Award Winning
Public Service at the
Chesterfield Township
Library
February 21, 2002
Award Criteria #1
Demonstrate that your library provides new, innovative and superior services to its customers:
In a cost effective mannerWith a can-do attitudeBy always delivering promises
What We’ve Done
More than tripled the size of the entire collection from 15,000 items in 1995 to over 55,000 items in 2001
Built an audio collection of over 1600 titles for a commuter community s using Community Block funds, grants from Lion’s and Rotary Clubs, and tributes
Built one of Macomb’s biggest large type book collections Added CD Software Added Books on CD Added DVD’s Introduced performance programming Added multiple storytimes for multi-aged children Started an Outreach Service with a $25,000 LSTA grant Started book discussion groups Started a Friends group Published a newsletter distributed quarterly through the local paper
Storytimes Galore
Lapsit -Infant Literacy
Toddlers
Preschool
Homeschool Families
Did you know that homeschool families are 1 income families?
They need materials to support their curriculums A non-judgmental place to meet and use library
materials both print and online CTL offers a homeschool meeting once a month with
a librarian providing instruction on a basic library tool We serve refreshments Low cost…big payback…trust and respect
Award Criteria #2
Demonstrate your library's commitment to high standards of customer service through staff dealings with customers:
Synergy within the staff through a coordinated approach to supporting customers
What is synergy? It’s a noun and we have it.
Etymology: New Latin synergia, from Greek synergos working together 1 : SYNERGISM; broadly : combined action or operation 2 : a mutually advantageous conjunction or compatibility of distinct business
participants or elements (as resources or efforts)
Food For Fines: a holiday project that forgave overdue fines with donations of canned goods that were given to the local food pantry
Used Computer Sales: Visteon donated used computers that CTL sold at minimal cost to allow low income residents to purchase a family computer
Used Book Sales: staff ran used book sales to enable purchase of large print books after lending collection was withdrawn
And last but not least……………………………………….
Jenny’s 100th Birthday Party
Award Criteria #3
Demonstrate that your library is a team player through its collaborations in the community
Team Work
Collaborating within the Community Reel Readers: a reading incentive partnership with a local theatre to award
free movie tickets to kids from k-12 who reach reading goals Here and There by Land, Sea and Air: a summer long program in
partnership with the Chesterfield Senior Center funded by the Michigan Council for the Arts that explored Michigan through songs, stories, lectures and other performances. Grand Finale - catered steak dinner courtesy Outback
Hispanic Youth Day with the Michigan State Ext. Service. Scavenger hunts and storytelling at the library and bowling at our neighboring bowling alley
Stories at the Park with Parks and Rec to promote family literacy at Brandenburg Park during the summer
Joint Programming With the Senior Center: we provide feature films, large type books, and assist with selected grant writing efforts
The Library as a Community Partner
The Macomb Literacy Project
Stuffed Animals for Police Calls Involving Children
Stories at the Park
Our contribution to Parks and Rec’s Summer Programming at Brandenburg Park
Michigan State Extension Service and the Chesterfield Library Welcome Hispanic Youth
Learning to Surf the Net
Bi-Lingual StoriesScavenger Hunt
When can we go bowling?
How We Do It
Talented Staff who think “out of the box” Employees who “buy into” our service mission: Code of Service:
– The library public is entitled to easily accessible library collections in a safe, clean, organized, and appropriate environment staffed with friendly, courteous people.
– Each member of the library public is to be welcomed, fairly and courteously, without discrimination.
– Service to the public takes precedence over the library’s internal paperwork and internal communications.
– Information given to the library public will be based on verifiable, current sources, clearly communicated and given in a timely manner.
Use “All hands on deck” as SOP
Training, Training, Training…and lots of good food
Cross training 2 In-services yearlyConflict Resolution Workshops Dealing with Hostile PersonsGreat CateringHumorRewards and Warm fuzzies
Humor …it works
Warm Fuzzies
Thinking “Out of the Box”
Always ready to lend a helping hand
Good Food and Good Times and Great Staff
We Won
Open 53 hours a week Accepting the award from State Librarian Christy Pearson Brandau