Paso Robles Library Foundation

Library Study Center Facility and Service Improvements

The Foundation, in addition to other local donors, assisted in funding the latest improvements including:

The Study Center is now open five days per week, Monday- Friday from 2:30-4:30
The Library Study Center’s collections have been greatly expanded and more items can now be checked out at the Center (with a library card).
Parents can now get library cards for their children at the Library Study Center (valid at all Black Gold Cooperative libraries).

Each year, over 10,700 people make use of study center resources.

Microfilm/Microfiche Reader

The Paso Robles Library Foundation received a donation from Paso Robles native and Library Volunteer Kathy Brown. With this donation, the Paso Robles City Library purchased a new Microfilm/Microfiche reader. The reader will allow access to a great amount of local history material that can be browsed, scanned, printed and saved in many formats.
The new reader also provides the resource for a partnership with the Paso Robles Area Historical Society housed in the original Carnegie City Library. The Historical Society has additional content that may be viewed in the new reader.
With this partnership, there are thousands of newspaper articles and other historical documents that may be viewed by the public at the City Library.

Refurbished Paso Robles City Library Study Center

Thanks to the Paso Robles Library Foundation and its benefactors, the Foundation recently funded the refurbishment of the Paso Robles City Library Study Center, located at 3600 Oak Street. New collaborative work spaces were created utilizing Yin Yang tables, youth-sized chairs, staff chairs, backpack carts, book racks, and a busy cube for our young patrons.

The new work space is much more flexible and takes into consideration the variety of services provided to our community.

On the day of the grand re-opening, many students, and some of their parents, from Georgia Brown Elementary School eagerly waited for Mayor Steve Martin, Library Trustee Michael Miller, Foundation President Pamela Alch and City Librarian Angelica Fortin to cut the large red ribbon.

Once inside each child received a free reading level appropriate book to take home with them; these books were also funded by the Foundation’s benefactors.

The study center serves about 10,700 people per year, including students, early childhood education and parent education class attendees.

21st century technology enhances library services

Paso Robles Mayor, Steve Martin

Paso Robles Mayor, Steve Martin using the self-check kiosk

The Paso Robles City Library recently implemented Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, a daunting undertaking, but one that has been equally welcomed by staff and library patrons.

RFID technology has been helping libraries to streamline services for over a decade—assisting with inventory control, providing for more efficient check-out at service desks, and offering user-friendly self-check kiosks that encourage patron autonomy and privacy.

The process of “tagging” the library’s 60,000 items required teams of two, working eight hours a day, five days a week for three months. Library volunteers performed about 95% of the work. There was no reduction in services or any closures during this time.

The Paso Robles Library Foundation, its benefactors and an anonymous donor, contributed $33,000 toward the purchase of five staff workstations, theft-prevention gates at the entrance to the library, and two self-check kiosks, one in the Children’s Library and one near the Circulation Desk. In addition, City Librarian Angelica Fortin worked with the City to secure ongoing maintenance of the system as well as future capital equipment replacement as needed.

Once implemented in the Paso Robles City Library, the benefits of RFID technology were immediate—improved user experience, a reduction in theft, and increased staff time to assess and improve collections and make new materials available to patrons sooner.
Most of the libraries in the Black Gold Cooperative System have already adopted RFID technology. Now that the Paso Robles City Library has implemented it, the sharing of resources and collections among libraries is more efficient, too.

As libraries continue to move forward with 21st-century technology, the Paso Robles City Library will continue its tradition of excellence in library service through its quality collections, popular programming, modern conveniences, and friendly staff. “The Paso Robles City Library is a jewel in our community that provides access to the tools for lifelong learning. The Library Foundation works to ensure that the Library has the additional resources to keep pace with our ever changing world,” stated Foundation President Pamela Alch.

2016 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Replaced and refurbished 21-year-old seating in the Library. The Adult and Children’s sections of the Library have 83 new chairs. Benches and couches have been reupholstered.

Purchased an additional AWE computer and carrel; AWE computers are designed specifically for our patrons aged 2 – 8 with over 4,000 interactive learning activities focused on early literacy.

Sponsored the Summer Reading Program for children and teens. This program helps students sustain and/or improve their reading levels over the summer months. Approximately 800-1000 attendees.

Contributed to the expansion of the Library’s collection of books, reference materials and books on CD.
Sponsored the holiday Giving Tree which provided 100 new books for the Library.

2017 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Purchased 10 new lounge/reading chairs for adult seating.
Created a study room within the Library with tables, chairs, and whiteboard.
Continued with an expansion of the Library collection in all formats including the Spanish language collection, updated reference resources and popular material for the Library and the Study Center.
Procured I pads for the Library and Study Center.
Purchased new software to streamline the management and marketing of new programs. This software will provide an efficient way to communicate all Library activities with our community. It replaces the no longer in print Activity Guide.
Sponsored the Summer Reading Program.
In May, held a winemaker’s dinner fundraiser at Calcareous Vineyard and Winery.
Recruited three new members to the Foundation Board of Directors.
Hosted Open House to celebrate the Foundation’s 20th anniversary and the Library’s 22nd anniversary in its present location.
Sponsored the holiday Giving Tree which provided 100 new books for the Library.
Hosted event to celebrate the completion of the RFID tagging project.

2018 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Four RFID stations were purchased – two for staff use at the Circulation Desk and two for patron self-check out as well as two RFID Gates at the Library’s entrance.

Approved funding for new furnishings for the Library Study Center located at 3600
Oak Street. This was a major project for the Foundation and will be executed in two
phases. For 2018, we purchased new tables and chairs, soft seating, coat and backpack
storage, floor covering, a Busy Cube for our youngest patrons and more books for the Center’s collection. A book give-away was included as part of the Center’s “Re-Opening” celebration.

New ergonomic chairs were purchased for the staff workroom replacing a mixed
collection of seating from the original opening of the Library.

Online Calendar software – this is an ongoing service provided to our community. All
Library classes and programs can be viewed online and patrons can register for events
as required.

Summer Reading Program – This is a favorite program among our patrons and participation is high in multiple age groups.

Little Bits Circuits – Technology learning tool now available in the Children’s Library.

Funding provided for the expansion of the Library’s collection in all categories.

Co-hosted the annual spring Winemaker’s Dinner Fund Raiser held at Calcareous Vineyard
and Winery. The event was a huge success for the Library with over 100 guests in attendance.

Book Give Away for Children’s Day/Book Day. Commonly knowns as Dia, this is a celebration
of children, families and reading that culminates yearly in April. The celebration emphasizes
the importance of literacy for all children.

ViewScan 4 Microfilm Technology Unit – A Microfilm/microfiche reader was purchased to
enable public access to a large collection of historical records and maps.

DVD/CD Burnishing Machine Repair – Utilizing this machine, a library volunteer works
weekly to repair all DVDs and books on CD in our Library’s collection.

2019 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Library Study Center Phase Two Completed – A New Look and Expanded Services
In August, we celebrated the completion of this project with an open house show casing
all new shelving units, window coverings, book display racks and a greatly expanded book collection.

Story Hour Room - outfitted with new tables and chairs

Online Calendar software – this is an ongoing service provided to our community. All
Library classes and programs can be viewed online and patrons can register for events
as required.

Summer Reading Program

Funding provided for the expansion of the Library’s collection in all categories.

Co-hosted the annual spring Winemaker’s Dinner Fund Raiser held at Calcareous Vineyard
and Winery. Again, this was a sell out event with 100 attendees and a collection of amazing
raffle prizes.

Book Give Away for Children’s Day/Book Day. Commonly knowns as Dia, this is a celebration
of children, families and reading that culminates yearly in April. The celebration emphasizes
the importance of literacy for all children.

2020 Approved Projects

Funding provided for the expansion of the Library’s collection in all categories. This year we have added funding to continue and expand the “Zip Books” program.

Internet Hotspots – We will be increasing the inventory of these devices for patron check out.

Launchpads – 12 new launchpads will be added to the Children’s Library of learning tools.

Discover and Go – A program supporting education and the arts.
Patrons will have access to free and low-cost passes for museums, science centers, zoos
and other cultural destinations.

Summer Reading Program

Book Give Away for Children’s Day/Book Day. Commonly known as Dia, this is a celebration
of children, families and reading that culminates yearly in April. The celebration emphasizes
the importance of literacy for all children.

Online Calendar software – this is an ongoing service provided to our community. All
Library classes and programs can be viewed online and patrons can register for events
as required.

Study Center Water Fountain

Newspaper Cabinet

ECO Smart Disc Repair Machine & Blu Ray

Student Success Initiative – In partnership with the PRJUSD, a project designed to distribute free
Paso Robles City Library “SCHOLAR” library cards to all Grade 9 students. (See Feb. 5, 2020

article in the Paso Robles Press for program details)

Approved funding for new staff chairs

Thanks to the Foundation and funds provided by our donors, every service point and workroom chair has been replaced. Some of these chairs dated back to 1995 when the Library opened! Without the continued and generous support of our community, these types of improvements would not be possible. THANK YOU PASO ROBLES LIBRARY SUPPORTERS! #PasoLibraryFoundation #NewChairs #Donors #Thanks

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Resources

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Education

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Books

Funded 2016

With major funding from the Helen and Will Webster Foundation, replaced and refurbished 21 year-old seating in the Library. The Adult and Children’s sections of the library have 83 new chairs. Benches and couches have been reupholstered.

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Purchased an additional AWE computer and carrel. AWE computers are designed specifically for our patrons aged 2 – 8 with over 4,000 interactive learning activities focused on early literacy.

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