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To provide library service to users of all ages has been one of the primary missions of county libraries since 1908 when the first branch of the first county library system was born in Sacramento as a proud milestone in the history of California public library. It has been a constant challenge to local governments and library staff members alike, especially when there are economic downturns or many priority programs to balance with. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

The paper introduces an innovative methodology in collection development to promote the concept that library collections, traditional or digital, can serve users of all ages as long as they can be adaptable to meet the changing needs of users, and compatible with changing information technologies.

By examining the process of an audio collection integrated as part of library collections and deeply rooted in users’ lives, the author reports the findings in the following areas: developing a robust audio collection catering to all users at Santa Cruz Public Libraries, despite technological changes and limited budget; getting involved in the whole organization’s programs and projects by collaborations; offering innovative promotion approaches; providing comprehensive subject coverage and always keeping the local community in mind; and evolving constantly to make technologies your friends, not foes.

The paper analyzes a successful collection development experience in audio collections to strive to realize the original county library’s ideal to serve users of all ages in California.

The successful collection development experience is useful not only for acquisition librarians, but a much broader audience such as library managers in charge of library material budgets.

The findings point out a number of social implications confronting library professionals worldwide. They include conflicts between users’ real needs vs our assumptions, limited budget vs expanding coverage, and library services vs the nature of technology.

The paper helps library professionals to develop, maintain, and succeed in their short- and long-term goals in collection development.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the significance of 23 Things @SCPL, a learning Library 2.0 program based on Web 2.0, running from September 2007 to January 2008 at Santa Cruz Public Libraries.

The paper introduces a new methodology in promoting the concept that learning could not only be self‐directed and collaborative, but also fun and rewarding.

By studying indepth the program's implementation process, the two authors report their findings in the following areas: organizing the first project in the history of Santa Cruz Public Libraries, to involve the whole organization in the learning process about the digital realm; helping staff members overcome typical learners' stress and blocks, by offering an innovative teaching approach; key to success I: comprehensive curriculum; key to success II: strong leadership; and impact on library services and beyond.

The paper analyzes a successful implementation of the “lighten‐up” approach for program management. For this purpose, it adopts a user‐friendly and easy approach, so as to reach a broader audience.

The paper helps project managers to organize, develop and succeed in their new projects.

The purpose of this paper is to study the implementation of Staff Picks, a new measurement to evaluate the annual performance of professionals at the Santa Cruz Public Libraries (SCPL).

The paper discusses the reasons why the number of public librarians' publications is far less than that of their academic counterparts in professional literature. To reverse such a trend, SCPL requires its librarians to write and publish three book reviews per year, as part of their annual performance appraisal.

As one of the contributors to the program, the author has not only participated in the process, but also has conducted a series of investigations into the unprecedented success of Staff Picks. The paper provides answers to a series of questions: Why can it shine and attract so many writers and readers? How can it grow so steadily and successfully? What are the driving forces behind all of these phenomena?

The paper helps public librarians to be more active in contributing to professional publications by practicing and publishing locally, and eventually nationally and internationally.

Staff Picks is innovative in the historical sense that, for once, public librarians are required to write and publish. Their practical research work has benefited not only their own promotions and appraisals, but more importantly, the lives of the public.