Riverside County Library System

The Riverside County Library System (RCLS), located in Riverside County, California, United States, is a public library system composed of 35 libraries and two bookmobiles. The RCLS is a member of the Inland Library Network.[1] It is the first library system in the nation that turned over its entire operation to a private company.[2]

Not to be confused with Riverside Public Library.
Riverside County Library System
Established1911
LocationLibrary Management Offices
5840 Mission Blvd.
Riverside, California 92509, USA
951-369-3003
Fax 951-369-6801
Hours: M-F 8-5
Branches35, and 2 bookmobiles
Collection
Size1,550,173 books and periodicals
52,742 audio materials (CDs, audiobooks)
23,731 video items (DVDs and VHS tapes)
Access and use
Circulation3,464,547 items
42% are children's materials
3,170,424 visits/year
127,717 program attendance/year
Population served1,094,681
Other information
DirectorBarbara Howison (Director and County Librarian)
Staff214 (FTEs)
31 ALA-accredited librarians
Websitewww.rivlib.net
Map

Management

Prior to July 1997, the Riverside County public libraries were managed by the city of Riverside, California. When property tax money was diverted from libraries to schools in the early 1990s, the library system began to experience cut in hours, dwindling collections, and staff lay-offs. In July 1997, the County hired Library Systems and Services, Inc., located in Germantown, Maryland to operate its sprawling public library system. All library employees, except for the county librarian, janitorial service, and landscape maintenance, work for the private company.[3] LSSI divided the library system into three districts, increased hours within each district and added staff.[2] For its success, the RCLS Management Outsourcing Program became the 1998 National Council for Public-Private Partnerships Project Award Winner.[4]

Services
  • A Latino outreach program Leer Es Triunfar (Reading Is Succeeding), an outreach program for the library's Spanish language readers. The program earned the library a John Cotton Dana Award in 2005.[5]
  • RCLS operates several literacy services including Basic Adult Literacy, English as a Second Language, Family Literacy and, since 2002, a countywide early literacy program called Project Read with Me.
  • The Riverside County Library was chosen by the Association for Library Services to Children as the site of the 2010 Arbuthnot Lecture, featuring Kathleen T. Horning.
  • Riverside County Library Adult Literacy Program, coordinated through program offices in the Glen Avon, Indio, and Temecula libraries.
  • Bookletters, an online book review and author information service, includes a list of award-winning books, as well as a best-sellers list.
  • RCLS Live Homework Help, an online, log-in resource for students.
  • The Riverside County Library System was co-recipient of the Raul and Estella Mora Award for its annual promotion of Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros.
  • Print-on-demand. The library provides access to print on demand books via the Espresso Book Machine.[6]
  • In 2009, RCLS was invited by the California Council for the Humanities to be its sole public library partner in a California State Library funded project called "Making a Difference," to encourage programs providing opportunities for social engagement.
  • RFID. In June 2007, RCLS announced a county-wide migration to Radio-frequency identification.[7]

Retrospective

In November 2007, RCLS sponsored a retrospective exhibit of photographs portraying 125 years of Riverside County library history, "The Libraries of Riverside County: A Millennium of Service" in the lobby of the UC Riverside Science Library as well as traveling over 250 miles throughout the county. The exhibit was viewed by over 275,000 people during its year long exhibition. It commemorated public, private, academic, medical and tribal libraries in Riverside County.[8]

Members

Bookmobiles
  • Coachella Valley Bookmobile
  • West County Bookmobile

Libraries
  • Anza Valley Community Library
  • Cabazon Library
  • Calimesa Library
  • Canyon Lake Branch Library
  • Cathedral City Branch Library
  • Coachella Branch Library
  • Desert Hot Springs Branch Library
  • Eastvale Library
  • El Cerrito Library
  • Glen Avon Branch Library
  • Grace Mellman Community Library
  • Highgrove Branch Library
  • Home Gardens Library
  • Idyllwild Branch Library
  • Indio Library
  • La Quinta Branch Library
  • Lake Elsinore Library
  • Lake Tamarisk Library
  • Lakeside Branch Library
  • Mead Valley Library
  • Mecca-North Shore Branch Library
  • Norco Branch Library
  • Nuview Branch Library
  • Palm Desert Public Library
  • Paloma Valley Library
  • Perris Library
  • Robidoux Branch Library
  • Romoland Library
  • San Jacinto Branch Library
  • Sun City Branch Library
  • Temecula Public Library
  • Thousand Palms Library
  • Valle Vista Library
  • Wildomar Library
  • Woodcrest Community Library

References
  1. "Riverside County Library System". Your Electronic Library on the Web. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
  2. "One Year Later: Private Management in Riverside Co., CA". School Library Journal. 1998-07-01. Archived from the original on 2012-02-10. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
  3. Oder, Norman (2004-10-01). "More on LSSI". Library Journal. Archived from the original on 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
  4. "RIVERSIDE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM MANAGEMENT OUTSOURCING PROGRAM". ncppp.org. Archived from the original on 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
  5. "2005 John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Winners". John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Winners. EBSCOHost.
  6. "EBM Locations: List View". OnDemandBooks.com. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  7. "Riverside County Library System commits to expanded RFID and PC management" (PDF). EnvisionWare. 2007-06-15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-09-08. Retrieved 2008-06-15annually. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  8. "Exhibit Honors History of Riverside County Libraries". Office of Strategic Communications, University of California. 2007-11-09. Retrieved 2008-06-15.

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