Annual Report

The following report is intended to update you on the comings and goings within the Palliser Regional Library System in 2004 as well as provide us with an historical document.

For Your Information: General System Statistics for 2004

Services Provided

• 18,823: Total number of hours that the branches were open to serve the public
• 2,241 new patrons registered for library cards
• 27,848 books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, videos and audio books were added
• 473,483 items circulated
• 159,675 items circulated at the rural branches
• 30,544 holds were placed
• 26,413 holds on books, CDs or videos delivered
• 2,988 books were requested by our branches through interlibrary loan
• 5,653 books were lent by our branches to libraries outside our region
• 30,463 patrons used the public internet access stations
• 23,335 reference questions were answered

General Collection Statistics

Numbers include trade, but not mass market paperbacks.

¹In 2003 branch magazines that were more than 3 years old were taken off of the system. Exceptions: eg. National Geographic.

Strategic Planning 2004

The work on the Strategic Plan for the Palliser Regional is underway. The Environmental Assessment was completed between September 30, 2003 and January 24, 2005. Carolyn Graham, Rural Branch Supervisor and Jan Smith, Director held "Community Chat" sessions in each of the 20 communities served by a branch library. Additional sessions were held at the November Regional Board and with the staff from Moose Jaw and Headquarters. We learned a lot about how our communities were evolving. Did you know that:

1. Four different types of rural communities exist within Palliser:
   • Agrarian;
   • Commuter communities/agrarian;
   • Recreational/agrarian;
   • Administrative Service Centres.
2. Community Profile:
   1. The average age in the rural communities is 46 years.
   2. More females than males use the library.
   3. 70% of the children are bussed into the schools.
   4. The Internet is available in 60 to 95% of the households served, depending on the community.
3. Volunteer Profile:
   • Board burnout is occurring. The decreasing number of able-bodied volunteers is affecting all sectors of the community.
4. Retooling the Library Services - Key Issues:
   1. Marketing: Libraries need to increase the visibility of their services. Many people are not aware of, or do not know how to use the new online services being offered
      1. Key Issues: Staff and Public training in library online resources and in evaluation of resources being retrieved from the Internet.
   2. Library Services:
      1. Re-examination of the timing of Library Open Hours to meet changing needs.
      2. A significant percentage of the block collection is outdated. The library must stay current re: alternative forms/formats of recreational reading/listening. New formats include Books on CD; Educational DVDs; Graphic Novels.

We would like to offer our thanks to Glen Dakis and Shawna Penstock of SaskTel for their assistance and guidance. For more details or a copy of the survey results, contact Jan Smith (306-693-3669) or e-mail her at jsmith@palliserlibrary.ca

CAP Grants 2003-04, and 2004-05

The 20 branches of the Palliser Regional Library System received $77,000 in Community Access Program Grants in 2003-04. With this money we bought at least one new public access computer for each branch and a laser printer. A 2-day computer training workshop was held for the staff in March of 2004. Money was refunded to all the branches paying for SaskTel Internet connections.

In addition, 14 branches of the Palliser Regional Library received an additional $34,200 from Industry Canada to assist with public access programming for 2004-2005. These branches were Assiniboia, Avonlea, Craik, Coronach, Davidson, Elbow, Holdfast, Imperial, Loreburn, Moose Jaw, Mossbank, Riverhurst, Rockglen and Tugaske. Branches have used these funds to offer public computer courses and to cover SaskTel Internet connections costs, and to purchase furniture for the public access stations. Another 2-day staff training workshop was scheduled for February 2005. Regrettably, many of smallest branches did not qualify for funding. Mortlach, Wood Mountain, and Briercrest will be receiving assistance re: telecommunications costs from the equalization refund structure set-up under CommunityNet.

LIBRARIES QUALIFY FOR FULL GST REBATE

As of February 2004, public libraries will receive a 100% GST rebate on goods and services.

Regional Highlights

DYNIX IPAC

On April 8th our elderly online catalogue server died. This left the region scrambling for a new host for our web page and for IPAC – the Internet version of the online catalogue. As a cost saving measure we obtained our own domain (www.palliserlibrary.ca), hired a summer student and set up the revised edition of the webpage on the SaskTel server. The IPAC conversion proved to be more challenging but we owe thanks to the Moose Jaw Public Library for hosting the IPAC on their server; to Karon Selzer for the time she dedicated to getting the system up and running and to Carolyn Graham for writing the new user handouts.

CommunityNet: Rouleau was the 12th Palliser branch to be added to CommunityNet.

Riverhurst - Branch of the Year

Serving 143 people, Riverhurst Library is one of Palliser's smallest rural branches. Circulation increased by 31.8% in 2003. While there was a general increase in usage of all types of materials, the children's materials showed the greatest growth. This was due to the Library Board's emphasis on programming for children and Branch Librarian Della Bartzen's gift for working with children. Most branches lose their juvenile readership once the school has closed, but Riverhurst's emphasis on programming and reader's advisory showed that it is possible to keep children in the library.

In 2003, the Riverhurst Library Board fundraised in order to pay for 5.5 hours of their 11.5 hours of opening. The library board members and the branch librarian put in an estimated 960 volunteer hours.

The award was accepted on behalf of the Board by Gayle Langer, Sandra Jackson and Marion Hackney. The Riverhurst Library previously received the Branch of the Year Award in 1993.

Moose Jaw Inventory in Progress! The staff of Moose Jaw Public Library has been working on the smaller collections while engaging in a weeding process.

Moose Jaw Archives Project: Joe LeClair and Dorothy Lazurko were hired part time through a Canadian Council of Archives grant in conjunction with funding from the Moose Jaw Friends of the Library to catalogue the collection.

3-Year Contract Negotiated with CUPE Local 9: In 2004 the Palliser Board and CUPE Local 9 used the "Interest Based Negotiations" process for the first time. It was facilitated by Larry Langgard of Saskatchewan Labour Relations and Mediation Division. We agreed to a 3 year contract, terminating on December 31, 2006. The main features of the settlement were the wage increase of 3% for 2004, 1% for 2005 and 1% for 2006.

Programming News

Race to Adventure TD Bank Summer Reading Program

The Palliser branch libraries "Raced to Adventure" and the staff and the young people who participated had a great time. Participation was up when compared to 2003. The Moose Jaw Public Library challenged J.M. Cuelenaere Library (Prince Albert) to a reading match and by the end of the summer, the Moose Jawians had out-read Prince Albert by more than 2 to 1. Moose Jaw's prize, in addition to the blizzard coupons from Dairy Queen, was that Anne Warriner, Head Librarian and Mary Saso, the Children's Librarian, painted their hair purple for the wind-up party. Our thanks to the staff, volunteers and the following sponsors who helped make this year's summer reading program a success - The Toronto Dominion Bank Financial Group, SaskTel, Saskatchewan Culture, Saskatchewan Library Association, Saskatchewan Writers Guild, Saskatchewan Lotteries and local library system.

Connect with the World @ your library! – Saskatchewan Library Week

The libraries of the Palliser System celebrated library week by holding everything from fund-raisers to book contests. 17 of our 20 branches were active participants. Saskatchewan authors David Richards and Suzanne North read at Moose Jaw and at 9 rural branches. Funding assistance was provided by the Saskatchewan Writers Guild and the Canada Council. We would like to thank both our provincial and local sponsors: SaskEnergy, Supreme BASICS, Saskatchewan Writers Guild, Saskatchewan Library Association, Saskatchewan Lotteries, 540 CBC Radio One and the Regional and Municipal Libraries of Saskatchewan.

Executive Committee Activities

2004 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (April 22, 2004)

The 2003 Annual Report and the 2003 Auditor's statement were presented, discussed and final approval was given.

Arnold Cornea resigned as Chair. James Taylor was elected the new Chair. Eddy Moore and Heather Shillingford of Moose Jaw were elected for a 3 year term. Ralph Sturgeon of the RM of Moose Jaw was also elected for a 3 year term. There are 5 representatives on the Executive Committee from the City of Moose Jaw and 4 from the Rural Area.

Changes to the regulations, the library processing policy, the bylaws and the Privacy Statement were adopted.

FALL REGIONAL BOARD MEETING (November 10, 2004)

The 2005 operating budget was adopted as proposed, but subject to 2 conditions, ie: that the Moose Jaw Public Library's budget be adjusted to reflect the actual figures as passed by the City of Moose Jaw during their budgetary process and secondly, that the budget be adjusted to reflect the actual income/salaries which have resulted from funds raised for additional branch hours.

The Branch Standards Policy was brought before the board and passed. The Executive Committee Policy was amended. A 45-minute Strategic Planning session was held and many good ideas with respect to marketing our services were brought forward.

LIBRARY LEVY INCREASE SET FOR 2005

The library levy rate for towns, and villages with a population over 2,000 and a library was set at $15.52 per person. The library levy rate for towns, and villages with a population under 2,000 and a library was set at $11.66 per person. The library levy rate for all other towns, villages and RM’s was set at $7.76 per person.

As a result of the levy increase, the number of hours per week that the local board had to fund-raise for was reduced by 22 hours or from 66 hours to 44 hours. This has been much appreciated by the boards.

As per our policy, we tendered the job of Auditor. Dan McCarron won the contract and was appointed Auditor. The next tender for the Auditor will be in Fall of 2007.

The Seven-Year Honour Roll

We would like to recognize and congratulate the following people and thank them for serving their communities so diligently over the last 7 years as local board members:

We hope to see you back soon, if not next year.

Our thanks for all your help and support. It is not mandatory to serve on any board for 7 consecutive years. Each board is re-appointed by council every year. To let one's name stand for 2, let alone 3, 5 or even 7 consecutive years is a feat to be lauded.

Staff Notes from 2004

Staff Education

• Spring CAP Workshop: Thanks to the 2003-04 CAP Grant, Palliser was able to offer the first 2-day branch staff workshop in March 2004.The availability of the new CAP hardware enabled us to have 2 computer labs to offer hands-on training to the staff.
• Several branch and Headquarters staff attended the Cochrane database training which was held in Regina in October of 2004.
• Headquarters staff attended the Saskatchewan Library Association conference in May. Carol Munro (Assiniboia), Erlinda Blanchette (Willow Bunch) and several Moose Jaw Staff attended.

Staffing News – Comings and Goings

• Phyllis Wolf retired as Mortlach librarian, after 30 years of service.
• Dell Ann Perkins (Avonlea) moved to British Columbia.
• Joyce Playford (Moose Jaw) resigned after 18 years and joined the staff of the SIAST Palliser Campus Library.
• Shirley Forrester (Moose Jaw) and her husband relocated to Lethbridge, Alberta.
• Wanda Burton (Accounting – Headquarters), Rose Skelton (Avonlea), Karla Hicks (Mortlach), Debbie VanKoughnett (Moose Jaw) and Diane Wilson (Moose Jaw), joined the staff.

A Big Thank-you...

• To the Branch staff and their boards and the local communities for actively participating in the Strategic Planning Initiative
• To the Branch staff and their boards for all the extras that you have put into making the library services in your community the best service possible.
• To the Branch staff and their boards for raising their library's local profile while fund-raising. In spite of setbacks due to the restructured budget, you have made library service in your community a positive force.
• To the community for its inspirational support and assistance with the provision of local library service.
• To the staff of the Provincial Library for their vital services provided.
• To the Executive Committee of the Palliser Regional Library Board for all their tireless board and committee work.
• And finally, to the Headquarters staff who kept smiling under the heavy workload.

James Taylor, Chair
Jan Smith, Director

2004 Staff List

Municipalities within the Palliser Regional System - 2004

Total Population: 55,609

Interlibrary Loan and Intralibrary Loans (Hold Statistics) fo 2004

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