Placer’s Library Services recaps successful year of reading, looks ahead to 2022

Published on Dec. 16, 2021

Placer County Library Services continues to provide excellent reading programs and opportunities for county residents while looking ahead to expand services next year.

On Dec. 14, the Placer County Board of Supervisors received an update from county Library Services staff regarding highlights from the past year as well as a preview of library plans set for 2022.

The update included information about mobile library services, virtual and summer-time programming, and updates on the Library’s five-year Strategic Plan.

Library Services’ new mobile library service, which replaced the Bookmobile, was rolled out to the community in September. To date, the service has enrolled 89 new library card users and checked out 295 items.

The service is designed to serve Placer’s rural communities including Sheridan, Meadow Vista and Dutch Flat, to name a few.

Library Services has future plans to serve more community members at special events, schools and senior centers - as public health safety allows.

Mobile library service details, service stops and dates are available online, here.

“With mobile library service visitors can access a small curated browsing collection, pick up and place items on hold and even get a library card,” said Library Services Director Mary George. “We are excited at the prospect of serving more community members, especially those who are harder to reach.”

During the presentation, Placer County librarians and library specialists were credited for organizing program activities during a year challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staff led weekly virtual programming for library guests, which included story videos paired with corresponding take-home craft bags. Library staff created a total of 16,000 [SB1] [SS2] activity bags made available to patrons at participating library branches.

“Library Services is trusted with the care of the youngest and most impressionable in our community,” said Library Services Assistant Director Sophie Bruno. “All the studies show that skill sets that we teach are tied to school readiness and children’s ability to succeed, knowing how to read and take joy in literacy.”

Library staff also created a virtual hybrid model for the flagship Summer at Your Library program, which promotes reading for people of all ages, especially school-age children during the summer months.

Nearly 1,500 registered readers participated in this year’s program for an impressive combined 919,184 minutes read - far exceeding last year’s respectable number of 547 participants.

George also briefed the board about the ongoing Library Services Strategic Plan, which includes four primary goals: innovative service delivery, community engagement, strategic partnerships and a service-oriented workforce.

A library services study is currently underway to provide best practices for optimal library service moving forward.

The study is currently in its initial information-gathering phase and will look outward to the community’s input by holding virtual town hall meetings in early January and in-person regional meetings in late January.