EDA Annual Report 2013-2014

Riverside County Library System Through its network of 35 libraries, two bookmobiles, and a city museum, the Riverside County Library System (RCLS) provides library, information, cultural, and recreational services to over one million people across the county. During fiscal year 2013-2014, RCLS logged over four million visitors, including more than 648,000 computer sessions and over three million items borrowed from the collection. We were joined by more than 3,400 volunteers donating over 24,000 hours. We were able to add new programs and services that have broadened and expanded services to library customers.  Here are just a few of the highlights: • Wireless access added for eight libraries so all branches in RCLS now offer free wireless. • Purchased two new bookmobiles to replace computer stations, ADA compliant wheelchair lift, air conditioning, public wireless access, wall mounted media center, technological and environmental advancements. • Introduced credit card and PayPal payment options for patrons at the Grace Mellman, Palm Desert, and Norco Libraries as a pilot project. The pilot payment option implementation has proven to be successful and it will be integrated into additional libraries over the next fiscal year. the Coachella Valley and Western County bookmobile. The new vehicles include

Grants and Awards RCLS was one of seven libraries selected in the state to receive a Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA) grant to establish a Veterans Resource Center, a resource dedicated to helping veterans and their families. The Center, located at the Mead Valley Library, provides assistance to veterans and their families in two ways: It provides books, DVDs, and pamphlets on topics such as: transitioning from military to civilian life, finding jobs, surviving change, guides to veterans benefits, managing post-traumatic stress disorders and more. It also provides trained volunteers ready to connect veterans and their families to benefits and resources. • RCLS was awarded $15,000 for a California Humanities Reads grant with the theme “War Comes Home”. Six libraries participated. Agencies that serve the military were contacted for participation. • Thousand Palms awarded an LSTA grant to work with teens and digital art. • San Jacinto awarded $2,000 for Target Early Childhood Reading Grant for 2014 Summer Reading festivities. • Home Gardens received an LSTA Ready to Work grant. They developed and offered 3 rounds of job development workshops and shared all materials with other RCLS branches and non- profit organizations. • Eastvale was awarded a Pitch an Idea grant by the California State Library. The goal of the grant is to welcome new residents and foster a feeling of belonging at the library among the diverse cultural groups represented in the city. • Three library Branch Managers worked as a team and were awarded the Pitch an Idea grant by the California State Library. The grant focus was training library staff with eReaders.

Programs, Services and Events • The annual Summer Reading Program (SRP) provided service to children, young adults and adults with 14,831 children, 1,957 teens, and 1,695 adults participating this year. During the summer there were 733 SRP-themed programs attended by 35,761 children and families; 191 programs attended by 3,071 teens, and 95 programs attended by 1,824 adults. • RCLS participated with Contra Costa County Library and a cooperative group of California library systems and launched a timely and relevant project, War Ink, an online exhibit of Iraq and Afghanistan veteran memorial tattoo art. War Ink launched on Veterans Day 2014, it consisted of a virtual-multimedia-exhibit of 30 veterans from throughout California. • Woodcrest and the Riverside Robotics Society in association with the Robotics Society of Southern California hosted the 5th Annual Robot Expo. It is the largest robot event held in Southern California each year. Over 700 people visited the library to enjoy robots up close and personal. • Mead Valley offered a variety of computer classes such as computer basics, using the internet, Word, and PowerPoint, as well as social media, and assistance with resumes. • Wildomar held their second annual Spring Eggstravaganza with 200 people in attendance. Staff set-up games, crafts, egg hunting for children ages 1-12.  • Eastvale hosted a Local Author’s Fair, with authors local to Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles. Some of the authors present were Sharon Edwards, Steve Healton and Mark Ozeroff. • Highgrove and the Western County Bookmobile participated in

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