2018 Nonprofit of the Quarter- Providence Public Library

2. How has this mission and vision changed since the Library’s founding?

As most organizations that have been around for more than 140 years will likely tell you, our mission and vision have evolved over time. For instance, while libraries have always been in the “personal education business,” today we are focused more specifically on particular areas, from early childhood education to workforce development initiatives for youth and adults that strive for high impact results.

3. What is one program or service that PPL offers to the community that you wish more people knew about?

I think it’s important that the community learn how PPL is making a tremendous impact on the lives of learners who come into the Library. Every day, we help young children gain important literacy skills through our reading and learning programs. We help adults get their high school diplomas, citizenship, and we help them gain multiple fundamental skill sets through ESOL instruction, technology training and more. They’re getting bullets on their resumes, and they’re getting jobs in the RI workforce community. We’re outfitting local teens with similar skill sets, and they’re not only gaining valuable workforce training, but they’re also getting credit towards their high school diplomas. This is only the tip of the vast iceberg of learning opportunities provided by PPL every day.

4. Tell us more about how PPL has gotten involved in workforce development and training.

We provide adults and teens with valuable workforce training skills every day. One of our best-known courses, the Rhode Coders, teaches adults and teens coding skills over a ten-week period. Once they’ve completed this introductory course, many learners are then able to progress to some of the more complex coding courses offered by the state through Real Jobs Rhode Island. One of our newer courses, Data Navigators, teaches learners how to use a complex online data visualization and analysis platform to present data in a format that tells a compelling story. We’ve had several local businesses request this course from us, and we are fully booked with students!

5. There are BIG changes on the horizon for PPL. Tell us about the upcoming renovation of the 1953 wing. Why is it important for Providence? For Rhode Island?

We are about to break ground on the state’s largest-ever library renovation project.  We’re calling the project THINK AGAIN and it is a once-in-a-generation undertaking. This renovation is inspired and motivated by our strategic plan (of the same name) launched in 2014, which calls for a re-imagination of the activities that happen within PPL.  Essentially, we want people to think “again” or differently about the Library and what a public library can be. More specifically, it’s an approach to education where we are inviting people to come into the Library to take part in transformational learning activities and diverse cultural programming. This renovation is about physically outfitting PPL to better host and facilitate these types of educational experiences.

When we’re finished, we believe the Library will be a true cultural center for the downtown Providence community, as well as a destination for all Rhode Islanders. Major changes include cutting a three-story atrium through all main levels of the Empire Street building — people will be able to walk through a newly renovated, completely transformed entrance. Upon coming in, you’ll see a grand staircase and will be able to immediately orient yourself and identify the space you need to go to. We’re installing glass everywhere — you will actually be able to see our many books, which have been hidden away for years! We’ll have a 3,000-sq. ft. Education Lab right on the ground floor, we will be doubling the size of our Children’s Library, and we will be adding a Teen Loft, just for our middle and high school users. And we’re enlarging the windows, lengthening the sills on the ground and second level, and replacing the glass blocks in the stacks with clear glazing. People will be able to see into the stacks from the highway and Library users inside the stacks will be able to see out! Another important improvement will be to our Special Collections, which will have a completely new, temperature controlled home. These invaluable treasures will be relocated to a space with an updated HVAC system and a dedicated, spacious reading room.

6. How can our community support PPL? The upcoming renovation?

This renovation project is bold and ambitious. We’re renovating 83,000 square feet of space to the tune of approximately $25 million dollars! Our campaign to support this initiative is called THINK AGAIN, and this campaign will be taking place over the next five years. We invite anyone who is curious about participating to connect with us on the campaign website or contact me at [email protected] or PPL Development Director, Erica Busillo Adams, at [email protected]. We would be happy to speak with you about all the ways you can support PPL!

7. Any upcoming events you would like to share with us?

We have a range of upcoming events, from our anticipated groundbreaking for our building renovation (in Sept.), to a current exhibition and Launch Party for our newly-opened AS220 Archives (Sept. 12), to our annual Savor the Story gala next May.  All this, in addition to myriad ongoing, free education and cultural programs for all ages. Check out our calendar at provlib.org!

8. Tell us about your leadership journey. Did you always aspire to be the Executive Director of a major urban library?

I actually worked for Providence Public Library from 1999-2001, before departing to live in New York City and start as a Young Adult Librarian Trainee at the New York Public Library. I worked my way up through the ranks once I completed my MLIS at Pratt Institute, and when I left I was the Associate Director for Public Programs and Lifelong Learning. In that position my department managed over 60,000 public programs in 91 libraries in the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island. It was then that I decided to spread my wings and look outside of the library world for education opportunities, possibly in a museum. What struck me about Providence Public Library during the interview process was that it is a unique mashup of a public library and a museum because of its vast special collections. I was also intrigued by the apparent willingness of the Board and the staff to embark on creating a new type of public library service — one that directly impacts the education of its constituents by not only passively providing materials for study, but by actively delivering educational programs, classes and courses. We began making these shifts in service delivery in early 2015, and I think we’ve accomplished quite a lot since then. Our renovation project will essentially outfit the building to better accommodate the innovative programs that are already occurring at PPL.

9. What is the best part about your job?

The best part of my job is working with the visionary, creative, talented, enthusiastic PPL staff and Board. Every day I am inspired by their ideas and dedication. They make every day at work an exciting one.

10. What does a typical workday look like? Do you have a daily routine or ritual that you swear by / that helps you stay focused?

Typically, every day I make a To Do list that keeps me focused on what needs to get done in the short or long term. I also take copious notes throughout my week from meetings or emails, and once I work my way through my To Do list, then I start going thru those checklists. I also have regular meetings once a week or biweekly with direct reports, so that I can stay informed of the work that they are doing. And, so that they have an opportunity to make sure that I am on task with what they need from me to accomplish what they need to accomplish. I have weekly meetings with my board chair as well.

In terms of staying focused, I like to take long walks — sometimes on the way to work from where I live on the East Side. I took extensive dancing classes in elementary school all the way through college, so I always say that I get my best ideas when I am in motion. A long walk is a great way for me to reflect and brainstorm.

11. Do you have a favorite quote or mantra that inspires you?

Not really. I love listening to music of all types which tends to be my biggest source of inspiration. Lately I’ve found the latest Janelle Monae album to be particularly empowering, but I also have a wide range of musical tastes ranging from pop music to free jazz. I enjoy the poetry of Jimmy Carter, the thought-provoking wisdom of the art of Yoko Ono, and the fearlessness of Madonna and Beyoncé. Not exactly a quote or mantra, but hopefully that gives you a sense of what inspires me from the art world.

I should also add that I’m inspired by the PPL staff every day. Their enthusiasm is highly infectious, and I can’t help but want to do my job better because of it.

12. Where can we go to learn more about PPL?

We welcome visitors to provlib.org. Call us at 401-455-8000. And stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram (@providencepubliclibrary) and Twitter (@provlib).