Other ideas from library staff and advisors include allowing patrons to submit reference questions via texting, a next-generation catalog combining features of Google and Amazon, and a "floating collection" that leaves items at the branch they're returned to. Read more and submit comments at Kress's blog for the technology plan.
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(10/8/08) It
is with sadness that we extend our sympathies to the relatives and friends
of Marty Paddock, manager of the Friends of the Palo Alto Library booksale
from 2000 to 2006, who passed away on October 1, 2008 at home with her
family. Under her
leadership, our booksales more than doubled to well over $200,000 a year and the
entire operation moved from Terman into our present location
in the Cubberley Community Center. With tremendous energy
and enthusiasm, Marty managed to make each month's sale a success no matter what obstacles
appeared. Her presence will be greatly missed by all of our customers,
volunteers, donors, and members. |
(10/8/08) Library Director Diane Jennings reported to the City Council on Monday, October 5
as to the status of 32 recommendations to improve the library made last year by the City
Auditor. 18 of the recommendations have been completed,
resulting in a unified scheduling
and tracking system for employees, 68 magazine subscriptions that will not
be renewed due to low usage, fingerprinting of all adult volunteers, better
cash handling, and resumption of sending collection letters, among others.
Based on the auditor's recommendations to establish performance targets, the library sought to
increase volunteer hours 10% in 2007-08 over the prior year but achieved 2%.
However, the library exceeded its goals of increasing Operation Homebound recipients and
volunteers by 20% and now delivers materials to the Palo Alto Nursing Center
and the Palo Alto Commons as well.
Jennings pointed out that by
January 2009, patrons will be able to pay overdue fines by credit card
online, as the auditor urged. The city's budget staff, however, turned
down for 2008-09 the recommendation to begin weekend transfers of materials
between branches, which would expedite filling patron holds.
Surveys of Palo Altans have shown interest in longer library hours. During the temporary closure of the
College Terrace branch beginning in 2009, Jennings noted that freed-up staff
may be able to lengthen the Mitchell Park Library's hours to match those at
Main. In addition, information collected from the new employee
scheduling and tracking system will let the library answer next year the auditor's
questions of whether existing staff could be redeployed to provide more open hours of operations
altogether and if overtime can be reduced or eliminated.
Some
of the audit's recommendations relate to the upcoming bond measure N.
At the auditor's request, the library determined that the new library at
Mitchell Park will require one to three new staff positions, although
automation and radio tagging of items might reduce that. If the measure fails, the auditor
suggested that the library receive additional funds to handle minor repairs
and routine replacement of furniture and shelving, which the library says will require $24,000 in 2009-10.
For more information, see the
2007
audit, the
library's
recent
report and
detailed update on meeting the auditor's recommendations, the library's
final report on automating book returns and radio tagging of items in
the library, and a related
Palo Alto Daily News story.
(10/8/08)
On November 4, Palo Alto voters will decide the fate of library bond measure N, a $76 million effort to replace one library and update two others. Here's the project in a nutshell:| Downtown Library | Main Library | Mitchell Park Library and Community Center | |
| Square Footage | No change | Increases to 29,647 sq. ft. | Increases to 51,255 sq. ft. |
| Collection Size | No change | Decreases slightly | Increases to 150,000 |
| Patron Seats |
No change |
No change | Increases to 150 |
| Meeting Areas | New room for 80 | New room for 100 and 4 group study rooms | Large multi-purpose room, program room for 60, 3 group study rooms, 4 classrooms, computer room, and game room |
| Public Computers (excluding laptops) | No change | No change | Increases to 40 |
| Parking | No change | Increases to 88 spaces | Increases to 138 spaces |
| Possible Completion Date | 2010 | 2014 | 2012 |
| Cost | $4 million | $18 million | $50 million |
| Bond Tax Impact |
$200.42 annually for the average single family residence ($28.74 per $100,000 of assessed value) |
||
|
Other Costs |
$750,000 to $1.1 million annually in higher operating expenses; about $4.3 million one-time for furniture, fixtures, equipment |
||
 Artist's view of the proposed combined Mitchell Park Library and Community Center |
(9/10/08) Dr. Jonathan Herzog of the Stanford History Department and the
Hoover Institute will discuss "Red State, Blue State: The Mysterious
Twentieth-Century Shift in America's Political Map" at the Friends of the Palo
Alto Library annual meeting on October 23. Herzog recently wrote The
Hammer and the Cross, a book examining how and why American leaders employed
religion as a weapon in the early Cold War. He is also the son of a
library director.
We'll be holding our own elections at the meeting as well.
Our Nominating Committee's slate for 2009 officers is Betsy Allyn (President),
Martha Schmidt (Vice President), Margarita Quihuis (Secretary), and Enid Pearson
(Treasurer). Half of the Friend's board is elected each year and the
committee has nominated Gretchen Emmons, Gerry Masteller, Enid Pearson, Jim Schmidt, Steve Staiger, Ellen Wyman,
and Scottie Zimmerrnan for the
board seats with 2009-2010 terms.
The meeting will begin at 7:30
pm at the Palo
Alto Art Center Auditorium at 1313 Newell Ave.
Refreshments will be served and the event is free and open to all.
(9/10/08) The Palo Alto Public Library reports 2007-08 circulation was
over 1.5 million, a 9% rise over the prior year, with the College Terrace
and Downtown branches experiencing the greatest growth. The actual
number of items checked out of the Palo Alto library was lower, as the
library counts each renewal as one additional circulation,
as do many other libraries.
Renewals have become much easier in recent
years, thanks to email notices of upcoming due dates that link to the
library website where you can conveniently renew multiple items at once.
In 2005-06, for each three items originally checked out of Palo Alto libraries,
approximately one was renewed. Moreover, renewals may be increasing
much faster than checkouts, if experience at the Ann Arbor Library in
Michigan is a guide. Although that library's 2007-08 circulation was impressively 15%
higher than the prior year, most of that was due to a 21% increase in online
renewals. In fact, thanks no doubt to the convenience of online and phone
renewals, Ann Arbor users renew each item about 1.5
times on average!
More information.
 Artist's view of the proposed Downtown Library upgrades |
(9/10/08) With just two months until voters decide on the library bond measure, here
are some questions and answers:
Q: What's the purpose of the bond measure?
A: To provide additional space to expand library collections, add
new children's and group program areas, replace outdated lighting, provide
modern ventilation and air conditioning systems,
ensure seismic safety, and enhance disabled access.
Q: Which branches are covered?
A: The Mitchell Park, Main, and Downtown libraries. The bond measure does not include either the
recently-updated Children's Library or the College Terrace Library, which already
has funds for a major upcoming renovation.
Q: How will the Mitchell Park Library be affected?
A: It and the adjacent Community Center will be replaced by a new combined 51,000 square foot facility,
costing $50 million. The new library will be about
four times the size of the current one, alleviating the current crowded conditions and allowing for additional seating, study, and children's areas. The branch's collection capacity will almost double.
Q: How will the Downtown Library be affected?
A: Some staff currently in the building will be moved out as part of the $4
million of renovations.
A children's room will be created in an area formerly occupied by staff and
a meeting room for 50-60 will be located where the periodicals are presently.
The current plans show reduced shelving for the collection but a new computer area.
Q: How will the Main Library be affected?
A: 4,171 square feet will be added to the 50-year old library, primarily for
a new program room in the rear on the Art Center side, seating approximately 100 people. The building
will also gain four new group study rooms under the eaves of the patio
outcroppings, air conditioning, upgraded lighting, seismic reinforcing, new
restrooms, and better access for those with disabilities.
Some other sections of the library will be rearranged as part of the $18
million upgrade.
Q: How much will the bond measure cost?
A: Up to $76,000,000. The city also estimates that an additional $4.3 million will be
needed for items such as furniture that cannot be paid for by bond funds,
plus $1 million more to purchase the new collection items. Private donations may
help with these.
Q: How will this affect my taxes?
A: The bond measure will be paid through an increase in property taxes. The city's best estimate of the highest annual tax rate for the bond is $28.74
per $100,000 of assessed tax valuation. Based on the County Assessor's
2008-09 report, this means $200.42 per year for the average Palo Alto
single family residence.
Q: Will it also cost more to run the expanded libraries?
A: The city expects that operating the larger facilities will cost an additional
$750,000 to $1.1 million annually.
Q: I have more questions - where can I get answers?
A: Please type your questions in below and we'll try to provide answers in our next newsletter.
You need not include your name/email address.
(9/10/08) Members of the Friends of the Palo Alto Library get in early once a year. This year, it will be at our December 13 sale. Regular members get into the Main Room one hour early and life members are admitted two hours early. More information.
|
Artist's view of the proposed Mitchell Park Library and Community Center |
(8/6/08)
Palo Alto's City Council approved on Monday, August 4 the following ballot
language for the November election:
(8/6/08)
Thanks to our generous booksale customers, members, donors, and
volunteers, we are contributing $225,400 to the Palo Alto library for the 2008-09
fiscal year. $190,000 is targeted at improving the library's
collections with new books and DVDs, subscriptions to online
resources, and by enabling Palo Altans to borrow for free from the vast Link+
system of California and Nevada public and university libraries. The
summer reading programs for children and teens, along with other youth events, will receive $26,900,
a 68% increase from the previous year.
The remaining $8,500 will fund library events for adults and staff
appreciation.
Over the year, we'll give additional funds for new children's and audio books,
electronic databases, printer supplies, and the like, thanks to many donors who
make targeted contributions and our multi-year $422,000 Cable Co-op Legacy
Grant.
Learn more about how you
can add new materials to the library, perhaps as a memorial or to honor
someone.
Particular thanks goes to our more than 160 hard-working
volunteers, whose 24,029 hours of effort over the twelve months ending in June
2008 is the equivalent of a full-time staff of twelve!
 Artist's view of the proposed Main Library interior |
(7/9/08) Palo Alto's City Council voted Monday night to proceed with
plans to ask voters for approximately $75 million on the November ballot to improve three Palo Alto
libraries. As part of that effort, the Council opted to use the
highest energy efficiency standards for the proposed new Mitchell Park Library
and Community Center and to exclude $1.5 million for earlier project costs
from the bond measure.
A poll in June found that 65% of 600 likely Palo Alto voters supported the proposed measure
after hearing both pro and con arguments. This falls slightly short of
the required 2/3 supermajority and the polling firm of Fairbank, Maslin,
Maullin & Associates cautions that support tends to drift downward as an
election nears. However, they found support was slightly higher
than in 2007, when the project was estimated to cost just $45 million and
the economy was stronger. The poll's margin of error is +/- 4%.
A bond measure in November 2002 to replace the Mitchell Park Library and
Community Center and rebuild the Children's Library narrowly failed to reach the
2/3 level with 61.5% voting yes.
The recent poll showed considerable
support for Palo Alto's five libraries. 58% of those polled had visited
the Main Library in the last year, while 53% had used Mitchell Park, 25%
Downtown, 24% Children's, and 13% College Terrace. In fact, the polling
found that 10% of the electorate would switch from voting yes to no in November
if the Downtown Library improvements were excluded, even though this would save
$4 million.
Among 24 possible improvements for the library system,
the top choice was that all buildings be earthquake-safe, with 78% of likely
voters rating this as extremely or very important. Providing safe places
for children, expansion of the collection, facilities for homework help, and
accessibility for disabled persons ranked next. The least popular
improvements (as measured by the percentage rating these as extremely or very
important) were building a new Mitchell Park Library and Community Center and
spaces for community meetings, with only 29% strongly in favor of the latter.
City staff will work on the official language for the bond measure in the next
weeks for the council to approve by August and a large
voter education effort
is already underway. See the
poll results, recent
articles about the council decision (Palo Alto
Weekly and
Palo Alto Daily News), the city's
project website, our quick views of the
proposed designs, and previous coverage below.
(7/9/08)
The Palo Alto Library is replacing many
traditional reference materials with free online
resources, which generally are available instantaneously 24/7 from
home, office, and classroom, consume no valuable library space, don't require
separate copies for each branch, and can be
updated as needed. The Friends of the Palo Alto Library has given over
$100,000 in recent years to increase the library's online resources, thanks in
part to a Cable Co-op Legacy Grant.
One such new resource is the
LearningExpress Library,
which offers beginning, intermediate, and often advanced online instruction for
the following popular software programs:
Adobe Acrobat 6.0
Internet Explorer
Microsoft Access 2003 and 2007
Microsoft Excel 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2007
Microsoft Outlook 98, 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2007
Microsoft PowerPoint 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2007
Microsoft Word 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2007
Windows Vista
If you enjoy listening to audio books, the
NetLibrary eAudio collection has over 3,000 downloadable titles for your PC
and MP3 (but not iPod or Zune) players. That's one title a day for 12 years
of commuting!
The audio books topics include popular fiction and non-fiction, business, government and
politics, mystery and suspense, romance, and even foreign language instruction, ranging from Albanian to Vietnamese.
The TellMeMore
online resource is another way to learn or practice languages. It provides
intensive instruction in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish
and actually can help you improve your pronunciation by listening to you through a microphone.
Many other online resources are available from the Palo Alto Library, including Nolo Press
self-help books, back issues of thousands of magazines and newspapers, homework
assistance, local history, and statistical databases. See the
comprehensive list.
Artist's view of the proposed Downtown Library upgrades |
(6/11/08) The public has another chance to see plans and ask questions about the
proposed library and community center changes at a 7 pm meeting tonight, Wednesday,
June 11 at the Downtown Library at 270 Forest Avenue. The plans include updating the Downtown Library
by consolidating and redecorating its public space (see picture on left), moving
out some backroom staff, and making part of the library available for holding events.
The project would also remodel and expand the Main Library and
replace the Mitchell Park Library and Community Center with a combined
facility approximately 2.5 times larger. Tonight's meeting is sponsored by
the University South Neighborhood Association.
A poll in early 2007 found that fewer than the necessary 2/3 of likely voters
would approve a $45 million library measure. In the ensuing year, the
project's estimated cost has risen to $77 million, plus additional funds are
needed to acquire new library materials for the enlarged collection space at
Mitchell Park. The city is
mailing out information about the projects and conducting a second scientific poll of residents
beginning later this week to assess voter
interest. Results of that poll are expected to be discussed at a
City Council meeting on July 7 at City Hall,
250 Hamilton Avenue used to decided within a few weeks the exact content of the
ballot measure. The Council is then expected to discuss the proposed bond measure on July 21
and finalize it on August 4, all in time for the November 2008 ballot.
The $77 million projected price tag reflects savings suggested by local construction
experts. As presented to the City Council on May 19, they recommended
reducing the $11.7 million budgeted for project development, which includes
permits and inspections, thereby shaving costs by $3.4 million after inflation.
See recent
articles about the costs (Palo Alto
Weekly and
Palo Alto Daily News),
tonight's
meeting,
and the informational mailings, the city's
project website, and our quick views of the
proposed designs.
(6/11/08) Enjoy reading what's on newsstands around the world with a new library service that shows you the latest issues of over 650 major international newspapers from Albania to Zimbabwe. It's almost like having the actual newspaper in your hands, as you can turn each page and zoom in to read any story in that country's language. Funded by a grant from the Friends of the Palo Alto Library, the Library PressDisplay service includes 97 US newspapers such as the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Jose Mercury News, and the Washington Post. Use PressDisplay for free at home or the office at any time by just entering your Palo Alto Library card number. Note that this service is different from visiting a newspaper's website, in that it does not provide up-to-the-minute news nor English translations.
(6/11/08) Concerns over historic preservation have moved the likely date for seismic, electrical, and other improvements to the College Terrace Library to April or May of 2009. The work was supposed to begin this year but supports to strengthen the building against earthquakes will likely visually impact the interior, necessitating further review. Once underway, the project is expected to take at least a year, during which the adjoining childcare facility will operate out of temporary facilities while the library branch will be closed.
(6/11/08) Our Children's Room has new colorful and spacious shelves, thanks to a very kind donation from Books Inc. of Palo Alto. The bookstore recently moved from the Stanford Shopping Center to Town and Country Village and brought over their extra shelves, which are a wonderful and much-welcomed improvement in the Children's Room.
(5/7/08) According to recently-released
statistics
from the California State Library, Palo Alto's libraries were first in per
capita circulation and second in visits among similar-sized cities during
2006-2007. Each Palo Altan checked out on average 23
items during that 12-month period, more than residents in any other California
city of 50,000 to 70,000 population. In fact, Palo Alto's per capita
circulation topped that of Mountain View, Menlo Park, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale,
and almost all others localities in the state.
Palo Alto achieves
its high usage despite a smaller collection than many other libraries. We
rank just #32 out of 179 California cities and counties in total materials per
capita and #37 for books. Fourteen other library systems spent more than
Palo Alto's $96.28 per resident, including Burlingame, Berkeley, and tiny
Carmel, which topped the list at $325.87.
(5/7/08) Joining the Friends of the Palo Alto Library makes you eligible to bank at the Stanford Federal Credit Union - "Where the Stanford Community Banks!" For more details, visit www.sfcu.org. You also receive a 10% discount on purchases at Books Inc.'s brand-new store in Town and Country Village and early admittance at our annual Members-Early sale. Join online, at the booksale, or at any Palo Alto library.
(5/7/08)
A third community meeting on a proposed $80 million package of changes to Palo Alto's libraries and a community center takes place this
Saturday from 10 to 11:30 am at the Mitchell Park Community Center at 3700
Middlefield Road.
Several dozen residents attended two earlier meetings in late April at which
city officials, Library Director Diane Jennings, and representatives from the
architectural firm Group 4 explained their plan to replace the Mitchell Park
library and adjacent community center and upgrade the Main and Downtown
buildings.
Attendees at the April meetings asked many questions about the proposal.
In response to queries about cost and schedule, project personnel explained that
they hope to minimize inconvenience by closing just one facility at a time, but
also to rebuild at Mitchell Park quickly to avoid construction cost inflation.
Because the Mitchell Park project is complex, they anticipate improving
the Downtown Library first, which is a much smaller effort and might begin by
the end of 2009. During that period, a modular building could house
the downtown technical services staff. The city would raze the Mitchell
Park buildings next and build the new 51,000 square foot combined facility with the modular building nearby (possibly at the Cubberley Community Center) providing
interim library services to the public. Once the Mitchell
Park project is completed, the modular building would relocate to serve as a
temporary facility for the remodeling of the Main Library. The
smaller size of the modular might allow the city to reassign personnel from Main during this
final stage and delay hiring the extra staff that the Mitchell Park library
will eventually require. By 2013 or 2014, the entire project would be
completed.
To address cost concerns, the city has sought input from local construction
experts and expects to hear their report at a City Council meeting rescheduled for May
19 at 7 pm at City Hall, 250 Hamilton Avenue. The city also plans to mail two to four
informational pieces to residents and poll to assess support for the bond
measure, with the results to be discussed at the June 23 City Council meeting.
See recent articles in the
Palo Alto
Weekly and
Palo Alto Daily News, the city's
project website, and our quick views of the
proposed designs.
(5/7/08) Here's what the Friends of the Palo Alto Library book group will be reading over the coming year. The group
meets from 7:30 to 9 pm on the second Thursday of every month at the Lucie Stern
Community Center Fireside Room at 1305 Middlefield Road. Click on any
title to learn more it:
| Date | Title and Author | |
| May 8, 2008 | Saturday by Ian McEwan | |
| June 12 | The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan | |
| July 10 | Half the Way Home by Adam Hochschild | |
| August 14 | Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin | |
| September 11 | A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini | |
| October 9 | Frankenstein by Mary Shelley | |
| November 13 | Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | |
| December 11 | Seeing by Jose Saramago | |
| January 8, 2009 | I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb | |
| February 12 | The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman | |
| March 12 | Our Story Begins by Tobias Wolff | |
| April 9 | Choose the next eleven books |
(5/7/08) The Palo Alto Library's summer reading program begins in early June. Kids of all ages can participate and attend events and parties. Once you achieve your reading goal, you receive a free book and other awards, and may be eligible for grand prizes. See more information for kids through 5th grade and teens. The summer reading program is sponsored by the Friends of the Palo Alto Library.
(4/23/08) The Friends is seeking a Book Sale Coordinator to oversee the operations of our monthly book sales at Cubberley, which generate more than $200K annually to support programs and acquisitions in Palo Alto’s libraries. More.
(4/20/08) In preparation for a likely November 2008 bond measure to raise
approximately $80 million for library improvements, the city is holding four
public meetings:
* Wednesday, April 23 at 7 pm at the Downtown Library,
* Tuesday, April 29 at 7 to 8:30 pm at the Main Library,
* Wednesday, April 30 from 7 to 8:30 pm at the Mitchell Park Community Center,
and
* Saturday, May 10 from 10 to 11:30 am at the Mitchell Park Community Center.
The improvements consist of replacing the existing Mitchell Park Library and
Community Center with a single 51,000 square foot building at the same site,
remodeling and somewhat enlarging the Main Library, and reconfiguring and
updating the Downtown Library. See
proposed designs.
The city is also producing a nine-minute informational video and will send two
to four direct mail pieces to residents.
To address cost concerns, the city has sought input from local construction
experts and expects to hear their report at a City Council study session on May
5 at 6 pm at City Hall, 250 Hamilton Avenue. The city also plans to assess
voter support for the bond measure via a poll and then review the results at the
June 23 City Council meeting.
(4/9/08) Your Palo Alto library card now lets you instantly access almost 1,200 books about computers and technology for free. Available online 24/7, the collection includes many recent titles from publishers such as O’Reilly, Addison-Wesley, Peachpit Press, and Prentice-Hall. Click here to see a full list and check out any of the books. Funded in part through an enrichment grant from the Friends of the Palo Alto Library, this online collection from Safari represents an incredible bargain for Palo Alto library users, as Safari charges individuals over $250 for one year of access.
(4/9/08) Starting in 2009, you'll be able to check out millions of books
from many California and Nevada university libraries for free, thanks to the Link+
program that the Palo Alto Library will join. Unlike present interlibrary loans,
which tend to be slow and cost $7.50 per checkout, you typically receive books
through Link+ within a few days and pay nothing.
Click here to search through the amazing
collection that Link+ offers, which is way beyond that of any public library.
Back in
2004, one of our board members was using Link+ via the Mountain View Library to
research World War I and wondered why Palo Alto's library didn't offer the same
service. Various obstacles existed at the time, including technical
incompatibilities between Palo Alto's catalog system and the one used by Link+.
Those problems have since been solved and in 2007 we pledged $120,000 to help
fund and publicize a two-year Link+ pilot. Palo Alto's City Council voted
on March 17 to accept the gift and provide up to $110,000 more for the pilot.
A fast interlibrary loan system actually saves money by better sharing
materials. In 2005,
we estimated it would cost Palo Alto a billion dollars to purchase and
house a collection as large as Link+.
Link+ also allows you to
access the collections of many other public libraries, including San Francisco,
Berkeley, San Jose, and Sunnyvale. This means that if all copies of a
popular book or other item are checked out in Palo Alto, you may still be able
to get a copy quickly. If you can't wait to use Link+ until 2009, it is
available for free to all California residents at the Mountain View and many other Bay Area libraries.
See
brief Palo Alto Weekly article
and
library's detailed proposal.
(4/9/08) On
April 7, Palo Alto's City Council voted to reclassify the College Terrace
Library building as a Category 2 resource on the Palo Alto Historic
Inventory, thereby designating it as a "Major Building" of
regional importance. Designed by noted Bay Area architect Charles K. Sumner, the
facility was constructed in 1936 for $20,400 of WPA (Works Progress
Administration) funds. While the library portion of the building is
relatively unchanged, the other half was originally a community center but
then became a daycare facility in the mid-1970s.
The city
plans next to rehabilitate the building beginning this fall, with the library
and childcare facilities closing for one to two years.
With the Category 2 designation and planned rehabilitation, an additional 2,500 square feet could be added to the building. Rather than do that, the city is likely to sell those expansion rights for use by a developer elsewhere in the city. In 2005, a similar transfer of development rights of 2,500 square feet for the Children's Library earned $237,500 for the city's general fund and the city hopes to raise a similar amount from selling the College Terrace rights. See Palo Alto Weekly and Palo Alto Daily News articles.
(4/9/08) It's every library user's nightmare: you forget to return a book and the fines mount. But what if you want to return a book more than 100 years overdue, as recently happened at a library in Vantaa, a city in south Finland near Helsinki? The 1902 bound volume contained an old library note listing overdue fines at 10 pennies a week. No payment was included and the book was apparently checked out at a different library, since the branch it was returned to didn't exist a hundred years ago. Not surprisingly, the library does not know yet who is responsible. See Reuters story.
(3/5/08) Palo Alto's City Council voted 7 to 2 on February 11 to ask voters
to support approximately $80 million of proposed library improvements with a bond
likely to be on the November 2008 ballot.
The project entails replacing the existing Mitchell Park Library and
Community Center with a single 51,000 square foot building at the same site,
remodeling and somewhat enlarging the Main Library, and reconfiguring and updating the Downtown Library.
See proposed
designs on our website. Palo Alto's other two branch facilities will
not be affected by the bond measure, as the Children's Library was updated last year and
major repairs for the College Terrace branch are already being planned.
The two councilmembers in the minority also supported the library
plans, but were unhappy funding a replacement
public safety building via reduced city services and possible new revenues.
The majority felt that voters will not support the public service building and
thus other city revenues need to be used. Neither project received
2/3 support in polling last year, which is the level required for bond passage. See
recent coverage in the
Palo Alto
Weekly and
Palo Alto Daily News.
The city is also undertaking an
approximately $65,000 outreach campaign to
educate the public about the library bond measure,
using videos, handouts, online materials, and meetings. See
Palo Alto Weekly
article.
(3/5/08) Anastasia Goodstein, author of Totally Wired: What Teens and Tweens Are Really Doing Online, will address parents’ concerns about online safety, cyberbullying and other ways technology affects kids at a free event at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, March 12 at Palo Alto High School's Haymarket Theater at 50 Embarcadero Road. This program is funded by the Friends of the Palo Alto Library and cosponsored by the library, the Palo Alto Unified School District, the Palo Alto Council of PTAs, and the Palo Alto Drug Alcohol Community Collaborative.
(3/5/08) Any resident of California is eligible for a Palo Alto library card, which gives you access to great online resources and the largest book collection in California among similar-sized cities. Start your application today on the library's website.
(2/6/08) Because of our severe space limitations and compelling issues of
health and safety, we will only allow 185 customers into the Main Room at a time.
On Saturday, February 9, customers will be originally admitted in the order of
their numbered tickets that are given out from 8 to 11 am. Once inside,
customers may take only 12 books off of shelves, after which they
should purchase these and exit via the east door. They may then join at
the end of any remaining line at the north door and reenter in that order.
The limitation of 12 books at a time will continue past noon if a line remains
outside.
When picking up numbered tickets, please note that you can take one for yourself
and one other person.
We regret any inconvenience that may be caused by adjusting to these changes.
We hope you will understand it is for everyone's safety. We'll have extra
volunteers to monitor and help and wish to thank everyone
for their patience.
(2/6/08) Seeking more time to educate the public about library needs, a
split City Council
decided on Monday, February 4 to shift a potential $80 million Palo Alto library bond measure from a
June 2008 date to the November 2008 election.
The Council unanimously confirmed that the bond would still cover replacing the existing Mitchell Park Library and
Community Center with a single 51,000 square foot building at the same site,
remodeling and somewhat enlarging the Main Library, and reconfiguring and updating the Downtown Library.
See proposed
designs on our website. Palo Alto's other two branch facilities will
not be
affected by the bond measure, as the Children's Library was updated last year and
major repairs for the College Terrace branch are already being planned.
One reason councilmembers favored the later election date was that
polling in early 2007 found that fewer than the necessary 2/3 of voters support
the library/community center project. Since then, the estimated cost of
the project has risen from $45 million to approximately $80 million, partly
because more costs were included. Councilmembers discussed possible ways
to lower the amount voters would need to approve, such as seeking $4 million
from donors for the buildings' furniture, fixtures and equipment, as was done on
a smaller scale for the Children's Library. A more controversial option is
to dedicate new city revenue over a number of years to repay some of the library
and community center construction costs, which would in turn reduce the
available funding for a new public safety building or other city services and be
more expensive, according to city staff. The four councilmembers at the
subsequent Finance Committee meeting on February 5 split over whether to
recommend a
single ballot measure to raise $110 million for both the library/community
center and public safety building projects that would require $41 million to
come from other new city revenues.
The November 2008 date will also give the city more time to run a second poll to understand public reaction
to the new cost estimates and funding alternatives. Opinions on the
council varied as to how much in new taxes voters are likely to approve and whether substantial city revenue should be
locked into paying for a public safety building without voter approval.
The council is expected to discuss the funding issues more on February 11.
See
four articles in local papers about the cost increases and ballot issues:
PA library cost estimates soar to $80 million
New price of renovations: $80 million
Funding public-safety building splits committee
Three libraries forwarded to November ballot
(2/6/08) 81% of Palo Altans rate our overall libraries as good or excellent,
according to the recently-released
2006-2007 City of Palo Alto Citizen Survey. This annual survey of opinions about the city, conducted by Palo
Alto's City Auditor, also found that 75% of residents feel the variety of library materials is good or
excellent and 75% rate our neighborhood branch libraries as good or
excellent. All three of these numbers are up from the previous year.
Other cities in the United States that use
the same survey also found generally high praise for
libraries. As a result, Palo Alto's high marks for its
overall libraries ranked only in the 54th percentile. However, these
rankings are extremely volatile, since Palo Alto last year ranked higher
even though its ratings were lower.
33% of survey respondents reported using the library or its
services more than 12 times last year, while 79% did so at least once during the
year.
The study indicates that library usage in Palo Alto is evolving. Over the
last 5 years, circulation has risen 14%, reference questions declined 35%,
Internet sessions increased 52%, and online database searches rose by 192%.
In-library volunteers donated over 5,800 hours this past year,
45% more than five years ago.
(2/6/08) Discover new ways to find useful information through library and
other resources at free presentations over the next months. All talks will
be held from 10:30 am to noon at the Main Library, 1213 Newell Road.
You can reserve a spot
online. Upcoming topics are:
February 13: How to Help Your Child Succeed in School Using Library Tools
March 12: The Historic New York Times: Searching a Century of News
April 9: Health Matters: Online Tools for Medical Information
May 14: Genealogy Resources @ The Library (back by popular demand)
June 11: Traveling? Learn the Secrets of Researching Your Destination
(2/6/08) Members of the Friends of the Palo Alto Library receive a 10% discount at the bookstore Books Inc., which has just moved from Stanford Shopping Center to a 4000 square-foot store in Town and Country Village at El Camino and Embarcadero. Books Inc. originally opened at Stanford back in 1957, so they're the oldest general-interest bookstore in Palo Alto!
NEW
(1/9/08) Join Palo Alto and all Silicon Valley
in reading Bo Caldwell's
bestselling first novel,
The Distant Land of My Father,
and then visit the library's blog
and attend the following free local events sponsored by the Friends of the Palo
Alto Library:
Friday, January 25:
Memories of Wartime Shanghai, with Meimei Pan and Connie Young Yu, Main
Library, 1213 Newell Road, 7 pm
All January: Growing up Asian in
America exhibit at the Main Library, 1213 Newell Road
February
1: Red Panda Acrobats, Mitchell Park Community Center, 3800 Middlefield
Road, 7 pm
February 11: The Distant Land of My Father book
discussion, Mitchell Park Library, 3800 Middlefield Road, 7 pm
February 12: The Distant Land of My Father book discussion, Downtown
Library, 270 Forest Avenue, noon
February 13: The Distant Land of
My Father book discussion, College Terrace Library, 2300 Wellesley Avenue, 7
pm
February 17: Firebird Youth Chinese Orchestra, Mitchell
Park Community Center, 3800 Middlefield Road, 7 pm
February 24:
In Conversation with Bo Caldwell, author of The Distant Land of My Father,
Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road, 3 pm
(1/9/08) Palo Alto's City Council plans to discuss new cost estimates for
the Mitchell Park, Main, and Downtown library projects at its February 4 meeting
at City Hall, although the date is tentative.
The proposed projects would replace the existing Mitchell Park Library and
Community Center with a single 51,000 square foot building at the same site,
remodel and somewhat enlarge the Main Library, and reconfigure and update the Downtown Library.
See proposed
designs on our website. Palo Alto's other two branches are not
included in these proposals, as the Children's Library was updated last year and
major repairs for the College Terrace branch are already being planned.
The city estimated in 2006 that the Downtown, Main, and Mitchell Park
projects would cost $45 million and contemplated funding the projects with a
2008 bond measure. A poll and follow-on study in 2007 suggested
that Palo Alto voter support for the project likely falls short of the required 2/3 supermajority
but was higher than for a bond to fund a new public safety building.
Subsequently, the Council directed city staff to investigate funding the public
safety building without a ballot measure, perhaps by using existing city funds
and new revenue sources to pay back a construction loan. The Council is
tentatively scheduled to discuss those options at the same February 4 meeting
after a review by the city's Finance Committee on Tuesday, January 15.
(1/9/08) The Friends of the Palo Alto Library has new officers and board members for 2008 based on the election held at last October's Annual Meeting. Our president
again is Betsy Allyn, well-known to many as a cashier at our booksale.
Martha Schmidt is our vice-president, Margarita Quihuis is secretary, Enid
Pearson is treasurer, and John Burt is assistant treasurer.
Carolyn Spitz, a retired HP project manager and booksale volunteer, is joining the Friends board. The other Friends board members
in 2008 are Rudy Batties, Gretchen Emmons, Jeff Levinsky, Gerry Masteller, Bob Otnes, Jim Schmidt, Barbara Silberling, Steve Staiger, Ellen Wyman, and Tom Wyman.
(1/9/08) According to a
recent
study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project and the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, American adults 30 and under use libraries more
than older adults, defying expectations that greater computer fluency would lead
to lower library usage. The study found that 62% of 18-30 year-olds visited a
library at least once a year, compared to 53% of adults overall and just 32% of
those over 72. Indeed, 61% of Internet users had also visited their
library at least once during the year compared to 28% of non-Internet
users.
The study looked at other factors that correlate with higher library use.
The authors cite "convenience" as one factor, noting that 58% whose
library is within two miles visited at least annually versus only 42% whose
libraries were further away. Educational level matters too, as 68% of
college graduates had made at least one library visit over a year, compared to
44% of those with only a high school diploma.
Study participants were asked where they go for help in dealing with specific problems.
Just 13% cited libraries, with the Internet the highest at 58% and professional
advisors such as doctors and lawyers at 53%. However, for many without
computers, the library is where they access the Internet.
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