PLA Board of Directors

PLA Board of Directors Fall Meeting 2017 2018.9 Date: 9/7/2017 To: PLA Board of Directors From: Kathleen Hughes, Editor and Manager, Publications Re: Public Libraries

According to the April report, ad sales in fiscal year 2017 are a bit behind budget. The report shows that gross advertising revenue is at $10,003; the budgeted figure is at $36,667. For comparison purposes, at this time last year, advertising sales were at $26,573. The shortage this year can largely be chalked up to timing, we have implemented new procedures with our new ad sales team and they are behind in billing our advertisers. Advertising revenues should improve by end of fiscal year reports.

Our subscription base has shrunk a tiny bit; we currently have 516 subscriptions. At this time last year we had 537, the year before that 548. Subscription revenues are slightly behind; budgeted to be $36,667; the actual figure is $34,959. While there does seem to be a slight downward trend in subscriptions we are planning to work on reversing the trend in the upcoming fiscal year, with a few targeted subscription drives.

In terms of expenses, we are budgeted to be at $135,869; at this point expenses are at $114,424. Expenses will catch up to the budgeted figure as the fiscal year is closed.

Publiclibrariesonline.org The online companion site to “Public Libraries” continues to thrive. Like the print iteration, PLOnline (www.publiclibrariesonline.org) focuses on issues and topics that matter to public libraries and public librarianship. Updated daily, the site features selections from the print magazine as well as unique content. PLOnline offers hundreds of articles on library-related topics in addition to author interviews. Posts are comment-enabled so readers can share ideas on the often thought-provoking topics, as well as share their own stories or experiences. A variety of social networking options accompany the site, these include Facebook (www.facebook.com/publiclibrariesonline), Twitter (@publibonline), Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/publibonline), and Instagram.

We continue to pursue creating a multiplatform environment for “Public Libraries” and PL Online, with our content distributed across many platforms. To that end, this year we have developed a podcast series to further explore and expand PL content. FYI: The Public Libraries Podcast debuted in November, since that time we have completed twenty episodes. These short, information-packed segments offer an easy way to explore initiatives or hear more about current ideas in the public library world. Listeners can stream the episodes directly from the PL Online site, or subscribe via iTunes. Currently available episodes include:

Episode 1 – Debut Show (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 – 1,049; 756 listeners at this time last year.) Douglas Crane, director of the Palm Beach County (Fla.) Library System discusses how he interviewed long-time public library directors to learn more about the job and to try and determine what makes a great library director. Listen to this episode here.

Episode 2 – Valerie Gross (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 - 683; 457 listeners at this time last year.) Valerie Gross, president and CEO of the Howard County (Md.) Library System, discusses the principles of two library initiatives, Libraries = Education and Choose Civility. Listen to this episode here.

1 of 5 PLA Board of Directors Fall Meeting 2017 2018.9 Episode 3 – The Bed Bug Guide for Public Libraries (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 - 513; 303 listeners at this time last year.) Sarah Kittrell, Wichita (Kans.) Public Library, discusses her PLA Book, The Bed Bug Guide for Public Libraries. Listen to this episode here. Episode 4 – Unprogramming (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 - 569; 312 listeners at this time last year.) Amy Koester, Skokie (Ill.) Public Library discusses the concept of unprogramming: creating and offering programs that are at once highly engaging and collection-driven without requiring large amounts of planning, funds, and staff time. Listen to this episode here. Episode 5 – Make It Extraordinary! (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 - 346; 177 listeners at this time last year.) Live from PLA 2016! Kari Chapin, best-selling author, teacher, marketing mentor, consultant, and "Make It Extraordinary" guest speaker, discusses how her books and products help readers generate and capture their best ideas, as well as improve productivity and manage their time. Listen to this episode here. Episode 6 – Preventing Your Library’s Facebook Page from Getting Hacked (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 - 467 listeners; 237 listeners at this time last year.) Live from the PLA 2016! Erica Jesonis, Chief Librarian for Information Management, Cecil County (Md.) Public Library, discusses how to keep your library’s Facebook page from getting hacked. Listen to this episode here. Episode 7- The BOOMbox (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 - 402; 172 listeners at this time last year.) Live from PLA 2016! Amy Holcomb, Experiential Learning Coordinator and Mikael Jacobson, Learning Experiences Manager at Skokie (Ill.) Public Library discuss The BOOMbox, an experimental space designed to facilitate STEAM learning for all ages. Listen to this episode here. Episode 8- Disasters bring Out the Best in Us (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 - 272 listeners; 102 listeners at this time last year.) Live from PLA 2016! Dan Wilson, Associate Director for Collections & Library Services at the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, University of Virginia Health System, and Siobhan Champ-Blackwell, Librarian at the National Library of Medicine, discuss how librarians and libraries are vital resources for the community during disasters, as they are in the best position to verify and disseminate correct information to the community. Listen to this episode here. Episode 9- Where the Black and Brown Boys Aren’t (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 – 434 listeners; 138 listeners at this time last year.) Live from PLA 2016! Nichole Shabazz, Youth Outreach and Programming Coordinator at the Cleveland Public Library and Phyllis Hunter, Reading and Literacy Expert, Phyllis C. Hunter Consulting, Inc., discuss the program, "Where the Black and Brown Boys Aren’t (and Why)” at PLA 2016. Listen to this episode here. Episode 10- Engaged and Inclusive (Total listeners as of 9/7/17- 507; 195 listeners at this time last year.) Live from PLA 2016! Sarah Lawton, Neighborhood Library Supervisor, Madison (Wisc.) Public Library and Tariq Saqqaf, Neighborhood Resource Coordinator, City of Madison, Office of the Mayor, discuss how libraries can address racial disparities and create more inclusive public spaces. Listen to this episode here. Episode 11- Out of the Shadows (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 – 381; 118 listeners at this time last year.) Ady Huertas, Branch Manager of the Logan Branch/San Diego Public Library discusses the library's program, "Out of the Shadows." The program is designed to raise public awareness about the problem of sex trafficking in San Diego, bring to light the plight of sex trafficking victims and at-risk youth, and provide resources and support services for those in need. Listen to this episode here. Episode 12- A Social Ignition (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 – 453; episode uploaded on June 6, 2016.)

2 of 5 PLA Board of Directors Fall Meeting 2017 2018.9 Features Sonja Skvarla, the founder of A Social Ignition. Founded in 2012, A Social Ignition was conceived while Sonja was helping various groups fulfill their missions in the field of post-prison reentry. She developed a curriculum of entrepreneurship and professional development and offered it to the Oregon Department of Corrections. Today, A Social Ignition is off and running using its entrepreneurship and professional development program to help people re-enter society after incarceration. The program teaches business lessons but participants also develop self-confidence and learn to use the experience they already have. We talked to Sonja about A Social Ignition, success and stumbling blocks, how libraries might incorporate similar programming, future expansion plans, and more. Listen to this episode here. Episode 13- Weeding (Total listeners as of June 5, 2017 - 558; episode uploaded on August 26, 2016.) We talk with Holly Hibner and Mary Kelly about weeding library collections, awful library books they’ve discovered, and more. Holly and Mary have recently released a book in PLA’s Quick Reads series, entitled “Weeding Manual.” In addition, they are cofounders of the popular blog Awful Library Book (awfullibrarybooks.com) and co-authors of the book “Making Your Collection Count: A Holistic Approach to Library Collection Management.” Holly Hibner is adult services coordinator at Plymouth District Library in Plymouth, Michigan and Mary Kelly is youth services librarian at the Lyons Township Library in Michigan. Listen to this episode here. Episode 14-Digital Readiness Gaps (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 – 535; episode uploaded on October 10, 2016.) PLA Deputy Director Larra Clark talks to John B. Horrigan of the Pew Research Center about his report, “Digital Readiness Gaps,” which finds that just over half of American adults have low levels of readiness to use digital tools as they pursue lifelong learning. Listen to this episode here. Episode 15-Building and Operating a Digital Media Lab (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 - 507; episode uploaded on October 27, 2016.) We talk with Jeffrey P. Fisher, author of the latest book in PLA’s ‘Quick Reads’ Series “Building and Operating a Digital Media Lab,” about planning your media lab– including creating a vision, selling the concept, budgets, staffing, programming, and more. Listen to this episode here. Episode 16- Teen Social Justice Symposium (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 – 476; episode uploaded December 30, 2016.) We talk with Erin Hoopes. Erin is head of the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Philadelphia City Institute Branch. Here we discuss an initiative she spearheaded at the Free Library, a Teen Social Justice Symposium. Listen to this episode here. Episode 17-Ready to Code (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 - 478; episode uploaded February 27, 2017.) Larra Clark Deputy Director for the Public Library Association and the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP), talks with Marijke Visser, Associate Director at OITP, about ‘Ready to Code” a new ALA initiative in partnership with Google, that aims to investigate the current nature of coding activities in public and school libraries for youth and broaden the reach and scope of this work. Listen to this episode here. Episode 18- Project Outcome (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 – 886; episode uploaded March 9, 2017.) PLA’s Project Outcome (PO) is a free online toolkit consisting of surveys, a survey portal, and an interactive data dashboard that helps librarians measure the outcomes of their programs and services. Join us as we discuss this project with Emily Plagman, PO’s Project Manager and Samantha Lopez, Project Coordinator. Listen to this episode here. Episode 19- Author - Yoojin Grace Wuertz (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 -266; episode uploaded May 5, 2017.) PL’s Brendan Dowling talks with author Yoojin Grace Wuertz about her recently released novel “Everything Belongs to Us.” Listen to this episode here.

3 of 5 PLA Board of Directors Fall Meeting 2017 2018.9 Episode 20-Author - Michael Callahan (Total listeners as of 9/7/17– 291; episode uploaded May 5, 2017.) Brendan Dowling talks with author Michael Callahan, author of 2015’s “Searching for Grace Kelly.” Michael is also a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and a former deputy editor at Town and Country and Marie Claire. His new book, “The Night She Became Miss America” was released in April, 2017. Listen to this episode here. Episode 21 – A New Model for Library Service to Business – (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 – 372; episode uploaded June 16th, 2017.) We talk with Gillian Robbins and Caitlin Seifritz librarians in the Business Resource & Innovation Center (BRIC) at the Free Library of Philadelphia about the BRIC and new ideas for updating the library model of providing services to business, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits. Listen to this episode here. Episode 22 - Serving Children of Incarcerated Parents- (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 – 280; episode uploaded July 6, 2017.) We talk to Megan Sullivan, writer and college professor (Boston University) about her book, “Clarissa’s Disappointment: And Resources for Families, Teachers and Counselors of Children of Incarcerated Parents” about how to best serve this group, the author’s own experience with parental incarceration, and more. Listen to this episode here. Episode 23 - Serving All Families in a Queer and Genderqueer Way – (Total listeners as of 9/7/17 – 347; episode uploaded July 24, 2017. In this episode we discuss providing the best library service for your LGBTQ community with our guest Joel A. Nichols. Joel is the author of the winner in this year’s “Public Libraries” magazine feature article contest, for the article “Serving All Families in a Queer and Genderqueer Way.” He is an administrator for data strategy and evaluation in the Strategic Initiatives Department at the Free Library of Philadelphia, where he previously worked as a children’s librarian and branch manager and the author of “Teaching Internet Basics – The Can-Do Guide” and “I-Pads in the Library” both published by Libraries Unlimited. Listen to this episode here.

This is the third year of the PLOnline Newsletter. The opt-in newsletter pushes out PLOnline articles and information. We currently have 2,398 subscribers (1,300 at this time last year, 400 subscribers the previous year) with new subscribers signing up every day. We are happy to report that www.publiclibrariesonline.org continues to be very busy – here is a look at recent statistics:

Current Statistics

September 1, 2016-September 7, 2017 Users: 317,913 Sessions: 403,120 Average Sesson Duration: 01:06 Pageviews: 563,037

Historical Statistics Sep 2015-Sep 2016 Sep 2014-Sep 2015 Users 305,264 228,786 Sessions 280,918 287,030 Average Session Duration 0:01:05 0:01:05 Pageviews 538,964 409,318

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