In order to survive and prosper in our accelerated world, individuals need the right resources to process a massive flood of information.
Libraries are more important than ever when it comes to bridging economic, educational, cultural, and technological access barriers so that all of our community's residents can seek and find the resources they need to interpret vast amounts of complex information and thrive in a knowledge-based society.
The Saint Paul Public Library (SPPL) has a long record of success in helping individuals adapt to and successfully navigate a changing world.
All Saint Paul Public School students now have access to library resources through Library Go.
More than one million adults have completed the Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment since 2012.
"The Homework Center made my grade go from a C+ to an A." Â -Sixth grader and daily user of Rondo Library Homework Center
Strong public support ensures that we can serve all Saint Paul residents and bridge equity gaps across
our community.
The Saint Paul Public Library must invest in transforming its services to meet the demands of our knowledgeÂbased society and serve all individuals, regardless of age, cultural background, or economic circumstance. When we invest in the Library, we invest in the educated citizens and the future workforce that will keep Saint Paul strong.
The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library requests public support for three high-priority needs. Each request is for one-time funding.
$350,000 for Collections
$100,000 for Data Software
$50,000 for Early Learning Materials and Activities
With an investment of $350,000, the Library can address the growing need for access to information in all forms, and give Saint Paul residents of all backgrounds the opportunity to find the information they seek.
Challenges
About 43% of Saint Paul's low-income residents do not have Internet access at home.
Public school students receive iPads as learning tools, but families must have reliable Internet service if their child is to succeed in school. Access to assignments, homework assistance, and research data all depend on connectivity.
Individuals demand access to information in many formats.
One title must now be purchased in seven different formats. See Figure A
Solutions With Funding
More Saint Paul families can access essential information.
A limited number of mobile hotspots can now be checked out of the SPPL for one week. With increased Collections funding, the Library will purchase 50 additional hotspots.
Saint Paul residents can access information in the format that best meets their needs.
The Library will purchase new materials in the required range of formats and languages.
With the success of the new Library Go program, Saint Paul youth have increased demand for information resources, including:
Over 42,000 student and teacher records created in the Library database.
17,000 library items circulated.
Nearly 20,000 e-books checked out.
Increase in online homework help by 15%.
Increased visits to the youth databases on SPPL website, often by more than 1,000%.
Saint Paul residents are underserved compared to other regional library systems.
SPPL used to have the second highest per capita spending on collections among its Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA) peers; in 2016, that ranking fell to the fifth. See Figure B
In 2016, SPPL also had the third lowest collection spending per library among its MELSA peers.
Our future leaders can find the information and inspiration they seek to go further.
Funding will allow the Library to meet the increased demand for resources by our City's youth and purchase additional materials in multiple formats.
All residents will have sufficient access to a full range of resources.
The requested funding will help SPPL remain a leader in serving the City's residents.
With an investment of $100,000, the Library will be able to efficiently record and analyze important details about how patrons use library services. This will allow the Library to better serve all individuals, particularly the most underrepresented communities for whom access to information is most critical.
Challenges
The Library can't efficiently produce federally mandated reporting.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services
(IMLS), requires the Library to record and report on a variety of data to help them shape policy regarding library funding.
Currently, SPPL staff must go through multiple rounds of manual data entry to record the required information.
The Library can't efficiently analyze data to determine how to best serve patrons and the City.
There is not an effective system in place to analyze the recorded data. Because of the cumbersome reporting process, there is no available staff time to put towards this kind of analysis.
Solutions With Funding
Residents will experience better customer service from the Library.
Librarians will spend less time completing spreadsheets and more time helping patrons. This investment will allow library staff in all 13 branches plus the Bookmobile to link to a central repository and enter data directly into a shared management system in real time and will increase efficiency, transparency, and accuracy in reporting.
Saint Paul residents and City staff will be able to make informed, data-based decisions based on new analytic reporting.
With the new system, data will be easily translated for visual reporting and dashboards, which can then be made available to City leaders and the public through the City's data portal.
With an investment of $50,000, the Library will help facilitate the "Talk, Sing, Read" initiative to help our youngest citizens develop language skills that will prepare them for the world of pre-school and kindergarten, and foster the social, emotional, and developmental skills necessary to thrive in the world.
Challenges
Many of Saint Paul's children don't have access to adequate early education.
If you cannot read, you cannot navigate our complex society. Children need access to and support for language and reading as early as possible to build the skills needed to thrive in life. Children also need parents and caring adults to take an active role in their education. But if the adults can't read, they can't be the essential first teachers.
Solutions With Funding
Our kids will build reading skills that set them up for success in life.
The "Talk, Sing, Read" initiative will work directly with very young children and their adult caregivers. SPPL will purchase books in the most commonly-spoken languages in Saint Paul, including Hmong, Spanish, and Somali, and embark on programming focused on twoÂgeneration learning, both at the Library and in partnership with other community organizations, like pre-natal care centers, pediatric clinics, WIC offices, and organizations like Think Small, Reach Out and Read, Generation Next, Saint Paul ECFE, and Minnesota doulas.
For 25 years, the advocacy committee of The Friends has been making a coordinated effort to ensure that public support remains strong and the Library’s highest priorities are honored. Comprising active community volunteers from every ward, Friends staff, trustees and the Library Director, the advocacy committee discusses recommendations from library leadership and assembles a position paper of specific priorities to be presented to the Mayor and City Council in individual meetings (scheduled by the constituents) throughout the summer. At each meeting, citizens and Friends request that the funding initiatives be included in the library budget for the next fiscal year. The position paper is also sent to local media outlets and community organizations that’ve partnered with the Library, in an effort to generate as much public awareness and broad support as possible before the City Council finalizes its budget in December.
For information on how you can get involved in the advocacy process, email [email protected]
The need for a strong library is greater than ever.
