Friday, September 18, 2009

Taking Shape!

As we approach the 50% completion mark, this week has seen some major and very visible advances in our Monument Square renovation project. A key element in the design has been to reenergize the Library’s role on Monument Square and to contribute more to the life of this critical location in heart of the City. For the first time there is some definition in the redesigned facade as portions of glass have been installed in the grid.

Galaxy Glass employees installing glass panels

The hidden activity which has made up the bulk of our effort to this point continues. Ceilings, walls, wiring, plumbing, new boilers, etc, are being attended to and it is a mundane yet a critical part of our effort. But it must be appreciated that the public statement for all to see of a library reinventing itself to face the decades ahead is a moment to celebrate.

Library facade as seen from Snell's Family Farm stand at the Portland Farmer's Market

Friday, August 28, 2009

Let's Talk About It with Maine Humanities Council

The Maine Humanities Council (MHC) is a great partner of Maine’s public libraries. In our case, the Council has hosted pod cast recordings of many PPL programs at the MHC Humanities on Demand site. The Council has also supported the purchase of equipment to enhance the new program space set to open in the April 2010. One on the most widely known MHC programs is the Let’s Talk About It series. It has been held countless times over many years at public libraries all over the state. PPL has hosted discussions on the Middle East, contemporary American Indian writers and women’s stories from cultures around the world.



This fall, we will hold a series of Let’s talk About It book discussions on five Japanese novels entitled “Family and Self: Readings in 20th Century Japanese Fiction. These 20th-century novels show the importance of the place of family in Japan, the importation of certain Western ideas, and the strain modernization placed upon tradition. How do Japanese novelists depict the family, as a nurturing institution or hierarchical unit? How do they chronicle changes over time? Are Japanese families different from families in the West? What happens to people outside the family unit?

Facilitated by Pat Parker, the discussions are held at the Main Library on Monument Square from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on the following Tuesdays:

The Waiting Years by Fumiko Enchi -- Sept. 8
The Makioka Sisters by Junichirô Tanizaki -- Sept. 29
The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai -- Oct. 13
A Personal Matter by Kenzaburô Ôe -- Oct. 27
Goodbye Tsugumi by Banana Yoshimoto -- Nov. 10

The discussion series is free and open to the public and books are available for loan from the Library. However, space is limited so registration is required. To register or for more information, please contact the Library at 871-1700x725 or reference@portland.lib.me.us.

Pat Parker, the series facilitator, has a Ph.D. from New York University and taught American literature at Salem State College, Salem, Massachusetts for many years. She has also taught American literature and English as a second language in Korea for one year and in Japan for over ten years. She has traveled extensively in Asia. In Japan she became interested in Japanese literature, especially novels by women, and began studying and writing about them. She retired in 2004 and moved to Maine. She lives in Falmouth with her (American) husband who also taught over 20 years in Japan.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Welcome Friends of PPL!

For the past several months we have been investigating and have now created the Friends of Portland Public Library. The roll out has included the creation of a website and beginning the process to hold an annual book sale that we believe will become the signature event of our Friends group in the year’s to come. The first sale will be held next June.

The formation of a Friends group is momentous for all of us associated with Portland Public Library. The financial support is important enough but the constant presence of community ambassadors who believe in the mission of PPL is a great comfort to us.



We have a lot of friends in the region but we are asking folks who believe in the idea of a great public library to become a Friend by formally joining our group. If you want to learn more and maybe join, please visit the website at www.friendsofppl.org.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Richard Russo returns with some "Magic"

Join us Wednesday, August 5th at First Parish Church for a Reading and Book Signing with Richard Russo, author of That Old Cape Magic

We are so pleased to announce that Maine author Richard Russo is working with Portland Public Library again to offer a reading and signing celebrating the release of his new novel, That Old Cape Magic (release date August 4th). The event will take place at First Parish UU Church (425 Congress Street in Portland) at 7pm. It is free and open to the public, although donations are always greatly appreciated.


When Rick worked with us in October 2007 on an event helping to launch Bridge of Sighs, about 500 people came to hear him read from and speak about his new book. If you were one of the lucky audience members, you know what an entertaining and thoughtful speaker he is. If you missed it, please join us this time for an exceptional evening!

More about Richard Russo’s new book from the publisher…



That Old Cape Magic is a novel of deep introspection and every family feeling imaginable, with a middle-aged man confronting his parents and their failed marriage, his own troubled one, his daughter’s new life and, finally, what it was he thought he wanted and what in fact he has. The storytelling is flawless throughout, moments of great comedy and even hilarity alternating with others of rueful understanding and heart-stopping sadness, and its ending is at once surprising, uplifting and unlike anything this Pulitzer Prize winner has ever written.

Following Bridge of Sighs—a national best seller hailed by The Boston Globe as “an astounding achievement” and “a masterpiece”—Richard Russo gives us the story of a marriage, and of all the other ties that bind, from parents and in-laws to children and the promises of youth.

Griffin has been tooling around for nearly a year with his father’s ashes in the trunk, but his mother is very much alive and not shy about calling on his cell phone. She does so as he drives down to Cape Cod, where he and his wife, Joy, will celebrate the marriage of their daughter Laura’s best friend. For Griffin this is akin to driving into the past, since he took his childhood summer vacations here, his parents’ respite from the hated Midwest. And the Cape is where he and Joy honeymooned, in the course of which they drafted the Great Truro Accord, a plan for their lives together that’s now thirty years old and has largely come true. He’d left screenwriting and Los Angeles behind for the sort of New England college his snobby academic parents had always aspired to in vain; they’d moved into an old house full of character; and they’d started a family. Check, check and check.

But be careful what you pray for, especially if you manage to achieve it. By the end of this perfectly lovely weekend, the past has so thoroughly swamped the present that the future suddenly hangs in the balance. And when, a year later, a far more important wedding takes place, their beloved Laura’s, on the coast of Maine, Griffin’s chauffeuring two urns of ashes as he contends once more with Joy and her large, unruly family, and both he and she have brought dates along. How in the world could this have happened?


Want to reserve a copy of That Old Cape Magic from PPL? Click on http://catalog.portland.lib.me.us/search/t?SEARCH=that+old+cape+magic to add your name to the list. You will need your Portland Public Library card number to place a hold.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Library People

There are lots of stereotypes about “library people” that is, those who work in a library. Mystery and assumption about what they actually do, (beyond just sitting around and reading all day :-) ) and what kind of people they are in real life, is revealed pretty quickly as soon as I mention what it is I do for a living.

Over the past few months in response to some recognition from the outside world I got to thinking about our “people”. At Portland Public Library we employ 45.5 FTEs and their stories and accomplishments are rich. We have authors, artists, athletes, activists and musicians and much more among us.














Our recent authors include Gail Kesich Donovan (In Memory of Gorfman T. Frog published by Dutton Children’s Books) and Patti Delois (Bufflehead Sisters published by Berkley Books division of Penguin Books). Patti’s second novel, Penguins in Amsterdam, will be published in August 2010. Our musicians are many including Kurt Baker of punk group The Leftovers (www.theleftovers.com and www.myspace.com/theleftovers), singer songwriter Jason Wilkins and Tom Wilsbach fiddler and Celtic musician who has performed widely in schools and clubs in our area.



This past April saw two of our maintenance and security crew honored through the National Arts Program sponsored by the City of Portland. Mark Upson sculpture entitled Pump Jack won Best in Show, while Wayne Frederick took a first place for his photograph Bare Bulbs.

So next time you think about library people or run into one in conversation, you might be surprised and delighted to learn who they are and what they do. Best of all, they bring those talents, interest and passion to work every day.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Steve's Summer Recommendations for Reading

Each summer most of us have visitors or family who, with regularity, will express their wonderment at all things Maine or pepper you with questions about Maine. I find myself especially in the summer referring to and reading books about Maine. I need short things to sample and pick at during the summer. The tiles below are some of my favorites and all share the character of having brief sections but don’t equate brevity with lack of substance.

I’d also argue that each of these books ought to be in your home but if not, did I mention that you ought to visit your public library?


On Wilderness: Voices from Maine. Edited by: Phyllis Austin, Dean Bennett and Robert Kimber.

Nice compilation of photos, poems, short essays dealing with Maine’s incredible natural world. It is a paperback and nice size to put in your backpack.


The Wildest Country: A Guide to Thoreau’s Maine. J. Parker Huber.

Huber recreates Thoreau’s journeys as described in the Maine Woods. In Huber’s words: “This book is an invitation. It invites you to gain an appreciation of yourself, Maine and Thoreau.”

Contemporary Maine Fiction. Edited by Wesley McNair.

Fourteen short stories by outstanding Maine related authors including Richard Ford, Carolyn Chute, Monica Wood, Stephen King and Richard Russo (just to name a few).


Maine Reader: DownEast Experience – 1614 to present. Edited by Charles and Samuella Shain.

This is a fabulous compilation about our state and should be sampled regularly. Included are a variety of writers from over Maine’s history who have either lived here or visited. Chapters include discovery and exploration, small town life, Maine Woods Maine and the Civil War, Maine artists, etc. You get the idea.

Maine Speaks. An anthology of Maine Literature. The Maine Literature Project.

Along with the Maine Reader just put this on your coffee table and let people sample all summer. Great Maine authors abound in this title covering topics such as nature, work, origins, identity and communities.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Throwing Sand

Today, we held the “groundbreaking” for our renovation. Since the project is a renovation, we didn’t exactly break ground but in fact threw some sand. Morris Fisher, President of the Board of Trustees, Nick Mavodones, City Councilor and Former Mayor, Scott Simons, Project Architect and I, all spoke to the attendees. Below are my comments made this morning on behalf of our staff and in recognition of accepting this gift from all of those who believe in Portland Public Library.

> Throwing Sand - Steve Podgajny, Peter Benard- Ledgewood Construction, Morris Fisher, Scott Simons, Joe Gray-City Manager, Taffy Field-PPL Trustee, Nick Mavodones
================================================

I first want to join Morris in thanking my colleagues for doing their absolute best to handle the many years, and episodes, of disruption – especially over the past year. To have the opportunity to thank people is always a delight regardless of the reason.

Today, on behalf of the Library staff at all of our locations, I want to express our gratitude. The employees of the Portland Public Library are among the most fortunate in public service - the beneficiaries of a true public-private partnership. It is a partnership that provides resources to serve the City significantly beyond what might be possible from solely public or private sources. We refer to this support as our “Margin of Excellence.”

This morning we celebrate this Partnership, because its fruits have given us a Library that, at the end of Phase I&II, will express widespread levels of quality and excellence unattainable through other means and at the top tier for cities of our size.

Without the selfless commitment of the Trustees and volunteers, as well as the support of the citizens, City Council and City Manager of Portland, the federal, state and county governments, and our hundreds of individual, corporate and private foundation donors, we would not be here today.

Next spring we will have the privilege of occupying new spaces to perform our work. When we accept this gift, the staff of Portland Public Library will also embrace two measures of accountability.
First, we will become the custodians of its physical care, a responsibility that will be there for all to literally see how well we are doing.
Second, and even more importantly, but much harder to see on a casual level, will be the fulfillment of our individual and group responsibility, to, day-in and day-out, reach the service potential that this new building presents in our efforts to improve the lives of our users and to strengthen the fabric of our city.

Boiled down to the most basic level: These two imperatives are individual and organizational, ethical and moral obligations that the staff incurs upon accepting this gift. We recognize and embrace your generosity and the expectations extending from it.

I believe we will make you proud as the receivers of this gift and once again, I thank all of you for your faith and trust in us.

Thank you.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

The Library on Elm Street



Today the “Library on Elm Street” opens at Monument Square. While Phase I of our renovation unfolds we will be operating essentially a large branch at the site. The staff have culled as many items as possible that have a high probability of being borrowed by those visiting the space. Otherwise we are counting on being able to efficiently (and as quickly as possible) deliver items that you request, either in person at any of our 6 locations, or on-line via the web catalog.

It is an exciting day for us as we look forward to a huge improvement in the aesthetics and functioning of our main location. This phase of the renovation is scheduled to last at least 10 months but we are hopeful it might be a little longer reflecting our success as we concurrently pursue funds for items that are scheduled for Phase II.



We have done our best to work with the space we have available but it is not by a long shot perfect. There are not enough seats, not enough computers, etc. but hopefully the staff will be able to help you get what you need during your visit. Let us know what we might improve in the space and we will do our best.

As the highway signs say: “Temporary Inconvenience for Permanent Improvement.”

Friday, March 27, 2009

Budgets & Civility

This is budget season in the world of municipal finance. It is never comfortable even during times when the money is flowing. Flowing is a very relative term believe me but 2% increases sure look good about now.

Yesterday, the Library had a conversation with the Finance Committee of the City of Portland. It was civil and, to the extent possible during difficult times, supportive of what we do. It strikes me that there are a lot of good people in the world trying to do good things while doing their duty. It may not be possible to do both right now. You can't control the external factors but you can control your attitude and level of civility. I was grateful for the presence of those qualities last night in speaking with people with a hard job to do.

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PPL Executive Director Comments RE FY 10 Budget

City Council Finance Committee

Thursday, March 26, 2009 – 4:00 PM

Chairman Mavodones, members of the Finance Committee and City Manager Gray. Before beginning, I’d like to acknowledge my colleagues from the Library who are with me today: Morris Fisher, President of the Board of Trustees, Nathan Smith, First Vice President, Shelley Carvel, Treasurer, Clare Hannan, Director of Finance & Operations and Heather Tiffany, Director of Development and Programming for the Library.

For the second consecutive year, we, collectively as a City, find ourselves in extremely difficult fiscal conditions that merit the most thoughtful consideration, response and understanding and maybe most importantly, collective good will.

We recognize – and in fact have experienced both this year and last - the severe distress that this Committee and the Manager face through this process. There is much at risk: people’s livelihoods, our City’s quality of life, how we will nurture economic development; the list is endless. For our business this afternoon, Portland Public Library is part of the question of whether certain City services will continue to exist, and if so, how to address the challenges to effectively delivering those services to the greatest number given that every agency or department –including the Library - has been terribly compromised.

The budget proposal that you have before you has a very simple goal which is to maintain our current schedule of hours and by extension our existing level of personnel. This budget incorporates the drastic cuts made last year in the Library system in the form of a 10% reduction in system staff which played out in an 18% loss in hours at the Main Library – our busiest location. I don’t think I need to repeat or parrot the endless media coverage that we all have been subjected to concerning the demand and importance of public libraries at this moment. However the demand is very real and it makes last year’s cuts and any potential cuts next FY very painful to real people trying to hold their lives together.

This year’s budget contains some startling expressions that reflect the broad economic turmoil including a reduction in the collections budget of $117,000 due to the falling value of our endowment. Clearly we have our own “revenue problem”. Further, losing one full day per week at our busiest and largest location has affected our ability to rent rooms and lessened our overdue fees due to falling lending numbers. For this next FY, the situation is further exacerbated due to the renovation of Monument Sq which has compromised some of our earning possibilities by limiting room rentals.

The collections and programs of the Library are paid for primarily by Library funds including fees, fundraising, endowment earnings and grant support. In the past three years alone the Library has brought in approximately $3,000,000 to support Portland Public Library activity. Of that amount close to $1,500,000 has gone directly to support the operations of the Library while the remainder $1,500,000 is helping to renovate the main library. The funding from the City is of course vital in that it supports the staff salaries, electricity, heating, etc. – our infrastructure as it were.

We continue to raise funds for operations, have finished a case statement for endowment growth and are devoting more time to grant writing. An additional bright spot is the formal creation of the Friends of PPL which is now getting off the ground and from which we expect financial and program support once it is firmly established.

While we appreciate and understand the stress and challenge of your work, it is our duty to communicate clearly the impact of a flat funding scenario for the second straight year. Last year we worked with a set of budget principles that we communicated to the Council and posted on our website for public review. We have to some degree used those principles again but have also incorporated the “Observations” gleaned from the neighborhood meetings. Those observations, along with all materials from our 6 fall meetings, have been posted on our website for the past 6 months. We also shared at those meetings new “budget statements” that were intended to leave no doubt as to what we heard last spring and what our preliminary consensus was in the approach to the FY 10 budget. (Copies of these documents are part of your packet and will be reposted on our website as part of our budget packet)

It is worth noting that over the past three years we have hosted or participated in over 30 neighborhood meetings –including the Fall 08 series - discussing all kinds of library issues. The feedback from these many meetings, as well as two major citizen surveys, have informed our on-going planning and thinking around this year’s budget.

At our Fall meetings we promised publicly to submit a budget to cover costs to maintain all of our current operating hours and locations;

We stated that, if the necessary funds were not forthcoming, reductions would have to come from neighborhood locations.

The attendees at the meetings understood these two features clearly and asked that we keep them informed along the way of our budget submissions. We have done that to this point except for the details of this evening, out of courtesy to this Committee. The community also stated clearly that they favored a “share the pain” approach if funds were not available to maintain the system at FY 09 levels.

With that context in mind, an appropriation equal to last year’s will lead to the following steps:

All locations – except the Main Library will be reduced by 10 hours per week.

Peaks Island, Reiche and Riverton will be open 10 hours per week beginning this July 1.

Burbank will be open 30 hours per week.

East End Community School (or PPL Children’s Library) will be open 30 hours and then be reduced to 10 hours by the end of FY 10 after the Youth Services staff returns to the renovated Monument Sq facility.

With the loss of 50 hours per week and 2.5 FTEs for the next Fiscal Year, we will have compared to two years ago 15% less staff and a reduction of system hours of 23%.

In closing, we all have to make very tough choices. Portland Public Library has, indisputably, demonstrated a record of engagement with our users, planning, openness and a willingness to thoughtfully consider the options to deliver the best library service possible. As you all are painfully aware, we are in the second year of a continuum of fiscal uncertainty – and there may be more ahead - and we need to reorient ourselves to a new reality and force ourselves to transcend narrow agendas. It is clear that the Portland Public Library system is not the same institution of two years ago in terms of financial capability and no amount of wishing or posturing can alter that fact. There is a way forward – no doubt the road will look different - and we invite the Council to participate in a constructive, energetic and objective exchange with us as we continue to grapple with the challenges ahead

Friday, February 27, 2009

Monument Square Renovation Begins!

The renovation of the Monument Square location of Portland Public Library has begun. For a project that has been going on in some manner - planning, fundraising, community meetings, etc - for ten years, it is exciting to finally begin work that can be immediately seen by our members and staff.


A significant amount of our collections on the lower level have been moved including Government Documents, older magazines and newspapers and we will begin to move tens of thousands of items more in the next three weeks. All of these items are going to the Brown Annex. The collections that will be stored in the annex will be available through our catalog and can be requested and delivered to any of our 6 locations.

Beginning March 16, we will be closed for two weeks as we finish the moving of our materials. The Branches will all be open their normal hours.

For much more about the closing and the details of the project please see our FAQ.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

NEWS FLASH: LIBRARIES DISCOVERED!

You probably have noticed in the last few weeks the large amount of coverage in the news media concerning public libraries. Sources from the Wall Street Journal and New York Times to the Bangor Daily News and MPBN have covered the surge in library lending and computer use during this difficult economic stretch. The recognition of library value is a good thing and like the starved institutions we are, we gratefully accept the momentary crumbs of affirmation thrown our way.

That may sound like a harsh thing to say, but the fact is public libraries are not simple triage institutions responding to stressful times. Day in and day out for years we have been returning – well under the radar - a tremendous value to our communities. But regardless of the value we bring, and the quality performance in delivering that value, neither is connected to the funding level of our institutions.

BURBANK BRANCH

Portland Public Library (PPL) is a case in point but there are thousands nationally I am sure. PPL lending grew by 15% over the last two years ending June 30, 2008. It may be that public libraries are the canary in the mine anticipating the broad economic pain to come or it may be that we are doing our job well and growing because of internal changes to serve our members better. But one thing is certain: in today’s public funding approach whether it be federal, state, county or local, the funding for public libraries has nothing to do with the value returned. The response in funding from state and local sources for PPL did not reflect our success but in fact resulted in serious reductions in library service.

Too often cuts are made during difficult economic time with a pseudo equity mentality. All agencies will be cut 20% for example, regardless of their value (or ability to absorb the cut) at a given moment in the continuum of affairs. If use of libraries is growing greatly because people actually NEED the library then that should argue for a more nuanced process for reduction in funding. I admit that is hard for a legislature or a City Council to do as there are many good agencies and departments and enormous needs unmet.

In thinking about value returned, let us use a conservative number – say $20 average - for the value of the 800,000 plus items lent by PPL in the last year. The return is about $16,000,000 on a taxpayer investment of $3,400,000. That number does not include a value (cost of a computer or ISP fee) on the over 125,000 computer sessions held at the Library or the over 130,000 research questions answered by reference librarians. So in our world the 15% growth is not “profit” that can be reinvested in infrastructure and staff to get even better. In fact, other than value returned directly to users, the 15% growth means nothing in terms of acquiring stable funding to improve long term institutional performance.

Before you are tempted to say that $16,000,000 is a phony or even irrelevant measure, then explain why it is that people flock to the public library in response to economic distress – and I emphasize this- in greater numbers, if there is not real value gained from the library use? The value is real and is returned daily regardless of economic circumstances but what is clearly different today is that the net of users has widened.

So after our economic prospects brighten and take hold, don’t forget that libraries were there when you needed them and more importantly, they will be doing every day quietly, far from the media watch, the very things you individually, and we as a community, need to prosper. The value proposition remains!