rethink springfieldpresentation rev

Re:thinkSpringfield City Library

A Brighter Future for Springfield Today

Welcome to just a brief summary of the exciting and rewarding project to rethink Springfield City Library.

We are indebted to many city leaders and residents for their ongoing contributions of time and knowledge, as well as the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, the Springfield Library Foundation and the City of Springfield for their generous support of the project.

We invite you to join us to continue these conversations and to build a stronger library for Springfield and its residents. Together, we will make a brighter future for Springfield. Let's start today!

About the Project

• Sustainable funding of library services now and into the future • Strong community engagement – city leaders, residents,

foundations, businesses• Out-of-the-box thinking• Expanded city impact• Increased efficiency, cost-effectiveness• Increased organizational flexibility• Short-term actions to build momentum

Project Goals

About the Project

• Interview community leaders.• Review and analyze library and community statistics.• Review library operations.• Review library budget.• Align library organization with citywide needs and goals.• Provide budget scenarios to best allocate library funding.• Discuss results with city leaders and residents.• Build a brighter future for Springfield.

Our Actions

About the Project

What is the role of the library and librarians today?

By Looking carefully at the following roles, we can better understand the library’s current strengths and weaknesses in contributing to quality of life in Springfield.

While libraries of the past focused on books and other library materials, the far-reaching public library of today offers a wide range of programs, materials and services.

About the Project

Roles of the Library

About the Project

• Planning and delivering fun, enriching and educational library programs for all ages and groups. Programs should help build individual skills and encourage lifelong learning, as well as engaging residents and communities in important discussions and interactions.

Programs


About the Project

• Working together with schools, social service agencies and community groups to promote library services. To expand the reach of the library to all residents, with an emphasis on socioeconomically disadvantaged children and families.

Outreach


About the Project

• Helping people to find the information they need to succeed in school, work and life.

Research Assistance


About the Project

• Promoting reading and literacy for residents of all ages through programs and partnerships.

Literacy


About the Project

• Building print and online collections that meet the needs and interests of Springfield's residents.

Collections

With the help of an outside consultant, we began a total review of the Springfield City Library, how we compare with other cities and city libraries in the U.S., the differences among our 17 neighborhoods and 10 neighborhood library locations, and the major needs and goals in Springfield that should be the foundation for our efforts.

For each neighborhood and for each neighborhood library outlet, we considered:

• Education, income, poverty, access to vehicles, public transportation, etc.

• Library visitors, circulation and program attendance• Library characteristics such as parking, building costs, ADA

accessibility, etc.

Research

Educational Attainment• H.S. diploma 74%

RANK 143 / 166• Bachelor’s degree 16.8%

RANK 143 / 166

Income and Poverty• Median household income

$32,124RANK 158 / 166

• Poverty 26.3%RANK 153 / 166

The Library• City funding per location

$511,000 (2010)RANK 156 / 166

• Hours per location 20.6RANK 20 / 21*

Springfield faces difficult challenges in the areas of education, income and poverty. The Library and other City services have very limited funding to address these issues and to strengthen Springfield.

What We Learned

Research

Research

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Brightwood ~ Central ~ Forest Park ~ Indian Orchard ~ Mason Square ~ Sixteen

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A review of the following characteristics places the highest priority on these neighborhood library locations:

• On-site use as evidenced by library circulation, visitors, program attendance, reference questions, computer and WiFi use, and use of meeting spaces.

• Characteristics of library facilities such as building size, building costs, available program/meeting spaces, ADA accessibility, parking and capital investments.

• City geography, available modes of transportation and proximity to other library locations.

• Community needs identified by statistics on education, income, employment and poverty.

Research

Public SafetyAfter school programs that provide safe,

fun and educational activities for kids

Fun family programs that help neighborhood residents to come together

City and neighborhood civic meetings that increase the awareness of public safety

issues

Citywide Needs and Goals

Research

EducationEarly childhood literacy

After school programs

Workforce development: 21st Century skills

Adult literacy and lifelong learning


Research

Economic VitalityJob seeking assistance


Civic engagement: awareness, participation and pride

Positive Springfield messages


Research

Healthy NeighborhoodsAwareness and access to social services ~

adult literacy and lifelong learning


Civic engagement: awareness, participation and pride


Research

With the information we gathered from city and community leaders, the city’s strategic plan and the Rebuild Springfield report, it was easy to identify the critical focus areas for library efforts.

In response, the library will reorganize with five new program teams charged with a citywide approach to programs and outreach and one additional team charged to focus on citywide and neighborhood customer experience.

Realignment

Adult Literacy and Lifelong Learning

• Adult literacy• Lifelong learning

After School

• After school activities• Digital media creation• Tutoring

Community and Civic Engagement

• Building community• Civic engagement: awareness, participation and pride• Positive Springfield media

Early Literacy

• Early childhood/family literacy• Reading success by 4th grade

Workforce Development

• 21st Century skills• Digital literacy• Job seeking

Realignment

Customer Experience

• Customer focus• Consistency and quality• Working smarter to provide effective services• Clear, fair and flexible policies• Empowered, engaged users

Realignment

Next, the consultant considered library operations based on existing library funding.

In the next section are the consultant’s recommendations on financial sustainability.

Financial Sustainability

State of the Library

Library Funding

The library department represents less than 1% of the city budget.

In FY 2004, the library department received $3,372,528 in city funds, representing 0.85% of the city’s overall budget of $399 million. In FY 2012, the library department received $3,555,318 in city funds, representing 0.64% of the city’s overall budget of $444 million.

Between FY 2004 and FY 2012, the city budget increased by 11% while the library budget decreased by 15% (inflation adjusted).



Library Hours

Between FY 2005 and FY 2012, weekly library hours have decreased by 25% overall. The Central Library was reduced from 56 to 45 weekly hours, and total branch hours were reduced from 220 to 162 weekly hours as shown below.

Impacts• Many residents are unable to visit libraries due to the very limited hours they are

open.• The library has been turned down for grants due to its limited hours.• Library users find current hours to be inconsistent and unreliable.



Library Staffing

FY 2013 represents an 11% decrease in staffing since FY 2004, a reduction of 8.5 FTE library staff.

Impacts• Library staff lacks time to deliver essential programs to residents that impact early

literacy, workforce development and other areas critical to Springfield’s bright future.

• Library staff lacks time to engage with schools and other partners in the community in order to reach residents who are socioeconomically disadvantaged.


Critical

• Review the balance between library hours and the number of neighborhood locations.

• Increase time for programs and outreach to meet citywide needs and goals.

• Increase capacity for library development - major donors, business partners, fundraising events, grants, etc.

Recommendations


Moderate

• Increase capacity for technology services.

• Move ahead with creative scenarios for reinvented neighborhood locations including combined neighborhood libraries and “express libraries.”

• Ongoing engagement with city leaders to ensure continued library visibility and alignment with city needs and goals.

Recommendations


This is where we are today, and we must decide together how best to act on the consultant’s findings and recommendations.

Our first response is

• to accept the recommendations for the new teams and to adapt the library’s organizational structure accordingly to strengthen our positive impacts on Springfield

• to make the library a more visible partner in citywide efforts.

Moving Ahead

Moving Ahead

Organizational Alignment

Library Leadership

Administration

Development

Finance and Operations

Customer Experience

Borrowers

Services

Collections and

Technical

Services

Information

Technology

Neighborhood

Services

Customer

Experience Team

Programs and OutreachAdult

Literacy and

Lifelong Learning

After School

Community and

Civic Engagement

Early Literacy

Workforce

Development

Our second response:

• Acknowledge the financial and operational realities that are made clear in the consultant’s findings and the level funding scenario. With input from city leaders, we have used the data to develop a compromise scenario that reduces the impact on neighborhood services.

• We do not suggest this new scenario lightly. With it comes an increased financial commitment, and we are working today with city leaders and with external funders to close the funding gap to make a stronger library system possible.

• We assure city leaders and residents that extensive research, careful thought and ongoing professional dedication have guided our endorsement of this unprecedented new scenario.

Moving Ahead

Neighborhood Services Scenario

Moving Ahead

Brightwood• Old: 18 weekly hours• New: 30 weekly hours

Central• Old: 40 weekly hours• New: 45 weekly hours

East Forest Park• Old: 18 weekly hours• New: 30 weekly hours• Change: Planning

grant – new facility

East Springfield• Old: 18 weekly hours• New: 30 weekly hours• Change: Planning

grant – combined ES/Lib

Forest Park• Old: 18 weekly hours• New: 30 weekly hours

Indian Orchard• Old: 18 weekly hours• New: 30 weekly hours

Mason Square• Old: 18 weekly hours• New: 30 weekly hours

Liberty• Change: New Service

Outlet for Seniors

Pine Point• Change: New

Community Learning Center

Throughout this process, we have been energized by the enthusiasm and commitment of city leaders and residents. We are eager to implement changes and to make visible progress. Many changes – large and small – are needed as we move ahead, and we thank you for your support, your patience and your help.

As we implement changes, we will actively seek input and feedback from city residents on the progress we are making and their satisfaction with library services.

We can work together toward “A Brighter Future for Springfield Today.”

For more information, please contact:

Molly FogartyLibrary Director, Springfield City Library413.263.6828 x290 | [email protected]

Moving Ahead

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Education

library materials

library funding

library organization

review library budget

review library operations

city of springfield

neighborhood library

neighborhood library