EASTERN SHORE REGIONAL LIBRARY Annual Report FY2012 Governance The Eastern Shore Regional Library is governed by a Board of Trustees. The Board consists of eight county library administrators plus two trustees from each county library. The Board is responsible for setting policy and hiring an administrator who is responsible for day-­‐to-­‐day operations and fiscal management of the Library. Board Members Deborah Bennett ……………………Caroline County Public Library Jean S. Del Sordo .………………..Dorchester County Public Library Jacqueline Adams .………………………..Kent County Public Library Charles V. Powers ……………..Queen Anne’s County Free Library Jennifer Ranck …………………… Somerset County Library System Robert Horvath ……………………………Talbot County Free Library Andrea Berstler ……………………………….Wicomico Public Library Mark Thomas …………………….................Worcester County Library John C. Venditta (non-­‐voting) ……...………….Administrator ESRL ESRL Staff John C. Venditta ………………………….Administrator, started 4/11 Craig Abresch …………………Acting Administrator, through 3/11 Tracy Adams …………………………………...Administrative Assistant Information Services Rachael Stein ……………………………Information Services Manager Michelle Baynum …………………………………….Delivery Supervisor Sam Eddington ……………………………………..Training Coordinator Inda Gowie …………………………………………………Library Assistant Dean Haemel ………………………………………………Library Assistant Amber Parsons ……………………………………………...Delivery Driver Lydia Passwaters …………………………………………..Delivery Driver Information Technology Rick Simpson ……………………………………………………… IT Manager Stephen Bollinger ……………………………………………..IT Technician Jeff Cross ………………………………………………………….IT Technician Eli Fulkerson …………………………….Database/Network Specialist Jim Gifford ………………………………………………..Network Specialist Daniel Long ……………………………………………………...IT Technician Kristi Richardson………………………………………………IT Technician Established in 1965 the Eastern Shore Regional Library, Inc. (ESRL) serves and empowers eight rural library systems on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. ESRL is the largest of the regional resource centers in Maryland and serves one-­‐third of the counties in the state. Our services include daily delivery, information and reference services, inter-­‐library loan, technology support and consultation, consortium purchasing, training and a variety of other services through mutual cooperation and coordination with the eight county library systems. From the Administrator The Eastern Shore Regional Library empowers libraries by connecting them to resources, services and expertise, building vital communities. ESRL FY2012-­‐2015 Strategic Plan Missions Statement ESRL’s new Strategic Plan 2012 to 2015 was developed during FY12 and funded by a Library Services and Technology Act Grant from the Division of Library Development and Services. The Plan pooled responses from all of ESRL’s stakeholders and is framed with the Mission above and the Vision of ESRL as the cornerstone of exceptional library service. A wonderful by-­‐product of this process was the assurance that ESRL is highly valued by those we serves. In FY12, ESRL streamlined and improved on those services. Our delivery department reduced our fleet by one vehicle, overhauled our routes, covering 140,000 miles and handling 580,000 items. Information Services increased e-­‐book spending and managed the Region’s e-­‐
resources, increasing subscription database usage by an average of 43% over FY11. Information Technology continued to upgrade and innovate IT services throughout the Region, providing access to Constant Contact to all of our member libraries and developing & administering intranets for each system. ESRL continues to strive to provide outstanding service to our regional library community. Funding ESRL Receives 100% of its funding from the State of Maryland. The funding formula is based on population. Laws of Maryland Pertaining to Public Libraries states that “each year each participating regional resource center shall receive a minimum amount of funding for each resident of the area served, to be used for operating and capital expenses.” The allocation from the State for FY12 is calculated based on $6.75 per capita, with a population served of 339,180, for a total MD state appropriation of $2,289,465. State funding impacts all aspects of services provided by ESRL specifically; delivery, electronic resources, technology and training. FY 2012 Expenses Contractual Exp 3% Capital Exp 4% Personnel 41% Grants 33% Library Materials 8% Operating 8% Info Technology 3% Jack Gantos’ Eastern Shore Tour Administrative Services •
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Provided support for MLA conference in conjunction with SMRLA and WMRL Continued funding the Grants for Libraries program Provided printing and die-­‐cut services to the region Provided MACO Summer Conference support for library exhibitors Provided MLA Legislative Reception support Planned and initiated a project to develop Master Facilities Plans for all eight library systems and ESRL. Provided support for Children’s Services staff at the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Member of Sailor Advisory Committee and the Maryland Broadband Consortiums Information Services In FY2012, Information Services maintained our focus on youth services by implementing several projects. In September, through an LSTA grant, ESRL presented a teen services conference (“Games, Graphics, and Generation Z”) at Chesapeake College. Sixty people participated, representing libraries and community agencies throughout the state. The grant also allowed us to purchase a core collection of graphic novels for each of the libraries. As always, we supported summer reading by coordinating t-­‐shirt and incentive orders, funding summer performers, and providing storytelling and music programs to the libraries. The Mock Newbery also remained a popular program, and in January we created a children’s literature blog (“For Those About to Mock”) that currently receives an average of 1300 page views per month. Newbery award-­‐
winning author Jack Gantos visited the Eastern Shore for the second time this year, speaking to well over 1,000 fourth, fifth, and sixth graders and university students. In FY2011, some of our member libraries had begun looking for ways to make their children’s areas more interactive. In response, we applied for and were awarded an LSTA grant (“Read, Play, Thrive”) that will allow us to purchase early literacy centers for all of the libraries. We are piloting the project with Caroline County Public Library, as they are the first Eastern Shore library to take part in the Early Learning Challenge Grant. Additionally, we received approval to offer MSDE-­‐
approved Every Child Ready to Read workshops to childcare providers and library staff. ESRL continued to monitor our eBook options in FY2012. We contributed to the statewide collection as part of Maryland’s Digital library Consortium, while purchasing additional eBooks for Eastern Shore patrons. We also scaled back our database subscriptions in response to decreasing usage. Several of our other services were used heavily in FY2012. We printed a total of 37,670 pages for our member libraries, completed ten die-­‐cut projects, filled 12,731 interlibrary loan requests, and circulated 361 items from our professional collection. E-­‐Resources ESRL continued to provide the Region with the finest e-­‐resources possible, including Gale Biography and Literature, Bike Languages, Ancestry Plus, Newsbank Local Newspapers, Homework help and Bookflix among others. Usage was significant increased over FY11. Increased Database Usage 160000 140000 120000 100000 80000 FY12 FY11 60000 40000 20000 0 Sessions Dnlds/Views Searches Training In FY 2012, ESRL sponsored 20 training programs, with 333 total attendances. These trainings were designed to address the following skills: •
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Fluency with such emerging technologies as e-­‐readers, virtual reference, and downloadable media, as well as how to use these technologies to serve library users. Knowledge of the top political and legal issues facing libraries and what can be done to effect positive change. Apprehension of the manner in which library service to customers is adjusting to the 21st century. This included reference and children’s services training. The ability to share and communicate the above three goals with other librarians, library users, and other information professionals. Three of our trainings were major statewide events. The first was the Teen Services Conference, planned by Rachael Stein and Sam Eddington, which was held on September 16-­‐17, and attracted 59 total attendees. Speakers included national figures Linda Braun and Christian Zabreskie, as well as Heather Owings and Melanie Fitz from Carroll County Public Library. The second major event was the Maryland Mock Newbery, planned by Rachael Stein and delivered under the auspices of MLA/CSD. This event drew 49 attendees. The third major event was the Adult Programming Unconference, which had 30 attendees, and which resulted in the creation of an ongoing statewide group, the Maryland Adult Programming Interest Group (MAPIG). The Mock Newbery and the Adult Programming Unconference will be repeated in FY 2013. Delivery One of the primary roles of the Eastern Shore Regional Library is the provision of daily delivery service to the region’s libraries and beyond. The ESRL delivery service moves an extensive array of items among the eight county library systems and numerous stakeholders utilizing three vans and a staff of three full-­‐time drivers and three substitute drivers. Ø Stops »
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Member libraries and branches – 25 Other stops § Chesapeake College § Salisbury University § University of MD, Eastern Shore § Washington College § Eastern Correctional Institution Ø Total number of items handled annually – 583,000 (the mean of two 5-­‐day samplings – November 14 thru 18 and April 30 thru May 4) Ø Total number of items handled by more than one driver – 91,700 (items transferred at ESRL to another route for delivery) Ø Total annual miles covered – 139,932 (Upper shore – 59488, Middle Shore – 46,644, Lower Shore -­‐33,800) Ø
FY12 Expenses » FY12 fuel cost -­‐ $28,046 » FY12 vehicle maintenance -­‐ $8,337 » Staffing -­‐ $100,328 (Fulltime -­‐ $86,012, Subs -­‐ $14,316)
Cost per Item to transport – 23.4¢ Information Technology The Eastern Shore Regional Library's IT department provides a variety of services that support the libraries on the Eastern Shore in their use of technology. These services include: •
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Web content and Email spam filtering Email hosting Web hosting and webpage maintenance Database authentication Network and desktop PC maintenance • Microsoft, Adobe and Symantec Volume Licensing
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Patron Management (Envisionware) system for public PCs Erate filing ILS consultation and support Telephone system support Hardware and software consultation and acquisition for member libraries. Hardware and software purchases totaled $38,766.36. The Envisionware Reservation Stations were all replaced over the course of the year
(22 total).
New core switches were deployed in most locations on the Eastern Shore (20 total).
New blade servers were added and older services (WebSense, Envisionware, web
hosting) were migrated from old hardware to the new blades.
We created staff intranets/forums for all Shore libraries and conducted a one-day
training for library staff to familiarize them with using their new intranet.
We added Wicomico Library to our Envisionware system. All Shore libraries are
now running on the ESRL Envisionware servers.
Constant Contact marketing service was added for the libraries to use in distributing
their newsletters and other communication.
We assisted Talbot Library in relocating back to their renovated facility in Easton.
A remote assistance platform was deployed in April that allows us to troubleshoot
some desktop issues remotely without having to make a visit to the library.
The IT department hosted a computer science intern from Chesapeake College from
August through December.
2012 Budget ESRL’s total budget for FY 2012 was $2,398,166 The budget includes grant funding of $93,687 and Maryland state retirement contributions of $46,517 Schedule of Revenues and Expenditures Year End Actual Revenues Appropriations -­‐ State o f Maryland $2,289,465 Retirement Contributions 46,517 Federal, State and other grants 93,687 Interest and other 15,014 Total Revenues 2,444,683 Expenses Personnel Library Materials 193,084 Operating Expenditures 185,149 LSTA Grants Expenditures 29,501 Information Technology 81,339 Public Library Grants 782,938 Contractual Services 62,339 Capital Outlay 83,127 Total Expenditures 2,386,079 Net change in fund balances Fund balance, end of year 968,602 58,604 $586,294 Eastern Shore Regional Library, Inc. 122-­‐126 S. Division Street Salisbury, MD 21801 401.742.1537 www.esrl.org