NCompass Live: Turning Your Library Around - Part 2: 4 Years Later

www.southsiouxcity.org/library

Turning Your Program Around (part

2)

What the South Sioux City Public Library did to

change the public’s perception of the

library.

June 1, 2009

New Library Director Hired New Children’s Librarian

Hired New Library Board chosen to

replace dismissed board.

Perception of the library

It was boring. Nothing to do. The programs didn’t fit their needs. The library lacked posters, pictures,

books on display. Not kid friendly. Didn’t know we had one.

In the last 5 years we have seen

these increases.

Circulation checkouts

2008-2009: 22,5312012-2013: 53,119

Computer Usage

2008-2009: 20900

2012-2013: 30009

Reference Questions Answered

2008-2009: 406

2012-2013: 1344

Adult Programming Attendance

2008-2009: 684

2012-2013: 3000

Children’s Programming Attendance

2008-2009: 1895

2012-2013: 5615

Number of Programs

2008-2009- Around 160

Number of Programs2012-2013

Children's : Around 600 Adult: Around 100 Technology: Around 800 Total: 1500

What did we do to accomplish this turn around.

1. Interview library patrons

2. Communicate with people who

don’t use the library with

questionnaires.

3. Meet and remeet with civic groups

and give presentations.

4. Meet with local agencies and see what the library

could do to assist their agency.

5. Talk with area schools.

6. Do a review of the services your community provides and try to fill in

the gaps.

7. See what other libraries are doing and recreate their

ideas to fit your needs.

8. Utilize the skills of your staff

Keep an open mind. Even if an idea doesn’t

catch on right away, keep trying.

Changes in Youth Programming

2009: Story Times were held consistently twice a week & two programs that ran once a month

2013: We have 4 story-time programs a week (preschool & toddlers), we show 2 movies a week, a baby story time once a week, an art program once a week, a weekly night of fun program, a monthly Spanish story time, and clubs held once a week

Encouraged Partnerships with Community

We joined together with our community to offer a PIWI (parents interacting with infants) program.

Dr. Powell is a local gemologist

Music in the Schools program held at our library

Summer Reading ProgramsWe work with our local Optimist group, the South Sioux

City Optimist Club and help coordinate an annual wreath auction, some of the proceeds help pay for our big

performers for the summer!

Consistency Keeping programming consistent is a

major help for your families to remember to stop in

Being consistent in special programs (monthly or yearly) is a benefit.

All my parents know when “Toddler Time” is or what day “Pat-A-Cake Pals” program is

held, etc

Wednesday Night ClubsStarting late this year, we introduced clubs that

meet every Wednesday night.

Robotics Club – We work with the Extension office of our county and hold a robotics club that builds and programs the computer to run the robots

Lego Club – We have structured building time and free building time

Mad Scientist Club – We introduce new science experiments and activities with the kids

Technology Kids Club – We utilize our traveling lap top cart with the kids to help with anything they need and introduce new programs for them to try.

Make the library FUN!

Dr. Seuss Celebration!

TAB & Minions

Our TAB is our High School advisory board

Minions is our Middle School advisory board

We currently have 15 active TAB members & 8 active Minion members

They run activities for other teens and youth in our community.

TAB

2012 Teen Halloween Party in

the Basement

2013 Teen Run Halloween Party for kids

Programming with Adults

Brings out the Best in the Library Staff

In Tune With our Card Holders

Seeks to reach out to all the people in our service area

Almost Every Interest Can Be Turned into a Library Service

Garden Club

Tangled Yarns

SSC Scribes

Spanish Technology Classes

Patron Driven Programming

B-Movies

Quilt Shows

Book Clubs

Community Driven Services

ESL Classes

GED Test Preparation

Muslim Journeys

Getting the Word Out

Library Website

E-Newsletter

City Newsletter

Facebook Page

Library Blog

Post Cards

Cardinal Festival

Chamber of Commerce

Build programs out of interest areas that your staff, friends group or other volunteers

may have.

Community Garden/ Organic Gardening

Community Farmers Market

Community Orchard

Community Garden Club

Seed Savers Library

Movies

Real to Reel- popular movies with contemporary issues.

Movies

B Movie Night at the Bijou

Classic Movies and Discussion

Special Movie Presentations

Movies in History celebrating birthdays or anniversaries.

Unique Ideas Movies

Spaghetti Dinner with:

And There’s More

Immigration Services Classes on Medicare Part D sign-

up Different Trivia Contest Beginning a Small Business Quilting workshop Food Canning classes Early school registration

Art Gallery Area

50+ Area

Mobile Computer Classroom

Teach 42 tech classes in English and Spanish

Know Your Computer, Introduction To Your Laptop, Keyboard Mouse Skills Windows Basics, Windows Basics 2 , Windows Basics 3, Clean Up Your

Computer Your Library Web Page, Setting Up an Email Account, G-mail Setting Up A Yahoo Email Account, Facebook Basics, Facebook for Your

Business Twitter Basics, Blogging Basics, Yahoo Messenger, Smartphone App’s QR Codes for Business, Everything Google, Google's Documents Spotlight Online Bookmarking and Note Keeping, Job and Career Accelerator, Search

Engines How to Search the Internet, Using Reference Sources, Nebraska Access Internet Privacy, Microsoft Word 1, Microsoft Word 2, Microsoft Word 3 Microsoft Excel 1, Microsoft Excel 2 , Microsoft Excel 3 How to Create a Newsletter, Microsoft Publisher 1, Microsoft Publisher 2 Microsoft Publisher 3,, E-book Readers , Learn Your Library Web Page Tech Thursday, PowerPoint 1 , PowerPoint 2

What does the future hold?

Cooking classes Film classes Genealogy classes Community Health workers Social Worker Adult, teens and young children’s

computer areas

Dan Nieman, Odessa Meyer, David Mixdorf