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State
Librarian of California,
Susan Hildreth
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Update from the State Librarian
Despite
some challenging moments, it’s been a good year so far. On
January 9th, our Deputy State Librarian, Stacey Aldrich, and I
were pleased to attend one of the first screenings of American
Idealist: Sargent Shriver at Sacramento’s historic Crest
Theater. First Lady Maria Shriver was the executive producer of
this moving film about her father’s life. Watch for it on your
local PBS station.
I
was off to the American Library Association Mid-winter
Meeting in Philadelphia on January 10th when the Governor
released his proposed 2008/09 budget. Library staff gave me the
budget news while I was stopped in Las Vegas, which is ironic
because both Las Vegas and the budget revolve around give and
take. On the one hand, the January numbers included $4 million
dollars for the California State Library (CSL) to support
implementing a new online library system and relocating CSL staff
now in historic Library and Courts I to a temporary facility
during two years of renovations. On the other hand, all library
programs that the State’s general fund supports were slated with
a 10% decrease. This 10% decrease means reducing funds that
support the CSL’s actual operation by $1.6 million and reducing
local assistance by $3.4 million, including $1.4 million each from
the Public Library Fund (PLF) and Transaction-based Reimbursement
(TBR) Program. Because the budget did not allocate the operations
reductions, we are still determining how to cope with the
reduction.
On
January 22nd, I presented a California library financing overview
in Sonoma County with my articulate colleagues, Ann Cousineau,
Director of the Solano County Library, Anne Cain, Director of the
Contra Costa County Library, and Jane Light, Director of the San
Jose Public Library who joined us via telephone. I enjoyed being
in the beautiful wine country, and visiting a library system hard
at work projecting its long-term facilities needs, an important
task I know many in our state have done already!
My
staff and I spent time in January and March strategizing with
staff from Libraries
for the Future (LFF) about collaborative projects. Our
partnership with LFF began with the Transforming
Life after 50 Initiative; and now we are pursuing ways we
can leverage LFF and CSL strengths and capacities to offer great
new service opportunities for our libraries. There’s more to
come on this developing joint venture in the future!
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California
State Library,
Library and Courts II
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On
January 27th, Carla Lehn and I went on an exciting jaunt to
Monterey County where we participated in a lively public meeting
at the Pacific Grove Public Library which is sadly facing some
difficult budget times. The interest and commitment of the
citizens to library services was exciting to see. On January 28th,
we both participated in a literacy planning event at the beautiful
new Monterey County Marina Branch Library. The Community
Foundation for Monterey County which has made literacy a
Foundation priority for several years is in the middle of its
program and wants to develop plans to make sure this important
initiative is sustainable. It was wonderful to see this commitment
to literacy in Monterey County.
Senator
Joseph Simitian, a great library supporter, has a keen interest in
radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Senator Simitian
requested that the California Research Bureau analyze the
literature and determine recommended best practices for
implementation of RFID identification documents. I am chairing an
expert advisory panel which has met twice this year to assist in
developing these recommendations. The final report should be
issued within the next few months and will be posted on the CSL
website.
On
February 13th, I attended a lovely lunch in the Grand Ballroom in
Sacramento in honor of the visit
of the President of Mexico Felipe Calderón and his wife Mrs.
Margarita Zavala. The Governor and First Lady and legislative
leaders all attended the distinguished event. I participated in
another great lunch on February 20th when I met with staff
attending CSL Literacy
program training. I am very proud of all the good work that is
done in our adult literacy programs.
On
February 26th I attended the California
Association of Museums Conference in Fresno and participated
in a panel discussion on organizational models and support for
cultural activities at the state level. Leveraging our cultural
resources in California is a challenge because libraries,
archives, museums and other cultural organizations are not
together in one structure…yet!
At
the February 28th Library
of California Board meeting in Sacramento, Stacey Aldrich
updated the Board on statewide reference activities; and the Board
reviewed the resource-sharing budget reductions. Of course, the
budget is a great concern to the Board which will express its
reservations to the Governor and the Legislature.
March
is California Association of Library Trustees and Commissioners (CALTAC)
annual training month. On March 1st in San Mateo and March 15th in
Orange, I provided updates on happenings in Sacramento and was
fortunate to hear the great presentation done by Dr. Ken Haycock,
Dean of the San Jose State School of Library and Information
Science. Dr. Haycock shared a dynamic view of engaged and
strategic trustees making the library a player in its community.
On
March 14th I attended the South Pasadena Library’s event
honoring Ray Bradbury, a true literary and library hero, and it
was a privilege to see him. Because I am traveling to the Public
Library Association Conference in Minneapolis in late March, I
will be able to give you a conference briefing and a good weather
report (I hope) in the next column. Have a great spring.
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