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I am pleased to present Shortgrass Library System’s 2012 Annual Report. We have wrapped up another successful year for our library system, during which we continued to make changes,

enhance efficiencies, try new things, and provided quality services to our member libraries and school partners.

In the spring, the addition of Freading ebooks to Alberta’s libraries, through a generous grant from Alberta Municipal

Affairs, greatly enhanced the number of ebooks available for borrowing and patrons were pleased to have instant access to

ebooks, allowing for simultaneous downloads.

In June, Shortgrass Library System became the first Alberta chapter of the Adopt-a-Library Literacy Program. Aimed at

children, this valuable literacy program reduces the risk of law offending behaviour, by encouraging reading through

the provision of incentives. We formed partnerships in our community with local first responders who mentor and

encourage literacy. Law enforcement officers visit schools, libraries and patrol local areas, handing out prizes to kids ‘caught’

reading, with the ultimate goal of creating a pattern of positive interactions between youth and first responders in mind, as well as encouraging the habit of reading. In June, Shortgrass

Library System became the first Alberta chapter of the Adopt-a-Library Literacy Program. Aimed at children, this valuable

literacy program reduces the risk of law offending behaviour, by encouraging reading through the provision of incentives. We

formed partnerships in our community with local first responders who mentor and encourage literacy. Law enforcement officers

visit schools, libraries and patrol local areas, handing out prizes to kids ‘caught’ reading, with the ultimate goal of creating a pattern of

positive interactions between youth and first responders in mind, as well as encouraging the habit of reading.

Shortgrass was the site for a meeting of technology consultants from all regional library systems in Alberta this year. It was an honour to host colleagues from other regions and facilitate the

opportunity to share ideas and expertise. We hope this meeting will become a regular occurrence in future years.

Kathi HermanChair, SLS Board of Trustees

We are proud to have enhanced our partnership with Medicine Hat College and Medicine Hat Public Library. Together, our three organizations developed a shared Intern Librarian position, and hired Intern Librarian, Kris Samraj, who divides his time between our offices, while having the opportunity to learn about libraries from three varying points of view: academic, public and regional.

We also used the strong relationship we have with Medicine Hat College Library Services to develop the One Community One Card initiative for our region. Patrons from Shortgrass member libraries can now use their public library card to access library services at Medicine Hat College, at both Medicine Hat and Brooks Campus locations. In return, Medicine Hat College faculty, staff and students can use their College library card as a public library card at any of the Shortgrass member libraries. This one card seamless access model is a great example of the enhanced services libraries can provide for their patrons when they work together.

Throughout the summer, we welcomed back two returning summer students, Megan Grimm and Kaleigh Jensen, and also added a third student, Iradele Plante, for the first time.

The front yard around our building received a much needed facelift this summer, as board members, staff and volunteers pitched in to help transform two plots into a modern, easy-to-care-for and consistent look, containing native prairie grasses and shrubs.

One of our biggest achievements this year was the re-design of our website. We contracted a local web-design company to help us achieve the modern look and functionality that our member libraries, trustees and partners need, in order to easily find information about our organization. At the same time, they also designed new webpages for each of our member libraries, helping them to present a functional and inviting look to their patrons. We hope that their new websites will go a long way in helping them promote their services and resources to the public.

In conclusion, 2012 was a productive and eventful year and we are now gearing up for our 25th anniversary in 2013. We hope you enjoy this summary of our accomplishments for the year and look forward to sharing our accomplishments in the future.

Shortgrass Library Systemthe board of trustees

Shortgrass Library System is governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the funding municipalities and by the Minister of

Alberta Municipal Affairs.

Each member municipality appoints a member to the Shortgrass Library Board.

The Board has organized its standing Committees into two committees: the Programs & Services Committee and the

Finance & Personnel Committee. These committees have a key role of providing advice to the Board on policy and other matters in order to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of

the Board operation.B

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Through committed governance, the Board of Trustees provide direction and goals for the Shortgrass Library System.

(pictured)Marjorie Moncrieff

Town of Bow Island

Marj JamesMHPL

Mara NesbittCounty of Newell

Dwight KilpatrickTown of Redcliff

Doug HendersonCypress County

Petra MauerhoffCEO

Kathi HermanMinisterial Appointee

(not pictured)Brent Burton

Village of Foremost

Craig Widmer County of Fort Mile

Jennifer Coombs Village of Tilley

Yoko Fujimoto Village of Rosemary

Martin ShieldsCity of Brooks

John BrocklesbyTown of Bow Island

Kevin JonesTown of Bassano

Les PearsonCity of Medicine Hat

Wayne Dahl Village of Duchess

“Shortgrass Library System provides quality library support services to

member municipalities and partners.”

New SLS Mission Statement adopted in October, 2012.

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(pictured)Anton Chuppin

Manager Technology Services

Larry DyeDriver

Jackie Hope-HammelBibliographic Services

Assistant

Dyan BryksaExceutive assistant

Val OgdenSchool Cataloger

Keltie McGregorProcessing Clerk

Norman StewartCataloger

Phyllis WorrallManager Bibliographic

Services

Peggy CurthoysAcquisitions Officer

Levi MillingtonSystems Administrator

Petra MauerhoffCEO

Chris MassiniDriver

(not pictured)Blaine Heglund

Cataloger

Peter AlbanoCataloger

Liz AlexanderCataloging Clerk

Rod ThurlowDriver

John BarrieDriver

Jerry SmithDriver

Kris SamrajIntern Librarian

Kaleigh JensenSummer Student

Megan GrimmSummer Student

Iradele PlanteSummer Student

AppsTo further enhance access to our library

catalog for our patrons we introduced apps for both, apple and android mobile devices

in late spring. The Shortgrass app has been a great way to keep patrons connected to their

library while they are on the go.

Angie AbdouIn July, Shortgrass sponsored an author visit

from Angie Abdou to help celebrate the Redcliff Public Library’s 45th anniversary.

DVD CleanerIn late summer, in response to many

requests from our member libraries, we purchased a DVD cleaner, which has been

making the rounds cleaning movies and CDs at member libraries, as well as cleaning

disks for patrons for a small fee.

Passenger VanWe received a grant through the

Community Initiatives Program (funded by the Alberta Lottery Fund) and were

able to purchase a new passenger van. This means we could sell our older cargo van

to a local charity to help them meet their transportation needs.

Suggest For PurchaseIn November we launched a new Suggest For Purchase catalog. The catalog shows up as a link after a patron does a search in the regular BiblioCommons catalog and gets no results. The Suggest For Purchase catalog contains records from our library material vendors and patrons are able to suggest the item they were looking for to be purchased by their library. This type of patron driven acquisitions process will ensure that the items purchased by libraries are of interest to their users.

Inventory KitAn Inventory kit contained in a pelican case, with a laptop, a USB barcode scanner, a network cable and a laminated How-To leaflet is now available for library managers to borrow. This kit allows them to do inventory without having to take every item off the shelf and bring it to their desk for processing.

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BISACThe Brooks Public Library is the first Shortgrass

library switching their non-fiction collection over to the BISAC classification system. The Book Industry

Standards and Communication classification system allows non-fiction library materials to be displayed

as they would be in a bookstore, facilitating browsing for users and grouping together items of similar

subjects. Shortgrass staff have been cataloging new non-fiction materials purchased by the Brooks

Library according to the BISAC classification and also assisted with switching existing non-fiction

materials to the new system.

Computer Thin ClientsWe have started using thin clients as substitutes to workstations in our office. Thin clients provide many advantages over regular workstations, including the fact that they use less power, and eliminate the need for operating system licenses. They also allow for simple central management and allow anywhere access, so users are not restricted to just one computer.

ULSIn the fall, ULS sponsored its 2nd annual buying trip for Shortgrass member library managers, staff and school partners to their warehouse in Calgary. Shoppers were picked up by bus from Medicine Hat and stops along the way, got a chance to shop at the ULS warehouse, were provided a lunch and then the bus brought everyone back. Items purchased were shipped directly to our office for processing. We are grateful to ULS for sponsoring this trip and making shopping easier for our libraries.

2012 REVENUE = $1,668,378

MUNICIPAL CONTRIBUTIONS : 54%PROVINCE OF ALBERTA : 31%

CONTRACT SERVICES : 7%GRANTS : 5%

OTHER : 3%

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2012 ExpEnsEs = $1,668,378

STAFFING : 44%LIBRARY MATERIALS : 19%

OTHER: 14%ILS & TECHNOLOGY : 7%

BUILDING & CAPITAL : 6%EqUIPMENT & SUPPLIES : 4%MEETINGS, CONSULTATIONS & ADVERTISING: 3%RURAL SERVICES GRANT: 3%

Shortgrass Member Library Managers

(from left to right, back row - standing)Kathryn Van Dorp (BOW), Tracy Weinrauch (RED), Carol Ann Cross-Roen (MHPL), Sheilagh Bailey (ROL), Annette

Ziegler (MHPL), Shannon Vanderloh (DUC), on screen: Anita Chappell (TIL), Shelley Ross (MHPL), Joan Beutler (FOR),

Hilary Munro (MHPL),

(left to right, front row - seated)Stefanie Schranz (GRA),, Bonnie Bennett (BAS), Petra

Mauerhoff (SLS), Vanessa Plett (ROS)

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Bassano Memorial LibraryBow Island Municpal LibraryBrooks Public LibraryDuchess & District Public LibraryForemost Municiple LibraryMedicine Hat Public LibraryAlcoma Community LibraryGraham Community LibraryRedcliff Public LibraryRolling Hills Public LibraryRosemary Community LibraryTilley Public Library

Shortgrass Member Library Managers

(from left to right, back row - standing)Kathryn Van Dorp (BOW), Tracy Weinrauch (RED), Carol Ann Cross-Roen (MHPL), Sheilagh Bailey (ROL), Annette

Ziegler (MHPL), Shannon Vanderloh (DUC), on screen: Anita Chappell (TIL), Shelley Ross (MHPL), Joan Beutler (FOR),

Hilary Munro (MHPL),

(left to right, front row - seated)Stefanie Schranz (GRA),, Bonnie Bennett (BAS), Petra

Mauerhoff (SLS), Vanessa Plett (ROS)

The work Shortgrass Library System is able to accomplish would not be possible

without our great partners:

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In June 2012 Shortgrass became the first Alberta chapter of the Adopt a Library Literacy program.

Adopt-A-Library began with RCMP Constable John Kennedy. Seeing troubled youth regularly, he noticed that most of them had difficulty reading. He began to

connect the dots between literacy and helping children avoid criminal behaviour.

Children in communities who take part in pre-school literacy programs have about half the arrest rates as adults and youth who did not have access to the same programs. Those who don’t read regularly have lower comprehension ability, which can lead to a progressive downward spiral toward crime.

Adopt-A-Library is a proactive approach to combating criminal behaviour because it looks at the root causes of the problem. The program succeeds because it sustains a focus on literacy as the children grow up.

Shortgrass is proud to bring this innovative program to Alberta.

Adopt-A-Library Literacy Program

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2375 - 10th Avenue S.W.MEDICINE HAT, ABT1A 8G2P: 403.529.0550F: 403.528.2473E: info@shortgrass.caW: www.shortgrass.ca

A special thank you to Brandy Naroznick and the Medicine Hat College Visual Communications students who provided expertise in helping design this year’s annual report.