Library History
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The history of Rampart Library District
· 1966 - Building at corner of Memorial Park (Clothes Closet building) with donated books served as the Woodland Memorial Library.
· 1968 – City of Woodland Park made the Library a line item and began paying for staff and collection.
· 1976 – Library became a Special District and district mil levy paid for staff, collection, and operation.
· 1977 – Moved into building across from Post Office. Building donated by Masons and moved onto City property.
· A former Board member ran a small library in the corner of the Florissant Grange for which the District donated some books.
· 1980 – Community of Florissant requested a branch library. Branch opened in Community Building provided by County, which also housed the Volunteer Fire Department.
· 1983 – Woodland Park Library purchased and moved to log cabin at 811 Lafayette.
· 1995 – Florissant Community Building was sold and Florissant Library moved into building behind Florissant Grange (rented from Grange).
· 2001 – Mil levy and bond issue passed for the District, providing funds to build and operate new libraries in Woodland Park and Florissant.
· 2001 – Intergovernmental agreement between the District and the City of Woodland Park for land for the new Woodland Park Public Library at 218 East Midland Avenue.
· 2001 – Intergovernmental agreement between the District and the Teller County Board of Commissioners for land for new Florissant Public Library at 334 Circle Drive.
· 2003 – November, new Woodland Park Public Library opens (29,000 square feet).
· 2004 – April, new Florissant Public Library opens (6700 square feet).
· 1966 - Building at corner of Memorial Park (Clothes Closet building) with donated books served as the Woodland Memorial Library.
· 1968 – City of Woodland Park made the Library a line item and began paying for staff and collection.
· 1976 – Library became a Special District and district mil levy paid for staff, collection, and operation.
· 1977 – Moved into building across from Post Office. Building donated by Masons and moved onto City property.
· A former Board member ran a small library in the corner of the Florissant Grange for which the District donated some books.
· 1980 – Community of Florissant requested a branch library. Branch opened in Community Building provided by County, which also housed the Volunteer Fire Department.
· 1983 – Woodland Park Library purchased and moved to log cabin at 811 Lafayette.
· 1995 – Florissant Community Building was sold and Florissant Library moved into building behind Florissant Grange (rented from Grange).
· 2001 – Mil levy and bond issue passed for the District, providing funds to build and operate new libraries in Woodland Park and Florissant.
· 2001 – Intergovernmental agreement between the District and the City of Woodland Park for land for the new Woodland Park Public Library at 218 East Midland Avenue.
· 2001 – Intergovernmental agreement between the District and the Teller County Board of Commissioners for land for new Florissant Public Library at 334 Circle Drive.
· 2003 – November, new Woodland Park Public Library opens (29,000 square feet).
· 2004 – April, new Florissant Public Library opens (6700 square feet).
THE FUTURE OF WOODLAND PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY ADULT OUTREACH SERVICES
Introduction - Woodland Park a small rural library in the Rocky Mountains is in need of Adult Services. The library will offer more diverse programs for adults to meet this need. By diverse programming we mean not only more variety in the programming itself, but the variety of times as well.
ORIGINAL LIBRARY HOURS
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday-Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Friday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Environmental Scan Results - After reviewing the community snap shot, library hours and the current programming; we have decided that there is an immediate need for adult programming at the Woodland Park Library. Teller County currently consists of 62.4% adults from the ages 20-64. The library currently has plenty of children programming and some teen programming. However, the only adult programming offered is a once a month book club and an occasional computer class. The hours of these programs are normally during the morning, when working adults cannot attend. The library’s hours of operation and times of programming are not conducive for the working adult. The Scan also showed us that the library website is static in comparison to other community library websites. The library offers newsletters inconsistently to the public. They also have a library Facebook page, which is not updated often. These results lead us to believe that Adult services are not being successful at Woodland Park Library for the following reasons: hours of programming and operation, lack of community partnerships, a deficiency in advertisements through newsletters, and an unfriendly website.
Challenges - A challenge that we faced was the lack of involvement the head librarian had with outreach services and customer interaction within the library. She had an office in a back room and rarely can out to interact with the patrons. Another obstacle was dealing with the outside influences of why patrons did not attend library events. For example, most of the community commutes an hour into Colorado Springs for work and do not have time to attend library events with the current hours of operation offered.
Mission Statement - The District's mission is to respond to the dynamics of a rapidly changing community by providing access to reliable sources of information, education, research, technology and entertainment as well as programs and services in support of these areas with prompt professional service in a welcoming environment.
Plan of Operation/Objectives –
· Update Website
· Change hours of operation
· Improve advertising events and issue current newsletters monthly
· Creating adult programming in evening hours
· Maintain children and teen programs
· Collaborate with community members for partnerships to offer library
· Carefully budget our programming with the grant money received
Budget - The generosity of the Woodland Park community allows the library to contemplate this extensive pilot program for less than anticipated. The community worked together to get the 10K Pepsi Refresh Grant.
The local Joanies Bakery & Deli will be gifting the library with refreshments and catering.
Volunteers and community professionals have volunteered their valuable time to lead some of our pilot programming
Timeline -
Summer/Fall 2011
· August 12 at 4:00p.m. – Library will close early for the task force to present the Introduction of Adult Services Outreach Programming to Library Staff and Volunteers
· New website will be in construction, old website will still be available to users
· Training - Use of Doodle to schedule trainings and meetings with staff and volunteers
· Order collection development materials, activity materials, and print fliers
· Staff will advertise to patrons in person, through mail, newsletter and website
· Create partnerships with community organizations and businesses
· Plan out schedule, space for adult activities, and staffing of the events
January 2012
· New Library Hours Begin
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday-Thursday 1:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Friday 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
· New Improved User Friendly Website will debut:
http://rampartcolibraries-woodland-park.weebly.com/
· Monthly newsletters issues begin
· Adult Programming will begin
· Review feedback and surveys about programming bi-weekly and use data to make changes if needed.
· Continue timeline from the “Summer/Fall 2011” by keeping partnerships, training and materials current.
Evaluation Design & Research Implications - Satisfaction is the key to judging the success of this pilot adult programming venture; however that is a difficult measure to take. We will base our evaluation on several voluntary measures: anonymous written survey at the library, on the web page or through the mail.
See http://rampartcolibraries-woodland-park.weebly.com/ “Survey” tab for example survey that could be used.
Plan of Continued Support -Though we are extending our hours to better suit working adults, the actual length of time our doors are open will not change during this pilot exercise. If we are given sufficient evidence that more hours, perhaps on the weekends, would be appreciated we may reassess the need. Many of our new programs depend on the generosity and goodwill of members of the community, as such maintaining goodwill relations will be a major part of the continued success of our adult programming. Training to staff and volunteers will continue. Continual review of surveys and patron feedback is a necessity. If needed new programming of interest to patrons can be started. One top priority is the continual updating of the library’s website weekly. The library must continue to advertise programming to the community, ensure that monthly newsletters are accessible to the patrons and continue to build a social networking community on Facebook.
Activities - Programs to offer:
Colorado Gardening and Trees at High Altitude of 9,000 feet and above
Learn about plants, herbs, trees and bushes that grow at this altitude. Grow a garden that is deer, elk, and bear proof.
Zumba for your Health
Dance your stress away and improve your well-being with Zumba! These fun international dance moves are a great form of exercise. Join us for one or both classes! For more information,
Adults Tour The World Via The InternetThrough computer instructions adults will visit different parts of the world.
Ballroom Dancing For Beginners
Instructor was formerly with the Fred Astaire and Arthur Murray Dance Studios. Learn step-by-step American and Latin dances. Bring a partner or come alone and tell your friends
Friday Morning Chat for Mail-A-Book Customers
Mail-A-Book customers phone in every Friday morning from 10:00 a.m. to noon to chat about various topics of interest and books. Customers must be registered with Mail-A-Book to participate in this program.
STARs: Senior Theater Acting Repertory
Calling all older adults. Join our galaxy of STARs to perform theatrical works at the library with a great group of people, while brightening your life!
Join Friends for their Annual Art Show & Sale
Celebrate summer with the Friends for their Annual Art Show and Sale hosted by our "cool" local artist and President of the Friends Community Library. A wide variety of colorful and original art work will be for sale.
Adult Game Players Club
Choose your favorite board and card games, from chess and checkers to Monopoly and Scrabble. Meet other adults for a few rounds of friendly fun.
Wire Sculpting: Jewelry-Making Workshop for Adults
Joe shows adults how to use wire sculpting to design chic necklaces and bracelets, a perfect way to treat yourself. Materials will be provided. Preregistration is require. Let's Get Crafty
Come to Woodland Park Public Library for some summer fun with arts & crafts. You never know what kind of fun surprise craft we will be making for the week!
Chess Club
Come and join our chess club hosted by chess master Paul. Learn new skills and make friends. Bring a chess set if you can.
Job Search Boot Camp!
Spend one day at the library and learn all the best strategies for finding a job! 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.- Winning Resumes & Cover Letters; 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.- Effective Job Search Strategies; 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.- Acing the Interview
Introduction to Yoga
Certified yoga instructor Irene teaches basic yoga techniques and exercises. Bring a mat or towel and wear workout clothes and sneakers.
Staying Healthy and Losing Weight Naturally in a Chemically Toxic World
Dr. M.D. will provide practical yet powerful lifestyle strategies for weight loss, fitness, disease prevention, and natural treatments for most diseases.
Summer Book Party!
Join the party! Our staff will entertain you with "book talks" about some great summertime selections. Light refreshments will be served and copies of the books of choice will be waiting for you to check them out.
The Art of Belly Dance with Shoshana
Shoshana, legendary artist of Middle Eastern dance, performs the ancient art of belly dancing, accompanied by classically trained dancer, Indian, and students from the Shoshana Dance Theater Company.
Wii Gaming Summer Reading Fridays
Come join in on the fun and play the Nintendo Wii with other gaming enthusiasts. You must be signed up for Summer Reading to participate.
Movie Night
Bring the family for an evening of old movies and popcorn!
Crochet For Adults
During these 5 session crochet workshops adults will learn basic crocheting techniques and move to making items like scarves, mats etc.
Guitar Lessons
For ages 10 and up. Preregistration is required. Eight weeks of lessons for beginners. Must have your own guitar.
Resources -
Lear, B. W. (2002). Adult programs in the library . Chicago: American Library Association.
This adult programming guide is a clearly written book whose first part suggests how to target an audience, choose the best format, evaluate and plan for future programming, and work with foundations. Its second part describes programs in a collection of five-star winners, as identified by the author. There are sample surveys, newsletters, press releases, scheduling tools, and checklists. In addition, each chapter in part 1 provides endnotes which are brief lists of resources for further study. Perhaps the most interesting chapter looks to the future of adult programming and shares ideas from the mailing list Publib. Programming definitely remains part of library service, and this book will help the nervous beginner or possibly weary veteran librarian to take advantage of new funding resources and learn what the community wants and how to share responsibilities. Booklist
Ranier, R. (2005). Programming for adults: a guide for small- and medium-sized libraries. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press.
Ranier is an adult services librarian in a "smallish" library in rural Indiana. He started out as a reference librarian who, when the library built a new facility, needed to work on programming, and he found himself at a loss without a satisfactory manual on adult programming to use as a guide. He wrote this title based on his experience. The book is well organized and stresses performing community research through demographics, surveys, collection statistics, and focus groups. It also discusses working with a budget and programming for libraries that may not have a programming budget. Programming is broken down into different categories such as crafts, speakers, book groups, and others. For each category Ranier provides different strategies and examples of types of programs to offer. A chapter on publicity is also included. Appendixes list cited works, recommended Web sites, policy examples, and program evaluation forms. Highly recommended for all public libraries. Booklist
Classes, Programs & Exhibitions | The New York Public Library. (n.d.). Welcome to the New York Public Library. Retrieved August 9, 2011, from http://www.nypl.org/events
Events & Classes | Denver Public Library. (n.d.). Denver Public Library | Denver Public Library. Retrieved August 9, 2011, from http://denverlibrary.org/libraryevents
Queens Library. (n.d.). Queens Library. Retrieved August 9, 2011, from http://www.queenslibrary.org
Woodland Park Public Library - HOME. (n.d.). Woodland Park Public Library - HOME. Retrieved August 9, 2011, from http://rampartcolibraries-woodland-park.weebly.com/
ORIGINAL LIBRARY HOURS
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday-Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Friday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Environmental Scan Results - After reviewing the community snap shot, library hours and the current programming; we have decided that there is an immediate need for adult programming at the Woodland Park Library. Teller County currently consists of 62.4% adults from the ages 20-64. The library currently has plenty of children programming and some teen programming. However, the only adult programming offered is a once a month book club and an occasional computer class. The hours of these programs are normally during the morning, when working adults cannot attend. The library’s hours of operation and times of programming are not conducive for the working adult. The Scan also showed us that the library website is static in comparison to other community library websites. The library offers newsletters inconsistently to the public. They also have a library Facebook page, which is not updated often. These results lead us to believe that Adult services are not being successful at Woodland Park Library for the following reasons: hours of programming and operation, lack of community partnerships, a deficiency in advertisements through newsletters, and an unfriendly website.
Challenges - A challenge that we faced was the lack of involvement the head librarian had with outreach services and customer interaction within the library. She had an office in a back room and rarely can out to interact with the patrons. Another obstacle was dealing with the outside influences of why patrons did not attend library events. For example, most of the community commutes an hour into Colorado Springs for work and do not have time to attend library events with the current hours of operation offered.
Mission Statement - The District's mission is to respond to the dynamics of a rapidly changing community by providing access to reliable sources of information, education, research, technology and entertainment as well as programs and services in support of these areas with prompt professional service in a welcoming environment.
Plan of Operation/Objectives –
· Update Website
· Change hours of operation
· Improve advertising events and issue current newsletters monthly
· Creating adult programming in evening hours
· Maintain children and teen programs
· Collaborate with community members for partnerships to offer library
· Carefully budget our programming with the grant money received
Budget - The generosity of the Woodland Park community allows the library to contemplate this extensive pilot program for less than anticipated. The community worked together to get the 10K Pepsi Refresh Grant.
The local Joanies Bakery & Deli will be gifting the library with refreshments and catering.
Volunteers and community professionals have volunteered their valuable time to lead some of our pilot programming
Timeline -
Summer/Fall 2011
· August 12 at 4:00p.m. – Library will close early for the task force to present the Introduction of Adult Services Outreach Programming to Library Staff and Volunteers
· New website will be in construction, old website will still be available to users
· Training - Use of Doodle to schedule trainings and meetings with staff and volunteers
· Order collection development materials, activity materials, and print fliers
· Staff will advertise to patrons in person, through mail, newsletter and website
· Create partnerships with community organizations and businesses
· Plan out schedule, space for adult activities, and staffing of the events
January 2012
· New Library Hours Begin
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday-Thursday 1:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Friday 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
· New Improved User Friendly Website will debut:
http://rampartcolibraries-woodland-park.weebly.com/
· Monthly newsletters issues begin
· Adult Programming will begin
· Review feedback and surveys about programming bi-weekly and use data to make changes if needed.
· Continue timeline from the “Summer/Fall 2011” by keeping partnerships, training and materials current.
Evaluation Design & Research Implications - Satisfaction is the key to judging the success of this pilot adult programming venture; however that is a difficult measure to take. We will base our evaluation on several voluntary measures: anonymous written survey at the library, on the web page or through the mail.
See http://rampartcolibraries-woodland-park.weebly.com/ “Survey” tab for example survey that could be used.
Plan of Continued Support -Though we are extending our hours to better suit working adults, the actual length of time our doors are open will not change during this pilot exercise. If we are given sufficient evidence that more hours, perhaps on the weekends, would be appreciated we may reassess the need. Many of our new programs depend on the generosity and goodwill of members of the community, as such maintaining goodwill relations will be a major part of the continued success of our adult programming. Training to staff and volunteers will continue. Continual review of surveys and patron feedback is a necessity. If needed new programming of interest to patrons can be started. One top priority is the continual updating of the library’s website weekly. The library must continue to advertise programming to the community, ensure that monthly newsletters are accessible to the patrons and continue to build a social networking community on Facebook.
Activities - Programs to offer:
Colorado Gardening and Trees at High Altitude of 9,000 feet and above
Learn about plants, herbs, trees and bushes that grow at this altitude. Grow a garden that is deer, elk, and bear proof.
Zumba for your Health
Dance your stress away and improve your well-being with Zumba! These fun international dance moves are a great form of exercise. Join us for one or both classes! For more information,
Adults Tour The World Via The InternetThrough computer instructions adults will visit different parts of the world.
Ballroom Dancing For Beginners
Instructor was formerly with the Fred Astaire and Arthur Murray Dance Studios. Learn step-by-step American and Latin dances. Bring a partner or come alone and tell your friends
Friday Morning Chat for Mail-A-Book Customers
Mail-A-Book customers phone in every Friday morning from 10:00 a.m. to noon to chat about various topics of interest and books. Customers must be registered with Mail-A-Book to participate in this program.
STARs: Senior Theater Acting Repertory
Calling all older adults. Join our galaxy of STARs to perform theatrical works at the library with a great group of people, while brightening your life!
Join Friends for their Annual Art Show & Sale
Celebrate summer with the Friends for their Annual Art Show and Sale hosted by our "cool" local artist and President of the Friends Community Library. A wide variety of colorful and original art work will be for sale.
Adult Game Players Club
Choose your favorite board and card games, from chess and checkers to Monopoly and Scrabble. Meet other adults for a few rounds of friendly fun.
Wire Sculpting: Jewelry-Making Workshop for Adults
Joe shows adults how to use wire sculpting to design chic necklaces and bracelets, a perfect way to treat yourself. Materials will be provided. Preregistration is require. Let's Get Crafty
Come to Woodland Park Public Library for some summer fun with arts & crafts. You never know what kind of fun surprise craft we will be making for the week!
Chess Club
Come and join our chess club hosted by chess master Paul. Learn new skills and make friends. Bring a chess set if you can.
Job Search Boot Camp!
Spend one day at the library and learn all the best strategies for finding a job! 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.- Winning Resumes & Cover Letters; 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.- Effective Job Search Strategies; 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.- Acing the Interview
Introduction to Yoga
Certified yoga instructor Irene teaches basic yoga techniques and exercises. Bring a mat or towel and wear workout clothes and sneakers.
Staying Healthy and Losing Weight Naturally in a Chemically Toxic World
Dr. M.D. will provide practical yet powerful lifestyle strategies for weight loss, fitness, disease prevention, and natural treatments for most diseases.
Summer Book Party!
Join the party! Our staff will entertain you with "book talks" about some great summertime selections. Light refreshments will be served and copies of the books of choice will be waiting for you to check them out.
The Art of Belly Dance with Shoshana
Shoshana, legendary artist of Middle Eastern dance, performs the ancient art of belly dancing, accompanied by classically trained dancer, Indian, and students from the Shoshana Dance Theater Company.
Wii Gaming Summer Reading Fridays
Come join in on the fun and play the Nintendo Wii with other gaming enthusiasts. You must be signed up for Summer Reading to participate.
Movie Night
Bring the family for an evening of old movies and popcorn!
Crochet For Adults
During these 5 session crochet workshops adults will learn basic crocheting techniques and move to making items like scarves, mats etc.
Guitar Lessons
For ages 10 and up. Preregistration is required. Eight weeks of lessons for beginners. Must have your own guitar.
Resources -
Lear, B. W. (2002). Adult programs in the library . Chicago: American Library Association.
This adult programming guide is a clearly written book whose first part suggests how to target an audience, choose the best format, evaluate and plan for future programming, and work with foundations. Its second part describes programs in a collection of five-star winners, as identified by the author. There are sample surveys, newsletters, press releases, scheduling tools, and checklists. In addition, each chapter in part 1 provides endnotes which are brief lists of resources for further study. Perhaps the most interesting chapter looks to the future of adult programming and shares ideas from the mailing list Publib. Programming definitely remains part of library service, and this book will help the nervous beginner or possibly weary veteran librarian to take advantage of new funding resources and learn what the community wants and how to share responsibilities. Booklist
Ranier, R. (2005). Programming for adults: a guide for small- and medium-sized libraries. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press.
Ranier is an adult services librarian in a "smallish" library in rural Indiana. He started out as a reference librarian who, when the library built a new facility, needed to work on programming, and he found himself at a loss without a satisfactory manual on adult programming to use as a guide. He wrote this title based on his experience. The book is well organized and stresses performing community research through demographics, surveys, collection statistics, and focus groups. It also discusses working with a budget and programming for libraries that may not have a programming budget. Programming is broken down into different categories such as crafts, speakers, book groups, and others. For each category Ranier provides different strategies and examples of types of programs to offer. A chapter on publicity is also included. Appendixes list cited works, recommended Web sites, policy examples, and program evaluation forms. Highly recommended for all public libraries. Booklist
Classes, Programs & Exhibitions | The New York Public Library. (n.d.). Welcome to the New York Public Library. Retrieved August 9, 2011, from http://www.nypl.org/events
Events & Classes | Denver Public Library. (n.d.). Denver Public Library | Denver Public Library. Retrieved August 9, 2011, from http://denverlibrary.org/libraryevents
Queens Library. (n.d.). Queens Library. Retrieved August 9, 2011, from http://www.queenslibrary.org
Woodland Park Public Library - HOME. (n.d.). Woodland Park Public Library - HOME. Retrieved August 9, 2011, from http://rampartcolibraries-woodland-park.weebly.com/