County of Los Angeles Public Library Annual Report 1989 - 1990

              FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
1988/89 1989/90 Change
Salaries & Employee Benefits $27,848,186 $31,398,000 $3,549,814 SOURCE OF LIBRARY FUNDS 1989/90
Services and Supplies 22,095,133 25,047,000 2,951,867
Fixed Assets:
. Equipment 873,573 898,000 24,427
Special District
• Structures 200,000 1,600,000 1,400,000 Reserves 15% Augmentation Fund
Reserves: Revenue 10% 40%
Appropriation for Contingency 3,230,504 3,621 ,000 390,496
Estimated Delinquency 908,686 1,131,000 222,314
Total Requirements $55, 156,082 $63,695,000 $8,538,918
Property Tax
Fund Balance $7,588,021 $9,468,000 $1,879,979 35%
Revenue 4,960,757 6,329,000 1,368,243
Augmentation Funds 22,696,711 25,290,000 2,593,289
Tax Levy 19,910,593 22,608,000 2,697,407
Available Funds $55,156,082 $63,695,000 $8,538,918
Budgeted Full Time Positions 837.7 871.5 33.8
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Peter F. Schabarum
Chairman
First Distnct
Kenne-th Hahn
Second District
Edmund D. Edelman
Third D1stnc1
Deane Dana
Fourth District
Michael D. Antonovich
Fifth District I
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A LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY
This was a year marked by achievement: enhancing
our business to serve our customer better;
establishing higher standards of quality; being more
responsive to the customer's information needs;
utilizing the latest technology to strengthen our
services; and laying the groundwork for further
enriching our collection. Collectively, these directions
characterized the activities of the County of Los
Angeles Public Library this fiscal year.
Thanks to the efforts of our dedicated staff,
volunteers, Friends of the Library groups, Regional
Library Council members, community supporters,
and the Los Angeles County Public Library
Foundation, we achieved our challenging strategic
goals.
For ten years, the Library prepared to implement one
of the country's largest Automated Circulation
Systems. Using an extremely ambitious timetable,
staff successfully brought 90 community libraries on
line in only 16 months! Over 400,000 customers
were issued new library cards! All of this was
accomplished without any major system problems!
Marketing played a major role in the development
and promotion of our collection. With the Automated
Circulation System, we now have the ultimate
marketing tool. For the first time, we have consistent
and reliable information which will allow us to predict
more precisely our customer's needs.
The bottom line in all of our activity this year sought
the answer to the question: What do our Customers
want and need? Library staff was quick to recognize
that new and
i nnovative
programs and
services needed to
be created. We
improved and
expanded many
of our information
services. Plans
were made to
dep loy library
materials rapidly
and five community
library marketing
pilot projects were
established.
All three Library
divisions mobilized
behind our number one priority, the Automated
Circulation System, and became skilled in new
areas of instruction. Hundreds of hours were spent
training staff in utilizing their new circulation system
and more training will be offered in the coming year.
Thanks to this multi-divisional cooperation, our staff
is now better equipped to take full advantage of the
system's benefits, providing our customers with
better service.
This year's highlight was the visit by First Lady,
Barbara Bush, and California State Librarian, Gary
Strong, who came to view our Community Access
Library Line CALL, the Southern California Literacy
Hotline, which matches up tutors and adult learners.
The impact of the information age came full circle as
we all watched in astonishment at the dramatic
unfolding of world events. As information providers,
the County of Los Angeles Public Library entered the
new decade with a revitalized and energetic service
orientation.
We are fortunate to have the resources and
strategies that keep us on the competitive edge of
the emerging information age.
Sandra F. Reuben
County Librarian
■
LIBRARY AT A GLANCE
The County of Los Angeles Public Library is a
special fund department under the jurisdiction of the
County Board of Supervisors. It is currently financed
by the property tax, including an allocation from the
Special District Augmentation Fund and the State's
Public Ubrary Fund. Current per capita expenditure
is $18.57. The County Library serves most of the
unincorporated territory in Los Angeles County and
50 of the 86 cities. The Library belongs to the South
State Cooperative Ubrary System.
Perspectives
Size: 3,089 Square Miles • Total Budget : $63,695,000 •
Population SeNed: 3,081,815 . Service Facilities: 90 Regional
and Community Libraries, 2 Institutional Libraries, 4
Bookmobiles, • Number of Staff:1,806 Full and Part Time .
Volunteers: 1. 762 (62,95g Hours Worked) • Friends of the
Library: 56 Groups {4,585 Members)
Highlights
• 90 locations were successfulty brought on line in 16 months .
• 73,890 titles were cataloged, a 68.g% increase over last year .
• 370,169 items were processed. a 9% increase over last year .
• 4 million items were barcoded, 10% above the original goal.
• 468,899 customers were re-registered for new library cards,
accomplishing 42% of a three-year goal. This averaged to
almost 46,900 a month over a ten-month period .
• 14,986,96g reference questions were answered, representing
a record high, 4.7%, or 643,352 more than the previous year,
despite closures for automation .
• 3,774,900 items were used by customers in the libraries .
• 11,177,006 items were in circulation. Although this is 8% lower
than last year, the business volume is significant considering
the fact that all libraries were closed a minimum of six weeks to
barcode the collections, receive training, and to prepare for
going on line .
• Telefax usage reached an all time high with 13,718 messages
sent. an increase of 78%.
i
STATISTICAL HIGHLIGHTS
Fiscal Year
Dollars in Millions
Total Budget
Material Expenditures
Dollars In Thousands
Capital Projects
In Millions
Material Circulation
Reference Questions
In Thousands
Registered Borrowers
80/81 81 /82
25.6 30.6
3.1 3.3
0 1575
9.7 10.1
5.5 6.6
824 831
82/83 83/84 84/85
32.9 36.7 39.5
4.1 4.4 4.8
1583 1683 100
10.5 11.1 11.7
7.8 9.1 10.5
868 893 918
85/86 86/87. 87/88 88/89 89/90
45.0 45.0 53 54.2 62.5
5.4 5.7 6.0 6.3 7.7
1150 475 578 200 1600
11.8 12.2 12.0 12.1 11.0
11.2 12.3 13.5 14.2 13.3
935 957 988 1018 470
I
ACS MILESTONES
Automated Circulation System
Careful planning, training, and a superlative
organization facilitated our completion of the
automation project in 90 libraries in only 16
months-an unprecedented achievement. This task
could not have been realized without the
commitment and efforts of Library staff and
volunteers. Everyone mobilized and got behind this
project in order to support the Library's number one
priority for the year.
On June 26, 1990, County Public Library history
was made as the West Covina Library became the
last library to begin circulating on line, linking all 90
community libraries by our Automated Circulation
System. Public Services, Technical Services, and
Administrative Services worked very closely during
this time, ensuring its success.
The installation of our Automated Circulation System
will benefit our customers in countless ways. The
obvious advantage of the system is that it makes for
a quicker and smoother circulation process and
facilitates our ability to track materials. However, the
bottom line benefit is that we now have the capability
of knowing exactly what our customers want. need,
and use. In essence, the Library will be able to
create tailor-made local collections to meet the
demands of our customers.
Highlights
• The customer file grew from 15,660 to 468,899
borrowers by the end of the fiscal year. • At one
point, staff at the libraries were labelling items at the
rate of over 300,000 per month .• Automated
Circulation System trainers, Bibliographic Access
staff, Automated Circulation System staff, and
contracted librarians trained over 800 full and part­time
staff in on line circulation procedures. Staff
organized, developed and scheduled the ONTRAC
classes as well as a separate course on registration.
In essence, an academy of skilled staff was put
together to instruct and familiarize staff with new
procedures ... the first of its kind in the Library!
• Bibliographic Access Assistance Teams made
4 72 visits to libraries and solved 28,251 problems in
labelling materials . • In a unique communication
breakthrough, additional lines were installed at
Library Headquarters so that staff with personal
computers could dial in. Staff used this capability
extensively for electronic mail. • Regional Automated
Circulation System celebrations were attended by
members of the Los Angeles County Board of
Supervisors, city officials, Regional Library Council
members, and Library supporters.
ENHANCED SERVICES
Marketing
The Library's Marketing Unit, together with front line
staff, developed community programs serving
specific target segments of the population. The
demand for information, competition in the Library
environment with the rise of information brokers, new
technologies and shifting demographic trends were
carefully evaluated in order to position and enhance
the Library in the communities we serve. The results
included:
• A comprehensive County-wide marketing plan.
• The Library logo was redesigned to focus on the
County Library's service identity.
• The name of the Library was changed to County of
Los Angeles Public Library to emphasize the word
"County".
• A professionally administered Customer
Satisfaction Survey was completed.
• A Membership Task Force designed an ambitious
registration campaign to attract at least 250,000
current non-users.
• Marketing plans were developed for five pilot
libraries that would reflect the many different
geographic locations the Library serves, and target
specific communities where those libraries are
located.
Reference Service
Increasingly, service is defined by our customer.
Whether it involves solving complex reference and
information queries, strengthening reference service,
or providing information on demand, the Library has
responded with innovative service solutions.
FYI , the Library's new fee-based service, was
created as a solution to the demand for customized
business research by professionals who rely on
accurate up-to-date information, but lack the time
and resources necessary to get it. FYI established
1 90 new customer accounts in its formative year,
which was more than double the original goal of 75.
Staff was able to generate sufficient revenue to
cover all direct costs.
FYI developed the first of a series of product lines.
The FISCAL Directory of Fee-Based Information
Services in Libraries will be published at the end of
1990. The Directory is a valuable resource for all
libraries that have fee-based services and especially
for people who need to locate these types of
services.
The Busrness Subject Specialty Center was
established at the Norwalk Library to deepen and
complement the free business reference service in
all libraries. The Center has particular strengths in
marketing, industry, company information, and trade
periodicals and directories.
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The Library's second fee-based reference service,
Municipal Reference, evolved as an outgrowth of
our research within County departments to ascertain
their needs. This service targets governmental
officials and workers.
Collection Development
The Collection Development staff moved forward in
developing a broad and relevant collection. Some of
their accomplishments this year included:
• Development of a method to allocate the materials
budget to reflect the collection activities in each
library.
• Development of a model to establish two
experimental, popular reading libraries.
• Expansion of the audio compact disc service to
every library and expansion of other collections,
including Books-on-Tape, to meet popular
demands.
HIV Information Center
The HIV Information Center at the West Hollywood
Library completed its first full year of operation. The
Center was awarded a NACo (National Association
of Counties) Award for its innovative service, and a
Public Relations Award by the American Library
Association for the Center's brochure.
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GLOBAL TURNING POINTS
1989 / 1990 ·
County of Los Angeles Public Ubrary
brings all 90 libraries on line.
Nelson Mandela freed on February
11. 1990 after 27 years.
FBI conduct probe of librarians and
others who criticize its program to
monitor U.S. libraries to detect Soviet
spies.
Berlin Wall comes down.
President Bush signs legislation
bailing out Savings and Loan
Industry, launching largest Federal
rescue ever.
Major quake rocks San Francisco:
buildings, highways collapse
Damage costs estimated at $4
billion.
•
YOUTH SERVICES
Library seNices to youth continue to remain strong.
Despite the tremendous focus on implementing the
Automated Circulation System, 324,839 children
were reached through school and class visits, a
31 % increase over last year. School relations remain
an important element in our outreach services.
Thanks to our partnerships with the many school
districts, programming for children continues to
grow. Library seNices to youth will continue to play a
major role in the empowerment of children and in
raising their perceptions of how the Library can
benefit them.
Staff made extraordinary efforts to revitalize outreach
programs and to gear up for the 1990 Summer
Reading Program, "Library Kids Flip Over Books."
Over 14,CX)Q children attended the reading program
this summer.
Thanks to an energetic Youth SeNices staff, 91,460
children and adults participated in and enjoyed many
popular and high quality programs, funded by grants
from the Ahmanson Foundation, the Ezra Jack Keats
Foundation, the National Endowment for the
Humanities, and Target Stores. Preschool story­hours
were attended by 86,375 children.
LITERACY
NEW DIRECTIONS
Although California Library Services Act CLSA
funding for literacy programs beyond five years
ended this year, the Library was able to continue
offering literacy programs, and maintaining the
Southern California Literacy Hotline and other
literacy services, thanks to the generous funding of
the Los Angeles County Public Library Foundation.
The Foundation raised over $28,000 to enhance
support services. This year the programs were
positioned strongly to reflect the philosophy of
"building partnerships with the communities."
Literacy programs received a big boost this year
from the visit by First Lady Barbara Bush to the
Community Access Library Line CALL, which serves
as the Southern California Literacy Hotline, located at
the Montebello Library. Mrs. Bush met with tutors
and adult learners and was deeply moved by their
stories of how much the Library's programs have
helped them. Mrs. Bush applauded Library staff for
their efforts and programs, encouraging them to
continue the excellent work
Following Mrs. Bush's visit, the use of the Southern
California Literacy Hotline at the Montebello Library
increased 26.8%. Staff answered 88,694 literacy
calls. Access to CALL's database was expanded to
seven other community libraries.
■
STAFF DEVELOPMENT/ REVENUE
MATERIALS EXPENDITURES
80/81
81/82
82/83
83/84
84/85
85/86
86/87
87/88
88/89
89/90
0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
(Dollars in Millions)
Staff Development
The Library builds on its most valuable asset-the
quality of its staff. People continue to be the driving
force in our ability to provide excellent customer
service.
The main emphasis on training this year was to
teach staff to operate the Automated Circulation
System. Staff also received training in time
management, book talk techniques, emergency
preparedness, earthquake safety, auditing policies
and procedures, computer comfort, on line
searching, public contact skills, and marketing
techniques.
In order to recruit and retain highly skilled and
qualified staff, special committees for Recruitment
and Retention were convened to attract candidates
from outside of Los Angeles County. The
Committees also participated in the County Student
Outreach Programs and with five high schools in
each of the Supervisorial Districts.
A planning group was farmed with managers from
each of the Library's three divisions to create an
Employee Recognition and Rewards Task Force.
Revenue
The Library strives to broaden its revenue base
through a cooperative relationship with the cities we
serve, an extensive network of 56 Friends of the
Library groups, supportive Regional Library Council
members, concerned community organizations, and
a committed group of volunteers. Thanks to these
groups and individuals, $259,743 in materials,
equipment, and cash were donated to the Library.
The number of volunteer hours of service increased,
although the number of volunteers dropped slightly
compared to the previous year. A total of 1 , 702
volunteers donated 62,959 hours to our libraries.
The financial value of these hours is over $405,456,
if they were paid at the current Library Aide rate of
$6.44 per hour.
The cities we serve donated $30,150. The City of
West Hollywood continued to fund the cost of
Sunday service at that library.
The Norwalk and Baldwin Park Libraries were
enhanced with special purchases of business and
ethnic materials with funding from the South State
Cooperative Library System.
The Library continues to enjoy the savings resulting
from the use of its lease/purchase borrowing
authority to finance the $5 million Automated
Circulation System. Because of our ability to obtain a
$390,000 advantage from this arrangement, the
Library was recognized by the County as an
outstanding example of productivity and was
awarded a Productivity Award by the Board of
Supervisors.
As an outgrowth of strategic planning, the Library
developed a design for financing all capital projects.
There was a great deal of activity in moving forward
with our plans for new libraries in Westlake Village
and Agoura Hills.
FORTIFYING OUR SERVICES AND BUILDINGS
DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL BUDGET 1989/90
Salaries 50 % Services and
Supplies 28%
Appropriation for Major Equipment /
Contingencies 6% Structures 4%
This year, more than ever before, the divisions pulled
together as a team to work on a multitude of
projects. The team of specialists from Fiscal,
Personnel, Staff Services, and Facilities
Management sections deserve special praise for
their enthusiasm and hard labor in providing vital
support services. Highlights of this year include:
• A more rapid transport of books and materials
between libraries was created by adding trucks and
personnel to the Library's delivery service, and by
revising the shipping system. This new service
provides for pickup/drop-off at all 90 locations four
days per week. The advantage: customers can now
order books and have them the very next day!
• Telephone systems in six of the largest County
libraries were replaced. New telephone numbers
were established for reference and c irculation
services at high activity sites. The advantage:
improved public service at less cost.
• Architectural and design specifications for the
Lancaster Library were completed.
• The Hawaiian Gardens Library was expanded for
improved service.
• The Holly Park Library was closed due to a decline
in activity which resulted directly from the Century
Freeway construction. The Library worked closely
with the Board of Supervisors and the City of
Hawthorne to facilitate a smooth closure.
• The East County Bookmobile was moved to the
more rural North County Region.
• In March, a fire caused the Charter Oak Library to
be closed. Thanks to the efforts of staff, thousands
of books and materials were salvaged and moved to
storage in a West Covina Library garage. Working
closely with the high spirited community of Charter
Oak and a supportive Board of Supervisors, a new
location has been found and the Library will reopen
in early 1991. The Library is grateful to the Friends of
the Charter Oak Library, Regional Library Council
member, and residents of the community who rallied
with their support and commitment to reopen their
library.
• Improved cash management procedures were
implemented and 35 on-site audits were conducted
by Fiscal Services .
• A Job Requisition Tracking System was
implemented which allows staff to respond more
efficiently to inquiries regarding building maintenance
needs.
• Staff continues to be trained in the County-wide
Emergency Preparedness Program.
• The Library received awards from the County
Productivity Commission for the Speed Dial/Toll
Restriction Project designed by Staff Services; the
Construction of Book Trucks made by the Facilities
Staff, which saved the Library $31,287; and for the
Video Order Consolidation by Technical Services,
which drastically trimmed the turnaround time for
ordering videocassettes.
•
AWARDS
AND SPECIAL EVENTS
In February, the Library celebrated its 11th Annual
Black History Tribute at the A C Bilbrew Library and
honored television actress, Marla Gibbs.
Each year during National Library Week, the Library
honors those individuals who have made
outstanding contributions. This year, authors Harlan
Ellison and Ross Thomas celebrated National Library
Week with us.
This year's Librarian of the Year was Linda Elliot of
the Clifton M. Brakensiek Library in Bellfower for her
extensive community outreach in acquainting
residents with Library services and preparing them
for the new Automated Circulation System.
The Charlotte Award for excellence in Youth
Services was given to Merrick Hamer of the
Manhattan Beach Library for his unique
dramatization of stories.
The Support Services Award for excellence in a
non-librarian position was given to Frances Beals of
the West Covina Library for her strong organizational
skills.
The Productivity Award was earned by the
Brakensiek Automation Team for being the
pioneering group that set the model for the rest of
the Library in getting ready for the Automated
Circulation System.
The Citizen's Award recognized the contribution of
outstanding Library supporters, Diane and Eric
Haupt of the Las Virgenes Library, who put in many
hours raising money for the library and worked on a
number of projects to enhance library service.
■
MISSION STATEMENT
■ THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES PUBLIC
LIBRARY IS A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY­FOCUSED
LIBRARIES THAT MEET THE
INFORMATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND
RECREATIONAL NEEDS OF A HIGHLY DIVERSE
PUBLIC ■ WE ARE COMMITTED TO
SUPPORTING LIFELONG LEARNING AND
KNOWLEDGE THROUGH SELF-EDUCATION. ■
OUR HELPFUL AND EXPERT STAFF PROVIDES
INFORMATION AND QUALITY SERVICE AND
PROGRAMS IN A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT ■
WE OFFER A BROAD AND RELEVANT
COLLECTION, AND OUR EXPANDING
INFORMATION NETWORKS USE CURRENT
TECHNOLOGY. ■ THE LIBRARY IS IN THE
BUSINESS OF SATISFYING THE CUSTOMER'S
NEED TO KNOW.
ART DIRECTOR:
MARY LEWIS
DESIGNER:
MARY LEWIS
GRAPHIC ARTIST/ILLUSTRATOR:
CONSTANCE ALLEN
TYPESETTER:
MARILYN REYES
PROOFREADER:
JENNY ABBOTT
PHOTOGRAPHERS:
JAMES JEFFERY;
COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHER;
IMAGE BANK;
WHITE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER
WRITER:
SUE COWEN
MARKETING DIRECTOR:
PHIL FLEMING
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