The Provincetown Public Library Board of Trustees
held a Special Planning Meeting on
The Meeting began with a recap of the first
meeting. Since the first Planning
Committee Meeting, both the Trustees, and the Library Staff have met. The staff did the same SWOT analysis, came up
with their priorities in general, and explored #17 very thoroughly (Visit a
Comfortable Place)since it ranked for them as #1.
NEW BUSINESS
Following are some general points made in a
“conversation” that Debbie
conducted with the assembly: A comment from one committee
member, that “the Library should operate as a living room” started a discussion
about the various perceptions we have of
“living room.” Some thought it was too cozy a term, that it evoked visions
of eating pizza and “hanging out.” Others thought that it suggested a safe\and
quiet place to read, to study, to use a computer.
Debbie was asked to comment on the initial plans for
the physical
space, before changes were made due to financial constraints.
She told of glass partitions that were to surround the Rose Dorothea in the
children’s library, and that there was to be another quiet area on the top
floor, which would be the arts and literature department,.
Each of these areas was to have climate control, (as the lower level, in fact,
will). The “quiet”
room where we were seated had been planned as a meeting room with separate
access to the street. The lower level would be for serious reference work,
there would be access from the lower level directly to the basement of the
“bunker.” The cement “bunker” is now used as a storage area. A committee member
remembered that there were plans to build a bridge to that building, which is
in good shape, and has a full basement, so that it could be used as a
periodicals room and/or as a quiet space. Debbie invited the assembly to visit
the “bunker” during the break or after the meeting. There was to be a young
adult section in addition to the children’s room.
Debbie emphasized that the Library is far from
complete, and that there might indeed be many changes in the future, some of
which will, as we experience the building more, give the mix of quiet and
not-quiet spaces that will satisfy developing needs. It was mentioned that the
current philosophy of library usage is not to “shush” visitors, but to welcome
them. It was also recognized that on balance, there does need to be quiet
space. Some libraries have done things like host belly-dancing classes, develop
extensive CD music and video-game collections, and other non-traditional things
to draw people, especially youth, into the building, with the idea that once
there, they will stay to experience the other treasures that the library
offers.
It was pointed out that the Library is not on the
Town’s highway sign
listing our cultural attractions. There was a discussion
about who our
customer is, how that customer and others perceive the
Library and its
use, and that marketing might be needed to deliver a
message about the
Library to the public. Questions were raised about the number of kids who
use the Library, and the percentage of the total number of kids they represent.
The Library is central to the culture of the Town, operating as a repository of
history and information, as a home for the Rose Dorothea, in preserving the
building itself, and as a gallery that showcases the Town’s art collection. The
Library would like to be able to offer docent tours of the building, the boat
and the art collection.
Comments were made about the need for landscaping,
for a reading
garden, the
desirability or undesirability of a gazebo or other outside gathering space and
about wheelchair accessibility to the Library. It was suggested that if
The Town, with so many resources—the non-profits,
arts, town agencies--would be much more successful if we learned to cooperate
better with each other. The Library could be a facilitator to bring resources
together. She spoke of the
The Library has a small staff, not nearly enough to
implement these
Other plans. The Library
buys the best headphones we can; users are very hard on them and we go through
about 30 pairs a year. The Library needs
to come more into the community, especially galvanizing community resources. As
example, the Chamber of Commerce took it upon themselves to organize the
lighting of the Monument. After several years or so doing, the Monument assumed
the project and the funding for it
themselves; a community initiative evolved into a sustained
program.
The notion that the Library could organize and
maintain a central
clearing-house of Town information came up several times. The
Library, as neutral space, could produce that one web space, that one thing, that is really good, and could do it well.
Debbie said that the Library Staff is “flat out” and
not able to do
much in the way of Programming. What is done is: Born to
Read program, meant more as a support for parents than as a literacy program
for the kids, and which is very popular (As a wonderful example of community
cooperation, St Mary’s of the Harbor, recognizing the lack of parking during
the summer months, donates their space to this program every Tuesday &
Thursday for July & August. The kids have a wonderful time, using the
parish hall and beach.) Heritage Day --Access to Town’s rotating art
collection--Lipton Cup display --Special Celebrations, eg, Margaret Mayo’s
recent 100th birthday --Rose Dorothea film. The Library has no budget for
advertising, marketing or programming. It was suggested that volunteers might
organize no-cost programs such as
short-story readings, reading of Shakespeare or Dickens, travel
slide
shows and talks, all of which could bring new people into
the Library. The volunteer committee could conduct these events during off
hours. To foster cross-participation with the Library, businesses could be
solicited to sponsor one of these events, possibly pairing a
business with a related topic. It would be good to have a volunteer do a weekly
column in the Banner, highlighting new books, events, displays, etc.
A committee member told about an event in her
childhood library.
Were asked to dress a pet up as a
favorite literary character and to bring that pet to the Library on a
particular day. She will remember
it always, and suggested it as a way to have kids participate. The issue of the Patriot Act, and filtering
was discussed. One member, who
attended high school in
her alumna association winds up on a federal list of
those who contact
Pakistani organizations every time she connects with
her alumnae group
online. Debbie noted that the Library deletes all
borrowers’ records on a daily basis, simply to avoid having any information on
file.
Several people wondered if illegal immigrants and
their kids feel comfortable availing themselves of the Library’s services or if
they are intimidated because they fear being asked about their status.
The Town had an Early Learning Preschool program
about 20 years ago.
It does not, now.
The Mormon Church under
TheTown owns two large scanning devices, one of which
will be at the Library. It is expected that community members will be able to
use the scanner at the Library for their own projects, with the hope that that
information, if pertinent, will be shared with the Library. The committee
recognizes the historical genealogical significance of church records, cemetery
records, and oral histories. The
Registry of Deeds in
Several members said they needed education about the
services that the Library offers, and ways to access them, eg. CLAMS, Virtual Library, MassAnswer etc. An info packet for
the frequent and for the casual visitor would be desirable. Also useful would
be a “wishlist” of available volunteers, what they can offer, and a corresponding
“wishlist” of the Library’s needs. HandsOnBoston is an existing, functioning
website and should be referenced as a model for our needs. The Library
unofficially teaches English as a foreign language. (The Nautilus Club used to
do something similar, on a volunteer basis.) A collection of electronic
materials would enhance our ability to be effective.
The Library is sharing in an exciting project of
downloadable books-on-line. There will be many audio books, and eventually,
videos available. Rosetta Stone, a foreign language
teaching system has been available through Clams, but will be discontinued as
of
Since committee members had a chance to reflect on
the last meeting and think about the priorities that we had decided upon for
these three weeks, Debbie asked that we raise our hands again to determine if
we still held the same opinions, and in the same order.
This selection process was quite exciting with
committee members lobbying for their favorite top Service Responses and then
negotiating with other committee members as well as with Debbie and the Chair
of the Trustees. Of course, in typical Provincetown fashion, Provincetown’s
plan will be unique from other public libraries in the commonwealth because the
committee is recommending combing service responses thus acknowledging that the
online environment is a basic library service--as basic as the provision of
books and by combining Early Literacy with Lifelong Learning, expressing their
strong opinion that Lifelong Learning represents all ages. The selected Service
Responses in priority order are:
> #1 Visit a comfortable Place: Physical and
Virtual Places:
Residents** will have safe and welcoming physical
places to meet and
interact with others or to sit quietly and read and will have
open and
accessible virtual spaces that support networking
> #2 Stimulate Imagination:
Residents who want materials to enhance their leisure
time will find
what they want when and where they want them and will
have the help
they need to make choices from among the options
(Combined with
Connect to the Online World: Public Internet Access.
Residents will have high-speed access to the digital world with no unnecessary
restrictions or fees to ensure that everyone can take advantage of the
ever-growing resources and services available through the internet.)
> #3 Satisfy Curiosity: Lifelong learning:
Residents will have the resources they need to
explore topics of
personal interest and continue to learn throughout their
lives.
(Combined with Create Young Readers: Early Literacy:
Children from
birth to age five will have programs and services designed
to ensure
that they will enter school ready to learn to read, write
and listen.)
#4 Know Your Community: Community Resources and
Services: Residents
will have a central source for information about the wide
variety
of programs, services and activities provided by
community agencies and
organizations
#5 Celebrate Diversity: Cultural Awareness
Residents will have programs and services that
promote appreciation
and understanding of their personal heritage and the
heritage of
others in the community.
The Library Trustees and Library Director would like
to thank to the Committee members, Mick Rudd, Cheryl Bryan, Assistant
Administrator for Continuing Education and Consulting Services, Southeast Mass.
Regional Library System) and our facilitator, Bill Schneider
Respectfully Submitted,
Jackie Kelly
* Library Services Responses are taken from the
National Public
Library Planning model used
by Massachusetts Public Libraries by
Sandra Nelson: "Strategic Planning for
Results," American Library
Association, 2008
*Please note
that Residents in our community is a very broad term and
includes services to Year-round residents, part-time
residents and
visitors