Nov. 4, 2004

The Library of Michigan Foundation has awarded the 2004 State Librarian's Excellence Award to Portage District Library for exemplary public service.   This prestigious honor, which gives $5,000 in privately raised funds to one Michigan library annually, was presented Oct. 28 at the State Librarian's Luncheon during the Michigan Library Association annual conference at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Traverse City.

The Ann Arbor District Library and the Troy Public Library each received a Library of Michigan Foundation Citation of Excellence.

"Libraries exist to serve the needs and interests of the people in their communities.  It's our job and our passion to provide, for residents of all ages, equitable access to a world of information and resources," said State Librarian Christie Pearson Brandau.  "The three libraries we've selected this year as models of excellent customer service are guided by this credo every day, and we at the Library of Michigan and Library of Michigan Foundation are honored to call them colleagues."

"This award really belongs to the Portage community, the board, the staff, the patrons and all of the agencies with whom we work on so many collaborations," said Portage District Library Director Christine Berro.  "I'm grateful for the award and want to thank everyone who plays a part in making our library as wonderful as I think it is."

According to Berro, her library has undergone an "amazing evolution" into a first-class, high-tech, well-funded and progressive institution, successfully meeting and exceeding the expectations of its customers.  When customer service was challenged by space constraints, the library underwent a renovation and expansion project that tripled space and fully equipped the building to serve the needs of customers well into the future.  Berro said the library also pursued and achieved independent district library status, making it possible to grow and move in new, progressive directions beneficial to library customers. 

For business customers, Berro said the library developed a well-organized new "business information center" with readily available business, investment and career materials and online computer programs all in one place for convenient public use.  Library customer service has also been enhanced by a number of initiatives including the Emergent Literacy Program; the Online Summer Reading Program; the Voyager Program for "at risk" kids; teen room and teen collection enhancements; outreach to schools, daycare centers and the homebound; and a number of technological upgrades including the installation of a mobile computer lab for public computer classes, a new library automation system and upgraded online catalog, new public access computers, and installation of wireless technology for future growth.

Criteria for the State Librarian's Excellence Award - made possible this year through a grant from the Hantz Group - include:  demonstrating that the library provides new, innovative and superior services to its customers in a cost-effective manner, with a can-do attitude and by always delivering promises; demonstrating the library's commitment to high standards of customer service through staff dealings with customers and synergy within the staff through a coordinated approach to supporting customers; and demonstrating that the library is a team player through its collaborations in the community.

This year's selection committee included State Librarian Christie Pearson Brandau; Roger Mendel of the Mideastern Michigan Library Cooperative; Tim Richards of the University of Michigan - Dearborn; and Glen Bachelder, Tom Genson and Fran Pletz, all members of the Library of Michigan Foundation board. 

Hantz Group, Inc., based in Southfield, Mich., is a full-service financial holding company founded in January 1998.  For more information, visit www.hantzgroup.com.

The Library of Michigan Foundation was established in 1985 to secure funds for the Library of Michigan in order to strengthen and support the relevancy, availability and accessibility of its resources and services to all Michigan residents.  For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/lmfoundation.

The Library of Michigan - Michigan's official state library agency for more than 175 years - is part of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.  Dedicated to enriching the quality of life for Michigan residents by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity, the department also includes the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Michigan Film Office and the Michigan Historical Center.  To learn more, visit www.michigan.gov/hal.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.