Improving Oakland Libraries

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Oakland Public Library
Improving Oakland Libraries Today and for the
Future Facilities Master Plan Home Page
1. Library Directors Introduction 2.
Executive Summary 3. Summary presentation 4.
Branch Recommendations 5. New 81st Avenue Branch
grant application presentation Tell us
what you think
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All Branches 81st avenue Asian Chavez Dimond
Eastmont Elmhurst Golden Gate Lakeview Laure
l MLK MAIN Melrose Montclair Piedmont
Oakland Public Library Directors
Introduction In 2002, the Oakland Public Library
embarked on an exciting, new and first-ever,
development of a Master Facilities Plan for
branches and to study a new or renovated Main
Library. This work was stimulated by the
recognized need to expand and upgrade existing
and aging facilities to respond to the current
and future information and recreation demands of
library users. In order to ensure that the Plan
met the needs of everyone concerned, the Library
hired consultants to work with library staff and
with many library communities, constituencies and
partners to determine the library service needs
and programs in each neighborhood and evaluate
the facilities to meet these local needs. This
work included a series of community meetings
beginning in 2002, a Community Action Committee,
representing all parts of the City, Library
organizations and City Council members, that
continues to discuss the overall plan and develop
strategies for making these dreams for the future
a reality. The results of this work so far are
twofold In January 2004, the library
submitted a grant application with the State
Library to assist in construction of a new Branch
Library at 81st and Rudsdale. This library will
be the first to incorporate new concepts
developed under the Master Plan. We will hear in
Fall 2004whether we are successful in obtaining
funding and The Draft Master Facilities Plan
we are submitting for your information and
comment.The work is not finished the Main
Library plan is still under development, and the
Branch Recommendations are incomplete without
hearing from you. We will be coming back into the
community and neighborhoods to tell you about the
Plan. We hope to receive feedback on whether we
got it right the first time when we came out to
listen to you. We will keep you informed of our
progress, and invite you to actively participate
in the effort. Carmen L. Martinez Library
Director
Top
Introduction In 2002, the Library embarked on
a Facilities Master Plan in response to
the communitys need for improved services and
facilities to support these needs. This work was
directed from the Librarys Strategic Plan and
from the may unmet and growing needs of the
community. It is also in response to recent fi
scal crisis and the communitys outcry in support
of the Library, of which the Save our Libraries
organization and the recent support and passage
of Measure Q are examples. The Master Plan
articulates a vision that is based on a highly
participatory needs assessment process and
includes overall service recommendations and
improvements for a revitalized system. The Plan
also identifies specific improvements to
facilities (including submittal for State Prop.
14 funding for one of the recommended new
libraries), including capital and operating
costs, and implementation strategies for the
overall plan, such as funding options and phasing
of improvements. We are now undergoing a second
round of community outreach to get feedback on
the draft Master Plan which we will then
incorporate into the Master Plan and Draft Master
Plan Report. The Need The needs assessment
involved the community through a variety of
different methods to try to reach as many people
as possible. These included community meetings
and focus groups held throughout the City to
discuss needs, over 1,600 user surveys collected
at the Main and all of the Branch Libraries,
a telephone survey by the City Auditor that
reached both current library users and non-users
alike, The needs assessment also mapped existing
user patterns to look for underserved areas and
studied technical demographic analysis of both
current and future trends in the City to discern
future needs. The Librarys Community Action
Committee, composed of community representatives,
and its Youth Leadership Council, composed of
youth representatives, were vital in confi rmimg
these needs as well as working with the project
team to form the vision for the librarys future
- in services and facilities. The voices of
residents were loud and clear the Oakland
Library plays a unique role in meeting residents
needs--in terms of education, enrichment,
and technology. The Needs Assessment has identifi
ed that there is a lack of space to grow the
collection, which constrains the size and
diversity of the collection needed. Many of the
libraries are too small to accommodate the number
of people using them and, at peak use times,
library patrons cannot fi nd places to sit. The
libraries provide a vital link to technology for
Oakland residents Citywide 25 of the population
has no other access to computers, and there is a
need for both access and training. Patrons see
the need for life-skills, including literacy and
job training, and enrichment programs, such as
cultural and literary programs, as vital services
for the Library to provide.
Executive Summary of the Master Facilities Plan
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Related Projects/ Works-in-Progress
Chavez Branch Construction and Opening
information
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81st Ave Branch Proposition 14
Submittal Conceptual Design
Information on the State of California
Proposition 14 State Library Bond Grant