March 2008

In December, we were pleased to learn that Forbes magazine ranked Columbia 19th in the nation for places to educate children, and part of that ranking is based upon the popularity of the public library. The library received an A+ grade for library popularity based upon our turnover rate, which is the number of checkouts divided by the size of the library’s collection. According to the study, the average turnover rate for metro areas is 2.7 and ours is 4.0.

This national ranking reinforces our own findings from the public opinion survey conducted this fall. To help us plan for the future and evaluate the results of the April election, we asked voters in the DBRL region what library services and improvements are most important to them and why they thought the election failed. What we found from the survey is that, even though Boone County Library District taxpayers voted down an operating tax increase to build and operate two new branch libraries by a large percent, it was not necessarily because they don’t like or appreciate the services the library provides. Survey respondents told us they want more services and more open hours from our current facilities.

In response to these findings and other comments over the course of the year, library trustees made some changes to 2008 budget priorities in order to keep the Columbia Public Library open on Sundays 1-5 p.m. during the summer. In the coming months, the DBRL board’s long-range planning committee and a new communications committee will use the survey results as a building block for the library’s future plans. You can find more about what happened with the library over the past year, the trustees’ work and some of the results of the survey in our 2007 Year in Review.

During National Volunteer Week April 27-May 3, we will recognize our 19 board members, as well as all our other volunteers, for all the work they do. Our other volunteers include the Friends groups at each library, the DBRL Foundation and the individuals who help us with a variety of projects such as helping us mail overdue notices and shelve books. On behalf of the library and our community, I would like to thank all of our volunteers for their time, effort and commitment to the Daniel Boone Regional Library system.

There are several other special events planned for April including the kick-off celebration for the 100th anniversary of library service in Fulton. The annual Friends of the Callaway County Public Library meeting Thursday, March 24 will feature a historical look at library service by Carl Kremer (see page 7). Also, during National Library Week April 13-19, there will be a lot of great programs for adults and children (see pages 18-20). Nationally recognized storytellers and musicians will perform, so be sure to drop by your library.