KCLS Insights

Insights is an email newsletter designed to keep you informed with local and System wide news and information. I will be sending them to you once per month.

Community Liaison Contact: Carol Van Baalen

LOCAL NEWS

Program Highlights:

Special programs at Des Moines and Woodmont brought in hundreds of children and their parents in the month of May. Dana Banana presented a music performance, “I am Not SILLYE” at Des Moines for a crowd of 125 young children, pictured here. Not to be outdone, Woodmont had a audience of 90 for a music performance by Caspar Babypants on May 18.

This month, children’s librarians are bringing the library out to the schools by presenting assemblies in each elementary school about “Make a Splash—Read”, the KCLS Summer Reading Program which begins on June 14. Our Friends of the Library groups in each branch have funded performers who present these programs along with the children’s librarians: Deborah Sandler, Woodmont, has been accompanied by “Mad Science”; Barb Blue and Bekka Martin, Des Moines, have been accompanied by “Brothers with Different Mothers”; and Laurin Linscott and Len Litster, Kent, have been visiting their schools accompanied by magician Jeff Evans. In each school, the performers present a half-hour program of entertainment mixed with a “library” message, followed by details about the reading program presented by the children’s librarians. Many thanks to our Friends for making these assembly programs possible.

For a complete list of summer programs and other events at your library, please click on the following links: https://intranet.kcls.org/calendars/DESM-June10.pdf; https://intranet.kcls.org/calendars/KENT-June10.pdf; https://intranet.kcls.org/calendars/WDMT-June10.pdf

Friends News:

The Kent Friends elected a new president, Marvin Clark, and a new vice-president, Cheryl Lundgren, at their May meeting. We look forward to working with them. Special thanks to Roselyn Hooper, who retired from the presidency after many years of service.

Book Sale Dates: The Des Moines Friends set the dates of September 11 and 12 for their annual book sale. Kent Friends annual book sale is scheduled for September 17, 18, and 19. Save those dates for some great book bargains!

Woodmont Friends will meet this Thursday, June 10, at 6pm at the Woodmont Library.

SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS

You may have noticed the new InfoToGo displays at your library, complete with pocket-size cards to take with you. Each month, KCLS features a service or product to feature. The cards are designed to heighten patron awareness of the service or product, and to make it easy to start using them right away. The InfoToGo topic for June is My Event Notifications. This service allows you to sign up for weekly email notifications about upcoming library programs of interest! Click here for more information.


In early May, KCLS launched brand new volunteer web pages. The main page introduces the types of volunteer opportunities available and describes the benefits of volunteering at KCLS. Clicking on “Steps to volunteering with KCLS” shows the user what to expect in the application process and then presents our current volunteer opportunities. These listings are made possible through an RSS feed from the actual postings in the United Way of King County’s website. Clicking on a listing title brings the user right into the UWKC posting to see all the necessary information and allow the user to inquire directly to the library or program coordinator. Since going live, KCLS has received over 50 inquiries through the United Way’s database. Terry Claypool, Volunteer Services Coordinator, has also received inquiries about our program from other library systems.

From the Director’s Report (To view the complete May report, please look here.)

Almost all clusters had increases in circulation in April; up 10% compared to April 2009. Circulation at the downtown Renton Library increased 3% compared to a year ago and the Highlands branch is up 43%. Sammamish had an 18% jump in April and a 20% increase for the year, evidence that the new Library is taking hold in the community.




The “Take Time to Read” Campaign continues to take shape and KCLS will have a strong visual presence in eight communities by the end of the year. Bellevue, Burien, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Renton, Vashon, Kirkland and Kent were selected based on population density, strong retail cores and city ordinances that allow placement of 4’x6’ book cover posters throughout the community. Other components of the Campaign will be present in these areas as well as all other KCLS communities and libraries. The KCLS Foundation has applied for a grant from the Allen Foundation and funds will be awarded in the fall. In the meantime, KCLS and the Foundation will allocate resources to get the project started.


On the heels of the Renton annexation, the City of Enumclaw is also experiencing budget pressures and contacted KCLS to discuss the possibility of annexation. KCLS met with the Mayor and City Manager to discuss details and how the process typically works. Information from that meeting will be presented to the entire City Council for consideration. KCLS also visited with Bob Baer, Director of the Enumclaw Library who indicated that the Enumclaw Library Board voted to support annexation to KCLS. The Board has already contacted the Washington State Library to get information about specific procedures in the event of annexation, including the future of the Enumclaw Library Board and preservation of the Library’s substantial endowment.


KCLS Capital Improvement Plan Projects

Sign up here under “Email Updates” to receive automatic updates on the KCLS Capital Improvement Project!

The renovated Federal Way Library opens at 10am on Saturday, June 5.

The long-anticipated groundbreaking for the new Kenmore Library will be held on Tuesday, June 8 at 3:15pm.



Upcoming Dates Events and Projects
The next Planning Committee Meeting takes place on Thursday, June 17, 12pm at Foster Library.
The next Finance Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday, June 29, 4pm at KCLS Service Center.
The next KCLS Board of Trustees Meeting takes place on, Tuesday, June 29, 5pm at KCLS Service Center.

KCLS Insights

Insights is an email newsletter designed to keep you informed with local and System wide news and information. I will be sending them to you once per month.

Community Liaison Contact: Carol Van Baalen

LOCAL NEWS

New Technologies @ Our Libraries

A backroom view of Automated Self-Check In at the newly remodeled Kent Library. Library materials are scanned and checked in immediately by the automatic “eyes” at the check in station, and then sorted into bins or carts, ready to shelve in the library. This system, affectionately known as AMH, helps library staff keep up with an ever-increasing workload.

DiscXpress checks out and dispenses DVDs at the Woodmont Library. The system, which is a pilot project for KCLS, was installed in December 2009. Discs are loaded into the towers by staff, and then automatically dispensed when patrons check them out.

Upcoming Dates and Meetings:

May 5 at 7:00 pm: Friends of the Des Moines Library will meet at the Des Moines Library

May 12 at 12:00 noon: Friends of the Kent Library will meet at the Kent Library

May 12 at 7:00 pm: Des Moines – Woodmont Library Advisory Board will meet at Parkside Elementary School

For a complete list of programs and events at your library, click on these links:

https://intranet.kcls.org/calendars/DESM-May10.pdf; https://intranet.kcls.org/calendars/KENT-May10.pdf; https://intranet.kcls.org/calendars/WDMT-May10.pdf

SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS

A Video Nonfiction Book Review Competition for Grown-Ups

Get organized! Get fit! Plant a garden! Decorate on a dime!
Win a prize for your efforts!

Looking to learn something new? The library has thousands of books to help you learn new skills and reach your goals. Pick a skill, a DIY project or a personal goal, borrow a nonfiction book from KCLS, and get started at the library!
Then unleash your inner film star and post a video book review. Show us your project and tell how the library book helped–or didn’t. Post your review on YouTube and enter the KCLS RIY Video Competition for Grown-Ups! More information.

You may have noticed the new InfoToGo displays at your library, complete with pocket-size cards to take with you. Each month, KCLS features a service or product to feature. The cards are designed to heighten patron awareness of the service or product, and to make it easy to start using them right away.

The InfoToGo topic for May is byki. byki [pronounced bike-y] is a free online language learning tool that you can access from the library’s website. Benefits to you are: You can take lessons when it fits your schedule, you can learn at your own pace and it’s compatible with busy lifestyles. More information.

From the Director’s Report (To view the complete April report, please look here.)

Circulation was up 8% in the month of March and year-to-date circulation increased 5% over the same period in 2009. The Renton libraries circulated about 52,000 items last month which likely accounts for some of the increase. Renton actually experienced a 3-4% decrease from in circulation compared to the same period last year but there was not a full complement of KCLS items in the two libraries until April. A strong contributor to the increase in circulation is the Library Express @ Redmond Ridge which opened in November. Circulation there increased from 2,500 items in December to 3,700 in March. At the same time, returns increased from 3,200 per month to 6,400 last month. The Redmond Library staff has done an excellent job supporting the facility and report an average of nine calls per month from patrons seeking assistance. KCLS has been contacted by several libraries around the country that want to hear more about Library Express @ Redmond Ridge after the branch was the subject of a recent article in Library Journal.

KCLS volunteers in the Study Zone, NetMasters, Talk Time, Citizenship and Words on Wheels programs were recognized at an event held at the Burien Library on Saturday, April 24. Volunteers were presented with their new KCLS program badges and lanyards and received anniversary pins recognizing their years of service. They were treated to a sneak preview of the new KCLS Volunteer Web pages, which will go live in the first week of May, enjoyed Spanish-inspired food and were entertained with music and dance by Flamenco Gitana.

Collectively, KCLS volunteers have contributed thousands of hours expanding KCLS services into their communities. They tutor students, teach computer skills, visit homebound patrons, and help immigrants and English language learners improve their English skills to prepare for taking the U.S. Citizenship test. During the 2008-2009 school year, 7,522 students were tutored by Study Zone volunteers. In 2009, NetMaster volunteers taught 6,354 class participants and 69 Words on Wheels volunteers regularly delivered library materials to 105 patrons. Talk Time volunteers held 22 sessions throughout the System and conversed with 1,112 patrons. Most recently, Citizenship volunteers achieved a record 120 class attendees per month. Below are some photos from the event.

KCLS Capital Improvement Plan Projects

Sign up here under “Email Updates” to receive automatic updates on the KCLS Capital Improvement Project!

The Lake Hills Library will be ready to move to the new building later this summer. The current Library sits on property that was donated to KCLS and held for a time by the City of Bellevue. The property is now for sale and a public informational meeting was held for interested buyers. The meeting was well attended and several parties expressed interest in purchasing the property.

The long saga of the United States Postal Service office in Kenmore is about to come to an end. The Post Office opened in newly remodeled facilities on Monday, April 26 after a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:30am. This clears the way for KCLS to take possession of the vacated building and begin construction of the new Kenmore Library. After the building undergoes asbestos abatement, KCLS has agreed to allow the Northshore Fire Department to use the building for training exercises prior to demolition. An official groundbreaking will be scheduled in late May or June.

KCLS was pleased to learn that the Burien Library and City Hall received a first place Honor Award in the Commercial Government category at the Masonry Institute of Washington’s 2010 Excellence Awards in Masonry Design banquet on March 18. The award recognizes outstanding work in masonry building design and construction. Projects were submitted by architects and mason contractors from around the state.

April has been “Public Meetings Month.” On April 1, an overflow crowd was on hand at the Lake Forest Park City Hall Council Chambers to hear plans for the expansion of the Lake Forest Park Library. A lively discussion ensued about the size of the collection, with some participants in favor of more space for materials while others wanted more space for patrons. Other issues influenced the tone of the meeting including the availability of space adjacent to the Library that would allow KCLS to add another 600 square feet to the Library.

Another overflow crowd attended the public meeting for the Newcastle Library on April 7. KCLS is now moving ahead on a standalone library design so there was not much discussion about the mixed use concept. Traffic circulation issues have been addressed and KCLS heard many positive comments about the site and design. The Mayor and City Council members were present and pledged continued support to move the project through the permitting process as quickly as possible.

Facilities staff and project architects met with the Vashon Park Board on Tuesday, April 13 to discuss how the Vashon Library expansion will impact Les Gove Park. KCLS and its consultant team presented three alternative plans for the Library expansion at a public open house on Thursday, April 15 and the audience was able to ask questions, discuss concerns and submit comments on each design. Participation was good and KCLS received useful feedback.

KCLS met with interim King County Councilmember Jan Drago who represents the residents of Vashon Island. She was updated on the history of the project and the process KCLS uses to solicit input from the public. She complimented KCLS on its efforts to keep the community informed. The conversation also included a discussion on the potential annexation of the remaining unincorporated area of North Highline and how the White Center, Boulevard Park and Greenbridge libraries could be affected. Councilmember Drago was on the Seattle City Council for many years and knows the background on the annexation issue and promised to keep KCLS informed of any new developments.

The Bellevue parking garage expansion was the primary topic of discussion at a Bellevue Library Advisory Board meeting on April 20. The City of Bellevue has ultimate approval of both the garage design and whether KCLS can pave a road across Ashwood Park to provide temporary access to the underground parking area during construction. The City has been very helpful on both counts. KCLS recently learned that the City withdrew its requirement to roof the parking structure. In lieu of that, KCLS has agreed to build taller walls on the top level of the parking garage to mitigate the effect of headlight glare on surrounding residential buildings.

Upcoming Dates Events and Projects

The next Planning Committee Meeting takes place on Thursday, May 13, 12pm at Burien Library.

The next Finance Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday, May 25, 4pm at KCLS Service Center.

The next KCLS Board of Trustees Meeting takes place on, Tuesday, May 25, 5pm at KCLS Service Center.