Value, Growth & Annual Reports

Most Americans view public libraries as an important part of their communities, with a majority reporting that libraries have the resources they need and play some role in helping them decide what information they can trust. When asked to think about the things that libraries could do in the future, notable numbers of Americans respond in a way that can be boiled down to one phrase: “Yes, please.” - from the Libraries 2016 report, Pew Research Center

For printable versions of any of the reports listed below, please email [email protected]



Long Range Plan 2021-2024

long range plan

long range plan

Long Range Plan 2017/2018 and 2019/2020

Long Range PlanLong Range Plan

Manatee Libraries Annual Report- 2016

Library Annual Report - 2016

Library Annual Report- page 1

Library Annual Report- page 2

Library Annual Report- page 3

Manatee Libraries Annual Report - 2014

Library Annual Report - 2014 10/01/13 - 09/30/14

During this fiscal year 963,888 community members used our six libraries. The use of our resources reached the highest count ever (3,520,111), yet our per capita expenditures were only $18.97 versus the State averages of $27.87 - nearly a full third less. Our Internet/Wi-Fi use increased by 25%, while the use of our virtual resources increased by nearly 65%. Over 57,000 community members of all ages attended library programs throughout the year. Our library web pages are the most frequently used of all the County sites. More than 26,000 hours were contributed by volunteers, the equivalent of 12 full-time employees.

Awards, Recognition, & Innovations – FLA Betty Davis Miller Youth (2013), FLA Library Innovation (2013), FLA Maria Chavez Hernandez ‘Libraries Change People’s Lives (2014), Manatee County Employee Of Month for May 2014 – Ava Ehde, Library Manager, Storybook Café at Rocky Bluff, Second Edition bookstore at Central, Book Ends bookstore at South Manatee Branch, Three Nooks: Administration building, Utilities and GT Bray, New email notification service, two graduates of the Sunshine State Library Leadership Academy, 12 graduates of the MC Leadership Academy, One Disaster Training graduate, Linda Sell appointed Volunteer Reception Center Coordinator. Updated public computer area, Self-Check-out Service.

Community Support – Bi-monthly Job Seekers programs, Business Incubators, Social Service Referrals, Creative Aging series, STEAM as core of all library programming, computer and technology training, health, Veteran’s and human needs programming, music and art programs, partnerships with local non-profits, local author and illustrator visits, Supervisor of Elections (voter registration and polling location), publishers, artists, authors, businesses, schools, and government.

Social Media and Links – Flickr, YouTube, Pinterest, Facebook for adults and teens, Speaking Volumes, NextReads – readers advisory, Historical Image files.

Coming Soon! – Online bill pay, point of sale, apps, video tutorials, new contests, Senior Academy, literacy alliance, renovations, creative space,

Library provided resources

Use of resources: 3,520,111 (busiest year ever!)

Internet/Wi-Fi usage: 440,482

Virtual resource use: 1,734,892

Catalog logins: 255,441

New Cards: 15,220

Interlibrary loans: 4,311

Collections & Special Collections

Total collection: 453,280 items including Genealogy, Eaton History, Opera, Literacy, Fiche/Film, Large Print, Early Childhood Literacy, Spanish language, Manga and Anime, Movies and music, and eBooks/eAudios

Research & Reference services

Visits: In Person – 963,888, Virtually – 104,447

Answers found: 371,612

Technology aid: Internet, tablet, software, eReader, smart phone drop- ins and classes

English and ESL Support (research and computer classes plus conversation clubs in Spanish)

Right Service Florida to provide comprehensive collection of aid resources

Programs & Outreach

57,393 attendees at 2,192 In-house programs

9,255 attendees at 311 Outreach programs

Mana-Con: over 1600 attendees; Recycled Dreams Fashion Show: 250 attendees; Touch a Truck: 225 children

Digitization & Technology

59,871 checkouts from our virtual collection (eBooks, eJournals, eAudio, streaming music and video).

1,314,440 uses of virtual resume assistance, foreign language tools, car repair, genealogy, medical and travel guides, business directories and investment tools.

31,472 items were borrowed by 11,578 customers using our new Self-Checkout Stations

Volunteers

Library volunteers offered 26,180 hours of assistance at all locations (equivalent to 12 full time staff members)

Grants & Partners

MC Schools, MC Historical Societies, Realize Bradenton, Village of the Arts, South Florida Museum, Transitions, Sheriff’s Youth Ranch, Toastmasters, Rising Stars, Supervisor of Elections, METV, VIVA Florida 500, SCORE, MTI, ITT Tech Interns, Hernando De Soto Historical Society, and Library affiliations – TBLC, ALA, FLA

Supporters

Board of Trustees

BOCC Representatives

Library Foundation

Friends:

Braden River, Central, Island, Palmetto, Rocky Bluff, South Manatee

Libraries continue to provide the traditional services they have offered for over a century in America, advising and inviting generations of readers to discover the love of books and reading. But today’s libraries do much, much more:

v  Manatee County Libraries spend less than $19 per capita locally while the state’s average per capita expenditures for library services come close to $28.

v Librarians train the public on basic internet use, computer literacy, and assist with Kindles, laptops, phones, and pads. They also support literacy with school visits, participation in community events, partnerships with community agencies, creation exciting programs for both children and adults, offering interesting guest speakers, seeking grants, offering book signings, creation of video tutorials, purchase and cataloging new books and materials, and providing compassionate customer service.

v Wi-fi is available in all of our locations, along with over 100 internet workstations, including social service computers at which citizens can apply for government assistance, create a resume, and seek job leads.

v eBooks and eAudios can be checked out through our virtual library from the comfort of your home or office. Magazine articles, business information, language instruction, auto repair data, educational testing, genealogy research, and much more are also available 24/7 through the library’s web page. Patrons can communicate via our interactive social media outlets, make suggestions for purchase, book a meeting room, search our catalog, enter contests, and get a suggestion for their next good read.

v Homework, research, and referral services are provided in person, phone, email, and live chat via Ask-a-Librarian.

v The library is a neighborhood space for displaying arts and crafts, offering a spot for community gatherings, providing a table for tutoring, or for just enjoying the beautiful views.

v Our fee-free meeting rooms are popular feature at all of our facilities. They are in almost constant use by a variety of local nonprofit groups and government agencies, from homeowners associations and hobbyists to Manatee Technical Institute and social service coalitions for instruction and self-improvement.

v We offer opportunities to the public to help us fulfill our mission. Volunteers put in the equivalent hours of 12 full time employees this year. Our Friends groups fund programs and operate our book stores and sales. Citizens serve on our Library Board and the Library Foundation as well.

v The library regularly visits farmers markets, school open houses, festival and fairs – including Snooty’s birthday party at the museum - to register new borrowers for library cards and promote our services.

v The library hosts blood drives, coordinates food and clothing drives, and distributes donated books to several social services including the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranch, the Health Department, and the Transitions Center.

v Special collections include a comprehensive genealogy collection, the Eaton local history library, Spanish language materials, large print books, literacy guides, audio visual formats including the portable Playaway mp3 players, young adult books, and magazines and newspapers.

v Literacy Kits have been researched and compiled to assist parents in teaching the basics of literacy to their young children through interactive manipulatives, books, and activities.

v Our citizens can obtain easy access to government documents through our depository collection and online sites.

v And there is more to come: Creative spaces to enlighten the public about new technologies, business incubator programs that match mentors with new small business owners, blogging, additional computer classes, a redesigned public computer area at Central Library, a comprehensive youth area to engage and encourage the creativity of local youngsters and a new streaming movie service.

Revised 11/22/2014


Manatee Libraries Annual Report - 2013

10/01/12 - 09/30/13

During this fiscal year 943,044 community members used our six libraries. The use of our resources reached the highest count ever (3,166,210), yet our per capita expenditures were only $18.97 versus the State averages of $27.87 - almost a full third less. Our Internet/Wi-Fi use increased by 40%, while the use of our virtual resources increased by nearly 81%. Over 53,196 community members of all ages attended library programs throughout the year. Our library web pages are the most frequently used of all the County sites. More than 24, 040 hours were contributed by volunteers, the equivalent of 12 full-time employees. 

Awards, Recognition, & Innovations – FLA Betty Davis Miller Youth, FLA Library Innovation, 2 Manatee County Employees Of Month - Fran Barba and Karen McLeod, Storybook Café at Rocky Bluff, Second Edition bookstore at Central, Three Nooks:  Administration building, Utilities and GT Bray, Book Ends bookstore at South Manatee, and new email notification service, two graduates of the Sunshine State Library Leadership Academy, 12 graduates of the MC Leadership Academy, One Disaster Training graduate, Linda Sell appointed Volunteer Reception Center Coordinator.
Community Support – Bi-monthly Job Seekers programs, Business Incubators, Social Service Referrals, computer and technology training, health and human needs programming, partnerships with local non-profits, local author and illustrator visits, Supervisor of Elections (voter registration and polling location), publishers, artists, authors, businesses, schools, and government.
Social Media and Links – Flickr, YouTube, Pinterest, Facebook for adults and teens, Speaking Volumes, NextReads – readers advisory, Historical Image files.
Coming Soon! – Online bill pay, point of sale, apps, video tutorials, new contests, Senior Academy, literacy alliance, renovations, creative space, public computer area renovation.
Library provided resources
Use of resources: 3,166,210 (busiest year ever!)
 
Internet/Wi-Fi usage: 354,819
Virtual resource use: 1,075,660
Catalog logins: 240,754
New Cards: 14,418
Interlibrary loans: 4,553
Collections & Special Collections
Total collection: 470,567 items including Genealogy, Eaton History, Opera, Literacy, Fiche/Film, Large Print, Early Childhood Literacy, Spanish language, Manga and Anime, Movies and music
Research & Reference services
Visits:
In Person – 943,044
Virtually – 81,974
 
Answers found: 365,718
Technology aid: Internet, tablet, software, eReader, smart phone drop- ins and classes
English and ESL Support (research and computer classes in Spanish)
Right Service Florida
Programs & Outreach
44,464 attendees at 2,192 In-house programs
8,732 attendees at 283 Outreach programs
Mana-Con: over 900 attendees
Digitization & Technology
43,247 checkouts from our virtual collection (eBooks, eJournals, eAudio, and video).
1,075,660 uses of virtual resume assistance, foreign language tools, car repair, genealogy, medical and travel guides, business directories and investment tools.
31,472 items were borrowed by 11,578 customers using our new Self Checkout Stations
Volunteers
Library volunteers offered 24,040 hours of assistance at all locations (equivalent to 12 full time staff members)
Grants & Partners
MC Schools, MC Historical Societies, Realize Bradenton, Village of the Arts, South Florida Museum, Transitions, Sheriff’s Youth Ranch, Toastmasters, Rising Stars, Supervisor of Elections, METV, VIVA Florida 500, SCORE, MTI, ITT Tech Interns, Hernando De Soto Historical Society, and Library affiliations – TBLC, ALA, FLA
Supporters
Board of Trustees
BOCC Representatives
Library Foundation
Friends:
Braden River, Central, Island, Palmetto, Rocky Bluff, South Manatee
 
Libraries continue to provide the traditional services they have offered for over a century in America, advising and inviting generations of readers to discover the love of books and reading. But today’s libraries do much, much more:
v Librarians train the public on basic internet use, computer literacy, and assist with Kindles, laptops, phones, and pads. They also visit our schools, participate in community events, partner with community agencies, create exciting programs for both children and adults, invite in interesting guest speakers, seek grants, offer book signings, create video tutorials, purchase and catalog new books and materials, and provide compassionate customer service.
v Wi-fi is available in all of our locations, along with over 100 internet workstations, including social service computers at which citizens can apply for government assistance, create a resume, and seek job leads.
v eBooks and eAudios can be checked out through our virtual library from the comfort of your home or office. Magazine articles, business information, language instruction, auto repair data, educational testing, genealogy research, and much more are also available 24/7 through the library’s web page. Patrons can communicate via our interactive social media outlets, make suggestions for purchase, book a meeting room, search our catalog, enter contests, and get a suggestion for their next good read.
v Homework, research, and referral services are provided in person, phone, email, and live chat via Ask-a-Librarian.
v The library is a neighborhood space for displaying arts and crafts, offering a spot for community gatherings, providing a table for tutoring, or for just enjoying the beautiful views.
v Our fee-free meeting rooms are popular feature at all of our facilities. They are in almost constant use by a variety of local nonprofit groups and government agencies, from homeowners associations and hobbyists to Manatee Technical Institute and social service coalitions for instruction and self improvement.
v We offer opportunities to the public to help us fulfill our mission. Volunteers put in the equivalent hours of 12 full time employees this year. Our Friends groups fund programs and operate our book stores and sales. Citizens serve on our Library Board and the Library Foundation as well.
v The library regularly visits farmers markets, school open houses, festival and fairs – including Snooty’s birthday party at the museum - to register new borrowers for library cards and promote our services.
v The library hosts blood drives, coordinates food and clothing drives, and distributes donated books to several social services including the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranch, the Health Department, and the Transitions Center.
v Special collections include a comprehensive genealogy collection, the Eaton local history library, Spanish language materials, large print books, literacy guides, audio visual formats including the portable Playaway mp3 players, young adult books, and magazines and newspapers. 
v Our citizens can obtain easy access to government documents through our depository collection and online sites.
v Manatee County Libraries spend less than $19 per capita locally while the state’s average per capita expenditures for library services come close to $28.
v And there is more to come: Creative spaces to enlighten the public about new technologies, business incubator programs that match mentors with new small business owners, blogging, additional computer classes, a redesigned public computer area at Central Library, and a new streaming movie service. 
Revised 11/22/2013