CCMIN021902 - Laserfiche WebLink

Item 6b Acceptance of Library. Strategic Plan. SR 02:038) Billie Dancy presented the staff report. Ms. Michelotti commended Ms. Dancy and the library committee for a great job. She inquired about an Internet link to the Valley Care Health Library. She also asked about the number of volunteers at the library. Ms. Dancy said there has been a dramatic increase in the number of volunteers since the City took over the library. She said her staff had been working with Cheryl Warren at the Valley Care Health Library and there are some technical issues that need to be resolved. One thing the City has done is to list the Health Library on the City's website to publicize the availability of the Health Library. The Health Library has joined the Golden Gate Network, a regional network of public and academic libraries in the region. She hoped there would be a website created for the region which would have information on the Health Library. Ms. Dancy said staff was also investigating a way to connect the Health Library through the City's catalogue. She acknowledged the wonderful volunteers in the literacy program and the increased number of high school teen volunteers. She said a group of teen volunteers are meeting with local veterans as part of the National Veterans' History Project. This is a national program to collect stories of veterans. The Teen Advisory Group from Pleasanton is the only California library group that is involved in this project. She was very proud of them. Ms. Dennis also complimented Ms. Dancy on the plan and its implementation. She felt the links with the school resources regarding text books was very useful. She inquired about the program of children reading to dogs. Ms. Dancy said children bring their dogs to the library to sit next to them as they read. Studies have found that there is an emotional connection to reading and how one learns to read. As mothers and fathers read to their children, there is an emotional connection and the sound of thc voice translates into creating a child who loves to read. There is a similar bond that takes place with animals. They affect emotional health as well as physical health. Having a dog nearby increases the child's feeling of safety and a safe child learns better. She said this program has been tried in other places in the country very successfully. Mr. Campbell referred to the desire to increase the text book collection from local schools. He asked if there was a contact with the school district, or did the library want teachers to help with that process. Ms. Dancy said Judy Matthew from the School District has been working with them and has arranged for the library to receive textbooks. The problem was that all the textbooks were located in the children's room and the high school students don't use the children's room. So the high school books have been moved to the teen area to increase awareness. There were no speakers on this item. Pleasanton City Council 9 02/19/02 Minutes