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Exploring Jefferson Park Branch Library: Insights from Manager Dorena Wenger

Discover the vibrant community at the Jefferson Park Branch of the Chicago Public Library through an interview with Branch Manager Dorena Wenger. Located in the culturally diverse Northwest Side of Chicago, this library serves a mixed patron base, including seniors and families with young children. Learn about the challenges of staffing in a system with hiring freezes, the joys of fostering a love for reading, and the vital role libraries play in democracy. Hear how the small team navigates budget constraints while striving to meet community needs.

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Exploring Jefferson Park Branch Library: Insights from Manager Dorena Wenger

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Jefferson Park A Branch of the Chicago Public Library 5363 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, IL, 60630 An Interview with Branch Manager DorenaWenger Elizabeth Allen

  2. Community • Northwest Side of Chicago • Transportation Center • Culturally and Ethnically Diverse • Middle Class

  3. Patron Base • Seniors • Families with Young Children • Transients • Those Who Speak Foreign Languages: Polish, Spanish, Arabic • What about Teens?

  4. Staff • Small Staff of 6.5 People • 3 Librarians, 2 clerks, 1 Branch Manager, 1 Page (Part-Time) • Should Have 3 Librarians, 3 Clerks, and 5 Pages • Staff Layoffs and Hiring Freeze • Consequences: “The Professional End Suffers,” Work Redistribution, Shortened Hours (64 hours/week down to 48 hours/week)

  5. Little Branch in a Big TreeWorking Within the CPL System • Jefferson Park is 1 of 79 Branches Within CPL • Little Input in Budgetary Matters • Some Parts of Collection Development are Centralized: Reference and Popular Books • Some Input in Materials Specific to Branch Needs • Materials Processing is Minimal • Cataloging is Done in Central Location

  6. The Best (And Not-So-Best) Parts of the Job • Seeing People Get Excited About the Library • Helping People Become Life-Long Readers • Helping a Kid Get His or Her First Library Card • Working With People Who Are Passionate About Library Service • Calling the Police About a Patron • Telling Someone to Leave Because of a Hygiene Issue • False Sense of Security • Gang Recruitment

  7. Parting Words • Public Librarians Need to be Flexible and “Wear Many Hats” • The Public Library is an Important Part of Living in a Democracy • Be Fair and Balanced, Always Represent Both Sides • Have a Passion For the Library and Public Service

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