2010 ANNUAL REPORT final

Traditions and Technology:
Rapides Parish Library
2010 Annual Report
Preschool Outreach Plus Clerk
Yolanda Skinner loads up.
A new roof is the crowning touch on a
long series of Main Library renovations.
At a Tween Advisory Group meeting,
Tiffany Johnson and Evelyn Boyd
prepare prizes for the Carnival to
benefit homeless children.
Robertson Branch Volunteer Linda
Green calls customers to let them
know requested items have arrived.
2010 Rapides Parish Library Board Members are Susie Smith, President;
Glenn Rechs, Vice President; Diane Lawton, Treasurer; Pat Barber; Eddy Boddie;
Ann Heath; Linda McMahon; Lee Moore; and Alice Story.
Library Director Steve Rogge serves as secretary.
Johnson Friends sponsor a book talk by
Louisiana author Curt Iles, who speaks
about Wayfaring Stranger, his latest book.
Melissa and Annabelle Rhame check
out their own books at the new selfcheck station at the Hineston Branch.
DIRECTOR’S OVERVIEW
2010 was a year of growth in many areas. Overall usage of the Library rose 11%, with a lot of that
in high tech areas. Our RPL.org website saw a
25% increase in usage as people searched for
what they needed and found out about our many
services and programs. Internet usage was up
69% while the number of items checked out
dropped 3.4%.
We began making reading
available online (Overdrive) and in self-contained
recorded books (Playaway).
Youth Services Manager Tammy DiBartolo
accepts $10,000 from Playaway CEO and
Co-founder Mitch Kroll for the Playaway
“Picture This” Contest.
Miss Ebony Elite Erin Ledet reads
The Princess and the Frog to children
at the King Branch.
The Boyce Branch gets a facelift with new carpet.
Westside Regional Library’s parking lot grows
to 71 spaces and now has a turn-around option.
Bookmobile Clerk Jane Thurmond and
Manager Tammy Valenzuela get ready
for a day of multiple stops.
The McDonald Family donated
this bust of Mr. J. W. McDonald,
who donated the property for the
McDonald Branch in Glenmora.
The Gunter Branch expands from 3,600 to 4,100
square feet with the addition of an annex.
Olivia the Pig and Donna LeBlanc
entertain at the Martin Branch.
LIBRARY FINANCES
The Library budget for 2010 was $5,323,049. Ad valorem (property) taxes accounted for
$4,369,039 of that, with the rest coming from State Aid, grants, gifts, fines and the sale of the
Fuhrer property. Thanks to the fiscal expertise of our Business Manager and the care taken by
our managers, we ended the year with a budget surplus of over $200,000. This will be very
important in the new year as the rise in the value of the ad valorem tax continues to slow down.