Oakland Public LibraryMain BranchMatthew Colbert, Diana Learned, and Jessica Raburn

Welcome to the Oakland Public Library

Library Mission: “to inform, inspire and delight our diverse community as a resource for information, knowledge, and artistic and literary expression, providing the best in traditional services, new technologies and innovative programs.”

Understanding the Service Population

Very diverse user base Over 70% of population

non-European Over 30% of population

speaks language other than English primarily

Strong African American, Asian, Latin American, and LGBT communities

Very politically and socially Progressive

Active small business community in area

Supports local schools and students Many community and 4-

year colleges in area Secondary support for

limited school library media centers and for many private institutions

Main branch serves downtown area – many people coming and going through area

Understanding the Collection

COLLECTION POLICY

Selection Policy Community interest – Mostly

popular materials Contemporary significance or

permanent value Controversial Materials

“Not excluded because of frankness or language”

“Judged on the volume as a whole”

Weeding: Damaged, out-of-date, or extra copies Large storage room in basement Last copies often saved

SHELF SCAN

Fifty Shades of Grey6 holds on first copy returned of 80

copies 1 hold on first copy returned of 1 copy

Building Stories4 holds on first copy returned of 1

copy

Let’s Go For a Drive!1 hold on first copy returned of 37

copies

Killing Kennedyhold on first copy returned of 1 copy

Gone Girl Killing Kennedy

hold on first copy returned of 1 copy

Understanding Other Resources

ELECTRONIC RESOURCES eBooks and audio books

Oakland ePort▪ Overdrive subscription to

cardholders▪ Nook, Sony Reader, Kindle,

and iPad materials available BALIS consortium

Electronic Databases Large variety available

through OPL to cardholders Databases and govt.

materials also available through CA State Library

OTHER COLLECTIONS

BALIS library consortium Links library resources in San

Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties

Shared digital resources and ILL (fee to patron)

Link+ Courier System Links East Bay libraries through

courier system Any member library cardholder

can place holds at any Link+ library

Faster than ILL & no fee Many libraries in area to

patronize

Measure Q

City set 2 Year Budget

Defunding Libraries was Considered

Mayor Quan Supported Cutting 14 Branches

2011

Approved by 77.1% of Voters

Mayor Quan Co-authored & Supported

$13 M in parcel tax revenue

City must spend at least $9 M from the general fund on library services.

Library = 13.84% of GF Revenue FY 12

2004

Current Budget Reality

FY 10 & FY 11

Percentage ChangePersonnel + 7.69%OOE + 14.47%Collections -7.78%

Trends

FY 10 Circulation FY 11 Circulation

Percentage ChangeTotal +1.43%Children’s +9.21%Non-Book +7.62%Non-English -9.67%

Strategies to Reduce Spending

Entertain bids to competitors of OverDrive

Increase the automatic buy from Hold Rates from 3 to 1 to 5 to 1

Promote use of BALIS Library Consortium

Utilize and promote use of Link +  system

How Does This Inform Us Going Forward?

15% overall cut 20% Foreign

Language 18% Reference 11% Popular Fiction 11% E-Books

References

City of Oakland Budget Office. (2010). Fact Sheet about FY 1010-11 General Fund. http://www2.oaklandnet.com/oakca1/groups/cityadministrator/documents/marketingmaterial/dowd009068.pdf

City of Oakland Budget Office. (2011). FY 2011-13 Adopted Policy Budget. http://www2.oaklandnet.com/oakca1/groups/cityadministrator/documents/report/oak032748.pdf

City of Oakland Budget Office. (2012). 2011-13 Proposed Amended Policy Budget. Retrieved fromhttp://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/CityAdministration/d/BudgetOffice/index.htm

Inez Ward, J. (2011, May 7). Despite Measure Q, Oakland libraries may be hit hard in new budget. Oakland Local. Retrieved from http://oaklandlocal.com/article/despite-measure-q-oakland-libraries-may-be-hit-hard-new-budget

Kuruvila, M. (2011, May 28). Jean Quan’s tax plan riles Oakland library backers. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved from http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Jean-Quan-s-tax-plan-riles-Oakland-library-backers-2369428.php

Oakland Public Library. (2009). Oakland Public Library Annual Report 2009-2011. http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/sites/default/files/OPL_AnnualReport_20092011.pdf