Sechelt Public Library | Provincial Grant Report 2015
GOVERNMENT PRIORITIES, GOALS, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, PARTNERSHIPS
Provincial Priority for Libraries in 2015 to focus on equitable access to library services for all British Columbians, including efforts to extend library service, both physical and digital, to under-represented populations (ex. Aboriginal, print disabled, and immigrants).
Library Goal that supports the priority
We support the development of an individual’s ability to learn and exchange ideas. We are proactive and responsive to the needs of the community.
1. Programs and/or Services that aligns with the priority
We were not successful with utilizing NNELS services as advertised and continue to use CELA to meet the general needs of the community. We host the mom may mon Child Development Centre monthly, visit them to read stories, we sing songs in their native language and we gave them a big basket of books to welcome them to their new home and building.
Partnerships that support the priority
The Sechelt Indian Band is an integral part of this community and a careful relationship is being developed to contribute to reconciliation efforts.
Outcomes that were identified:
Increasing sense of community and belonging for Sechelt people at the library.
2. Programs and/or Services that aligns with the priority
A new program was created for an Elder Women’s Drop-In Group. Once a month, ten women in their eighties gather at the library to have tea and share stories and support one another. Speakers have included the RCMP talking about fraud and a local retired professor speaking about the importance of recording memories.
Partnerships that support the priority
The Friends of the Library have generously provided financial support to provide bus fare and refreshments. One of the members has a background in community services and has provided information and assistance to more than one woman.
Outcomes that were identified: Decreased social isolation among seniors “Thank you for another great year of service. Special thanks for the elders’ tea times—great addition!”
Provincial Priority for Libraries in 2015 to increase supports for education transformation.
Library Goal that supports the priority
We support the development of an individual’s ability to learn and exchange ideas. We are proactive and responsive to the needs of the community. The Sechelt Library has successfully contributed to personalized learning opportunities and equity for all learners by providing free community access to the online learning programs and allowing them to explore and develop new skills.
1. Programs and/or Services that aligns with the priority
The library subscription to GALE Courses began at the end of March 2015 and by December 2015, users had participated in 497 hours of online instruction from qualified instructors. The most popular courses were “Using Social Media in Business”, “Computer Skills for the Workplace”, “Introduction to Java Programming”, and “Blogging and Podcasting for Beginners”. Courses range from academic to leisure interests and students are assigned instructors in their six week experience. Not only does this service provide quality educational courses for free, they are a great introduction to the process of online learning for anyone who is thinking of pursuing online education but unsure if they can commit to the online learning model.
Partnerships that support the priority
Although determining that GALE Courses was a service which would be beneficial to our community, the cost was prohibitive - until the Sechelt Public Library and the Gibsons & District Public Library together negotiated a significant cost savings with GALE. This partnership has since led to other significant cost savings and a joint presentation by these library boards to the library directors in recognition of their collaborative efforts. The partnership continues today as the two libraries share collections through SITKA and provide a weekly courier service to deliver materials between the two libraries. In 2015, the two libraries shared 6,101 items which is not reflected in the SITKA statistics because technically we are set up to share “ one collection“ despite the fact that we have two separate libraries, collections and sets of stakeholders.
Outcomes that were identified: personalized learning opportunities and equity for all learners.
Provincial Priority for Libraries in 2015 to support the BC Jobs Plan by improving outcomes for job seekers in BC
Library Goal that supports the priority
We support the development of an individual’s ability to learn and exchange ideas. We are proactive and responsive to the needs of the community.
1. Programs and/or Services that aligns with the priority
To assist job seekers, the library provides a webpage with links to employment resources, and we provide access to several business magazines, daily newspapers, free internet and word processing computers, online courses to improve skills and books on resume writing, interviews and careers.
Partnerships that support the priority
Located two blocks away, the Sunshine Coast Work BC Employment Services Centre and the Open Door Group employment services are located on the main street of Sechelt. They provide weekly workshops on resume writing, career planning, self-marketing, and job searching. Because of the close proximity of this resource, we refer individuals to these services for expert assistance. The Community Resource Centre is also located two blocks away.
Outcomes that were identified: Job seekers are informed and provided with the resources, tools and expertise to explore new skills and employment options.
Provincial Priority for Libraries in 2015 to focus on collaboration between libraries and other partners
Library Goal that supports the priority
An objective of the Sechelt Public Library strategic plan, is to facilitate the creation of new community partnerships. In 2015, we have effectively created two new partnerships and increased assistance to healthcare access and expanded programming options.
Programs and/or Services that aligns with the priority and partnerships that support the priority
The Sechelt Library maintained its important relationship with the Gibsons & District Public Library (noted above) and developed relationships with the GP and Me Program and the Sechelt Aquatic Centre which extended health expertise and facility capacity for programming respectively.
1. Every Monday the Patient Navigator for this area is seated in a strategic area of the library to assist the public with questions or issuing healthcare. His job is to cut down on the red tape of linking patient to healthcare and community services.
2. The Sechelt Aquatic Centre has an empty programming room, complete with concrete floor and sink but lacked a children’s programmer. The Sechelt Library has a children’s programmer but lacked a programming room. An agreement to share programmer and room was expanded the library’s capacity to offer more children’s and preschool programming.
Outcomes that were identified: increased assistance to healthcare access and increased ability to meet community programming needs resulting in increased literacy and community connectedness.
SUMMARY
Although communities change and innovative programs are created and presented to meet these changes, many library programs, particularly in small and rural libraries remain the same because they are core programs.
In completing this report for the third year now, and having reported on our “exemplary” programs year one and two with newspaper article copies and enthusiastic prose, the 2015 report pales in comparison. Reporting on “exemplary” programs three years in a row is difficult when you are understaffed with little more than a skeleton staff to service the front desk and 112,000 people coming into the library each year. Yet despite the challenges, each year, we somehow make the community very happy as evidenced by our increased gate count this year, the thousands of print and digital items borrowed each year, the thousands of questions we answer each year, and the comments we receive directly from the public. They are happy because we provide good service, helpful staff and valued resources whether they are print, digital or otherwise. The community knows and understands the value of libraries – try to close a library or reduce hours and you will see the swell of ardent support from people (constituents and voters) of all ages, backgrounds and languages.
I am concerned that I see more and more organizations from other ministries given the mandate to be “community hubs” and “information referral services” when the library has historically filled that role in a cost effective and successful model. Many of these smaller programs have no measurable outcomes and struggle to bring people through their doors yet receive large annual grants to duplicate services offered at the library. With the infrastructure already in place, the library would make good use of these funds to expand services and programs.
Libraries, run by communities and librarians, continue to be extremely well used and popular - always on the leading edge of technology, always true and practical supporters of education, always rated highest in municipal services.
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