About Us
Annual Report 2007-2008: Nurturing Our Community
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Making community a priority
As we close out the Fiscal 2007-2008 year, I am pleased to report that Pima County Public Library has made significant progress in three strategic areas:
- Expanding programs for youth and families
- Building community partnerships
- Increasing public awareness of our libraries
Our Youth Services held a community wide forum; "Building a Community of Readers." This early childhood literacy summit strengthened partnerships with literacy organizations such as United Way and Make Way for Books and identified strategies to continue building a community that values literacy. From storytimes in the library to outreach efforts in the community, library staff promoted a love of reading.
The Library provided free access to a number of learning experiences in libraries through community partnerships. Teenagers participated in programs aimed at making healthy choices and living active lifestyles funded by a MetLife grant.
Adults benefited from a Library partnership with Literacy Volunteers of Tucson to provide English Language classes at six libraries. Computer classes for adults were offered using curriculum developed by Oasis. Citizenship classes were offered in partnership with Pima Community College, and GED classes were offered as part of a grant to support workforce development.
Partnerships with Tucson Electric Power and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' office led to programs on solar energy as a way to promote environmental awareness. The arts were featured in partnership with Arizona Theatre Company's presentations from their production of "To Kill A Mockingbird."
Other Library accomplishments included:
- Librarians throughout the system connected with businesses, schools and agencies in their local communities. These partnerships helped the Library increase awareness about the services and programs we offer.
- Library hours increased to include Sundays. Seventeen libraries now are open seven days a week - Sunday hours were a response to one of our most frequent customer requests.
- On-going services such as author programs, book clubs, summer reading activities and InfoLine, our telephone information line for county residents, were retained or enhanced.
- A nearly 8 percent increase in the number of items checked out of Pima County Public Libraries over the number of items circulated in the previous year.
In the coming year we will forge a new Strategic Plan. We look forward to engaging the community as we plan for the future of the Library.
Nancy Ledeboer
Library Director
Library Activity Measures
| Activity | FY 2006-2007 | FY 2007-2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Library visits | 3,638,272 | 4,147,341 |
| Items borrowed | 6,371,480 | 6,874,888 |
| Public computer use | 827,958 | 871,778 |
| Storytime attendance | 103,722 | 107,659 |
| Meeting room use | 126,796 | 145,133 |
| Library program use | 195,736 | 219,963 |
| Questions to Infoline & Ask a Librarian | 44,067 | 48,440 |
| Catalog searches | 8,718,041 | 11,558,150 |
| Website visits | *847,939 | 1,073,361 |
| * corrects previously reported information that duplicated data |
Annual Highlights
- Nuestras Raíces
One of many cultural events offered by Pima County Public Library is the annual festival celebrating Latino writers and artists.
In 2007-2008, the Library expanded this program from a two day event, to a series of events held throughout the month.
Festivities included a local Latin film festival and several author talks.
- Summer Reading Club
Pima County Public Library's Summer Reading Club takes place every year between May and July. This intergenerational program encourages children, teens and adults to read during the summer to maintain and enhance reading skills.
In 2007-2008 the total participants increased from 33,911 to 44,608.
- GLBT Annual Author Presentation
This annual author presentation one of the Library's single best attended events.
In 2007-2008, the featured author was Armistead Maupin, whose early work "Tales of the City," was later turned into a television mini-series. More than 400 guests attended the Maupin presentation.
- Lawrence Clark Powell Memorial Lecture
December 2007 marked the 7th Annual LCP Lecture. Luci Tapahonso is a professor of American Indian Studies and English at the University of Arizona. Known for her stories of growing up and living on the Navajo Nation in northwest New Mexico, she is the author of five books of poetry as well as three children's books. Her writing expresses her love of the Navajo world and gives readers a new way of understanding themselves and their connections to each other.
Blue Horses Rush In, which received the Mountain and Plains Booksellers Association's 1998 Award for Poetry "...marks a major accomplishment in American literature for its successful blending of Navajo cultural values and forms with the English language, while at the same time retaining the Navajo character," noted the University of Arizona Press.
Tapahonso's recognitions and honors also include the 2006 Lifetime Achievement award from the Native Writers Circle of the Americas.
- New library, other system improvements
The new Wheeler Taft Abbett, Sr. Branch Library attracted over 1,000 people at its June opening day celebration. An astonishing 300 new library cards were issued that first day.
Renovations were completed at the Geasa-Marana, Himmel and Dusenberry-River libraries, along with replacement of the systemwide telephone system.
2007-2008 Expenditures
| Personnel | $16,717,143 |
| Library Materials | 6,200,000 |
| Service & Other Charges | 5,742,629 |
| Capital Outlay | 561,736 |
| Supplies | 351,185 |
| Actual Expenditures | $29,572,693 |
|---|
Community Support
Library District Board of Directors
(Pima County Board of Supervisors)
- Chairman Richard Elías, District 5
- Ann Day, District 1
- Ramon Valadez, District 2
- Sharon Bronson, District 3
- Ray Carroll, District 4
- Chuck Huckelberry, Pima County Administrator
- Hank Atha, Deputy County Administrator
Library Advisory Board
(Two representatives selected by each Library District Board member)
- Pat Peterson, President
- Marjorie Gerdes, Vice President
- Frank R. Antenori
- Miley Clark
- Obdúlia González
- Annabelle Nuñez
- Carla J. Stoffle
- Tom Ward
Library Administration
101 N. Stone Ave., Tucson, AZ 85701
520.594.5600
- Nancy Ledeboer, Library Director
- Laura Galvez, Secretary to the Advisory Board
- Patrick Corella, Deputy Library Director, Finance
- Melody Ballard, Deputy Library Director, Public Services
- Jere Voigt, Library Administrator
- Bonny Bruce, Library Administrator
- Karen Thayer, Library Administrator