Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Report
FY18 LARRY J. RINGER LIBRARY (Summary)
Vision Statement:
To engage, enlighten, empower, and inform life-long learners in the Brazos Valley
YOUTH SERVICES
224 storytimes
10,663 storytime attendees
63 special programs
6,723 special program attendees
ADULT SERVICES
18,709 reference interviews
5,193 computer assistance
interactions
125 programs
1,066 program attendees
CIRCULATION
480,706 items checked out
201,633 visitors
2,497 new library patrons registered
3,150 hours open to the public
TECHNOLOGY & TECHNICAL SERVICES
102,669 digital downloads
5,487 items added to the collection
22 new public computers installed
OUTREACH & VOLUNTEERS
4,975.5 total hours (2.4 FTE) of volunteer work
3,746.75 teen volunteer hours
6 weekly storytimes at 2 different Parks facilities
VISIT THE LIBRARY’S WEBSITE AT BCSLIBRARY.ORG
LARRY J. RINGER LIBRARY (YOUTH SERVICES)
224 STORYTIME SESSIONS
224 sessions dedicated to early literacy, with 19 off site at the Lincoln Recreation Center and Lick Creek Park due to construction
9% INCREASE IN TEEN PROGRAM ATTENDANCE
1,353 teens attended 63 programs in FY18, ranging from Anime Club to a Lock-In to teen designed programming like Larry’s Arts and Trash, Larry at the Disco, and Larry in the Lab
6,723 SPECIAL PROGRAM ATTENDEES
Between June and September 2018, special programs were held off-site at Grace Bible Church to avoid construction
2,336 CHILDREN REACHED ON SCHOOL VISITS
The Youth Services Librarians visit area schools every year to tell students and teachers about the library’s services, and every summer information is sent home to parents about programs to keep kids busy during the break
8,783 REFERENCE INTERACTIONS
In addition to hosting popular programs and visiting schools, Youth Services Librarians fielded 8,783 reference interactions, helping children, teens, and parents navigate the library
LARRY J. RINGER LIBRARY (ADULT SERVICES)
18,709 REFERENCE INTERVIEWS
Individual reference interviews may be upwards of 30 minutes, depending on the subject, including: computer assistance, reader’s advisory, and whatever else a patron can think of
5,193 COMPUTER QUESTIONS
Librarians help patrons with computer issues ranging from using their own devices (laptops, tablets, phones) and printing to applying for jobs
125 PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS
1,066 adults attended programs designed for their education, enrichment, and entertainment
ENGLISH CONVERSATION SKILLS
337 patrons practiced English conversation skills in FY18 to improve their language and confidence when interacting with fellow residents, organizations, and local businesses
4 BOOK CLUBS
Adult Reference Librarians host 4 book clubs every month, including the Afternoon
Book Club , Full STEAM Ahead, and the new Mystery book club
LARRY J. RINGER LIBRARY (CIRCULATION)
201,633 VISITORS
Renovations began in April 2018 which limited parking and accessibility, and still 201,633
people visited the Larry J. Ringer Library in FY18
480,706 CHECK-OUTS
July 2018 was the busiest month with 47,228 items checked out — an average of 175 items per hour
34,957 IN-HOUSE USES
In-house tracks enjoyment of library items on site but not checked out, accessible to all patrons regardless of borrowing privileges
855 SPACE RESERVATIONS
126 community organizations met in our meeting room, 728 patrons reserved study rooms: from February to April 2018 the AARP had exclusive use of the study rooms for tax preparation assistance
36% INCREASE IN INTER-LIBRARY LOANS
As patron awareness of this service rises, more requests for books and movies are fulfilled from libraries outside the system, and resources lent in kind
LARRY J. RINGER LIBRARY (TECHNICAL SERVICES & TECHNOLOGY)
22 NEW PUBLIC COMPUTERS
College Station IT installed 22 new computers for the public to engage in workforce development, research, online education programs, and other computing needs
15,334 COMPUTER SESSIONS
Public computer usage increased by 8.5% over FY17, likely because of the newer, faster machines
102,669 DIGITAL DOWNLOADS
Digital downloads include ebook, eaudiobook, emagazine checkouts, and online journal and database article access
834 EBOOKS & EAUDIOBOOKS ADDED
The Library System added 834 new ebook and eaudiobook titles in FY18, accessible to every patron on multiple platforms and countless devices, 24/7
5,487 NEW PHYSICAL ITEMS ADDED
In addition to digital resources, the technical services department cataloged and processed 5,487 new books, DVDs, and periodicals for public use
LARRY J. RINGER LIBRARY (OUTREACH & VOLUNTEERS)
3,746.75 TEEN VOLUNTEER HOURS
Teens donated 3,746.75 hours to the Ringer Library to help with storytimes, crafts, Summer Reading Program events, and more
1,226.75 ADULT VOLUNTEER HOURS
Adults donated 1,226.75 hours of their time to assist the Library staff with displays, shelving, English instruction, and packing for the construction closure
TECHNOLOGY TUTORING
Adult volunteers provided 50 half hour sessions of computer instruction to 105 patrons who needed help with everything from basic operation to complex Excel formulas
TEEN JOB SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM
For the past four summers, teens have helped run the Summer Reading Program sign-up desk while receiving career education and guidance. In FY18, 36 teens volunteered hours totaling nearly 1 FTE, or 2,063 hours.
PARTNERSHIPS FOR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
In FY18, the Larry J. Ringer Library partnered with a wide range of organizations including Texas A&M University, the Bush Presidential Library and Museum, NaNoWriMo, local authors, and fellow Parks and Recreation Facilities
