Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report
FY19 LARRY J. RINGER LIBRARY
A BRANCH OF THE BRYAN+COLLEGE STATION PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM
Summary
HOME
44
RINGER WAS OPEN 44 DAYS IN FY19
2,751
REFERENCE QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN 44 DAYS
85,034
RINGER BOOKS & MEDIA CHECKED OUT FROM ALL BRANCHES IN FY19
60,471
BOOKS AND MEDIA TAGGED WITH RFID
AWAY
321
RINGER STAFF WERE BASED IN BRYAN FOR 321 DAYS IN FY19
84
STORYTIMES HELD OFFSITE WITH PARKS&REC
2,583
ATTENDED OFF-SITE STORYTIMES
98,942
BOOKS AND MEDIA TAGGED WITH RFID
RINGER FY2019
CHANGE
NEW BUILDING:
12,000 SQUARE FEET ADDED
EXPANDED PROGRAM ROOM & CHILDREN’S AREA
5 PRIVATE STUDY ROOMS
NEW FURNITURE & COMPUTERS
IMPROVED WI-FI ACCESS
MORE WORK & COLLABORATION SPACES FOR STAFF & PATRONS
SEPARATE TEEN AREA
IMPROVED SOUND MANAGEMENT
NEW SYSTEM FOR BOOKS & MEDIA:
RINGER, MOUNCE, & CARNEGIE ALL CONVERTED FROM MAGNETIC TAPE AND BARCODES TO RFID TECHNOLOGY FOR SECURITY & CIRCULATION
STAFF PARTNERSHIPS & RAPPORT:
SHARING WORKSPACES, SHARING IDEAS
PATRONS FROM NEW OUTREACH:
OFF-SITE STORYTIMES REACHED NEW PATRONS IN BRYAN & COLLEGE STATION
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT US AT HTTPS://WWW.BCSLIBRARY.ORG/
PARTNERSHIPS
WITHIN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, & CITY OF BRYAN:
CLARA B. MOUNCE LIBRARY HOSTED MOST OF RINGER STAFF
CARNEGIE HISTORY CENTER HOSTED STAFF & FACILITATED ARCHIVAL PROJECTS
LINCOLN RECREATION CENTER & LICK CREEK PARK HOSTED STORYTIMES
SOUTHWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER HOSTED ANIMÉ CLUB MEYER CENTER HOSTED TEENS PUBLISH & A NEW SENIOR CENTER BOOK CLUB
OUTSIDE THE CITIES & BCSPLS:
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY GARDENS
STORYTIME AT THE GARDENS
PARTNERING FOR TALKS AT THE LIBRARY
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE
PARTNERING TO HOST GRADUATE STUDENT STEM TALKS
FIRST ADVENTURES DAYCARE HOSTED THE ENGLISH CONVERSATION CIRCLE
HOSTED BOOK CLUBS AT BARNES & NOBLE, THE LANGFORD, & THE TIPSY BEAN
CONTINUITY
COLLECTION AVAILABILITY:
EXCEPTING A FEW DAYS OF SITE CLOSURES, PATRONS HAD CONTINUOUS ACCESS TO RINGER’S COLLECTION
BOOKS-TO-GO:
PATRONS UNABLE TO REACH THE LIBRARY IN BRYAN COULD JOIN THE BOOKS-TO-GO PROGRAM FOR HOME DELIVERY
STORYTIMES & BOOK CLUBS:
RINGER LIBRARIANS CONTINUED STORYTIMES & BOOK CLUBS OFF-SITE AT COLLEGE STATION PARKS&REC FACILITIES & LOCAL BUSINESSES
EXPANDING & SUPPORTING PROGRAMS IN BRYAN:
RINGER STAFF HELPED MOUNCE PLAN & IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS FOR LARGER AUDIENCES
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
RINGER STAFF ATTENDED CONFERENCES & TRAININGS TO STAY CURRENT & BUILD SKILLS
PLANNING AHEAD
RINGER STAFF PREPARED PROGRAMS TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING UPON REOPENING
REOPENING
NUMBERS
6,586 PEOPLE VISITED THE FIRST WEEK AFTER REOPENING
1,348 HILDREN & CAREGIVERS ATTENDED STORYTIMES IN SEPTEMBER
400+ HOURS DONATED BY VOLUNTEERS TO HELP PREPARE, TRANSITION, & OPEN
STORIES FROM LIBRARY PATRONS
“I HAVE BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED WWITH THE CHILDREN’S LIBRARIANS’ COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE DIVERSITY OF VOICES REPRESENTED IN THE CHILDREN’S COLLECTION SO THAT IT BETTER REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.”
“I LOVE THE NEW CHILDREN’S AREA AND IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE HOW THE LIRBARIANS ARE MAKING THE MOST OF THE BRAND NEW SPACE.”
“MOST OF OUR RETURNING [NaNoWriMo] PARTICIPANTS HAVE LOVED THE UPDATED SPACE. THEY’VE MENTIONED HOW IT FEELS MUCH MORE OPEN AND COMFORTABLE, THEY LOVE THE DIVIDING WALL AND MORE WINDOWS, MUCH BETTER CLIMATE CONTROL, AND THE CHAIRS AND TABLES ARE NICER.”
“THERE WAS A LOT MORE SPACE TO HAVE SWORD FIGHTING IN” (SOCIETY FOR CRATIVE ANACHRONISM GROUP)
THE NEAR-EMPTY BOARD & PICTURE BOOK SHELVES, CROWDS AT STORYTIME, OCCUPIED STUDY ROOMS, & STREAM OF WI-FI USERS SUPPORT A SUCCESSFUL REOPENING!
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT US AT HTTPS://WWW.BCSLIBRARY.ORG/
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
BRYAN+COLLEGE STATION PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM (Summary)
Vision Statement:
To engage, enlighten, empower, and inform life-long learners in the Brazos Valley
YOUTH SERVICES
292 storytimes
13,836 storytime attendees
250 special programs
19,694 special program attendees
ADULT SERVICES
30,915 reference interviews
192 programs for adults
3,232 program attendees
CIRCULATION
922,589 items checked out
392,642 visitors
4,878 new library patrons registered
7,556 hours open to the public
TECHNOLOGY & TECHNICAL SERVICES
102,669 digital downloads
17,967 items added to the collections
22 new public computers installed
OUTREACH & VOLUNTEERS
8,013.25 total hours (3.85 FTE) of
volunteer work, a dollar equivalent of
$197,446.
YOUTH SERVICES
292 STORYTIME SESSIONS
292 sessions dedicated to early literacy, with 19 off site at the Lincoln Recreation Center and Lick Creek Park due to Ringer Library construction
15% INCREASE IN TEEN ATTENDANCE PER PROGRAM
1,614 teens attended 73 programs at the Clara B. Mounce and Larry J. Ringer Library branches
19,694 SPECIAL PROGRAM ATTENDEES
Special programs are open to the entire community and attendance peaks from June through August with the Summer Reading Program
2,569 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
17,096 REFERENCE INTERACTIONS
In addition to hosting popular programs and visiting schools, Youth Services Librarians fielded 17,096 reference interactions, helping children, teens, and parents navigate the library
VISIT THE LIBRARY’S WEBSITE AT BCSLIBRARY.ORG
ADULT SERVICES
30,915 REFERENCE INTERVIEWS TOTAL
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
10 REFERENCE INTERVIEWS EVERY HOUR
In June 2018, library staff held, on average, 10 reference interviews every hour that the 3 branches were open
192 PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS
3,232 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
5 BOOK CLUBS
Adult Reference Librarians host 5 book clubs every month: the Library Reading Group, the Afternoon Book Club, Full STEAM Ahead, and the new Mystery and Classics book clubs
CIRCULATION
392,642 VISITORS
The Carnegie History Center had a 70.9% increase in visitors, and the Larry J. Ringer Library’s door count only fell by 4.7% with the 5 months of active construction on site in FY18
922,589 CHECK-OUTS
June 2018 was the busiest month with 92,268 check-outs — an average of 185 circulations per hour at Ringer and 180 per hour at Mounce
64,091
IN-HOUSE USES
In-house tracks usage of library items on site but not checked out, accessible to all patrons regardless of borrowing privileges, and including rare and historical items
615 MEETING ROOM RESERVATIONS
615 community organizations met in our meeting rooms, 728 patrons reserved study rooms at the Ringer Library: from February to April 2018 the AARP had exclusive use of the study rooms for tax preparation assistance
632 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
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 — computers at the Mounce Library will be replaced in FY19
43,306 COMPUTER SESSIONS
Public computers help citizens to apply for jobs, participate in online degree and certification programs, and stay in touch with personal and professional networks
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
15,967 NEW PHYSICAL ITEMS ADDED
In addition to digital resources, the technical services department cataloged and processed 15,967 new books, DVDs, and periodicals for public use
OUTREACH & VOLUNTEERS
3,750+ TEEN VOLUNTEER HOURS
Teens donated more than 3,750 hours to the Ringer Library to help with storytimes, crafts, Summer Reading Program events, and more
1 FTE OF ADULT VOLUNTEER HOURS
Adults donated more than 2,080 hours of their time to assist the Library staff with displays, shelving, English instruction, and packing for the construction closure
124 COMPUTER CLASSES
Adult volunteers provided 124 computer classes to 480 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 at the Larry J. Ringer branch 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 Bryan+College Station Public Library System 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
