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Southlake Public Library
Board Report – July 2008
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Services
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The Southlake Library Summer Reading club has been a huge success this year with a 33% increase
over last year in participants. With 2,102 participants we achieved an 88% market penetration of all
stth
1 to 5 graders at CISD which is a real strong number, and better then any library in this area by a
wide margin.
Volunteers perform mission critical tasks in the library: We have had a bit over 2596 volunteer hours
this year. The library utilizes volunteers for a number of necessary tasks that we simply do not have
the staff to complete. Staff is focused on waiting on customers and providing great service. Unlike
most libraries we leave the other tasks to volunteers, and that includes shelving books (about
290,000 of them in 2008), and helping to process and repair materials that the library loans out. The
library philosophy is that volunteers are invaluable and it is a nice way to involve the citizenry with
the process; therefore we take everyone that asks to be a volunteer and we utilize them effectively.
BJNC photo contest pictures are in the library for viewing for another month or so. The library has
worked hard to promote the BJNC for years and will continue to do so anyway we can.
The library is currently displaying art from the Senior Center – the art on display is being
periodically rotated.
The library is looking very closely at expanding our online resources to make us available to the
community 24/7. We currently provide World Book Encyclopedia, a whole range of databases for
students, and REFUSA a business resource that are available online all day and all night. We love
seeing our customers in person, but we also want to be a convenient resource that can be used by
anyone anytime.
Grants – Staff continues to work diligently to raise grant money, and have already exceeded the
amount we listed as one of our Key Accountability Indicators for the current FY, but the library is
always looking at ways to further leverage the money we receive from the city in our budget.
Visitor Stats – Year to Date:
Checkouts:
The Library saw a 12% increase in checkouts for July (31,393) and is up 7% (224,496) for
the fiscal year. These increases are following a 3 year period where we saw 200% growth. The Library
has seen a leveling off of new accounts and traffic as we have come closer to the saturation point with
70% of the community holding library cards. We are also reaching maximum limits on our traffic levels
due to space limitations. Traffic for July was 13,930 which was up 14%
Programming:
Storytimes were up 41% over last year in July with 1,470 people attending storytimes
during the period. The library is up 53% in programming for the FY so far. Youth programming has
been very strong with large increases month after month. The Library was second in the state of Texas
last year for programming attendance for a community our size so it makes the 53% increase all the
more impressive
Volunteer Hours:
The library was up 9% in volunteer hours in July with 595 hours for the month. Over
2596 hours have been worked by volunteers this fiscal year in the library, and that is a 9% increase over
last year.
Any questions please contact Kerry McGeath (8384)
Respectfully submitted by the Southlake Public Library Board:
Wanda SchaferLori BurrC.D. PeeblesBarbara Jeppe
Brenda FloresKim RobertsJune Koelker
Southlake Public Library
- Board Report - 8/08/2008 - Page 1 of 1