Coronado Public Library

1. Coronado Public Library Stakeholder Interviews Summary Prepared By The Singer Group, Inc. February 2011

2. Purpose of interviews • To collect data from key Stakeholders for input into the Strategic Plan • To enhance relationships and opportunities for collaboration

3. Who we interviewed • Bob Balfour – Board President, Coronado Historical Society • Robin Franck – Library Board Trustee • Steve Johnson, Web Publisher of E-Coronado • Blair King – City Manager • Debbie Riddle – Principal, Lee Mather Company • Joe Ditler – Former ED Coronado Historical Association • Kris Grant – publisher, Coronado Life Style • Casey Tanaka, Mayor • Ledyand Hakes, School Board Member

4. What We Learned

5. Relationship with the Library • Positive, outstanding, accessible • Good customer service • “Most professionally run organization” • It is #5 on his tour list when he has out-of-town visitors • Fostering relationship (historical association)

6. Strengths • Welcoming staff • Facility (6) • Winn meeting room • Location • Size • Wonderful public room • Mural • Physical environment that people enjoy, experience

7. Strengths Library - continued • Very popular place (2) • It is the “jewel of the City” • Very welcoming, warm environment • Children’s library • Young family loves the library • Fees are very fair • Coffee cart outside – very popular

8. Strengths: programs/services • Free internet (2) • Exhibits • Entertainment, cultural, + Educational programs • Library keeps up with the times (e.g. DVDs etc.) • Interpreting and sharing Coronado’s history • Children’s programming • Christmas and Halloween events • Summer Reading program • Puppet shows • Great selection!

9. Weaknesses or Limitations • Are non-residents using internet at expense of residents’ ability to do so? • Open earlier on Sunday (2); more hours “ access should be a high priority” • Parking • Have more copies of books and movies and extend the borrow time • Have more copies of movies • Updatewebsite

10. Trends • Technology (2) • E-readers and downloadables (3) • Convenience • Schools changing when and how teach • More empty homes • Increasing traffic • Becoming 3 separate communities • More using computers • Economic downtown

11. Unmet Community Needs • Not all have internet/ students (2) • Need hours for people who work • Seniors • Need 24/7 school • Cultural programming • Education/relationship with schools

12. Improve? • Make community more aware of services;” blow own horn”; marketing of services (2) • Ongoing survey of patrons; get real data • Better future planning for users ; where headed? • More weekend hours • Lend e-readers • Move 2nd Hand Prose forefront • Let patrons drink coffee in a cordoned off part of the library

13. Improve? • More computers • Do as much as can for kids and young adults • Enhance role as museum of local history; encourage people to donate artifacts • Put library information or events on the back of the receipt - can have a Coronado library “bookmark”

14. Opportunities to improve relationship • None (4) • More of a presence, communications ; bring people back into the community decision making process regarding community quality of life • Library can get more out of e-Coronado –have a staff person responsible for posting all events – is willing to provide training on e-coronado to library staff* • The historical association and library could do more cross-referring –develop a reciprocal relationship • Need to better coordinate the idea that the historical museum has professionally archived historical artifacts and a world class archive

15. Ways to Tell Story • Have annual meeting/ this year share strategic plan! • Library seen as ‘stand alone,’ should be seen as a city institution (like recreation) • More media attention • Need PR person to reach out into the community • Stories about volunteers and employees in newspaper • Ongoing Facebook page • Banners • Have more lectures and guest speakers • Joint ventures

16. Advice For Us • Don’t assume problem if there is none (local orgs would ask for help if needed) • Plan should result in a few clear priorities • Let people know about strategic planning process and plan • Older, more educated population still wants books • Talk to stakeholders, listen to all voices • Tune into school system’s strategic plan Expand the kiosk outside

17. Advice • Would like to see more opportunities to donate books – more book drives • Get organizations that complement the library (e.g. historical society, chamber of commerce, visitor’s center) to work with the library (to avoid duplication of effort); or share space with the library (can generate some funding and provide cross-promotion opportunities)

18. $1,000,000 grant • Storage facility for physical items • Augment collection with what is missing • Endowed librarian position • Integrate senior center with library; share services and programs • Expansion of computers and other technology • Programs to educate kids about computers • Support on-line learning • Blow up and display archived photos; share more of Coronado history visually