The two newest additions to the Library have been open for more than a year. Kenton Library celebrated its anniversary in March, and Troutdale in July.
Pioneers in Customer Service Model
Both branches were pioneers in a new customer service model. Staff members aren’t trapped behind desks; they often roam the library (iPads in hand for quick answers to reference questions), proactively greeting patrons as they arrive and offering a high level of personalized customer service. Kenton Administrator David Miles says that the community has responded well; they serve around 550 people per day.
Both branches are also at the front lines for the very popular Lucky Day collection. Kenton and Troutdale receive the newest Lucky Day materials (the collections at other branches consist of items that have been returned to that branch).
Troutdale Administrator Bryan Fearn has noted that a few people have learned the delivery schedule and make their appearances every other Monday to see what’s new. Troutdale averages about 400 people per day, and more when an exciting program occurs. In fact, Troutdale has set a bit of a record for the number of programs they offer, more than any other branch except Central. Besides the ever-popular storytimes, some great family programs have included Día de los Niños y Día de los Libros, a Spanish celebration of children and libraries, and Truck Town Party, which took advantage of Troutdale’s extensive parking lot to showcase big working trucks to 500 children and parents. Adult programs include citizenship classes, Pageturners reading groups, and computer classes.
Will Continue to Listen to the Community
Looking toward the future, both Miles and Fearn say that they want to continue to listen to the community and provide excellent service to customers. Fearn adds that he wants staff to stay cutting edge with their technology skills and knowledge of library resources. Miles and Fearn also talked about assisting patrons whose primary language isn’t English. Both Kenton and Troutdale serve neighborhoods with large Spanish populations, and Fearn said that, ideally, he would like to add a Russian speaking staff member.
Visit Our Newest Branches
If you haven’t visited our newest branches yet, this autumn is the time to do so! Both are continuing their normal round of popular programs, but there are also some unique workshops coming up. Kenton is partnering with Multnomah County to host a Naturescaping workshop on November 13th where folks can learn to create habitats with native plants that utilize stormwater runoff and reduce water usage. Troutdale is looking forward to some food-centric programs on November 9th and 16th with Jean Johnson, historian and author of Cooking Beyond Measure: How to Eat Well Without Formal Recipes.
