Idyllwild, CA
https://datausa.io/profile/geo/idyllwild-pine-cove-ca/
Demographics:
2459 population
Median household income $68,977
Median property price $276,300
Median age 54.9
80.7% white
11% white/Hispanic
2.8% Asian/non hispanic
4.68% black/African American
.732% American Indian Non Hispanic
Questions—Idyllwild Public Library (Riverside County Public Library System)
https://www.facebook.com/IdyllwildLibrary/
https://www.rivlib.net/website/branch-page-829/location/Idyllwild
How do they describe the community of Idyllwild?
“My favorite place.” Four to five thousand people permanent, full time. During Summer population quadruples. Big retirement community. School serves about 400 kids. Most people work in tourist/recreation industry. Significant commuter population. No high school here. Not a large teen library participation here. 25% ELL. Serves Idyllwild, Pine Cove, Fern Valley…all San Jacinto mountains. Part time population from San Diego.
What do they see is the role of the Library in the community?
Unincorporated—not actually a city or town. Created own social constructs—town hall etc. Everything connected to Riverside County…
Library is heart of community. Group meetings, people come here to socialize, Friends of Library usually do about 3-4 events a month in typical times. For a small community, large number of churches and non-profits, plus community groups (Elks etc.) in library. COVID testing in Library. Voting, etc. They are the center of the community. Library partners with HELP Center, scholarship association, community fund, hosts Mom groups, homeschooling. Fairly significant homeschooling population. Teachers doing outdoor education, community garden. Not a lot of programming with the school. They do have an active summer reading program—go to schools to introduce. Local benefactor funds kids studying Dickens. During typical times, active story time. Adult summer reading program—also active.
How would they describe the children’s collection?
One of 35-38 branches—collection built from joint circulating collection. Shelving children’s nonfiction with regular nonfiction. Circulation heavy on picture books and easy reading. Keep some classics to serve home schoolers. Get children’s books from Riverside Co. Library System every month, and Friends of Library + Rotary contributes once or twice a year. Reading collection—if not used in two or three times they move it on. Part of “Library Systems and Services”—manages collections and staff (have been doing this for 25 years). LS and S has a collection development team which meets with each branch library and determines what kinds of things they need, plus discretionary collection. Brand new stuff goes to big libraries, but branch has to buy Caldecott prize winners, etc. Collection right now is very fresh since they’ve had time to weed, etc. Will order special requests. Thinks LSS is reason libraries are staying open and opening new libraries. Contracts run for five years. Building belongs to County of Riverside though. LSS all staff day for continuing ed and discussion. Librarians in LSS are connected community. Homelessness Resource committee, super strong summer reading program. LSS good at refreshing collection on a regular basis.
Purchased Native children’s books (local tribes from Tahoe area). Limited storage space. Can fill in from other libraries (ie. series, etc.). Good representation. Various levels of reading.
What do they see is the role of the children’s collection in the community?
Their children’s collection mostly entertainment. Don’t do Accelerated Reader specifically but help. It’s a “walk in and check out books library”. Have taken story time out to Nature Center, online story times (video). Used to get 30 participants in their story times.
In addition, pleasure reading, research for school projects. California missions (4th grade), science fiction (one 7th grade teacher exposed kids to this), animals, birds, folk tales, poetry. Programing—kids poetry in April for Poetry Month, “A Poem in Your Pocket”, local authors as guest speakers for presentations on styles of poetry (ie. “Haikus with Heidi).
Any standout features of the children’s collection?
Nature, hiking, mountains. Programs are supported by collection: “1000 Books Before Kindergarten”, In and Out burgers program providing books, Friends of Library give books out for free. Have access to every book in the collection. Wordless picture books.
How would they describe the children’s collection in relation to local demographics?
Have larger LGBTQ population in Idyllwild—children’s collection features LGBTQ characters. Cathedral City has larger LGBTQ population and folks have come in to Idyllwild library wanting to see books on that topic. Teens self-identifying asking for books on LGBTQ. Strong Native American collections—Ramona Band Kawea in Anza—branch library in Anza—director collaborates with Idyllwild librarian and vice versa (esp. regarding collection development.) Library has been careful to include what books that exist on local tribes, including one written by local(ish) tribe author Jackie Neypes of Washoe Tribe (of Anza, CA). Member of Washoe Tribe, but story is based in Lake Tahoe, CA.
In addition, outdoor fresh air story times at Nature Center. Developing on nature themes: wild flowers here in San Jacinto mountains, hiking (sign language + nature walk, plus theme related craft), coordinates with Nature Center themes (wild flowers, baby squirrels, pine trees). Theme related story times—virtual now. STEAM programs plus story times on Youtube and FB page. 12 to 15 people attending online. (each one representing entire family.) California education/literacy standards incorporated in story time: social emotional, math, listening skills, word recognition, motor development.
Other comments?
Saving grace is Friends of Library. Super active, very generous—about $500 a month. Do a lot of individual requests based on demand out of that money. At least 10 book clubs that depend on library.
Lena start program—babies literacy. 0-3 + parents learning lessons, activities, create conversational turns with children—they give out classic board books. Partnership with Riverside Co. Social services and LS and S.
Significant amount of people request books—4 to 6 crates with each Monday/Thursday delivery.
Do have 3 literacy vans (that can provide some circulation services)—goal is to bring literacy programs to communities more directly—just starting.
Active in a lot of things enabled by RCSL system. Moved to this building because of RCLS and community support.
Three and Some Trees 