City Council Agenda and Packet 2018 12 10 SP

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Michele Welsh -Horst Amy Stran Mitchell Helana Lechner Ross Holland Jaime Dufresne Stephen Bulick What is one One thing I would keep: The staff! I would keep the amazing library The one thing I would keep is the Looking through the range of As a parent and a newcomer to I would pretty much keep the library thing you would keep Obviously you weren't planning to get rid of the staff anyway, but I staff in their beautiful, downtown building and I would improve upon constant innovation in the Library Services. The library is always activities and opportunities that the library provides, I find I hard Louisville, my main interaction with the library has been as it is: an open, well -lighted, welcoming place with spaces and one think our librarians are the best their work by increasing awareness adapting to serving patrons. For to answer this question. However, through children's programs, designed for various demographics: thing you resource at the library. They are of the breadth of things the library example, the Makerspace allows in this age of focus on science I which are superb. My four year children and young adults especially. would friendly, helpful, accessible, and offers to draw in people who are not people to use the library to 3D believe that the STEM old son's favorite activity has Perhaps one thing I would change is change knowledgeable. When a patron in love with physical books. print, make movies, edit appropriateness of the been the Stuffy Friends Story- the maker space. I would try to find a about the needs to ask a librarian a recordings, laser etch and many Makerspace program is one that I time Party, where the children way to make it larger or move it to a Library? question, it is often about Specifically, the Louisville library other things. strongly support and would keep. were able to bring their stuffed different part of the building where it something completely foreign and new, so it is easy to be staff seems to do an amazing amount of work and serve a fairly The one thing I would change And in light of the trend to enlarge this to a STEAM program I animals to share. Stories, songs, and art activities centered could have more space and more equipment. embarrassed or hesitant about large community relative to the size about the library is the lack of would support investigating the around stuffy friends. As soon asking. (It took me a long time to of the staff. I have felt that way and space. It would be wonderful to possibility of expanding the Art as the story -time ended, my son get up the nerve to ask about how see in your previous minutes that have more space for citizens to be component within the library's declared, "That was so much to check out ebooks.) In my you have research studies indicating able to spread out more. vision and, perhaps in fun! When can we do that experience our librarians are that is actually the case. They all collaboration with other again?". I have been impressed endlessly patient and unflappable, and when I talk to them I usually clearly love their work and it is fun to watch them develop community community groups. with the children's area; from the programming to the learn something new in addition with the patrons. I especially enjoy In addition, I note that 80% of our recommended book lists, to to what I originally wanted to find seeing their delight in creating and population is Caucasian and I bundling books by subject out. For example, when the library leading supplemental programming wonder where there is or could be matter for checkout. The didn't own a book in a series that for kids, families and teens. From an emphasis on expanding and/or maker's space upstairs is also a one of my daughters was looking customized summer reading adding children and youth fantastic library addition, and for, the children's librarian program, movie nights, teen programs to explore other my son and I have spent many showed us how to request that the library buy a copy. One time I asked about a magazine that it turned out the library didn't carry. The librarian told me they might be able to subscribe if I requested it. (In each case the library came through and purchased what we requested!) Librarians really are the original and best search engines. One thing I would change: Refresh the main entry area as you walk in the building. I realize remodeling is expensive and difficult to reach a consensus on, and budgets are always a consideration. Rearranging the entryway might be a relatively easy way to breathe new life into the library experience —everyone enters through the front door, and that's hangout, read to rover, beading, science, to computer skills, the staff seems to be continually testing new ideas for the library. They are also doing the old school stuff: kindly and patiently helping a confused user figure out how to renew a library card or helping a frazzled parent keep kids calm and quiet for 3 more minutes while the last few books are checked out. The staff is huge resource for the city and residents and should be applauded and encouraged for all they do. The sad part of our strong staff's innovative programming is that sometimes very few people participate in their initiatives. I would love to work with the board to figure out how we can get more people to a music program so it doesn't end early for lack of interest as I saw last year. It would be ideal to have such strong cultures. of our Thursday afternoon visits there after story -time. I would love to see more adult lectures, programming, or book groups at the library, particularly focused on the thirty to fifty age range. 3 9