The Logan Library

Annual Report 1996

INTRODUCTION

The library continued to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of Utah's statehood during 1996. Many displays and activities were sponsored by the library that reminded us of this significant event in the state's history. It has been an exciting time to remind ourselves of how much progress has

occurred in public library service since the founding of the state, and in particular the progress and history of public library service in the City of Logan.

ON GOING LIBRARY PROGRAMS

I. Popular materials library

The library provides over 116,000 items for public use. Our emphasis is to provide current, high-demand, high-interest materials in a variety of formats for

II. Reference Library

The library provides reference services and materials to the general public. The number of questions answered at the reference desk during 1996 was 28,704, an increase of 5.9% over the previous year. In addition, the reference services of the library provided 3,765 individuals access to the resources of the internet through the library's on-line reference room. As the library's ability to answer questions from the public has improved, the number and difficulty of the questions has proportionally increased.

The library believes in and supports the concept of introducing children, during their formative years, to books and learning. The library sponsors a preschool

story time for children between the ages of three and five. This program introduces the children to quality literature and excites them about learning and reading. The library also sponsors the summer reading program for all children which encourages them to continue reading during the summer months, and to enjoy as well as develop their reading skills. During the summer of 1996 the program had 1,808 participants.

IV. Independent learning center

The library supports learning for all ages and encourages individuals to improve themselves through self-instruction. Many citizens use the library to learn more about hobbies, cultural interests, job-related skills, and general self-improvement activities. Whether your interests are in the arts, business, education, history, literature, or any one of hundreds of other subjects, the library can assist you with resources that will help you continue to learn and improve throughout your life.

V. Formal education support center

The library assists students of all ages in meeting the educational objectives established by their formal courses of study. Students can find materials that will assist them in writing papers, completing research assignments and in expanding their literary horizons. In addition, the reference librarians provide guidance to students on how to do research as well as suggestions on where to look for needed information.

POLICY CHANGES

The library board is an essential part of an effective library program. Through the recommendations and suggestions received from library board members the library staff is able to make adjustments and changes that keep the library in tune with the needs and desires of the general public. The library board regularly

reviews and changes library policies to reflect the changing needs of the citizens of the city. During 1996, the board approved changes in the collection development policy, which governs the acquisition of materials for the library, and approved a computer use policy which governs the development and access of electronic materials and resources.

ELECTRONIC ACCESS

Access to electronic databases is becoming more and more important to the general public. The library provides access to this type of information. The library established its own home page during 1996 and makes available to the public through its home page a variety of locally produced information databases as well as full Netscape access to the world-wide internet. The library's home page can be found at http://library.loganutah.org. In addition to providing a local subject based directory to the internet, the library also provides access to the Deseret News full-text, and the InfoTrac periodicals database. The latter product consists of over 1,000 periodicals and reference works, fully indexed, with more than half of the articles available full text. These resources are made available through the Utah State Library division, and are funded by the Utah Legislature.

BRIDGERLAND LITERACY

Several years ago the library became involved with supporting and encouraging the development of the Bridgerland Literacy program that provides literacy instruction to adults with low or no reading skills. The library board chose to support this program because one of the largest groups of people identified

within the community that was not using the library were the adult nonreaders. Through the library's continuing support of this program hundreds of adults have learned how to read and/or have improved their reading skills. This allows them to use the library and its resources. It also improves their ability to provide for themselves and their families, thus improving their own quality of life and the overall quality of life in the City of Logan.

OTHER ISSUES

The library faces many issues each year that influence the direction the library takes, the policies that it develops, and the services that it renders. One of the complex issues that the library dealt with during 1996, as well as for many years previously, is the issue of providing library services to non-residents of the city.

The 1995 state legislature made it possible, through a change in the Inter Local Agreement Act, for cities to join together to form a public library. During 1996 the cities of Logan and North Logan investigated the possibility of creating a library entity through inter local agreement. It was determined that it would be possible to create a library entity in this manner, but that it increased the cost of providing this service significantly when the library separated itself from the umbrella of the city. It was recommended that this should not be done.

A long term solution to the problem of citizens within Cache County, but outside of Logan, not having access to a full-service library cannot be achieved without the full cooperation of all the cities and county government. The City of Logan has consistently supported a public library and adequately funded that library for many years. This is the example and the pattern that all government bodies in Cache County would need to follow in order to establish a county wide library system. Until that happens, there will always be citizens within Cache County without access to full public library services.

SUMMARY

The Logan library has completed another successful year. Usage of the library's collections and services continues to be high. The dedication of the library staff to providing quality library service is strong. The support of the library board, the city administration, the city council, and the public at large is very positive. The library as a whole is continuing to progress and it is prepared to meet the future and its challenges.