being used by children daily. Early learners love the new content, designed for ages two to eight, including software titles such as Know Your USA, Clue Finders, and Speed Crunch Calculator. Sometimes it s just about creating open-ended opportunities and spaces aimed at exposing kids to new ideas, materials, and tools without tight organizational structure. Mimi Ito, Connected Learning, the MacArthur Foundation s Digital Media and Learning Initiative. The library offers dozens of activities for teens and tweens who enjoy cooking after-school snacks, creating items from duct-tape, and re-purposing old items, while developing important social skills. For teens needing help in planning for high school and college, the Forest Avenue Library hosted a popular program for students in grades six-twelve. Once summer arrives, the library is the place to go for thousands of children and teens who participate in our summer reading programs. More than 3,500 kids signed up to Dig into Reading! this year, and nearly 1,000 teens took part in the Summer Reading Challenge. In addition to earning great incentives for reaching their reading goals, more than 10,000 children and teens attended the 440 programs offered during the months of June and July all within a free, safe, vibrant, and educational environment. Kids learned all about urban animals from the Pella Wildlife Company, practiced the art of fish printing, and experimented during the African American Museum s presentation of Dr. Carver s Lab. Entire families attended free programs, including western music and yodeling by the Jackson Family Band, fantastic dinosaur fossils, and a Home Sweet Burrow program by the Blank Park Zoo. Rosie s Forest at Forest Avenue Library. DES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT

10 lifelong learning

11 Lifelong learning opportunities abound at your library. The DMPL houses 118,280 items in its extensive nonfiction collection ranging in fascinating subjects from accounting to self-help to zoology. During this past year, your library has offered lively book discussions, programs on green living, gardening, and raw foods even a class on raising urban chickens! Each of the library s five branch locations offers monthly book discussion groups where new members are always welcome, in addition to more than a dozen online book clubs that can be accessed via the library s website. Emerging writers enjoy informal writers workshops and card-players practice their hands at free bridge sessions. People interested in helping their branch contribute by volunteering or by joining other library supporters as members of one of four Library Friends groups. The Franklin Avenue Library was one of fifty sites nationwide chosen to host a free series called America s Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway. The project was made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The East Side Library piloted an adult summer reading program that attracted 143 readers. The South Side Library began a knitting group and knitters at the East Side Library sweatered trees and benches as part of a knitting bomb. Yarn Bombs at East Side Library. In October 2012, the Des Moines Public Library partnered with the Downtown Community Alliance to host Des Moines first annual Wonder of Words Festival. The twelve-day event connected readers, writers, and literary artists in celebration of the written word at numerous events. These included book talks, an Iowa Author Fair with more than forty authors, various writers forums, an evening with best-selling author Dennis Lehane, plus an original production of The Kate Shelley Story. Fiction writer Anna Loan-Wilsey visited with members of the South Side Library s book discussion group. Fantasy writer David Weber stopped by the Central Library as part of his DemiCon appearance. Miyoko Hikiji, a Cedar Rapids native, who served in active duty with the United States Army, discussed her book, All I Could Be: My Story as a Woman Warrior in Iraq. University of Iowa alums and other members of the public enjoyed a talk on Healthy Living for Your Brain, by Dr. Steven W. Anderson, a cognitive neuroscientist and clinical neuropsychologist on the faculty of the University of Iowa Department of Neurology. Authors Fern Kupfer and Joseph Geha at the Wonder of Words Festival. Your Tax dollars Provided free access to thirty-seven online databases offering a wide variety of information including auto repair, genealogy, job assistance, and foreign languages. DES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT

12 having fun!

13 Research shows that children learn while playing and one of the best things for a child to learn is that the library is a fun place to go! At the DMPL, we encourage children and teens to visit often by offering hundreds of fun (and educational) activities. Weekly early-out days find plenty of teens stopping in to their library for ideas and activities to share with friends. Whether it s playing Wii, re-discovering board games, or creating duct-tape masterpieces, teens agree that the library is a fun spot. Other teen activities over the past year included upcycling used books, cooking classes, and even a program on how to pamper yourself. Several locations offered monthly Pizza and Pages programs to entice teens and tweens who discussed their favorite books over pizza always a popular snack! Parents and caregivers know that the library is a wonderful and safe environment for young children, too. Weekly storytimes for a variety of ages nurture a child s love of stories which then leads to a love of reading. An annual birthday celebration featured visits by Clifford and his friend Dan Wardell and drew hundreds of children who enjoyed listening to stories and having their photos taken with the Big Red Dog. The North Side Library celebrated the one-year anniversary of its nursery rhyme mural with fun crafts for kids. The Des Moines Community Playhouse continued its tradition of offering sneak peek performances at the Franklin Avenue Library. During the past year, visitors included actors from various plays including, Seussical, The Wizard of Oz, and Little House Christmas. Downtown workers, day cares, families, and folks of all ages had a chance to Dream Big with the Belin Quartet as they performed a children s concert on the Central Library Lawn. Presented by Civic Music Association, it was a wonderful way to celebrate music and reading. With one of the nation s largest art festivals right outside its doors, the Central Library hosted an Artsy Smartsy used-book sale. The Central Library was also the venue for the Interrobang Film Festival, an independent film event held in conjunction with the Des Moines Arts Festival. Since its renovation, the Franklin Avenue Library has packed its meeting room for a variety of fun events ranging from a family of fiddlers, to an Irish storyteller, and Civil War re-creators. Thanks to our Sponsors! The Summer Reading Program was sponsored by the Des Moines Public Library Foundation with support from Nationwide Insurance Foundation, Mediacom, Bright Foundation, Wells Fargo, Cole-Belin Education Foundation, Prairie Meadows, Principal Financial Group Foundation, and AmericanEnterprise Group, Inc. DES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT

14 meeting INDIVIDUAL needs

15 The Des Moines Public Library provides a host of information, in a variety of formats, to best meet the needs of an individual in the most convenient way. The library extends its reach further into the community by partnering with other agencies and with grants received by the library s Foundation. The North Side Library, working in partnership with AARP-Vita, offered free tax assistance to seniors, resulting in the filing of 655 state and federal income tax returns. More than 160 Des Moines residents picked up dog licenses and dog park permits along with their books, as the result of a partnership between the East Side Library and Franklin Avenue Library with the City Clerk s Office. Representatives from the Des Moines Community Action Agency answered questions and took applications for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Programs at the Franklin Avenue Library and the Forest Avenue Library. When it comes to answering questions, the DMPL excels at meeting individual needs. Last year, our librarians answered more than 190,000 reference questions by individuals more than any other library system in Iowa. Greg Heid, DMPL Director A monthly program offered at the Central Library called Literacy in a Different Way brought together people of various reading abilities. Members are free to share all kinds of library books they have read or listened to, or perhaps watched in movie form. This program was offered in collaboration with the Adult Literacy Center at Drake University. The Franklin Avenue Library was one of 842 libraries and state humanities councils to be awarded the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf, a collection of books, films, and other resources that introduce the American public to the complex history and culture of Muslims in the United States and around the world. This project was developed by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association (ALA) and based on the advice of scholars, librarians, and other public programming experts. Support for the development and distribution of the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf was provided by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York, with additional support for the arts and media components from the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. Children and teens always appreciate the excellent homework help available at the library, while adult users come to the library for all sorts of information, from genealogy and recipes, to business plans and fund-raising grant opportunities. Your Tax dollars Provided free access to more than 120 public access computers, used by more than 198,000 community members. Telephone Reference Services. DES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT

16 providing a safe & quiet haven

17 As one of the last free places in the community where people can gather to connect, and learn, your public library is charged with many roles. During the past year, the library provided meeting room and study spaces for hundreds of groups and individuals. The Franklin Avenue Library was awarded LEED Platinum status and officially recognized as one of the most environmentally friendly buildings in Iowa! In celebration, the library and the Library Foundation hosted an open house that featured the unveiling of a new LEED Platinum sign now on display above the library s fireplace. Iowa State University s Insect Zoo allowed kids to interact with live insects and other arthropods while learning about bugs important role in life on Earth. Adults were invited to a free screening of the Emmy Award-winning movie Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time with an introduction by Dr. Fred Kirschenmann, a Leopold Center Distinguished Fellow. Visitors to the South Side Library have enjoyed the new and improved parking lot surface that was applied this past year as part of the City s Civic Access project. In addition to a smoother surface, the library s entrance was also improved with better lighting, new railings, ramps, and sidewalks all to become ADA compliant. Business owners and professionals appreciate the quiet study rooms that they can reserve at several locations. Community groups enjoy using the library s conference rooms and meeting rooms. The library is a great get-away location where corporations can schedule off-site meetings for employees. Best of all, the library serves as an oasis for busy individuals who may just need a place to go to think or spend some leisurely, quiet time reading. Free Advice For Your Device class in the Conference Room at Franklin Avenue Library. Thanks to the Des Moines Public Library Foundation and Homesteaders Life Company for their support of the Free Advice For Your Device classes. Your Tax dollars During FY 13 your property tax dollars in Des Moines: Provided community space for nearly nearly 4500 meetings in FY Provided free access to library services by more than 1.1 million visitors. Purchased $530,000 new printed materials for the library s collection. Purchased more than $440,000 video, audio, and other electronic resources. Provided in-person assistance to nearly 150,000 library users. Provided telephone assistance to more than 40,000 library users. DES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT

18 encouraging excellence 2012 Iowa Author Awards Iowa Author: Mary Kay Shanley Children/Young Adult Iowa Author: Sarah Prineas Special Interest Iowa Author: Wini Moranville Emerging Iowa Author: Jennifer Wilson Friends of Literacy: Joy and Chuck Rohm

19 Libraries are change agents and examples of that abound at the Des Moines Public Library. From Green Arts programs on environmental writing for kids to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) projects for teens, the library provides ample opportunities to affect change. But, the opportunities are not just for kids! The DMPL offers a host of educational programs for all ages, promoting better living for a better life. Our librarians strive to select quality books to best maintain the excellence of our collection a collection that continues to provide relevant titles for the needs of today s library users. This year was the thirteenth year for the library s signature author series, Authors Visiting in Des Moines. AViD 2013 hosted nationally recognized authors including Cheryl Strayed, Karen Thompson Walker, Ayana Mathis, Michael Perry, and Mary Jane Clark. Author Amy Tan rounded out the series as part of the 2013 Wonder of Words Festival in November along with an AViD Extra! event featuring writer Mitch Albom on December 9. Central Library was a venue for the 2013 TEDx Conference. Credit: Karla Conrad Annual events at Forest Avenue Library such as Earth Day in May and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest inspire kids to become more involved in social issues. A program called VolunTEENS at the Franklin Avenue Library encourages students to give back to the library by volunteering their time to help with summer reading registrations, sorting used books, and preparing craft items for younger kids. Each year, the Des Moines Public Library Foundation, in support of the library, hosts its annual Iowa Author Awards to recognize and honor contemporary authors who demonstrate excellence, have strong ties to Iowa, and nationally-recognized published work. Master of Ceremonies, Mike Draper, presented the awards at the 2012 event. Chuck Rohm and his late wife, Joy, exemplify an excellence in community support for the library. For more than twelve years, they have been supporters of children s literacy at the Des Moines Public Library. Joy was a founding board member of the Des Moines Public Library Foundation. The Rohms established a Library Foundation fund to purchase children s books in memory of their daughter, Elizabeth A. Rohm, who died from cancer at the age of eighteen. In an acceptance speech at the Iowa Author Awards Dinner, Chuck reminded everyone in the audience of the true power of libraries and inspired the audience with his passionate and continuous commitment to literacy. AViD author Ayana Mathis, moderator Jacquie Easley, and guest tweeter Kelly Roberson. Thanks to our Sponsors! The Authors Visiting in Des Moines (AViD) Author Series is sponsored by the Des Moines Public Library Foundation with generous support from Nationwide, Downtown Community Alliance/WOW, Douglas and Deborah West, Humanities Iowa, Wells Fargo, Iowa Public Radio, National Endowment for the Humanities, Dr. Richard Deming, Principal Financial Group Foundation, Ellen Hubbell, Harry Bookey & Pamela Bass-Bookey, and Hoyt Sherman Place Theater. Additional support provided by Rachel Stauffer & Jim Lawson, Dory Briles, Kay & Bob Riley, Shelley & Martin Brody, Eliza Ovrom & Mark Schuling, Kelly & Brad Edmister, Greg Heid, and Glorious Desserts DES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT

20 a great return on investment

21 The library is filled with free books, free computers, free e-books, and free WiFi, staffed with dedicated professionals who want to help you find just the information you need. Consider what such a place is worth to YOU? What Does It Cost? Divide the library s total expenditures ($8,096,863) by the number of Des Moines residents (203,433) and you will get the figure of $39.80 which represents the annual per capita support for the library. What else would $39.80 purchase? Movie tickets, popcorn, and soft drinks for two at your neighborhood theater. Less than one tank of gas for your car. Approximately ten gallons of heating oil. One night out at an inexpensive restaurant. Less than one month s cable bill. One hair cut. One month s service for your cell phone. One or two hard cover books. Two to three magazine subscriptions One and a half months of newspaper deliveries How Do You Compare? Next, take a few moments to compute what the library is worth to YOU. Calculate the quantity and value of items you check out annually. Hardback books Paperback books E-books Children s books Magazine Subscriptions Movie Rentals Music CDs at $25 = at $15 = at $10 = at $15 = at $18 = at $2 = at $13 = ===== Total Value = LIBRARY USE FY 13 FY 12 Circulation of Materials 1,332,838 1,421,567 Visits to Library 2,414,797 2,561,387 (includes in-person and via web) MATERIALS Materials Added 63,671 71,559 Lost Items Not Returned and Paid by Patron 6,729 7,086 System Total Year-End Holdings 590, ,718 STAFFING Professional Librarian FTE FTE All Other FTE FTE Total Staffing FTE FTE Number of Volunteers Number of Volunteer Hours 4,691 4,385 HOURS OPEN PER WEEK Central Library East Side, Franklin Avenue, South Side Forest Avenue, North Side FTE = Full Time Equivalent But look at what else you get so much more for $39.80/year at the public library. Your library s value doesn t end with the items you check out. Other benefits of significant value include the library s collection and its many services, its educational programs, as well as the educational benefits of the library s mission including literacy of our citizenry. Add to that the ever-increasing value of technology for use in the library, the expertise of our library staff, and our library facilities use as a community gathering place. And don t forget the halo spending by library users at establishments close to our libraries and how our libraries enhance our neighborhoods. The Des Moines Public Library is valuable to all of its users, but it is also a great deal for every person who lives in, works in, or visits Des Moines. DES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT

22 FUNDING SOURCES Fines and Fees $419,009 Fines and Fees $390,129 DMPL Foundation $187,481 Grants $51,376 Other Self-Generated Revenue $27,634 DMPL Foundation $37,025 Grants $52,671 Other Self-Generated Revenue $45,307 Windsor Heights $63,976 Windsor Heights $54,418 Polk County $40,176 Polk County $49,748 State $89,257 State $70,456 City of Des Moines $7,217,954 City of Des Moines $7,666,379 Fiscal Year 12/13 $8,096,863 Fiscal Year 11/12 $8,366,133 EXPENDITURES Other Operating Expenditures $1,776,466 Other Operating Expenditures $2,015,326 Video Materials $85,126 Video Materials $51,079 Audio Materials $126,385 Audio Materials $126,120 Online Resources $243,454 Online Resources $100,763 Books and Other Print Materials $532,348 Personnel $5,333,084 Books and Other Print Materials $488,995 Personnel $5,583,850 Fiscal Year 12/13 $8,096,863 Fiscal Year 11/12 $8,366,133 PROGRAMS Your Tax dollars 10,225 ATTENDANCE 49,596 ATTENDANCE 2,895 ATTENDANCE 12,847 ATTENDANCE 72,857 ATTENDANCE 3,916 ATTENDANCE 22 Provide hundreds of programs enjoyed by our entire community. 504 EVENTS Adult 2182 EVENTS Children DES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT EVENTS Teen 415 EVENTS Adult 3268 EVENTS Children Fiscal Year 12/13 Fiscal Year 11/ EVENTS Teen