Anguilla Library Service Annual Report 2010
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Anguilla Library Service Annual Report 2010 “Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.” Walter Cronkite Anguilla Library Service Edison L Hughes Library & Educational Complex 1 - 264- 4 9 7 - 2 4 4 1 [email protected] 3 / 3 1 / 2 0 1 1 Jan – Dec Anguilla Library Service Annual Report 2010 2010 Department of Library Services Annual Report 2010 2 Jan – Dec Anguilla Library Service Annual Report 2010 2010 CONTENTS 1. Director’s Remarks………………………………………………………………………………………………7 2. Information Resources…………………………………………………………………………………………8 2.1 Collection Management 2.2 Circulation and IT 2.3 Patrons 3. Staff Matters……………………………………………………………………………………………………..18 3.1 Management 3.2 Staff Development 3.3 In-House Matters 4. Reaching Out……………………………………………………………………………………………………21 4.1 Schools’ Library Programme 4.2 Cushion Club 4.3 Book of the Week 4.4 Children’s Library Annual Summer Programme 4.5 Exhibitions 5. Physical Environment……………………………………………………………………………………….43 6. Promoting Partnerships…………………………………………………………………………………….48 7. Financial Summary……………………………………………………………………………………………54 8. Going Forward…………………………………………………………………………………………………..55 Appendix 1 Sources of Support………………………………………………………………………………57 Appendix 2 ALS Organisation Chart…………………………………………………………………………60 3 Jan – Dec Anguilla Library Service Annual Report 2010 2010 2010 At a Glance 464 customers 27,908 items checked out, 5,499 more joined the library, than last year total of library cardholders now 2903 Strategic planning for next 5 years started Community enjoyed remembering Anguillian lore More than through talks, 1,700 Internet exhibitions… bookings including WiFi users Total of 21,820 items in library database “Jolly” summer programme for kids. Over 50 children know more about “jollification” 4 Jan – Dec Anguilla Library Service Annual Report 2010 2010 MISSION STATEMENT TO PROVIDE CONTEMPORARY, COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED LIBRARY, ARCHIVES AND INFORMATION SERVICES RELEVANT TO THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. 5 Jan – Dec Anguilla Library Service Annual Report 2010 2010 VISION THE DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY SERVICES OPENS DOORS TO INFORMATION RESOURCES THAT RESPOND TO NATIONAL GOALS AND PRIORITIES, FOSTERS LIFELONG LEARNING AND ALSO THE PRESERVATION OF THE CULTURAL HERITAGE. 6 Jan – Dec Anguilla Library Service Annual Report 2010 2010 1. DIRECTOR’S REMARKS Despite the economic challenges, the year 2010 was a relatively productive one in the Department of Library Services. It was a year of pursuing and forging partnerships; and with the unwavering support of the Ministry with responsibility for Library Services, there was no diminution in the quality of service offered to the public; instead every attempt was made to continuously enhance the quality of the product offered to patrons. This year marked the beginning of closer collaboration with the Ministry of Education when the library staff was able to draw on its planning expertise for the development of a strategic plan for a much more visible and vital community presence over the next five years, albeit within the context of ongoing budget cuts. The Library Staff takes great pride in serving the public and continues to strive to offer service of the highest quality, and for this the staff must be commended very highly. Additionally, without the generous donations from corporations, community groups and individuals that helped to sustain services, not much growth would have been recorded for 2010. It was a year for many expressions of gratitude. 7 Jan – Dec Anguilla Library Service Annual Report 2010 2010 2. INFORMATION RESOURCES 2.1 Collection Development The Library’s ability to develop and increase its collection was deeply impacted by a significant cut in the information resources budget due to the severity of the financial situation that the Government of Anguilla is facing. In 2009, the information resources budget was $98,742.98, this was greatly reduced to $53,684.88 in 2010. Therefore, the library was not able to purchase as much information resources as it would have liked for various sections of the library. There was need for careful consideration when determining what resources were purchased for 2010. However, this led some sections to be neglected over other more popular sections like the Adult Fiction and Children’s Library. This neglect was particularly the case in the General Reference and Non-fiction Sections. In those particular sections, information resources usually cost more but greater effort will be made in 2011 to stock these areas with new information resources. Additionally, as in previous years, in 2010 the library’s collection grew through the generous contributions from the Anguillian community. Therefore, the library is once again very indebted to persons who contributed and donated items to the library. The Department of Library Services had its annual visit with a representative from Gumdrop Books which resulted in a purchase for books geared towards the reading needs of students from Kindergarten through Grade 8. Topics covered included the areas of science, environment and social issues as well as general items to promote literacy and numeracy. During the meeting it was also agreed that half of the bill would be paid in 2011. This decision was made so that the library would be able to purchase other information materials from other suppliers, pay for periodical subscriptions and the renewal of Alexandria software. The library also purchased popular DVDs and book 8 Jan – Dec Anguilla Library Service Annual Report 2010 2010 titles to target the reading interests of adults, teens and children from Baker and Taylor. In terms of the new audiovisual service (DVDs and CDs) introduced in 2009, the library was not able to make as much purchases as we would have liked, which would have further greatly enhanced and promoted this new service. The Library also purchased recommended titles for the Star Fall Reading Programme which were loaned to the Chief Education Officer. In 2010, the backlog of information resources for cataloguing and data entry was done with special focus being paid to the Caribbean Reference and General Reference Sections. A major weeding project was also undertaken to deal with the backlog of donations residing in the library’s corridors and courtyard area. Currently, the library database stands at 21,820 items. 2.2 Circulation and IT Circulation activity is the heart of every library. From the circulation activity, libraries get useful data that will help in determining the needs of its customers. Circulation plays an important part in how libraries determine what resources should be selected and acquired. Despite major financial shortcomings the Department of Library Services still managed to have a very good year. The library again saw a significant increase in its circulation activity. In 2010, the library checked out 27,908 information items whereas in 2009, 22,409 information items were checked out. Thus, the library saw an increase of 5,499 information items such as books, magazines and DVDs going out on loan to patrons. 9 Jan – Dec Anguilla Library Service Annual Report 2010 2010 When looking at the checkout data for the last three years, the library continued to show steady growth in the usage of its information resources (see figure 1 and 2). Tables 1 and 2 illustrate a break down of the usage numbers by month for the last two years. The library’s cataloguing and circulation activities continued to be supported by the library integrated system, Alexandria. Since, its first installation in 2006, the Alexandria software continued to be instrumental in linking the library’s various activities together. For instance, Alexandria is the tool that links patrons to the information resources ready for loan. Alexandria is also important because it gathers vital statistical data. For example, Alexandria has been useful in obtaining data on the number of items checked out and how many items are currently in the library stock. In 2010, over 1,700 Internet bookings were recorded for the public access computers. There were also a significant number of bookings on the public access computers made by students who used the computers for research and the typing of their assignments. None of the activities mentioned above would be possible without the support from DITES. DITES continued in 2010 to assist the library with vital Alexandria updates and maintenance of the public access computers. Additionally, DITES also continued to work on the library website which, due to some hurdles, has not been able to go live to the public. 10 Jan – Dec Anguilla Library Service Annual Report 2010 2010 11 Jan – Dec Anguilla Library Service Annual Report 2010 2010 Figure 1: OVERALL ITEM CHECKOUTS FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS 30,000 27,908 25,000 22,409 21,311 20,000 15,000 Checkouts 10,000 5,000 0 2010 2009 2008 Shows the number of information resources (examples: books, magazines & DVDs) checked out of the library for the last three years. 2010 highlights a fairly significant increase from the years 2008 and 2009. 12 Jan – Dec Anguilla Library Service Annual Report 2010 2010 Table 1: 2009 CIRCULATION STATISTICS Month of Year 1 time 2 and 3 time RETURNS Hold Request Checked Outs Check outs January 1146 333 1058 17 February 2567 705 2460 37 March 1255 419 1297 22 April 1112 357 1066 11 May 1197 360 1147 13 June 1194 346 1218 18 July 883 270 988 9 August 1548 246 1560 6 September 1810 458 1671 10 October 1855