Bill & Melinda Gates foundation

Visit to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the Global Libraries Program 17th June 2010

Report by Patricia Genat
Present:
- 12 Public Library Managers from Australia
- Deborah Jacobs, recently appointed Director of the Global Libraries initiative, previously Director of Seattle Public Library, where she led the new building and programs project.
- 6 Global Libraries staff, covering projects based in countries all around the world.

Agenda: Sharing program understanding
1) Deborah opened the meeting sharing the vision of the program, underpinned by the Gates Foundation mission statement that “every life has equal value”. Since 2004, the Foundation has been able to supply funding and expertise for Public Library programs outside the USA, and now covers Latin America, Indonesia, Eastern Europe, Sub Saharan Africa, North Africa and Vietnam.
In 2009 the Gates Foundation awarded grants of $A3.4billion in all categories - Health, Education, Pacific North West and Global Development. The Global Libraries program provides funding primarily aimed at Public Libraries in developing or transitioning countries, and provides access to learning and technology through local library programs.
Deborah noted that every country needs “strong library systems and library schools”. She actively encourages all funded libraries to play an active role with the private sector, local government and non-profit organisations to better service their local community. As an example, staff member Darren Horner spoke about a project in Botswana started in 2006. The government initially had no capacity to deliver any consistent library program, however with the Foundations assistance, the three critical pillars – the local university as Library School, the local Library Association and the appropriate Government ministers came together to plan and implement a funded program that is now showing good signs of progress.
There was general discussion around the table regarding some Australian Public Library initiatives to partner with developing countries (East Timor, Philippines, Cambodia) and some brainstorming about how more could be done with exchanges and mentoring programs through IFLA or independently.
2) Brief presentations were made to the Foundation staff from:
- Chris Kelly and Karyn Siegmann regarding the Victorian Public Library Network and specifically Brimbank and Bayside libraries
- Carol Yuen, Anne Hall and Lyn Barakat regarding New South Wales initiatives in their three quite different council areas (Waringah, Fairfield and Sutherland).


Other references:http://www.gatesfoundation.org/

New York Public Library

New York Public Library by Carol Yuen
In 2009, The New York Public Library introduced its new mission statement. The Library's mission is to:
Inspire lifelong learning
Advance knowledge
Strengthen our communities
This was the final Library of our tour. We were met by Ruth Carr who gave us a brief history of this extraordinary Library from its beginnings in 1895 through the several additions in the 1970s, 1990s and the last remodeling in 2008 that allows for new spaces for classes and lectures. The NYPL has a vast range of collections to support its research functions. However it also has a public library function and elements of a museum as well.
The NYPL has an excellent website www.nypl.org and a browse though the site would give a more comprehensive picture of the service with its 88 branch libraries dotted all over the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island.
We concentrated on the main building as this library is considered one of the world's great libraries. Even as it officially opened in 1911 the collection had reached a million items. It has continued to grow and maintains its focus on the humanities and social sciences. Specialized research collections have also developed in the Performing Arts, Black Culture, Science, Industry & Business and these libraries as located off site but still on Manhattan Island. It was clear that the traditional role of the NYPL as a library of last resort was changing and Ruth informed us that - shock, horror consideration was even being given to the inter library loan of some materials and the inclusion of the nearby Manhattan lending branch into the main building. The real estate value of the 88 branches must be significant and we can only imagine the pressure to rationalize some to these closely located branches despite the heavy utilization of the services.
In the time available Ruth showed us through a small sample of the treasures of the NYPL. These included the:
The Allen Room for writers.
In the past writers had been able to take up a desk for the duration of their research have books delivered to this desk and hold them rather than filling in repeated requested but the real reason for the exclusivity was that the writers (and staff) were able to smoke! Well that's all gone now we were able to see a very different collection that was on display. It included the original of Thomas Jefferson's copy of the Declaration of Independence written in his own hand and the Guttenberg Bible.
The De Witt periodical room (De Witt foundered the Readers' Digest)
This area also included the Jewish Reading Room for Jewish genealogy.
The room included a fascinating collection of the buildings associated with newspaper and periodical publishing. The building of all the best known publishers including the Time Life building, Herald Square, Times Square, Harpers, Park Row, City Hall newspapers, McGraw Hill and the Hearst Building decorate the walls of this space.
(Where's the New Yorker magazine? I ask - Gone to Conde Naste - I thought it would have its own building)
Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal map division.
We were interested to hear more about these "endowments" and just how much one would give to have naming rights for a collection or room in the NYPL. Due to the GFC many of the current endowments are "underwater" as they say, so times are tough but the figure of $5m was suggested as a starting point.
Other examples of "named" collections were dropped with ease as we passed the Berg collection of English and American literature including a first edition of Huckleberry Fin, the Spencer Collection of fine Japanese scrolls. Poor Spencer went down with the Titanic but left his inheritance to the NYPL. We glimpsed the Carl H Pforzheimer collection of Shelly and his circle on our way to the main reading room.
The main reading room, also significantly endowed, is known for one of these endowments as the "Rose" room
This is a huge room stretching the length of the building. The North zone is completely silent - not even the tap of a laptop. Books come up from the stacks in the middle of the room and are quietly made available to readers from the vast collections that are housed in billings number order or perhaps by size or accession number - not a Dewey number in sight! The second half of the Rose reading room or South zone is a little more like the reading room of one of our state libraries and it was here that several of us took the opportunity to join the library. This would enable is to use wireless facilities but not the research collections. These reading areas have vast ceiling but not so big that they could not be fitted with electronic cameras. These electronic "eyes" can actually detect what you are reading. This was certainly a reminder that we were in New York just uptown from Ground Zero.
Finally on a lighter note several of us ducked round the corner to the 42nd entrance to the Children's Library and saw the original stuffed animals that inspired the Winnie-the-pooh books. Couldn't believe piglet was so small! The Children's services are certainly state of the art but the quaintness of the space was beguiling.

Washington/Baltimore

Arrived Washington yesterday afternoon. Beautiful drive from the airport through woods and good roads. Too tired to do any walking and exploring. Today caught the amtrak to Baltimore. Met by three librarians who showed us around for the day. Went first to Visionary Museum, really interseting with very different artwork and installations including artwork by Saddam Husseins former physician and interns from Guartanamo Bay. Huge structures including Big Bird and Divine. All really interesting including the external art- huge metal bird and nest attached to one of the buildings. Toured around some of the city, including the waterfront where The Wire was filmed and upperclass neighboured with gorgeous houses and middle class where Anita Shreve lives. Then to our Librarian's house to meet a writer from the wire. A former journalist on the Baltimore Sun he was so interesting and informative. Then off for dinner of crabs- very messy but enjoyable. Just back at the hotel at 11pm. So no libraries for two days, suffering withdrawal! Registering for the Conference tomorrow!

OCLC and Colombus State University Library

Another awe inspiring day. The headquarters of OCLC first with presentations from senior staff plus a tour of the computer centre which use to take up 3 floors but which now takes up one with plenty of space. The tec spec very impressive., lots of security and evn robots harvesting the tapes. They have a few methods of diaster recovery including the tapes as a last resort. Any IT person would be thrilled to see and hear about this opeeration. OCLCs public purpose is to further access the worlds information and reduce the rate rise of library costs. They have 1.6 m holdings with 72 collections in 171 countries. NLA have recently uploaded their holdings, so this presumably means that all libraries with holdings on Libraries Australia must be members. They did a search for Harry Potter and received a response from Australia using postcode 2100 ( and all libraries near this would be searched) in less than a second. Leichhardt, Ashfield and Bankstown Library holdings appeared. Question why no others like Warringah who upload to LA? There are 20,000 users at any one time. Worldcat aims to be a gravitational hub for libraries and also a switch to a particular library. Speaker mentioned that Trove was a showcase for the world. Also spoke about their move to cloud computing. All very interesting and something worth further investigation. Mentioned that before cloud computing 70% infrastructure and 30% initiative. So cloud computing should reverse this. Worldcat local provides single search and delivery with lots of databases including among many 18 from Ebsco British Library and Gale coming.
We also looked at their library and all of us swooned as we got to touch and see the original Melville Dewey with his handwritten scribbles all through it. It was unbelievable especially for former cataloguers. Took lots of pictures which I hope come out.

In the afternoon we went to Ohio State University set in beautiful grounds with beautiful buildings including the library which reopened after extension, modification and refurbishment. 4 stories, open atrium beautifully furnished, lots of space and technology. Quiet study spaces, group study rooms, library classrooms all quite overwhelming. Once again have taken lots of pictures but unfortunately unable to upload so hopefully we can catch up with the pictures in Washington.

Columbus Metropolitan Library Ohio

This Library won the 2010 Library of the Year and they deserve it. We joined about 40 other local librarians in a seminar on E-Books- very interesting and thought provoking. Consensus that all devices so far are for consumers not creators- more on that when we get home. Visited the Northern Lights Branch Library- low socio economic area with high migrant population mainly from Somolia and also Afro-American. Library was packed- lots of kids. Young volunteers signing kids up for Summer Reading programme and two bikes as prizes! All WiFi and Internet free. New building but already too small! Staff excellent. Partnership with Columbus Literacy Council and Parks and Gardens allows for English and Homework Help and free lunch for children Mon- Fri. CML has 21 branches serving a pop of 800,000 circ 17.5 mil. Ready to Read Program has been running in all 3 libraries we have visited as a federal initiative. Based on 6 principles 1. Loving Books (Print Motivation) 2. Sounds (Phonological Awareness) 3. Words ( Vocabulary) 4. Using Books (Print Awareness) 5. ABCs ( Letter Knowledge) 6. Storytelling (Narrative Skills). Also have book bags to supplement holding 3 board books, bag of toys, game, notepad, and ready to read pamphlet. This was the first library with lots of face out books and displays and really good signage. Operations Centre is out of town- huge building housing IT, Collections, Cataloguing Processing, Finance and Property Management. Big, Big, Big- they have had a budget cut of 11mil- reduced 150 staff by atritution and reduced opening hours. Great Library!

Seattle Public Library - public art work

One of the most interesting aspects of the new Seattle Library was the careful attention that had been given to the development of the public art for the building. Significant public buildings have 1% of the total cost of the building devoted to public art. Above the inquiry desk in the public access computer area of the library are a series of screens that are linked to the circulation system and as items are borrowed or used in the library the dewey number and title dynamically scroll aross these screens in a cloud tag. This doesn't sound like an art work but it is absolutely fascinating to see what is being used and to have it presented as a living changing art work. This was only one example of the use of the public art funding for this building.

Seattle Public Library

This is a very large modern building, all glass panes. A ramp takes you up through the building to each level which is dedicated to subject areas. Rows of shelves are high, however there is plenty of other space with bright lounge funky modern chairs and lots of desks with computers. One area is dedicated to 132PCs. WiiFii is accessible everywhere. The Children's Library is on ground floor, along with the popular library. The popular library has all the latest books, CDs, DVDs etc, not childrens. They are like are branch libraries or indeed are public libraries whilst the rest of the collection is more like our state library but you can borrow. Our impression of libraries so far is they have lots of staff, very heirachical and siloed. The clerks do all the circulation work, they are not qualified in library work or indeed have any desire to be... they may have other quals. say in business and are waiting for something to come up in their area of study within the City (Council). Everyone else has to have a Masters in Librarianship. There is lots of security satff on the entrance and each floor! They sit and watch! This has been the case in all 3 libraries so far.