Coronado Public Library Stakeholder Interviews Summary Prepared By The Singer Group, Inc. February 2011

Purpose of interviews  To collect data from key Stakeholders for input into the Strategic Plan  To enhance relationships and opportunities for collaboration 2

Who we interviewed  Bob Balfour – Board President, Coronado Historical Society  Robin Franck – Library Board Trustee  Steve Johnson, Web Publisher of E-Coronado  Blair King – City Manager  Debbie Riddle – Principal, Lee Mather Company  Joe Ditler – Former ED Coronado Historical Association  Kris Grant – publisher, Coronado Life Style  Casey Tanaka, Mayor  Ledyand Hakes, School Board Member 3

What We Learned 4

Relationship with the Library  Positive, outstanding, accessible  Good customer service  “Most professionally run organization”  It is #5 on his tour list when he has out-of-town visitors  Fostering relationship (historical association) 5

Strengths  Welcoming staff  Facility (6)  Winn meeting room  Location  Size  Wonderful public room  Mural  Physical environment that people enjoy, experience 6

Strengths 7 Library - continued  Very popular place (2)  It is the “jewel of the City”  Very welcoming, warm environment  Children’s library  Young family loves the library  Fees are very fair  Coffee cart outside – very popular

Strengths: programs/services  Free internet (2)  Exhibits  Entertainment, cultural, + Educational programs  Library keeps up with the times (e.g. DVDs etc.)  Interpreting and sharing Coronado’s history  Children’s programming  Christmas and Halloween events  Summer Reading program  Puppet shows  Great selection! 8

Weaknesses or Limitations  Are non-residents using internet at expense of residents’ ability to do so?  Open earlier on Sunday (2); more hours “ access should be a high priority”  Parking  Have more copies of books and movies and extend the borrow time  Have more copies of movies  Update website 9

Trends  Technology (2)  E-readers and downloadables (3)  Convenience  Schools changing when and how teach  More empty homes  Increasing traffic  Becoming 3 separate communities  More using computers  Economic downtown 10

Unmet Community Needs  Not all have internet/ students (2)  Need hours for people who work  Seniors  Need 24/7 school  Cultural programming  Education/relationship with schools 11

Improve?  Make community more aware of services;” blow own horn”; marketing of services (2)  Ongoing survey of patrons; get real data  Better future planning for users ; where headed?  More weekend hours  Lend e-readers  Move 2 nd Hand Prose forefront  Let patrons drink coffee in a cordoned off part of the library 12

Improve?  More computers  Do as much as can for kids and young adults  Enhance role as museum of local history; encourage people to donate artifacts  Put library information or events on the back of the receipt - can have a Coronado library “bookmark” 13

Opportunities to improve relationship  None (4)  More of a presence, communications ; bring people back into the community decision making process regarding community quality of life  Library can get more out of e-Coronado –have a staff person responsible for posting all events – is willing to provide training on e- coronado to library staff*  The historical association and library could do more cross-referring – develop a reciprocal relationship  Need to better coordinate the idea that the historical museum has professionally archived historical artifacts and a world class archive 14

Ways to Tell Story  Have annual meeting/ this year share strategic plan!  Library seen as ‘stand alone,’ should be seen as a city institution (like recreation)  More media attention  Need PR person to reach out into the community  Stories about volunteers and employees in newspaper  Ongoing Facebook page  Banners  Have more lectures and guest speakers  Joint ventures 15

Advice For Us  Don’t assume problem if there is none (local orgs would ask for help if needed)  Plan should result in a few clear priorities  Let people know about strategic planning process and plan  Older, more educated population still wants books  Talk to stakeholders, listen to all voices  Tune into school system’s strategic plan Expand the kiosk outside 16

Advice  Would like to see more opportunities to donate books – more book drives  Get organizations that complement the library (e.g. historical society, chamber of commerce, visitor’s center) to work with the library (to avoid duplication of effort); or share space with the library (can generate some funding and provide cross-promotion opportunities) 17

$1,000,000 grant  Storage facility for physical items  Augment collection with what is missing  Endowed librarian position  Integrate senior center with library; share services and programs  Expansion of computers and other technology  Programs to educate kids about computers  Support on-line learning  Blow up and display archived photos; share more of Coronado history visually 18