Podcasting @ PPL

A recent edition of the ‘Maine Sunday Telegram,’ mentioned that the Humanities on Demand podcast from the Maine Humanities Council is online now. You can access it directly at http://mainehumanities.org/podcasts/
Seven recordings to start have been released: three interviews from the MHC 30th Anniversary CD, ‘Maine Writers Speak’ (Cathie Pelletier, Richard Russo, and Monica Wood), three readings from the Portland Public Library’s Brown Bag lecture series (poet Elizabeth Edwards, novelist Eric B. Martin, and writer Meredith Hall), and a poetry reading by Wesley McNair from the Maine Humanities Council archive.

We are proud to be a collaborator in this effort. During the past year we have been cooperating with the Council, many authors have agreed to allow for recording of their lectures for future Humanities on Demand podcasting participation. Look for many more Brown Bag Lectures in the future being available for download.

It’s a Thing of Beauty!

No matter how interesting your job is, I think we all run the risk at times of being so focused on tasks that we forget the wonder being expressed all around us in our little corner of the world. I am leaving shortly for meetings at OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) in Dublin, Ohio. OCLC is ‘big” – an international library collaborative which has built WorldCat, a database of 1 billion (yup, billion) library holdings in many languages and countries. This is the basic product that allows PPL and other libraries to execute interlibrary loans and catalogue material efficiently. So my focus this week has been to get lots of tasks completed so that next week is reasonably smooth for my colleagues here at work before I depart for something BIG.

I took a deep breath this morning before starting the tasks and looked back at a week in the life of the PPL system and yes, it is a thing of beauty. The fact that last night Portland’s own highly respected punk music band The Leftovers graced the Rines Room at our Monument Sq. location for a 45-minute set was cool enough on its own merits. But contrasted to this morning’s programs: Series for Seniors: An Overview of Important Issues “Enrichment Opportunities”; a Maine Humanities Council Let’s Talk About It Program on the Middle East (Behind the Headlines: An Introduction to the Middle East); and Tales for Twos (for two year-olds), all of which followed early in the week offerings of Preschool Story Time, Finger Fun for Babies, a panel discussion on the future of Congress Street and Pat LaMarche (2004 Green Party VP candidate) speaking about her new book on homelessness in America "Left Out in America".

It - this week anyway - ends tomorrow, Saturday, October 20th, with children's author Cathryn Falwell launching her new book with Shape Caper's, a fun program for children from 11 AM to 2 PM, as well as the Third Saturday Book Discussion of Dave Eggers "What is the What". Then we start again next week.

The programmatic landscape of the PPL system couldn't have reflected better the breadth of creativity we offer in reaching every age in our great town. It’s nice to breathe it in!

2 Great Authors in 1 Great Week!

The first week in October will be something special at PPL.

Every once in a while, extraordinary programs come along that we are lucky enough to be able to share with the public. This fall, we’ll be having two internationally renowned authors present programs.

First, Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Russo will be joining us for the inaugural stop on the tour for his new book, Bridge of Sighs. Russo will speak on Tuesday, October 2nd at 7pm at the First Parish Church at 425 Congress Street in Portland. He will be reading from his new book and signing copies after the reading. Books will be available from Longfellow Books at the event. If you’d like a more “intimate” meeting with the author, there will be a reception before the reading. The event at 1st Parish Church is free and open to the public, but seats will fill up fast so make sure to arrive early. Tickets to the reception are $35 each or 2 for $60. You can also support our Annual Fund by becoming an Event Sponsor for $250, which includes 4 tickets to the reception, preferred seating at the public portion of the event, recognition on the Library’s website and at the event, as well as other benefits. If you’d like to attend the reception or have any questions, please contact our Development and Programming office by phone at 871-1700 ext. 759 or by e-mail at progdev@portland.lib.me.us for more information. You can also check out our website at www.portlandlibrary.com

Three days later on Friday, October 5, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Sue Monk Kidd (The Secret Life of Bees, The Mermaid Chair, Firstlight) makes a rare New England appearance—in fact, we’re the only New England appearance on her tour. She will read from her newest collection of essays, Firstlight, answer questions from the audience, and sign books. She’s also happy to have her photo taken with fans after the book signing is complete. Books will be on sale at the event by Borders, who’s co-sponsoring the event. Tickets to this exciting evening only $12 each, and are available through PortTix (842-0800; www.PortTix.com; 20 Myrtle Street Portland, ME 04101). The event will take place at Merrill Auditorium. Again if you’d like more information or have any questions, please contact our Development and Programming office or check out our website at www.portlandlibrary.com.


Proceeds from both events will benefit Portland Public Library’s 2007-2008 Annual Fund for new books, materials and technologies. We hope you will join us for both of these wonderful authors and help support the Library!

Is anybody reading?

On August 22, the Portland Press Herald posted an AP article headlined, "One in four Americans read no books last year". There was no mention of library use, just books sales being "flat in recent years and are expected to stay that way indefinitely." The article also reminded me of the 2004 National Endowment for the Arts study "Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America" which raised an alarm (for a short time anyway) regarding lack of reading of novels, poetry, short stories or plays during leisure time.

I am the first to admit that I'd love to see different headlines but I think that there is much more reading going on than studies measure. Some of the benefits of reading are intellectual engagement, acquiring information and participating in a common culture, and many people are doing it on the computer or via magazines or for that matter, my favorite as a kid, cereal boxes and the sports section. I am not sure that western civilization is ready to end just yet.




By some numbers, the past year at Portland Public Library system was a very good one that illustrates that the Library is growing in its relevance and vitality. New cardholders rose by 12% with over 7,200 people signing on to use the Library and its rich resources. Lending increased significantly to a record 742,000 items borrowed and most importantly, breaking free of a four-year stretch of stagnant borrowing. So, I take solace in those numbers -- somebody is reading whether it is a computer screen, book or magazine. That's a good thing.

Some PPL@PPM reflections

From my perspective, the defeat of the proposal to acquire and renovate the Portland Public Market building was a golden opportunity lost to the people of Portland. I continue to believe that the project strength was expressed best in the focus on downtown users and uses, the tremendous efficiency and inspirational aspects of the building and the economic development opportunity for the City that was associated with the redevelopment of Monument Square. But the project was not “sound bitable” and I am reminded by Thursday’s editorial in the Portland Press Herald (http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=113597&ac=PHedi ) that certain facts never quite became ingrained in the debate. The statement that we are now “not losing some 20,000 square feet of space that the market move entailed” continues to be inacurrate.

The above statement of “loss” applies if one intends to simply replicate what exists now. We were never able to effectively communicate to voters that it was about transformation of the library system as well as the users of the downtown location. In fact, there was 14% more space at the Market building versus the same Monument Square service areas. That would have led to much higher lending, more people through the door and a more enjoyable work environment and user experience. The minimum total square footage that the library would have had at the conclusion of the project would have been 85,000 sq. feet (58,000 in the market building and 27,000 in the basement of Monument Sq.) versus 78,000 sq. ft currently which is a 10% increase.

The PPL system will set a direction sometime in the next few weeks based on our available funds and a reconsideration of our past and current planning including what people have told us about their wishes. We then must get on with the business of improving our ability to deliver better service and make the experience at each our six locations the best it can possibly be. It’s time to move on.

What happens on June 13?

I have been asked by many people what would happen if the June 12 vote is affirmative on moving the downtown branch to the Public Market. The Library and the City would act in the two weeks following to honor the terms of the purchase and sale contract which calls for $2.75 million purchase price. The City would utilize $2.0 million in bond funds while the Library would contribute $750,000 to the purchase. The process to create an RFP (Request for Proposals) for architectural services would also commence and the Library would fund that activity for the next year. The end product would be to produce construction drawings for the use of contractors interested in bidding on the job. The City during that same time would begin its process of deciding how to utilize the current libary structure to maximize economic return. The final goal would be to move into the Public Market space by the end of calendar year 2009 without substantial interruption of library services at Monument Square. In a future post an updated project timetable will be presented.

If the June 12 vote is negative the Library Board will need to convene and determine the future course of the renovation and its timetable.

What is a reasonable investment in a Library?

We are headed to voting day (Tuesday - June 12) on the proposed move to the Portland Public Market. The voters will have to decide whether to authorize redirection of previously approved $4 million in bond funds for Monument Square to be used for the purchase and renovation of the Portland Public Market building. The measure also asks the citizens to provide another $1 million in funding (from already existing funds in the City's CIP). This public investment would be increased by the Library's Capital Campaign of $4.6 million.

The last few weeks have led me to many encounters with supporters and doubters through public meetings at the downtown Library and in various communities. This is not a sound bite project and it takes time to explain the general benefits of economic development, transformation of the library system and architectural preservation. One thing is sure, we are more convinced daily that a plan that strives for efficiency and focuses on the users and uses in an inspiring building, has a power of its own. There has been a great deal of misinformation spread including less space when in fact, the library will have a minimum of 85,000 sq feet available and increase of 7,000 sq. feet from the current number. The amount of public spaces to be housed in the Public Market increases by 14% over what could be offered at Monument Square, to say nothing of the overall efficiency and improvement in building climate.

Each community decides what it wants its public library to be. In Portland we have a system of 6 locations which lend well over 700,000 items yearly and have over 600,000 people come through the door. The system needs an investment to allow for collection growth and improve the quality of direct service to our users. Is the request for $ 5 million an unreasonable one? If you compare fairly recent capital investments by other significant Maine towns the request seems reasonable. Approximately ten years ago, Bangor invested $2.5 million in its library renovation. On a per capita investment basis, that comes out to roughly Portland's $5 million. Brunswick in 1996, with socio economic indicators at the state average, provided $4 million for its library project which extrapolates to $12 million if using Portland's population.

Bottom line for us at PPL: we believe we will lend more items, have more people walk through the doors and that they will have a better experience in the revamped Public Market building.

However you view the question of the downtown library please vote on June 12.

Reiche: Looking Good in the Neighborhood!

The PPL system is committed to creating a superior experience in each of its 6 locations. The talk of the day has centered on our Monument Square location and the possible reuse of the Public Market building but each location is a critical consideration for us. On May 17, the refurbished Reiche Branch reopened with new windows, new paint, new shelving and maybe best of all, a new floor plan.

The effort was fueled by our community partners including United Way (United Way Day of Caring volunteers), West End Neighborhood Association, Portland Parks and Recreation, Portland West and Day 1. We also had a host of individual neighborhood volunteers. Our final task is to acquire an awning to go with the picnic table on the plaza.

Each of our locations has a different feel, size and clientele. (Approximately 50% of our lending takes place at locations other than Monument Square.) It is our goal to invest aggressively in each of them and celebrate their unique role in their communities.

The Library Has A Face

If I have learned one thing during 30 years of library work, it is that libraries - regardless of the type - are not well understood by people. They are prone to being stereotyped (as are the people who work within) but so are I suppose just about every other occupation and institution. (Think about lawyer and politician jokes!) Libraries have earned some of that stereotyping but much of it is unfounded and the result of a lack of libraries putting forward a human face. The depth and complexity of library users and uses is rarely communicated by librarians and that is what I hope to do with this blog going forward.

I also hope to reflect the rich conversation that I am privileged to have regularly with the citizens from all walks of life . If nothing else, people have strong opinions about the Portland Public Library system and they aren't shy about telling me. That is a good thing and it calls for contemplation and comment by me.

I am looking foward to it!

PPL @ PPM?

It has fired the public imagination and it has generated a level of intense debate. The comments have ranged well beyond just a discussion of two buildings and have touched upon what people think the downtown PPL location is in reality (at present) or should be. In advance of the June 12 bond vote, we will be covering the issue in this blog in hopes of clarifying some of the aspects to enable people to cast an informed vote.

Look for more soon!