Rangeview Library District

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Rangeview Library District is the public library system serving the residents of Adams County, Colorado, through its seven Anythink libraries[1] located in the communities of Bennett, Brighton, Commerce City, Thornton and the Perl Mack neighborhood in Denver. The library district also offers outreach services through its Bookmobile, Anythink in Motion, visiting area schools and homebound residents.

Contents

[edit] History

Originally the Adams County Public Library, Rangeview Library District became independent from Adams County in January 2005 and now operates as its own entity, overseen by a five-member Library Board of Trustees appointed by the Adams County Commissioners. ACPL was founded in 1953, and first served county residents solely out of a Bookmobile. The district has grown exponentially in the past 50+ years to its current seven branches, with four new branch buildings designed by Humphries Poli Architects (Denver) as part of its capital construction project.

[edit] Anythink

In September 2009, Rangeview Library District launched its new brand, AnythinkTM.[2][3][4] The district changed the names of its community libraries to Anythink libraries as part of the district's branding efforts. The district's new logo includes a "doodle," meant to represent the beginning of all ideas, above the "Anythink" name. The tag line reads "A Revolution of Rangeview Libraries."

Library staff job titles and descriptions changed in July 2009. There are three different job titles in the branch: "wrangler," "concierge" or "guide." Branch managers are now called "Anythink managers." All staff who work for the district are referred to as "Anythinkers."

As part of the brand launch, Anythink creative consultants at Ricochet Ideas partnered with Canadian animator Jeff Chiba Stearns to create a short animation where the doodle takes on a life of its own. The animation signifies the many things a doodle can become and the sparks of imagination available to anyone who visits an Anythink library.

[edit] Sustainable Practices

The Rangeview Library District Board of Trustees decided early on that the new libraries built as part of their 2008-2010 capital construction projects would be as sustainable as possible. It was agreed that they would pursue U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED silver certification on three of the four new facilities. The district’s long-term goal is to make all of its libraries carbon-neutral facilities.

The Bennett library, which opened in May 2009, will not be certified. However, the building is highly efficient and sustainable by using local materials like beetle-killed pine for the ceiling and front entrance, Solatubes for natural light, ground-source heating and cooling and recycled materials through most of the facility. A $75,000 grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs allowed the district to include a 10 kW photovoltaic system on the library’s roof.

Anythink Brighton, which opened in September 2009, is the most sustainable of the four new buildings in the capital construction project thus far and is considered the first carbon-negative library in the U.S.[5][6][7] The facility will operate without emitting pollutants because of renewable energy and carbon credits, including a 108 kW photovoltaic system on the building’s roof that was purchased through a $300,000 matching grant from DOLA. Additionally, the project will offset the emission of an additional 167,620 lbs of CO2 created by other buildings within the Brighton community by producing more renewable energy than it will use. The building is LEED gold certified.

[edit] Fine-Free Policy

As of Feb. 14, 2009, Rangeview Library District does not charge fines for late materials. Library customers receive notification of overdue items and are billed for replacement and processing after 25 days overdue. Borrowing privileges are suspended until materials are returned or the district is compensated for lost materials.

[edit] WordThink

WordThinkTM is a word-based materials classification system developed by Rangeview Library District’s collection development department to replace Dewey Decimal Classification.[8][9] Patterned after BISAC (Book Industry Standards and Communications) and the word-based system used by Maricopa County Library District,[10] WordThink organizes materials according to 45 different categories with additional subcategories.[11] Materials are then arranged alphabetically by title.

The call numbers in the WordThink system use words instead of numbers. The spine labels include up to four levels with eight characters per line, beginning with the top-level category.

The Bennett and Perl Mack branch libraries were the first in the district to use WordThink. By the end of 2009, all Anythink libraries used the new word-based system.[12]

[edit] Recognition

Rangeview Library District and its Anythink libraries were the recipients of the 2010 National Medal for Museum and Library Service.[13] The annual award, made by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) since 1994, recognizes institutions for outstanding social, educational, environmental, or economic contributions to their communities. U.S. Representative Jared Polis (CO-2) nominated the district for the award.

Pam Sandlian Smith[14] was named 2010 Colorado Librarian of the Year by the Colorado Association of Libraries for her work at Rangeview Library District.

Anythink was named one of five recipients of the 2011 John Cotton Dana Award for its 2009-2010 brand launch.[15] The award is presented by the American Library Association for outstanding public relations in libraries.

[edit] Funding

Rangeview Library District’s current and future growth is due to the support of the Adams County community, who in November 2006 voted to approve a mill levy to help fund the library.[16] Since then, through the leadership of library director Pam Sandlian Smith,[17] the library system has shifted course and positioned itself so Anythink libraries are not only valuable resources but community gathering places.[18]

[edit] Library Usage at Rangeview in 2010

  • New Library Cards issued: 37,277
    • 56% increase (less Anythink Commerce City, Perl Mack and Washington Street down times in 2010)
  • Total Active Library Cardholders: 91,358
    • 28% of service area population is registered
  • Circulation of library materials: 1,715,538
    • 38% increase
  • Visitors to Anythink libraries: 961,555
    • 17% increase
  • Number of programs presented: 2,081
  • Number of attendees at Summer Reading Program Events: 5,734
  • Age of collection: 96% is 5 years old or less
    • 48% purchased in 2010
  • Materials expenditure per capita: $4.07
    • 6% decrease
  • Library materials borrowed through Interlibrary loan: 4,634
    • 6.25% decrease
  • Two new libraries opened to the public
  • One renovated library opened to the public
  • Two libraries currently under renovation/expansion

[edit] Anythink Libraries

  • Anythink Bennett
  • Anythink Brighton
  • Anythink Commerce City
  • Anythink Huron Street
  • Anythink Perl Mack
  • Anythink Washington Street
  • Anythink Wright Farms

[edit] Outreach Services

In November 2008, Rangeview Library District unveiled its new bookmobile, which incorporates energy-efficient designs to reduce environmental impacts and noise. Since the launch of the brand, the bookmobile is now called Anythink in Motion. The lights and electric outlets are battery-powered by an inverter, which is charged while Anythink in Motion is driven and when plugged in at night. A Webasto heating system uses copper pipes under the floor that carry hot water, heating the bookmobile from the floor up. Sky lights provide natural light in the vessel, and Anythink in Motion gets twice as many miles per gallon as the old one. The Cummins Onan Quiet Diesel generator is used to cool the vehicle in the summertime, and its unique design reduces noise pollution and fumes.

Anythink in Motion currently visits 140 individuals, 11 senior communities, and eight child care homes through its home delivery program. It also visits several Adams County schools who have limited access to Anythink libraries.

[edit] Rangeview Library Friends Foundation

The Rangeview Library Friends Foundation was created in 2009 to raise financial support for RLD from the private sector. The Foundation is a non-profit corporation organized solely for community and educational purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The Foundation’s mission and purposes are:

1. To generate broad-based public support and participation in order to forward and support RLD’s mission to "open doors for curious minds" by enhancing the public’s understanding and enjoyment of the Library through the use of special programs, activities and projects.

2. To work with RLD to raise money through contributions so that capital projects, programs and activities may continue to be provided for the general public.

The Foundation works with the RLD Board of Trustees and library director to identify needs for funding of special programs, activities and capital projects that cannot be funded with public-sector dollars.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Sandlian Smith, Pam, "Managing Innovation: Creating Anythink", Journal of Library Innovation 2 (1): 5–7, 2011, http://www.libraryinnovation.org/article/view/127/144 
  2. ^ Oder, Norman, "In the Country of Anythink", Library Journal, Nov. 15, 2010, http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/ljinprintcurrentissue/887538-403/in_the_country_of_anythink.html.csp 
  3. ^ Oder, Norman, "PLA 2010 Conference: The Anythink Revolution Is Ripe", Library Journal, March 26, 2010, http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6724258.html?industryid=49172 
  4. ^ Sarno, David, "Libraries reinvent themselves as they struggle to remain relevant in the digital age", LA Times, Nov. 12, 2010, http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-libraries-20101112,0,6514361.story?page=1 
  5. ^ Oder, Norman, "In CO, the Country’s First Carbon-Positive Library (with Some Help from Carbon Credits)", Library Journal, Dec. 10, 2009, http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6711031.html 
  6. ^ Landgraf, Greg, "New Colorado Facility Becomes First Carbon-Positive Library", American Libraries, Dec. 12, 2009, http://www.americanlibrariesmagazine.org/news/12122009/new-colorado-facility-becomes-first-carbon-positive-library 
  7. ^ Barbatelli, Victoria, "Anythink Brighton library first carbon-positive library in the nation", Denver Post, Dec. 16, 2009, http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_14005779 
  8. ^ Oder, Norman, "Rangeview Library District, CO, First System to Fully Drop Dewey", Library Journal, June 5, 2009, http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6663145.html 
  9. ^ Oder, Norman, "PLA 2010 Conference: Cracking the Code: Beyond Dewey", Library Journal, March 30, 2010, http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6724514.html?industryid=49172 
  10. ^ Fister, Barbara, "The Dewey Dilemma", Library Journal, October 1, 2009, http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6698264.html 
  11. ^ Whaley, Monte, "Adams County Library Shelving Dewey Decimal", Denver Post, June 8, 2009, http://www.denverpost.com/ci_12542434 
  12. ^ Delander, Brady, "Out With Dewey", Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel, June 11, 2009, http://www.metronorthnews.com/story.php?id=101.2 
  13. ^ Robles, Yesenia, "Rangeview Library District wins national award for boosting "Word Think"", Denver Post, Nov. 21, 2010, http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_16669983 
  14. ^ Oder, Norm, "A Director's Roots: Anythink's Pam Sandlian Smith", Library Journal, Nov. 15, 2010, http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/ljinprintcurrentissue/887532-403/a_directors_roots_anythinks_pam.html.csp 
  15. ^ Miller, Rebecca, "ALA Midwinter 2011: Five Libraries Take John Cotton Dana PR Prize", Library Journal, Jan. 11, 2011, http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/888741-264/ala_midwinter_2011_five_libraries.html.csp 
  16. ^ Whaley, Monte, "Libraries' election one for the books", Denver Post, Jan. 15, 2007, http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_5015255 
  17. ^ Delander, Brady, "Rangeview director steers libraries in new direction", Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel, April 9, 2009, http://www.metronorthnews.com/story.php?id=101.4 
  18. ^ Whaley, Monte, "Rangeview revival is one for the books", Denver Post, March 29, 2009, http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_12020868 

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