Thursday, July 30, 2009
West Delray Beach branch library celebrates first anniversary
The Hagen Ranch Road Branch Library recently marked its first year in business and manager Karen Spano has declared it a success. For full story http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/delray-beach/sfl-flhagen0719pcjul19,0,4617698.story
Author Nancy J. Cohen Meets Fans At Library
The Wellington library presented “Meet the Author: Nancy J. Cohen” last Saturday afternoon. For complete article http://www.thecrier.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=86&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=18032&wpage=&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1150&hn=gotowncrier&he=.com
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Officials gather for official opening of library resource center
By Sara BrubakerCorrespondent/The Gainesville Sun
July 9, 2009
About 150 people crowded into a new library and neighborhood resource center in northeast Gainesville on Wednesday afternoon to celebrate its official opening.
The Library Partnership - A Neighborhood Resource Center, located at 1130 N.E. 16th Ave., represents the culmination of a collaborative effort among the Alachua County Library District, the Department of Children and Families and the Partnership for Strong Families to bring much-needed resources to the community.
"We're just like any other fully functioning library," said Alachua County Library District director Sol Hirsch. "The biggest difference is our partnership. Our work complements each other."
Hirsch, along with administrators and directors of the DCF and the Partnership for Strong Families, came up with the idea of the joint library and resource center in October.
Construction began in March, and the facility opened unofficially on June 15, just eight months after the initiative was first discussed.
The full-service branch library boasts a community meeting room, a children's area, a teen room, 20 computers and a full collection of books, periodicals, magazines and DVDs, much of which was donated from other branches. It is about the same size as the Archer and Newberry library branches.
"Basic, traditional services are our foundation, but we're also concentrating on community outreach," Hirsch said.
Between 195 and 240 people a day have utilized the new facility since it opened in June, according to Anita Jenkins-McCarter, the library manager. She said she expects that number to double once school starts again in August.
Sixty percent of the 7,500-square-foot center is space shared by both the library and the resource center.
The resource center, operated by the Partnership for Strong Families, introduces people to social services and links them with organizations to assist them, such as FloridaWorks, the YMCA and about 30 other community partners.
Hirsch said the joint venture, which he said is the first of its kind in Florida, embodies the library district's motto, "Thinking outside the book," he said.
"We're not waiting for people to come to us, we're going out to the community. This partnership represents a common sense approach - When money's tight, why not come together?" he said.
Several members from the community organizations spoke before Wednesday's ribbon-cutting ceremony, including Laura Shaw from the Alachua County Library Foundation and Scherwin Henry, a Gainesville commissioner.
Shaw presented the Library Partnership with a $15,000 donation for the Snuggle-Up Room, the children's area shared by the library and the resource center.
Henry said northeast Gainesville lacks positive attention and rarely sees the introduction of worthwhile community programs, but the library meets a very real need for neighborhood resources.
"This type of creativity and innovation is what makes our community the best place to live in the state of Florida," he said.
The speakers conveyed their excitement about the potential of the center to revitalize children, teenagers, working adults and grandparents.
Carressa Hutchinson, the Family Resource Center coordinator, said the library's location on a bus route, large parking lot and variety of resources housed under one roof make it indispensable to the surrounding neighborhoods.
Hutchinson grew up in northeast Gainesville and graduated from Eastside High School. She said she has recognized the lack of sufficient resources in her community for a long time.
"We're living in a time when there are so many budget cuts that people are finding it impossible to get the information they need," Hutchinson said. "This library is a new way of effectively delivering information so that people can actually take advantage of all the social services that are out there."
Tough times bring boom to Brevard libraries
More check out free services as funding dips
July 14, 2009
BY PATRICK PETERSON
FLORIDA TODAY
Hard times have made public libraries more popular.
Patrons are flocking to the 18 Brevard County Library System branches, which have become an economical alternative to paying for Internet service, cable TV and DVD rentals.
"You get free movies and CDs. I get books and use the computer," said Yolanda Jordan, 32, of Merritt Island. "I get e-mail and an application for school."
The recession has prompted an increase in library usage for Jordan, who comes to the Cocoa branch at 308 Forrest Ave. several times a week. The library helped Jordan save $60 a month since she canceled her cable service.
"You've got to cut back," she said.
Last year in Brevard County, 5.48 million books, a 5 percent increase from 2007, were checked out by about 3.5 million library visitors, a 3 percent increase. Some 1.67 million DVDs have been circulated since September. And last year, nearly 59,000 people each month used personal computers in the libraries, an 8 percent increase. Most of those new users appear to be job hunters or those applying for unemployment or food stamps.
This increased usage come as libraries, like their patrons, are dealing with their own financial issues.
After a 19 percent budget cut last year, the county library system faces a proposed 20 percent cut to its cut $25.35 million budget in October.
"Our revenue is down but our business is booming," said Frank Vestal, department finance manager for the library service.
At the Melbourne branch at 540 E. Fee Ave., a job center was set up five months ago in the reference department to assist the growing number of job hunters. Reference librarians have developed a new expertise in employment resources, since judging by the questions they are asked, more patrons are searching for jobs on the Internet and using the wireless signal with laptops. (The library does not ask patrons why they are using the Internet.)
"We just notice that we have more foot traffic," said Jeri Prieth, director of the Melbourne branch. "Some will say, 'I've cut my cable and we're coming for books and movies.' Some will say, 'I've cut the cable service and I'm using the Internet.' "
The library offers 4,000 DVDs and videos and stocks new releases as well as classics.
"We buy the latest DVDs," Prieth said.
The number of visitors has increased, despite a decrease in the number of hours the library can remain open due to a hiring freeze.
"We all expected a decrease in usage after the library closed 10 hours a week, and it didn't happen," Prieth said.
At the Palm Bay Public Library, ten computers were refurbished and repurposed to provide Internet service to patrons. That gives the library a total of 16 computers.
"This particular library has increased Internet service due to the economy," branch director Lisa Olzewski said. "The computers are pretty much busy all the time."
In June, the library, at 1520 Port Malabar Blvd. NE, posted an 11 percent increase in visitors over the same time last year.
"I just know that a lot of people seem to be looking for services in order to obtain jobs or to obtain government assistance of some sort," Olzewski said.
Palm Bay short-order cook Michael Austin, 31, a regular library patron, uses the free DVD checkout to save money during the recession. He also relies on the library for information.
"In the past year I've used the library more," he said. "I just finished training a dog, so one of the librarians helped me find a book for that."
Though he lives in Palm Bay, he prefers the larger Melbourne library branch on Fee Avenue. He has noticed that the library has become crowded with job seekers searching the Internet for employment.
"I try to jump on the computers when I can," he said. "But there's always so many people."
Ups and downs
At the Brevard County Library System, checkouts in 2007-08 were up 5 percent from 2006-07, and visitors were up 3 percent. At the same time, Brevard County Libraries are also experiencing budget cuts.
July 14, 2009
BY PATRICK PETERSON
FLORIDA TODAY
Hard times have made public libraries more popular.
Gunnery Sgt. Richard Irizarry of Viera is one of the few Marines stationed at Patrick Air Force Base. He saves money by getting movies at the Suntree/Viera Public Library on Jordan Blass Drive, especially family-friendly ones for him and his son to watch. (Tim Shortt, FLORIDA TODAY)
Patrons are flocking to the 18 Brevard County Library System branches, which have become an economical alternative to paying for Internet service, cable TV and DVD rentals.
"You get free movies and CDs. I get books and use the computer," said Yolanda Jordan, 32, of Merritt Island. "I get e-mail and an application for school."
The recession has prompted an increase in library usage for Jordan, who comes to the Cocoa branch at 308 Forrest Ave. several times a week. The library helped Jordan save $60 a month since she canceled her cable service.
"You've got to cut back," she said.
Last year in Brevard County, 5.48 million books, a 5 percent increase from 2007, were checked out by about 3.5 million library visitors, a 3 percent increase. Some 1.67 million DVDs have been circulated since September. And last year, nearly 59,000 people each month used personal computers in the libraries, an 8 percent increase. Most of those new users appear to be job hunters or those applying for unemployment or food stamps.
This increased usage come as libraries, like their patrons, are dealing with their own financial issues.
After a 19 percent budget cut last year, the county library system faces a proposed 20 percent cut to its cut $25.35 million budget in October.
"Our revenue is down but our business is booming," said Frank Vestal, department finance manager for the library service.
At the Melbourne branch at 540 E. Fee Ave., a job center was set up five months ago in the reference department to assist the growing number of job hunters. Reference librarians have developed a new expertise in employment resources, since judging by the questions they are asked, more patrons are searching for jobs on the Internet and using the wireless signal with laptops. (The library does not ask patrons why they are using the Internet.)
"We just notice that we have more foot traffic," said Jeri Prieth, director of the Melbourne branch. "Some will say, 'I've cut my cable and we're coming for books and movies.' Some will say, 'I've cut the cable service and I'm using the Internet.' "
The library offers 4,000 DVDs and videos and stocks new releases as well as classics.
"We buy the latest DVDs," Prieth said.
The number of visitors has increased, despite a decrease in the number of hours the library can remain open due to a hiring freeze.
"We all expected a decrease in usage after the library closed 10 hours a week, and it didn't happen," Prieth said.
At the Palm Bay Public Library, ten computers were refurbished and repurposed to provide Internet service to patrons. That gives the library a total of 16 computers.
"This particular library has increased Internet service due to the economy," branch director Lisa Olzewski said. "The computers are pretty much busy all the time."
In June, the library, at 1520 Port Malabar Blvd. NE, posted an 11 percent increase in visitors over the same time last year.
"I just know that a lot of people seem to be looking for services in order to obtain jobs or to obtain government assistance of some sort," Olzewski said.
Palm Bay short-order cook Michael Austin, 31, a regular library patron, uses the free DVD checkout to save money during the recession. He also relies on the library for information.
"In the past year I've used the library more," he said. "I just finished training a dog, so one of the librarians helped me find a book for that."
Though he lives in Palm Bay, he prefers the larger Melbourne library branch on Fee Avenue. He has noticed that the library has become crowded with job seekers searching the Internet for employment.
"I try to jump on the computers when I can," he said. "But there's always so many people."
Contact Peterson at 242-3673 or ppeterson@floridatoday.com.
Additional Facts
Additional Facts
Ups and downs
At the Brevard County Library System, checkouts in 2007-08 were up 5 percent from 2006-07, and visitors were up 3 percent. At the same time, Brevard County Libraries are also experiencing budget cuts.
Here's the system-wide budget, with the actual or proposed cut:
2008-09: $25.35 million, down 19 percent
2009-10: $20.2 million, (proposed) down 20 percent
2008-09: $25.35 million, down 19 percent
2009-10: $20.2 million, (proposed) down 20 percent
-- Brevard County Library Service
Tough times bring boom to Brevard libraries
Tough Times Bring Boom to Brevard Libraries
More Check Out Free Services as Funding Dips
BY PATRICK PETERSON FLORIDA TODAY
Gunnery Sgt. Richard Irizarry of Viera is one of the few Marines stationed at Patrick Air Force Base. He saves money by getting movies at the Suntree/Viera Public Library on Jordan Blass Drive, especially family-friendly ones for him and his son to watch. (Tim Shortt, FLORIDA TODAY)
Hard times have made public libraries more popular.
Patrons are flocking to the 18 Brevard County Library System branches, which have become an economical alternative to paying for Internet service, cable TV and DVD rentals.
"You get free movies and CDs. I get books and use the computer," said Yolanda Jordan, 32, of Merritt Island. "I get e-mail and an application for school."
The recession has prompted an increase in library usage for Jordan, who comes to the Cocoa branch at 308 Forrest Ave. several times a week. The library helped Jordan save $60 a month since she canceled her cable service.
"You've got to cut back," she said.
Last year in Brevard County, 5.48 million books, a 5 percent increase from 2007, were checked out by about 3.5 million library visitors, a 3 percent increase. Some 1.67 million DVDs have been circulated since September. And last year, nearly 59,000 people each month used personal computers in the libraries, an 8 percent increase. Most of those new users appear to be job hunters or those applying for unemployment or food stamps.
This increased usage come as libraries, like their patrons, are dealing with their own financial issues.
After a 19 percent budget cut last year, the county library system faces a proposed 20 percent cut to its cut $25.35 million budget in October.
"Our revenue is down but our business is booming," said Frank Vestal, department finance manager for the library service.
At the Melbourne branch at 540 E. Fee Ave., a job center was set up five months ago in the reference department to assist the growing number of job hunters. Reference librarians have developed a new expertise in employment resources, since judging by the questions they are asked, more patrons are searching for jobs on the Internet and using the wireless signal with laptops. (The library does not ask patrons why they are using the Internet.)
"We just notice that we have more foot traffic," said Jeri Prieth, director of the Melbourne branch. "Some will say, 'I've cut my cable and we're coming for books and movies.' Some will say, 'I've cut the cable service and I'm using the Internet.' "
The library offers 4,000 DVDs and videos and stocks new releases as well as classics.
"We buy the latest DVDs," Prieth said.
The number of visitors has increased, despite a decrease in the number of hours the library can remain open due to a hiring freeze.
"We all expected a decrease in usage after the library closed 10 hours a week, and it didn't happen," Prieth said.
At the Palm Bay Public Library, ten computers were refurbished and repurposed to provide Internet service to patrons. That gives the library a total of 16 computers.
"This particular library has increased Internet service due to the economy," branch director Lisa Olzewski said. "The computers are pretty much busy all the time."
In June, the library, at 1520 Port Malabar Blvd. NE, posted an 11 percent increase in visitors over the same time last year.an style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"I just know that a lot of people seem to be looking for services in order to obtain jobs or to obtain government assistance of some sort," Olzewski said.
Palm Bay short-order cook Michael Austin, 31, a regular library patron, uses the free DVD checkout to save money during the recession. He also relies on the library for information.
"In the past year I've used the library more," he said. "I just finished training a dog, so one of the librarians helped me find a book for that."
Though he lives in Palm Bay, he prefers the larger Melbourne library branch on Fee Avenue. He has noticed that the library has become crowded with job seekers searching the Internet for employment.
"I try to jump on the computers when I can," he said. "But there's always so many people."
Additional Facts
Ups and downs
At the Brevard County Library System, checkouts in 2007-08 were up 5 percent from 2006-07, and visitors were up 3 percent. At the same time, Brevard County Libraries are also experiencing budget cuts.
Here's the system-wide budget, with the actual or proposed cut:
2008-09: $25.35 million, down 19 percent
2009-10: $20.2 million, (proposed) down 20 percent -- Brevard County Library Service
Contact Peterson at 242-3673 or ppeterson@floridatoday.com.
More Check Out Free Services as Funding Dips
BY PATRICK PETERSON FLORIDA TODAY
Gunnery Sgt. Richard Irizarry of Viera is one of the few Marines stationed at Patrick Air Force Base. He saves money by getting movies at the Suntree/Viera Public Library on Jordan Blass Drive, especially family-friendly ones for him and his son to watch. (Tim Shortt, FLORIDA TODAY)
Hard times have made public libraries more popular.
Patrons are flocking to the 18 Brevard County Library System branches, which have become an economical alternative to paying for Internet service, cable TV and DVD rentals.
"You get free movies and CDs. I get books and use the computer," said Yolanda Jordan, 32, of Merritt Island. "I get e-mail and an application for school."
The recession has prompted an increase in library usage for Jordan, who comes to the Cocoa branch at 308 Forrest Ave. several times a week. The library helped Jordan save $60 a month since she canceled her cable service.
"You've got to cut back," she said.
Last year in Brevard County, 5.48 million books, a 5 percent increase from 2007, were checked out by about 3.5 million library visitors, a 3 percent increase. Some 1.67 million DVDs have been circulated since September. And last year, nearly 59,000 people each month used personal computers in the libraries, an 8 percent increase. Most of those new users appear to be job hunters or those applying for unemployment or food stamps.
This increased usage come as libraries, like their patrons, are dealing with their own financial issues.
After a 19 percent budget cut last year, the county library system faces a proposed 20 percent cut to its cut $25.35 million budget in October.
"Our revenue is down but our business is booming," said Frank Vestal, department finance manager for the library service.
At the Melbourne branch at 540 E. Fee Ave., a job center was set up five months ago in the reference department to assist the growing number of job hunters. Reference librarians have developed a new expertise in employment resources, since judging by the questions they are asked, more patrons are searching for jobs on the Internet and using the wireless signal with laptops. (The library does not ask patrons why they are using the Internet.)
"We just notice that we have more foot traffic," said Jeri Prieth, director of the Melbourne branch. "Some will say, 'I've cut my cable and we're coming for books and movies.' Some will say, 'I've cut the cable service and I'm using the Internet.' "
The library offers 4,000 DVDs and videos and stocks new releases as well as classics.
"We buy the latest DVDs," Prieth said.
The number of visitors has increased, despite a decrease in the number of hours the library can remain open due to a hiring freeze.
"We all expected a decrease in usage after the library closed 10 hours a week, and it didn't happen," Prieth said.
At the Palm Bay Public Library, ten computers were refurbished and repurposed to provide Internet service to patrons. That gives the library a total of 16 computers.
"This particular library has increased Internet service due to the economy," branch director Lisa Olzewski said. "The computers are pretty much busy all the time."
In June, the library, at 1520 Port Malabar Blvd. NE, posted an 11 percent increase in visitors over the same time last year.an style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"I just know that a lot of people seem to be looking for services in order to obtain jobs or to obtain government assistance of some sort," Olzewski said.
Palm Bay short-order cook Michael Austin, 31, a regular library patron, uses the free DVD checkout to save money during the recession. He also relies on the library for information.
"In the past year I've used the library more," he said. "I just finished training a dog, so one of the librarians helped me find a book for that."
Though he lives in Palm Bay, he prefers the larger Melbourne library branch on Fee Avenue. He has noticed that the library has become crowded with job seekers searching the Internet for employment.
"I try to jump on the computers when I can," he said. "But there's always so many people."
Additional Facts
Ups and downs
At the Brevard County Library System, checkouts in 2007-08 were up 5 percent from 2006-07, and visitors were up 3 percent. At the same time, Brevard County Libraries are also experiencing budget cuts.
Here's the system-wide budget, with the actual or proposed cut:
2008-09: $25.35 million, down 19 percent
2009-10: $20.2 million, (proposed) down 20 percent -- Brevard County Library Service
Contact Peterson at 242-3673 or ppeterson@floridatoday.com.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Should Seminole libraries be run by private companies? Petitions say no.
by Rachael Jackson, Sentinel Staff Writer Orlando Sentinel, June 24, 2009
Alongside signs that read "Save Our Libraries," Margie Johnson and about a dozen volunteers are spending this week camped in front of Seminole County libraries, gathering signatures to oppose turning over the libraries to a private company.
The county, which faces a $19 million budget shortfall, doesn't yet know how much could be saved by "outsourcing" the $6.7 million library system, but it's exploring the idea.
"Our democracy is founded on free public information for everyone," Johnson, a member of the county's Library Advisory Board, said as she braved sweltering heat outside the Oviedo branch library, where every parking spot was full Tuesday afternoon.
If a private company were to run Seminole's five libraries, patrons would still be able to check out books, use computers and take advantage of other basic services for free. But people like Johnson, 75, worry that a company would put profits ahead of community needs.
Library Systems & Services LLC, a Maryland company that operates more than 60 libraries nationwide, boasts that it can help libraries save by getting deals on bulk book orders and by securing more grant funding. The company, known as LSSI, acknowledges that it typically reduces staff by 10 percent to 20 percent and that its 401(k) packages are usually less generous than government pensions.
Seminole residents have said they're concerned about how a private company would handle book-buying, hours and fees, but LSSI materials say those decisions are left to local officials.
The county is awaiting proposals from companies, and commissioners probably won't take up the issue until August.
According to the Florida Library Association, which opposes the outsourcing of library services, no Florida libraries are run by for-profit companies, though several local governments have recently considered it. Sarasota and Hernando counties decided against it.
But in Jackson County, Ore., Judy Baalman, the libraries' business and support services manager, said LSSI helped save the system. Libraries there were shuttered in 2007 because of budget cuts. Through a contract with LSSI, the libraries reopened six months later for about half of what the county had been spending. Some former employees were rehired, though the new staff had fewer professional librarians. Hours were cut, and some libraries are open only eight hours a week. Circulation decreased, though Baalman said it's approaching original levels.
"It appears for the most part that people of the county have fit their library use around the open hours," she said, adding that she still gets complaints about limited schedules. Some Jackson County communities have agreed to pay levies to keep libraries open more hours.
By Wednesday afternoon, Johnson and her team had collected more than 1,000 signatures. They've also launched an online petition and a blog, http://keepingpublicseminolepubliclibrary.blogspot.com./
Rachael Jackson can be reached at rjackson@orlandosentinel.com or 407-540-4358.
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