This blog post is by Amber Mathewson, Pima County Public Library Director.
It is heartening to know that our community loves the Library and wants to see it continue as a national leader in innovative programs and strong community connections. More than 280,000 County residents have a Library card and more than 160,000 of those card holders used their card at least once in the past year. Thousands more without cards visited one or more of the 27 library branches around the County last year, whether to attend a community meeting, catch up on the news, or simply get out of the summer sun.
Many people have fond memories of time inside a library. Times change however, and libraries must change, too. The digital revolution has already come to libraries. Last year, more than half our checkouts were digital. That has affected branch visits. Last month, the County Administrator shared with the Board of Supervisors my team’s report about starting on the path to determining the Library’s future. At its heart, the proposal seeks to balance the traditions of libraries while allowing for new ways we can reach the entirety of Pima County. We want to be able to have Library staff not only available at branches, but out in the community attending events, conducting programs at community centers, and bringing materials to people who haven’t had them. We want to bring all that is beautiful about the Library—our books, Storytimes, and programs—to more County residents.
We do not make any of the recommendations of possible library closures lightly as we know that our library spaces are important not only as places of information and learning, but of connection and community.
There are immediate, short-term issues that need to be addressed to maintain a high-level of operations before we can start making changes and improvements for the future. A key issue is staffing. There are chronic staffing issues that have affected staff morale, curtailed program offerings, and required reduced hours of operation. These issues have persisted over time despite increases in pay and benefits.
What is the core mission of the Pima County Public Library? What do the people want the public library of the future to be? Are our facilities adequate or in need of repair and renovation? Do we have enough staff to operate all 27 branches at an optimum level? Are we providing services outside the mission of the Library that could be handled through partnerships or collaborations? Those are some of the questions we’ve set out to answer as we plan for the future of the public library. We have learned a lot about the numbers of individuals visiting our libraries as well how you are using us differently. Numbers do not tell the whole story, so we realize that we need to ask more questions. It’s your library, we want it to serve your needs.
If you are a supporter of the Library, believe in its mission, and want to see it remain a vital component of a healthy and vibrant Pima County, I encourage you to read the draft and help us find solutions to the identified issues of adequate staffing, aging facilities, the rise of digital downloads, and the safety and security needs of patrons and staff.
Some Library supporters and patrons are concerned about the report’s recommendations. We have heard you. We are tabling the proposed closures for this year while we gather more community input.
The Board of Supervisors, the County Administrator, and I, as the Library director, have a fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers to ensure the library is fiscally responsible. I also have a responsibility to ensure the Library is relevant to the times, and that its branches are safe places for visitors.
These are difficult problems and we’re open to innovative solutions. I want to ensure the public that our goal is more not less. For me, this isn’t about what might be lost, but what can be gained.
