Project # 2

Project 2: Proposal to create Reference Library

The library that I would be interested in proposing would be one that was focused on the promotion, study, and education of creative writing in all of its forms.

Los Angeles has a very distinct literary history, and this history, combined with its diverse mix of cultures, helps create an ideal environment for the exploration – and celebration – of literary styles that are as diverse as the city itself.

A library that can serve as a writer’s workshop, an educational institution for the overall community, and a place where writers can do thoughtful research and exchange ideas with fellow writers would be an invaluable addition to Los Angeles’ already flourishing arts scene.

Demographics:

  The Library will be located in Los Angeles. Los Angeles is known for being one of the most diverse and culturally rich cities of anywhere in the world. Here are some basic demographic and social characteristics:

-       Population: 3,792,000

-       Education:

-       High school: 492,000

-       Some college: 428,000

-       Associate’s degree: 146,000

-       Bachelor’s degree: 491,000

-       Graduate degree or higher: 250,000

-       Place of Birth:

-       Born in U.S.: 2,277,000

-       Foreign born: 1,500,000

-       Language:

-       English only: 1,415,000

-       Spanish: 1,515,000

-       Asian & Pacific Islander: 302,000

-       Other: 47,000

-        Ethnicity (%):

-       White: 49.8

-       Black: 9.6

-       Asian: 11.3

-       Hispanic/Latino: 48.5

-       White, non-Hispanic: 28.7

U.S. Census Bureau – Selected Social Characteristics – Los Angeles

http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk

U.S. Census Bureau – Quick Facts – Los Angeles

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0644000.html

Other Libraries in the city:

  There are several notable libraries in Los Angeles and the greater Los Angeles area, such as the Huntington Library, the Santa Monica Public Library, the research library at the Getty Museum, and the Powell Library at UCLA, but because of the numerous branches that cover a large geographical area, the County of Los Angeles Public Library (http://www.colapublib.org/index.html) with over 80 locations, and the Los Angeles Public Library (http://www.lapl.org/index.php) with over 60 locations, together serve the greatest number of people in Los Angeles/greater Los Angeles area in terms of basic library services. Both libraries offer a number of events and programs.

  For example, the County of Los Angeles Public Library everything from story times and arts and crafts clubs (such as soap making), to SAT/ACT and nutrition workshops. The Los Angeles Public Library offers adult literacy and English proficiency programs, teen reading clubs and homework/tutoring help, its [ALOUD] lecture series, and exhibits ranging from subjects from historical maps of Los Angeles to the Mexican Revolution.

See article “The Best Libraries in Los Angeles”:

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/03/26/best-libraries-in-los-angeles/

Reference philosophy for our library:

  The Library would strive to offer guidance, direction, and one-on-one service to patrons. Some ways to encourage that patrons ask for assistance would be the following:

-       Have more than one librarian at peak hours covering the reference area so that patrons do not have to wait for help or ask a question.

-       The traditional “reference desk,” that is characterized by a large circular or rectangular desk and with the reference librarian sitting behind a computer and surrounded by books, papers, and often exuding a cluttered workspace, would be replaced by an open area, with only several computer screens, where patrons would not be symbolically “separated” from the librarian. The purpose of this type of set up would be to foster a more approachable reference experience. If a patron had a question, they would be invited to sit down next to the librarian, and where the librarian would show them, step-by-step, what tools or resources they were using on the computer in order to find information.

-       Services that the library would provide include creating writing workshops, author readings, and self-publishing, printmaking, and bookbinding courses and workshops.

Reference collection and reference databases:

  The reference collection would include many basic reference materials, such as dictionaries, thesauri, and general encyclopedias, but the emphasis would be on literature-related resources, such as short story, fiction, and poetry indexes, and encyclopedias on the history of literature and criticism.

  A diverse selection of academic and more general databases would be accessible to library patrons, and would include the Literature Resource Center, JSTOR Language and Literature Collection, Electronic Book Collection, Online Books Page, ERIC, ProQuest, and other literature-related and general information reference sources.

  The library’s website would offer access to the library catalog, real-time messaging with library staff, information on upcoming events, and video of past events.