DOCUMENT RESUME ED 422 000 IR 057 116 AUTHOR Keller, Shelly G., Ed. TITLE Proceedings of the Convocation on Providing Public Library Service to California's 21st Century Population(Sacramento, California, May 22-23, 1997). INSTITUTION California State Library, Sacramento. PUB DATE 1997-07-00 NOTE 116p. AVAILABLE FROM California State Library, P.O. Box 942837,Sacramento, CA 94237-0001. PUB TYPE Collected Works Proceedings (021) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC05 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Access to Information; *Conferences; Futures (of Society); *Library Collection Development; Library Personnel;*Library Services; Lifelong Learning; Literacy; OutreachPrograms; Program Evaluation; *Public Libraries; State Programs IDENTIFIERS California State Library ABSTRACT The California State Library convened the Convocationon Providing Public Library Service to California's21st Century Population with the goal of creating a vision of public libraryservice in California. Over 100 library leaders and supporters gathered fortwo days of meetings and work sessions. These proceedings are designed to givea detailed view of the Convocation, including: California's 21stCentury Population: a demographic profile; 15 perspective papers on the major topicsof the Convocation: access, collection development, community collaboration and outreach, lifelong learning, promoting the value of libraries,staffing to serve California's 21st century population, technology inlibraries; recommendations for the California State Library, theCalifornia Library Association, public libraries, library schools,and library supporters; remarks of Dan Walters, syndicated political columnistand author, and Richard Rodriguez, journalist and author;names and affiliations of Convocation participants; and references andresources from the Convocation. Included separately is the "Summary of Input Receivedfor the Public Forums on the California State Library's Convocation on Providing PublicLibrary Service to California's 21st Century Population"dated November 4, 1997. (AEF) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best thatcan be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** cI A CONVOCATION PROCEEDINGS rkk 6 Providing Public Library Service to California's 21st Century Population U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS CENTER (ERIC) MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY O This document has been reproducedas received from the person or organization originating it. C.D. Robertson O Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES official OERI position or policy. INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." 1997 2 A Publication of the California State Library Convocation on Providing Public library Service to California's 21st Century Population Convocation Proceedings Edited by Shelly G. Keller, Convocation Coordinator California State Library Sacramento, California July 1997 Dr. Kevin Starr, State Librarian of California 3 Table of Contents Preface 3 Acknowledgments 4 Introduction 5 California's 21st Century Population: a Demographic Profile 8 Perspective Papers Access 14 Collection Development 20 Community Collaboration and Outreach 26 Lifelong Learning 36 Promoting the Value of Libraries 41 Staffing to Serve California's 21st Century Population 46 Technology in Libraries 53 Remarks of Dan Walters 60 Remarks of Richard Rodriguez 69 Recommendations by Assignee 78 Recommendations by Priority 84 Appendix A - Recommendations by Topic 88 Appendix BParticipants 94 Appendix C Agenda 98 Appendix D Convocation Packet 101 California Stale Library Convocalion on the 21sl Cenlury 4 Preface California's public libraries are at a crossroads. As we face the 21st century, dramatic forces are impacting public libraries: iminigration is rapidly changing the com- position of California's population; public funding has fallen; the gaps in educational attainment are widening; and new information technologies are redefining how we access and use information.' Fundamental changes in the California environmentfrom how libraries are funded to how the electorate views immigration and diversitypose tremendous chal- lenges for libraries and librarians in the 21st century. Despite these challenges, the out- look for California's public libraries is bright because support for public libraries runs wide and deep. Public libraries are places where people help people get closer to their potential. This is, perhaps, the most human of endeavors. Despite the value libraries bring to Californiansboth individually and as a societylibraries must change if they are to meet our future education, information and recreation needs. The California State Library convened the Convocation on Providing Public Library Service to California's 21st Century Population on May 22-23,1997 with the goal of creating a vision of public library service in California. Over 100 library leaders and supporters gathered for two days of meetings and work sessions. Their purpose was to assess the state of library services to diverse populations and develop recommendations for new statewide programs that respond to the needs of California's population in the 21st century. The recommendations contained herein reveal participants' ambitious dedication to redefining the role of public libraries in their communities. Their recommendations also prescribe new directions for the California State Library in how it develops and supports public library services. The California State Library could not have fulfilled the Convocation's purpose without the support of each library professional and library sup- porter who participated in this convocation. I thank them, and you, for your concern and dedication to helping public libraries meet the education, information and recreation needs of California's 21st century popula- tion. Dr. Kevin Starr, State Librarian of California ' Institute for the Future. Entering the 21st Century: Calijarnia's Public Libraries Face the Future (Sacramento, CA, California State Library, 1996), p.iii. California Stale Library Convocation on the 2Ist Century 3 5 Acknowledgments The California State Library gratefully acknowledges the hard work and dedica- tion of the Convocation Planning Team, including: Martha Arroyo-Neves, San Francisco Public Library; Liz Gibson, California State Library; Luis Herrera, Pasadena Public Library; Susan Hildreth, California State Library; Shelly Keller, Convocation Coordinator and Proceedings Editor; Kathleen Low, Convocation Chair, California State Library; Gerald Maginnity, Mountain Valley Library System; Bessie Condos Tichauer, California State Library; and Patty Wong, Berkeley Public Library. Several library professionals helped to prepare the Convocation participant invita- tion list, including: Kristie Coons, Kern County Library; Billie Dancy, Oakland Public Library; Anne Marie Gold, Contra Costa County Library; Susan Kent, Los Angeles Public Library; and Kathleen Ouye, San Mateo Public Library. The State Library gratefully acknowledges their dedication and assistance in making this Convocation a success. Thanks also to each and every Convocation participant for helping the State Library develop recommendations for library service that respond to the needs of California's 21st century population. 4 California Stale Library Convocation On the AU Century Introduction Inthe fall of 1996, California State Li- Since 1988, new issues have emerged that brary staff approached the State Librarian with a impact the future roles of public libraries in proposal to convene a statewide convocation to California, including: assess library services to diverse populations and The continued, rapid change in develop recommendations for new statewide California's demographics in terms of age, programs that would address the needs of income, employment, and cultural diversity; California's population in the 21st century. A growing proportion of young people who live in homes where English is not the It has been nine years since the State primary language; Library convened a similar conference, "A State A changing point of view of the elector- of Change: California's Ethnic Future and Librar- ate regarding immigration and diversity; ies," in 1988. The purpose of that conference was A decline in public library funding; to explore the changing ethnic character of Cali- The role of information technology in fornia and its implications for libraries. The State libraries; of Change Conference produced a total of 177 Widening gaps in educational attainment recommendations. Conference attendees targeted among youth; and 34 recommendations to the California State The impact of corporate downsizing on Library, 106 recommendations to local library the role of libraries in retraining and preparing jurisdictions and library supporters, 13 to library citizens for new employment opportunities. schools, and 24 to the library community at large. Dr. Kevin Starr, State Librarian of Califor- In the following years, the California State nia, accepted the proposal to fund a "Convocation Library responded to 19 of its 34 recommenda- on Providing Public Libraries Services to tions. Responses included creation of the Partner- California's 21st Century Population." A plan- ships for Change Program (1989-1995)