.
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
WE ARE HERE FOR OUR FIRST
MEETING.
I WILL DO A CALL TO ORDER.
THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING FOR
THE SELECT COMMITTEE AND THE
LIBRARY LEVY.
THE DAY IS MARCH 28 AND THE
TIME IS 2:02.
I AM COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ AND
MY CO-CHAIR FOR THE COMMITTEE
WILL BE COUNCIL MEMBER BAGSHAW,
AS WELL.
IT LOOKS LIKE MARCELLUS TURNER
úHAS HIS WHOLE OFFICE HERE AND
THEN SOME.
BEFORE I START WITH THE CHAIR'S
REPORT I WANT TO MAKE SOME
COMMENTS.
I MADE THE SAME COMMENTS THIS
MORNING WHEN I WAS OVER AT KING
COUNTY.
LAST NIGHT OUR CITY EXPERIENCED
A HORRIFIC AND SENSELESS
SHOOTING AND FIVE PEOPLE WERE
THE VICTIMS OF THAT.
OF THE FIVE, WE HAD TWO
FATALITIES AND THREE PEOPLE
WERE WOUNDED.
ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WOUNDED WAS
OUR METRO BUS DRIVER RICK STAR
AND HE TURNED OUT TO BE A HERO.
BEING WOUNDED HE TURNED THAT
BUS AROUND AND SAVED LIVES
WHILE HE WAS INJURED.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
GONZALEZ.
GLAD YOU ARE HERE.
I WANT TO THANK THE KING COUNTY
SHERIFF THAT WAS THERE.
MR. FONG WHO WAS THERE, THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE
DEPARTMENT, ALL THE METRO
FOLKS, THE KING COUNTY
EXECUTIVE WAS THERE, MAYOR
JENNY DURKIN, COUNCIL MEMBER
DONBOWSKI, THE LAKE CITY
COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE ALL MET AT THE LAKE CITY
COMMUNITY CENTER.
THERE WAS AN OUTPOURING OF
LOVE, COMPASSION AND CONCERN
FOR THOSE WE LOST YESTERDAY AND
THOSE THAT SURVIVED, SO I AM
HOPING AND I PRAY, AT LEAST
FOR TODAY A MAYBE A FEW MORE
DAYS THAT THIS CITY AND THIS
COUNTY CAN BE AS ONE, THAT WE
CAN BE UNIFIED.
I KNOW SOMETIMES WE GET INTO
THIS US AND THEM.
IF YOU ARE NOT WITH US YOU ARE
AGAINST US AND I AM ASKING AT
THIS TIME THAT WE CAN REALLY
THINK ABOUT OUR COUNTRY, OUR
STATE, OUR COUNTY, OUR CITY
AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME AND WE
ARE BETTER THAN THAT.
SO, I AM ASKING AT THIS TIME
IF YOU CAN DO -- AND I KNOW
PEOPLE HAVE HEARD THIS BEFORE
ABOUT THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS,
BUT WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN THE
HEALING.
AS WE SAY, WE WANT THAT GOOD
MEDICINE TO START, SO I WANT
TO SHARE THOSE WORDS WITH YOU
FIRST, SO THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER
GONZALEZ FOR BEING HERE.
I WILL START WITH THE CHAIR'S
REPORT.
THIS IS THE FIRST OF A SERIES
OF MEETINGS TO GATHER
INFORMATION, ASSESS AND
DELIBERATE ON THE 2019 PROPOSED
LIBRARY LEVY.
OUR CENTRAL STAFF PERSON IS
ASHA VENCUTRAMIN, WHO PROVIDED
EXTENSIVE INFORMATION TO EACH
COUNCIL MEMBER, INCLUDING THE
LIBRARY LEVY, ITS HISTORY,
INCLUDING THE CURRENT'S STATE
PER DISTRICT AND THE FISCAL
IMPACT FOR THE CITY ALONG WITH
OUR POLICY ADVISOR FROM OUR
OFFICE.
THANK YOU YOU TWO.
OUR OFFICES, OUR COLLEAGUES
HAVE ACCESS TO THESE MATERIALS
ORGANIZED BY A TABLE OF
CONTENTS FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TWO ITEMS
IN YOUR PHYSICAL ELECTRONIC
NOTEBOOK.
ON TAB 3 THERE IS A CENTRAL
STAFF MEMO THAT LISTS THE
SCHEDULE FOR THE COMMITTEE TO
CONSIDER THE LEGISLATION TO
MEET THE KING COUNTY DEADLINE
TO PUT THE LEVY ON THE AUGUST 6
BALLOT.
IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES WITH
THE FUTURE ATTENDANCE, PLEASE
LET ME KNOW AHEAD OF TIME.
IN 2012 SEATTLE VOTERS APPROVED
ACCESS TO CRITICAL -- IMPROVED
TO CRITICAL EDUCATIONAL AND
LITERACY RESOURCES TO EVERY
RESIDENT BY PASSING A SEVEN
YEAR $120 MILLION LIBRARY
LEVY.
THE FUNDS WILL END BY THE END
OF 2019 AND INCLUDED A RENEWAL
OF THE PREVIOUS LEVIES.
THE NEW 2019 PROPOSAL IS A
SEVEN YEAR LEVY DURING THE
YEARS 2020 TO 2026.
THIS PROPOSAL ALLOWS FOR THE
SUCCESSFUL SERVICES, PROGRAMS
AND AMENITIES PROVIDED BY THE
SALE OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND
THE 2012 LEVY LIKE THE
2012 LEVY, FOCUSES ON THE SAME
FOUR COMPONENTS.
MY UNDERSTANDING THE LIBRARY
HAS BEEN ASSESSING AND
MEASURING THE COMPONENTS IN THE
LAST SEVEN YEARS.
THE FOUR COMPONENTS CONTINUE,
OR ARE OPEN HOUR AND ACCESS,
COLLECTIONS, MEANING PHYSICAL
AND DIGITAL MATERIALS,
TECHNOLOGY AND ONLINE SERVICES
AND MAINTENANCE.
AS I SAID, I WILL BE CHAIRING
THE COMMITTEE AND THE LIBRARY
LEVY WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER
BAGSHAW SERVING AS VICE CHAIR.
TODAY WE WILL HEAR FROM THE
CHIEF LIBRARIAN AND THE TEAM ON
THE 2019 PROPOSED LIBRARY LEVY,
FOLLOWED BY A Q&A FROM COUNCIL
MEMBERS AS NEEDED.
BUT BEFORE WE GO THERE WE WILL
GO AHEAD WITH PUBLIC COMMENT
AND SO, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE
HAVE SIGNED UP?
>> THREE.
>> WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE SIGNED
UP.
WE WILL CALL OUT YOUR NAME AND
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO PLEASE
ADDRESS THE ITEMS THAT APPEAR
ON THE VEND.
AND TODAY'S AGENDA ITEM IS
ABOUT THE 2019 LIBRARY LEVY,
SO WITH THAT LET'S START WITH
PUBLIC COMMENT
>> THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL IS
DAVID HAINES.
>> YOU ALL NEED BETTER
LEADERSHIP AT THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES AND THE CHIEF
LIBRARIAN SHOULD BE REPLACED,
SPECIFICSLY FOR NEVER OPENING
THE TAX PAYER FINANCED PUBLIC
LIBRARIES FOR 21st TIMES.
TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
HAVE BEEN SQUANDERED, NEVER
OPENING LIBRARIES ON FRIDAYS IN
THE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS AFTER
GETTING $16 MILLION EXTRA OPEN
LIBRARIES YEARS AGO.
WHEN CONFRONTED MARCELLUS
TURNER SAID HE THOUGHT THE
COMMUNITY ONLY WANTED SUNDAYS
OPEN, NOT THE FRIDAYS FOR THE
SPECIFIC LIBRARIES.
HE ONLY OPENED THE LIBRARIES
ON SUNDAY FOR FOUR HOURS IN
CERTAIN LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND
THEY CLOSED LIKE FOUR HOURS
LATER.
NOW, HE SOMETIMES PROMOTES A
LOT OF RACISM AND SOME
PERVERSION.
IN FACT, TWO MANAGER, DAVID
VALENCIO AND MARCELLUS TURNER
PROTECT PORNO VIEWERS THAT RUIN
THE COMPUTERS.
IF YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT A PORNO
VIEWER THEY WILL KICK YOU OUT
FOR BOTHERING OTHERS ABOUT IT
EVEN IF THEY ASK FOR A SECURITY
GUARD.
SHE SHOULD BE REPLACED AND A
CHIEF INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE
HELD WHY THEY CLOSE LIBRARIES
WHEN HE FEEL LIKES HAVING A
MEETING WITH STAFF AND WHY THEY
NEVER OPEN LINES BEFORE 1:00
P.M.
AND WHY IT IS SO NOISY AND
TAKING CREDITS FOR THEM AS IF
THEY USE MONEY FOR THE
SERVICES.
CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN ALOOF YET
SUPPORTIVE OR THE LIBRARY'S
CHIEF LIBRARIAN WHO NEVER
OPENED THE LIBRARIES BEFORE
1:00 P.M.
AND CLOSING FOUR HOURS LATER.
WE SHOULD HAVE LIBRARIES OPEN
FOR A MINIMUM OF EIGHT HOURS ON
SUNDAYS AND THAT IS
SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THE
LIBRARIES ARE GETTING DOUBLE
TIME FOR WORKING FOUR OURS
HOURS OF THE LIBRARY BEING OPEN
ON THOSE DAYS.
SELF PROMOTING AND REBRANDING
THE POLITICAL AGENDAS THAT GET
IN THE WAY OF THE LOCALS
GETTING ACCESS TO THE LIBRARIES
FOR 21st CENTURY TIMES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
JONNA WARD
>> I AM JONNA WARD AND I RUN
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
FOUNDATION.
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
FOUNDATION EXISTS TO INSURE THE
LONG TERM VITALITY OF THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND WE
KNOW IN THE GREAT RECESSION
THAT OUR LIBRARY SUFFERED
IMMENSELY IN THE LEVY THAT
PASSED IN 2012 BROUGHT BACK SO
MUCH THAT OUR LIBRARY AND OUR
CITY NEEDED AND DESERVED.
I HAVE A UNIQUE VANTAGE POINT
TO SEE THE WORK OF THE LIBRARY
EVERYDAY.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT I BELIEVE
SPL AND THE WORK THAT THE
LIBRARY IS DOING TODAY IS
BETTER THAN IT EVER HAS BEEN.
WE ARE DOING SO MUCH FOR EVERY
COMMUNITY, PROVIDING SOCIAL
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EVERYONE AND
A PLACE TO BELONG.
BUT IT IS THE WORK THE LIBRARY
IS DOING OUTSIDE THE BRANCHES
YOU CANNOT SEE THAT IS HELPING
SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE ACCESS
BARRIERS.
SO AS YOU LOOK AT THE WORK THAT
IS COMING, YOU HAVE A BIG JOB
AHEAD OF YOU.
THERE IS SO MUCH GOOD IN THIS
AND THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING
OUR INVESTMENT AND KEEPING THIS
LIBRARY AS STRONG AS THIS
COMMUNITY DESERVES.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU.
AND THEN OUR LAST INDIVIDUAL IS
ANN SISNEY
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS ANN SISNEY AND I AM
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE'S LIBRARY
UNION.
I AM HERE ON MY TIME TO THANK
THE MAYOR FOR PUTTING THE LEVY
GARD AND URGING THE CITY
COUNCIL TO PLACE IT ON THE
BALLOT.
PRIOR TO THE GREAT RECESSION
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS
AN EFFICIENT ORGANIZATION DOING
GOOD WORK.
FOLLOWING THE LAYOFFS AND
BUDGET CUTS OF THAT ERA IT
BECAME AN EXTREMELY LEAN ONE.
WHEN THE 2012 LEVY PASSED
LIBRARY EMPLOYEES WORKED WITH
FOCUS AND CREATIVITY TO MAKE
EVERY PENNY COUNT FOR THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE.
WE EXTENDED LEAN STAFFING
LEVELS ACROSS MORE OPEN HOURS
AND INCREASED PROGRAMMING
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
WE MAINTAINED AND EXPANDED
SERVICES TO EXISTING USERS
WHILE REACHING OUT TO NEW
POPULATIONS WHERE STRESSES AND
BARRIERS ARE HIGH AND WHERE WE
CAN PLAY A STRONG SUPPORTIVE
ROLE.
IN ALL CASES CENTERING THE
VOICES OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.
ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS, THE
LIBRARY TO BUSINESS, HAS EVEN
BECOME AN ENGINE FOR ECONOMIC
GROWTH, HELPING TO LAUNCH NEW
BUSINESSES IN SEATTLE AND
CREATE JOBS, NOT ONLY
GENERALLY, BUT SPECIFICALLY
FOR WOMEN LEADERS WITHIN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND FOR
PEOPLE WITH LIMITED ENGLISH
PROFICIENCY.
SEATTLE REMAINS A CITY UNDER
STRESS AND THE LIBRARY REMAINS
ON THE FRONT LINES, HELPING
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE LEARN,
GROW, ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS AND
CONTRIBUTE TO A STRONG AND
VIBRANT CITY.
ON BEHALF OF THE UNION, I ASK
YOUR SUPPORT IN PLACING THE
LEVIRY NULL ON THE BALLOT SO
THE EMPLOYEES OF THE LIBRARY,
OUR MEMBERS, CAN CONTINUE THIS
VITAL WORK.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WITH THAT I THINK WE WILL
CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
LET'S READ THE MATTER OF THE
RECORD AND WE WILL INVITE OUR
PRESENTERS TO COME UP.
>> THE 2019 PROPOSED LIBRARY
LEVY RENEWAL.
>> WHY DON'T WE START WITH
INSTRUCTIONS AND I HAVE A FEW
COMMENTS TO MAKE AND I WILL LET
YOU LAUNCH INTO YOUR
PRESENTATION
>> THE BEN NOBLE, CITY BUDGET
DIRECTOR.
>> MIKE FONG, MAYOR'S OFFICE,
JANUARY OSCHERWITZ, LIBRARY
ADMINISTRATOR, OFFICE COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF
>> BEFORE WE BEGIN I WANT TO DO
A LITTLE BIT OF -- BEFORE WE
START, A LITTLE HISTORICAL
CONTEXT HERE AND I DISCUSSED
THIS MAINLY FOR OUR VIEWING
PUBLIC AND PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND
WHY WE ARE MOVING FORWARD AND
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR CITY.
OUR LIBRARY WAS ESTABLISHED IN
I BELIEVE 1890 AND IN 1998 WE
DID HAVE A $196 MILLION BOND.
IN 2012 WE HAD $123 MILLION
LEVY AND NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT
A $213 MILLION LEVY.
SO, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT WHAT LIBRARIES FOR
ALL MEANS FOR OUR CITY.
AND WHAT I HAVE UNDERSTOOD AND
I WANT TO THANK ASHA FOR HER
GREAT RESEARCH, IN 1998 WHEN
WE DID THE LIBRARIES FOR ALL
BOND MEASURE THE TOTAL PROJECT
COST WAS $239 MILLION.
OF THAT $196 MILLION WAS OF
BOND FUNDS AND THE REMAINDER,
THE $43 MILLION, CAME FROM
PRIVATE DONATIONS, PUBLIC
FUNDS AND OTHER SOURCES.
BUT WHAT I FOUND INTERESTING IS
THE SEATTLE TIMES ARTICLE WHICH
IS ACTUALLY REALLY A QUITE
FRAPPINGLY REFRESHING ARTICLE.
WE DID THE $196 MILLION BOND
MEASURE WHICH PASSED BY 70% IN
1998, AND THEN THIS ARTICLE
CAME OUT AND IT ADDRESSED
PARTICULAR LIBRARIES, BEACON
HILL, BALLARD, CAPITAL HILL
AND SOUTH PARK.
WHEN THEY TALKED ABOUT
LIBRARIES FOR ALL, ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT I FOUND VERY
INTERESTING, AND I WANT TO
SHARE WITH PEOPLE, IS THAT
LIBRARIES FOR ALL BECAME THE
CATCH PHRASE FOR $196 MILLION
BOND MEASURE TO REBUILD
SEATTLE'S PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
IT WASN'T JUST TO KEEP MONIKER,
BUT MEANT TO DRIVE HOME A SENSE
OF OWNERSHIP THAT COMMUNITIES,
ALL COMMUNITIES, COULD TAKE
PART IN THEIR LIBRARIES.
DEBORAH JACOB, OUR CITY
LIBRARIAN AT THE TIME,
ATTENDED 100 COMMUNITY MEETINGS
IN THREE-AND-A-HALF MONTHS TO
START BUILDING THAT PUBLIC
SUPPORT.
QUOTE UNQUOTE WE ASKED PEOPLE
WHAT DO YOU WANT IN YOUR NEW
LIBRARY.
IN A CITY THAT DEBATES PUBLIC
WORKS PROJECTS TO OBLIVION AND
TENDS TO RESIST INVESTING
LAVISHLY IN ITSELF SEATTLE
RANKER PASSED WITH 70% OF THE
VOTE.
LIBRARY HOPPERS WILL SEE A
SYSTEM OF UNIQUELY TAILORED
HEAVILY USED BUILDING THATS
THAT HAS RETURNED THE LIBRARY
BRANCH TO ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE AS
THE BEDROCK OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT TALKS ABOUT UNEXPECTED
COMPLIMENTS AND SUCCESSES,
AND SYSTEM COMPLAINED THAT THE
HIGH USE MADE THE BRANCHES TOO
NOISY BUT LIBRARIES FOR ALL IS
CONSIDERED A ROUSING SUCCESS.
PAUL SHELL'S MAYOR FROM 19988
TO 2001 SAID LIBRARIES WERE
FULL WAS NOT BROUGHT DOWN BY
TYPICAL SEATTLE DIVISIVENESS
BECAUSE PEOPLE VIEWED LIBRARIES
AS AN INVESTMENT IN HEALTHY
COMMUNIIES.
IT GOES ON TO ADDRESS BEACON
HILL, BALLARD, CAPITOL HILL
AND ALSO TALKS ABOUT SOUTH
PARK.
THE DAYS OF THE SUN SHINING
LIBRARIAN ARE OVER HE SAID.
THERE ARE MUCH MORE INTERACTIVE
PLACES, AND THEY HAVE MORPHED
INTO NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE IT
SAYS AT A COMMUNITY MEETING IN
SOUTH PARK JOHNSON RECALLS
MEETING AN OLDER MAN WITH A
PERFECTLY TRIMMED MUSTACHE.
HE GENTLY TOOK HER HAND AND
SAID TO HER IN SPANISH, I WANT
YOU TO BUILD US A BEAUTIFUL
LIBRARY AND SO SHE DID.
THAT ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN
SEPTEMBER OF 2008.
SO, NOW WE WILL FAST FORWARD
TO MARCH OF 2019 WHERE WE ARE
EMBARKING ON AND HEAR FROM OUR
LIBRARIAN AND THEIR STAFF ABOUT
-- I THINK WHAT SPOKE TO ME
ABOUT THAT ARTICLE IS THAT
LIBRARIES FOR ALL WASN'T JUST A
CUTE MONIKER.
IT REALLY IS A STATEMENT ABOUT
WHO WE ARE AS A CITY.
THE INFORMATION YOU ARE GOING
TO GIVE US, HOW YOU MEASURE
THOSE GOALS, WHY YOU STUCK
WITH THOSE FOUR COMPONENTS AND
HOW WE ARE LOOKING TO THE
FUTURE.
AND WITH THAT, I AM GOING TURN
IT OVER TO THE LIBRARY FOLKS
AND LET THEM GO THROUGH THEIR
POWER POINT AND I BELIEVE YOU
HAVE A VIDEO FOR YOU.
>> WE DO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE WILL HAVE THE DEPUTY MAYOR
FONG KICK THIS OFF BUT BEFORE
IF I WANT TO READ INTO THE
RECORD THE SCREEN TITLE HAS
BEEN CHANGED.
THE NEW TITLE IS LIBRARY LEVY
PROPOSAL BETWEEN 19 LIBRARIES
FOR ALL LEVY RENEWAL.
THAT IS THE CORRECT TITLE.
WITH THAT WE WILL TURN IT OVER
TO DEPUTY MAYOR FONG.
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU
FOR HAVING US AT THE TABLE THIS
AFTERNOON.
I WANT TO FIRST START AND MY
COMMENTS WILL BE BRIEF,
BECAUSE I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
CHIEF LIBRARIAN TURNER AND
BOARD OF TRUSTEE JAY REICH TO
GO THROUGH THE DETAILS OF THE
PROPOSAL, BUT I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE THE INCREDIBLE WORK
THAT THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN TURNER
AND HIS STAFF HAVE DONE IN
TERMS OF THE LEAD UP TO THE
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND THE MAYOR DIRECTLY
WITH REGARD TOO CONSIDERATION
OF COMPONENTS FOR RENEWAL OF
THE LIBRARY LEVY.
I MEAN, FOR THE BETTER PART OF
A YEAR-PLUS, THE LIBRARY HAS
INITIATED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT
OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN
TERMS OF IDENTIFYING PRIORITIES
AND THE LATEST THINKING FROM
THEIR PATRONS AS FAR AS WHAT
COMMUNITY NEEDS AND INTERESTS
ARE.
AND THOSE BEING PAIRED WITH
THE LIBRARY'S OWN ASSESSMENT OF
THEIR PRIORITIES IN ORDER TO
INFORM THE ROBUST CONVERSATION
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING WITH THEM
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
FROM THE GET-GO THE MAYOR
IDENTIFIED A COUPLE OF SPECIFIC
PRIORITIES FOR US TO FOCUS ON,
ANCHOR AROUND AS WE DEVELOP
THIS PROPOSAL.
I AM GOING TO BRIEFLY TOUCH ON
THOSE FOR BOTH THE EXECUTIVE
AND COUNCIL TO KEEP IN MIND AS
WE GO THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE
PRESENTATION.
FIRST OF ALL, THE MAYOR WAS
VERY EXPLICIT WITH US AND I
THINK IT IS CONSISTENT WITH
WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE LIBRARY,
WITH US THE IMPORTANCE OF
MAINTAINING AND PRESERVING THE
BASIC CORE ELEMENTS OF THE
LIBRARY'S OPERATIONS.
AND THE MAYOR'S DEFINITION OF
THAT SCOPE IT INCLUDES TO THE
EXTENT THAT THIS INVOLVES THE
LIBRARY SYSTEM'S PHYSICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AS THEIR
ONGOING SAFETY NEEDS GOING
FORWARD.
YOU WILL HEAR FROM MARCELLUS
AND OTHERS SOME DISCUSSION
ABOUT THAT IN THE PROPOSAL.
SECOND IS ANCHORING AROUND
PURSUING ANY OPPORTUNITY
POSSIBLE THAT WOULD ADVANCE
EQUITY AND EXPANSION OF ACCESS
FOR PATRONS.
AND WE ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD
OF OUR ABILITY OF THIS LEVY TO
LOOK AT OPTIONS TO NOT ONLY
EXTENDED THE LIBRARY HOURS AND
NUMBER OF FACILITIES, BUT AT
THE SAME TIME ADVANCE WHAT WE
THINK IS A KEY EQUITY MEASURE
WITH REGARD TO LIBRARY FINES
AND, AGAIN, MARCELLUS WILL
SPEAK MORE TO THAT AS WE GET
INTO THE DETAILS.
THIRD IS THE EVER CHANGING
ENVIRONMENT BOTH
TECHNOLOGICALLY AS WELL AS THE
WAY OUR PATRONS AND RESIDENTS
INTERACT WITH THE LIBRARY.
THE MAYOR WANTED US TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW WE
WOULD BE STABILIZING EXPANDING
RESOURCES IN THE REALM OF
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY, E-
MATERIALS AND OTHER ONLINE
SERVICES AND THE PROPOSAL TOOK
A VERY EXTENDED LOOK IN TERMS
OF THE PATRON USAGE PATTERNS,
AS WELL AS THE COST OF
ELECTRONIC MATERIALS AND TRENDS
TO TRY TO RECALIBRATE THE
BUDGET NEEDS IN ORDER FOR US TO
MEET AN EVER EVOLVING APPROACH
FROM OUR PATRONS IN TERMS OF
HOW THEY ARE INTERACTING WITH
THE LIBRARY.
FINALLY THE MAYOR REENFORCED
ANY CONTEXT WHEN WE ARE GOING
TO VOTERS SEEKING PROPERTY TAX
LEVY RESOURCES TO KEEP IN MIND
THE POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAX
BURDEN FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
WE THINK WITH THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE AND THE LIBRARY AND THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES CAREFULLY
CALIBRATED THIS LEVY TO WHAT WE
FELT REPRESENTED THE CORE NEEDS
GOING FORWARD AND TO MAINTAIN
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM
AS ONE OF THE PREEMINENT
LIBRARY SYSTEMS NOT JUST IN THE
COUNTRY BUT IN THE WORLD.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN THIS OVER
TO THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN TURNER
UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
FOR ME?
>> A QUICK COMMENT.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
COUNCILMAN AND PRESIDENT BRUCE
HARRELL.
THANK YOU.
ONE COMMENT BECAUSE I KNOW WE
WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THIS,
COMMENTS MADE ABOUT THIS, IN
THE ACTUAL LEGISLATION PAGE 5
LINE 4 WE ADDRESS THE OVERDUE
FINES HAVE LITTLE IMPACT ON
RETURNING MATERIALS AND SUCH
FINES HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE
IMPACT ON LOW INCOME FAMILIES
AND COMMUNITIES WHICH
DISCOURAGES LIBRARY USE.
ALSO THAT WHEN YOU ELIMINATE
FINES THE STUDIES SHOW YOU HAVE
HIGHER USAGE AND THAT IS THE
PURPOSE OF HAVING A LIBRARY IS
THE BENEFIT OUTWEIGHS THE
BURDEN IN THAT YOU WANT THE
COMMUNITY TO USE THEIR
LIBRARIES.
AND FOLLOWING AFTER THAT, OF
COURSE, YOU GUYS ALSO
ADDRESSED THE RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE POLICY AND THE HISTORY
OF UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS
AND ALSO INCREASING USE AND
ACCESS FOR THOSE PARTICULAR
NEIGHBORHOODS, NOT ONLY IN THE
USE OF THE LIBRARY, BUT
COMPUTERS AND WiFi AND KUDOS TO
YOU, MARCELLUS, FOR DOING
THAT.
I WANTED TO POINT THAT PIECE
OUT IN THE LEGISLATIN WHICH
WILL COME UP, I AM SURE,
AGAIN.
WITH THAT I WILL LEAVE IT TO
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE QUITE A BIT
TO COVER, BUT I ALSO WANTED
TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND GIVE
PRESIDENT JAY REICH AND THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF
TO THE REGARD OF THE PROPOSED
LEVY.
>> THANK YOU, AND COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ AND COUNCIL
MEMBERS ON THE 2019 LIBRARY
PROPOSAL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY AND THE
OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO DISCUSS
WITH YOU THE PROPOSAL FOR THE
2019 LEVY.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES I ALSO WANT TO THANK
MAYOR DURKIN AND HER STAFF FOR
THE TREMENDOUS SUPPORT AND
LEADERSHIP INTO THE LEVY PANEL.
WHILE SUSTAINING CURRENT
PROPOSAL THE LIBRARY RENEWAL
ADDRESSES CRITICAL FUNDING
IDENTIFIED BY THE COMMUNITY
INCLUDING THE LIBRARY'S WORK IN
ADDRESSING EQUITY AND
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
AS YOU KNOW THE LIBRARY BOARD
IS A FIFE PERSON SISTER BOARD
OF TRUSTEES ESTABLISHED BY THE
CITY CHARTER.
APPOINTED BY THE MOWER,
CONFIRMED BY THE CITY AND ASSET
FORTH IN THE CHARTER WE HAVE A
FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY IN
OVERSIGHT OF THE LIBRARY'S
ASSETS AND OPERATIONS.
WHILE WE HAVE EXCLUSIVE
AUTHORITY TO MAKE LIBRARY
EXPENDITURES, WE ARE DEPENDENT
UPON THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY
COUNCIL AND MAYOR FOR THE
PROPERRATION OF FUNDS.
I KNOW I SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRE
BOARD WHEN I STRESS OUR STRONG
COMMITMENT TO THE CAREFUL
STEWARDSHIP OF TAX PAYER
DOLLARS.
THE BOARD IS COMMITTED TO
INSURING THE RESPONSIBLE USE OF
LEVY PROCEEDS TO SUPPORT THE
LIBRARY SERVICES THAT THE
PUBLIC USES AND VALUES.
THE ALL BOND MEASURE PASSED ON
TIME AND ON BUDGET.
THE LIBRARY DID NOT GO BACK TO
THE CITY OR TO VOTERS FOR MORE
MONEY.
AND AS WAS THE PRACTICE DURING
THE BUILDING PROGRAM, THE
LIBRARY PROVIDES REGULAR
UPDATES TO THE COUNCIL AND
PUBLIC ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
CURRENT 2012 LEVY AND WOULD
CONTINUE TO DO SO WITH THE LEVY
RENEWAL.
JUST LAST WEEK WE PRESENTED TO
THE CHAIR JUAREZ AND THE
COUNCIL ITS REPORT ON THE LAST
YEAR'S EXPENDITURE OF THE 2012
LEVY PROCEEDS.
ON OCTOBER 26, 2016, THE
LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
PASSED A RESOLUTION THAT
AUTHORIZED THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN
TO BEGIN THE INITIAL PLANNING
PROCESS IN PREPARATION FOR THE
LIBRARY LEVY RENEWAL PROPOSAL
IN 2019.
AS YOU MENTIONED THE CURRENT
LEVY IS SEVEN YEARS EXPIRES AT
THE END OF THIS YEAR.
IN APRIL OF 2018 THE LIBRARY
UNDERTOOK A PROGRAM AND
SERVICES ASSESSMENT SURVEY
AVAILABLE IN EIGHT LANGUAGES TO
HELP UNDERSTAND RESIDENTS'
PRIORITIES FOR THEIR LIBRARY
SYSTEM.
WEARY STEVEED MORE THAN 26,000
RESPONSES IN WHICH RESIDENTS
REAFFIRMED THAT THE LIBRARY
SHOULD CONTINUE FOCUSING ITS
INVESTMENTS ON THE FOUR
CRITICAL AREAS CONTAINED IN THE
2012 LEVY.
THOSE FOUR ARE: OPEN HOURS AND
ACCESS, COLLECTIONS,
TECHNOLOGY AND MAINTENANCE.
BASED ON THAT EXTENSIVE
COMMUNITY INPUT, THE LIBRARY
WORKED WITH MAYOR DURKIN SEATTL
COUNCIL APPROVE A $215 LEVY
RENEWAL IN COMMENCEMENT TO THE
--
THE PROPOSAL BEING PRESENTED
TODAY INCLUDES SEVERAL
FEATURES.
THE LARGEST, REALLY THE BULK
OF THE LEVY IS SUSTAINING OPEN
HOURS, COLLECTIONS TECHNOLOGY
AND MAINTENANCE FUNDED WITH THE
2012 LIBRARY UPDATE.
THIS IS THE BULK OF THE
PROPOSAL, APPROXIMATELY 79% OF
THE FUNDING IS A CONTINUATION
OF THE SUCCESSFUL FOUR AREAS OF
INVESTMENT FOR THE LAST SEVEN
YEARS.
IN ADDITION, IT PROVIDES FOR
5,000 ADDITIONAL OPEN HOURS PER
YEAR TO PROVIDE MORE ACCESS TO
LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
IT ALSO PROVIDES I-T UP
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED FOR
INTERNET ACCESS.
SOME OF OUR INTERNET STRUCTURE
IS BEYOND ITS USEFUL LIFE.
IT ALSO INCREASES ELECTRONIC OR
E-MATERIAL INVESTMENT, A
GROWING DEMAND BY THE PUBLIC
WHICH NOW REPRESENTS I BELIEVE
ABOUT 30% OF ALL THE BOOK
BORROWINGS ARE NOW ELECTRONIC,
WHICH ACCIDENTALLY, ARE
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE EXPENSIVE
THAN REGULAR BOOKS.
AND IT ALSO PROVIDES SOMETHING
VERY CRITICAL TO ME AND I THINK
YOU WILL APPRECIATE, TOO, IS
SEISMIC RETRO FITTING FOR OUR
THREE MOST VULNERABLE
LIBRARIES, ALL THE HISTORIC
CARNEGIE BUILDINGS TO MAKE SURE
THEY ARE SAFER IN THE EVENT OF
AN EARTHQUAKE, COMPOSED OF
UNREINFORCED MASONRY AT THIS
TIME.
IN ADDITION THE LEVY PROPOSED
TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO ACCESS BY
ELIMINATING OVERDUE FINES, A
PROPOSAL THAT FURTHERS THE
LIBRARY'S COMMITMENT TO RACE
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
THANK YOU MAYOR DURKIN,
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR
YOUR LIMP AND SUPPORT AND THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS
PROPOSAL TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
AND JUST A QUICK NOTE, MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT WAS IN
2016 THAT SDCI WENT OUT AND
LOOKED AT THE EARTHQUAKE AND
THOSE THREE LIBRARIES WERE THE
COLUMBIA, THE GREEN LAKE AND
THE UNIVERSITY, CORRECT?
>> YES.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU
>> THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU
ABOUT THE PROPOSED LEVY.
THANK YOU DEPUTY MAYOR FONG,
THANK YOU, JAY FOR YOUR
COMMENTS ON THE PROCESS AND THE
PROPOSAL THAT IS GOING FORWARD.
OUR THANKS ALSO TO MAYOR DURKIN
FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES ON THIS.
I WILL MOVE YOU THROUGH THIS
PROPOSAL THAT HAS BEEN A
CULMINATION OF EXTENSIVE PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT AND I AM HAPPY TO
TAKE QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY OR
AT THE END, HOWEVER YOU WISH
TO PROCEED.
AS NOTED, OUR MISSION IS
BRINGING PEOPLE INFORMATION AND
IDEAS TOGETHER TO ENRICH LIVES
AND BUILD COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT SINCE
THE 1890s AND THIS PROPOSAL
WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE DOING
SO.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO
VERY WELL IS LISTEN TO OUR
COMMUNITY.
IT IS ACTUALLY IN THE DNA OF
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND
WE HAVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
TEAM WHOSE JOB IS IT TO GO OUT
AND LISTEN TO OUR COMMUNITY AND
UNDERSTAND THEIR INTERESTS,
NEEDS AND THE VOICE THEY WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE PROJECTED AND HELP
US DELIVER THAT THROUGH OUR
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE
HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO GO OUT AND
SPEAK TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES
ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE ARE
DOING.
IN IN SPEAKING WITH THOSE
COMMUNITIES WE HAVE DONE THAT
IN A COUPLE OF WAYS.
ONE IS WITH A SURVEY WE
CONDUCTED IN 2012 THAT QUERIES
33,000 PEOPLE, 3,000-PLUS
SEATTLE RESIDENTS THAT TOLD US
WHAT THEY WANTED FROM THEIR
LIBRARIES.
THE THINGS THEY WANTED WERE THE
COMPONENTS OF THE 2012 LEVY,
MORE OPEN HOUR, MORE ROBUST
COLLECTIONS, UPDATED
TECHNOLOGY AND CLEAN AND SAFE
BUILDINGS.
IN 2018 WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
GO BACK OUT AND DO ANOTHER
SURVEY.
OUR LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES SURVEY.
WHAT WE FOUND WAS A RESPONSE OF
26,000 RESIDENTS IS THAT THEY
AFFIRMED THE FOUR AREAS THAT
THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
ASSISTANCE.
THEY WANTED A ROBUST COLLECTION
OF BOOKS AND MATERIALS, THEY
ALSO WANTED US TO PROVIDE
COMPUTERS AND INTERNET ACCESS
AND PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES TO HIGH NEEDS
COMMUNITIES.
I WILL SAY THAT IN THAT SURVEY
WE WERE ABLE DO SO BOTH IN
ONLINE AND PRINT FORMAT AND
ABLE TO DELIVER IT IN EIGHT
LANGUAGES, SO WE FELT VERY
GOOD ABOUT WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO
DO AND GAIN FROM THAT.
IN ADDITION WHAT WE ALSO REALLY
FOUND OUT IS HOW MUCH THE SEAT
FOLKS LOVE AND VALUE OUR
LIBRARIES.
THEY BELIEVE WE ARE A CENTRAL
SERVICE, THAT WE ARE WORTH THE
INVESTMENT.
I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE SPOKEN
ABOUT THE STATISTIC, NINE OUT
OF TEN SEATTLE RESIDENTS AGREE
THE LIBRARY IS A ESSENTIAL CITY
SERVICE.
WE WILL WORK ON THAT, ONE OUT
OF TEN EACH TIME WE GO ALONG,
WE ARE WORTH THE INVESTMENT AN
IMPROVEMENT TO THE QUALITY OF
LIFE AND CRITICAL EDUCATIONAL
RESOURCE.
WHAT IS ALSO IMPORTANT ABOUT
THAT, IN THE THAT IT SHOWS
ONLY THE VALUE OF IT BUT THAT
THEY ALSO LOVE IT WITH TWO OUT
OF THREE RESIDENTS SAYING THEY
USED THE LIBRARY WITHIN THE
LAST SIX MONTHS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO
SHOW YOU THROUGH A VIDEO IS HOW
WE IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES AND
WHAT THEY VALUE FOR US.
THIS IS A VIDEO THAT WAS
CREATED BY OUR MARKETING AND
ONLINE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO
TALK ABOUT HOW TECHNOLOGY WORKS
FOR OUR PATRONS AND RESIDENTS.
>> CHECK MY EMAIL IN SOME OF
THE DOCUMENTS I AM EXPECTING.
IF THEY COME THROUGH I WILL
PRINT THEM OFF.
>> I AM HERE TO DO JOBS.
>> I COME AT LEAST THREE TO
FOUR TIMES TO DO HOMEWORK EVERY
WEEK.
>> TO ENTERTAIN MY GRANDKIDS.
THEY ARE HERE WITH A WONDERFUL
FACILITY.
I LOVE ALL OUR LIBRARIES.
>> THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS THE
PEOPLE'S UNIVERSITY.
A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN COME AND
GET FREE INSTRUCTION, A PLACE
WHERE YOU CAN COME AND GET FREE
RESOURCES.
WE WANT TO BE THE PLACE WHERE
YOU CAN COME AND GET TECHNOLOGY
SKILLSETS.
>> BY FOCUSING ON EQUITY DURING
THE WEBSITE REDESIGN PROJECT,
WE ADDRESS LANG BARRIERS AND
TRY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF
PEOPLE HAVING INEQUITABLE
ACCESS EVEN TO TECHNOLOGY.
>> IT IS A MATTER OF HUMAN
BASIC RIGHTS TO HAVE AN ACCESS
OF WEBSITES FOR ALL PEOPLE.
I HAVE DONE A LITTLE ACCESS
ABILITY TEST AND CONSULTING
SERVICES TO THE LIBRARY.
I AM LOOKING IF THE WEB PAGE
IS ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WITH
VISION IMPAIRMENTS.
>> THE END RESULT WITH THE
WEBSITE IS THAT WE NOW HAVE A
WEBSITE THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO
EVERYBODY NO MATTER WHAT
LANGUAGE YOU SPEAK, NO MATTER
WHAT DEVICE YOU ARE USING.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T
REALIZE THE SCOPE WE HAVE IN
OUR ONLINE SERVICES.
YOU CAN LEARN A LANGUAGE
THROUGH OUR SERVICES.
YOU CAN LEARN TO PROGRAM A
COMPUTER.
WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF
INSTRUCTION ON COMPUTING, HOW
TO ACCESS PROGRAM, MUSIC,
FILMS, VIDEOS, TV SHOWS YOU
CAN DOWNLOAD AND WATCH ONLINE.
>> AT THE LIBRARY WE OFFICER
MANY FREE COMPUTER CLASSES AND
THEY VARY FROM DIGITAL LITERACY
CLASSES TO CREATIVITY CLASSES.
>> THIS IS MY PHONE.
IT IS A SMARTPHONE AND IT IS
SMARTER THAN I AM.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO USE IT.
THEY PUT ON A CLASS OF HOW TO
USE THE NEW TECHNOLOGY
>> WE SPECIALIZED IN
INFORMATION LITERACY.
NOT ONLY SHOWING FOLKS HOW TO
FIND INFORMATION, BUT HOW TO
EVALUATE THAT CONTENT.
THE SURVIVAL GUIDE IS A TWO
HOUR CLASS WE HAVE HERE AT THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY.
IT IS ESSENTIALLY JUST AN
OVERVIEW OF MISINFORMATION AND
DISINFORMATION AND HOW YOU CAN
EVALUATE BEST PRACTICES WITH
AGING AND ONLINE INFORMATION.
>> 101 TECH IS OFFERED WEEKLY
IN MOST LOCATIONS.
AT CENTRAL LIBRARY THEY OFFER
IT THREE TIME AS WEEK.
>> IT DOES A SCAN OF YOUR
COMPUTER TO MAKE SURE IT
DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING.
>> WE HOPE TO TROUBLESHOOT
BASIC TECH QUESTIONS WITH THE
COMPUTER AND PHONE, EMAIL AND
SOCIAL MEDIA.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I AM DOING
HERE IS TAKING TUTORING AT THE
LIBRARY.
THE TUTORING IS PREPARING ME
TO GO FURTHER IN MY GOALS WHICH
WILL BE TECHNOLOGY AND BACK TO
COLLEGE AGAIN.
>> THE LIBRARY OFFERS FREE
MICROSOFT CERTIFICATION EXAMS
AND CURRENTLY WE OFFER
MICROSOFT OFFICE SPECIALISTS
AND MICROSOFT EXAMS YOU CAN
TAKE FOR FREE AT THE LIBRARY
THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
WASHINGTON STATE LIBRARY.
YOU CAN SIGN UP AND HOPEFULLY
GET A BETTER JOB AS A RESULT OF
IT.
>> WE REALLY BELIEVE IN
NARROWING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY.
WE LIKE TO PROVIDE JOB
RESOURCES, ACCESS TO SOCIAL
SERVICES FROM LOCAL, STATE AND
FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS.
>> I AM USING THE HOUSING
RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE.
IF I DIDN'T HAVE INTERNET
ACCESS, I WOULD BE COMPLETELY
CLOSED UP FROM THE WORLD.
I COULD NOT TALK TO MY FRIENDS
AND FAMILY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
>> IT HELPS A LOT TO HAVE THAT
ACCESS AND NOT HAVE TO PAY
ANYTHING.
IT IS FREE, RIGHT?
>> WE UPGRADED THE NETWORK
INCLUDING THE WiFi, REPLACED
THE COMPUTERS IN IS SYSTEM,
UPGRADED THE SIZE OF THE
MONITOR, UPGRADED PRINTERS,
COPIERS AND SCANNERS, MEDIA
ROOMS EXPANDED ON WITH WIDE
SCREEN TVs.
>> WE HAVE FLEX TECH EQUIPMENT
WHERE PEOPLE CAN CHECK OUT THE
IPADS LAPTOPS AND USE THAT AT
THE LIBRARY
>> THERE IS NOT A LOWED OF
PLACES THAT HAVE THIS, YOUR
MIC AND YOUR MUSIC PROGRAM.
>> IT IS REALLY HUGE FOR THE
PATIENTS TO HAVE FREE ACCESS TO
THE EQUIPMENT.
IT IS VERY ENCOURAGING FOR THE
YOUTH IN OUR AREA.
A LOT OF PATIENTS HAVE BEEN
COMING HERE TO USE IT AS AN
INTERVIEW ROOM.
THERE IS A CAMERA THAT THE
PATIENTS ARE ABLE TO CHECK OUT.
THEY CAN CHECK IT OUT AT THE
FRONT DESK, THEY CAN BRING IT
IN, PUT IT AT THE TOP OF THE
SCREEN, PROBLEM THEMSELVES AND
SUE THE PERSON AND VICE VERSA
>> A THE LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
COME TO THE LIBRARY ARE
HOMELESS AND HAVE NOWHERE TO
GO.
IT REALLY HELPS THEM TO FILL
OUT JOB APPLICATIONS, SO IF
THE JOB CALLS THEY CAN HAVE
THEIR THINGS READY.
>> A LOT OF US TAKE FOR GRANTED
THAT WE CAN PICK UP OUR PHONE,
GO ONLINE, SEE WHAT NEWS IS
HAPPENING, CALL OUR FAMILY AND
EMAIL.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER NOT
EVERYBODY HAS THAT SAME ACCESS.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS WiFi HOT
SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE TO
CHECK OUT.
THEY ARE SMALL DEVICES THAT
CONNECT TO A WiFi SIGNAL.
YOU CAN TAKE THEM EITHER TO
YOUR HOME OR OUTSIDE THE
BUILDING AND IT WILL KEEP YOU
CONNECTED.
THROUGH OUR WiFi HOT SPOT
OUTREACH AND PROGRAMS WE HAVE
AT THE LIBRARY WE ARE ABLE TO
BUILD THEM UP AND GIVE THEM THE
SUPPORT SO THEY HAVE THE SAME
OPPORTUNITIES WE TAKE FOR
GRADUATED.
>> THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
IS DYNAMIC.
>> THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
IS A SAFE HAVEN FOR ME.
>> IT IS A VALUABLE ASSET THAT
THE PEOPLE NEED.
>> THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
IS MY FUTURE.
>> AS LONG AS THE LIBRARY IS
AROUND I WILL BE, TOO.
>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING US
SPACE TO SHARE THAT AND IT
RELATES TO THE LEVY TECHNOLOGY
WE WANT TO CONTINUE THROUGH
THIS EFFORT.
WITH THAT I WILL MOVE INTO
MAINTAINING THE CURRENT LEVY
INVESTMENTS.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT WE NEED
CONSISTENT AND SUSTAINABLE
FUNDING.
THE CURRENT LEVY REPRESENTS 25%
OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET AND
RENEWING THIS LEVY IS CRUCIAL
TO THAT.
TWO WEEKS AGO AS JAY MENTIONED
WE WERE HERE TALKING TO YOU
ABOUT THE 2018 LEVY REPORT AND
THE MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT
THE LEVY INVESTMENT PROVIDED.
A 2019 BASELINE LEVY RENEWAL
WOULD ALLOW THE LIBRARY TO
DELIVER THE 2019 SERVICE LEVEL
OVER THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS AND
THE COST OF A BASELINE RENEWAL
WOULD BE $167 MILLION WHEN
ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION.
THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LIKE
TO WALK YOU THROUGH HOW WE GOT
FROM $123 MILLION TO $167
MILLION.
FIRST OF ALL, AS YOU ARE
FAMILIAR WITH STATE LAW LIMITS,
PROPERTY TAX GROWTH TO 1% PER
YEAR AND INFLATION IS ALMOST
ALWAYS HIGHER THAN THAT.
WHEN THE LEVY IS UP FOR RENEWAL
WE NEED TO DO A RESET OF
REVENUES COLLECT ODD THE COST
OF SERVICES IN THE LAST YEAR OF
THE CURRENT LEVY.
IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE SAME
LEVEL OF SERVICE IN THE LAST
YEAR OF LEVY THAT WE PROVIDED
IN THE FIRST YEAR, WE
STRUCTURED SO MORE MONEY IS
COLLECTED IN THE BEGINNING FOR
USE AT THE END OF THE LEVY.
THE FAMILIES IN ADD LEVY WAS
STRUCTURED IN THE SAME WAY.
IN THE CASE OF THIS LEVY
RENEWAL BEFORE YOU TODAY IT
ADDS AND ADDRESSES EMERGING
YEARS SUCH AS FRIDAY HOUR,
ADDITIONAL HOUR, CUSTODIAL
SUPPORT AND ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENTS IN THE COLLECTION.
THE PROPOSED NEW LEVY
INVESTMENTS WILL -- I WILL MOVE
INTO THAT NOW -- AND WILL
ADDRESS THE CRITICAL NEEDS OVER
THE COURSE OF THE NEXT SEVEN
YEARS OF THE LEVY.
>> I AM SORRY, BEFORE YOU GO
TO THAT, I WANT THE TO HAVE A
BETTER UNDERSTANDING, AT LEAST
FOR ME, ON WHAT THE BASELINE
MEANS.
IF WE DID NOTHING BUT JUST
RENEW IT THE NUMBER WOULD BE
$167.
>> CORRECT.
>> BUT I DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND
THE COST OF -- JUST EXPLAIN IT
AGAIN.
IS THAT THE COST OF LIVING PER
YEAR?
YOU CONFUSED ME A LITTLE WHEN
WE FRONT LOADED AND COLLECTING
MORE MONEY, HOW THAT TIES INTO
THE NUMBER WE HAVE AT 167.
>> SURE.
I WILL DEFER TO CHRIS ON THAT
>> YES.
I AM PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE IN
THE ROOM CONFUSED ON THIS.
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.
THERE ARE TWO THINGS GOING ON.
ONE IS PURELY INFLATION.
SINCE WE PASSED THE LAST LEVY,
2% TO 4% YEAR COMPOUNDING PER
YEAR ADDS UP QUICKLY.
THE OTHER THING IS WE
STRUCTURED THE PREVIOUS LEVY SO
WE SPENT LESS OF THE MONEY IN
INITIAL YEARS AND MORE OF IT IN
THE LATER YEARS IN PART TO DEAL
WITH THE ISSUES OF INFLATION
BECAUSE THE REVENUES TO THE
LEVY WERE ESSENTIALLY FLAT AND
WE KNEW WE WOULD HAVE HIGHER
EXPENSES.
THE LEVY IS TIPPED UP IN TERMS
OF EXPENDITURES.
SO AS WE REACH THE END, IN
ORDER TO RENEW FOR THE NEXT
YEAR WE HAVE TO RENEW FOR AN
AMOUNT WELL ABOVE THE AMOUNT
FOR THE LEVY AND FUTURE
INFLATION BEYOND THAT.
IT IS A FUNCTION OF THE LEVY
HAVING BEEN STRUCTURED SO THERE
IS RELATIVELY MORE SPENDING IN
THE LATTER YEARS AND ALSO
ANTICIPATING INFLATION OVER THE
COMING SEVEN YEARS.
>> GOT YOU.
OKAY
>> LET ME ASK A QUICK FOLLOW-
UP.
IN 2012 WE USED GENERAL FUNDS
AND REAT FUNDS?
>> WE CONTINUE TO INVEST BOTH
GENERAL AND REAL ESTATE EXCISE
TAX FUNDS IN THE LIBRARY AND WE
WILL GOING FORWARD.
>> IS THERE A REASON YOU FRONT
LOAD THE MONEY?
>> YES.
THE LEVIES ON THE OPERATION
SIDE IS ESSENTIALLY SUPPORTING
THE SAME SET OFFENSE ACTIVITIES
OVER THE COURSE OF -- SET OF
ACTIVITIES OVER THE COURSE OF
THE SEVEN YEARS BUT THE ANNUAL
AMOUNTS ARE FIXED IN DOLLAR
TERMS, IN NOMINAL TERMS.
WHAT WE KNOW IS THE COST WILL
BE INCREASING OVER THE SEVEN
YEARS SO WE UNDER SPEND IN THE
FIRST HALF OF THE LEVY
ANTICIPATING WE WILL NEED TO
SPENT A LITTLE MORE IN THE
SECOND HALF OF THE LEVY.
SO THE CURRENT LEVY IS $13
MILLION.
YOU CAN DIVIDE BY SEVEN BUT IN
THE LATTER YEARS WE ARE NOT
SPENDING THAT AVERAGE AMOUNT.
WE ARE SPENDING MORE THAN THAT.
IN THE INITIAL YEARS WE SPENT
LESS.
AS WE RENEW WE HAVE TO TAKE ON
THE HIGHER COST THAT WE ARE
EXPERIENCING IN THE LATTER
YEARS OF THE PREVIOUS LEVY AND
WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD
RECOGNIZING THERE WILL BE
INFLATION OVER THE NEXT SEVEN
YEARS, AS WELL.
>> OKAY.
>> SO JUST A FEW FOLLOW-UPS
THEN.
LET ME SORT OF PREFACE MY
QUESTIONS WITH A LITTLE
INSTRUCTION.
AGAINS, I WANT TO THANK THE
MAYOR, THE FIVE TRUSTY, THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE
FOUNDATION FOR THE GREAT WORK
THEY HAVE DONE HISTORICALLY IN
PUTTING THIS PACKAGE TOGETHER.
I CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE TO EVEN
BE REMOTELY SOLD ON THE
BENEFITS OF THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.
ALL I AM TRYING TO FOCUS IN ON
IS THE IMPROVEMENTS FROM THE
BASELINE.
I MEAN, I LOVE THOSE VIDEOS
AND THE STORIES AND I KNOW THE
LIVES THAT ARE TOUCHED BY THE
BEAUTY OF THE LIBRARY, SO I AM
GOOD THERE.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THE
ADMINISTRATION COSTS GO UP WITH
THE OPTIMISTIC OF THE LEVY.
EVEN TO RENEW IT YOU ARE SAYING
IT IS 2.2, BUT THE
ADMINISTRATION EMPLOYEES
ADMINISTERING THE LEVY SO I AM
MISSING SOMETHING WHY IT
DOUBLES AND INCREASES WITH THE
IMPROVEMENTS?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THERE IS
WE WOULD HAVE SOME OF THE SAME
ISSUES THAT HAVE JUST BEEN
ADDRESSED, THE COST FOR
DELIVERING, THE ADMINISTRATION
WILL RISE FASHIONER THAN THE 1%
THE LEVY WILL GROW.
THAT IS ONE COMPONENT, BUT
THERE IS ALSO MONEY SET ASIDE
TO DO A STUDY OF THE LIBRARIES
OF THE FUTURE IN THERE, AS
WELL.
>> I SAW A STRATEGIC COMPONENT
OF THAT.
IT IS PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.
I SAW THE BREAKDOWN.
BUT I STILL WAS CONFUSED EVEN
ON THE BASELINE RENEWAL IT
MOVES FROM 1.4 TO 2.2.
IF WE JUST RENEWED IT WHY WOULD
THE ADMINISTRATION COSTS GO UP
SO SIGNIFICANTLY?
>> WELL, IT IS SNOW SMALL PART
THE SAME FACTORS WE ARE
DESCRIBING SO THAT THE
INFLATION -- WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT WAGES AND SALARIES AND
RELATED COSTS.
THAT IS A COMPONENT THAT IS
DRIVING COSTS AND THEN I WANT
TO DRILL IN BETTER THE
INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME.
>> IT SHOULDN'T DOUBLE THOUGH.
>> UNDERSTOOD.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU A FULL
ANSWER.
>> OKAY.
WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT.
>> ONE OTHER THING, WE ADDED
AN ADDITIONAL FINANCE PERSON AS
WE CONVERTED TO THE NEW
ACCOUNTING SYSTEM FOR THE CITY.
IT IS MORE COMPLICATED AND WE
HAD TO HAVE STAFF TO PREPARE
FOR THAT TRANSITION AS WELL AS
OPERATE IN A MORE COMPLEX
ACCOUNTING WORLD.
THERE IS ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL
HELP TO DO THE TRACKING IN THE
NEW SYSTEM.
>> I NEED YOUR REACTION, AND
THIS IS THE FIRST MEETING OF
MANY AS WE PREPARE OUR LEVY
PACKAGES.
WHEN I LOOK AT -- I THINK WE
ARE SMARTLY INCREASING OUR
MONEY IN TECHNOLOGIES AND
ONLINE SERVICES, WE ARE TRYING
TO GET MORE TECHNOLOGY ORIENTED
IN HOW WE ADMINISTER THESE
KINDS OF LEVIES, I WAS HOPEFUL
THAT MEANING THESE
ADMINISTRATION COSTS WOULD GO
UP.
I THINK WE HAVE TO BE SENSITIVE
OF WHAT WE ARE ASKING THE
PUBLIC TO PAY FOR.
WHEN YOU SEE ADMINISTRATION
COSTS GOING UP ON ASKS LIKE
THIS IT GET AS LITTLE HARDER TO
SELL.
>> AGREE ABOUT THE SENSITIVITY
AND, AGAIN, I THINK THAT
THERE IS GOOD REASON I WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE GIVE YOU A FULL
EXPLANATION FOR.
>> SURE.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU
>> AND WE WILL FOLLOW-UP ON
THAT AS WE GO ALONG.
SO, RIGHT HERE YOU HAVE A COST
ACCOUNTING OF THE SEVEN YEAR
LEVY.
AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE REST OF
MY PRESENTATION WE WILL BE ABLE
TO CIRCLE BACK TO THIS PAGE OR
THIS SCREEN SO YOU CAN SEE THE
ALLOCATIONS ATTRIBUTED TO THAT.
WHAT WE ARE WALKING THROUGH NOW
AS I SHARED WITH YOU, WE WERE
DOING THE BASELINE TO COVER THE
FOYER COMPONENTS THAT ARE PART
OF THE ORIGINAL 2012 LEVY.
WE WILL TALK NOW ABOUT SOME OF
THE ADDITIONS TO THE LEVY
PACKAGE BEING PROPOSED.
WE BELIEVE THE ADDITIONS COVER
TWO THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL THEY ADDRESS
CRITICAL OPERATIONAL NEEDS AND
LIFE SAFETY ISSUES AND MAKE OUR
LIBRARIES MORE EQUITABLE AND
ACCESSIBLE FOR SEATTLE
RESIDENTS.
WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE
ADDS TO THE PROJECT AS WE MOVE
ALONG.
THE FIRST IS WITH REGARD TO
OPEN HOURS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING,
WE RECOGNIZE FROM OUR CONTINUED
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
COMMUNITY IS THE NUMBER ONE
PRIORITY FROM THE SURVEY WAS
THAT WE HAVE MORE OPEN HOURS.
ADDING THESE HOURS WE WILL TALK
ABOUT IN A FEW MINUTES EQUATE
TO ABOUT 5,000 ADDITIONAL OPEN
HOURS ACROSS THE CITY, BUT
THEY ALSO HELP US APPROACH OUR
PREGREAT RECESSION LEVELS OF
OPEN HOURS.
WE ARE NOT EXACTLY THERE BY
DOING THIS BUT IT GETS US
CLOSER TO THAT.
WE ARE DOING SO THROUGH AN
EQUITY LAND THAT TAKES INTO
EDUCATION, ECONOMIC HEALTH,
HOUSING, ECONOMIC EQUALITY,
TRANSPORTATION, MOBILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT.
WE USE THE SAME COMPONENTS AS
THE KING COUNTY USES WITH ITS
OPPORTUNITY MAPS.
WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE NOT
JUST 5,000 MORE OPEN HOURS
ACROSS THE CITY, BUT 5,000
MORE HOURS OF ACCESS, ACCESS
TO THE SPACES FOR PATRONS TO
WORK, CONNECT AND ENGAGE.
ACCESS TO OUR STAFF AND
ASSISTANCE, ACCESS TO
MATERIALS AND COLLECTIONS AND
ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES WE HAVE
IN OUR LIBRARIES SUCH AS OUR
WiFi, COMPUTER, TABLETS,
PRINTERS AND COPIERS.
>> MADAME CHAIR, MAY I ASK A
QUESTION?
I WANTED TO DRAW A CONNECTION
HERE ON SORT OF THIS NEXT
SERIES OF SLIDES.
WE HAVE SLIDE 14 THROUGH 17
THAT REALLY SPEND AS LOT OF
TIME TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS
LEVY IS RESPONSE I HAVE TO
COMMUNITY DESIRES TO WANT TO
HAVE MORE ACCESS AND FOR LONGER
PERIODS OF TIME AT OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARIES.
BUT I WANT TO CONNECT THAT TO A
POINT OF INFORMATION THAT YOU
PROVIDED TO US ON SLIDE 6 WHICH
GAVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE
INSIGHT INTO WHAT SOME OF THE
COMMUNITY PRIORITIES WERE AS
IDENTIFIED AND ARTICULATED VIA
THE SURVEY OF MORE THAN 26,000
RESIDENTS AS PART AND PARCEL OF
THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
PROCESS FOR SHAPING AND
DEVELOPING THIS LEVY.
IN ONE OF THOSE THINGS IT TALKS
ABOUT HOW THE SEATTLE RESIDENTS
TOLD THE LIBRARY THAT THEY
WANTED MORE PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
HIGH NEEDS COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SO, CAN YOU SHARE WITH US A
LITTLE MORE ABOUT HOW THIS LEVY
IS RESPONSE I HAVE TO THAT --
RESPONSIVE TO THAT COMMUNITY
INTEREST?
>> SURE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO CLARIFY AT WHICH TIME
PROGRAM OF SERVICES, WHAT WE
OFFER THE PUBLIC, THE ACCESS
TO COLLECTIONS, THE ASSISTANCE
OUR STAF PROVIDE TO DO
ANYTHING.
ONE OF THE COMPONENTS THAT CAME
OUT OF THE SURVEY WAS THAT THEY
WANTED US TO MEET AND PROVIDE
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO THE
HIGH NEEDS COMMUNITIES.
WE DO THAT THROUGH STAFFING.
IN ORDER FOR US TO DO THAT WE
HAVE TO, TWO THINGS.
FIST OF ALL WE ARE STRADDLING A
RIVER WHERE WE HAVE ONE FOOT IN
THE LIBRARY AND ONE FOOT OUT IN
THE COMMUNITY.
IN ORDER FOR US TO SERVE BOTH
OF THEM WE HAVE TO HAVE THE
LIBRARIES OPEN AND THEN WE HAVE
TO HAVE STAFFING DO GO OUT IN
THE COMMUNITY.
WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE
STAFFING AND THAT STAFFING THEN
IS ABLE TO GO OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY AND HELP.
WE WOULD HAVE BOTH THE
LIBRARIES OPEN AS WELL AS GOING
OUT TO DELIVER PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES TO OUR HIGH NEEDS
COMMUNITIES.
AS WELL AS WHEN THEY ARE OPEN
MORE OF OUR HIGH NEEDS
COMMUNITIES CAN COME INTO THE
LIBRARIES DURING THE OPEN HOURS
AND USE THE SERVICES WE HAVE
AVAILABLE, THE COPIERS, THE
COMPUTERS, MORE ACCESS IN THE
CASE OF THE TECHNOLOGY VIDEO,
THE RESOURCES OF THE MEDIA LAB
ROOM.
THAT IS THE CONNECTION WE ARE
TRYING TO MAKE THERE.
>> HOW DOES THE LIBRARY IN THIS
LEVY OR THE PRIOR LEVY DEFINE
HIGH NEEDS COMMUNITIES.
>> WE DEFINE HIGH NEEDS
COMMUNITIES USING THE SAME
COMPONENTS THAT ARE USED FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY MAP.
EDUCATION LEVELS, ECONOMIC
HEALTH, HOUSING, NEIGHBORHOOD
QUALITY, TRANSPORTATION,
MOBILITY.
WE LOOK AT ALL THOSE THINGS.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE ARE
ABLE DO, WILL WE GO OUT INTO
OUR COMMUNITY WITH OUR
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAMS WE
CAN HEAR FIRSTHANDS FROM THE
COMMUNITIES THEMSELVES WITH THE
TYPES OF THINGS, SERVICES AND
PROGRAMS THEY WANT TO SEE.
IN SOME INSTANCES IT IS A
MATTER OF GIVING THEM A VOICE.
A LOT OF TIMES THEY HAVE NOT
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.
THEY NEED SPACES TO COME
TOGETHER AND -- MINGLE IS NOT
THE RIGHT WORD -- BUT CONNECT
WITH OTHERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
>> SOCIALIZE.
>> YES.
SOCIALIZE.
THANK YOU.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER WITH
THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THAT IS
THAT OPPORTUNITY THERE, AS
WELL.
>> THE REASON I HAVE A
PARTICULAR INTEREST IN THIS
SPACE IS BECAUSE EARLY ON WE
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION ABOUT SOME OF THE
OTHER INTERESTING WRAP AROUND
WORK I WOULD CALL THAT THE
LIBRARY PROVIDES TO FOLKS, TO
PATRONS.
AND WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION IN
THE CONTEXT OF THE PARKS
COMMITTEE WHICH INCLUDES THE
LIBRARY.
ONE OF THE THINGS I REMEMBER
YOU TALKING TO US ABOUT WERE A
LOT OF THE LITERACY PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES THAT THE LIBRARY
PROVIDES TO PATRONS.
AND A LOT OF THOSE PROGRAMS ARE
REALLY INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES
TO CREATE EARLY LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR LITTLEST
LERNERS, BUT ALSO CREATING
OPPORTUNITIES AND PATHWAYS FOR
PARENTS WHO ARE ALSO PATRONS,
TO BE ABLE TO SOCIALIZE AND
SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN PARENTING
EFFORTS AND IN JUST SOCIALIZING
THEIR OWN CHILDREN AND THEIR
OWN FAMILY TO THE VALUE OF
READING AND LEARNING.
I REMEMBER IN THE CONTEXT OF
THAT CONVERSATION -- THIS WAS
PROBABLY A YEAR OR A YEAR-AND-A-
HALF AGO, YOU DESCRIBED THAT
YOU ALL WERE DOING THAT WORK
WITH BASICALLY A SHOE STRING
BUDGET, BUT IT WAS ALSO ONE OF
THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT
PEOPLE SOUGHT, THAT FOLKS
SOUGHT REALLY AGGRESSIVELY SORT
OF, WANTING TO ACCESS THE
SERVICES.
I THINK AT THE TIME YOU
MENTIONED TO ME THE FOUNDATION
WAS PRIMARILY FUNDING THAT TYPE
OF PROGRAM AND SURFACE.
ARE WE THROUGH THIS LEVY
CREATING A OPPORTUNITY FOR
THERE TO BE A MORE CONSISTENT
REVENUE STREAM FOR THOSE TYPES
OF LITERACY PROGRAMS AT THE
LIBRARY?
AND IF NOT, WHY NOT?
>> SURE.
A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE, THE FIRST IS THE ANSWER
TO YOUR QUESTION, YES, ALL OF
THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES THAT WE OFFER TO
SERVE THE NEEDS OF OUR
COMMUNITIES, EITHER THE
PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS WHO HAVE
CHILDREN AND NEED THIS
OPPORTUNITY FOR THEIR CHILDREN
TO HAVE ADDITIONAL LEARNING
EXPERIENCES OF INFORMAL
LEARNING THAT DOESN'T COME
THROUGH THE SCHOOL PROGRAM, A
FORMALIZED HEAD START TYPE
PROGRAM.
WE DO OFFER THAT.
WE DO STORY TIMES AND WE DO
THAT THROUGH THE USE OF OUR
STAFF.
WITH THESE ADDITIONAL HOURS WE
ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT
OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE ARE ABLE
GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY MORE IN
SOME INSTANCES TO ENGAGE WITH
THE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS WHO
MAY NOT COME IN, GET TO THE
DAY CARES AND MOBILE SERVICES
OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL.
BUT WE ALSO LOOK AT THIS AS
OPPORTUNITY TOTS PARTNER WITH
OTHER INSTITUTIONS WHO HELP US
DELIVER SOME OF THESE SERVICES.
WE HAVE A VERY DIVERSE STAFF
THAT SPEAKS SEVERAL LANGUAGES
BUT A LOT OF THE TIMES SOME OF
THE LANGUAGES WE NEED TO HAVE
ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH
OUR COMMUNITIES WE DO NOT HAVE
THAT LANGUAGE CAPACITY ON OUR
STAFF SO WE PARTNER WITH OTHER
AGENCIES TO DELIVER ALL
LANGUAGE STORY TIMES FOR
PARENTS THAT HAVE KIDS THAT
SPEAK OTHER LANGUAGES.
WE LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITIES AT
PARTNERSHIPS.
AND WHEN THIS OPPORTUNITY
ALLOWS US WITH THE OPEN HOURS
TO BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR
THOSE PEOPLE THAT CONTINUE WANT
TO COME THROUGH THE DOORS OF
THE LIBRARY AND USE THE SPACE,
AND IT ALSO GIVES US AN
OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT MORE
CHANCES TO DO MORE PROGRAMMING
ALONG THAT LINE, AS WELL AS GO
OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND DO
THAT.
IN FACT, JUST THIS PAST
SATURDAY I WAS AT OUR COLUMBIA
LIBRARY AND WITNESSING OUR --
ATTENDING A STORY TIME AND HAD
AN OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN TO
SOME OF THE PARENTS WHO WERE
JUST THERE AND THEY WERE
TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY WERE
HEADED TO A DIFFERENT STORY
TIME IN A DIFFERENT
NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE OF COMING
IN ON A SATURDAY AND I FOUND
OUT IT IS AVAILABLE AT THIS
LOCATION ON A SATURDAY.
SO WE ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT THESE
OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN ADD
SOME OF THOSE HOURS FOR STORY
TIME AND WE WILL BE ABLE THE DO
THAT.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I AM ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
AN OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER
SUPPORT FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
AND THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN BOTH
IN THE CLASSROOM AND ALSO
OUTSIDE OF CLASSROOMS AND THIS
IS A PRIORITY THAT I THINK HAS
REALLY DEVELOPED IN MY MIND IN
LARGE PART DUE TO A LOT OF THE
INTERACTION I HAVE WITH FOLKS
IN THE COMMUNITY WHO REALLY
EXPRESS A LOT OF INTEREST IN
WANTING TO BE ABLE TO USE THE
LIBRARIES IN THAT MANNER AND SO
I AM HOPEFUL THAT WITH THE
ASSISTANCE OF CENTRAL STAFF WE
WILL BE ABLE TO EXPLORE THIS
AREA OF INVESTMENT A LITTLE BIT
MORE AND I HAVE A REALLY STRONG
INTEREST IN MAKING SURE THAT
THE LIBRARY CONTINUES TO HAVE
THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES YOU
ALL NEED TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE
TO INVEST IN THOSE PARTICULAR
PROGRAM SERVICE AREAS.
>> WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
AS WE MOVE INTO THE FRIDAY
HOURS YOU MAY SEE AN
OPPORTUNITY WHERE I THINK YOU
ARE ATTENDED THE PROGRAM WE HAD
AT SOUTH PARK.
>> THAT IS RIGHT.
>> EVEN BEING UP ON A FRIDAY
ALLOWS TO HAVE MORE SCHOOLS
COME INTO THE LIBRARY ON THOSE
DAYS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
CLOSED IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> I HAVE PARTICULAR MODELS IN
MIND THAT I WOULD LIKE TO
PROVIDE CENTRAL STAFF AND HAPPY
TO PROVIDE YOU, AS WELL,
THAT ARE A LITTLE MORE
INTENTIONAL THAN JUST HAVING
SPACE AVAILABLE.
I AM HAPPY TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT
WHAT I AM THINKING AND WHAT
MIGHT BE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
IN THE RENEWAL OF THIS LEVY TO
REALLY CAPITALIZE ON THE
IMPORTANT NETWORK AND FABRIC
THAT LIBRARIES PROVIDE TO BE
ABLE TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES WHO
DON'T ORDINARILY HAVE ACCESS TO
THE ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES THAT
OCCUR WITHIN THE FOUR WALLS OF
OUR LIBRARIES.
>> WE CERTAINLY WELCOME THAT
AND IT GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO
DO 2601 SURVEYS TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE MEETING THE NEEDS.
WE WELCOME THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE
LOOKING AT IS MORE HOURS ON
SUNDAYS.
THIS GETS TO THE PHYSICAL
ACCESS TO THE BUILDINGS
THEMSELVES AND CURRENTLY THE
NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARIES ARE
NOT OPEN UNTIL 1:00 P.M.
ON SUNDAYS AND THIS WOULD GIVE
US AN OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THIS
PROPOSAL TO OPEN AT 12 NOON AT
EVERY LIBRARY ACROSS THE SYSTEM
AND THEN BRINGS US TO ALL 27
LOCATIONS OPENING AT NOON ON
SUNDAYS AND GIVING PEOPLE MORE
ACCESS TO THE COMPUTERS AND
STAFF ASSISTANCE THAT WE
TALKED ABOUT IN GENERAL.
WE ALSO LOOK AT AN OPPORTUNITY
TO ADD MORE OPEN HOURS THROUGH
FRIDAY HOURS AT FOUR OF OUR
LOCATIONS, DELL RICH, NEW
HOLLY, GREEN LAKE AND HOLLY TO
NEW LIBRARIES, BRINGING US TO
SEVEN DAY SERVICE IN THESE
LOCATIONS AND MOVE THE SYSTEM
TO 22 LIBRARIES OPEN SEVEN
DAYS A WEEK.
WITH FIVE ONLY REMAINING AT
SEVEN DAY A WEEK PER LIBRARY
SERVICES.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT,
EQUATING TO AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT
HOURS EACH FRIDAY FOR THOSE
LOCATIONS.
>> I AM NOT GIVING UP ON MY
COFFEE SHOP IN LAKE CITY.
>> OKAY.
I KNOW YOU ARE NOT.
>> I WANT TO PUT THAT OUT
THERE.
>> WE WILL KEEP THINKING ABOUT
WAYS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
WE WILL.
THE LAST OF THE OPEN HOURS IS
MORNING AND EVENINGS AND WHAT
WE COULD LOOKS AT IS ADDING
MORNING AND EVENING HOURS TO
THREE LOCATIONS, HIGHPOINT,
IDC AND SOUTH PARK LIBRARIES,
WITH 10:00 A.M.
OPENINGS ON TWO OF THE MORNINGS
AND 8:00 P.M.
CLOSINGS EACH WEEK WHICH BRINGS
US MORE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THAT.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT
OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING OUR
LIBRARIES BACK UP TO PRE-
RECESSION LEVELS AS WELL AS TO
PROVIDE ACCESS, MORE
OPPORTUNITIES TO THE ACCESS FOR
MATERIALS AND RESOURCES AND THE
STAFF THAT ASSIST OUR PATRONS
WITH THEIR WORK.
WITH THAT I WILL MOVE INTO THE
NEXT BUCKET, INTO THE NEXT
COMPONENT.
JAY?
UNLESS THERE ARE QUESTIONS
ABOUT THAT.
THE NEXT COMPONENT IS OUR
COLLECTIONS INVESTMENTS.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I
REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS
THAT HAVING A GREAT COLLECTION
DEPENDS IN US HAVING A MIX OF
FORMATS TO ADDRESS THE
DIFFERENT NEEDS OF OUR PUBLIC.
MANY PATRONS BELIEVE IN PRINT
AND WANT TO CONTINUE WITH PRINT
MATERIALS BUT JAY MENTIONED WE
HAVE A GROWING INTEREST IN
DIGITAL COLLECTIONS.
WHEN I JOINED THE LIBRARY BACK
IN 2011 OUR CIRCULATION OF
ELECTRONIC MATERIALS WAS 8% TO
10% OF OUR TOTAL CIRCULATION
WHICH MEANT IN A 90% OF OUR
USERS WERE STILL USING PRINT
MATERIALS.
HERE WE ARE IN 2019 AND WE ARE
NOW AT ABOUT 28% TO 30%
ELECTRONIC USE.
SO YEAR-OVER-YEAR ELECTRONIC
ACCESS IS GROWING.
AND MY ONLY POINT ABOUT THAT IS
THAT THERE HAS TO BE A
COMBINATION OF THE MIX OF
MATERIALS THAT PEOPLE WANT.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE DIE
HARD PRINT READERS AND PEOPLE
THAT ARE DIE HARD ELECTRONIC
READERS AND IN ORDER TO MEET
BOTH OF THOSE NEEDS WE HAVE TO
KEEP BOTH GOING.
IT HELPS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS
OF OUR PATRONS SO THERE ARE NOT
INTENTIONALLY LONG WAIT LISTS
AND WE CAN GET TO THEM AS
QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
JAN IS RUSHING ME ALONG TODAY.
NORMALLY I AM RUSHING HER
ALONG.
>> I AM HAPPY TO REPORT I AM
DOWN TO FOUR WEEKS BEFORE I GET
MY E-BOOK.
>> YOU KNOW YOU WILL GET TWO
SURVEYS BECAUSE WE REALLY LIKE
WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM YOU.
THAT IS GOOD TO KNOW BECAUSE
OUR TEAM AND MANY OF THEM ARE
REPRESENTED BEHIND ME.
SOME OF OUR MIXED PROGRAMS HELP
TO DRIVE THE EFFORT.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WAITING FOR IT
TO COME IN AND SOME CAN WALK IN
AND GRAB THE BOOK OFF THE SHE
HAVE IN TERMS CHANGING THE WAIT
TIME FOR THE OTHER BOOKS ON
HOLD.
IT IS REALLY A GREAT
COMBINATION OF MEETING THAT.
THE COMPONENT I JUS SPOKE ABOUT
WITH REGARD TO THE ELECTRONIC
MATERIALS AND RESOURCES, THIS
IS AN AREA THAT IS AN ADD IN
THE PROPOSED LEVY PACKAGE.
THAT IS BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS OUR
USAGE OF ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
INCREASING, WE HAVE SEEN A
284% INCREASE SINCE 2012, BUT
IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE HIGHER
COSTS COLLECTIONS THAT WE
MAINTAIN AT THE LIBRARY.
I THINK SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE
SEEN THIS EXAMPLE BEFORE BUT
YOU WILL NOTE OUR eBOOKS COST
THREE TO FOUR TIMES THE COST OF
PRINT ITEMS WITH THE FIVE
DIFFERENT PUBLISHERS WE USE.
I WANT TO DO A LEAN IN TO SOME
OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WILL
FOLLOW WITH REGARD TO FINES.
I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT WITH OUR
ELECTRONIC MATERIALS, THEY ARE
ALL FINE-FREE.
SO WHEN YOU FINISH USING THAT
ITEM THERE IS NO FINE ATTACHED
TO IT BECAUSE THE ITEM IS
RETURNED SO WE ARE ALREADY
WORKING IN A FINE-FREE
ENVIRONMENT.
WHICH MOVES US TO THE
CONVERSATION ON ELIMINATING
FINES ON PHYSICAL MATERIALS.
THERE IS QUITE A BIT TO COVER
IN THIS.
I THINK ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS
THAT I WILL SHARE IS THAT JAY
AND THE LIBRARY BOARD AND
LIBRARY STAFF ARE VERY, VERY
MUCH COMMITTED TO INSURING
EQUITABLE ACCESS TO LIBRARY
RESOURCES BY ELIMINATING THE
BARRIERS PATRONS ENCOUNTER TO
USING OUR RESOURCES AND ONE OF
THOSE BARRIERS ARE FINANCIAL
BARRIERS.
THE FACT WE CURRENTLY HAVE
FINES AND FEES ATTACHED TO AN
ITEM INDICATES TO MANY OF OUR
COMMUNITIES AND USERS THAT THIS
MAY NOT BE THE ROUTE THAT THEY
WANT TO TAKE TO ACCESS OUR
COLLECTIONS.
WE HAVE HAD SOME RESEARCH DONE
AND IT SHOWS THAT FINES HAVE
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON OUR
LOW INCOME PATRONS AND IT ALSO
SHOW THERE IS ARE HIGHER
AVERAGE BALANCES AND GREATER
NUMBERS OF BLOCKED ACCOUNTS IN
LOWER INCOME AREAS.
I THINK THAT IS THE LEAD-IN TO
THIS CONVERSATION.
BUT THEN I WOULD LIKE TO RESET
THE STAGE AND HELP SHARE WHAT
WE ARE TAKING ABOUT WHEN WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT ELIMINATING FINES
ON OUR PATRON RECORDS.
IN THE LIBRARY WORLD WE USE
BOTH THE TERM FINES AND WE USE
THE TERM FEES.
AND FOR SOME OF OUR PUBLIC THAT
MAY BE CONFUSING, BE YOU FOR US
THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
FINES ARE THE AMOUNTS OF MONEYS
CHARGED TO AN ITEM WHEN IT IS
NOT RETURNED ON TIME.
YOU CHECK OUT A BOOK AT THE END
OF THREE WEEKS WHEN IT IS DUE
BACK AT THE LIBRARY.
IF YOU DO NOT RETURN IT ON TIME
WE ASSESS YOU A FINE OF 25-
CENTS PER DAY.
THAT FINE AMOUNT CAN REACH UP
TO $15 WHICH THEN BECOMES A
BLOCKED ACCOUNT.
THE SECOND THING THAT I WANTED
TO SPEAK ABOUT IS THE FEE WHICH
IS DIFFERENT FROM A FINE.
A FEE IS THE COST OF AN ITEM
WHEN IT IS LOST OR DAMAGED OR
NOT RETURNED.
IN THIS PROPOSAL WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT ELIMINATING THE FINES.
THE FEES WOULD STILL BE IN
PLACE SUCH THAT THEY STILL
PERFORM AN INCENTIVE TO HAVE
THE PATRONS RETURN THEIR ITEMS.
THE FEE IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD
BLOCK THEIR ACCOUNT WHICH MEANS
THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO
ANY OF THE MATERIALS OR
RESOURCES WE HAVE IN THE
LIBRARY, AND IT ALSO SERVES AS
AN INCENTIVE IN AND OF ITSELF
TO RETURN THE ITEMS SO IT
DOESN'T BECOME LOST OR DAMAGED.
I THINK A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT
I SHOULD ALSO ADD TO THIS TO
HELP THE PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THIS
IS THAT THIS IS NOT OUR FIRST
TIME IN THIS ARENA.
SOME OF YOU -- COUNCIL MEMBER
HARRELL, YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT
WE HAD A LIBRARY DIRECTOR A
COUPLE YEARS AGO NAMED LIZ
STRAUP.
LIZ AT THAT TIME DECIDED ALONG
WITH THE BOARD THAT THE LIBRARY
SHOULD ELIMINATE AS MANY
BARRIERS MUCH LIKE OUR CURRENT
BOARD DOES, AS THEY CAN TO
ACCESS TO CHILDREN.
AT THAT TIME WE ACTUALLY
REMOVED THE FINES ATTACHED TO
CHILDREN'S MATERIALS.
AND SO WE HAVE HAD FINE-FREE
MATERIALS IN OUR COLLECTION
AND WORKED UNDER THAT PRACTICE
BEFORE AND, IN FACT, IT WITH
US FOR 19 YEARS WE DID IT FROM
1990 TO 2009.
IT WAS ONLY IN 2010 THAT THE
BOARD REINSTATED THE FINES.
THAT WAS BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING
A DWINDLING -- THE CITY WAS
FACING ECONOMICALS AND SO THE
LIBRARY WAS LOOKING AT
OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE THEIR
REVENUE.
I WILL ADD ON TO THAT THAT
THERE ARE TWO OTHER COLLECTIONS
AND PATRONS THAT WE PROVIDE
FINE-FREE ACCESS TO.
IF YOU ARE ON OUR MOBILE
ROUTES, WHERE OUR BOOK-MOBILE
GOES, THOSE ARE FINE-FREE
ITEM, AS WELL.
WE HAVE A PART OF OUR
COLLECTION THAT IS FINE-FREE
THERE, AS WELL AND THAT
CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.
AND THE THIRD GROUP IS THAT FOR
ANY APPROVED ADA ALLOWANCES,
WE DO NOT ATTACH FINES TO ANY
MATERIALS THAT ARE CHECKED OUT
THERE.
THE LIBRARY HAS SOME GREAT
EXPERIENCE USING A FINE-FREE
MODEL IN PLACE.
AGAIN, I WANT TO REITERATE
THAT THE FEES WOULD REMAIN IN
PLACE IF A PERSON DID NOT
RETURN THEIR ITEM AND THEIR
ACCESS TO USE OF THE LIBRARY
WOULD BE CURTAILED UNTIL THAT
WAS REMEDIED.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD, AND
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFIES.
I AM SURE WE WILL HAVE MORE
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT.
TWO THINGS.
FINES DO NOT MAKE UP A
SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF A
REVENUE STREAM.
>> THEY DO NOT.
WE CURRENTLY RECEIVE ABOUT $1.1
MILLION IN REVENUE FROM FINES
AND FEES AND THAT MONEY IS USED
TO HELP COVER OPERATIONAL COSTS
OF THE LIBRARY, SO THAT IS HOW
IT IS USED, BUT THAT IS IN AN
$80 MILLION BUDGET.
>> $1 MILLION OVER SEVEN YEARS?
>> $1 PER YEAR.
>> $1 MILLION PER YEAR.
OKAY.
I WANT TO POINT OUT, IN THE
FISCAL NOTE YOU ATTACHED HEAT
MAPS OR MAPS.
ONE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER
GONZALEZ REFERRED TO AND WE HAD
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IN COMMITTEE
IS THAT WHEN YOU LINE UP THE
PERCENTAGE OF BLOCKED ACCOUNTS
BY LIBRARY LOCATION IT ALIGNS
EXACTLY WITH THE OPCD RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE EQUITY MAP, THE
PERCENTAGE OF PATRONS WHO
COMPUTERS BY SPL BRANCH
LOCATIONS WHICH MEANS BASICALLY
THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING
BLOCKED ARE THE SAME PEOPLE
WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO REACH
OUR RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
EQUITY MEASURES AND ACCESS
ISSUES.
SO IF WE WERE TO HAVE A LIBRARY
AND HAVE AN ESSENTIAL
GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTION AS A
LIBRARY OR SCHOOL OR ANY OF
THESE INSTITUTIONS, THE WHOLE
GOAL IS TO GET PEOPLE IN THE
BUILDING
>> CORRECT.
>> AND TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND
ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE AND ALL
THOSE ISSUES.
>> THAT IS -- YOU SAID IT
BETTER THAN I WOULD SAY IT.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS
TRYING TO DO.
TO EQUALIZE THE PLAYING FIELD
SO EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THE
MATERIALS AND RESOURCES AND
THAT THE APPLICATION OF A FINE
DOES NOT CHALLENGE THEIR
ABILITY TO DO THAT.
TWO QUICK THINGS I WILL ADD
ABOUT THAT.
I SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT THE
$1.1 MILLION WE COLLECT PER
YEAR IS GRADUALLY DECLINING
REVENUE SOURCE AS MORE AND MORE
PEOPLE MOVE INTO ELECTRONIC USE
OF MATERIALS.
WE ARE UNCOVERING THAT THE
FINES, BECAUSE THEY ARE USING
DIGITAL OR ELECTRONIC
MATERIALS, THERE ARE NO FINES
ATTACHED TO IT.
WE ARE SEEING THAT DECREASE AND
THAT WAS SOMETHING WE WERE
GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS AT
SOME POINT IN TIME SOON ENOUGH
>> COUNCIL MEMBER?
>> JUST A QUESTION ALONG THESE
FINES.
I AM NOT TRYING TO BE THE FINE
COP HERE, BUT $1.1 MILLION PER
YEAR IS A NICE PIECE OF CHANGE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN I WAS LOOKING
AT THAT FOR ADMINISTRATION
COSTS.
SO, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS I
UNDERSTAND THE IDEA BEHIND
HAVING A FINE-FREE ATMOSPHERE.
I GET THAT AND THE SPIRITED
IMPACT.
WAS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT
ANOTHER POSSIBILITY AS OPPOSED
TO WAIVING THEM ALL TOGETHER.
I THINK THE $8 MILLION BEING
ASKED TO PUT INTO THE LEVY TO
HAVE A FINE-FREE ENVIRONMENT.
ARETHERE OTHER CITIES THAT
HAVE LOOKED AT THIS ISSUE?
I AM TRYING TO SEE WHAT THE
POSSIBILITIES ARE BECAUSE THAT
SEEMS TO BE FAIRLY SUPPORTIVE
OF PEOPLE THAT CAN'T PAY THE
FINES, BUT THERE COULD BE
PEOPLE THAT SAY, YOU KNOW, I
FORGOT, I WILL PAY THE FINE
AND THEY MAY BE SOMEWHAT OF
MEANS.
SO IN TRYING TO ADDRESSTHE
PROBLEM WITH THE DISPAIR RAT
IMPACT, YOU ARE WAVING
EVERYTHING.
I AM LOOKING INTO THE
DISCUSSIONS THAT LED UP TO FINE-
FREE.
ARE THERE PEOPLE THAT SAID THIS
IS NOT A GOOD IDEA.
>> THERE ARE FIRST COMPONENTS
TO THE QUESTION.
THE FIRST IS IS THERE OTHER
LIBRARIES DOING THIS?
IN ARE ABOUT 50 LIBRARIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY LOOKING AT
THIS AND I WOULD DARE SAY MANY
MORE LIBRARIES HAVE LOOKED AT
IT, THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND
TRYING TO FIND OTHER WAYS TO DO
IT.
WE HAVE A LIST OF SEVERAL URBAN
LIBRARIES THAT ACTUALLY HAVE
FINE-FREE ENVIRONMENTS AND I
WILL NOTE THAT THE TWO
LIBRARIES IN RED ARE LOCAL
WASHINGTON LIBRARIES, BOTH THE
KIDS LIBRARY AND ANOTHER
LIBRARY SYSTEM THAT DO NOT
COLLECT FINES.
WITH REGARD TO THE QUESTION
ABOUT OTHER OPTIONS, WE LOOK
AT OPTIONS FROM DIFFERENT
ANGLES.
WE LOOK AT DIFFERENT AGE
GROUPS, SHOULD WE JUST HAVE IT
FOR CHILDREN OR TEENS OR THIS
GROUP.
I THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES
WE UNCOVER IS THAT --
>> VOLUNTARY, AS WELL.
IT IS A FINE BUT IT IS
VOLUNTARY?
>> I THINK THAT IF WE WERE TO
MOVE TO A FINE-FREE
ENVIRONMENT AND A PERSON FELT
THAT -- A PERSON KEPT THE
MATERIAL LONGER THAN THE RETURN
PERIOD DATE AND FELT A NEED TO
GIVE OR PAY THEIR FINE WE WOULD
WELCOME THAT AS A DONATION TO
THE LIBRARY AND COULD USE IT
THAT WAY.
SO IT IS STILL AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE OF MEANS TO
DO SO, BUT WE WOULD BE
REMOVING THAT BECAUSE THE
CHALLENGE WOULD BE SETTING UP
THE STANDARDS FOR WHO FALLS OR
QUALIFIES INTO WHICH GROUP.
>> I AM MAKING THIS UP ON THE
FLY HERE AS I STARTED STUDYING
THE MATERIALS WAS A SYSTEM BY
WHICH THERE IS STILL A FINE,
BUT PEOPLE KNOW THAT IT IS NOT
GOING TO GO TO A BILL
COLLECTION AGENCY, IT IS NOT
GOING TO RUIN YOUR CREDIT.
>> SURE.
>> YOU ARE NOT ON THE BLOCKED
LIST, BUT IT IS A FINE AND WE
ARE TRYING TO PROMOTE GOOD
BEHAVIOR HERE.
I GREW UP IN A ATMOSPHERE IN
SCHOOL, YOU HAD TO GET THAT
BOOK BACK IN TIME.
BUT EVEN IF IT IS NOT ENFORCED,
IT IS STILL TRYING TO ENCOURAGE
TIMELY RETURNS.
>> SURE.
IT WILL ENCOURAGE TIMELY RETURN
BECAUSE WE WILL STILL HAVE A
FEE ATTACHED TO THE UNRETURNED
ITEM.
WE WILL LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES
TO ACTUALLY CONSIDER WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN A PERSON DOESN'T
RETURN A BOOK AND THE
TIMELINESS OF IT.
I THINK THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ADDRESS FINES, BUT I THINK THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT OTHER
ALTERNATIVES WITH THE
>> IN AN EFFORT TO NOT REINVENT
THE WHEEL, AND TO HONOR THAT, WE
HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF WORKING
WITH FINE-FREE SIERMENTS.
WE
FEEL THIS IS A GOOD PROPOSAL TO
MOVE FORWARD ON.
>> AND IF I COULD JUST ADD FOR
THE VIEWING PUBLIC THE STUDY IN
SAN FRANCISCO, LONG OVERDUE,
ELIMINATING FINES. AND IN
RESPONSE TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S
QUESTIONS, THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, THOSE WERE A LOT OF
THE ISSUES OF CALLS THAT WE WERE
WONDERING ABOUT.
AND THE
FINANCIAL JUSTICE PRODUCT, IT
REALLY LAYS OUT WHAT A CITY
DOES, AND HOW AND WHY OTHER
CITIES ARE MOVING TO THIS MODEL.
AND SOME OTHER CITIES HADN'T
BEEN DOING IT.
SO IT ISN'T THAT
GROUNDBREAKING.
>> THERE'S ANOTHER ONE BY DENVER
PUBLIC LIBRARY THAT SPEAKS TO
THAT, MUCH SHORTER.
BUT THESE
ARE THE CASES WHERE WE'RE
LOOKING TO OUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS
THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE LOOKED AT
THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE AN
EXTENSIVE STUDY, COMBINED WITH
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A HISTORY
OF HAVING A FINE-FREE
ENVIRONMENT THAT WE FEEL VERY
GOOD ABOUT WHAT IS BEING PUT
FORWARD.
BUT CERTAINLY THEY HAVE
LOOKED AT ALL THE OPTIONS AND
OPPORTUNITIES TO DO SO.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF POINTS I
WANTED TO MAKE.
ONE IS A
QUESTION, WHICH IS THAT IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE TOTAL
FINES, THE REVENUE OF TWO
LIBRARIES FROM FINES IS
APPROXIMATELY A MILLION DOLLARS
A YEAR, CORRECT?
>> YES.
>> JUST OF THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.
>> OF THE SYSTEM.
>> YES.
>> SO THAT REPRESENTS IN TERMS
OF THE CONTEXT OF THE LIBRARY
SCHOOL BUDGET, WHAT PERCENTAGE
IS THAT ONE MILLION DOLLARS PER
YEAR?
>> LESS THAN 2%.
>> OVERALL.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE
TWO COMMENTS ON THERE.
ONE OF
WHICH IS RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT
LATE FINES DON'T ACTUALLY IMPACT
IN ANY KIND OF SIGNIFICANT WAY
THE TIME LIMITS OF PEOPLE
RUNNING MATERIALS.
SO IT'S JUST
THERE AS PUNISHMENT WE HAVE ONE
OF THE HIGHER PER DAY FEES IN
LIBRARY SYSTEMS.
SO IF YOU WERE
TO LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
$0.25 PER DAY IS ACTUALLY PRETTY
HIGH.
AND THAT WAS RAISED.
>> WE RAISED IT DURING TIME OF
AUSTERITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
COULD PRESERVE LIBRARY SERVICES
BECAUSE THE MONEY DOES FUND OPEN
HOURS AND BOOKS AND MATERIALS.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S USED FOR.
>> YOU MEAN IN 2008?
>> 2010.
>> OKAY.
I THINK YOU'RE SORT OF
HEADED IN THE DIRECTION THAT I
WANTED TO HEAD.
AND WHILE I
APPRECIATE THAT A MILLION
DOLLARS IS A LOT OF MONEY, I
THINK THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT A
úMILLION DOLLARS IS A LOT OF
MONEY, BUT I THINK IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE OVERALL OPERATING
BUDGET AND BUDGET FOR SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARIES, I'M NOT SURE
IT'S FAIR TO CHARACTERIZE A
MILLION DOLLARS AS A BIG,
SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF CHANGE.
IN
THUNDERSTORMS OF OUR
CONSIDERATIONS IN PROPOSING A
NEW REVE FOR THE BALLOT, LEVY
FOR THE BALLOT.
THAT BEING SAID,
I ALSO HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AROUND THIS
ISSUE THAT IS BUBBLING UP AROUND
WHAT IS THE CORRELATION BETWEEN
FINES AND THE TIMELY RETURN OR
EVENTUAL RETURN OF MATERIAL THAT
BELONGS TO THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY?
AND I HAVE BEEN
PERSUADED THAT THERE IS NO
STRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN THE
TWO.
AND I USE A LOT OF
ANALOGIES THAT EXIST IN THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE WORLD AROUND
SORT OF WHAT IS A, YOU KNOW,
DOES BAIL HAVE AN EFFECT IN
CAUSING SOMEONE TO APPEAR IN A
COURT HEARING?
DOES A WARN HAVE
THAT SAME EFFECT?
THERE'S A LOT
OF STUDIES THAT QUESTION THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF USING FINANCES
AS THE STICK IN THE CARROT STICK
MODEL TO ACTUALLY ACHIEVE
COMPLIANCE.
SO WHILE I
APPRECIATE THE LINE OF
QUESTIONING AROUND THIS
PARTICULAR ISSUE, I THINK THERE
ARE OTHER CITIES
INNOVATIVED, INNOVATED IN THIS
BASE THAT LEAD ME TO BELIEVE
THAT AT THIS POINT, THE FINES
ARE MORE LIKELY PUNITIVE TOWARD
COMMUNITIES WHO ARE LOW-INCOME
AND PUBLIC OF COLOR.
AND AREN'T
ACTUALLY ACHIEVING THE DESIRED
EFFECT OF INCENTIVIZING PEOPLE
TO TIMELY RETURN THE MATERIALS
TO THE COLLECTION.
AND I THINK
THE IN FACT THAT WE'RE EVEN
HAVING THAT CONVERSATION, THAT
THERE'S A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH
OF FINES COLLECTED IN A YEAR
PROVES THAT THE FINES AREN'T
ACTUALLY RESULTING IN PEOPLE
RETURNING THEIR BOOKS, AND THE
FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY
BEING BLOCKED OUT OF ACCESS,
AGAIN, IS PROOF IN AND OF ITSELF
THAT THE FINES AREN'T AN
EFFECTIVE DETERRENT.
SO I THINK
THERE ARE A LOT OF NONFINANCIAL
WAYS THAT THE LIBRARY CAN LOOK
AT AND UTILIZE AND IMPLEMENT
THAT WILL EFFECTIVELY ACHIEVE
THE LIBRARY'S GOAL AND THE
CITY'S GOAL OF INCENTIVIZING
PEOPLE TO RETURN TOMORROWS BACK
TO THE LIBRARY IN A TIMELY
MANNER.
AND IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PROPOSAL
IN THIS LEVY DOES CONTINUE TO
INCLUDE ACCOUNTABILITIED
REQUIREMENTS SO MUCH FOR
EXAMPLE, YOU DO NOT RETURN A
BOOK, THAT WILL ULTIMATELY
RESULT IN YOU LOSING YOUR
LIBRARY PRIVILEGES. AND WE DON'T
NEED TO SHAME PEOPLE BY MAKING
THEM FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE THIS
MONEY THEY OWE TO THE CITY IN
ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.
FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S HOW I'M
FEELING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND
LOOKING AT IT.
THE LAST THING
I'LL SAY IS THAT WE ALSO DON'T
HAVE TO LOOK AS FAR AS DENVER OR
SAN FRANCISCO TO IDENTIFY
WHETHER OR NOT THE FINE IS
APPROPRIATE OR NOT APPROPRIATE
OR HAS DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT
ON LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT
THE LIBRARY DID A SIMILAR PILOT
HERE AT THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY AND LEARNED QUITE A BIT
RESULT OF THAT PILOT.
SO PERHAPS
THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR
THE LIBRARY TO TALK TO US ABOUT
THAT PILOT IF YOU'RE PREPARED TO
DO SO AT THIS MOMENT.
IF
PERHAPS AT A FUTURE COMMITTEE
HEARING WE CAN HEAR A LITTLE
MORE ABOUT THE PILOT THAT YOU
ALL DID AROUND FINES.
AND THE
QUESTION AROUND ACCOUNTABILITY
AS IT RELATES TO RETURNING
MATERIALS
>> SURE.
CERTAINLY.
AND YOU'VE
GIVEN US MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO
SHARE A FEW THINGS.
BEFORE I GET
INTO EACH OF THOSE, I'D ALSO SAY
ONE THING WHICH IS THE LIBRARY
HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN GETTING
OUR MATERIALS BACK.
OUR SOLE
BUSINESS IS THE LOANING AND
SHARING OF MATERIALS.
WE'RE NOT
A VERY GOOD SYSTEM IF WE CAN'T
GET THE MATERIALS BACK TO
CIRCULATE TO THE NEXT PERSON.
SO
WE'RE VERY INTERESTED IN THAT.
THE SECOND THING I WOULD SAY
ABOUT THAT IS THAT WE'RE VERY
FORTUNATE HERE IN SEATTLE THAT
WE HAVE A POPULATION THAT
BELIEVES IN LIBRARIES, THAT
LOVES LIBRARIES.
AND THAT FOR
THE MOST PART, RETURN THEIR
MATERIALS ON TIME.
WE'VE DON'T
EXPECT THOSE IDEAL PATRON USERS
TO NOT CONTINUE RETURNING THEIR
MATERIALS.
SO WE'RE EXPECTING
THAT TO CONTINUE OCCURRING SO WE
CAN KEEP THE MATERIALS IN
CIRCULATION.
>> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY
SOMETHING, COUNCIL MEMBER
GONZCEZ'S POINT.
THAT IS IN
NO-FINE ATMOSPHERE, I THINK
COUNCIL MEMBER GONZCEZ SAID
THAT IF THEY DON'T RETURN ON
TIME, THEN THEY STILL CAN'T?
THEY'RE ON THE BLOCK LIST?
>> SURE.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A BLOCKED
ACCOUNT LIST AT $15.
WHICH MEANS
IF YOUR FINES OR YOUR FEES, YOU
LOST AN ITEM AND YOU DID NOT
RETURN IT, IF IT REACHES $15,
YOUR ACCESS IS BLOCKED.
THAT FEE
WOULD STILL BE IN PLACE EVEN IF
WE ELIMINATED THE FINES PROGRAM.
AS SUCH, WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER
GONZCEZ IS SAYING IS THAT YES,
IF THEY DID NOT RETURN THE ITEM
WITHIN A PERIOD OF TIME, THAT
ITEM WAS SET TO LOST AND THE
PATRON WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
THAT ITEM.
AND UNTIL THEY PAID
THE COST OF THAT, THEY WOULD
HAVE USE OF THE LIBRARY
RESTRICTED IN SOME WAYS.
>> THERE'S THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN LOST OR DAMAGED ITEM AND
A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JUST
FAILING TO RETURN IT ON TIME.
>> OKAY.
>> PART OF THE REASON WE HAVE
LOST AND DAMAGED ITEM IS GIFT OF
PUBLIC FUNDS REQUIREMENTS IN THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON.
SO-SO WE'RE
ACTUALLY NOT ALLOWED TO NOT, IF
YOU WILL, CHARGE THOSE.
>> I STILL LOOK AT IT, $1
MILLION OVER A YEAR, $7 MILLION
OVER THE LIFE OF THE LEV EMP
YOU'RE ASKING FOR $5.8 MILLION
TO OPEN UP THE HOURS.
THIS
ACTUALLY AFFECTS, AGAIN, I LOOK
AT IT AS SIZEABLE BUDGET IMPACT
JUST BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE
IMPROVEMENTS, A MILLION HERE, A
MILLION THERE REALLY GOES TO
CREDIBLE ACCESS TO THE PATRONS.
I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
THE ISSUE.
>> THAT'S THE POINT OF THIS.
SO
WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS.
AND WHATEVER YOU FEEL
WE HAVE NOT ANSWERED, YOU STILL
HAVE A LINGERING INTE
PLEASE FOLLOW UP WITH THAT.
I
THINK ONE MORE THING THAT I
WOULD SAY, I LOST MY THOUGHT.
BUT IT'LL COME TO ME IN A
MINUTE.
BUT REGARD TO COUNCIL
MEMBER GONZCEZ'S INTEREST IN
THE FRESH START PROGRAM, WHICH
SHE WAS REFERENCING, THE LIBRARY
HAS HAD A PROGRAM FOR TEENS
CALLED FRESH START THAT ALLOWS
THEM TO SPEAK WITH THE STAFF AND
WORK THROUGH A PROCESS TO
ELIMINATE THE FINES ON THEIR
ACCOUNTS.
HOWEVER, IF THEY HAD
FEES ATTACHED TO THEM, THEIR
ACCOUNTS COULD STILL BE BLOCKED.
WE WERE ABLE TO ENHANCE THE
FRESH START PROGRAM SO PATRONS
ARE ABLE TO GIVE MONEY AND
HELPING US TO ELIMINATE THOSE
FEES.
SO THAT PROGRAM ALLOWS US
TO REMOVE THE FEES, AND I KNOW
THAT NUMBER IS HIGHER THAN WHAT
MY STATISTICS CURRENTLY SHOW.
BUT WE HAD ELIMINATED VARIOUS
FEES IN THE LIBRARY AND RESTORED
700 PATRON ACCOUNTS TO TEENS
USING THE LIBRARY.
SHE'S LOOKING
FOR A PLACE TO WRITE ME A NOTE.
SORT OF 1,000 NOW ACCOUNTS THAT
HAVE BEEN OPEN FORWARD OUR TEEN
PROGRAM.
SO THAT AGAIN SHOWS
WHAT THE PURE GOAL OF ALL OF
THIS IS, WHICH IS TO OPEN OR
ELIMINATE THE BARRIERS TO USE OF
THE LIBRARY.
AND THAT PROGRAM IN
AND OF ITSELF, THANKS TO PRIVATE
DOLLAR DOLLARS, ALLOWS US TO
HAVE 1,000 MORE TEENS USING THE
LIBRARIES.
AND THE INCIDENCE OF
THEIR RETURN THEIR ITEMS ON TIME
HAS BEEN REDUCED.
AND I DID GET
THE POINT I WAS GOING TO ADD,
WHICH IS THIS EASTER THAT WE ARE
PUTTING FORWARD TO ELIMINATE THE
BARRIERS, I KNOW SOME VIEW THAT
AS PAYING THE FINES OF PATRONS.
AND THEY DON'T WANT TO COVER
THAT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
US TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A
REPLACEMENT FOR SOME OF THE
OPERATIONAL COSTS THAT YOU WERE
REFERENCING A MOMENT AGO.
COUNCIL HAD BEEN GONZCEZ.
SO
IT'S NOT A MATTER OF PAYING THE
FINES OF PATRONS WHO, FOR
WHATEVER REASON, CAN'T DO SO.
THIS IS ACTUALLY AN OPPORTUNITY
THROUGH THE ASSISTANCE TO HELP
US FUND SOME OF THE OPERATIONAL
COVES.
THE LIBRARY.
>> IN MY MIND, THE WAY I LOOK AT
THIS POLICY DECISION IS PRETTY
SIMPLE.
THE POLICY DECISION
BEFORE US IS HOW DO WE WANT TO
SUPPORT THE LIBRARY'S GOAL OF
CREATING INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE
TO RETURN THINGS THAT THEY CHECK
OUT OF THE LIBRARY THAT NEED TO
BE RETURNED?
SO TO ME, I THINK
THE POLICY SOLUTIONS AND ANSWERS
TO THAT PARTICULAR POLICY
QUESTION ARE VERY DIFFERENT THAN
THE ANSWERS OR SOLUTIONS TO HOW
DO WE GENERATE ADDITIONAL
REVENUE FOR THE LIBRARY.
FOR ME
ON THAT LATTER QUESTION, IF WHAT
WE WERE TRYING TO DO IS GENERATE
REVENUE, THEN I THINK WE CAN
DIAGONAL DOWN ON THE FINES
CONTINUE TO USE THAT AS A
REVENUE SOURCE.
IF THAT'S WHAT
IT'S GONNA BE, WE JUST HAVE TO
BE TRANSPARENT THAT WE ARE
UTILIZING FINES THAT ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPOSED UPON
LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIE
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AS
INDICATED BY ALL THE MAPS THAT
YOU ALL HAVE PROVIDED US.
AND
THAT WE'RE DOING THAT IN ORDER
TO GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUE
FOR THE LIBRARY.
AND TO ME,
THAT, IF I'M ASKED THAT POLICY
QUESTION, I'M GONNA SAY NO THANK
YOU.
>> RIGHT.
THAT IS NOT WHAT WE'RE
TRYING TO DO.
THE FIRST POINT
THAT YOU MADE WHICH IS WE'RE
TRYING TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS FOR
THE USE OF THE LIBRARY.
>> SO JUST NOT REN JACE REVENUE.
>> JUST TO WRAP UP, WE ALL
UNDERSTAND THAT THE PURPOSE OF
THE LIBRARY, ANY LIBRARY, SINCE
THE 1800'S, UNLIKE THE CASINO,
IS NOT TO GENERATE REVENUE.
DON'T MAKE ME HAVE TO QUOTE
JEFFERSON BECAUSE I WILL.
IF WE
CAN MOVE ON, THAT'D BE GREAT.
>> SURE.
AND I'LL TRY TO MOVE
THROUGH THIS QUICKLY.
THAT IS
WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED THERE.
ONE OF THE OTHER COMPONENTS OF
THE CURRENT LEVY THAT WE'RE
HOPING TO EXTEND THROUGH THIS
RENEWAL IS WITH REGARD TO
TECHNOLOGY AND ONLINE SERVICES,
CURRENTLY THE PROGRAM THAT WE
HAVE IN PLACE THROUGH THE 2012
LEVY ALLOWS US TO CHANGE OUR
COMPUTERS, UPDATE THEM,
PRINTERS, ALL OF THE HARDWARE
AND SOFTWARE NEEDS THAT ARE
ATTACHED WITH THAT.
HOWEVER,
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO ENHANCE OR
ADDRESS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES
WE HAVE WITH OUR CURRENT
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OUR PROGRAM
OF I.T..
AND THAT IS THAT WE
HAVE SWITCHES IN OUR CENTRAL AND
27 LOCATIONS THAT NEED TO BE
CORRECTED.
AND THAT IS THAT WE HAVE
SWITCHES IN OUR CENTRAL AND 27
LOCATIONS THAT NEED TO BE
CORRECTED.
WE KNOW THEY WILL
GIVE OUT SOMETIME DURING THE
COURSE OF THIS LEVY.
AND THERE
IS A COMPONENT BUILT IN TO
ADDRESS THAT.
THE OTHER ITEM IS
THAT YOU WILL SEE IS THAT THE
OPERATING SYSTEM, THE IOS, WHICH
EVERYTHING THAT PERTAINS TO HOW
A PATRON USES THE LIBRARY,
MEANING HOW WE BUY THE
MATERIALS, LOG THEM IN, HOW WE
CATALOG THEM, HOW THE PATRON
DISCOVERS THEM IN TERMS OF
FINDING SOMETHING TO READ, USE,
OR VIEW.
IT'S RUN THROUGH OUR
IWELL, S. OUR ILS WAS LAST
REPLACED IN 2005.
SO WE'RE ABOUT
14 YEARS OUT ON THIS ITEM.
AND
IT IS GREATLY IN NEED OF
REPLACEMENT, EITHER FROM THE
LACK OF SUPPORT COMING FROM THE
VENDOR WHO WE PURCHASE TODAY
FROM TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR
PAELECTRONS AND EXPECT A,
PATRONS WHO WANT AND EXPECT A
DIFFERENT DISCOVERY LAYERS FOR
OUR MATERIALS.
THERE'S ALSO THE
MATTER OF OUR DIGITAL EQUITY
PROGRAM.
THE DIG Y , THE CABLE FRANCHISE
FEE IS A DECLINING REVENUE
STREAM FOR THE CITY.
THE LIBRARY
IS NOT THE ONLY RECIPIENT OF
THESE FUNDS.
ANDHE CURRENT
RATE WITH WHICH THAT REVENUE IS
DECLINING, THE LIBRARY WOULD
HAVE TO MAKE SOME SERIOUS
DECISIONS ABOUT HOW WE WOULD
FUND THAT SO VALUABLE PROGRAM
YOU HEARD ABOUT IN THE
TECHNOLOGY VIDEO THAT WAS JUST
SHOWN.
SO WE WOULD BE LOOKI
ADDRESS THAT THROUGH THE DIGITAL
EQUITY PROGRAM.
ALSO TO ADDRESS
SEISMIC RETROFITS FOR THREE OF
OUR MOST VULNERABLE CARNEGIE
LIBRARIES.
WE ARE GREATLY IN
NEED OF ADDRESSING THAT, THIS IS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO IN AND MAKE
SEISMIC RETROFITS TO MAKE SURE
THIS LIBRARY CAN WITHSTAND AN
EARTHQUAKE AND ENSURE THE SAFETY
PAST TRONS USING IT.
AND I THINK
THIS PLAYS INTO THE NOTE THAT
COUNCIL MEMBER HARRELL WAS
REFERENCING ATTACHED TO THE
ADMINISTRATIVE COST.
REACHED TO
THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST IS AN
EFFORT THE LIBRARY IS LOOKING AT
TO UNDERSTAND THE FUTURE OF THE
LIBRARY.
IT IS NOT THE NEXT TWO
YEARS.
IT IS NOT THE THREE
YEARS.
IT IS NOT A STRATEGIC
DIRECTION, THAT EFFORT.
IT IS
ACTUALLY AN EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND
THE ROLE OF A LIBRARY IN A
CHANGING ENVIRONMENT TEN YEARS
DOWN THE ROAD.
WE WANT TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF
EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION, AND
TECHNOLOGY AND AFFORDABILITY AND
ACCESSIBILITY?
COMBINED WITH THE
SPACE AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION
THAT THE LIBRARY PROVIDES.
SO
WITH THAT, WE'RE NOW MOVING INTO
THE PROPOSED PACKAGE.
>> MY FAVORITE SLIDE.
>> WONDERFUL.
THE PROPOSED LEVY
RENEWAL PACKAGE, IT REFLECTS THE
COMMUNITY'S PRIORITY.
IT LOOKS
AT INVESTING IN MORE HOURS AND
ACCESS.
COLLECTIONS.
TECHNOLOGY,
MAINTENANCE, AND LEVY
ADMINISTRATION.
AND ALSO TAKES
INTO ACCOUNT THE FINE-FREE
ACCESS, WHICH FOR THE AVERAGE
SEATTLE HOMEOWNER WOULD COME TO
ABOUT $3.19 PER YEAR, OR $0.27
PER MONTH.
SO AGAIN, THAT IS NOT
IN RELATION TO ANYTHING BUT
LOOKING AT A WAY TO ELIMINATE
BARRIERS.
>> AND COULD YOU SAY THAT AGAIN
PLEASE?
THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER.
>> SURE.
SO THE COST OF THE FINE
FEE PROGRAM WILL COST THE
AVERAGE SEATTLE HOMEOWNER OVER
THE COURSE OF A 3, $3.19, OR
ABOUT $0.27 PER MONTH TO ASSIST
WITH ELIMINATING BARRIERS TO
ACCESS.
AND WITH THAT, I AM AT
MY LAST SLIDE, WHICH REITERATES
WHAT I SPOKE TO AT THE BEGINNING
OF THE PRESENTATION THAT PUT
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY AS
EVIDENCED BY OUR SURVEYS.
WE ARE
AN ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICE.
WE'RE
WORTH THE, WE'RE A CRITICAL
EDUCATION RESOURCE.
AND WHEN WE
HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT BELIEVES
IN US SO CRITICALLY AND
FORCEFULLY ABOUT THAT.
>> IF YOU HAD A COFFEE SHOP.
>> IF WE HAD A COFFEE SHOP, YOU
KNOW, I HAVE HEARD YOU EVERY
TIME.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE
LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
>> THANKS.
OKAY.
ANYMORE
QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES?
ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO ADD?
NO.
>> NE.
>> NOTHING ADDITIONAL.
>> CERTAINLY IF THERE IS
ANYTHING THAT WAKES YOU UP IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
SCREAMING, WE'LL TAKE AN EMRAL
AND GET ON THAT JUST AS QUICKLY
SO WE'LL HAVE THOSE ANSWERS FOR
YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING.
THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANT A LITTLE
HISTORICAL NOTE, THEN I'M GONNA
CLOSE THIS DOWN.
I JUST THINK
THAT IF PEOPLE FORGET, AND I'M
ONLY SAYING THIS BECAUSE I'M
REALLY NOT THAT SMART.
I JUST
HAPPENED TO RUN ACROSS THIS
ARTICLE IN THE MEDIA ABOUT HOW
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GOT
STARTED AND HOW THOMAS JEFFERSON
AND EVERYONE FOUGHT FOR HIM TO
HAVE A LIBRARY.
AND I HAD TO
LAUGH READING ABOUT IT.
AT THE
TIME, PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT EVEN
THOUGH HE WAS SAYING THAT BOOKS
ARE A VEHICLE FOR KNOWLEDGE,
THERE WAS THIS WHOLE SOCIETAL
FEAR OF BOOKS.
AND THAT IT WAS A
LUXURY, AND ORDINARY PEOPLE
SHOULDN'T HAVE THAT LUXURY.
ONLY
THE LEARNED PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE
THAT.
AND IT CERTAINLY SHOULDN'T
BE FREE.
AND THE QUOTES WERE
THAT IT WAS A FRIVOLOUS USE OF
PUBLIC FUNDS, AND THERE WASN'T A
NECESSITY OF BOOKS FOR ORDINARY
PEOPLE.
AND OF COURSE NOW WE SEE
HOW LIBRARIES HAVE GROWN,
OBVIOUSLY.
BECAUSE CERTAIN
PEOPLE BELIEVE IN THE
CIVIC-MINDEDNESS THAT GOVERNMENT
SHOULD FUND INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS
A LIBRARY.
LIKE WE DO SCHOOLS
AND COURTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO I'M GONNA LEAVE IT AT THAT.
AND WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OF COURSE.
>> BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I WANT TO
SHARE THAT, LAYOUT THE NEXT
MEETING SO MY COLLEAGUES WILL
KNOW AS WELL.
SO THE NEXT
MEETING OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON THE LIBRARY MEMBERS WILL BE
MONDAY, APRIL 8TH AT 10:30 AM,
OR AFTER COUNCIL BRIEFING.
AND
AT THAT MEETING, WE WILL WORK
WITH STAFF IN IDENTIFYING
POTENTIAL ISSUES BUILT LEVY.
THE
THIRD MEETING WILL BE APRIL 11TH
AT 5:30.
WE'LL BE HOLDING A
HEARING AT OUR MEETING SO WE CAN
HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.
SO THAT'S
A PUBLIC HEARING AT 5:30.
THE
FOURTH MEETING WILL BE APRIL
17TH AT 2:30 SO WE CAN HOLD A
POTENTIAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE ON
THE LEVY.
AND FINALLY OUR FIFTH
AND FINAL MEETING WILL BE APRIL
22ND AT 2:00 FOR A FULL COUNCIL
VOTE.
AND WITH THAT, WE STAND
ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER
GONZCEZ AND PRESIDENT HARRELL.