Provincial Library Grants Report 2015
RICHMOND PUBLIC LIBRARY
Introduction
Richmond Public Library is very grateful to Libraries and Literacy, Ministry of Education for the provincialsupport we receive, allowing us to further our mandate of providing essential resources for theeducation and empowerment of our community members. Serving all our residents and in particular,new Canadians, youth, job seekers and the tech-curious, and ensuring that they have the educationaland literacy tools to thrive, will guarantee a brighter future not only for our community but for ourprovince as well. By working collaboratively with other libraries and community partners, we are able toleverage shared resources to offer high quality services. By providing excellent print and digitalresources as well as cutting edge technologies, and facilitating community building and collaborativelearning, the library will be propelled into its next inspiring incarnation. Richmond Public Libraryappreciates the support from Libraries and Literacy to realize these goals.
DESCRIPTION OF RICHMOND
Richmond is a unique and ethnically diverse community with a large immigrant population, many ofwhom place a very high value on education and learning. As a result, the library plays a central role intheir lives. Transformed from a rural community to an international city, Richmond continues to developits downtown core and waterfront areas. However, despite the rapid changes Richmond has seen, thecommunity continues to place a high priority on protecting the natural environment and preserving itsheritage.
RICHMOND PUBLIC LIBRARY: THE COMMUNITY HUB
Richmond Public Library is a leader in offering creative, customer-driven and customer-led services foradults and children. Our focus is on providing innovative and collaborative opportunities for lifelonglearning, and easy access to services. Library members can enjoy books, eBooks, digital resources,movies, downloadable newspapers, magazines and music at our four branches, seven days a week. Weeven have 3D printers for members to use. With a broad range of programs for all ages, reading lounges,and collaborative study space for students, Richmond Public Library is one of the city’s busiestcommunity facilities. The library’s commitment to diversity is strong, and we are a recognized leader inthe area of community-based services for immigrants, in particular, the large Chinese community.
DEMOGRAPHICS OF RICHMOND
As a dynamic, multi-ethnic community with an estimated population of 213,8911 Richmond is a thrivingurban centre. According to the National Household Survey from Statistics Canada (2011) 59.6% ofRichmond’s population is immigrants, and of that number 84.2%2 are of Asian ancestry. Newcomershave contributed significantly to the diversity and vibrancy of the City of Richmond.
1City of Richmond, Population Hot Facts
2 Statistics Canada, National Household Survey for Richmond, BC
CHALLENGES FACED BY RICHMOND PUBLIC LIBRARY AND OUR COMMUNITY
The biggest challenges the library faces are: transforming the library into a learning hub as well as acreative space for collaborative learning and teaching; keeping up with library users’ increasing digitalneeds; demands for study space; ensuring that the library remains a community gathering place; refocusingour traditional library services and collections to meet the needs of 21st century users; andmeeting the multicultural needs of our diverse community, all the while preserving the fundamentalvalue of books and reading.
STRATEGIC PLAN AND LIBRARY GOALS
For more information, please see Richmond Public Library Strategic and Long Range Plan 2014-2018 at As a result of our 2013 Community PublicConsultation we are well on our way towards implementing our Strategic Plan, as informed by thespecific needs of our residents. Based on the information our users gave us, a strategic vision for libraryservices emerged around eight key strategic roles the library plays in the community.
1. The Refocused Traditional Library
The Refocused Traditional Library will continue to be a free source of lifelong learning, and will be a hubfor creativity, exploration and discovery. Users will be able to borrow books, magazines, DVDs and CDsfor free, as well as have access to a wide assortment of digital media collections.
Let’s Refocus Our Traditional Library by:
• Expanding popular areas and downsizing others, as needed.
• Establishing an eReader lending collection.
• Expanding our collection of academic materials for kids.
2. The Learning Hub Library
A place to study, work collaboratively and find help for homework assignments, the LearningHub is also a place for personal development. It will rely heavily on traditional hard copy collections aswell as digital collections. The Learning Hub Library will require lots of wired study areas withcomputers. It will also require flexible rooms that can be reserved for group study or instruction, virtualtutoring, independent study, or small group presentations, plus library staff to help.
Let’s Become a City of Lifelong Learners by:
• Developing flexible spaces for individual study, group work and presentations.
• Developing after school drop-in programs for homework help and guidance.
• Developing computer workstations designed for shared group activities.
• Acquiring audiovisual presentation equipment for public presentations.
3. The Living Room Library
The Living Room Library is the place to read, study or relax in a quiet, comfortable environment. It iswell-lit with plenty of open spaces and offers a variety of seating options.
We’ll Make the Library a More Comfortable Space by:
• Providing more seating and reading areas.
• Improving the quality of the seating and reading areas.
• Providing parent/child reading areas.
4. The Digital Library
The digital Library is a virtual place to access all kinds of digital information. It requires individual andgroup workstations, high speed Internet, a variety of digital devices for staff training and instruction, andthe necessary IT infrastructure to support it all. This role also encourages interactive activities thatstimulate curiosity.
Let’s Go Digital by:
• Growing digital media collections including books, music, video, magazines and newspapers.
• Improving and increasing public computer stations.
• Expanding high speed Internet and wireless services.
• Developing digital services Apps for smartphones and tablets.
5. The Activity Library
The Activity Library invites the community to come together for information programs that aresupported by our book and digital collections. This requires flexible programming rooms that can beused for group instruction and public presentations. The Activity Library responds to a growing numberof library users who want to organize and lead library programs, where they can shear their knowledgeand experience.
Let’s Create a Vibrant and Participative Experience by:
• Focusing programming to better meet the needs of users, especially on popular topics.
• Engaging community specialists to design and deliver programming.
• Developing a group of volunteers for library programming.
• Improving marketing and promotion of library activities in-house, within the community, and on
the web.
6. The Creative Library
The Creative Library is a place to work and learn collaboratively with like-minded people. Librarymembers will have the opportunity to contribute, publish and share content. It requires collaborativephysical and virtual workspaces, proper equipment, software applications, and library staff support. Thelibrary has the responsibility to store and distribute the information and projects created by communitymembers. This role creates an opportunity to benefit from the community’s knowledge, skills andexperience, and promote social interaction.
Let’s Get Creative by:
• Collaborating with partners to develop Create & Learn technology.
• Developing trial space at the Brighouse (Main) Branch.
• Acquiring specialized equipment for community use, such as 3D printers, digital scanners andpublic presentation equipment.
• Providing easy access to user-created content.
7. The Multicultural Library
The Multicultural Library provides space for special collections and services that reflect Richmond’smulticulturalism, based on the Dr. Lee inspired Special Collection on Chinese Culture, and the Benand Esther Dayson Judaica Collection. This role capitalizes on Richmond’s position as one ofCanada’s most diverse communities.
Let’s Embrace Diversity Around Us by:
• Creating space to house the Special Collection on Chinese Culture.
• Developing and promoting multilingual collections.
• Working with community groups to offer a variety of cultural programs that inform, entertain,and promote cultural understanding.
8. The Gathering Place Library
The Gathering Place Library is where groups of people can get together informally to talk, learn, andshare ideas. It requires public spaces that balance the quiet, individual activities of the Living Roomwith an informal space where noise is okay.
Let’s Create a Place for Everyone by:
• Creating small, specialized trial spaces to experiment with this concept.
PROGRESS MADE IN 2015
In 2015 the library celebrated several key accomplishments that enhanced, improved or expanded on the programs, services and collections that we offer to the community of Richmond. Specific examples include the physical renovations at the Cambie and Ironwood branches as well as a collection refresh at the Steveston branch. A significant portion of the library’s budget was dedicated towards collections, which on top of the Steveston refresh included expansion of our eBook collection. Further, as detailed in the next sections of this report, the library undertook several new programming initiatives aimed at providing new digital, outreach and community partnership offerings to our community. These programming initiatives are in direct support of the four Government priorities.
Library Board Chair Simon Tang says that the library is on track towards the successful implementation of its five year Strategic and Long Range Plan. "This year we want to build on previous successes and continue to create new and exciting learning opportunities for community members of all ages. By offering innovative programming combined with a relentless focus on expanding our traditional and digital collections, we want the public to know that there is something for everyone at the library,” says Tang.
Government Priorities, Goals, Programs and Services, Partnerships
library Priority 1: A focus on equitable access to library services for allBritish Columbians, including efforts to extend library service, both physical and digital, to under-represented populations (ex. Aboriginal, print disabled, and immigrants).
LIBRARY GOAL THAT SUPPORT PRIORITY 1:
Richmond Public Library’s progress towards this priority is driven and supported by strategic role # 5: The Activity Library – Let’s create a vibrant and participative experience by focusing programming to better meet the needs of users, especially on popular topics, and by engaging community specialists to design and deliver programming.
This goal is a work in progress with many successes achieved in 2015.
LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND / OR SERVICES THAT ALIGN WITH THIS PRIORITY
PROGRAM # 1 OUTREACH AT THOMPSON COMMUNITY CENTRE
This year the library partnered with the Thompson Community Centre to offer a variety of services to Community Centre users.
Welcome bags
The library worked with the Community Centre to fill welcome bags with promotional materials about community and library programs and services. Included in the bag was a coupon that could be brought into the library to redeem for a free 3D printed item and/or a free session with a librarian, where parents could be introduced to resources for their family. These were handed out over the summer to families attending summer camps at Thompson Community Centre. A total of 550 bags were handed out and 4 coupons were redeemed.
Welcome table
Library staff also set up a welcome table three mornings a week at the community centre’s Summer Neighbourhood camps for low income families where they could connect with caregivers signing up their children for programs.
Storytime in the Park program
Library staff led a short storytime as part of the Thompson Community Centre park program and then spoke to parents about library resources.
PROGRAM # 2 OUTREACH AT CIVIC AND PRIVATE BUSINESS LOCATIONS
With significant support from the library’s two new Community Programmers, the library has undertaken a new outreach program with a goal to reduce or remove barriers for community members to access library programs and services and to build awareness and support in the community for the library.
Since the outreach program’s inception, the library has conducted a number of outreach events at civic locations, businesses, school visits and adult activity and long term care facilities. In October 2015 there were five outreach activities, fouroutreach activities in November and sixoutreach activities in December. These events offered the following services to members and non-members:
- library card registration
- material check-in
- library program and service information
- programming
- opportunities for volunteer engagement
- digital services demonstrations
The library is aware that outreach activities can reduce in-library staff resources but the pay-off has been that outreach is a valuable public relations tool to promote the library to audiences that may be unaware of what the library offers. It has also proven to be a valuable tool to engage with the community to discover their needs, thus keeping the library relevant to the community.
PARTNERSHIPS THAT SUPPORT THIS PRIORITY:
We have developeda strong partnership with the Arthritis Society, who saw enough value in the programmingoffered in partnership with the library to invest in significant print advertising in the Richmond News print publication.We have also developed a partnership agreement to provide both outreach services and in-branch programming with the LGBTQ Connection, the Kiwanis Tower seniors residence, the Richmond chapter of the Food Bank and a local, popular City of Richmond park facility called the Richmond Nature Park where we offered outreach activities at two large community events held at this park in Fall 2015.
OUTCOMES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED:
- Library works collaboratively with other community groups to expand cultural awareness
- Fosters social interaction and informal learning opportunities.
- New partnerships are made and existing community partnerships are strengthened.
- Library engages with the community to share information and promote lifelong learning.
library Priority 2: Increased supports for education transformation. Libraries, as key partners in providing supports to students and parents outside of the classroom, should continue organizing and collaborating on community-based, personalized learning opportunities for all learners which allows them to realize their full potential in reaching personal goals.
LIBRARY GOAL THAT SUPPORTS PRIORITY 2:
Digital Literacy programming at Richmond Public Library supports and aligns to five of our eight strategic roles: The Refocused Library, The Learning Hub Library, the Digital Library, The Activity Library and the Creative Library.
The new Digital Literacy programs in support of this priority launched in Summer of 2015 and mark the beginning of a three year Digital Literacy Programming Plan for the library, so this goal is a work in progress.
PROGRAMS AND / OR SERVICES THAT ALIGN WITH THIS PRIORITY:
DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAMMING LAUNCH
The library’s digital programming focused on digital themes including: robotics, coding, 3D printing, basic computer needs and social themes including: critical thinking, team-building, problem solving, editing, design and creativity, listening, time management and social confidence.
The Digital Literacy programs kicked off at the Summer Reading Club Finale on August 22. At this event the library launched the Kids Computer Learning Centre and the Digital Learning Collection. Over the summer the library purchased the first digital items to be used as the Digital Learning Collection, which includes interactive technologies such as Little Bits, MaKey MaKeys, Dash & Dot and Lego Mindstorms. (Anne and Cindy).
The Digital Literacy Programming Plan has focused on providing opportunities for Richmond residents to explore various digital platforms. Library staff have offered a variety of programs that have encouraged not only digital learning but social interaction. Four levels of programming are offered:
- Drop in Activities: both library staff and community led programs (e.g. 3D Maker MeetUps, Minecraft)
- Registered: scheduled library staff led programs (e.g. Once Upon An App, Evil Genius)
- Registered: scheduled community led programs with limited staff or volunteer assistance (e.g. Coding4Fun, Robokids)
- Public events: larger scale library staff led and/or community collaborated events open to all ages (e.g. Global 3D Printing day, Science Bash & Tech Faire, #TechPopUps)
Also on August 22, the library unveiled the Fall programming lineup. An exciting new roster of programs started in September and ran through December, and continues to run in 2016. Notable successful programs that resonated with the community as evidenced by attendance and qualitative engagement assessments include:
Evil Genius: A registered program for ages10-14 where science-minded kids who are interested in robotics meet to explore and complete challenges with the new Digital Learning Collection.
3D Maker Meetups: A drop-in meetup session for certified 3D makers and guest speakers aged teen through adult where 3D enthousiasts of all ages get the chance to meet other makers and share their knowledge and skills. Participants have the opportunity to present their work and discuss projects with the group.
Hour of Code, presented by Marshmallow Coding: Children ages 9-12 receive an introduction to coding in this week-long series.
PARTNERSHIPS THAT SUPPORT THIS PRIORITY:
The library strengthened is partnership with the Richmond School District # 38by working with school teachers and counselors to provide information about upcoming programs and resources at the library that support the school curriculum. In addition a new partnership was trialed with EdCom News, a print publication for the Richmond School District, where we shared upcoming information about relevant programs with all parents and students in the district.
New partnerships were fostered with local 3D print enthusiasts and makers, as well as coding experts who were invited into the library to lead community programs, man booths at Science Bash and Tech Faire, and lead discussion groups at the 3D Maker Meetups.