"We have $40 million on the line. Our levy is on the ballot in November," says Patrick Losinksi, executive director of Ohio's Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML), winner of the Gale/Library Journal Library of the Year Award 2010. Over the entrance to the 103-year-old Carnegie building that is the systems main library are the words "Open to all." The reasons behind CML receiving the award become clear when you hear Losinski elaborate on that motto.
"Those three words permeate our strategic plan. It's one of our values. It's a strategy for our virtual users, making technology open to all," he says. "On the other hand, I just told a local bank president that "Open to all" cannot be translated to mean all things to all people. If we do that we're going to be mediocre and average in a lot of things, rather than great for a few."
In the process, Losinski reveals a lot about what makes CML both effective and efficient and enables the library and its staff to be ready to deal with any and every situation, including massive budget cuts in 2009. Those prompted local newsman Mike Curtin, editor emeritus of the Columbus Dispatch, to give CML librarians one of their favorite slogans: "A world class library on a shoestring budget." Focus guided by research
CML, comprised of an operations center and 21 branches, serves the 847,376 people who inhabit a large portion of Franklin County in central Ohio. It is an independent library with its own taxing district. The 2009 budget was $45,535,080, down nearly $9 million from 2008 because of cuts in state funding for libraries. The folks who use the library each borrowed about 20 items last year and averaged ten visits. Residents each paid $52.20 for library service. One unique branch, Northwest Library, is shared and jointly managed with Worthington Libraries, the Gale/LJ Library of the Year 2007.
CML operates with a tight focus on a carefully researched and developed strategic plan of which the managers and staff are very proud. "What do we use to direct the action? Our strategic plan. When we lost funding, what do you think guided our decisions? Our strategic plan," asserts Alison Circle, in charge of marketing, communications, and brand management for CML and writer of LJ's Bubble Room blog.
The culture of CML has become one of perpetual strategic planning, adaptability, constant investment in efficiency, and attention to chosen priorities. It has imbued the staff with an unusual receptivity to change, and they get and engineer lots of it and rework the plan at regular intervals. The whole staff is engaged in a training discussion based on William Bridges's book Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change. Emphasizing a marketing approach to planning, the CML leadership team came up with some 15 categories of "customer behavior," taking great pains to explain in the award application that these were "not demographics." They boiled the 15 items down to three external priorities based on the behaviors, plus two internal ones aimed at efficiency and staff "development.
Reader Comments (14)
Well deserved award for our/my local library: Columbus Metroplitan Library. Enjoyed the article which reminded me of the transitions and transformations made by Patrick Losinki since 2002. Kudos to the Executive Team, staff and volunteers.
Posted by Rubye Childs Kyles on June 7, 2010 05:44:32PM
I dont know what I would do if we didnt have this library. I read from 10-15 books a month on average and they keep the shelves stocked with the most current releases. It is important to me as I have been unemployed for over 14 months and can not purchase books like I would have otherwise. In addition, it's amazing all the great work they do to ensure children have the tools to help them learn to read. Adults such as myself appreciate what they are doing for the community. Thanks!
Posted by Linda Chavis on June 8, 2010 06:05:05PM
As a person who has always valued a good library, I have never been disappointed by the quality library systems I have come to use in Ohio. First moving to and living in the Cleveland area in the 80 and 90s I found the Cleveland library system on the cutting edge of library science. Now living in the Columbus area I am pleased and proud to say the Columbus Metropolitan Library has consistently exceeded my expectations and I my opinion rightly deserves recognition as a top notch library system. It serves the needs of this community exceedingly well.
Posted by Danny Stanton on June 9, 2010 04:53:13PM
Great job! well deserved, some months ago I wrote it that CML is a world class. Having travelled far and wide I came to see them as the best. I am not surprised with the award. I knew it was a matter of time they will get it. In fact, CML deserves world award. Please keep it up ....the standard.
Posted by Gideon on June 10, 2010 07:18:46AM
Well deserved award for a wonderful library system and wonderful librarians. Great job Columbus Metropolitan Library!
Posted by Jean Hoitsma on June 10, 2010 11:27:05AM
For me, it is especially gratifying to see Columbus Metropolitan library afforded this extraordinary accolade. Pat Losinski and his team do a stand out job of delivering the ultimate public library experience in an environment that is stretched for resources.
When you spend time in the main branch, it is absolutely clear why this library stands in the vanguard of those public institutions offering its community life, liberty and learning to all.
Posted by Ron J. Stefanski on June 10, 2010 01:29:02PM
I was so pleased with the professional help and attention I received at the Dublin Branch of CML. Really great staff. A beautiful location.
Posted by J T Thomas on June 10, 2010 02:13:13PM
Congraulations! As a former Library of Congress librarian and lawyer I constantly rave about CML -- your staff is so incredibly responsive and helpful, your kids programs are out of this world, and your collection is fantastic. I'm now at home with kids and visit the library at least once a week for over 50 books a time, so we've sampled a large portion of the kids collection. Very, very pleased to hear of the award.
Posted by Emily Haynes on June 11, 2010 01:49:02PM
I ALWAYS KNEW WE HAVE THE BEST LIBRARY IN THE LAND !!!!
Posted by PAM CORDIAL on June 12, 2010 10:35:04AM
I am pleased to learn of all the staff development and training being done - it makes a huge difference in any organization but not everyone does it well or at all unfortunately. I want to say a special 'thank you' to the staff of the Northside branch where I go quite a bit - they work very hard in a neighborhood that is not that great. I'm sure there are other branches similarly situated. Thanks for all you do!
Posted by James on June 12, 2010 01:47:12PM
Congratulations Columbus Public Library! I am a Columbus resident and have used this library for years; books, movies, the Internet, and reference. I have known that is a treasure and now you do too.
Posted by Elaine Farstad on June 29, 2010 09:43:16AM
As the popular saying goes, "You don't know what you got 'til it's gone". In 1998 I left Columbus and moved to a metropolitan city in North Carolina for a two year work contract. I had no friends or family there and my co-workers at the big bank were strangely suspicious of my northern roots and values. I took the job thinking that all metro area libraries were like CML, full of resources both literary and human to occupy my long evenings and weekends away from my home. Without being too specific in highlighting what another city isn't fortunate enough to have, I will state simply that I was shocked to realize the simple benefits that I took for granted in Columbus. Believe me: The sheer volume of both very old AND very new books, sheet music and audio-visual materials which appear at our CML fingertips do not exist in most other geographical areas of our own nation. So fortunate to be back home in the Buckeye state, I find myself taking a quiet moment to pause inside the lobby of each branch I visit. Before entering, I gaze at the shelves and the friendly faces inside. I smile and I remember that I am truly back home.
Posted by Miss Josie Gonot on July 20, 2010 12:22:47AM
Congratulations! It's sad that things as priceless as "a good book" have to be constrained by budgets. What greater necessity is there in life than a great book? After all, which is more important - the stomach or the soul? Please contact me so that I may supply your library with a gift of one hundred books from our collection in celebration of your being chosen Library of the Year 2011.
Zev Lewinson
CEO SwordPen Publishers
Posted by Zev Lewinson on August 4, 2011 01:51:03PM
