Salt Lake City Public Library, UT: Commit to the Community
RSS-- Library Journal, 02/18/2009
Salt Lake City Public Library (SLCPL) is honored to be considered a five-star American library! We feel our success is reflective of our commitment to the community's culture, environment, needs, and desires.
SLCPL is fortunate to live in a very supportive community. As a university town, our residents value lifelong learning and public libraries. They are enthusiastic in their support of the library and challenge us to stay on the cutting-edge of library services. We provide long open hours (384 hours per week across six branches), and the buildings are active from open to close. SLCPL offers many services not otherwise available in our community, services our city's residents rely on the library to provide.
SLCPL maintains a large, deep collection of materials, in a wide range of formats. We have collections that are unique to our state; a large, diverse music collection; a one-of-a-kind zine collection; and a robust graphic novel collection.
We have built and maintain six aesthetically-pleasing facilities. Our Main Library is a highly-praised piece of modern architecture that raised the bar for downtown architecture and is a model for libraries around the world. We provide many free, neutral spaces for public meetings and programming at all locations, and wireless Internet access is provided and well-used at all locations. Our Main Library is adjacent to Library Square, a large area used in three seasons for outdoor events, and is situated on the TRAX (light rail) line; the Library Square station is in the "free fare" zone.
SLCPL facilitates programs that are responsive to community needs and desires and that stimulate thought and discussion. Our programs for diverse communities (such as Eid Al Fitr, Diwali, and Chinese New Year celebrations) are well-attended. We foster mutually-beneficial community partnerships with non-profit, government, and retail partners. For example, an NPR-affiliated radio station broadcasts from Library Square; they are a strong promotional partner and simulcast many events that happen at the Main Library. Other community partners include the University of Utah, KUED (PBS television), Discovery Gateway (children's museum), Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, the SLC Film Center, TreeUtah, and many more.
SLCPL has a world-class staff that is committed to Intellectual Freedom and reflects the face of the community. Our staff is ethnically diverse and speaks many languages. And our internal culture promotes individuality, supports professional development, and fosters patron-focused customer service. SLCPL has a truly participative, collaborative, and transparent management structure where all ideas are welcomed and respected. We have a committed and knowledgeable Library Board of Directors and Friends of the Library Board.
We feel our success is due to the interaction of all these factors. A committed staff and Board of Directors, a quality collection and pleasing facilities, a supportive community and strong partnerships: all are vital elements to a succeeding as a community-focused organization.—Beth Elder, Director
