Item 3C
Southlake Public Library
Board Report – February 2009
Listen to the report
Services
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Computers - The Library and IT departments have been working on upgrading public use computer
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access in the library, adding several work stations and software that enhances the customers experience
in utilizing electronic resources. There is also a wifi node in the library and have a number of citizens
utilizing laptops in the space. Library and IT staff have an excellent working relationship and have had
so for years – we really appreciate IT’s professional approach and hard work.
Nomination – Kerry McGeath, City Librarian and Deputy Director of Community Services has been
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nominated for the Texas Library Associations, Texas State Librarian of the Year. He will find out if the
nomination is successful at the Texas Library Association Conference in Houston at the end of March.
Teamwork – Library Staff and the Finance Department’s Court staff cooperated in a unique way – we
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switched jobs and had courts folks see how the library works and vice-versa. The staff from each
department was very appreciative of being able to get to know each other and develop a much better
understanding of what each department does and the hard work that goes into working at each place.
Great Customer service happens when staff is empowered and knows what is going on around them in
other city departments, and this program moved us in the right direction.
Customer service focus – The Library’s customer service focus is all about creating a warm comfortable
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environment with friendly helpful staff efficiently (but friendly) satisfying our citizens needs, and
creating the highest return on the taxpayers investment possible. The Southlake library is the most
productive and therefore cost effective library in the area – staff productivity is double that of other
libraries in Texas. We expect staff to work hard and put in a good days work everyday, and we have
found an excellent staff that work very hard but are still the friendliest library staff around.
Visitor Stats – Year to Date:
Checkouts:
The Library saw a 24% increase in checkouts for December (19,450) and is up 12%
(60,250) for the fiscal year thus far. The library is up 75% for the latest two year period for checkouts.
We are close to reaching maximum limits on our traffic levels due to space limitations and parking –
despite those limitations traffic for December was 7,006 which was up 17% over the same period last
year.
Programming:
Storytimes and youth programming were up 70% over last year in December with 1,291
people attending programs during the period. The library is up 40% in programming for the FY so far
with 4,343 attendees. Youth programming continues to be very strong with large increases month after
month for the last two years, with an increase of 198% over that period.
Volunteer Hours:
The library was just about even compared to last year in volunteer hours in
December with 141 hours for the month, and is close to flat year to date with 405 hours worked from
Oct to December. We are up 112% over the two year period
Any questions please contact Kerry McGeath (8384)
Respectfully submitted by the Southlake Public Library Board:
Wanda SchaferLori BurrC.D. Peebles
Brenda FloresKim RobertsJune Koelker
Southlake Public Library
- Board Report - 02/03/09 - Page 1 of 1