Provincial Library Grant Report 2015
Introduction
Salt Spring Island is the largest and most populated (est. 10,572) island of the Southern Gulf Islands. In the Library’s third year of operations in our building, “Salt Spring’s living room”, the community’s support for the Library was expressed by 216,216 patronvisits, an increase of 13%. People of all ages visited to read, think, meet, learn, see local arts and artists, research, connect, grow, aspire, inspire, play games, surf the internet, study, and complete exams. With 334 new members, Library patronage increased by 5% to 7,644. This means that 72% of Salt Spring Islanders have active library cards. The library had 11,167 attendees at programs for adults, teens, and children, including books launches, Tech Cafés, monthly artist events, and a new spring break camp, an increase in attendance of 18%.Support for the Library’s programs and services increased 37% through Annual Appeal funding from the community and includedover $5,000 in contributions to an Endowment Fund. 178 volunteers contributed to the Library’s core operations with an estimated volunteer value of $627,068.
In the second year of the Salt Spring Island Public Library Strategic Plan 2014-2017, the Library was successful in completing objectives under the strategic goals:Volunteer Training, Retention and Recruitment; Funding through Donor and Community Support; Technology Education and Maintenance; Community Outreach through Partnerships with Other Community Organizations; and Leadership through Board Governance and Management Operations.The 2015 strategic objectives finalized included development of: a volunteer recruitment strategy, a volunteer retention strategy, and a volunteer training plan; a strategy for sustainable operational and capital funding, a planned giving program, and an endowment program; a technology plan, and a building systems plan; a partnerships strategy, a public outreach and communication strategy, and a program outreach strategy; a board transition and continuity plan; and a staff leadership program.
Government Priorities, Goals, Programs and Services, Partnerships
LIBRArY Priority 1: A focus on equitable access
1. Library Strategic Goal successful outcome that supports the priority:The Salt Spring Island Public Library Strategic Plan 2014-2017 includesSSIPL’S vision:Where all can learn, explore and connect in a welcoming environment, andstrategic value community: All are welcome, and we are committed to addressing their expressed needs. A key goal of SSIPL is to support all community members and the library’sextended library serviceto under-represented populations through two programs: in late 2014 the library formed a partnership with The National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS) to enhance services forpatrons who are print disabled;and in 2015, it worked with community members on a First Nations month including an art exhibit and related events throughout November.
2. Programs and/or Services that align with the priority:The library registered for the NNELS accessible digital library system for the print-disabled at the end of 2014.In early 2015, library staff and volunteers received training on how NNELS works, and the service was promoted through posters and community partners. The library supplemented this by creating a referral document for CNIB and NNELS services.
SSIPL hosted“Stories of Grace Islet”, a month-long exhibit of artwork, images and text recording the protection of the sacred First Nations burial ground in Ganges Harbour. A variety of events highlighting the cultural, spiritual, ecological, and archaeological values of Grace Islet ran throughout November.A regional map shows the present communities of First Nations with long-standing connections to Salt Spring Island.
3. Partnerships that support the priority:We strengthened this goal in 2015 by taking action to identify community organizations and partners through which we can reach out to potential users of the NNELS service. As a result, we created a partnership with Meadowbrook Retirement Home, gifting them a DAISY Reader and providing expertise and resources to help them provide NNELS materials to their residents.
SSIPL received funding from IslandLink Library Federation and co-sponsored with Salt Spring Residents for Responsible Land Use, with support from Chief William C. Seymour of Cowichan Tribes,to present of “Stories of Grace Islet”.
4.Outcomes that were identified: In the process of supporting services available through NNELS, the library created a new partnership with Meadowbrook retirement home, providing support to help them establish a DAISY lending program for their residents.As awareness of our services for patrons who are print disabled increased, the number of patrons identified as print disabled grew to seven.
The Library sponsored 10 First Nations events with180 participants at events and many others viewing the month-long exhibition, including two Storytimes for Pre-schoolers and Parents on “Coast Salish Stories for Children”.Coast Salish Knowledge-Keepers, including local elders from several bands, presented their perspectives and thoughtson Grace Islet and Coast Salish culture, and a local First Nations history presentation entitled “The Archaeology of Shiya’hwt (Ganges)”was given byarchaeologist and PhD candidate (UBC) Chris Arnett.
LIBRArY Priority 2: Increased Supports for Education Transformation
1. Library Strategic Goal successful outcome that supports the priority:A key goal ofSSIPL is to support and promote educational transformation, particularly in the areas of youth programming and technological literacy. Promoting the Library as an active learning environment for youth is essential for fostering an educated, curious community of lifelong learners—individuals who will be able to enjoy intellectually and creatively fulfilling lives, both as youth and adults. To this end, SSIPLexpanded the number of youth programs by 32% in 2015, increased the number of youth outreach visits by 68%, and increased the number of youth attending library programming by 241%.
2. Programs and/or Services that align with the priority:In support of education transformation, 2015 saw the introduction of a two-week long Spring Break Camp for youth aged 5-12, and an event in celebration of Family Literacy Day. In March 2015, our Spring Break Camp provided youth with the opportunity to explore different genres of literature through exciting hands-on activities. Activities included learning about science fiction by creating movies in front of a green screen, acting out adventure stories by learning Tae Kwon Do from a black-belt instructor, and fostering a love of film with a program of short films from the NFB. Our event for Family Literacy Day, held in partnership with Salt Spring Literacy, was a “math playground”, which encouraged families to develop mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills through engaging, hands-on activities.We have also continued many innovative and educational youth programs from previous years, including Friday Games Night, Raspberry Pi, Conjuring Club, and Summer Library Camp. All of these programs are open to the public, and aim to transform youth education opportunities. In 2015 our youth programs reached a combined 2226 youth, a 241% increase.
3. Partnerships that support the priority:Our partnership continues to be strengthened with Salt Spring Literacy, an organization that also offers technological education services. As well as referring patrons to each other’s services, we have worked together to create an annual family literacy event in support of Family Literacy Day. This year’s event focused on building numeracy skills by playing games.
Strengthening existing partnerships with Salt Spring Island schools has been key to our success. In 2015, the library facilitated 52 school group visits, both in-library and as outreach in the schools. This relationship with the schools allowed us to promote library programs, present visiting authors, help develop research skills, share books, and foster a love of reading.SSIPL has also fostered partnerships with several preschools, and with Core Inn and Family Place, both part of the Community Services Society, as well as enjoyed the ongoing support of the IslandLink Library Federation in arranging visiting authors and programs.
4.Outcomes that were identified: As a quantitative sign of success of SSIPL’s strategic priority: Community Outreach: Partnering and collaborating with other organizations improves our connection and value to the community, 2015 saw a 32% increase from 2014 in youth-focused programs, from 58 to 77. Attendance increased by 241%, from 652 to 2226. As a qualitative sign of success, many youth and their parents have reported their enjoyment of new library youth programs, particularly the Spring Break Camp, which due to popular demand will be running for a second year in 2016. The strategic goal that was addressed was: All current youth and children's programs maintained.
LIBRARY Priority 3: Support for the BC Jobs Plan by improving outcomes for job seekers in BC
1. Library goal that supports the priority:SSIPL supports the BC Jobs Plan by helping community members and small business owners gain and strengthen skills that lead to increased literacy. The Salt Spring Island Public Library Strategic Plan 2014-2017 includesSSIPL’S strategic value collaboration: working with individuals, groups, and organizations to make a difference to the community, and the strategic priority community outreach: partnering and collaborating with other organizations improves our connection and value to the community. Through library programs, and partnership with Salt Spring Literacy plus anew partnership with WorkBC Employment Services Centre, the library assists community members and small business owners to gain new skills and increase employment options, leading them to be more successful in job opportunitiesnow and in the future.
2. Programs and/or Services that align with the priority:SSIPL’sregular programs increase computer literacy skills, thereby improving employment opportunities, through 8 weekly private tech tutoring sessions with advanced tech volunteers. Tech tutoring is a program that promotes technical literacy. Patrons sign up for one-on-one sessions with tech tutors, who provide education for and assistance with technical topics, from eReaders and Overdrive, to computer and phone usage. These sessions increase the ability of adult learners to succeed in today’s technical age, and also equip them with the tools to access SSIPL’s online resources: eBooks, e-audiobooks, and online databases.
In addition, the library offered monthly group tech café seminars on technology skills such as website design, HTML, library databases, smart phones, and computer security. Small business owners were notified through the Chamber of Commerce and benefited from attending digital literacy programs in the library.
3. Partnerships that support the priority:SSIPL formed a new partnershipwith Salt Spring WorkBC Employment Services Centre, also known as the Employment Program of BC (EPBC). The program offers a wide range of services that support job seekers to find and maintain employment and to improve employment readiness. Salt Spring WorkBC staff send the library a monthly calendar of workshop listings to share with local job seekers including personal branding and marketing, resume/cover letters, career assessment, successful interviews, job club, job search strategies, and the hidden job market. Library volunteers also send job seekers to the Employment Services Centre to access free computer lab support on resume/cover letters, including free printing services.
4.Outcomes that were identified:SSIPL was successful in offering regular tech tutoring sessions and monthly tech café sessions, and forming a new partnership with Salt SpringWorkBC Employment Services Centre to assist community members with digital literacy, and with gaining new skills and increasing employment options. The library provided416 private tech tutoring sessions(420% increase from 2014), and 150 community members attended tech café seminars. The Library also provided free program room space to SS Literacy for volunteer training and their AGM.
LIBRARY Priority 4: collaboration BETWEEN LIBRARY and other partners
1. Library Strategic Goal successful outcome that supports the priority: Under the SSIPL strategic priority: Community Outreach: Partnering and collaborating with other organizations improves our connection and value to the community, the Library continued to work together in the development of collaborative services with the BC Libraries Cooperative (BCLC), and through collaborative programs funded by the IslandLink Library Federation. By working collaboratively with federation libraries and other partners, SSIPL was able to access IslandLink resources for four programs for youth and four programs for adults.
IslandLink also provided resources for training for staff and trustees through attendance at the BC and American Library Conferences, and the IslandLink database subsidy allowed the Library to purchase Canadian Newsstand Major Dailies, Tumble Books and Freegal through BCLC.
2. Programs and/or Services that align with the priority:SSIPL offered 5 youth programs in 2015 through working collaboratively with other IslandLink libraries. Two authors visited SSIPL: performance poet Johnny MacRae presented 2 slam poetry workshops, including one for English/drama students at Salt Spring Island Middle School (SIMS), and author Arno Kopecky gave a presentation to Gulf Islands Secondary School (GISS) students. Norden the Magicianand the Travelling Puppet Show made presentations at all IslandLink libraries.
SSIPL offered 4 adult programs in 2015 through working collaboratively with other IslandLink libraries: William Deverell with SGI Libraries (Pender, Mayne and Galiano); Bowen Island author Michelle Nelson; First Nations month events (see Priority 1); and a Vancouver Island University multi-author reading event, including a classroom presentation at GISS.
3. Partnerships that support the priority:SSIPL offered 5 youth programsin partnership with local schools, and 4adult programs in 2015 through working collaboratively with other IslandLink libraries: William Deverell with SGI Libraries (Pender, Mayne and Galiano), with the support from The Canada Council for the Arts; Bowen Island author Michelle Nelson who ran a workshop on urban homesteading co-sponsored with Transition SS, and new community partner Island Natural Growers; First Nations month events (see Priority 1); and a Vancouver Island University multi-author reading event, including a classroom presentation at GISS, and meeting with the creative writing club, co-sponsored by new regional partner Vancouver Island University, and The Canada Council for the Arts through The Writers’ Union of Canada and the new funder, Playwrights Guild of Canada.
In addition to collaborative services and shared resources among libraries through the BC Libraries Cooperative and IslandLink Library Federation, the Library also received support from several businesses and community organizations throughout the year. This support included spring break and summer library camp refreshments from Country Grocer, co-sponsorship of monthly adult programs, and asignificant 10K grant from the UBC iSchool to hire a co-op student in early 2015.
4.Outcomes that were identified:The support of the IslandLink Federation allows Salt Spring Library to work collaboratively, use resources well, and to transform library services through the increase of the number and quality of programs. 446 youth and 309 adults attended IslandLink sponsored programs Adult program attendance increased by 25% with 7128 persons attending 263 programs.
Strategic goal outcomes included development of eight new partnerships with community organizations with complementary goals.
SUMMARY
The Salt Spring Island Public Library had itsthirdhighly successful year of operation in its new building and 2015 confirmed the Library as the community hub envisioned in theSalt Spring Island Public Library Strategic Plan 2014 - 2017.Our collection’s quality and diversity continue to grow; it now includes music and movie databases, as well as a ukulele loan program. Adult programming’s attendance continues to grow, thanks in part to a ground-breaking First Nations month of events, and popular adult computer skill development classes. Children and Youth programming increased, exposing our young citizens to the benefits of Library membership; itincludeda new Spring Break camp, and popular Friday Games Night with a room of full of young men having fun and learning. The diverse and skilled volunteer family and our small but competent staff made this possible with their investment of time, skill, and effort and it is paying huge dividends for our entire community. The Library continued to work on recruiting volunteers and managing program requests from our engaged community. The “Yes Library” continues to welcome Salt Springersas they embrace the Library as the hub of the community.
Contact information:
Salt Spring Island Public Library
Karen Hudson, Chief Librarian
250-537-4666, local 223.
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