Wauconda Area Public Library District

 

The Year In Review

 

Annual Report

 

Fiscal Year 2005 / 2006

 

The following report covers the time period of July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006.

 

 

Past Annual Reports
FY 0405
FY 0304
FY 0203
FY0102

Board of Library Trustees

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Library Usage Highlights


Highlights of library usage statistics:

  • Library patrons visited the library this year a record 253,579 times

  • A record 3,355 patrons registered for library cards this year

  • Total circulation is up by 8.4% -- record 543,422 items were checked out

  • DVD checkouts have increased by 31.2%

  • Total Music CD checkouts have increased by 8.1%, including an 19% increase in Children's CD checkouts

  • Circulation of Adult books increased by 3% this year, while circulation of Young Adult books increased by 14.3% and Children's books by 15.5%

  • Total reference and information transactions increased by 17.3%, including a 15% increase at the Adult Services reference desk, an 31% increase at the Children's reference desk, and a 13% increase at the Information Desk in the Circulation Department

  • Total program attendance increase this year by 26.3%, to a new record of 41,869 attendances

  • Library website (www.wauclib.org) visits increased by 42% usage also hit an all-time annual record of 182,925 online visits involving 268,574 page views

  • Online visits to the library-sponsored Wauconda Area Community Website (www.waucondaarea.info) increased by 142% to an all-time record of 159,068 visits

  • Online renewals of materials done by patrons themselves hit an all-time high of 19,745 for the year


Library Usage Statistics: FY0405 Compared to FY0506
 
  FY0405 FY0506 % Change
Population Served* 22,036 22,036 0
Total Active Borrowers** 17,397 16,636 -4.3%
       
Total Information Transactions      
Adult Services Department 38,737 44,714 15.4%
Children's Services Department 43,228 56,757 31.3%
Circulation Department 121,814 137,486 12.9%
   Library Total 203,779 238,957 17.3%
       
Reference Transactions      
Adult Services Department 22,404 23,172 3.4%
Children's Services Department 15,885 46,565 112.4%
       
Circulation Statistics      
Adult Materials Loaned *** 333,390 300,926 -9.7%
Children's Materials Loaned *** 168,046 242,496 44.3%
   Library Total 501,436 543,422 8.4%
       
Interlibrary Loan      
Items requested and received by our patrons from other libraries 4,137 4,707 13.8%
Items request by and sent to other libraries for their patrons 3,618 3,516 -2.8%
       
Program Attendance      
Adult Programs 11,096 13,652 23.0%
Children's Programs 21,148 25,752 21.8%
Non-Library Meeting Attendance 904 2,465 172.7
   Library Total 33,148 41,869 26.3%
     
Internet Usage      
Library website page views 256,368 268,574 4.8%
       
Circulation by area of residence      
Wauconda 272,890 275,615 1%
Island Lake 122,285 125,391 2.5%
Port Barrington 15,512 17,776 14.6%
Portens 8,971 8,456 -5.7%
Orchard Hills / Liberty Lakes 5,235 13,370 155.4%
Outside of library district 76,326 83,035 8.8%
       
Circulation by age group      
Adults (18+) 328,430 351,667 7.1%
Teens (14-17) 24,499 23,148 -5.5%
Child (5-13) 59,580 67,033 12.5%

*  Population figure is based on the 2000 Census.  Actual population has 
    increased, but exact figures are not known at this time. 

** New criterion: number of registered card holders used within Fiscal year

*** New criteria: more specificity (i.e. children's DVDs and CDs now counted separately

 


Administration

  • Further increases in all library materials and program budgets in order to enable continued upgrading of all collections and attract more library patrons

    •

  • Coordinated the final payoff of the 1996 library building bond, refunded at a lower interest rate, resulting in a total net savings to taxpayers of $196,000 over the remaining 11-year term of the debt.

  • Staff institute day at library focusing on cultural diversity sensitivity and team-building

  • Established a new secured web page for use by the library's trustees, designed to improve trustee access to library information, policies and documents

  • Application for and receipt of $18,900 “Creative Use of Libraries” grant for establishing new
    e-book and e-audiobook services, including iPods and eBook devices for checkout

  • Established ePay system for secure online payment of fees, fines, and donations

  • Trustee training sessions were presented at regular board meetings.  Topics this year included family literacy, tax increment financing, and demonstrations of library tools such as the PC Reservation system, iPods, and wireless laptop computers.

  • Library Director served on the NSLS NorthStarNet Policy and Planning Advisory Committee

  • Library Director served on the Cultural Diversity Committee of the United Partnership for a Better Community

  • Revised or established policies:

  • Personnel Policy (confidentiality statement and deletion of donated sick time policy)

  • Circulation Policy (confidentiality statement and reciprocal borrower restrictions)

  • Internet Usage.

  • Meeting Room Policy

 

 


Public Relations (See also School Outreach and Outreach to the Business Community, below)

 

  • Promotional campaign: Wauconda Area Library was named NSLS 2005 Library of the Year (North Suburban Library System).  Promotional benefits and campaign noted in Public Libraries, the primary trade journal serving public libraries nationwide.

  • "A Great Day @ Your Library" September 24, 2005, celebrating the "Library of the Year" award and Library Card Sign-Up Month -- record attendance of more than 1,500 people.

  • Worked with the United Partnership in development of programs promoting cultural diversity, and community outreach to teens and seniors

  • Worked with the United Partnership for a Better Community in planning Family Literacy Classes -- a truly innovative and collaborative program involving the College of Lake County, the Wauconda Park District, School District 118, and the Wauconda Area Library, made possible by Congressman Kirk's FIRST program ("Families Involved in Reading Stories Together").

  • Most successful Library Card Sign-Up Month and business partnership to date, with 597 new card registrations and 110 participating businesses

    •

  • Established a new, improved community website -- www.waucondaarea.info -- a community portal providing web pages loaded with information, a community calendar, photographs, and links pertaining to or of interest to the the communities of Wauconda, Island Lake, Lake Barrington, Port Barrington, Lakemoor, and Volo, including unincorporated Wauconda Township. 

  • Established new website for the United Partnership for a Better Community -- www.unitedpartnership.org

  • Co-hosted the most successful Annual Friends Book Sale to date, earning more than $4,000 for the Friends of the Library

  • Continued distribution of a periodic library e-newsletter to more than 2,300 library patrons with active email addresses

  • Web-based annual report promoting the library’s many accomplishments

  • Welcome Packets including free pen for all new patrons 
  • Booth and library program at Wauconda Business Expo
  • Three editions of FOCUS, the library newsletter, including full-color 8-page format, were distributed to more than 12,000 households and businesses throughout the library district. 
  • Patron Appreciation Reception and daily "Coffee Hour" during National Library Week
  • Food for Fines program accepting food donations in lieu of overdue fines
  • Voter registration service
  • Notary Public service

 

School Outreach

 

  • All the programs initiated last year have been continued, and several new services have been initiated or are in the planning process
  • Family literacy classes partnership with WHS, CLC, and the Park District; expanded programming for ESL students and Hispanic students, and several important online academic databases. 
  • Library website featured the school district’s “Show Them What You know” campaign, promoting parental and community support for students taking ISAT and PSAT exams in march and April
  • Acquisition of required textbooks from local area schools for a centralized School Textbook Collection in both the adult and children's reference departments of at the library
  • Improved ESL resources, including addition of a bilingual reference staff member and automatic web-based translation of the library website
  • Hosted New Faculty Visit
  • Hosted School Librarians Breakfast
  • Attended school librarians meetings at Curriculum Office
  • Hosted visits to Children's Services Department for District 118 5th Grade classes
  • Hosted behind-the-scene tours for District 118 3rd Grade classes
  • Hosted library visits for Messiah Lutheran preschool classes
  • In cooperation with District 118’s bilingual team, the library welcomed ESL families and conducted tours of the library
  • Library presence at Curriculum Nights at Dist. 118 schools during September
  • Library presence at Family Reading Night at the Wauconda Grade School
     

Outreach to the Business Community

 

  • Worked with Wauconda and Island Lake Chambers of Commerce to promote their programs Community Website and Community Calendar
  • Library Card Sign-Up Month (September, 2005) business partnership with 122 participating businesses.  The library promoted these businesses in print and on the Internet.  In return, the participating businesses provided free or discounted products or services when customers showed their library cards.
  • Participated in Wauconda Chamber Expo
  • Worked with Wauconda Women in Business Council in initial formation of the group, providing meeting space with amenities
  • Provided meeting space for Wauconda Chamber Industrial Alliance (CIA)
  • 2-page article in the Wauconda Chamber Community guide
  • Inclusion in the Island Lake Chamber map of Island Lake, promoting the library and the Wauconda Area Community Website
  • Attended Wauconda Economic Development Committee meetings
  • Attended Wauconda Chamber's Main Street Group meeting


Library Facility and Grounds

  • Replaced carpeting in Genevieve Lincoln Community Meeting Room with carpet tiles for more cost-effective maintenance

  • Parking lot was seal-coated and re-striped

  • New large white pines was planted, replacing one which had died

  • Repaired front stairway


 Adult Services Department

 

The Adult Services staff presented 178 programs for adults and 81 programs for young adults.  Included were 31 computer classes, 56 sessions of adult book discussions, 14 sessions of young adult book discussions, 11 concerts, 36 feature films, 2 bus trips, 25 instructional programs for young adults and 53 informational and instructional programs for adults.  These programs were attended by over 13,652 young adults and adults for an increase of 23% over last fiscal year.
 

Free weekly tax assistance to individuals over the age of 55 was offered by two experienced AARP volunteers during tax season in 2005.  Over 265 people took advantage of this program held in the Quiet Study Room.  Extra sessions were added to accommodate the volume of requests.
 

Highlights of reading programs included:

  • Summer Reading Club 2005---Superheroes: Powered by Books!
  • Winter/Spring Reading Club 2006—Warm Up with a Good Book
  • Summer Reading Club 2005—X Marks the Spot!  Reading Adventures Begin @ Your Library
  • Big Ticket coupon booklet sponsored by the Daily Herald
  • Read and Win with Abe: Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award for Grades 9-12
  • Rebecca Caudill Book Club for Grades 6-8


Highlights of Young Adult Programs included:

  • DDR Electronic Game Spot (Dance Dance Revolution)
  • Hispanic Heritage Craft Celebration
  • Teen Fall Film Festival
  • Library After Hours Teen Performance Café
  • Civil Air Patrol Rocketry
  • College 101:  Facts about Financial Aid, Selecting a College Major
  • Anime and Manga Art Mania
  • Rooks and Books Chess Club
  • Snack and Study Nights for High Schoolers
  • Drop-In Crafts: Beaded Earrings, Magnet Holders
     

Highlights of Adult programs included:

  • Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
  • Harvest Cooking with Chef Dave Essau
  • Caribbean Cooking with Trader Joe’s
  • Daniel Burnham Speaks on the Columbian Exposition
  • Wine-ology 101
  • War Letters:  American History Brought to Life
  • Golden Age of the Pharaohs with Dr. James Breasted
  • One Minute Stress Management for Moms
  • For What It Is Worth with Karl Gates
  • Networking, Interviewing and Marketing Yourself
     

COMPUTER CLASSES

Nearly 300 adult patrons attended introductory computer classes held in the lower level Wireless Lab.  A contracted computer instructor for H.S. District 214 Community Education taught introductory classes for the Computer; the Internet; Web-based E-mail; Digital Camera; Microsoft Word; Microsoft Access; and Microsoft Excel.  

 

GRANTS

Three grants were awarded to the Adult Services Department. 1) The Family Reading Grant in the amount of $2,000 was awarded by the Target Corporation to increase participation in family reading programs in libraries.  This amount was applied to the Adult Services Department’s Summer and Winter Reading programs.  2) The Wal-Mart grant in the amount of $1,750 was awarded to both purchase library resources to enable the Hispanic community to learn, speak and write English, and to learn to use computers. This amount was applied to the purchase of two major Hispanic multi-media resources, Inglés sin Barreras, and Computación sin Barreras.  3) The ‘We the People Bookshelf: Becoming American’ grant was awarded to the library by the collaborative program of the American Library Association and the National Endowment for the Humanities, that encourages young people to read classic books and explore themes in American history, culture, and ideas. The bookshelf of fifteen patriotically themed books aimed at third graders through high school was chosen by the NEH in consultation with the Association for Library Services to Children and Young Adult Library Services Association.  This bookshelf was centrally displayed during U.S. patriotic holidays with red, white and blue lights and banners and a digital picture frame of early immigrants to the U.S.
 

PUBLICITY AND MARKETING

The Wauconda Area Library e-news was created as an online newsletter for library patrons to highlight current library programs, activities and resources, to offer helpful consumer, research and community information, and to report the latest library-related trends in informational technology.  Adult Services staff made significant contributions to content creation, design and layout for various issues during the year.


REFERENCE AND RESEARCH

To expand reference and research service to both students and the general public, Culture Grams and SIRS Discoverer were added to the library’s collection of online subscription databases. These included Thomson Gale’s Contemporary Authors, Contemporary Literary Criticism, Dictionary of Literary Biography, General Reference Center Gold, Student Resource Gold, and Testing and Education Resource Center.  Novelist, for reader’s advisory, tutor.com (Live Homework Help,) Brain Pop, an animated educational resource, and World Book online were continued.  Two Proquest genealogy databases, Ancestry.com, and HeritageQuest, were continued along with the Daily Herald online and Physician’s Desk Reference.  The business and residential database, Reference USA, was upgraded with remote access.  Record Information Service, a compilation of business foreclosures, bankruptcies, new homeowners, and new business owners, as reported by Illinois county courthouse filings, was continued.  Single user in-library databases were also continued including Morningstar, Value Line, Consumer Reports, Publishers Weekly, and Statesman’s Yearbook.


Informational requests phoned into the Reference Desk increased by 25% while lengthier reference requests phoned into the Reference Desk increased by 10%.  In-person informational requests increased by 38%.  A total of more than 44,714 requests were made to the Reference Desk staff, an increase of 15% over the last fiscal year.
 

SCHOOL OUTREACH

School outreach services continued with the annual jointly sponsored financial aid program with Wauconda High School; additional Snack and Study nights for students during exam weeks; increased staff presentations at the local district schools, such as Open House nights and high school lunch hour visits; increased student field trips to the library for general and YA Departmental tours such as the Boys Read Group from the Wauconda Middle School Special Education Class and the Summer School Success Celebration, which included a multi-media environmental presentation, natural snacks, and the creation of rain sticks to celebrate the completion of summer school.  Numerous bookmarks, bibliographies, flyers, booklets, posters and signs created by YA staff were distributed to students, teachers and school library media specialists either at the schools or during library tours.

 

LITERACY/HISPANIC OUTREACH

Literacy circulation statistics increased by 37% due to 1) the posting of library  posters at local grocery stores, restaurants, churches and the laundromat; 2) the posting of more bilingual signs and posters from community organizations and institutions, including nearby Ela Public Library and College of Lake County, 3) staff marketing more heavily to the ESL instructors and students at Dist. 118 Community Education classes; 4) increased ESL presentations at the library; and 5) posting events on the NSLS World Language CoP.  

 

A First Time Home buying program offered in Spanish and many t