>>> WE ARE RECORDING.
>> THE MAY 18th, 2022 MEETING
WILL COME TO ORDER AT 2:01 P.M.
I'M ANDREW LEWIS.
WILL THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> LEWIS.
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE THREE
MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I SEE COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
WOULD YOU GIVE ME A HERE SO YOU
CAN BE LISTED AS PRESENT?
>> SORRY, HERE.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FOUR
MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CLERK.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
HEARING IS ADOPTED.
TODAY WE HAVE ONE AGENDA ITEM
FROM SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, A
PRESENTATION ON THE RACIAL
SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE FROM
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY WITH
AN APPEARANCE BY NEW CHIEF
LIBRARIAN, TOM FAY.
WE'LL GET TO THAT PRESENTATION
BY WAY OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
LET'S PROCEED TO THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD.
IS ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT?
>> NO ONE IS SIGNED UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> OKAY.
THEN I WILL JUST DECLARE THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CLOSED
FOR LACK OF HAVING ANY
REGISTERED CALLERS.
AND WE CAN PROCEED TO THE ITEMS
OF BUSINESS.
MR. CLERK, PLEASE CALL ITEM ONE
INTO THE RECORD.
>> ITEM 1, SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARIES RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE INITIATIVE RSJI REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CLERK.
WE ARE NOW JOINED BY A PANEL
FROM THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY, AND LIBRARIAN FAY, DO
YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE YOUR
PANEL AND THEN GO AHEAD AND
BEGIN THE PRESENTATION?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU AND GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR LEWIS AND COUNCILMEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PRESENT OUR RSJI REPORT.
I'M TOM FAY AND WITH ME TODAY
IS ALEX HUMAN, THE DIRECTOR OF
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, AS
WELL AS OUR SPONSOR FOR THE
LIKE'S RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
CHANGE TEAM.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR DIGITAL MEDIA
PROGRAM MANAGER.
NEXT, PLEASE, ALEX.
THANK YOU.
BEFORE I START, I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY IS ON INDIGENOUS
LAND.
NEXT, PLEASE.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE LIBRARY,
MUCH LIKE THE REST OF THE CITY,
SPENT 2021 MOVING TOWARDS
REOPENING, AND THAT'S ONE OF
OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2021 IN
THE BROADEST SENSE.
AS WE STARTED OUR REOPENING
PROCESSES ALL THE WAY BACK IN
2020, SAFETY AND EQUITY WERE
DRIVING FACTORS IN HOW WE
REOPEN.
IN 2021 WE REOPENED OUR
BUILDINGS TO THE PUBLIC, WITH
MANY CONSIDERATIONS ALONG THE
WAY.
WE STARTED IN-PERSON SERVICES
IN BRANCHES THAT WERE LARGE
ENOUGH FOR AND IN NEIGHBORHOODS
WE FELT WERE MOST IN NEED OF
LIBRARY SERVICES, ESPECIALLY
THOSE WITH COMPUTERS, ET
CETERA.
VALOR, BEACON HILL, BROAD VIEW,
LAKE CITY, RAINIER BEACH AND
SOUTHWEST WERE THE FIRST FEW
BRANCHES THAT CAME ON.
NEXT, PLEASE.
ON THE ROAD TO REOPENING,
OBVIOUSLY WE HAD MANY STEPS
ALONG THAT THROUGH THE VARIOUS
QUARTERS.
FIRST QUARTER OF 2021, WE WERE
STILL EXPANDING CURBSIDE
SERVICES TO 15 LOCATIONS AND
THEN BEGAN OUR PREP WORK TO
BEGIN IN-BUILDING SERVICES IN
2021.
WE WORKED WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE TO ALLOW LIBRARY STAFF
TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID-19
VACCINES A BIT EARLIER SO WE
COULD SAFELY RETURN TO IN-
BUILDING SERVICES, PROTECTING
OUR STAFF AND THE PUBLIC COMING
IN.
BY THE END OF APRIL, THE
LIBRARY REOPENED ITS FIRST
THREE BRANCHES FOR IN-BUILDING
SERVICES AND BY THE END OF THE
SECOND QUARTER, WE HAD ADDED AN
ADDITIONAL 13 BRANCHES AND
ESSENTIAL LIBRARY BUILDING, FOR
A TOTAL OF 17 BRANCHES OPEN TO
SERVICES.
WITH THE GRACES OF THE MAYOR
AND COUNCIL, THE INFLUX OF THE
FEDERAL FUNDING ALLOWED US TO
BEGIN REHIRING OUR STAFF
POSITIONS THAT HAD BEEN
PREVIOUSLY CUT DUE TO BUDGET
REDUCTIONS.
THIS ALLOWED US TO OPEN MORE
BRANCHES AND ADD MORE IN-PERSON
SERVICES.
WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO
PREPANDEMIC HOURS AT THE END OF
THE YEAR UNTIL THE OMICRON
VARIANT HIT THE CITY, AND THAT
PUT US ON SOME REDUCED HOURS
FOR A MONTH OR TWO.
WE ARE NOW HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE
ARE BACK TO THE PREPANDEMIC
HOURS.
NEXT, PLEASE.
ALEX?
>> THANK YOU, TOM.
AS WE WERE FOCUSING ON THE
REOPENING OF THE LIBRARY FOR IN-
PERSON SERVICES, WE ALSO HAD
OTHER RSJI ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT
WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT HERE.
WITHIN OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
WAS THAT WE BROUGHT ON,
PARTICULARLY WITH RSJI CHANGE
TEAM, WORKED REALLY HARD TO
BRING ON A CONSULTING FIRM WHO
IS EQUITY-FOCUSED.
THEY HAVE BROUGHT ON A
PRESENTATION RELATED WITH THE
NATIONAL 2021 STAFF MEET BACK
IN APRIL OF 2021.
THAT WAS REALLY WELL ATTENDED
AND THIS PRESENTATION REALLY
WAS PARTICULARLY REALLY WELL
RECEIVED DURING THE TIME WHEN
THE ANTIASIAN CRIME WAS REALLY
HIGHLIGHTED AT THE NATIONAL
LEVEL.
SO IT WAS REALLY GOOD.
AND OUR CHANGE TEAM IS ALSO
WORKING CONTINUOUSLY WITH THE
FOUNDER OF THE EPIPHANY OF
EQUITY TO BRING ON ADDITIONAL
TRAINING FOR THE STAFF.
WE ALSO WORKED ON BRINGING THE
EQUITY TRAINING TO OUR PUBLIC
SERVICES MANAGEMENT TEAM, AND
WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THIS
TRAINING THROUGHOUT THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE LIBRARY.
ADDITIONAL WORK THAT WE HAVE
WORKED ON ALSO IS UNDER THE
LEADERSHIP OF TOM, WORKING ON
DEVELOPING MORE COMPREHENSIVE
AND LONG-TERM LOOK AT OUR
EQUITY JOURNEY AND EQUITY WORK
AS A SYSTEM.
SO WE BEGAN DEVELOPING AN
EQUITY ROAD MAP, WHICH WE WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK ON AND PLAN TO
ROLL THIS OUT THROUGHOUT THE
LIBRARY THIS YEAR.
THIS WORK WILL BE LAYING OUT
WHAT WILL BE OUR PRIORITY WORK
RELATED WITH EQUITY AS WELL AS
LAYING OUT THE LONG-TERM WORK
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AT THE
LIBRARY.
WE ARE ALSO HAPPY TO REPORT
THAT WE HAVE ACTUALLY ENHANCED
OUR LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN,
REALLY CENTRALIZING THE WORK
WITHIN OUR MARKETING AND ONLINE
SERVICES TEAMS.
THEY ARE THE ONES HANDLING ALL
OF OUR TRANSLATION NEEDS FOR
THE LIBRARY AND ARE NOW LEADING
THE REST OF THE LIBRARY TO PUT
TOGETHER AN ANNUAL EXERCISE TO
REALLY COMMIT OURSELVES TO
BRINGING HOW WE WORK TO THE
NONENGLISH SPEAKING
COMMUNITIES.
AND FINALLY WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED
THE LANGUAGE ACCESS PAY TO
QUALIFYING LIBRARY STAFF.
NEXT SLIDE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT
CHALLENGES WITHIN OUR 2021,
PARTICULARLY WITH RSJI WORK.
I'M SURE WE HAVE SEEN THAT
THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AS WELL AS
THE STATE AND NATIONWIDE.
THE PANDEMIC DEFINITELY PLAYED
A CRITICAL AND VERY CHALLENGING
ROLE IN TERMS OF DELIVERING OUR
SERVICES.
BECAUSE WE WERE SO STRETCHED,
PARTICULARLY AT WITH THE
REDUCTION OF OUR BUDGET, AND
YOU KNOW, FOCUSING ON THE
REOPENING OF OUR FACILITIES,
ONE OF THE THING LIKE IN-PERSON
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WAS
COMPLETELY DISRUPTED.
WE ARE RESUMING THAT WORK IN
2022, ESPECIALLY AS WE BEGIN
THE WORK OF THE STRATEGIC
PLANNING PROCESS UNDER OUR NEW
CHIEF LIBRARIAN.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO GET
THIS ROLLING AND WE'LL SEE HOW
SUCCESSFUL THIS WILL BE FOR THE
LIBRARY.
ALSO DUE TO PANDEMIC'S IMPACT
ON OUR WORK FORCE, WE HAVE
DEFINITELY SEEN ISSUES WITH THE
STAFFING LEVELS.
>> SORRY.
EARLIER THIS YEAR WE SELECTED
TOOL KIT SUMMARY SHEETS FOR THE
FOLLOWING EFFORTS IN 2021.
WE'LL GO OVER THE DIGITAL MEDIA
LEARNING AND RSJI TRAINING
PROJECTS IN A LITTLE MORE
DETAIL TODAY.
YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT ALL THE
EFFORTS IN THE PREVIOUSLY
SUBMITTED SUMMARY SHEETS.
NEXT, PLEASE.
AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE JUAN RUBIO, OUR
DIGITAL MEDIA PROGRAM MANAGER.
JUAN?
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY
AND I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT
THESE FOUR PROGRAMS FOR THE
DIGITAL MEDIA PROGRAMS AT THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
KIDS TEAM IS A PROGRAM WHERE
TEENS DESIGN WORKSHOPS IN
COLLABORATION WITH LIBRARIANS
AND STUDENTS FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, TO
LATER ON FACILITATE THEIR
YOUNGER PEERS.
IT'S A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM IS
THAT OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR
LEADERSHIP IN SEATTLE.
WE ALSO HAVE A FEATURE TO OUR
PROGRAM THAT'S GOING FOR THE
SECOND TIME THIS YEAR, TAKING
PLACE AT NEW HOLLY.
WE REACH TEENS, LEARN DIGITAL
ART AND SKILLS TO CREATE AN
ADVOCACY POSTER OF ISSUES THAT
ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM AND THEIR
COMMUNITY.
SOME OF THE ISSUES HAVE BEEN
GENDER EQUALITY, BLACK LIVES
MATTER, AND THE ENVIRONMENT,
FOR EXAMPLE.
WE ALSO LAUNCHED A NEW WEBSITE
WHICH WAS A PROGRAM FOR TEEN
MENTAL HEALTH IN COLLABORATION
WITH D.C. PUBLIC LIBRARY AND
FAYETTE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
WE USE VISUAL REALITY TO CREATE
THE EXPERIENCES AND ENCOURAGE
DISCUSSIONS IN SUPPORT OF TEEN
MENTAL HEALTH.
WE DEVELOP A CURRICULUM THAT
CAN BE USED BY OTHER LIBRARIES
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY THAT YOU
CAN FIND IN THE WEBSITE.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE A COURSE FOR
WELL BEING THAT IS ALSO BEING
OFFERED WITH A COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION OF SOUTH SEATTLE
CALLED ASPIRE GROWTH, IN WHICH
A GROUP OF TEENS ENGAGE IN EACH
SPORT, COMPETITIVE GAMING TO
LEARN BETTER WAYS TO ENGAGE
WITH VIDEO GAMES.
WE INCORPORATE SOCIAL AND
EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND PROVIDE
A SPACE FOR THEM TO COMBAT A
LITTLE BIT OF ISOLATION, WHICH
WAS A PRODUCT OF COVID-19
PANDEMIC.
NEXT ONE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
LEARN IN TERMS OF EQUITY BY
IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAMS,
FIRST IT WAS THE PRACTICE OF
LEARNING OR WHAT ELEMENTS OR
STRATEGIES WE COULD INCORPORATE
WITH THE EQUITY FRAME WORK.
BUT ALSO INTERROGATING PROGRAMS
THAT ARE HAPPENING TO SEE WHAT
OUR ELEMENTS THAT ARE ALREADY
EXISTING IN THERE SO THAT WE
COULD USE THOSE ELEMENTS IN
FUTURE ITERATIONS OF THE
PROGRAMS OR FOR PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAMS ACROSS
THE LIBRARY.
WE ARE INTENTIONAL ABOUT
REACHING NONDOMINANT
POPULATIONS IN SEATTLE AND
CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITIES IN
THOSE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN
MOSTLY IMPACTED HISTORICALLY BY
OPPRESSION.
WE HAVE A STRONG RELATIONSHIP
WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND
THAT'S BEEN A KEY SUCCESS FOR
OUR PROGRAMS.
LASTLY, WE WANT TO POINT OUT
THE INTENTIONALITY OF
DEVELOPING PROGRAMS SUCH AS DML
FOR FRAME WORKS SUCH AS THE
CONNECTOR LEARNING FRAME WORK
AND THE EQUITY FRAME WORK.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MS.
OSHI, OUR SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
LIBRARY AND RSJI CHANGE TEAM
LEAD TO PRESENT THE TEAM
TRAINING PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU, ALEX. THE CHANGE
TEAM CONSISTENTLY GETS REQUESTS
FOR EQUITY AND INCLUSION
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.
THE LIBRARY'S VIRTUAL STAFF
WEEK IN 2021, THERE WAS A
SESSION WITH FEEDBACK FROM THE
STAFF THAT WAS REALLY POSITIVE,
SO THE CHANGE TEAM DECIDED TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH THEM.
WE HOPED TO OFFER THOSE IN FALL
OF 2021.
COVID PROVIDED CHALLENGES TO
OUR TIMELINE.
THE BULK OF OUR WORK WAS DONE
IN 2021 BUT THE TRAINING
THEMSELVES JUST HAPPENED IN
SPRING 2022.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO ROLL OUT A
SURVEY TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING
OF STAFF'S KNOWLEDGE AND
UNDERSTANDING OF EQUITY, AND
USE THAT SURVEY TO INFORM A
BETTER CUSTOMIZED TRAINING FOR
THE LIBRARY.
THERE WERE 19 QUESTIONS,
INCLUDING SOME DEMOGRAPHICS.
SOME OF THE KEY QUESTIONS WERE,
HOW WOULD YOU RATE YOUR
ATTITUDE TOWARD SOCIAL EQUITY
AND INCLUSION?
HOW WOULD YOU RATE YOUR
UNDERSTANDING OF SOCIAL EQUITY,
INCLUSION, INTERSECTION ALSOTY,
JUSTICE FRAME WORK, IMPLICIT
AND UNCONSCIOUS BIAS, LBGT
EQUITY, ANTIRACISM, POWER AND
PRIVILEGE, AND GENDER EQUITY.
ANOTHER QUESTION WAS TO SHARE
ANY STORIES YOU MAY HAVE
EXPERIENCED AROUND EQUITY AT
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY,
CONCERNS OR DIFFICULTIES YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDRESS TO
HELP THE ORGANIZATION MOVE
FORWARD.
AND HOW CAN WE SUPPORT YOU IN
YOUR JOURNEY?
NEXT SLIDE.
AT THE HIGH LEVEL, IT INCLUDED
SOME GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OR
CARING ABOUT DEI FROM STAFF.
MANY OF THE RESPONSES SHARED
HAD PERSONAL WORK THAT WAS DONE
ON STAFF'S PART.
THERE WAS AN EXPRESSION FOR
MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO GO BEYOND
A ONE ON ONE APPROACH TO
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.
OUT OF THE SURVEY AND WORK WE
DID, A TRAINING SESSION WAS
CREATED WITH AN ACCOMPANYING
WORK BOOK.
FOLLOW-UP SESSIONS BETWEEN THE
FULL CHANGE TEAM, WE WERE ABLE
TO PROVIDE FOUR TRAINING
SESSIONS OF THIS FOR ALL THE
STAFF.
THOSE WERE OFFERED IN MARCH AND
APRIL.
ONE OF THOSE WAS RECORDED AND
IT'S MADE AVAILABLE TO LIBRARY
STAFF THROUGH CORNERSTONE.
THE MODULES INCLUDE REASONING
BACKWARD, CRITICAL
CONSCIOUSNESS, RISK CHANGE AND
DISCOMFORT, PROCESS OF CHANGE
WORK AND COMMUNITY ACTIONABLE,
AND OUT OF THE WORK WE DID, A
RECOMMENDATION THEY HAD WAS
THAT SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES
SHOULD CONSIDER WORKING WITH
COMMUNITIES TO HELP DEVELOP
PROCESSES AND ACCOUNTABILITY
STRUCTURES THAT SPEAK TO
UNCONSCIOUS BIAS AND IMPACT FOR
BLACK BROWN AND INDIGENOUS
STAFF AND PATRONS.
>> IN 2021 WE CONTINUED THE
WORK TO CREATE COMMUNITY-LED
CIVIC OPPORTUNITIES, CREATE
ACCESSIBLE SPACE FOR
COMMUNITIES TO EXPLORE THE
ISSUES OF FOOD JUSTICE AND
INCREASE ACCESS TO COMMUNITIES
TO COLOR AND LOW INCOME
FAMILIES AND DEVELOP A FORUM.
PARTICIPANTS LEARN SKILLS SUCH
AS BAKING, GARDEN PLANTING,
SOIL REMEDIATION, URBAN FARMING
AND MORE.
IN 2021 THE PROGRAM STILL
HOSTED EIGHT FELLOWS AS IT DID
IN 2020 BUT NOW ENGAGES 25
YOUNG PEOPLE.
THERE IS A SCHOLAR AND TWO FOOD
JUSTICE MENTORS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
ALIGNING WITH THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE AS WELL AS THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS IN TERMS OF
PROVIDING TRANSPARENCY ON OUR
BUDGET, OUR LIBRARY BUDGET TEAM
AND RSJI CHANGE TEAM HAVE
PARTNERED TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A
BUDGET PRESENTATION FOR THE
LIBRARY.
THIS WAS REALLY THE
PRESENTATION TO PROVIDE NOT
ONLY CITY WIDE BUDGET PROCESS
TIMELINE AND THE KEY
DELIVERABLES WITHIN THOSE
TIMELINES AS WELL AS THE
LIBRARY SPECIFIC BUDGET
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
WE HAVE ALSO INCORPORATED
INTERACTIVE SURVEY TO INSTANTLY
SEE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE BUDGET
KNOWLEDGE AMONGST THE
PARTICIPANTS.
THIS BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION, WE
ALSO FOCUS AND PROVIDED
TRAINING ON BUDGET
IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING
WHERE OUR STAFF REALLY HAVE THE
DIRECT IMPACT IN TERMS OF WORK
RELATED WITH BUDGET.
SO WE HAD OVER 200 MEMBERS OF
THE LIBRARY STAFF, MANAGEMENT
AND BOARD, ALL TAKING THIS
TRAINING.
I THINK WE REALLY BROUGHT
ADDITIONAL TRANSPARENCY AROUND
OUR BUDGET PROCESS.
LASTLY, WE ARE ALREADY WELL
UNDERWAY ON TRAINING RACIAL
EQUITY IN OUR WORK.
WE'LL ALSO BE FINALIZING AND
COMMUNICATING THE EQUITY ROAD
MAP LATER THIS YEAR.
AND WE ARE GLAD TO BEGIN MORE
IN-PERSON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
THIS YEAR, INCLUDING A SERIES
OF CONVERSATIONS I'LL BE HAVING
WITH PATRONS, COMMUNITY
PARTNERS AND OTHER LIBRARY
STAKE HOLDERS TO HELP LAY THE
FOUNDATION FOR THE NEW PLAN WE
HOPE TO HAVE COMPLETED IN THE
SUMMER OR FALL OF 2023.
THE PROJECTS INCLUDE A REVIEW
OF OUR ROLES OF CONDUCT,
REVISIONS TO THE BOOK PROGRAM
AND BEGIN WITH BOOKS PROGRAM,
AND A DIRECTED FIELD WORK
PROGRAM WITH FIVE STUDENT
LIBRARIANS FROM THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON.
WITH THAT, WE'LL TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND THANK
YOU TO ALL THE PRESENTERS.
WHAT A GREAT THOROUGH UPDATE ON
THE ACTIVITIES OF THE LIBRARY
AND SERVICE DELIVERY COMPONENTS
OF THE LIBRARY IN GENERAL,
ESPECIALLY DURING COVID.
I DID SEE EARLIER,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
INDICATING A QUESTION, SO I'M
HAPPY TO START WITH HER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE
LIBRARY FOR THE PROGRAM AFTER
THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WAS
DECLARED THROUGHOUT WASHINGTON
STATE AND THE U.S. SURGEON
GENERAL WARNED THE PANDEMIC
INTENSIFIED A CRISIS
SPECIFICALLY IN TEEN MENTAL
HEALTH.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR EMPHASIS ON ADDRESSING
MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES IN
THIS PARTICULAR POPULATION.
IT IS CRITICALLY NEEDED AND WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE ARE THRIVING AS WE COME
OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, SO THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, TOM
AD YOUR TEAM.
AS YOU KNOW, I USED TO CHAIR
LIBRARIES.
EVERY TIME YOU GUYS HAVE DONE
YOUR RSJI, YOU HAVE ALWAYS DONE
A PHENOMENAL JOB.
JESUS, I USED TO GIVE THEM YOUR
EXAMPLE AT PARKS FOR LIKE AN
EXAMPLE.
THAT WAS LIKE A RUNNING JOKE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
AND THANK YOU FOR ELIMINATING
LIBRARY FINES AND FEES.
THAT'S MADE SUCH A BIG
DIFFERENCE.
I CAN'T REMEMBER, WHAT WAS THE
PERCENTAGE IT WENT DOWN, LIKE
30% IT WAS A GREAT NUMBER.
>> YEAH, IT WAS IN AN ARTICLE A
COUPLE WEEKS AGO, A LOT OF
INTEREST IF MATERIAL WAS
RETURNING.
AND MATERIAL IS RETURNING, AND
PEOPLE ARE RETURNING.
>> WHEN WE DID THE OPENING, THE
NEW OPENING TWO YEARS AGO OF
LAKE CITY, AND EVERYONE'S HAIR
WAS ON FIRE THAT YOU'RE
ELIMINATING FINES, HOW DARE
YOU, BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH.
WHAT WE THOUGHT HAPPENED DID
HAPPEN: IT GOT BETTER.
THE WHOLE HOPE IS THE LIBRARY
IS THE PEOPLE'S UNIVERSITY.
MORE ACCESS, MORE EQUITY IS
WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE
DOING.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
OF COURSE, IF YOU CAN KEEP ON
TOP OF THE STATISTICS OF THAT,
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
WE HAVE THREE LIBRARIES IN
DISTRICT FIVE AND THEY ARE USED
A LOT.
YOU GUYS WERE GREAT DURING THE
PANDEMIC OPENING YOUR DOORS SO
PEOPLE COULD COME IN.
JUST THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE
DONE, SOME OF IT WASN'T QUITE
LIBRARY SERVICES BUT YOU DID IT
LIKE THE PARK PEOPLE DID AT
COMMUNITY CENTERS.
WE HAVE ALL TAKEN ON DIFFERENT
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES BECAUSE OF
THE PANDEMIC, SO I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I KNOW YOU GUYS WORK REALLY
HARD AND I JUST WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS WITH
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU
FOR THIS WORK.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT HAPPENING
FOR EVERYBODY THE LAST FEW
YEARS AND I KNOW THE STAFF HAS
BEEN GOING THE EXTRA MILE AS
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT SAID.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THAT,
ONE OF THE SLIDES ADDRESSING
THE CHALLENGES OF, YOU KNOW,
STAFF BEING FATIGUED BY THE
COMPOUNDING CHALLENGES.
I KNOW DOING THIS KIND OF RACE
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE WORK IS
ITSELF PRETTY EMOTIONALLY
TAXING AND EXHAUSTING WORK.
I WONDER IF YOU COULD TALK
ABOUT YOUR CURRENT STAFFING,
AND WHAT SUPPORTS STAFF WHO ARE
CHARGED WITH DOING THIS WORK
MIGHT HAVE.
THAT'S ONE QUESTION.
THEN I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS YOU
MENTIONED IN THE SOUTH END AND
SOME OF THE OUTCOMES THAT YOU
HAVE HAD FROM THERE.
>> SURE.
YES, I AGREE THE STAFF WHO DO
THIS WORK, ESPECIALLY THE HEAVY
ENGAGEMENT AND EQUITY WORK,
THEY ARE OFTEN PEOPLE OR COLOR
AS WELL AND HAVE AN ADDITIONAL
EMOTIONAL BURDEN THAT COMES
WITH THAT WORK.
ALSO MAY BE EXPERIENCING THE
SAME THINGS AS THOSE
COMMUNITIES.
WE DO REALIZE THAT.
WE TRY TO PROVIDE A LOT OF
FLEXIBILITY IN HOW THE PROGRAM
MANAGERS WERE WORKING DURING
THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE IT WAS
IMPOSSIBLE TO TRY AND MEET IN-
PERSON.
SO MAKING SURE THEY HAD FULL
ACCESS TO WORK FROM HOME
CAPABILITIES ET CETERA, TO TRY
AND MAINTAIN THOSE ENGAGEMENTS.
THE STAFF HAVE EXPERIENCED A
LOT DURING THIS TIME.
WE KNOW A NUMBER OF ISSUES WE
HAVE SEEN WITHIN THE BRANCHES
HAVE INCREASED.
THOSE THINGS CAN BE MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES, DRUG ADDICTION
ISSUES AND EVERYTHING IN
BETWEEN.
SOMETIMES THE VIOLENCE IS
DIRECTED AT THEM OR HARASSMENT
DIRECTED AT THEM.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON HERE IS WITH OUR
STAFF SUPPORT GROUP, WORKING TO
DEVELOP A TRAUMA AND FORMAL
CARE PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES AN
INTERNAL WEBSITE AND ALSO OTHER
TOOLS.
BUILDING BECAUSE OF AN INCIDENT
AND IF FOLKS ARE TRAUMATIZED OR
IF SOMEONE WAS INJURED OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT, MAKING
SURE WE HAVE ALL THE TOOLS AT
THEIR DISPOSAL THAT WILL HELP
GUIDE THEM THROUGH WHATEVER
THAT RECOVERY PROCESS IS.
LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL PEER TO
PEER SUPPORT IN THE ONLINE PEER
FORUM PROCESS AS WELL, MUCH
LEFT TO DO IN THAT AREA.
WE ARE TRYING TO BE BETTER AT
THIS AND HAVE LEARNED A LOT
DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND
CONTINUE TO LEARN MORE.
WE HAVE A GREAT STAFF WORKING
ON THIS AS WE SPEAK.
THE BLOOM PROJECT,
COUNCILMEMBER, I DON'T HAVE A
LOT MORE DETAILS TODAY.
BUT IF YOU HAVE THOSE
QUESTIONS, I CAN CERTAINLY GET
THEM BACK TO YOUR OFFICE.
>> ANY FOLLOW-UP?
GREAT.
I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE
DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL
REVISIONS TO RULES OF CONDUCT
REASSESSMENT OF RULES OF
CONDUCT.
IS THERE A PARTICULAR AREA OF
FOCUS FOR RE-EXAMINING LIBRARY
RULES OF CONDUCT?
AND I ALSO WANT TO ASK IN TERMS
OF THE IMPLICATION FOR LIBRARY
STAFF AND PERSONNEL, IN TERMS
OF ENFORCING RULES OF CONDUCT
AND WHAT KIND OF SUPPLEMENTARY
TRAINING YOU MAY ANTICIPATE FOR
STAFF TO BE PREPARED AS
BRANCHES ARE OPENING.
COULD YOU EXPAND ON THAT AS A
2022 ITEM?
>> THAT IS ONE OF THOSE ITEMS
WE ARE USING THE RACIAL EQUITY
TOOL KIT AND WILL LIKELY USE
CONSULTING PARTNER TO HELP US
THROUGH THAT.
THERE WILL BE A STAFF TEAM PUT
TOGETHER TO MOVE US THROUGH
THAT AS WELL.
OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP PEOPLE IN
THE LIBRARY.
AS WE LOOK AT OUR STAFF AND
SECURITY, WHEN WE HAVE
INTERACTIONS THAT MAY NOT BE
GOING WELL, WE HAVE A LOT OF
DEESCALATION TOOLS AND TRAINING
AT OUR SIDE.
OUR STAFF IMPLEMENT THOSE
DAILY.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE RULES OF
CONDUCT, ONE OF THE THINGS WE
WANT TO LOOK AT, DO THEY HAVE
DISPARATE EFFECTS ON PEOPLE OF
COLOR?
ARE THERE ELEMENTS OF THE RULES
OF CONDUCT THAT ACTUALLY
ESCALATE SITUATIONS INSTEAD OF
DEESCALATE?
ARE THERE RULES MAYBE WE NO
LONGER NEED APPLY?
AND I USE SIMPLE EXAMPLES OF
SOMETHING WE DID A FEW YEARS
AGO WHEN WE HAD SO MANY TEENS
BEING EXCLUDED AT THE RAINIER
BEACH BRANCH.
WE LOOKED AT THE RULE OF
CONDUCT BEING VIOLATED, AND IT
WAS EATING.
SO WENTS, WHEN WE REDESIGN THE
BUILDING, PUT IN AN AREA WHERE
TEENS CAN EAT.
THAT TOOK THOSE RULES OF
CONDUCT DOWN 25% TO 30% AND
KEPT TEENS IN THE BUILDING,
WHERE WE WANTED THEM, AND WHERE
THEY WANTED TO BE.
OTHERWISE THEY WOULDN'T BE IN
THE BUILDING.
BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT THIS
HOLISTICALLY, THERE COULD BE A
NUMBER OF WAYS TO BRING DOWN
THOSE EXCLUSIONS BUT ALSO BRING
DOWN SOME ISSUES THAT ALSO
ESCALATE INTO BIGGER ISSUES.
>> TOM, I REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT ANECDOTE ABOUT THE
ANALYSIS ABOUT WHY SO MANY
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BEING
EXCLUDED.
WE WANT DESPERATELY FOR OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE IN THE
LIBRARY.
BREAKING BARRIERS DOWN TO BE
SURE WE CAN FACILITATE THAT AND
ANALYZE WHAT RULES OF CONDUCT
WE ARE PUTTING OUT THERE THAT
ARE PRETTYING BARRIERS AND
IGNORING WAYS TO FIGURE OUT HOW
TO ACCOMMODATE OR SOLVE FOR
THEM IS REALLY CRITICAL
WORKABILITY AS YOU GO FORWARD
AND DO THIS IN 2022, I WOULD
LOVE TO STAY IN TOUCH ABOUT HOW
I CAN SUPPORT IT.
WHEN I WORKED AT KING COUNTY,
I'D BEEN INVOLVED IN EFFORTS
AROUND LOOKING AT SORT OF
SIMILAR THINGS LIKE HOW SCHOOL
DISCIPLINE LEADS TO SCHOOL TO
PRISON PIPELINE, LEADS TO
EXCLUDING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM
WHOLESOME SOMEPLACES,
LIBRARIES, PUBLIC SPACES, AND
DEPRIVING THEM BY BANNING THEM.
JUST KEEPING THAT OPEN IS A
CRITICAL PART OF THE FOUNDATION
OF THE WORK WE DO AS A CITY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT ANALYSIS OF
THAT WORK.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> I JUST WANTED TO ECHO WHAT
YOU SAID, WHICH WAS HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS TO UNDERSTAND,
PARTICULARLY IN UNDERRESOURCED
COMMUNITIES, THE IMPACT OF
THINGS LIKE FOOD INSECURITY.
I MEAN, THIS WAS AN ISSUE, THIS
ISSUE OF KIDS, YOU KNOW, TRYING
TO ACCESS FOOD.
>> I'M GOING TO SEE YOU, I
BELIEVE TOMORROW EVENING.
VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO
THAT.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE PANEL
AND APPRECIATE THE
PRESENTATION.
WE WILL SEND FOLLOW-UPS ON THE
PRESENTATION AS WE GET THEM
DOWN IN AN E-MAIL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, THAT IS OUR
ONLY ITEM OF BUSINESS FOR THIS
AFTERNOON.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE BEFORE WE
ADJOURN?
SEEING NONE, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US THIS AFTERNOON.
I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A PLEASANT
REST OF YOUR DAY.
>> THANK YOU.