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!