Accomplishments - 2009
The Duluth Public Library would like to acknowledge all Library staff and volunteers who have worked so hard to continue providing the best library services possible during a difficult and challenging economy.
Carla Powers was hired as Library Manager from an initial pool of five applicants and began work May 18, 2009.
The Library received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to purchase up to 50 computers for public use over the next two years. The computers will be located at all three library locations. The project will include new public Internet access computers, library catalog computers and a station for downloading audiobooks to MP3 players. A grant from the Knight Foundation will cover the required local funding match for the Gates grant, will purchase laptops for training purposes and will hire a staff person to coordinate computer classes for the public. In addition, the Friends of the Library and the Duluth Library Foundation have begun a collaborative effort to raise money for ongoing computer upgrades and resources. RESULTS: The Friends participated in the Give to the Max online donation project during November and raised $8500 toward the Library's computer needs.
Wireless Internet service was installed at the Main Library in the spring of 2009. Initial funding came from the Duluth Library Foundation; the Library will pay for the ongoing costs and is exploring ways to fund expanding the wireless access to the branch libraries.
Downloadable audiobooks are now available in a format that works on iPods and on Mac computers. Downloadable audiobooks can be played on computers or on MP3 players and some may be burned to CD. The Library partners with the Arrowhead Library System to provide downloadable audiobooks to library users. New titles are added each month. RESULTS: During 2009, 2300 Duluthians downloaded 37,700 audiobooks, including 4260 titles for iPods or Macs.
The Library contracted with Unique Management Services (UMS), a collection agency specializing in libraries, to recover lost materials and money owed to the Library. RESULTS: 5) Since last spring, the Library has recovered nearly $5000 worth of materials and received more than $7000 to replace lost materials.
