BOOM!BOOM!

“You are the same today

as you will be in 5 years except for two things:

the people you meet and the

books you read.”

Agenda• Value of Reading• United States Libraries• Lodi Public Library• Library Goals 2014• Focus of Library• Focus of Employees• Make a Difference

Value of Reading• By the age of 5, a child’s future success may

already be determined by their exposure to reading. – 90% of brain development happens by age 5

• Over 35% of 4th graders read so poorly they cannot complete their schoolwork successfully– “Children who learn to read early have a much higher

likelihood of succeeding in school, avoiding drugs and alcohol, and attending college”

• 43% of those with the lowest skills live in poverty• Mayo Clinic said reading could decrease risk of

mild cognitive impairment – link with Alzheimer‘s

United States Libraries

- 9,000 central buildings - 7,500 branches- 2.5 billion books checked out annually- For every 2 books sold in America –

1 book is borrowed from a library- Almost 70% carry Library cards- Almost 50% visit a Library once per year- Sundays are the busiest day for libraries

“What the world of tomorrow will be like

is greatly dependent on the power of

imagination in those who are learning to read today.”

Astrid Lindgren

Lodi Public Library• 250,000 people visited the Library in 2013

– Up 12% from 2012

• 14% more people attended Library event than 2012

• 15% more library cards issued than 2012

• 21% more hours open to the public

• 62% more books/materials added versus 2011

• Completed $500,000 renovation in 2014

• Over 240 volunteers actively working

• Tripled amount of money spent on books/materials

• Quadrupled donations to $200,000 in 2013

• 3,000 homework help sessions offered to youth

• 13,000 people receive monthly email on events

• Over 50,000 computer users in 2013

• All done with reducing staff by 17%

Library Goals - 2014• Expand homework help/literacy through technology

• Rebuild/broaden collection of books/materials

– comprehensively review collection

– eBooks, iPads, etc.

• Contact/reengage donors/supporters– Meet community groups/members– Broaden fundraising efforts

• Reconstruct Library website to advertise programs

• Renovate Library patio and replace front yard

Educate the mind and you better the person;

Educate the soul and you better the world.

Focus of Library– Employee conduct and customer behavior

• employees welcome customers, be friendly• patrons adhere to behavioral policy, no

sleeping/smoking

– Marketing• monthly email and flyers, glossy posters, new website

– Renovation• $500,000 renovation, new cameras, landscaping

– Library Collection• expand collection – ebooks, collection review, iPads

– Volunteers and fundraising• raise exposure of library, attract volunteers• a product/service community wants/proud to support

Focus of Employees– First - be friendly ,courteous, and a good person.– Second - work hard

• “Great accomplishments, and great rewards, often come with great sacrifice.”

– Third – focus on the customer• we have jobs because we have customers

– Fourth – do the right thing• “One does not become virtuous by making others less

virtuous."

• Incredibly kind, control ego/jealously/envy, tell the truth, do what’s right, and look to the good.

– Fifth - fix it!• Dreams are great, but something has to be done about them

– Sixth, do something …….accomplish something…– Lastly, have fun! Life is much too short to do otherwise.

Value of Libraries• Through great books, stories, movies, events and

presentations, libraries …– create a more knowledgeable person, one who uses this

knowledge to make the right decision at the right time and for the right reason, and

– build a more considerate community, one directed towards noble and honorable pursuits, and devoted to instilling charity, compassion and goodness throughout all corners of its populace.

• Libraries have the singular power to guide you live a better life, to be a better person, to make world a better place

Dolly Parton• Great entertainer, businesswoman, and humanitarian• Imagination Library

– Read few books as a child; remembered mom reading to her

– Any child can get a book/month until they are 5– 800,000 children/month get a free book– 40 million books mailed thus far!

“The seeds of dreams are often found in books.”

“If you can self-educate, you can be anything you want.”

We are only limited by

our dreams of a better world

and

our determination to

make it come true

We dream, and are determined to create,

a Library that:

motivates its citizens to learn

encourages them to explore

inspires them to act