2014-2015

31 Pages·2015·1.17 MB·English

by  Susan Haase

Matt Womack / Executive Director

Erica Christianson / Assistant Director

Anne Belden / Adult Reference Department Head

Natalie Ziarnik / Children’s Department Head

Patti Paige / Circulation Department Head

Daryl Behling / Facilities Department Head

Christy Wagner / Outreach Department Head

Leah White / Popular Materials Department Head

Valerie Stern / Public Information Department Head

Sarah Strahl / Assistant Director of Technology and Technical Services
Ela Area Public Library _____________________________ Annual Report 2014-2015
Administration

Matt Womack – Executive Director

We celebrated our second consecutive 5-Star rating from Library Journal this year. This was
also the second year of our 3-year strategic plan. Based on our accomplishments this year, we’re
well on our way to fulfilling every goal from that plan.

1. Engaging Spaces

It’s almost impossible to start a report of this fiscal year with anything other than a recap of
our library’s renovation project, which had been planned over the course of about 14 months.
Construction began on October 1, 2014 and the Grand Opening was held on May 2, 2015.

The renovation itself went really well. The new spaces look terrific, have been well received
by the community, and have created amazingly high attendance at spring and summer
programs. We worked hard to keep staff morale high and public disruptions low during the
construction. It was a challenge, but everyone had such high hopes that they remained patient
and positive throughout the project.

The outcome has been superb. Our Children’s area is bright, comfortable, and engaging. The
Teen space is modern and inviting. The Forge, our makerspace, has been so much fun to
develop. It’s attracting a lot of attention and use from patrons. Our 2nd floor spaces for adults
are far better than before, providing a greater variety of workspaces for different kinds of
needs.

This particular goal, Engaging Spaces, was the highest priority of our strategic plan. We’ve
made a real and lasting investment in our building, making our spaces more attractive and
more usable for everyone in the community.

2. Rethink the Catalog

We transitioned to a new catalog, Enterprise, at the beginning of the year. This transition was
very painful and caused a tremendous amount of anxiety to both staff and patrons. There was a
very strong undercurrent of displeasure with the CCS – the consortium with whom we share a
catalog – and very frank discussions of making a change. Toward the middle of the year, the
consortium hired a new Executive Director who gave us a tremendous amount of confidence
going forward. We feel like we’re going to make major improvements in the long term. The
outlook is now very positive.

We did have some big improvements this year after the Enterprise implementation crisis. We
integrated a product called EDS into the catalog, which links content from our subscription
databases into the catalog’s search results. It makes the content of these databases, which often
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is not available for free on the Internet, far more discoverable for library users. It’s in a tab
called “More Resources” on the catalog’s hit list.

The statistics for our mobile app were really high. We made many efforts to promote the app
throughout the year. We had over 500,000 mobile queries through the app this year,
accounting for one-third of our overall website and catalog activity. We expect to see numbers
approaching 45-50% in the next year or two.

Our strategic plan’s goal to “Rethink the Catalog” yielded significant improvements. We’re
now much better on mobile platforms and we’ve integrated the core of our digital content into
the catalog. Our Technical Services team deserves praise for their ability to improve our
catalog while navigating significant obstacles this year.

3. Technology Enrichment

This was a significant year for technology in our library. It’s become such a central piece of
our operations that we made some structural changes to the IT department. Sarah Strahl is now
Assistant Director for Technology Services, and we hired Chris Pederson as IT Operations
manager. We now have a staff of 4 to help maintain operations, develop solutions to
challenging problems, and integrate emerging technologies into our environment.

We deployed new computers in the public areas throughout the library. We now have both PC
and Mac workstations for kids and teens. We also have new workstations for 3D design in
Forge (our makerspace) and video game consoles in the teen lounge.

Also in Forge we have kits for learning the basics of circuitry, robotics, and varieties of
crafting. Our 3D printers are making a huge splash in just the first couple of months of use.
The new vinyl cutters have been used for many types of projects, from making T-shirts to
decorating kids’ playrooms.

We also upgraded our wireless Internet access this year. We added more hotspots and have a
virtually unlimited number of connections that we can manage simultaneously. Wi-fi access is
vastly improved.

We anticipate providing an even greater access to mobile technology in the first quarter of
next year.

When we consider the aims for Technology Enrichment in the strategic plan, we can be really
proud of our outcomes. We now provide access to technology in ways that dwarf our
capabilities from just a couple of years ago. Investments in infrastructure, staffing, hardware
projects, and technology services have paid off in major ways.

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Ela Area Public Library _____________________________ Annual Report 2014-2015
4. Responsive Collections

The renovation has brought about several changes to the way that we organize and present
materials in the library. The Children’s area and special collections on the 2nd floor were the
first to emerge. We still have a few big projects in mind this year, but we made some
significant changes already.

We continued to work with a new product called Collection HQ to help us make data-driven
decisions about collection development. This tool reports usage not only on the title level, but
shows us which topics are underperforming or are in more demand than expected. Better
metrics give us the ability to make better decisions.

With the opening of Forge, there were many types of materials that we introduced in the
library. Among them are different types of kits that help teach basic concepts and applications
for many types of technology and crafting. We decided to create circulating versions of many
of these kits so that people could work with them at home too. We also began circulating
portable DVD players and fishing poles this year, and also a collection of sewing machines.

The most popular thing that we introduced this year was the telescopes. We launched the Loan
Star project, with the help of the Lake County Astronomical Society, with about 5 telescopes.
Due to enormous demand, we now have 10. From almost the first week, we’ve had scores of
people on the waiting list. It’s been really rewarding to see this kind of response to an idea. It
shows that when we really pay attention to the needs of our patrons, that we can develop
services to delight them.

Internal Operations and Core Services

We began using mobile devices to assist patrons away from the service desks. This was a real
change to our core service model, even though it was rolled out gradually. Providing
assistance throughout the building, not just at the service desks, is an important way for us to
improve customer service and patrons’ experiences in the library.

We completed the second year of reductions in overdue fines. We had fewer high-dollar fines
that caused problems for patrons, but even at lower amounts there were still financial barriers
preventing some people from using the library. We made the decision to eliminate late fees for
the coming year. We’ll report on the impact of the policy changes next year.

Staff and Board Development

I was really inspired this year by the enthusiasm and dedication of our staff. This was a year of
extraordinary change. Even the most nimble among us were stretched and challenged by the
realities of a major renovation project.

The management team did a terrific job, making sure that daily operations ran as smoothly as
possible during a very disruptive time. The challenge wasn’t just managing some construction
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annoyances. It also included significant planning for new services and big changes to our work
environments. Natalie Ziarnik, Anne Belden, Leah White, and Sarah Strahl managed the areas
that saw the most change. They were terrific during a very challenging year. Erica
Christianson helped each of them manage priorities, keep staff morale high, and solve the
problems that come along with major changes.

Many other staff stepped into major roles as we developed our new spaces and services this
year. Rachel Davis, a part-time children’s librarian, showed amazing organizational skills in
the Children’s department. The makerspace committee, especially Michelle Bourgeois and
Christin Wiser, were amazing with their creativity and dedication to the project. Brian Wilson
was outstanding in his work with the 3D printer. These key staff really made a difference this
year.

We gained a new Trustee in the spring elections, Tina Stoval, and former President Kathy
Caudill passed the gavel to Cindy Blank in May. We identified the areas of development that we
wanted to pursue for the Board, and will be tackling those areas in 2015-2016.

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Ela Area Public Library _____________________________ Annual Report 2014-2015
Erica Christianson – Assistant Director

Developing staff training opportunities and launching experiential materials were a major focus
of the year. An additional highlight was the publication of The Library Innovation Toolkit: Ideas,
Strategies, and Programs, edited by Anthony Molaro and our very own Leah White. The book
includes a chapter about innovation at Ela written by Sarah Strahl and myself. The Library’s
cross-departmental staff training efforts and e-reader implementation methods were featured.

Goal: Technology Enrichment

 Technology Training
Windows 8.1 training for staff, conducted by Directions Training, took place in August.
Four classes were offered and fifty-seven staff members were trained.

Goal: Responsive Collections

 Experiential Materials

LoanStar Telescope Lending Program
The Library partnered with the Lake County Astronomical Society (LCAS) on the
telescope lending program. We started initially with three telescopes. But, due to demand,
by July we were circulating seven telescopes to Ela cardholders with plans to add three
more.

Program promotion and instruction has included the development of a charmingly
informative instructional video produced by Anne Belden, Head of Reference, and
starring cataloger Brian Christensen. Also a regularly occurring astronomy column,
written by LCAS, has been added to Footnotes.

Fishing Poles
Beginning in May, we began circulating 29 fishing rods, reels, and tackle kits to Ela
patrons. Provided free of charge to the Library by the Illinois Department of Natural
Resources Tackle Loaner Program, each rod and reel comes with a tackle bag that
includes basic supplies to get patrons started.

Portable DVD Players
In June, we began circulating portable DVD players. The 10-inch Sylvania portable
DVD players are the perfect accessory for road trips and family vacations. Patrons can
not only watch movies on them but they can also be used for audiobooks. Both the
fishing poles and portable DVD players proved to be a popular summer vacation offering.

Goal: Staff Development

 Safety Team
New this year was a staff “Safety Skills Survey”. The purpose of the survey is to promote
safety education, record which safety training opportunities staff have participated in, and
to identify training needs for both individuals and the staff as a whole. Managers are
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encouraged to use the surveys when conducting performance evaluations and developing
goals for staff. Additionally, the Safety Team accomplished the following:

 Conducted successful tornado drill.
 Updated First-Aid kits.
 Conducted all-staff review of fire drill procedures.
 Organized two AED/CPR training sessions staff. Thirty-four staff are
AED/CPR certified.
 Offered staff First-Aid Training. Forty-seven staff are “Heartsaver First
Aid” certified.
 May Staff Meeting – Bob Kleinheinz, LZFD, spoke on fire and tornado
safety at home and at work. Bob also reviewed our exit strategies for
evacuations.

 Staff Development Committee
Working as co-coordinator with Terri Meyer, I assisted the committee in the following
initiatives:
 Facilitated multiple sessions of the interactive webinar Positive
Interactions: Making the Library a Welcoming and Empowering Place for
People with Disabilities.
 Assisted with the development, organization, and implementation of the
March staff training day and the fall, winter, and spring staff meetings.

 Management Training
The Administration Department, led by Megan Creel, has been working to offer
expanded management training opportunities to our management team members. We
currently have nineteen staff members with supervisory responsibilities. We were able to
offer the following:

 “Developing Leadership Skills” – in Library session led by Lauren
Soderstrom of the Management Association of Illinois.
 Manager and staff training on the revised employee performance
evaluation plan process and documents.
 “Improving Morale: It Can Be Done Without Frosting” – webinar.

Additional Activities

 Coordinated the efforts of the Forge Open House and Grand Opening committee.
 Developed the Citizenship Corner and organized a citizenship class.
 Covered shifts at the Info Desk, Readers Services, Children’s and Reference Desks.
 Met regularly with Public Desk managers to review service standards, public desk and
management issues, and policies.
 Participated in the One Book, Programmers, Maker Space, Social Media, Renovation and
Material Managers committees.
 Completed annual online FOIA, Open Meetings Act, and Passport training courses.


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Ela Area Public Library _____________________________ Annual Report 2014-2015
Adult Reference Services
Anne Belden

Personnel
The Adult Reference department experienced several personnel changes this year. We were
joined by part-time Reference Librarian Nancy Gaynor in October, 2014. Nancy’s genealogy
skills in particular make her a valued edition to the department.

Reference Librarian Kathleen Flatow retired from the library in March, 2015. We reworked her
position into a new title, Reference Librarian/Popular Materials Specialist. This new position is a
member of the Reference department but also serves the Popular Materials department, staffing
their desk, assisting with teen programming, and serving as a bridge between the two
departments. Renée Stein, former Computer Assistant and Information Desk Assistant, stepped
into this new role in April, 2015.

We filled Renée’s vacated adult Computer Assistant position with Eric Chen in May, 2015.

Reference Desk
30,281 questions were answered in-person, by phone, email, and instant messaging this year, an
increase of almost 16% over last year. One category in particular increased greatly this year:
technology assistance questions, which were up by 40%. This illustrates the general public’s
increasing need for technoliteracy support, and the niche that the public library has begun to
occupy as one of the few places to go for this kind of help.

We performed 2,133 notary services this year, an increase of 20% from last year’s total.
Notarization continues to be a greatly appreciated nontraditional library service that we provide.
The Adult Study Rooms remained popular this year; they were used 10,301 times by a wide
variety of patrons, an increase of over 500 uses from last year. Overall, we saw an increase in the
use of Adult Reference services in the 2014-2015 fiscal year.

Renovation
The 2nd floor was part of the major renovation that the library underwent this year. Our main
goals for the renovation were to add new quiet and collaborative work areas, to improve lighting,
and to add additional power for charging devices. We improved shelving and visibility of our
World Languages and New Nonfiction collections. We also brought collections – CDs,
nonfiction DVDs, newspapers, and magazines – upstairs from the first floor to make room for
the new makerspace.

Renovations went fairly smoothly and were well-received by our patrons. Particular praise was
given to our improved lighting, new seating, expanded quiet study rooms, and the new
“Moderate” noise level of the rest of the floor, which allows for small group work and quiet cell
phone use. Reference staff publicized the renovation on our social media outlets.

The only piece of the renovation puzzle that was missing at the end of the year is our new
Reference desk, which we expect to be delivered in the near future.

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Ela Area Public Library _____________________________ Annual Report 2014-2015

Digital Media Labs
Use of the Digital Media Labs remained steady this year: they were used a total of 814 times.
Conversion of VHS tapes to DVD, slides and negatives to digital images, and audiocassettes to
CD or digital files remain the most popular activities in the Labs. One patron converting an
audiocassette was moved to tears at hearing the voice of her grandmother and at knowing that
she was able to save the recording in a more modern format for posterity.

Digital Media Lab help appointments were quite popular this year; we gave 57 one-on-one help
appointments, which is an 84% increase over last fiscal year.

All of the software in the Digital Media Labs was updated in February, 2015; some of it is quite
different from the previous versions. Members of the Reference department spent a good deal of
time learning the updated programs and creating new Quick Start Guides for our patrons.

The Digital Media Labs played a part in the Grand Reopening Celebration in May, 2015. Anne
Belden and Renée Stein took pictures of attendees against the green screen and then Anne and
Brian Wilson added festive spring backgrounds to the photos using the Lab computers. Over 40
souvenir photos were sent out from the event.

Technology Enrichment
One of our biggest technology projects this year was the rollout of the new public computers.
The Reference department worked with IT to plan, test, and refine the configuration of the
machines. We created features to make it easier for our patrons to access their e-mail, the
Internet, and library resources; we strove to give the best possible user experience. As with any
change, there were questions as people acclimated to the new setup, but patron response overall
was quite positive.

Dave Pugl and Brian Wilson continued to teach and coordinate computer classes on a wide
variety of topics. When our computers were upgraded in late 2014, Dave updated all of the
Microsoft Office classes for the new version and Brian created a class for Windows 8.1. The new
software brought us an increase in class attendance in the winter and spring.

In addition to the classes we updated, we also added several new computer class topics,
including a class on iPads, Craigslist, Online Job Searching, Pinterest, Animoto.com, and Buying
a Computer or Tablet.

Our computer classes remain a valued service. We presented 98 computer classes and received
many positive comments from the 742 patrons who attended. A few examples: “You have the
best classes in the area!” “Interesting, informative, and easy to understand.” “The Ela Library is a
great institution to get information and knowledge.”

Members of the Reference department were also heavily involved with the creation of Forge, our
new makerspace. Anne and Brian served on the Forge committee and provided staff training on
Forge. Anne helped create the Forge webpages and Brian was essential in rolling out our 3D
printing program. Anne and Brian serve as print queue managers and Brian has created and
taught several Forge programs, including Collage Making and Tinkercad 3D Design. All of the
full-time Reference librarians took turns staffing the makerspace this summer.
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Ela Area Public Library _____________________________ Annual Report 2014-2015

Website
The library’s website experienced excellent traffic this year. There were 2,047,294 visits to
eapl.org this fiscal year, which is almost double last year’s visit total. The Drupal content
management system we migrated to last year has continued to serve us well, and staff members
throughout the library are able to generate content easily.

Over the course of the year, webmaster Dave Pugl has made numerous tweaks and
improvements to the new site, some himself and some with the assistance of a Drupal
development contractor. He added icons to the top of the page to give quick and easy access to e-
books and other electronic resources. A new “Create” menu item was added to highlight the new
makerspace and Digital Media Labs.

Continuing Education
The Reference Department spent a total of 420 hours on professional continuing education this
year, including conferences, seminars, webinars, peer training, and self-study using tools like
Lynda.com technology training.

We studied a wide variety of topics, including Windows 8.1, Office 2013, Digital Media Lab and
Forge software, library databases, customer service, management topics, genealogy research, and
many more.

Programming and Other Activities
Melissa Keegan continued to coordinate outreach to our business community, attending various
meetings as a representative of the library. She also planned business and finance programming
throughout the year, including several very successful programs for Money Smart Week in April.

Carol Bartlett continued to serve our genealogy patrons, leading our Genealogy Interest Group,
sending a genealogy newsletter, and giving one-on-one help appointments.

Gus Palas continues to be responsible for the recorded music, DVD, and video game collections.
He coordinated the move of nonfiction DVDs to the 2nd floor and joined the Social Media
committee to help market our audiovisual collections through those channels.

Anne Belden served on the Telescope Team this year and was involved in rolling out the
circulation of our telescopes, fishing poles, and portable DVD players. She also made a popular
instructional video for the telescopes.

Interesting Reference Question of the Year
How many chickens are there in Panama?

This particular patron was considering a move to Panama and wanted to know if chicken farming
is increasing there. We used the Europa World Yearbook to find that there are approximately
18,719,000 chickens on farms in Panama. The chicken industry is indeed on the rise there; we
found that farmed chicken numbers were increasing by around 1 million birds per year.

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