2010 Accomplishments at the Riverside County Library System

We have come to the end of another year and this has been a particularly active one for the Riverside County Library System.  We were able to add new programs, services and facilities during 2010 that we hope have broadened and expanded services to library customers. Here are just a few of the highlights:
 

• Two new libraries opened this year: the new Sun City Library in Menifee and the new Robidoux Library (in the photo, County Supervisor Jeff Stone is reading to kids at the Sun City Library opening)
• The Grace Mellman Library in Temecula was opened with extensive remodeling and new furniture and computers in January
• RCLS became the first public library in the U.S. to offer print-on-demand service through our Flash Books program made possible by a grant from the California State Library
• Our automation team upgraded the entire library system to a new fiberoptic network for much faster online response time
• We introduced a new library website with many new features and greater opportunities for interactivity
• Six RCLS libraries partnered with the California Council for the Humanities to present the Making A Difference program, a series of programs to encourage people to come together to discuss ideas in the libraries
• Riverside County Library, in partnership with the University of California Riverside Libraries, sponsored the 2010 May Hill Arbuthnot distinguished lecture on children’s literature, only the fourth time since 1970 this lecture has been held in California
• The Perris Library launched a new gaming grant and the Sun City Library used grant funds from the California State Library to purchase laptop computers
• All 33 libraries presented programs to children and families during this year’s celebration of Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros (Day of the child/day of the book)
• The number of items checked out from RCLS libraries increased 6.8% and the number of persons attending programs in the library increased by 14.7%
• Several new exhibits were launched at the La Quinta Museum on topics ranging from Circuses to to women aviation pioneers to the Hollywood connection in the Coachella Valley

 
Most importantly, all these and many other programs and services were accomplished despite a 10% overall reduction in operating expenditure in the 2009-10 fiscal year and another 10% reduction in the current 2010-11 year. This was possible entirely because of the high level of dedication of the staff of the Riverside County Library and our determination to bring you the highest quality library service possible for the dollar available. 
 
We hope you have enjoyed the library this year. We wish you and your family a very happy holiday season and we hope to see you back early and often in 2011.