Almost ten years ago I started at Boyd County Public Library.  Now, it isn’t the smallest library I’ve worked for (that would be a small library in Oregon about the size of Catlettsburg) nor is it the largest (that would be a nine-branch system in Washington state). But is the one I’ve enjoyed the most in the place I’ve liked the best.

It is so much fun coming to work. I work with some truly fun and dedicated people. I am instrumental in planning and guiding a library that a community supports. I work for a board that is enthusiastic in offering new and innovative services while seeing the value in traditional ones. And I get to see the impact the library has on people.

On an average day 1,300 items are checked out, 1,200 people visit a branch, 215 questions are answered, and 96 people use a public computer.

In an average month 3,500 items are added to the collection, 70 programs are offered, 203 items are requested from outside the district, 7,500 copies are made, pages printed, and faxes sent. Thebookplace.org is visited 12,300 times.

Over the past eight years, Main library was remodeled, carving out space for a larger genealogy room, more seating for patrons, and a meeting room and study rooms. By moving services from Summit to the Kyova Mall, the number of items checked out and people visiting in that area have almost doubled in less than two years. Catlettsburg branch is about to reopen, offering a small meeting room, bright lighting, and comfortable seating.

What is offered has evolved as well. Audio books have moved from tape to CD to MP3.  Video is now digital and Blu ray. Music remains on CD, but is also free to download.  Books are still hardback, paperback, and large print. But they are also downloadable to electronic readers large and small (and check-out-able). Answering questions has gone from the telephone to the tweet while check out can bypass a staff member completely.

Libraries, certainly this library, are no longer places of quiet study with stodgy old ladies shhh-shing unruly readers. It is a vital organization, welcoming all while assisting individual needs. But reading is still reading, regardless of the format. Come visit your library and see what is beyond the book.

By Debbie Cosper, Boyd County Public Library Director

There has been a great deal written about State Auditor Edelen’s report on Special Districts, most of it negative, or worse, conflicting.

Libraries have been referred to as “ghost governments.” This is just not the case. We are overseen by the State Librarian and Commissioner and the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives; we file our budgets with our county clerk and judge-executive offices; we submit annual budget reports to the Department for Local Government; and we publish our budgets in the local paper. Our boards are appointed and removed by the county judge-executive and commissioners; we have annual audits; and all board meetings are open to the public.

In fact, even the state auditor’s report says as much, when it says KDLA and the Kentucky Public Library Association “put a great deal of effort to provide the public with as much transparency and accountability as possible. In addition, they have gone to great lengths to ensure their members have the training necessary to be able to provide these things.”

Boyd County Public Library is governed by a five-member board. Board members are non-partisan. They have been selected not on their popularity or personal agenda, but because they have a desire to see that the library provides the most efficient, cost-effective, and useful services, staff, and programs possible for the community.

Yes, libraries have the ability to tax, but only within strict state guidelines. Until recently libraries had nearly no option to lower tax rates, but as soon as it became possible BCPL lowered rates by nearly 7 points. Yes, we have a reserve – for two reasons. First, our fiscal year begins July 1 but the earliest we might receive the bulk of our revenue is mid-November. Because we rely on outside entities to calculate rates, set property values, and collect our taxes the library has to be prepared to go six months without revenue – it would not be fiscally responsible to take out a loan. Second, the library has long-term repair, remodel, and construction plans. By being frugal now, we have a reserve that allows us to handle these projects without having to borrow money.

In addition, the library has policies that govern operations, ethics, finances and the board, which are regularly reviewed and updated. All policy documents, financial statements, audits, and budgets are on the library’s website. All public service staff, department supervisors, and board members have or are working toward state certification or renewal. Most importantly, the board of trustees meets in open, public meetings on the Monday of each month at 4 p.m.

BCPL branches were open for a total of 9,568 hours last year. Last year we served over 466,000 people through 485,104 checkouts; held 834 programs attended by 21,322 people; provided 38,770 computer sessions; and answered 78,274 reference questions. We also had a record summer reading program participation of just over 800 children.

The library spent 45% of its budget last year ($1.4 million) on personnel, and nearly 25% on materials ($947,000). The rest went to operating expenses like supplies, utilities, and programming.

The library serves 49,500 county residents through three branches and outreach delivery to homebound users, along with an online branch that provides checkouts through e-materials, reference services through 24-7 online access, and access to 90 different databases. We serve the rich, poor, homeless, homeschoolers, all political affiliations, people of all religions, colors, and ages. We provide balanced, unbiased collections for every interest.

Studies have shown that stable, established, up-to-date, and responsive libraries are as important to economic development as the quality of schools, the variety of entertainment, and the number of good neighborhoods. BCPL’s board, director and staff spend their time making sure the library does everything it can to be an ethical, efficient, and economical part of the community.

Due to Sandy and subsequent snow storm, the fish tank has been delayed a bit. (Factory is in New Jersey but wasn’t hit too bad.) It looks like it will now be installed November 28 or 29.

Jim from Bert’s will remove and find new homes for the fish, drain the tank, haul off the old one, and install the new one. It will be filled, treated, and Terry, The Fish Guy, and Bert’s will add “fish habit” and new colorful fish. I’m not entirely sure how long the second part will take but I don’t think it will be too very long.

The new tank will be generally the same size, filling the space, incorporating the porthole, and holding between 250 and 300 gallons of water. It will be the same color as the wood in the furniture and shelving (not the archways). It will have clean lines, a little decorative molding at the top, and a full length step along the front for kids to get a good look inside.

The reason for the new tank is because the old one is just about 30 years old, needs a new filter system, and has developed a small “flaw”. Because the tank was not designed for the space it went in, the installers had to cut holes to accommodate the filtration system. As these things go, modern filtration systems will not fit our current holes. Cutting addition holes and patching old ones is “just asking for ongoing leaks”, to quote the experts the Fish Guy and Bert’s. And in the past six months a small flaw (I’ve been assured it’s not a crack) has developed along the front of the tank.

It’s definitely time for a new one. So make a trip to say good-bye then come back the first of December to see our new fish friends.

Catlettsburg will be closing September 29 to public access. The first week of October, staff will be boxing books and items for storage. On Monday, October 8 MoveRite will load and move boxes to Summit for storage. Then the real work begins.

1. Demolition: the roof comes off, ceiling, lights, and ductwork taken down, restrooms get taken out, carpet removed…plus a bunch of other stuff.
2. Reconstruction: new roof, wiring, new ceiling grid and lights, concrete cutting, and plumbing…plus a bunch of other stuff.
3. Finishing: holes patched, walls painted, and carpet installed…plus a bunch of other stuff.
4. Finally: comfortable seating, reconfigured shelving, and new meeting room furniture…plus a bunch of other stuff.
5. Ribbon cutting and par-tay!

During the closed time, branch staff will be coming to Main or out to Kyova to cover and get some specialized training. Never fear, they will be returning with the opening.

We haven’t set a firm date for opening though the architect, contractor, furniture supplier, and the library are all working toward a January 3 opening date. A lot depends on uncontrollable factors:

• what is found when things are taken out (we don’t expect major surprises but until a wall comes down it’s hard to tell what’s behind it);
• what the weather will do (we are coming into fall at the same time we are replacing a roof);
• or the ability to get materials (manufacturer delays are always a possibility though we are not putting in anything out of the ordinary).
• of course, there’s the human factor (and we all know how things can go with one another!).

By November we should have a pretty good idea what date the branch will reopen in January (and you can count on there being a party!).

Visit Kentucky Libraries Unbound (Overdrive).

Libraries and e-books “Does your local library offer e-books for loan? It might. But if you aren’t sure, you aren’t alone: According to a report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 12% of e-book readers have actually borrowed an e-book from their local library. Why the low percentage given the popularity* of digital readers? The likely answer is that the service is relatively unknown: “Approximately, 75% of US libraries lend e-books but 62% said they did not know if their library offered that service. Some 22% say they know that their library does lend out e-books, and 14% say they know their library does not lend out e-books.” There are also issues with compatibility—not all e-books work across all devices. Titles may not be available and there may be long wait lists. These factors may contribute to the larger tendency to purchase e-books, but the nature of e-readers themselves and the environment of e-reading may also encourage different sorts of behaviors. Let’s start with the last book you read: How did you find it? Of the readers surveyed, recommendations from family members, friends, or co-workers topped the list (64%), followed closely by recommendations from online sources (28%), and recommendations from bookstore staff (23%). Only 19% reported getting recommendations from libraries or library websites.”

Scientific American. July 29, 2012.

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/anthropology-in-practice/2012/07/29/libraries-and-e-books/