EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S MEETING.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> CAN YOU GO BACK TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> SORRY. PRESENT.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE
PRESENT.
>> GREAT. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. THERE IS
ONE ITEM OF BUSINESS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA. WE HAVE A
PRESENTATION FROM THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY ON THEIR 10 YEAR
STRATEGIC PLAN. I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK CHIEF AND RICK SHERIDAN
FOR COMING TO THE COUNCIL
CHAMBERS TODAY TO PRESENT. WE
WILL NOW OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENT
SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA ARE WITHIN THE PURVIEW
OF THIS COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW
MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE ZERO IN
PERSON SPEAKERS AND ONE REMOTE
SPEAKER.
>> THANK YOU. MAY YOU PLEASE
READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT
INSTRUCTIONS,
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS UP TO 20
MINUTES EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES. PEOPLE WILL BE
CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED. WE START WITH
IN PERSON SPEAKERS AND THEN
REMOTE SPEAKERS UNTIL THE
PERIOD IS ENDED. SPEAKERS WILL
HEAR A CHILD WHEN 10 SECONDS
ARE LEFT OF THEIR TIME. THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN. WE WILL BEGIN THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST. THE FIRST
SPEAKER IS DAVID HAYNES.
SPEAKER, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX
WHEN YOU HEAR THE PROMPT. YOU
HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.
>> HI. DAVID HAYNES. THANK YOU.
WE NEED NEW COMPUTERS AND
BETTER SEATING TO PROVIDE
PERSONAL QUIET SPACE WITHOUT
STRANGERS BOTHERING YOU AT THE
LIBRARY. THE LIBRARY REALLY
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT FOR THE DAILY
EXPERIENCE AND WE NEED 21st
CENTURY TIMES WHERE YOU CAN GET
IN THERE EARLY AND STAY LATER
AND WE NEED A MORE EFFECTIVE
EFFORT FROM THE LIBRARIANS AND
SECURITY WHEN IT COMES TO
PEOPLE WHO NEED A SHOWER OR
SHELTER OR NEED SOME SORT OF
MENTAL OUTREACH. IT'S LIKE
URBAN REST STOPS SHOULD BE
PULLING UP IN A VEHICLE AT
CENTRAL LIBRARY TO DRIVE PEOPLE
TO TAKE A SHOWER AND DO
LAUNDRY. SHELTER PROVIDER
SHOULD BE SHOWING UP TO TAKE
PEOPLE TO A BETTER PATH.
INSTEAD MOST OF THE TIME YOU
CANNOT GO READ THE NEWSPAPER
READ THE COMPUTER WITHOUT BEING
BOTHERED BY OTHER PEOPLE
WALKING PAST OR SITTING TOO
CLOSE DUE TO THE SEATING
ARRANGEMENT FORCING YOU TO SIT
TOO CLOSE NEXT TO STINKY PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEHAVIORAL CRISIS
MENTAL PROBLEMS AND DRUG
PROBLEMS AND ARE INCREDIBLY
DISRESPECTFUL AND SOME OF THE
TOURISTS ARE REALLY RUDE AND
TREADING ON YOUR SPACE THE
WHOLE TIME. DUE TO THE DESIGN
OF THE LIBRARY SEATING NOTHING
IS DONE ABOUT IT. CERTAIN
MANAGERS FOCUS ON DECORATING.
SHALL SPACE TRYING TO WIN AN
AWARD. WHILE DISGRUNTLED BOOK
STOCKERS WHO RESTOCK THE BOOKS
SLAM THE BOOKS ON THE METAL
SHELVES TOO LOUD BOTHERING THE
PATRONS. IT HAS TO STOP. I
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO PULL
THIS OUT BUT THERE'S TOO MUCH
TRAN33 ON THE COMPUTER. HE
FROZE UP THE COMPUTER LOOKING
AT CHILD PORN. HE AND FROZE IT.
THE MANAGER SAID HE CAN LOOK AT
WHATEVER. THE MANAGER THE
CAYMAN DAVID, HE GAVE ME A
WARNING AND THEN A COUPLE WEEKS
LATER THIS OTHER GUY IS LOOKING
AT CHILD PORNO. I ASKED THE
LIBRARY AND TO ADDRESS IT AND
HE KICKED ME OUT AND THEN THREE
MONTHS LATER I GOT KICKED OUT
AGAIN AS I WAS ON LIBRARY
PROPERTY TALKING TO SOMEBODY.
THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THE LACK
OF EFFORT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS
WITHIN OUR SOCIETY THAT -- AND
APPLY THAT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SPEAKER. YOUR
TIME IS UP BUT YOU CAN PLEASE
DO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS, THE
REMAINDER OF YOUR COMMENTS TO
COUNSEL AT SEATTLE.GOV. THANK
YOU. COLLEAGUES, THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS. SO, THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
CLOSED. WE WILL NOW PROCEED TO
OUR ITEMS OF BUSINESS. AND
BEFORE WE GET TO AGENDA ITEM
ONE, I DO WANT TO SAY TODAY IS
THE LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR
FOR THE LIBRARIES, EDUCATION,
AND NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITTEE. I
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK OF
MY COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
COUNCILMEMBERS, JOY
HOLLINGSWORTH, KATHY AND I WANT
TO WELCOME OUR NEWEST COMMITTEE
MEMBER ALEXIS MERCEDES RANK. I
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXPRESS MY
GRATITUDE FOR THE WORK AND
COLLABORATION OF OUR CENTRAL
STAFF WHO SUPPORT THIS
COMMITTEE. TOSHA, JASMINE, AND
ERIC. THEY WORK ON EDUCATION ON
LIBRARIES RESPECTIVELY. THESE
MEETINGS ARE AN IMPORTANT WAY
THAT WE, INCLUDING THE
DEPARTMENTS, CAN SHOW OUR WORK
TO THE PUBLIC. THIS YEAR WE HAD
OVERVIEWS OF DEPARTMENT WORK
AND PROGRAMS FOR THE
DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE PURVIEW
OF THE COMMITTEE. THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
EARLY LEARNING PRESENTED ON THE
FAMILY'S EDUCATION PRESCHOOL
AND PROMISE LEVY AND TALKED
ABOUT THEIR CHILD CARE,
PRESCHOOL AND PROMISE PROGRAMS
AS WELL AS PUBLIC HEALTH K-12
INVESTMENTS. WE HEARD FROM THE
DEPARTMENT AND NEIGHBORHOODS
ABOUT THEIR PROGRAMS, INCLUDING
THE VERY POPULAR PEA PATCH AND
NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND
INVESTMENTS WHICH HELP
RESIDENTS IN GROWING FOOD IN
THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND FUND
NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED PROJECTS
RANGING FROM TRAFFIC CIRCLES TO
STREET FAIRS TO BLOCK PARTIES.
THE OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE AFFAIRS SHARED THEIR
TIRELESS EFFORTS IN SUPPORT OF
SEATTLE'S IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE POPULATIONS FROM
ASSISTING IN APPLYING FOR
CITIZENSHIP TO FREE IMMIGRATION
LEGAL SERVICES AND TRANSLATION
SERVICES TO PARTNERING WITH THE
REGION AND THE STATE TO HELP
THE MORE RECENT MIGRANTS TO THE
CITY. THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY, AS YOU KNOW, WAS
VICTIM TO A SERIOUS CYBER
ATTACK AND THEY APPEARED HERE
TO UPDATE US ON ALL THE WORK
THEY DID TO GET OUR BELOVED
LIBRARY BRANCHES BACK ON TRACK.
WE ALSO HEARD ABOUT THEIR
PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING THE
CITYWIDE BOOK CLUB, SEATTLE
READS AND OTHER PROGRAMMING AND
LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT SEATTLE
BRANCHES. AS I SAID EARLIER,
YOU WILL HEAR FROM THEM TODAY
ABOUT THEIR 10 YEAR STRATEGIC
PLAN. I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU, MY
FELLOW COUNCILMEMBERS, AND ALL
THE DEPARTMENTS ON THIS
IMPORTANT WORK . IN 2025, WE
WILL CONTINUE OUR REGULAR
COMMITTEE MEETINGS AS WELL AS
FOCUS ON THE RENEWAL OF THE
FAMILY EDUCATION PRESCHOOL AND
PROMISE LEVY. I ALSO LOOK
FORWARD TO HEARING ABOUT THE
ONGOING WORK OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND. I
WAS PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO ADD
THE RESTORATION OF THAT WELL
BELOVED PROGRAM BACK INTO THE
BUDGET FOR '25 AND '26 . IN
THE COMING YEAR, I ALSO LOOK
FORWARD TO HEARING MORE FROM --
ABOUT THEIR PLANS TO SUPPORT
HER IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE CHANGING
ENVIRONMENT AT THE NATIONAL
LEVEL. I KNOW DIRECTOR HOMINID
-- EXCUSE ME. DIRECTOR WILL BE
PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO BUT
MAKE NO MISTAKE, WE WILL
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR
RESIDENTS WHO COME HERE IN
SEARCH OF A BETTER LIFE. THEY
ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN LEVY WORK
THAT THEY WILL BE WORKING ON.
THAT WILL BE COMING UP IN 2026.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
AND FOCUS ON BEHALF OF THIS
COMMITTEE, COLLEAGUES, AND
LET'S GET TO TODAY'S AGENDA.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
TODAY'S FIRST AGENDA ITEM INTO
THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE. THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARIES 2024 THROUGH
2020 -- 2033 STRATEGIC PLAN.
>> THANK YOU. THIS ITEM HAS
BEEN READ INTO THE RECORD.
TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY TOM.
CHIEF LIBRARIAN AND RICK
SHERIDAN, DIRECTOR OF
INSTITUTIONAL AND STRATEGIC
ADVANCEMENT AT THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY WHO WILL SHARE
INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR 10 YEAR
STRATEGIC PLAN. THANK YOU,
BOTH, FOR BEING HERE. PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES FOR THE
RECORD AND THEN WE CAN LEARN
MORE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA. MY
NAME IS TOM. I'M THE CHIEF
LIBRARIAN FOR THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY AND MY
COLLEAGUE.
>> MADAM CHAIR, RICK SHERIDAN.
DIRECTION .
>> ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. AND
THANK YOU FOR HOSTING US TODAY.
I WILL BE SHARING INFORMATION
ABOUT THE LIBRARY'S NEW 10
YEAR PLAN. I HAVE ABOUT 30
MINUTES OF PRESENTATION TIME, I
BELIEVE. IT MIGHT GO A LITTLE
QUICKER. AND FIRST, VERY HIGH
LEVEL THE LIBRARY'S NEW
STRATEGIC PLAN IS A ROAD MAP
FOR US. AS WELL AS A LOOK AHEAD
FOR THE COMMUNITY AS TO WHAT WE
SEEK TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT
10 YEARS. IT WAS RECENTLY
ADOPTED BY HER LIBRARY BOARD OF
TRUSTEES IN NOVEMBER. THE PLAN
RECOGNIZES THAT THE LIBRARY IS
UNIQUELY SITUATED WITHIN OUR
COMMUNITY TO BRING PEOPLE AND
ORGANIZATIONS TOGETHER TO
AFFECT POSITIVE CHANGE. THE
FUTURE WE ENVISION BUILDS ON
EXISTING STRENGTHS INCLUDING
OUR WORLD-CLASS STAFF,
BILLINGS, COLLECTIONS,
PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES. IT
REINFORCES AND EXPANDS THE
IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS AND
CONNECTIONS WITHIN OUR CITY. IT
ALSO REQUIRES US TO CHANGE AND
GROW AND WE NEED TO BUILD NEW
SKILL SETS AROUND EMERGING
TECHNOLOGIES LIKE A.I. AS WE
LOOK FORWARD, TO OUR FUTURE, WE
BELIEVE THE LIBRARY MUST
CONTINUE AND EXPAND FREE ACCESS
TO BOOKS AND INFORMATION,
INCREASE ACCESS, INCLUDING FOR
THOSE WITH LIMITED ENGLISH
PROFICIENCY, PRIORITIZE EQUITY
IN OUR ACTIONS, SERVICES, AND
OUTCOMES, DEVELOP MORE
COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING THAT
IMPROVES PEOPLE'S LIVES AND
PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES. SERVE
AS A COMMUNITY HUB AND
CONNECTOR. LISTEN TO AND
REFLECT DIVERSE VOICES AND
VIEWPOINTS. IN DEVELOPING THE
PLAN, WE USED THE THEORY OF
CHANGE PLANNING MODEL WHICH
STARTS BY IDENTIFYING THE
OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS WE WANT TO
SEE. AS A RESULT OF OUR WORK.
THIS PLAN HAS BEEN DEEPLY
INFLUENCED BY OUR COMMUNITY AS
WELL AS INFORMED BY RESEARCH
ANALYSIS. WE HAVE ENGAGED
DOZENS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS
THROUGH FOCUS GROUPS, SURVEYED
THOUSANDS OF PATRONS, CONDUCTED
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS WITH
PATRONS AT SOME OF OUR BRANCHES
AND ENGAGED LIBRARY STAFF ALONG
THE WAY. WE ALSO CONDUCTED A
FUTURE LIBRARY STUDY WITH
FUTURE RESEARCHERS FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. ALL OF
THIS WORK HAS BEEN FOUNDED BY
THE 2019 LIBRARY LEVY AND IT
HAS HELPED US THINK THROUGH ANY
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES WE
ARE LIKELY TO BE PRESENTED
DURING THIS NEXT PERIOD. SOME
OF THE FIRST WORK WE DID ON THE
PLAN WAS ESTABLISHED STATEMENTS
AROUND OUR MISSION, VALUE,
VISION, AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
THIS PROVIDED US GREAT
GROUNDING IN OUR PLAN. WE ALSO
WANTED TO ENSURE THESE WERE
RESONATING WITH FOLKS WE WERE
ENGAGING WITH. IN OUR
CONVERSATIONS WITH
STAKEHOLDERS, WE HEARD
RESOUNDINGLY THAT THESE
STATEMENTS FELT TRUE TO STAFF,
PATRONS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS
ALIKE. AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE
NEXT 10 YEARS, PARDON ME, THESE
WILL ACT AS A CONSISTENT
REFERENCE IN TIMES OF CHANGE OR
CHALLENGE. THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY'S MISSION IS TO BRING
PEOPLE, INFORMATION, AND IDEAS
TOGETHER TO ENRICH LIVES AND
EMPOWER COMMUNITY. THIS IS
LARGELY THE SAME MISSION WE
HAVE BEEN USING FOR MANY YEARS
WITH ONE NOTABLE EXCEPTION. WE
CHANGED THE WORDS BUILD
COMMUNITY TO EMPOWER COMMUNITY.
WE DO NOT SEE OUR PRIMARY ROLE
IS BUILDING COMMUNITY BUT
INSTEAD IS EMPOWERING HER
COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BUILD THE
FUTURE THEY WANT FOR
THEMSELVES. WE ENVISION THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY AS THE
CENTRAL HUB OF AN EQUITABLE AND
CONNECTED CITY WHERE KNOWLEDGE
FLOURISHES AND PEOPLE FIND
INSPIRATION AND A SENSE OF
BELONGING. THIS VISION
HIGHLIGHTS OUR EMPHASIS ON
EQUITY, CONNECTION, LEARNING,
AND BELONGING. THESE ARE KEY
THEMES THAT YOU WILL SEE
THROUGHOUT THE PLAN. THE
LIBRARY'S VALUE SERVES AS A
GUIDE FOR HOW WE INTERACT WITH
OUR COMMUNITY AND EACH OTHER.
THESE VALUES INCLUDE CARE,
CONNECTION, AND LEARNING. WHEN
WE TALK ABOUT CARE, WHAT WE
MEAN IS THE LIBRARY CARES ABOUT
THE WELL-BEING OF OUR
COMMUNITY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO
PATRON SAFETY AND
CONFIDENTIALITY. WE ARE
COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING
INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AND A
HEALTHY DEMOCRACY. WE ARE
COMMITTED TO TRANSPARENCY,
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND GOOD
STEWARDSHIP. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
CONNECTION, THE LIBRARY VALUES
PEOPLE BY LISTENING AND
RESPONDING TO THEIR NEEDS. WE
ARE COMMITTED TO SEEKING
EQUITABLE OUTCOMES FOR
HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED PEOPLE.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO TEAMWORK
AND COLLABORATION. WE BUILD
POSITIVE CONNECTIONS,
EMPHASIZING RESPECT, AND
DIGNITY FOR ALL PEOPLE. AND BY
LEARNING , THE LIBRARIES IS AN
ALL AGES DESTINATION FOR
LEARNING AND DISCOVERY. WE
OFFER A LARGE AND DIVERSE
COLLECTION OF BOOKS AND OTHER
MATERIALS FOR FREE. WE HOST
ENGAGING PROGRAMS TO ALERT
COMMUNITY NEEDS AND INTEREST.
WE PROMOTE AND SUPPORT EARLY
LEARNING AND LIFELONG LEARNING
AND LITERACY. LASTLY, TWO
IMPORTANT GUIDING PRINCIPLES WE
THINK OF AS FUNDAMENTAL
STANDARDS THAT WE EMBED IN ALL
OF OUR WORK. EQUITY , ALIGNMENT
WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE RACE
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ORDINANCE WE
WERE TO UNCOVER AND DISMANTLE
INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM IN OUR
ORGANIZATION AND TO ADVANCED
RACIAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC
JUSTICE IN THE SEATTLE
COMMUNITY. INTELLECTUAL
FREEDOM, WE BELIEVE
INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM IS
ESSENTIAL FOR HEALTHY DEMOCRACY
AND FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR MISSION.
OUR BOOKS, PROGRAMS, AND
SERVICES ARE FREE AND AVAILABLE
TO ALL PEOPLE. WE PROMOTE AND
PROTECT FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND
EXPRESSION. AS I PREVIOUSLY
MENTIONED, THE LIBRARY USED A
THEORY OF CHANGE PLANNING MODEL
AT THE OUTSET. THIS MODEL
HELPED US IDENTIFY AND WORK
TOWARDS SPECIFIC GOALS AND
IMPACTS WE HOPE TO SEE IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND WITHIN OUR
ORGANIZATION. WITH GUIDANCE
FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, LIBRARY
PATRONS, STAFF, COMMUNITY
PARTNERS AND OTHERS WE
IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING THREE
COMMUNITY IMPACT AREAS AS A
CENTRAL FOCUS AREAS FOR US IN
THE NEXT 10 YEARS. WITH THIS
PLAN IS OUR GOD, WE WORK TO
HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES
IN OUR COMMUNITY MAKE
MEASURABLE PROGRESS IN THE
AREAS OF LITERACY, EMPOWERMENT,
AND ENRICHMENT. THROUGH OUR
WORK IN LITERACY, WE SEEK TO
HELP PEOPLE ACCESS SKILLS,
RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES
THEY NEED TO READ, LEARN, AND
NAVIGATE THEIR LIVES. WE ALSO
HOPE TO EMPOWER PEOPLE BY
HELPING THEM BUILD THE
CONFIDENCE AND SKILLS THEY NEED
TO PURSUE AND ACHIEVE THEIR
LIFE GOALS AND WE WANT TO
ENRICH LIVES BY PROVIDING
COLLECTIONS, PROGRAMS, SERVICES
AND YOUR JOY AND CONNECTION.
THROUGH PROGRESS IN THESE
IMPACT AREAS, WE INTEND TO
CULTIVATE A STRONGER SENSE OF
COMMUNITY BELONGING. I WILL
SPEND A FEW MINUTES EACH OF
THESE SO YOU CAN SEE HOW WE
INTEND TO MAKE PROGRESS ON
THESE GOALS. OUR FIRST
COMMUNITY IMPACT AREA IS
LITERACY. LITERACY AND LEARNING
WERE SEVERELY AFFECTED DURING
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. CHILDREN
AND TEENS EXPERIENCED
SIGNIFICANT LOSSES OF READING
AND MATH. ADULTS FELL BEHIND IN
VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND HIGHER
EDUCATION. NOW, MORE THAN EVER,
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE
LIBRARY EXPANDS ITS LITERACY
AND LEARNING OFFERINGS. FOR
EACH IMPACT AREA WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED WE HAVE IDENTIFIED
SPECIFIC OUTCOMES WE HOPE TO
ACHIEVE TOWARDS THESE GOALS.
WITH ILLITERACY IMPACT AREA THE
LIBRARY SEEMS TO PROVIDE
PROGRAMS, COLLECTIONS, SERVICES
AND RESOURCES TO HELP CHILDREN,
TEENS, AND YOUNG ADULTS BUILD
I'D LOVE FOR READING AND
LEARNING. HELP STUDENTS READ AT
OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL. HELP
PEOPLE OF ALL AGES NAVIGATE
SOCIAL SYSTEMS IN THEIR DAILY
LIVES. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
LITERACY, WE ARE NOT JUST
TALKING ABOUT THE SKILL OF
KNOWING HOW TO READ. WE ARE
ALSO TALKING ABOUT OTHER KINDS
OF LITERACY SUCH AS DIGITAL
LITERACY, FINANCIAL LITERACY,
AND HEALTH LITERACY. PLEASE
NOTE THAT THESE ARE JUST SOME
EXAMPLES OF THE OUTCOMES WE
WILL BE WORKING TOWARDS OVER
THE NEXT 10 YEARS. FOR THOSE
WHO ARE INTERESTED IN LOOKING
AT THE ENTIRE PLAN, YOU CAN DO
SO AT WWW.SPL.ORG/FUTURE. AS WE
DELVE DEEPER INTO THE LITERACY
IMPACT AREA, WE ALSO OUTLINED
SOME PRIORITY ACTIONS WE NEEDED
TO TAKE IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS TO
ACHIEVE OUR OUTCOMES AND GOALS.
FOR EXAMPLE, HELP YOUNG PEOPLE
BUILD A LOVE FOR READING AND
LEARNING. WE INTEND TO INCREASE
AND EXPAND PROGRAMS FOR
SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH
TO HELP STUDENTS READ AT OR
ABOVE GRADE LEVEL. WE INTEND TO
STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
ESPECIALLY TITLE I SCHOOLS AND
TO HELP PEOPLE NAVIGATE SOCIAL
SYSTEMS IN THEIR LIVES, FIRST,
WE MUST EVALUATE THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR CURRENT
PROGRAMS. ONE AREA WE KNOW WE
NEED TO FOCUS RESOURCES ON IS
PROVIDING TRAINING AROUND
EMERGING PSYCHOLOGIES --
TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE. WE WANT TO ENSURE
THAT THE DIGITAL DIVIDE DOES
NOT INCREASE AS THESE NEW
TECHNOLOGIES COMING TO
FRUITION. OUR SECOND COMMUNITY
IMPACT AREA IS EMPOWERMENT. THE
LIBRARY SUPPORTS PEOPLE IN
PURSUIT OF THEIR GOALS,
INTEREST, AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC
WELL-BEING. THIS INCLUDES
SUPPORTING SKILL DEVELOPMENTS,
ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORTS, THE
FREEDOM TO READ,
SELF-EXPRESSION, AND MORE.
THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT
COMMUNITY VALUE TO THESE
EFFORTS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2022,
WE USED THE URBAN LIBRARIES
COUNCIL'S BUSINESS VALUE
CALCULATOR TO ESTIMATE THAT THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY PROVIDES
A MARKET VALUE OF NEARLY $5
MILLION EACH YEAR IN BUSINESS
SERVICES TO LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS
AND BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS. IN
THE IMPACT AREA OF EMPOWERMENT
THE LIBRARY WILL PROVIDE THE
COMMUNITY ACCESSIBLE AND
INCLUSIVE COLLECTIONS,
PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND SPACES
AS WELL AS CUTTING-EDGE
TECHNOLOGIES THAT SUPPORT JOB
AND LIFE SKILLS. TO REACH THESE
OUTCOMES, WE INTEND TO PROVIDE
MORE SKILL BUILDING WORKSHOPS,
VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND CAREER
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND WE
PLAN TO DEVELOP AND INCORPORATE
ACCESSIBILITY POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES AS A STANDARD
PRACTICE FOR ALL OF OUR PUBLIC
SPACES, COLLECTIONS, PROGRAMS,
AND SERVICES. THESE ARE JUST A
FEW OF THE EXAMPLES OF SEVERAL
OUTCOMES IN THIS AREA. OUR LAST
COMMUNITY IMPACT AREA IS
ENRICHMENT. ENRICHING
ACTIVITIES HELP PEOPLE EXPLORE
AND DISCOVER A GREATER SENSE OF
THEMSELVES AND THE WORLD AROUND
THEM. PEOPLE CAN ENRICH THEIR
LIVES WITH BOOKS, MUSIC, FILMS,
TV, PERFORMANCES, CULTURAL
CELEBRATIONS, COMMUNITY
DISCUSSIONS, AND MANY MORE.
SINCE 2020, AND THE PANDEMIC,
THE PRESSURE RATES HAVE REACHED
ALL-TIME HIGHS IN THE U.S. OUR
COMMUNITY AND THE BROADER WORLD
HAS BEEN NAVIGATING AN EPIDEMIC
OF LONELINESS AND ISOLATION.
CONNECTING WITH EACH OTHER IS
AN IMPORTANT WAY TO ENRICH
LIFE. THE LIBRARY CAN OFFER
MANY AVENUES TOWARDS FULL AND
ENRICHED LIVES. IN THE IMPACT
AREA OF ENRICHMENT, THE LIBRARY
SEEMS TO CHAMPION AND CELEBRATE
PRESERVATION OF LOCAL HISTORY
INCLUDING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF
HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED PEOPLE
AND CULTURES WHO HELPED CREATE
SEATTLE. EXPERIENCES AND
OPPORTUNITIES THAT BUILD
COMMUNITY AND CULTIVATE A SENSE
OF BELONGING. TO ACHIEVE THESE
OUTCOMES, WE INTEND TO INCREASE
THE SEATTLE ROOMS COLLECTION .
WE INTEND TO ACQUIRE MORE
MATERIALS FROM THE DIVERSE
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE CALLED
SEATTLE HOME AND PROMOTE AND
HIGHLIGHT LOCAL EXPERTS OF OUR
CITY AND REGION. THIS INCLUDES
AUTHORS, MUSICIANS, AND OTHERS.
PROVIDING COMMUNITY ACCESS TO
LOCAL TALENT WE CAN HELP
STRENGTHEN KNOWLEDGE AND PRIDE.
WHILE THREE OF OUR IDENTIFIED
IMPACT AREAS SEEK TO INCREASE
COMMUNITY BELONGING, WE HAVE
THREE OTHER IMPACT AREAS THAT
SEEK TO IMPROVE OUR
ORGANIZATIONAL RESILIENCY.
THESE AREAS INCLUDE FUNDING,
CAPACITY, AND BUILDINGS,
TECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY.
AS WE LOOK AT OUR FUNDING, WE
WANT TO ENSURE FINANCIAL
RESEARCH OR SUPPORT WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DO. TO THAT END, WE
BEGIN DEVELOPING A NEW 2026
LEVY PROPOSAL TO SUPPORT THE
COMMUNITIES LIBRARY NEEDS FROM
2027 TO 2033. WE WILL ALSO BE
EXPLORING PLANNING
OPPORTUNITIES THAT INCREASE OUR
FINANCIAL CAPACITY BEYOND
GENERAL FUND AND OUR LEVY. WE
WILL EXPLORE EVERYTHING FROM
BOND MEASURES TO INCREASE
PRIVATE GIVING TO GRANT
OPPORTUNITIES . PARDON ME. TO
INCREASE PRIVATE GIVING AS WELL
AS GRANT OPPORTUNITIES TO
INCREASE OUR CAPACITY. ONE
PRIORITY ACTIVITY IN THIS AREA
WILL BE HIRING A GRANT WRITER
AND GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR TO
SUPPORT THIS EFFORT. PARDON ME.
WE ALSO WILL BE LOOKING TO
IMPROVE OUR STAFFING CAPACITY
AND EXPLORE NEW RECRUITMENT
TRAINING AND STRATEGIES. IT IS
ALSO ESSENTIAL THAT WE IMPROVE
OUR SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES TO
IMPROVE THE WORK EXPERIENCE FOR
OUR STAFF. WE ARE NOT JUST
SEEKING TO INCREASE OUR STAFF
CAPACITY. WE ARE ALSO SEEKING
TO IMPROVE OUR STAFF'S
EXPERIENCE AS LIBRARY EMPLOYEES
TO ENSURE WE ARE WORKING IN
CULTURALLY COMPETENT WAYS WE
WILL BE ESTABLISHING A NEW
OFFICE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY,
AND INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY
AT THE LIBRARY. WE WILL REPORT
TO THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN. TO
ENSURE FROM MY STAFF HAVE THE
SUPPORT THEY NEED WHEN
NAVIGATING INCREASINGLY
CHALLENGING SITUATIONS IN THEIR
DAILY WORK WE WILL BE
DEVELOPING A HOLISTIC WELLNESS
PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THEM
THROUGHOUT THEIR TIME AT SPL.
WE SEEK TO BE BOTH A GREAT
DESTINATION AND RESOURCE FOR
OUR COMMUNITY, OUR PATRONS, AND
TO BECOME AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE
IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN THE
CATEGORY OF BUILDINGS,
TECHNOLOGY, AND SUSTAINABILITY
WE WILL IMPLEMENT A MORE
SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO
MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES. IN
KEEPING WITH THE CITY'S
EFFORTS TO MOVE AWAY FROM
FOSSIL FUEL POWER SYSTEMS WE
WILL WORK TO DECREASE OUR
CARBON FOOTPRINT. AS YOU KNOW,
WE RECENTLY COMPLETED THE
SEISMIC RETROFITS AND REMODELED
THE GREEN LAKE BRANCH WHICH
REDUCED OUR CARBON OUTPUT AND
BROUGHT AIR-CONDITIONING TO
BUILDINGS FOR THE FIRST TIME
ALLOWING IT TO SERVE AS A
COMMUNITY COOLING CENTER DURING
HOT WEATHER. WE WILL BE CLOSING
THE UNIVERSITY BRANCH IN EARLY
2025 TO CONDUCT THIS SAME WORK
AND THEN, SOON AFTER, THE
COLUMBIA BRANCH WILL FOLLOW. IN
ADDITION, A RECENTLY AWARDED
FEMA GRANT WILL ALLOW US TO
COMPLETE THE CONVERSION TO ALL
ELECTRIC HVAC SYSTEMS IN ALL
SEATTLE LIBRARIES. COMING HERE
WE WILL ALSO INSTALL ELECTRIC
CAR CHARGING STATIONS AT
SEVERAL LOCATIONS AS WELL AS
BEGIN THE CONVERSION OF THE
LIBRARY'S VEHICLE FLEET. WE
WILL DEVELOP TECHNOLOGY
INITIATIVES THAT WILL LEAD TO
AN IMPROVED TECHNICAL
ENVIRONMENT WHERE TECHNOLOGY
ENVIRONMENT FOR PATRONS IN
PERSON AND ONLINE. IN THE WAKE
OF THE CYBERSECURITY ATTACK
THAT IMPACTED US EARLIER THIS
YEAR WE WILL BE HIRING
COMMUNITY SPECIALIST TO BRING
FOCUS ATTENTION ON THE AREA OF
DIGITAL SECURITY. IN 2025, WE
WILL ALSO LAUNCH A NEW LIBRARY
APP THAT WILL PROVIDE A MORE
CONVENIENT ACCESS TO LIBRARY
MATERIALS AND SERVICES. WE WILL
ALSO BE LOOKING AT
OPPORTUNITIES TO PILOT LIBRARY
KIOSKS AT THREE NON-LIBRARY
LOCATIONS TO PROVIDE MORE
COMMUNITY ACCESS TO PHYSICAL
MATERIALS, WI-FI, E-BOOKS AND E
AUDIOBOOKS. ONCE AGAIN, THESE
ARE JUST EXAMPLES OF SEVERAL OF
THE OUTCOMES AND ACTIVITIES WE
HAVE PLANNED AT EACH OF THESE
IMPACT AREAS. THERE IS A LOT OF
WORK AHEAD OF US BUT IT IS WORK
WE ARE EXCITED TO DO AND
ALREADY GETTING STARTED ON.
THIS WORK WILL BE DIVIDED OVER
THE NEXT 10 YEARS AND WE HAVE
DEVELOPED A PHASE TIMELINE FOR
IMPLEMENTATION. IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE 10 YEAR PLAN WHICH
CARRIES US THROUGH 2033 IS
SEQUENCED BY THREE DISTINCT
FUNDING CYCLES WE CAN
ANTICIPATE AT THIS TIME. THE
ADOPTION OF THIS PLAN WILL
REQUIRE IT BE SEQUENCED AND
HAVE AN ITERATIVE APPROACH TO
IMPLEMENTATION THAT ALIGNS WITH
ART NATURAL RESOURCES AT THAT
TIME. EACH PHASE WILL BEGIN BY
EVALUATING THE LIBRARY
RESOURCES TO DETERMINE OUR
ABILITY TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS.
PHASE ONE IS 2024 THROUGH '26.
IN PHASE ONE, THE LIBRARY WILL
IMPLEMENT SELECT PRIORITY
ACTIONS. THIS PHASE WILL FOCUS
ON CONDUCTING ASSESSMENTS OF
FINANCES, BUILDINGS AND
OBLIGATIONS TO INFORM PLANNING
FOR FUTURE PHASES. WE WILL ALSO
PLAN FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE
LIBRARY LEVY IN 2026. PHASE TWO
IS 2026 THROUGH '28 AND PHASE
TWO THE LIBRARY WILL FOCUS ON
NEW AND EXPANDED ACTIVITIES
OUTLINED IN THIS PLAN THAT WILL
BE MADE POSSIBLE BY A PROPOSED
LIBRARY RENEWAL IN 2026. WE
WILL WORK WITH THE CITY AND
DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2027 2028
ANNUAL BUDGET. WE WILL ALSO
CONDUCT ARCHITECTURAL AND
DESIGN WORK TO INFORM A
REIMAGINING OF OUR SPACES. THIS
WILL HELP DETERMINE BUDGET
NEEDS, PROPER FUNDING
MECHANISMS AND PRIORITIES FOR
EACH FUTURE CAPITAL PROJECT.
THE LIBRARY WILL ALSO ASSESS
THE POTENTIAL FOR CAPITAL BOND
MEASURES AND A PRIVATE
COMPREHENSIVE FUNDRAISING
CAMPAIGN. PHASE THREE, 2028
THROUGH 2033 AND IN THIS FINAL
PHASE, IT TAKES US THROUGH THE
END OF THIS NEXT LEVY. THE
LIBRARY WILL PURSUE A CAPITAL
BOND MEASURE TO SUPPORT THE
MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS FOR ALL OF OUR
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES. WE
WILL ALSO WORK WITH OUR
PARTNER, THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY FOUNDATION TO BEGIN A
COMPREHENSIVE FUNDRAISING
CAMPAIGN. AND, THE END OF THIS
PHASE, IT WILL SEE US BEGIN A
NEW PLANNING STAGE FOR THE 2034
[ INAUDIBLE ]. AND, WITH THAT,
I AM HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. THERE
IS A LOT HERE AND THERE IS A
LOT MORE IN THE PLAN,
OBVIOUSLY. COULD NOT GET IT ALL
IN A SHORT PRESENTATION BUT I
DO HOPE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO
READ IT.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. THANK YOU
FOR TAKING US THROUGH THE
OVERVIEW AND I DO ENCOURAGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO READ THE PLAN IN
ITS ENTIRETY SO THAT YOU CAN
GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
OVERVIEW THAT THE CHIEF JUST
PRESENTED. I REALLY WANT TO
THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND, TO YOUR STAFF,
I KNOW IT WAS A HARD YEAR FOR
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES WITH
THAT CYBER ATTACK AND REALLY
APPRECIATED THE COMMUNICATION
THAT WENT BACK AND FORTH SO
THAT WE KNEW YOU WERE DOING ALL
YOU COULD TO GET BRANCHES BACK
ON TRACK AND I REALLY COMMEND
YOU AND YOUR TEAMS EFFORTS FOR
ALL THAT YOU DID TO MAKE SURE
THAT THERE WAS AS LITTLE
DISRUPTION AS POSSIBLE FROM
ANYWHERE , YOU KNOW, FROM
CHECKING OUT MATERIALS AND ALL
THE WAY TO CONTINUING
PROGRAMMING TO MAKE SURE THERE
WAS AS LITTLE DISRUPTION AS
POSSIBLE. SO, THANK YOU FOR ALL
OF THAT. YOU ALL DID AN AMAZING
JOB AND, REALLY, APPRECIATE ALL
THE COMMUNICATION.
COMMUNICATION IS IMPORTANT.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY WE KNOW WHAT
IS GOING ON AND HOW TO
COMMUNICATE TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS. REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT. I ALSO WANT TO SAY,
COLLEAGUES, LIKE I DID THIS
YEAR WITH DEAL, WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
EARLY LEARNING AND PREP FOR THE
LEVY NEXT YEAR I AM WORKING
WITH CHIEF AND HIS TEAM TO MAKE
SURE THAT THIS COMING YEAR IN
2025 WE HAVE SIMILAR OVERVIEWS
OF PROGRAMMING THAT IS FUNDED
BY THE LEVY SO WE KNOW WHERE
THOSE LEVY FUNDS ARE GOING AND
ALSO THE RESULTS AND OUTCOMES
OF THE LEVY FUNDING. IN
ADDITION TO, YOU KNOW, OVERVIEW
ON WHAT THE FUTURE LEVY MIGHT
FIND AND CONTINUING
INVESTMENTS. THAT IS ALL TO
COME IN 2025. PLEASE KNOW THAT
WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED THAT
CONVERSATION TOGETHER. SO, THAT
SAID, COLLEAGUES, DOES ANYONE
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK
YOU, CHIEF, FOR THE
PRESENTATION. REALLY APPRECIATE
ALL THE WORK THAT THE SEATTLE
LIBRARY DOES AND, QUICK
QUESTION AND YOU MIGHT HAVE
ANSWERED THIS, AND I'M GLAD
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA REMINDED
ME ABOUT THIS, IS THERE ANY
CROSSOVER BETWEEN THE FAMILY
EDUCATION LEVY AND THE LIBRARY
LEVY IN TERMS OF RIGHT NOW I
KNOW WE HAVE FOR IN MY
DISTRICT. MY FAVORITE LIBRARY
IN THE HOLD CITY, I COULD ARGUE
THAT IT'S THE BEST LIBRARY IN
THE CITY BUT THAT IS JUST ME. [
LAUGHTER ]. HOWEVER, BUT WHEN
YOU LOOK AT THE LIBRARIES
EITHER DOUGLAS, THERE'S
CAPITOL HILL BUT THERE IS THREE
OF THEM THAT ARE IN CLOSE
PROXIMITY TO SCHOOLS. DOUGLAS
IS BETWEEN WASHINGTON.
GARFIELD, NOVA, LIKE, JUST
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IS
THERE, AND I LOVED WHEN I SEE
KIDS GO TO THE LIBRARY RIGHT
AFTER SCHOOL TO GO HANG OUT OR
THEY GO TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITY
CENTERS, US LEVERAGING SOME OF
OUR PUBLIC PROPERTIES,
LIBRARIES, COMMUNITY CENTERS,
SCHOOLS. THESE PUBLIC SPACES,
IS THERE ANY CROSSOVER FROM THE
LIBRARY LEVY TO THE FAMILY
EDUCATION LEVY? AND WE CAN TALK
OFF-LINE.
>> YEAH. THERE ISN'T ANY
DIRECT CROSSOVER. HOWEVER, AS
THE DEAL HAS BEEN LOOKING AT
SOME OF ITS PROGRAMS IN THIS
NEXT LEVY WE TALKED ABOUT
THINGS LIKE HOMEWORK HELP. WE
PROVIDE HOMEWORK HELP AND WE
PROVIDE HOMEWORK HELP THAT IS
ALSO ONLINE AND AVAILABLE TO
EVERYONE. OUR HOMEWORK HELP IS
ABOUT NINE LOCATIONS RIGHT NOW.
FOCUSED IN SOME KEY AREAS WHERE
WE KNOW THAT STUDENTS STRUGGLE.
SO, WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT.
AS THE DIRECTOR AND I HAVE
DISCUSSED, HE IS LOOKING AT
EXPANDING, AND/OR MAY BE
LOOKING AT OTHER LOCATIONS. WE
HAVE MANY LOCATIONS THAT WE
WOULD BE HAPPY TO OFFER FOR
HOMEWORK HELP IF THEY HAVE THAT
SERVICE. SO, I DO SEE US
WORKING CLOSER TOGETHER IN THAT
PARTICULAR EFFORT AND MOVING
FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. COUNCIL
NUMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. I WILL
SAY CHIEF AND I JUST HAD THIS
VERY CONVERSATION YESTERDAY. IT
WAS A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT I WOULD
ADD TO THIS THAT WE ALSO
DISCUSSED. IT'S THE FACT THAT
WE HAVE THESE TYPES OF
INVESTMENTS IN VARIOUS
DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW,
PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE
LOOKING AT RENEWAL OF BOTH
LEVEES, ACTUALLY, WE NEED TO
KNOW WHAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS
HAVE INVESTMENTS , ARE WE
TAKING A HOLISTIC APPROACH? AND
WE KNOW WHAT THAT INVESTMENT
REALLY IS AND I WILL GIVE YOU
AN EXAMPLE ON THE TUTORING END.
SPL HAS TUTORING. THAT PROVIDES
INVESTMENTS FOR TUTORING AND WE
DON'T HAVE THE CLEAR PICTURE .
OUR TUTORING INVESTMENT IS
BIGGER THAN IT IS JUST LOOKING
AT INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS. SO,
ONE THING THAT I'M WORKING ON
IS MAKING SURE THAT AS WE ARE
GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE
LEVY, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
CLEAR, NOT JUST THE INVESTMENTS
THAT THE LEVY IS FUNDING, BUT
OTHER INVESTMENTS, GENERAL
FUNDING AND OTHERWISE ACROSS
THE CITY THAT ARE THE STAIN SO
THAT WE SEE WHAT THE ACTUAL
FINANCIAL NUMBER IS FOR THAT
INVESTMENT. RIGHT? BECAUSE WE
HAVE TUTORING AND DEALS BUT IF
WE TALK ABOUT DEAL AND WE LOOK
AT THAT NUMBER, IT IS NOT
REFLECTIVE OF THE ENTIRE
INVESTMENT BECAUSE THEN WE HAVE
ANOTHER NUMBER AT LIBRARIES.
PARKS IS A NUMBER OF YOUTH
PROGRAMMING. WE ARE GOING TO BE
LOOKING AT ALL OF THAT. THANK
YOU FOR RAISING THAT BECAUSE IT
IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS.
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING
THIS HOLISTIC APPROACH. OUR
INVESTMENTS ARE A LOT BIGGER
SOMETIMES THAN THE PUBLIC KNOWS
THAT IT IS BECAUSE WE TEND TO
TALK ABOUT DEPARTMENTS
SEPARATELY AND IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE LOOKING AT THE CITY
HOLISTICALLY AND THIS ONE
SEATTLE APPROACH SO THAT WE
KNOW WHAT THE LEVEL OF
INVESTMENT TRULY IS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. JUST
ONE QUICK LAST QUICK COMMENT. I
APPRECIATE THAT. BECAUSE I
THINK THIS LEVY FOR OUR KIDS IS
GOING TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT
LEVY. MOST IMPORTANT LEVY FOR
OUR CITY AND I KNOW THAT WE
HAVE A LIBRARY LEVY AS WELL AND
I WOULD LOVE US TO UTILIZE AND
MAXIMIZE A LOT MORE OF OUR
PUBLIC SPACES MORE. I KNOW
THERE IS A LOT OF GROUPS OUT
THERE LIKE, OH, WE NEED SPACE.
WE NEED SPACE. WE HAVE
COMMUNITY CENTERS, WE HAVE
GREAT LIBRARIES. WE HAVE ALL
THESE GREAT SPACES. I
APPRECIATE HOW YOU ARE MAXIMIZE
ACCESSIBILITY IN YOUR SPACES
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
WORKING ON IT WITH
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND THE
REST OF THE COMMITTEE. A LOT OF
THOSE, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT
VALUES THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM
PEOPLE ABOUT THE LEVY AND THE
IMPACT THAT THEY WANT. SO,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK ?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE, CHIEF LIBRARIAN. AS WAS
MENTIONED, THIS IS MY FIRST
MEETING AND I COULD NOT BE MORE
EXCITED. MY [ INAUDIBLE ] WAS A
LIBRARIAN AND I DID MOST OF MY
HOMEWORK IN THE LIBRARY. I'M
EXCITED YOU ALL ARE HERE BUT I
WANTED TO TOUCH ON ONE PIECE.
IT WAS REPORTED ON EARLIER THIS
YEAR ABOUT DIALING BACK OUR
LIBRARY SERVICE HOURS. I WAS
WONDERING IF WE COULD JUST GET
A STATUS REPORT ON HOW IF WE
HAVE RESTORED THOSE HOURS AND
ALSO, IF NOT, WHAT WOULD IT
TAKE TO RETURN BACK THOSE HOURS
OF SERVICE?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
YES, WE HAVE RESTORED SOME OF
THOSE HOURS. WE DID THAT IN
SEPTEMBER. WHAT WE LABELED OUR
FALL HOURS JUST TO KEEP PEOPLE
MOVING ALONG WITH US AND THEN,
AS WE MOVE TOWARDS THE END OF
JANUARY, WE WILL BE BRINGING
MORE HOURS AGAIN. WE WILL THEN,
AT THAT POINT, STABILIZE THOSE
HOURS AND MAKE SURE WE CAN
CONSISTENTLY MAINTAIN THOSE
HOURS FOR THE YEAR AND BECAUSE
OF OUR OTHER CONTRACTUAL
OBLIGATIONS WITH OUR UNION
PARTNER IT MAKES IT EASIER TO
KEEP THE SCHEDULES SOUND FOR A
YEAR. AS WE LOOK AT AND AS I
MENTIONED HERE IN THE
PRESENTATION, ONE OF THE ISSUES
WE ARE LOOKING AT IS HOW DO WE
CREATE THAT STABILITY AROUND
THE HOURS IF WE WANT TO EXPAND
BEYOND THAT? SO, IN THE LEVY WE
ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING, THE
FUNDING WE RECEIVED WAS REALLY
ONLY TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN
APPROACH. MEANING NOT A WHOLE
LOT FOR PROGRAMMATIC -- AND IT
SHOWS. AND THEN THROW IN THE
PANDEMIC, THROWN SOME OF THE
OTHER SOCIETAL CHALLENGES WE
HAVE THAT REALLY ARE AFFECTING
EVERY CITY IN THE COUNTRY, IT
REQUIRED US TO CHANGE OUR
STAFFING WHICH MEANT WE NEEDED
TO HAVE MORE STAFF ON EACH
SHIFT TO MAKE SURE WE WERE
OPERATING A SAFE AND WELCOMING
AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL
AND, WITH THAT, IT MEANS WE
HAVE HAD TO NOT HIT THE HOURS
THAT WE MIGHT HAVE WANTED TO
HIT. BUT IT ALSO RECOGNIZES
THAT WHEN WE PUT THAT LEVY
TOGETHER IN 2019, WE NEEDED TO
REALLY BE LOOKING AT IT AND WE
WILL BE LOOKING AT WHAT IS THE
TOTAL COSTS OF OPERATING VALUE.
I CAN'T RUN A BUILDING WITHOUT
PEOPLE CLEANING IT. I CAN'T
RUN A BUILDING IT WITHOUT
PEOPLE FIXING IT AND I CAN'T
RUN IT WITHOUT SOMETIMES HAVING
SECURITY. SO, IT IS GREAT. I
CAN GET LIBRARIANS AND LIBRARY
STAFF TO FILL THOSE HOURS OF
SERVICE BUT ALL THOSE OTHER
POSITIONS ARE CRITICAL. SO, AS
WE LOOK AT THIS NEXT LEVY YOU
WILL SEE THAT WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT CAPACITY, IT IS NOT JUST
THAT SERVICE LEVEL THAT YOU
THINK OF WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE
LIBRARY. IT'S EVERYTHING
BEHIND-THE-SCENES TO MAKE SURE
THAT IT OPERATES THE WAY IT
SHOULD. SO, YES. IT IS A
COMPLEX ISSUE AND AS REQUIRED
KNOWS, ONE WE WERE WORKING ON
YESTERDAY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
PREPARED FOR THIS NEXT LEVY AND
WHEN WE SAY WE ARE GOING TO
OPERATE THESE HOURS, WE ARE
STAFFED APPROPRIATELY TO
OPERATE THOSE HOURS.
>> THANK YOU. WOULD LOVE TO
FIND WAYS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
KEEPING OUR DOORS OPEN AND
THANKS FOR LAYING OUT THAT IT
IS A COMPLEX PICTURE. MY NEXT
QUESTION IS RELATED TO E-BOOKS
AND SOME OF THE, I SHOULD SAY,
PERHAPS, SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT
GROW WITH GROWING OUR E-BOOK
COLLECTION. I UNDERSTAND
LICENSING ISSUES, IT'S NOT A
FIXED COST BUT A RECURRING COST
AND SO MANY OF THE STRATEGIES
WITHIN THE PLAN WHICH ARE GREAT
INVOLVE, OF COURSE, GROWING OUR
COLLECTION. YOU HAVE AN
ESTIMATE ON THE DEMAND FOR
E-BOOKS OR SPECIFIC GOALS ON
HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO GROW THE
E-BOOK COLLECTION AND HOW DOES
THAT DEMAND FAIR TO THE ONGOING
COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH GROWING
THE COLLECTION.
>> I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.
IT IS A LITTLE COMPLEX. IF
YOU'LL BEAR WITH ME. SO, YES.
THE E-BOOK CHALLENGE IS MOST
CERTAINLY ONE THAT WE FACE
EVERY DAY. AND, AS YOU CAN
IMAGINE, FROM THE PANDEMIC ON,
EVERYBODY WHO WOULD NEVER TOUCH
AN E-BOOK OR AN E AUDIOBOOK
USES THEM FREQUENTLY NOW. SO,
THE INCREASE IS ABOUT SOMEWHERE
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT
60% OF OUR CIRCULATION IS E
MATERIALS. AND THE ADOPTION OF
PATRONS IS VERY HIGH. BEFORE
THE PANDEMIC, IT WAS ABOUT 25%.
I WOULD SAY NOW, LOOKING AT IT,
PROBABLY CLOSER TO 75% FOR MORE
BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN E AND
PHYSICAL AS NEEDED. AS THE
DEMAND HAS INCREASED, IT HAS
PUT MORE CHALLENGES ON OUR
BUDGET. THE EFFECTIVELY, OTHER
THAN THROUGH THE LEVY OR
THROUGH OUR FOUNDATION, THERE
HAS BEEN NO INCREASE TO GENERAL
FUND DOLLARS TO MITIGATE ANY OF
THESE COSTS OR EXCAVATIONS. WE
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT
THROUGH LEVERAGING LEVY DOLLARS
OR FOUNDATION DOLLARS TO KEEP
US MOVING ALONG. AS WE LOOK AT
THIS , E-BOOKS AND AUDIOBOOKS
ARE BASICALLY RIGHT NOW
SUBSCRIPTION MODELS. WITH THAT,
YOU DO GET ONLY SO MANY
CHECKOUTS WHERE YOU GET THE
MATERIAL FOR TWO YEARS OR
WHATEVER THE LICENSE TERM IS.
SO, IT MAKES IT VERY
CHALLENGING WHEN YOU WANT TO
TRY TO BUILD A DIGITAL
COLLECTION. ONE OF THE AREAS WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AT A
NATIONAL LEVEL WITH COLLEAGUES
AND HERE IN THE STATE, THE
PUBLIC LIBRARY DIRECTORS GROUP
HAS BEEN PROPOSING TO THE
LEGISLATION, EXCUSE ME, THE
STATE LEGISLATURE THIS COMING
YEAR THAT WE ACTUALLY DO A
STUDY ONTO E MATERIALS AND
BASICALLY PRICING, NOT SO MUCH
THAT WE THINK THAT THERE IS
GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE CAN
CHANGE THE PRICE OF BUT CAN
THERE BE OTHER MODELS AND CAN
THERE BE A MODEL THAT WE
ACTUALLY HAVE AT SOME POINT THE
ABILITY TO BUY A TITLE IN
PERPETUITY? SO, RIGHT NOW, I
CANNOT UNLESS I SUBSCRIBE TO IT
FOREVER WHICH IS A CRAZY WAY TO
DO IT. IF WE WANT TO HAVE, AND
MY CONCERN IS LOOKING AT THE
NEXT 25 YEARS, IF WE WANT TO
HAVE A LIBRARY COLLECTION , WE
HAVE NO WAY TO DO IT IN THE
DIGITAL REALM AND WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE STILL, AS
LIBRARIES, COLLECTING ALL THE
INTELLECTUAL THOUGHT AS WE HAVE
DONE FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS,
RIGHT? OR THOUSANDS OF YEARS IF
WE GO ALL THE WAY BACK IN TIME.
AND WE CAN'T DO THAT TODAY.
AND THERE IS NO INCENTIVE FOR A
PUBLISHER TO PUBLISH ANYTHING
IF THEY CAN'T MAKE ANY MONEY
ON IT. LIBRARIES ARE A KEY ROLE
IN MAKING SURE ALL THE
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND
THOUGHT IS STILL AVAILABLE TO
EVERYONE MANY YEARS AFTER
PUBLISHERS LOSE INTEREST IN
PUBLISHING THE TITLE. THOSE ARE
SOME EFFORTS WE ARE WORKING ON
IT NOW. WE DO KNOW THAT STATE
IS HAVING ITS OWN BUDGET ISSUES
THIS PARTICULAR CYCLE. WE
DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL GET
FUNDED AS FAR AS THE STUDY BUT,
IN THAT SAME STUDY REQUEST, IT
DOES TALK ABOUT THIS PERPETUITY
MODEL WHICH IS IMPORTANT IS TO
START CREATING THE AWARENESS
OF. ALSO, CREATING THE
AWARENESS DOESN'T GIVE STATE
AID TO LIBRARIES. MANY STATES
DO PROVIDE STATE AID. THIS
WOULD BE A CRITICAL AREA TO BE
ABLE TO DO SO AND PROVIDING
MONEY FOR COLLECTIONS. OUR
COLLEAGUES IN RURAL PARTS OF
THE STATE, IF YOU THINK IT IS
HARD FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
TO BE IN THIS GAME, IT IS
NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE OR IT IS
IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO BE IN
THE E MATERIAL GAIN. SO, IT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK AT IN
THIS STUDY FOR STATE AID
THROUGH PERPETUITY MODEL,
THROUGH DIFFERENT PRICING
MODELS, WE HOPE TO ACTUALLY
HELP ALL LIBRARIES IN THE
STATE. WE HOPE TO HELP THEM
ACTUALLY WHETHER THIS
PARTICULAR CRISIS. IT'S
BECOMING A CRISIS. EVEN FOR
THOSE THAT ARE AS BIG AS THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, IT
BECOMES HARDER AND HARDER TO
MAINTAIN OUR LEVEL OF
PURCHASING AND MAKING SURE WE
ARE GETTING ALL THE TITLES THAT
PEOPLE HAVE INTEREST IN.
>> IF I COULD JUST ADD ONE
POINT. THE AVERAGE E-BOOK IS
THREE TO FIVE TIMES MORE THAN A
PAPER COPY. SO, IN ADDITION TO
INCREASED DEMAND IN THE BUDGET
WHEN IT COMES TO COLLECTIONS,
ALL THE SUDDEN THE PRICING IS
FAR MORE EXPENSIVE. SO, TO MEET
PATRONS INTEREST FOR E
MATERIALS, LIKE, WE ARE REALLY
STRUGGLING BUDGET TERRIBLY TO
MEET THOSE PRICES.
>> AS A FOLLOW-UP, JUST TO
CLARIFY, YOU WILL BE ENGAGING,
WHETHER YOU ALL OR THE
FOUNDATION IN LEGISLATIVE
ADVOCACY THIS YEAR AT THE STATE
LEVEL. OKAY. THANK YOU. ADAM
CHAIR, IF I COULD ASK ONE MORE
QUESTION. THANK YOU. PIVOTING
FOR A SECOND, THIS IS A
QUESTION AND THE BITS OF THE
COMMENTS, I SHOULD SAY, ABOUT
THE EVER-GROWING ROLE THAT OUR
LIBRARIES ARE FACING IN
ADDRESSING AND WORKING WITH
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS AND I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE AND COMMEND SPL. I
UNDERSTAND THAT IS NOT THE
CHARGE OF THE LIBRARY, PER SE,
BUT WHAT EXISTS IS THE FACT
THAT OUR LIBRARIES IN MANY WAYS
ARE SOME OF THE ONLY DAYTIME
SPACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN JUST BE
IN MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE
IN OUR LIBRARIES AND I WANTED
TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK ON HOW THAT HAS SHAPED UP
AND CHANGED THINGS FOR
LIBRARIES AND STAFF AND ALSO I
UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE BROUGHT ON
SYSTEM STAFF WITHIN THE CENTRAL
LIBRARY LOCATION TO SERVE AS A
COMMUNITY CONNECTOR TO GET
FOLKS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
CONNECTED TO SERVICES.
>> SURE. THANK YOU. YES. YOU
KNOW, IT COMES UP AROUND
HOMELESSNESS QUITE A BIT BUT I
HAVE BEEN IN THIS PROFESSION 42
YEARS AND HOMELESSNESS IN THIS
COUNTRY HAS NEVER BEEN SOLVED.
I DOUBT IT EVER WILL BE. WE DO
A LOT OF GREAT WORK HERE IN
SEATTLE TRYING TO FIND HOMES
FOR PEOPLE EITHER TEMPORARY OR
PERMANENT AND A LIBRARY REALLY
PLAYS A ROLE IN THAT AND THE
REASON WE PLAY A ROLE IS THAT
WE ARE THE CITY'S LARGEST
REFERRAL DEPARTMENT. WE CAN
PROVIDE REFERENCES, REFERRALS,
EVEN THROUGH JUST A LIBRARIAN
OR LIBRARY AND STAFF, ARE
SOCIAL WORKERS, OR SOCIAL
WORKERS ACTUALLY DO A GREAT JOB
IN CREATING ALL OF THESE
REFERENCE TOOLS AND RESOURCES
FOR OUR LIBRARIANS THEN TO MAKE
SURE PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO GET THE
SERVICES THEY NEED AND THE HELP
THEY NEED AND THAT IS
EVERYTHING AROUND MENTAL
HEALTH, DRUG ADDICTION,
HOMELESSNESS, AND A VARIETY OF
OTHER ISSUES THAT FOLKS ARE
CONFRONTED WITH. EVEN
IMMIGRANTS FIND THEMSELVES
WITHOUT A HOME AND THEY ARE
SENT TO THE LIBRARY. SOMETIMES
ON A WEEKEND WITH NOTHING BUT
THE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACK AND
WE ARE ABLE TO USUALLY GET THEM
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND I
THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
LIBRARIES WILL ALWAYS DO. WE
ARE THERE FOR ALL PEOPLE
WITHOUT THAT JUDGMENT AND, YOU
KNOW, I THINK IT IS HARD FOR
PEOPLE WHO COME IN AND EXPECT
THE LIBRARY TO BE SOMETHING
THAT THEY MAY HAVE THOUGHT OF
IN THEIR OWN LIFETIME. A VERY
QUIET, LITTLE NOOK OF THE
LIBRARY. WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN
URBAN LIBRARIES. WE TRY TO
CREATE SPACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN
HAVE THAT BUT YOU ARE ALSO
GOING TO HAVE SOME TIMES WHEN
IT IS NOT QUIET. WE WANT TO
ACTIVATE THE SPACES. WE WANT TO
CREATE ENTHUSIASM. WE WANT TO
SHARE MUSIC. WE WANT TO SHARE
ART. WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
SO, I THINK AS WE LOOK AT THE
SOCIAL ISSUES, IT IS THOSE
ELEMENTS, OBVIOUSLY, HAVE
INCREASED BUT WE ARE NOT ALONE.
EVERY SINGLE DIRECTOR IN EVERY
SINGLE CITY THAT I HAVE TALKED
TO FACES THE SAME ISSUES. IT IS
WHERE WE ARE AT IN SOCIETY AND
WE DO AS A SOCIETY HAVE SOME
CHALLENGES TO HOPEFULLY IMPROVE
UPON OVER THE NEXT DECADE OR
SO. WE BELIEVE THE LIBRARY HAS
BEEN PRESENTED TODAY AND CAN DO
THAT AND STILL PROVIDE
ENRICHMENT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
SOME OF OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS
THAT COME IN AND USE LIBRARIES,
THEY WANT THE SAME THING AS
EVERYONE ELSE. THEY WANT TO BE
ABLE TO WATCH A MOVIE. THEY
WANT TO BE ABLE TO CATCH UP ON
SOMETHING. THEY WANT TO HAVE
THE NEWS. WE HAVE PHONES AT THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY SO PEOPLE CAN
ACTUALLY MAKE A PHONE CALL. ALL
OF THESE THINGS ARE VERY
IMPORTANT AND AS I ALWAYS SAY,
THE HARDEST THING FOR ANYONE
WORKING IN A LIBRARY IS EVERY
DAY YOU HAVE TO BRING YOUR
HUMANITY FORWARD. EVERY DAY
BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO BE
CONFRONTED WITH FOLKS WHO NEED
THAT. THEY NEED THAT HUMANE
RESPONSE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT
GETTING ANYWHERE ELSE. I'M
PROUD OF THE TEAM AND THE WORK
THEY DO.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BOTH,
FOR BEING HERE. MADAM CHAIR.
THAT CONCLUDES MY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. I
WILL SAY WE HAVE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT THIS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
WITH THE LIBRARIES AND THE SPL
STAFF DOES A GREAT JOB BEING
THAT REFERRAL AND DOING
REFERRALS AND ALSO, WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT , YOU KNOW, THE
LIBRARY IS A SAFE PLACE FOR THE
STAFF THAT WORK THERE. THEY ARE
NOT SOCIAL WORKERS AND WE
SHOULD NOT EXPECT THEM TO BE
BUT THEY DO DO A GREAT JOB
REFERRING PEOPLE TO PLACES AND
THAT IS IMPORTANT AND THEY ARE.
THE HUMANITIES THERE AND WE
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.
EVERYTHING I WAS GOING TO SAY
IS CHIEF AND I TALKED ABOUT IN
THE CONTEXT OF 10 YEAR
STRATEGIC PLAN IS THE FACT THAT
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE PRIORITIZING OUR BASIC
SERVICES AT THE LIBRARY. THAT
INCLUDES MATERIALS AND E-BOOKS
AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT
PEOPLE GENERALLY THINK OF WHEN
THEY THINK OF LIBRARIES AND
THAT IS, YOU KNOW, BACK TO BASE
GUESTS LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR OUR
CONSTITUENTS AND THAT IS A
PRIORITY, THE CHIEF HAS ASSURED
ME WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THIS
PLAN AND MAKING SURE THAT AS
THE LIBRARIES ARE LOOKING AT
PROGRAMMING THAT WHAT I CALL
BACK TO BASICS ON THE MAIN
FUNCTION OF THE LIBRARY IS
ROBUST. THAT THINGS ARE NOT
BEING SACRIFICED IN ORDER TO
ADD ADDITIONAL AND DIFFERENT
THINGS BECAUSE FOLKS ARE
RELYING ON THE LIBRARY TO BE
THAT PLACE WHERE THEY GET THAT
INFORMATION VIA BOOKS AND E
MATERIALS AND OTHER RESOURCES
AND REFERENCE MATERIALS. SO, WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS
ROBUST AS WELL. SO, ALL OF
THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE
HAPPENING. THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THAT UP. COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE, I SEE YOUR HAND UP.
>> THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU,
DIRECTOR FOR YOUR PRESENTATION
TODAY AND FOR ALL THE
INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU DO. I
HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ONE
WAS YOU MENTIONED ONE OF THE
GOALS IS LITERACY EFFORTS AND I
AM WONDERING IF YOU COULD JUST
ELABORATE ON THAT. I KNOW HERE
IN DISTRICT FIVE WE HAVE A
LITERARY SOURCE AND THEY ARE
ALWAYS OVER ENROLLED AND
OVERSUBSCRIBED AND I AM
INTERESTED IN ARE THERE
PARTNERSHIPS FOR SOME OF THE
NONPROFITS THAT ARE DOING THIS
WORK AND WHAT IS THE VISION FOR
THAT? THANK YOU.
>> YES. THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION. ABSOLUTELY. WE
ACTUALLY WORK WITH A VARIETY OF
COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THAT
SPACE AND WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING
FOR MORE WHO ARE DOING THAT
WORK. IN MANY CASES, IT MIGHT
BE US DOING THE WORK WITH OUR
LIBRARIANS OR OTHER STAFF THAT
WE HIRE AS WE LOOK AT THIS NEXT
LEVY AND, AS WE MENTIONED,
INCREASING AND EXPANDING SOME
OF THOSE PROGRAMMATIC
OPPORTUNITIES, IT'S REALLY
GOING TO BE LOOKING AT FOLKS
WHO CAN PROVIDE THESE PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES, THESE
OPPORTUNITIES, AND PEOPLE FROM
COMMUNITY. SO, THERE ARE SO
MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE ALREADY
DOING THIS WORK AND BEING ABLE
TO HIRE THEM IN AND HAVE THEM
FOCUS ON SAY EARLY LITERACY OR
ADULT LITERACY, WHATEVER THE
CASE MAY BE, REALLY HAVING
FOLKS FROM COMMUNITY BE THE
ONES PROVIDING THAT SERVICE,
THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE WON'T BE
PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY
PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY
BUT WE KNOW IF WE WANT TO
EXPAND THIS AND ALSO MAKE SURE
WE ARE MEETING THE OUTCOMES AND
MOVING TOWARDS THE IMPACTS WE
WANT TO SEE, IN SOME CASES, WE
ARE GOING TO ALSO HAVE TO
EXPAND OUR STAFFING TO DELIVER
ON THAT PARTICULAR TYPE OF
PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU. THAT LEADS ME TO
MY NEXT QUESTION ABOUT STAFFING
AND I KNOW THAT THAT IS A
PERENNIAL CHALLENGE. AND I'M
WONDERING IF YOU COULD JUST
ELABORATE ON WHAT YOUR EFFORTS
ARE TO EXPAND STAFFING I HAVE
HEARD FROM SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE
ATTEMPTED TO APPLY FOR WORK
THAT IT IS THINGS GO INTO A
BLACK HOLE THERE DO SEEM TO BE
CHALLENGES IN FILLING STAFFING
THAT ARE SOMEWHAT RELATED TO
THE HR PROCESS. I'M WONDERING
IF THERE ARE WAYS TO IMPROVE
THAT AND JUST LOOKING AT , YOU
KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD
LIKE TO WORK FOR THE LIBRARY
AND MAKING THAT CONNECTION
HAPPEN AND, ALSO, HOW ARE YOU
GOING TO INCREASE STAFF? THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
YES. FROM AN HR PERSPECTIVE, I
CAN SAY WE HAVE A NEW HR
DIRECTOR THAT HAS BEEN ON BOARD
FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR AND WE HAVE
MADE GREAT STRIDES AND HOW
QUICKLY WE ACTUALLY CAN FOCUS
ON ISSUES. THAT ACTUALLY HAS
BEEN A PLUS. THERE IS AN ENTIRE
SCHEDULE. EVERYTHING IS LAID
OUT CLEARLY. EVERYONE KNOWS
THEIR ROLES. THEY ARE PREPARED
AND THINGS ARE MOVING FASTER.
FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, YES.
VERY HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS I
AM SEEING. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
HOW WE ARE GOING TO EXPAND, WE
HAVE USED A COUPLE OF METHODS
AND THIS IS ONE THAT IS
ACTUALLY ONE THAT CANNOT
CONTINUE. IN SOME WAYS, OVER
THE YEARS, WE HAVE RELIED ON
OUR FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE
STAFFING . THEY ARE ACTUALLY
FUNDING ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN
POSITIONS. THAT HAS BEEN
HELPFUL BUT IT IS ALSO NOT THE
BEST WAY TO TAKE DONOR DOLLARS.
THAT REALLY SHOULD DRIVE
TOWARDS INNOVATION AND THEN
LOCK IT UP INTO STAFFING. AS WE
CONTEMPLATE THE NEXT LEVY,
IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE AROUND
LOOKING AT TO CHAIR RIVERA'S
COMMENT, WHAT IS THAT
FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL OF STAFFING
CAPACITY WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE
NORMALLY DO ON A DAILY BASIS
AROUND THESE LIBRARIES THEN THE
NEXT PIECE IS WHAT ARE WE
MISSING PROGRAMMATICALLY. WHAT
TYPE OF STAFFING DO WE NEED
THAT DELIVERS ON THAT SO THAT
IT IS NOT TIED TO THE
OPERATIONS OF THE LIBRARY. THE
DOOR IS BEING OPENED BUT THESE
FOLKS CAN BE OUT OF COMMUNITY.
THEY MIGHT OFFERING PROGRAMMING
IN THE LIBRARY SOMEWHERE ELSE
IN THE COMMUNITY LIKE WE DO
EVEN TO THIS DAY BUT HAVING
ENOUGH PEOPLE TO DO THE WORK ,
SO, WE ARE WORKING ON
IDENTIFYING THAT NOW TO MAKE
SURE THAT AS WE PUT THIS
PROPOSAL TOGETHER WE ARE
LOOKING AT NOT ONLY JUST THE
OPERATIONAL PIECE OF THE
EQUATION BUT KEEPING THE DOORS
OPEN BUT WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT
THE PROGRAMMATIC PIECE THAT WE
WANT TO EXPAND UPON AS WE WORK
WITH THE COMMUNITIES.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
AND, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL
THE WORK AND EFFORT YOU HAVE
DONE OVER THE WHOLE COURSE OF
THE LIBRARY'S HISTORY. [
LAUGHTER ]. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORE. COUNCILMEMBER, IS THAT A
NEW HAND OR WAS THAT YOUR OLD
HAND? OKAY. GOOD? OKAY.
>> ALL GOOD. SORRY.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, IF
THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS,
THIS CONCLUDES OUR MEETING.
CHAIR AND RICK, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND, AGAIN,
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO EVERY
DAY AND YOUR TEAM DOES YOU HAVE
AN AMAZING TEAM AT THE
LIBRARIES. AND WE JUST VALUE SO
MUCH YOUR WORK AND YOUR TEAMS
WORK. SO, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
COLLEAGUES, THIS CONCLUDES THE
DECEMBER 12th, 2024 MEETING OF
THE LIBRARIES, EDUCATION, AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE. OUR
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING IS
SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY
9th, 2025 AT 9:30 A.M. IF THERE
IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS
MEETING WILL ADJOURN. SEEING NO
FURTHER BUSINESS, IT IS 10:28
A.M. AND THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED.
COLLEAGUES, HAVE A HAPPY
HOLIDAY SEASON.