Enhancing Library Services for Diverse Communities: Insights from the California State Library

1. State Librarian’s Quarterly Webcast Susan Hildreth September 20, 2006 Noon – 1pm

2. CSL News • Wikipedia entry for California State Library http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Library • CSL Blog - Coming Soon • Eureka! Leadership Program • Arch Lustberg workshops • preview his training techniques • http://www.lustberg.net/streamingvideo.htm • workshop description • http://www.infopeople.org/workshop/183

3. Live Homework Help • 25 continuing libraries contributing $400,000 local funds • 28 applied for 06/07 funding/15 selected for participation • New libraries contributing $48,500 local funds • State (LSTA) & local partnership - $1.6 million investment • Tutor.com provides customized promotional materials/training • Statewide service for Kansas – $250,000, California - $5,000,000 • Participant list available at http://www.library.ca.gov/html/lsta_app_06_07.cfm More information – cmediavilla@library.ca.gov

4. Early Learning with Families (ELF) • 37 libraries applied for 06/07 funding/26 selected for participation • 13 libraries serving on Advisory Committee • Fall trainings to develop implementation plans • Coming soon – ELF website with resources • Partnerships with DOE, Children & Families Commission, Public TV, Childcare Network • Participant list available at http://www.library.ca.gov/html/lsta_app_06_07.cfm More information – sflint@library.ca.gov

5. CalCat/FirstSearch/WorldCat • Challenging/confusing topic • Further complicated by debut of OCLC’s worldcat.org • Good news – FirstSearch subscriptions for all public libraries for 06/07 Signs of progress – August 2005 to June 2006 • CalCat records increase – 15.8 to 16.3 million, 3.2% increase • CalCat holdings increase – 76.2 to 78.7 million, 3.3% increase • WorldCat has over 70 million records Search engine access • “Find in a Library” searches only 4 million records • Library search difficult to access from main search engine page • Worldcat.org established in response to low cooperation of search engines

6. Project success • Most libraries aware and trained • CalCat has effective logo, website, posters • CalCat primarily used as finding tool Challenges for 2006/07 • 49 libraries link to CalCat, 33 to WorldCat on their websites – must increase • Batchloading of records with OCLC still possible through December 2006 • Impact of worldcat.org on project • State Library’s commitment to easy access for customers to library information remains strong

7. New Reference Model Facilitated by Ruth Metz • www.librarycoach.com Background • Local-to-second level • AskNow virtual service • 2nd level databases/ First Source (LAPL) Nelson/Mayo Forums • Merge 2nd level question answering • Improve virtual services • Provide specialized databases/training

8. Focus is Question-Answering/Handling • Improve information access to customers • Compatible with current and future technology • Builds on/tunes up what is in place now Characteristics of New Model • Efficient/cost-effective • Accessed by public and/or library staff • Adaptable to variety of technologies used by our customers • Seen as extension of public library Work Plan/Timeline • Program at CLA in November • Research and design through March 2007 • Implementation plans by June 2007 • Will ensure opportunities for comments from field

9. The Scoop on Baby Boomers Americans for Libraries Council: http://www.lff.org/about/onthego.html Lifelong Access Programs: http://www.lff.org/programs/lifelong.html Boomer Landscape • 2014 – 65% library customers will be 50-70 • 2010 – 1 in 5 Californians will be 60 +

10. What do we know about these boomers? • Healthy, active and mobile • Will age in place • Want meaningful engagement in their communities • Expect to design and manage activities • View retirement as a new chapter What do they seek? • Welcoming places • Meaningful activities • Opportunities to learn • Social and civic connections • Information and options

11. Boomer Experts • Dr. Paul Nussbaum • http://www.paulnussbaum.com/bookspapers.html • Lifelong learning/active lifestyle maximize brain health • Dr. Peter Maramaldi • Experienced paradigm shift in social work services for boomers – similar for libraries • Mary Catherine Bateson • Willing to Learn: Passages of Personal Discovery • Intergenerational community discussion groups

12. Boomer Service Strategies • Integrate information technologies to promote productive aging • Create programs and services that are accessible, culturally sensitive and connected to the larger community: • Health and wellness • Life planning • Financial planning • Intergenerational activities • Spiritual development • Social issues

13. Challenges for libraries • Continue to change traditional service models • Change our assumptions about older adults • Make boomers one of libraries’ priority constituencies • See boomers as a valued resource • Acknowledge that boomers are a highly variable constituency Libraries are well positioned to serve newly aging population • PLACE: Community’s information and meeting place • TRUST: Most trusted public institution • ACCESS: More than 16,500 public libraries nationwide • INCLUSIVE: No barriers for age, language, belief or economic status • PURPOSE: Public libraries already support engagement and learning For more information on boomers: http://www.boomerproject.com//

14. Save the Date! California State Library Reception Sunday November 12th 6:00-7:30pm 914 Capitol Mall Thanks to Infopeople and California State Library Foundation