Accomplishments - 2008
The Main Library underwent its first widespread renovation since the building opened in 1980. The project included the replacement of all the carpet on all three floors, extensive remodeling of the Computer Lab, the construction of a new service desk in the top floor Reference & Information area, renovation of the Green and Gold meeting rooms, and the replacement of furniture in the public areas. The building was closed for browsing while construction was underway on the top two floors, and staff provided library services from the Green Room and the Superior Street lobby. Once those floors were complete, they re-opened to the public and the Michigan Street level was closed. During the entire three-month project, the Library was completely closed for only six days. Library customers were still able to check out materials, use Internet computers, read popular newspapers and magazines, and have their reference questions answered. Staff retrieved materials from throughout the building and delivered them to customers waiting in the Green Room or the Superior Street lobby. Photos of the remodeling progress were posted on the Library website and comments were received from around the country.
Beginning in November, Duluth Public Library Internet users were able to sign themselves up to use a computer using the new SAM (Smart Access Management) software. People are also able to reserve time for later in the day using the library catalog computers or the library website. SAM allows computer users to easily monitor how much time they have on the computer and streamlines printing by tracking money people have deposited on account.
The 7th annual One Book, One Community program was the most successful area-wide reading project held thus far. The 2007 book was Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. Mr Mortenson's appearance in March proved to be so popular that the venue had to be changed from Marshall School to the DECC. Nearly 2400 people attended the free talk, making it the most highly-attended program in Library history. Mayor Ness introduced two groups of local students who had collected money for Mortenson's Central Asia Institute. The One Book, One Community project was sponsored by the Duluth Library Foundation in cooperation with the Arrowhead Library System, Arrowhead Reading Council, Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Duluth Public Schools, Friends of the Duluth Public Library and Northern Lights Books & Gifts.
The Duluth Public Library's website recorded over 400,000 visits during 2008 and is developing into a virtual library location. Subscription database resources provide access to online information and research that is unavailable to people surfing the Internet. In this age of online information overload, the Library's lists of authoritative, reputable websites can help web surfers efficiently target their searches and rapidly find what they need. Book-related newsletters and lists help people choose interesting reading material from the thousands of books published each year. Information about library programs and other events help busy citizens plan their schedules. Electronic newsletters with details of books and fingerplays used in the Library's preschool storytimes allow parents to recreate a storytime experience at home with their children. Access to the library catalog and to their own user accounts lets people search library collections at their convenience and place titles on reserve for later pickup.
Several new subscription resources are available for Duluthians to use both at the Duluth Public Library and from home on their own computers. Learning Express Library offers study guides and sample tests for the GED, ACT, SAT, U.S. Citizenship, and ASVAB exams, as well as practice tests for civil service jobs such as Police Officer, Nurse and Firefighter. TumbleBooks, a resource for children, takes existing picture books and adds animation, sound, music and narration to produce an electronic picture book which kids can read or have read to them. Other online resources added this year include: Gale Business Plans, Gale Virtual Reference Library, General Science Collection, Oxford English Dictionary, Small Engine Repair Center and Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations. Online resources make it easy for library cardholders to search the information they need at whatever time or day is convenient for them.
The Duluth Public Library's Reference division installed a computer dedicated to searching health-related websites, with links to high-quality, authoritative resources. Most of the sites are available through general web searching, but there is also a link to the Health and Wellness Resource Center, a subscription resource funded by the Duluth Library Foundation. Among the links on this Health workstation are general health sites, alternative and complementary health information, dental care, children's and teen health, where to find clinical trials, food and nutrition information, state and national doctor locators, surgical and diagnostic tests, and minority health issues. Although most of these sites are publicly accessible, having them grouped on this computer makes them more useable to the public searching for health information.
The Duluth Public Library's Youth Services division sponsored many free programs and activities for local children and teens. More than 4300 people attended the eight Kaleidoscope outdoor performances on the Library Plaza. Regular Storytimes for children from birth to age 5 form part of the Library's involvement in early literacy development. Attending library storytimes helps young children increase their vocabularies, prepares them for school, and is fun! Summer reading programs, Look What's Cookin' at your library (for kids through grade 6) and Plug In to your library (for teens grades 7-12), invited kids and teens to track the amount of time they spent reading. A record-setting total of 9115 hours of reading was reported by kids and teens in our community. This year's summer reading program included a partnership with Kids' Café, which brought the experience of reading for fun during the summer to a new population. Other projects included the Family Winter Read-Aloud Program, Summer Writing Workshops, a Teen Read Month project that resulted in the creation of a Duluth Teens' Top Ten titles list, and presentations to classes and community groups.
The Friends of the Duluth Public Library, the Duluth Library Foundation, the Arrowhead Library System and many other community organizations and businesses support library programming for children and teens. During 2008, collaborative services or programs included these organizations: Duluth Children's Museum, Duluth Public Schools, Great Lakes Aquarium, Incline Station, Kids Café, Northland Foundation, Port of Duluth Kiwanis Club, St. Luke's and SMDC Hospitals, United Way, U.S. Bank.
The West Duluth Branch Library remained open for business during a spring remodeling project. The children's area was repainted and additional shelving was installed to house the growing collections of children's books. New carpet squares brightened up the library and a new computer table has made the Internet computers more accessible to all users.
The Friends of the Duluth Public Library co-sponsored the 20th annual Northeast Minnesota Book Awards (NEMBA), along with the UMD Library. The ceremony was held in May and awards were given to eight titles that that represent northeastern Minnesota history, culture, heritage, or lifestyle.
Student volunteers from the UMD Accounting program provided free income tax-preparation assistance at the Main Library. More than 1000 people took advantage of the help provided by this popular project and they received over a million dollars in tax refunds.
The Main Library's Computer Lab was used by The Center for Independent Living for a series of classes for people with physical and mental disabilities. The classes focused on basic computer operation, word processing, an introduction to the Internet, how to use email, etc.
