From the Director

The Rochester Public Library recently received two workplace recognition honors for wellness and workplace flexibility, and I wanted to share the good news with you.
We received a bronze award at the 2011 Workforce Wellness Conference on September 28, 2011, in Rochester.
Wellness Works, a coalition of small and large organizations, confers the award on employers who have invested in and are excelling at offering varying levels of worksite wellness services. The library was one of seven workplaces that received either a bronze, silver or gold award. The award is based on fulfilling various criteria. Since we established a Wellness Committee in December, 2010, the committee organized a community supported agriculture program with a local farm for fresh vegetable delivery for the 2011growing season, recommended changes that were adopted by the library board for healthy options in public and staff vending machines, and organized a program by a dietician on healthy lunch time alternatives for a general staff meeting.
On October 20th the library received an Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility. The ceremony, part of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Member Event, took place at the Rochester Event Center. The Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce encourages organizations to submit nominations. The award recognizes model employers for innovative and effective practices that make work better for both the employer and the employee. The award is given to employers who rank in the top 5% nationally. The Sloan Awards are part of When Work Works, a research-based initiative to highlight how effective and flexible workplaces can yield positive business results and help employees succeed at work and at home.
For the award we highlighted information on our telecommuting and job sharing policies and the Wellness Committee. The Library was also a champion of a city-wide Flexible Work Arrangement policy that was approved by city council on October 17th. The policy creates a process for employees to request flex time, compressed work weeks, phased retirement and other options to promote flexibility and win/win situations for the city and employee. We strive for a culture of flexibility.
We not only want the library to be a great place for the community, but we also want to be a great place to work.
Audrey Betcher, Rochester Public Library Director

Rochester Public Library - expansion

This is an article for the Friends' Newsletter that the Director of the Library, Audrey Betcher, wrote to be published in our autumn newsletter. 

The citizens of Rochester have a long history of library service dating back to the mid-19th century. The Rochester Public Library was formally established in 1895, and three years later the first library was built. The library moved three more times, in 1937, 1972, and 1995. Each new building was in direct response to the need for greater access to library resources from our ever-growing, ever-changing community.

The existing library building was completed in 1995. Some still call it the “new” library despite the fact that it’s already 15 years old! When you think about 1995, it seems like a long time ago: Windows 95 was released, the DVD format was announced, the OJ Simpson trial took place, the Murrah Federal Building was bombed in Oklahoma City, and “Braveheart” won the Oscar for Best Picture.

A lot has changed in the library since 1995, too. Here is a sampling of what is new since that time:

 DVDs (23,000 in the library’s collection)

 Public internet access (27 computer stations on-site)

 Wireless capability throughout the building

 Homework assistance (in the library three nights per week and online)

 Early literacy story time kits

 Little Tykes computers

 Reference by email, instant messaging, and texting

 Downloadable audio, video and music

 Adult and young adult programming

 Book discussion kits

And library use continues to grow. In 1996 (the first full year in this building), 1,133,993 items were circulated. In 2009, that number was 1,647,333, a 45% increase. In the past ten-plus years, our circulation grew faster than the area’s population!

As we look to the future, we know the city and county will continue to expand. Rochester Public Library must do so as well in order to meet the new and continued needs of our residents.

More than 550,000 people walked into the Rochester Public Library last year. Compare that to Mayo Clinic with approximately 350,000 patients in 2009 or the Rochester airport with 63,143 passengers in 2009.

The public library holds an important place in our city. It is an essential component of the highly-regarded quality of life in our community. It provides free access to information while also providing a physical space downtown to learn, meet, and imagine. Rochester Public Library provides great value for its taxpayer support. Let us continue to grow together.

Your support of the Library expansion is very important. The meeting of the Sales Tax Advisory Committee will be Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 11:30 am. (City Hall, Room 104).  Airport projects are first on the agenda for September 1, with the Library to follow on that date if time permits. If the Airport runs over then the library would be the first item on Sept. 8th at 11:30 AM. (City Hall, Room 320). Please attend if at all possible.