From the Director’s Desk

2014 was a year of rapid change and many challenges. It helps that we are always looking at opportunities to improve our internal procedures and service delivery models. Our focus will continue to be what is most important for our communities as we navigate through this digital world. We reorganized the Main Library in downtown Lorain to make the service more cost efficient and functional. We also began Sunday hours at the South Lorain Branch Library.

Modest improvements were made at our Avon Branch and North Ridgeville Branch libraries. We replaced the front door and entrance at the Domonkas Branch, while we repurposed the Toni Morrison Room at the Main Library.

We want to thank the many volunteers who contributed to our success this past year: the North Ridgeville Library Levy Committee on the successful passage of a renewal levy, the Friends of the Library groups in Avon, Columbia, Lorain, North Ridgeville and Sheffield Lake, and the library board of trustees. You gave generously of your time, talent and even donated books to enhance our library collections. This is a priceless gift not only to the library system, but especially to the communities we serve.

Every day that I come to work someone is making a contribution to our library system. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything that you do for the Lorain Public Library System, including your words of encouragement. You give me hope and reassurance that good tax-supported public libraries are worth fighting for. Thank you, library advocates, patrons, donors and volunteers, for your long-standing support and recognition of our libraries as priceless community assets. Please don’t hesitate to contact me or leave a note in our suggestion box if you have questions or concerns. See you at one of our libraries or community events in 2015!

All the best,

Joanne Eldridge Director, Lorain Public Library System

Message from the Assistant Director

In her role as assistant director and supervisor of branches, Toni Whitney plays an integral part of a variety of operational and personnel matters across all of the library’s locations. The following is a snapshot of Whitney’s across-the-board involvement:

• Negotiated a new union contract in 2014.
• Oversaw the renovation of the Avon Branch.
• Advocated library financial needs to the Friends of the Library groups.
• Filled in while staff were out on FMLA (family and medical leave).
• Oversaw all of the building enhancements that the Friends paid for at the North Ridgeville Branch.
• Worked with the North Ridgeville Library Levy Committee.
• Prepared for Sandy Mitchell’s retirement from the Columbia Branch, and the related celebration.
• Involved in the promotion of Susan Spivey at Columbia Branch, as well as her mentoring and training.
• Worked with Cheryl Grizzell through her first year as manager at South Lorain Branch.
• Assisted branch librarian supervisors with staffing needs, new hires and other issues as needed.

Toni Whitney Assistant Director/Supervisor of Branches

Year in Review

• System-wide effort to control operating costs.
• eBook circulation soared.
• Axis 360 provides more options for eLibrary users.
• How-To Month in September across the entire system.
• New and improved Dimensions newsletter.
• Developed and initiated campaign in an effort to restore state funding to public libraries.
• Created first online annual report.
• Received approval for $49,000 in E-rate Program funding. The E-Rate Program is the common name used in place of Universal Service Schools and Libraries Program. The program helps ensure that schools and libraries obtain telecommunications and Internet access at affordable rates.

Technical Services – where material is ordered and prepared for circulation

• All assistants now use Zebra printers to save time, as well as reduce repair, reloading and replacement costs.
• Axis 360 provides control over eBook buying.
• One of our goals is for patrons to receive the items that they’re interested in, in a timely manner. So we order multiple copies of popular items early and at the same time. Ordering higher quantities of the same title brings the cost per item down, which saves money. We also make sure that popular items go to the library or libraries where there is the most demand.

Summer Reading Program

• System wide, we gave away 9,046 prize books for Summer Reading.
• Participation was up throughout the system.

Lorain County

• Planned and participated in a tour of public libraries serving Lorain County. The intention was to showcase these amazing community treasures and gain library advocates.

Photos

Year in Review

• The Toni Morrison Room has been remodeled into a wonderful, bright space for family events, story times and other programs.
• Main Library’s mini golf in April and How-To Month in September garnered a lot of community involvement and were very successful.
• Programming had a 20 percent increase in participation over 2013. Most of these were family and youth programs.
• The annual Halloween program drew 130 participants, the most of any family program held at the Main Library in 2014.
• Main Library served as a free tax filing location in partnership with Lorain County Earned Income Tax Credit.
• Summer Reading Program participation was up 10 percent.
• Main Library staff increased the number of visits to the Lorain City Schools.
• The area where paperbacks are located was remodeled with new shelving.
• Main Library reorganized in an effort to reduce spending costs – departments were reorganized and library hours were modified.

Technology

• 12 computer upgrades that included hardware equipment improvements for better reliability and efficiency. Installed faster printer for public use.
• 79,243 computer bookings.

Volunteers

• Friends of the Lorain Public Library, Inc. donated mini golf supplies for use throughout the library system. Estimated volunteer hours donated by the Friends of the Lorain Public Library, Inc. during book sales and the mini golf program:
  • 3 Book Sales: 28 volunteers/608 hours.
  • Mini Golf Program: 8 volunteers/27 hours.
• Approximately 20 teens volunteered for a total of about 350 hours throughout the year for various programs.

Facilities

• Drywall repairs and painting on the mezzanine and Toni Morrison Room. Air eliminator on circulating water system.
• Landscape refreshed.
• Sewage pump replacement.
• Troubleshoot leak and storm drain repair on east side of building.

Photos

Year in Review

• Renovation, including new painting and flooring.
• Celebrated our 20th birthday in current building.
• Avon Bicentennial Local History Series (community involvement).
• Participated in Read Around Avon (community involvement).
• Welcomed a new associate.

Technology

• Added 2 new public desktop computers.
• 3 computers replaced.
• 5 public laptops replaced.
• Upgraded network cabling for service desk and public computers.
• New self-checkout installed. This system is equipped to display up to 10 recommended LPLS titles as each book is checked out. It also allows patrons to place holds on these recommended titles.
• 10,696 computer bookings.

Volunteers

• Friends of the Avon Library donated funds for a fireplace in the quiet reading room and the quote on the wall in the children’s area.

Facilities

• Exterior wood repair.
• Landscape refreshed.

Photos

Year in Review

• Branch Librarian Supervisor Sandra Mitchell retired in July after 22 years of service at Columbia Branch. Susan Spivey became the new branch librarian supervisor.
• Welcomed library associate Christine Phelps in January. She spent the year creating fun and creative programming for children.
• Had a very successful Summer Reading Program.
• Began offering one-on-one technology help sessions on an as-needed basis. Helped many patrons with downloading eMedia, navigating new devices and basic technology skills.
• Rebounded quickly after a flood in May to continue to provide library services to the community. Hired an engineer for site improvement recommendations, while working with Columbia Township trustees and Lorain County officials to stop this issue in the future.
• Evaluated program offerings to ensure community needs are being met.

Technology

• 5,921 computer bookings.

Volunteers

• The Friends of the Columbia Library, Inc. participated in the Columbia Homecoming Festival.

Photos

Year in Review

• 50th anniversary celebration, including local history programs and a party with live music compliments of the Friends.
• Patrons sampled a fully loaded gadget gallery, kicked back in the video lounge and participated in interactive demonstrations when OverDrive’s digital bookmobile stopped at the Domonkas Branch during their national tour.  OverDrive provides eBooks, digital audiobooks, streaming movies and more in the LPLS eLibrary.
• Hosted 3 book sales.
• Very successful How-To Month with 8 programs presented by Domonkas Branch staff.
• Initiated Family Fun Nights to welcome everyone in the family to story times.
• Welcomed new associate.

Technology

• 18,641 computer bookings.

Volunteers

• Friends
  • 111 paid Friends members.
  • 300 hours estimated for book sales, meetings and other activities.
• Teens
  • 26 Teen Advisory Board members.
  • 93 estimated hours.

Facilities

• Upgrades to the front entrance including new doors and bike rack.

Photos

Year in Review

• Successful Sunday program series from January through March.
• Planned and presented fun superhero-themed family program in April to promote the library. Coordinated this effort with The Friends of the North Ridgeville Branch Library, Inc. and staff.
• Worked with citizen committee to pass a renewal levy.
• Participated in LPLS How-To Month in September with several special programs.

Technology

• New phone system installed.
• 34,314 computer bookings.

Volunteers

• 14 teen volunteers worked a total of 110 hours.

Facilities

• Landscape refreshed.
• Used Friends of the Library funds to add outdoor benches; new seating for the children’s area; clocks for story and quiet reading rooms; decorations in quiet reading room; updated landscaping; lamps for adult information desks; browsing carts for patrons; shelving carts for staff; improved lettering on overhead signs; and a workroom privacy shade.

Photos

Year in Review

• Hosted Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration and Cinco de Mayo celebration.
• Relocation of all Spanish materials to the International Room to increase visibility, circulation and usage of the room.
• Updated the entire branch collection, including an evaluation of current material to ensure the collection is kept to an appropriate size with the most up-to-date, useful materials.
• Changes to the interior space to maximize visual appeal.
• Increased outreach to schools.
• Increased adult and family programs.
• Increased number of participants of all ages in the Summer Reading Program.
• Added Sunday hours.

Technology

• Added 2 public computers.
• Upgraded the hardware in 5 other public computers.
• 6 public laptops replaced.
• 30,628 computer bookings.

Photos

Outreach

• 93 percent of Bookmobile participants finished the Summer Reading Program in 2014.
• The Bookmobile attended the Fall Into Avon festival, with many new people discovering this resource.
• Browser® attended 5 events in 2014 and visited with almost 800 adults and children.
• Outreach staff attended 12 community events in 2014 with approximately 7,150 in attendance at those events.
• 732 bags were sent and received through the Books by Mail program.

Technology

• 1 new laptop for staff.

Photos

2014 eLibrary Statistics

eBooks, Digital Audiobooks and Video Storybooks (Axis 360 – launched in April 2014, BookFlix, hoopla, OverDrive)

Downloaded Music (Freegal Music)

Digital Magazines (Zinio)

Digital Movies and Television (Freegal Movies, hoopla)

Streaming Music Albums (hoopla)

Online Education (Gale Courses – launched in May 2014; 304 course enrollments – 87 courses completed, LearningExpress – 40)

2014 by the Numbers

Our board would like to recognize the following organizations for their contributions in support of our mission:

• Community Foundation of Lorain County
• The Foundation of the Lorain Public Library System, Inc.
• Friends of the Library groups
• The Stocker Foundation
• Emerson Network Power, Energy Systems, NA

We would also like to thank those in the community who gave generously to the Lorain Public Library System. The support of our patrons made 2014 a truly special year.

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