From the Director
Library news and happenings.
Listening to the school closings on the radio this morning leaves no doubt—the flu has hit Kalamazoo. Like other organizations that serve the public, KPL is trying to limit the spread of the H1N1 as well as seasonal flu.
We’ve posted signs throughout our buildings promoting hand-washing to limit the spread of the flu virus. We’re setting up hand sanitizer stations for library visitors and providing tissues, disposable gloves, and disinfectant wipes to staff.
A new topic guide on our website compiles information and web links on both the seasonal and H1N1 flu. Although not a substitute for professional health care, you’ll find helpful information on this guide.
Our excellent Facilities Management crew will continue to keep our buildings clean and disinfected; we’ll clean keyboards and public work surfaces even more frequently, too.
We sent a staff member to an informational meeting at the Health Department and will continue to follow Kalamazoo County government’s recommendations regarding the pandemic.
Take care, be well.
Flu Information topic guide »
(Kalamazoo Gazette photo by Tyler Tjomsland)
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WMU student with the flu (Gazette photo)
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http://photos.mlive.com/kalamazoogazette/2009/10/shes_got_the_flu.html
Earlier this month, KPL’s board of trustees approved a resolution supporting the Michigan Library Association’s (MLA) campaign to “help protect Michigan libraries.”
By this resolution, our board urges the Michigan Legislature to:
• Keep library services and functions together under the Library of Michigan within state government
• Maintain state aid to libraries at $10 million to retain federal funding for MeLCat and MeL databases
• Retain the position of State Librarian
• Oppose the governor’s executive order disbanding the Dept of History, Arts, and Libraries (HAL)
MLA’s advocacy website discusses the issues in great detail. You can learn more there, including how you can help – contact your state senator and representative and attend the library rally in Lansing on September 10. Library patrons’ voices will mean more to lawmakers than those of the library community alone. If you enjoy any of the services offered by MeL, the Michigan Electronic Library, please add your support to Michigan’s libraries!
HAL and library funding decisions are part of the budget deliberations underway in Lansing.
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Michigan Libraries for the Future
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http://www.milibrariesforthefuture.org/
Last week over 500 people attended the “Hands Around the Library” rally at the capitol building in Lansing. The rally was organized by the Michigan Genealogical Council to advocate for the Library of Michigan, its history, and collections.
As I have written previously and as widely reported, the Governor’s order would dismantle the Department of History, Arts, and Libraries and significantly reduce support for libraries.
The Michigan Library Association (MLA) is advocating for libraries and our patrons. Their position statement and other advocacy tools are available on the website. A rally organized by MLA will be held in Lansing on September 10 when the legislature is back in session.
We are following these developments closely and urge library supporters to do likewise.
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Library of Michigan
library-of-michigan-logo-160
http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17445_19270---,00.html
As you may have heard on the news, the Governor issued an executive order last week calling for the elimination of the Dept of History, Arts, and Libraries (HAL). Of course we are focused on what might happen to the Library of Michigan, various library services, and state funding for libraries. Currently public libraries receive a small per capita allocation from the state, but more importantly, state funds are a match to federal money which pays for MeLCat, the statewide catalog used for interlibrary loan, and the MeL databases.
The Michigan Library Association (MLA) Executive Director has issued a memo outlining the executive order from the perspective of the library community. MLA urges the Governor and the Legislature to maintain library services within state government and keep the functions whole, maintain state aid at the current $10 million level, and retain the position and role of the State Librarian.
I believe the state funded service most vital to KPL’s patrons is MeLCat. We borrow over 1,000 items per month from other libraries for our patrons AND loan an equal number to other libraries for their patrons. That is only possible through the MeLCat catalog, the interlibrary loan system, and the delivery that moves the materials around the state. It depends upon state funding to match the federal funding.
Make your voice heard; contact your state senator or representative. The voice of library patrons will have more force than that of library staff alone.
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Michigan eLibrary (MeL)
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/melcat/
In a previous blog post, I shared some interesting collection statistics from Michigan public libraries, compiled from the annual reports we submit to the Library of Michigan.
Here are a few programming and technology facts I found particularly interesting:
- Public libraries offered 93,022 public programs last year; 56,639 were for children
- Total program attendance for all public library programs was 2,462,741
- 8.5 million reference questions were answered, an average of 23,514 per day across the state
- All public libraries offer internet access to their patrons on 8,938 public use computers, used more than 14 million times
- Impressive though these numbers are, we rank in about the middle of the 50 states in most of the categories
Most importantly is what KPL has to offer you! Visit our website, branches, bookmobile, central library and use our services.
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Michigan Library Stats and State Aid
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http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17451_18668_41254---,00.htmlThe Library of Michigan has just issued the annual digest of selected statistics about our state’s public libraries.
The information is compiled from the annual reports all public libraries must submit by February 1 each year.
Here are a few collection statistics that are particularly interesting:
- There are nearly 35 million books in the state’s public libraries, almost four books for every resident; the national average is 2.8 books per capita
- Michigan residents checked out over 74.8 million items during the past year
- Each resident checks out an overage of 7 items per year as compared to the national average of 7.3
- On a typical day, Michigan public libraries circulate 205,179 items to some of the 4,693,192 active registered borrowers
- We have 379 main libraries, 277 branch libraries, and 16 bookmobiles providing public library service
I’ll share programming and technology data in my next blog post.
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Library Statistics and State Aid
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http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17451_18668_41254---,00.html
Earlier this spring, the American Library Association sent a letter to President Obama. Not surprisingly, the association stressed that “libraries are perfectly positioned to disseminate information relevant to the issues and challenges that face us as a nation.”
The letter also cited the increase use of libraries; our role in life-long learning; various federal programs that impact libraries including No Child Left Behind and the USA Patriot Act; and the need for more funding.
The budget the President recently submitted did include a slight increase in federal funding for libraries through the Institute of Museum and Library Services, primarily for state library agencies.
In Michigan some of the federal money to the Library of Michigan is a match to state money which funds MeLCat and MeL databases. The federal and state funding needs to continue if those services are to be available to our patrons.
I’ll keep you informed as budget deliberations and the impact on our services becomes clearer.
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President Barack Obama discusses the 2010 budget
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http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
Thank you, Kalamazoo, for your strong vote of confidence and your investment in Kalamazoo Public Library for the next twenty years.
KPL's staff and board of trustees gratefully accept your vote to renew our basic operational millage. Your overwhelming support (76% of the vote!) encourages us to follow the same course--to work for excellence in the library's staff development, buildings and technology, materials collection, programs, and services.
We truly appreciate your trust. We will continue to be careful stewards of your library and to spend your tax money wisely.
Thank you again for your vote. Come visit soon!
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Millage Renewal Approved
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http://www.kpl.gov/about/millage.aspx
Most organizations are facing budget reduction / belt tightening. KPL is no exception. State aid to libraries has been reduced and may be eliminated, property tax revenues are almost flat, interest income is near zero.
To cope with these budget constraints, we have not filled staff vacancies, some hourly positions have been eliminated, equipment purchases have been delayed, funds for books and AV items have been reduced, some programs and outreach services have been trimmed.
On May 5, voters will decide on a renewal of the library’s 20-year, basic millage which provides 65% of our operating income.
A millage renewal will provide for the continuation of most services, but still require careful budgeting and some spending cuts. Our goal is to make those cuts so that our service to you is affected as little as possible. However, we will continue to reduce staff positions, hold funds for new books and AV items at the present level, and further reduce programs and outreach activities.
Readers of my blog know that use and demand for our services has grown tremendously in these tough economic times. Please know we are striving to continue to provide the services our patrons have come to expect and need but at the same time to reduce costs.
Your feedback is always welcome.
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Budget
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http://www.kpl.gov/budget/
Earlier today, I posted a message here about the challenges faced by public libraries due to the uncertainties of state funding. The story is evolving rapidly...
I learned this morning, April 2, the full state Senate has approved Senate Bill 247 with State Aid to Public Libraries line reduced to $7.5 million. This is less than half of what is required by state statute PA 89 which calls for $15.4 million in state aid. This is a further threat to the state match of federal funds for MeL. Stay tuned...
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MeL
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http://www.kpl.gov/melcat/