FEBRUARY 27th , 2025 MEETING OF
THE LIBRARIES, EDUCATION, AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE WILL
COME TO ORDER. I AM CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE . I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE
THAT COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON 'S
EXCUSE TODAY WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH ?
>> HERE.
>> VICE CHAIR RINCK?
>> PRESENT .
>> RIVERA?
>> PRESENT . THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION ,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED ONE ITEM ,
A PRESENTATION FROM THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY ON THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNUAL LEVY
UPDATE . I WANT TO TAKE THE
CHIEF LIBRARIAN, TOM FAY , FOR
COMING TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
TO PRESENT AND WE WILL OPEN THE
HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD,
COMMENTS SHOULD SPEAK ABOUT
ITEMS I NEEDED. HOW MANY MEMBERS
ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK?
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE HAS JOINED
US.
>> CURRENTLY, ONE IN-PERSON
SPEAKER AND ONE REMOTE SPEAKER.
>> PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS
>> PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE
MODERATED, PUBLIC COMMENT IS UP
TO 20 MINUTES, EACH SPEAKER WILL
HAVE TWO MINUTES . SPEAKERS WILL
BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED. WE WILL START
WITH IN PERSON THE SPEAKERS
FIRST AND REMOTE SPEAKERS, UNTIL
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD HAS
ENDED. YOU WILL HEAR A CHILD
WITH 10 SECONDS LEFT IN THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN. WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST. THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST , OUR
FIRST AND LAST IN PERSON
SPEAKER, VIVIAN SONG.
>> GOOD MORNING , COUNCILMEMBERS
. I AM PAIRED TO SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOL STUDENTS, FORMER SCHOOL
BOARD DIRECTORS, FAMILIES, LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEMBER AND
CURRENT BOARD MEMBER OF AN EARLY
LEARNING PROVIDER. SEATTLE
VOTERS JUST OVERWHELMINGLY PAST
TWO SCHOOL LEVIES AND 82% AND
76% . IT IS UNEQUIVOCAL .
SEATTLE VOTERS SEE A VERY REAL
NEED AND BELIEVE OUR KIDS ARE
WORTHY INVESTMENTS I URGE YOU TO
BE BOLD WITH THE UPCOMING LEVY
RENEWAL. DENISE , WITH THE
LOCATIONS IN DISTRICT 2, THREE,
FOUR, HAS HEADSTART CLASSROOMS ,
DESPITE HEADSTART SUPPOSEDLY
BEING EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL
FUNDING DISRUPTIONS, THE FUNDING
WAS BRIEFLY CUT OFF . WITH
CONTINUED UNCERTAINTY LIKELY
OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS,
SEATTLE MUST ENSURE OUR YOUNGEST
AND MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS
HAVE STABLE ACCESS TO EARLY
LEARNING. IMPROVING DRIVER OF
STRONG FUTURE OUTCOMES REGARDING
K-12, CHILDREN SPEND 80% OF
THEIR WAKING HOURS OUTSIDE THE
SCHOOL . PARKS AND RECREATION
SUCCESSFULLY DELIVERS
AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING AT JAMES
BALDWIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN
DISTRICT 5 AND SEVERAL MIDDLE
SCHOOLS. I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER
EXPANDING AND DEEPENING
INVESTMENTS IN AFTERSCHOOL AND
SUMMER PROGRAMMING. TUTORING,
SPORTS , AND OTHER ENRICHMENT
ACTIVITIES. THIS IS A MATTER OF
PUBLIC SAFETY AS WELL . IN 2024,
IN KING COUNTY, AT LEAST 22
HOMICIDE VICTIMS WERE CHILDREN
AND 14 JUVENILES WERE CHARGED
WITH MURDER OR MANSLAUGHTER .
THE HIGHEST NUMBER SINCE RECORDS
BEGAN IN 2010 I AGREED WITH THE
DEVASTATING ASSESSMENT OF
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, OUR
BABIES ARE SHOOTING EACH OTHER.
ALSO, KIDS ARE NOT BAD , THEY
ARE BORED . LET'S MAKE SEATTLE
AN AMAZING PLACE TO BE A KID,
THE VOTERS WILL SUPPORT AS. --
THE VOTERS WILL SUPPORT US.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS
DAVID HAYNES. YOU ARE ON MUTE,
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> HI, THANK YOU. IT DOES NOT
MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY YOU
ALLOCATE IF YOU IMPLEMENT BAD
POLICIES. A CENTRAL LIBRARY HAS
BEEN OVERRUN WITH HOMELESS WITH
NOWHERE TO GO AND THERE IS NOT
ANY SERVICE PROVIDERS REACHING
OUT INSIDE THE LIBRARY I WAS IN
THE CENTRAL AND HAD TO LEAVE
WITHIN 20 MINUTES OUT OF
FRUSTRATION AND ANGER AT HOW
HORRIBLE IT IS TO TRY TO GO IN
AND READ WITHOUT A CRAZY EVIL
DEMON ACTING LIKE THEY ARE IN
AFGHANISTAN WHERE THEY PUNISH
AND PERSECUTE PEOPLE WHO BUY
THEIR OWN BUSINESS TRYING TO
READ AND WRITE. INVADING HER
PERSONAL SPACE AND DROPPING
THEIR BODY DUST ON YOU AND
TRYING TO BULLY, TAKING OUT
THEIR FRUSTRATION ON INNOCENT
PEOPLE AS THEY TRIED TO STEP ON
YOUR TOES AS YOU ARE READING
YOUR NET -- NEWSPAPER. IGNORANT
FOOLS START SPEWING THEIR MENTAL
PROBLEMS ONTO EVERYONE ELSE.
BOTHERING PEOPLE TO THE LIBRARY
AND TALK TO THE PERSON AND
WALKED AWAY AND WENT BACK BEHIND
THE COUNTER. THE PERSON CONTINUE
RUNNING THEIR MOUTH. I ASKED THE
LIBRARIAN, WILL YOU CALL A
SERVICE PROVIDER? THEY WILL SHOW
UP AND HELP OUT. THE LIBRARIAN
SAID THE SECURITY GUARD WAS
WAITING FOR THE LIBRARIES ARE
USING THE PUBLIC SAFETY AS AN
EXCUSE TO ACT LIKE THEY NEED
MORE STAFF ON HAND SO THEY CAN
TAKE ANOTHER DAY OFF AND EXTEND
THEIR THREE-DAY VACATIONS. WHEN
IT IS NOT SAFE TO GO IN THE
LIBRARY SINCE THE ESCALATOR WAS
BROKEN, CROWDED AT THE ELEVATORS
WITH 20 STICKY HOMELESS PEOPLE
SURROUNDING A MOM AND A TODDLER
WHO CANNOT GET ON THE ELEVATOR
BECAUSE IT IS OVERCROWDED I GET
THEM TO DO AND SOMEBODY START
TALKING
>> LIKE THERE IS HOMELESS PEOPLE
LIKE THEY OWN THE PLACE AND THEY
CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT ,
INCLUDING LOOKING AT PORNO.
SEATTLE'S NONPROFITS ARE NOT
DOING THEIR JOB WHEN IT COMES TO
PROVIDING SHELTER AND HOUSING,
BUT THE LIBRARY WAS TO VIRTUE
SIGNAL. THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE
STAFF SHOULD GO TO THE CENTRAL
LIBRARY UNANNOUNCED AND SEE HOW
HORRIBLE IT IS --
>> THERE ARE -- THANK YOU .
THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
REGISTERS SPEAKERS AND THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS CLOSED.
WE PROCEED TO OUR ITEM OF
BUSINESS PLEASE READ ITEM 1 INTO
THE RECORD
>> SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY LEVY
UPDATE FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION
>> THANK YOU. THIS ITEM HAS BEEN
READ INTO THE RECORD AND WE ARE
JOINED BY TOM FAY , CHIEF
LIBRARIAN AT THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY HE HAS A PRESENTATION OF
PROGRAMS SUPPORTED BY THE
SEATTLE LIBRARY LEVY AND A
PRELIMINARY LEVY UPDATE. THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS A
LEADER IN ITS FIELD AND SEATTLE
IS SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH A
THRIVING AND VIBRANT LIBRARY
SYSTEM. CHIEF TOM FAY HAS A HARD
STOP AT 10:05 BECAUSE HE HAS TO
BE AT A BOARD MEETING OF THE
LIBRARY BOARD. BUT KIERSTEN WILL
STAY WITH US IF YOU HAVE
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. CHIEF FAY,
GO AHEAD. STATE YOUR NAME AND
YOU CAN GO INTO YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> TOM FAY , CHIEF LIBRARIAN
>> KIERSTEN NELSON, WITH THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY .
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TO
DISCUSS OUR 2024 LEVY
ACCOMPLISHMENTS. WE WILL GET
THROUGH AS MUCH OF THIS AS WE
CAN TODAY. I THINK WE CAN GET
THROUGH MOST OF IT IN THE TIME
ALLOTTED. LET'S MAKE SURE WE
ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. AS YOU
MAY REMEMBER , FOR THOSE WHO
HAVE BEEN IN SEATTLE FOR SOME
TIME, WE PASSED OUR 2019 LIBRARY
LEVY BY 76% OF THE VOTE. THIS IS
A SEVEN-YEAR LEVY , $219
MILLION. IT IS TO MAINTAIN AND
ENHANCE LIBRARY SERVICES THROUGH
2026. THE 2019 LEVY IS A RENEWAL
OF THE 2012 LEVY WHICH RESTORED
FUNDING FOR THE LIBRARY
FOLLOWING BUDGET CUTS MADE
DURING THE GREAT RECESSION IT
PROVIDED 5 MILLION OF ANNUAL
GENERAL FUND TO HELP AVOID
FURTHER CUTS. BEFORE I GO ANY
FURTHER I WANT TO PROVIDE A
LITTLE BIT OF A CAVEAT AROUND
THE NUMBERS YOU SEE TODAY. WE
ARE A LITTLE EARLY IN OUR
PRESENTATION, AS WE ARE WRAPPING
UP ALL THE FINANCIALS, AS WELL
AS THE DATA ELEMENTS . SOME OF
THIS WE CHANGE, OUR FULL REPORT
WHICH WOULD BE DELIVERED TO
COUNCIL IN APRIL. YOU WILL SEE
SOME OF THOSE CHANGES EVEN IN
THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AS WE
FINALIZE THIS. THIS SLIDE GIVES
YOU A SENSE OF HOW IMPORTANT
THESE LEVY DOLLARS ARE ,
PROVIDING OVER ONE THIRD OF THE
LIBRARY'S TOTAL BUDGET IN 2024.
THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND
PROVIDES ABOUT 56% AND OTHER
SOURCES CONTRIBUTING TO THE
BUDGET INCLUDE THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION, GIFT
FUNDS DIRECTED SPECIFICALLY TO
THE LIBRARY, REAL ESTATE EXCISE
TAXES , LIBRARY REVENUES, AND
THE LIBRARY FUND BALANCE . STATE
AND FEDERAL GRANTS AS WE RECEIVE
THOSE. THE LEVY PROVIDES FUNDING
FOR COLLECTIONS, CHILDREN'S
PROGRAMS , OPEN HOURS,
TECHNOLOGY, ONLINE SERVICES, AND
BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE. TO
GIVE YOU A SENSE , SOME CONTEXT
AROUND THIS, OVER 40% OF THE
LEVY FUNDING HOURS , 20% FUNDING
COLLECTIONS, AND ABOUT 17% IS
THE BUILDING MAINTENANCE. 9% TO
10% IS TECHNOLOGY . IMPORTANTLY,
THE LEVY FUNDS A QUARTER OF ALL
STAFFING POSITIONS AT THE
LIBRARY , INCLUDING 35% OF THE
CHILDREN AND TEENS SERVICES.
STAFFING HELP SUPPORT ALL THE
ACTIVITIES WE ARE KNOWN FOR ,
SUCH AS SUPPORTING OUR OPEN
HOURS , ANSWERING PATRON
QUESTIONS, PROVIDING READING
RECOMMENDATIONS, HOSTING
LITERACY, LEARNING AND
ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDING
REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES
, CONDUCTING COMMUNITY OUTREACH
, ENGAGEMENT , AND MUCH MORE IT
SUPPORTS 47% OF OUR NONLABOR
BOOKS AND MATERIALS BUDGET. 30%
OF OUR NONLABOR TECHNOLOGY
OFFERINGS, AND MOST OF OUR MAJOR
MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. A SMALL
AMOUNT OF FUNDING , LESS THAN
1%, SUPPORTS THE ADMINISTRATION.
I WILL SHARE A FEW OF OUR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THESE
CATEGORIES , STARTING WITH WHAT
WE ARE BEST KNOWN FOR, OUR
COLLECTION OF BOOKS AND
MATERIALS. AS I HAVE SAID A FEW
TIMES, E-BOOK GROWTH HAS
INCREASED CONSIDERABLY SINCE THE
PANDEMIC. BOTH E-BOOK AND
E-AUDIO, SINCE 2019 CHECKOUTS
HAVE GROWN 160% FROM 3.4 MILLION
CHECKOUTS IN 2019 TO 5.4 MILLION
CHECKOUTS IN 2024. IN 2024 , WE
INCREASED OUR PHYSICAL AND
DIGITAL COLLECTIONS WITH SUPPORT
FROM ALL FUNDING SOURCES,
INCLUDING THE LEVY. AS MENTIONED
, THE LEVY IS FUNDING NEARLY
HALF OF OUR COLLECTION BUDGET.
LAST YEAR , WE ADDED OVER 45,000
TITLES AND NEARLY 100,000 COPIES
TO OUR E-BOOK AND E AUDIO
COLLECTIONS, 160,000 TO OUR
PHYSICAL COLLECTION. WE ADDED
OVER 90,000 COPIES, TO OUR PEAK
PICS COLLECTION, 100% LEVY
FUNDED. SINCE THAT COLLECTION
LAUNCHED IN 2017, THESE TITLES
HAVE CHECKED OUT OVER 1 MILLION
TIMES AND ARE ROUTINELY IN THE
TOP 10 MOST CIRCULATED BOOKS .
TO RESPOND TO INCREASING PATRON
INTEREST IN DIGITAL BOOKS, THE
LIBRARY HAS NEARLY DOUBLED THE
SIZE OF THAT COLLECTION SINCE
2019 TO OVER 1 MILLION ITEMS IN
2024. OUR TOTAL DIGITAL AND
PHYSICAL COLLECTION CONTAINS 2.9
MILLION ITEMS. WE ALSO INCREASED
THE LANGUAGE ACCESS IN OUR
COLLECTIONS IN 2024, ADDING OVER
4000 TITLES AND 13,000 COPIES TO
OUR WORLD LANGUAGES COLLECTION .
WE INVESTED IN 15 LANGUAGES,
INCLUDING OUR NEW HAWAIIAN AND
UKRAINIAN COLLECTIONS . WE HAVE
EXPANDED OUR AVAILABILITY OF
SPANISH-LANGUAGE BOOKS TO ALL
BRANCHES. THIS WORK IS IN PART
RESPONSIVE TO A COLLECTION
DIVERSITY AUDIT WE CONDUCTED IN
2022 AND 2023. WE HAVE ALSO
PRESERVED AND DIGITIZED
THOUSANDS OF LOCAL HISTORY ITEMS
IN OUR SEATTLE ROOM AND SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS. OUR SEATTLE CURATOR
AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DIGITAL
LIBRARY POSITIONS ARE BOTH
FUNDED BY THE LEVY. OUR SEATTLE
ROOM PROVIDES IN PERSON ACCESS
TO TREASURED LOCAL HISTORY ITEMS
WHILE OUR DIGITAL COLLECTIONS
MAKE SEATTLE HISTORY EASIER TO
ACCESS FOR STUDENTS AND
RESEARCHERS , HISTORIANS, ALONG
MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS TEAM ADDED DIGITAL
ARCHIVES WITH THE NORTHWEST
ASIAN AND MARINE DIGEST , AND
INTRODUCED THE FIRST SCANS FROM
THE IMPRESSIVE -- A RECENT RISE
ADDITION TO THE SEATTLE ROOM
INCLUDES TWO RARE 1950s COPIES
OF BAMBOO, A SHORT-LIVED
MAGAZINE ABOUT FILIPINO LIFE IN
SEATTLE. IN 2024, THIS TEAM
ADDED APPROXIMATELY 3800 ITEMS
TO OUR DIGITAL LOCAL HISTORY
COLLECTION AND WE NOW HAVE
30,000 DIGITAL ITEMS. WITH MORE
THAN 1000 PHYSICAL ITEMS TO THE
SEATTLE ROOM, INCLUDING LOCAL
MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOS, POSTCARDS ,
BOOKS, AND MORE, WITH 450
RESEARCH APPOINTMENTS. THE
LIBRARY ALSO OFFERED ACCESS TO
DIGITAL NEWSPAPERS, INCLUDING
THE NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET
JOURNAL, AND WASHINGTON POST.
DIGITAL MAGAZINES AND STREAMING
, INCLUDING CANOPY FOR MOVIES,
INCLUDING THE CRITERION
COLLECTION. NEXT, OUR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH LITERACY
AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS, USING A
MIXTURE OF FUNDING THAT WE
OFFERED THOUSANDS OF FREE
PROGRAMS , BINS, AND CLASSES
EACH YEAR FOR ALL AGES AND
ABILITIES. THIS WORK SPEAKS TO
THE LIBRARY'S ROLE IN HELPING
OUR COMMUNITY LEARN AND GROW.
MUCH LIKE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT OR,
EARLIER IN THIS MEETING, THIS IS
A VERY LARGE PORTION OF WHAT THE
LIBRARY DOES FROM A PROGRAMMATIC
STANDPOINT WE SEEK TO HELP
SEATTLE RESIDENTS EMBRACE A LOVE
OF READING AND LEARNING ,
INCREASE COMMUNITY LITERACY, AND
ENRICH THE LIVES OF ALL WHO CALL
SEATTLE HOME. IN 2024, WE
OFFERED 4000 IN PERSON PROGRAMS
. OUR KALEIDOSCOPE PLATE AND
LEARN PROGRAM , FULLY FUNDED BY
THE LEVY , CONNECTS CHILDREN'S
AGES ZERO THROUGH FIVE, AND
THEIR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS ,
THROUGH GUIDED PLATE AND STORY
TIMES . THIS PROGRAM WAS OFFERED
300 TIMES IN 2024 AT SEVEN
LIBRARY LOCATIONS . AND WAS
OFFERED IN FIVE LANGUAGES,
AMERICAN ENGLISH, CHINESE,
CHINESE, AND SOMALI . THIS
PROGRAM SAW 7600 IN ATTENDANCE
IN 2024 AND SUPPORTS THE
CHILDREN AND PARENTS AND THEIR
CAREGIVERS IN DEVELOPING A LOVE
FOR READING AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.
IN SURVEYS WITH THESE FAMILIES ,
82% REPORTED AN INCREASE
UNDERSTANDING THAT PLAY HELPS
CHILDREN DEVELOP SCHOOL WRITTEN
SKILLS , 85% REPORTED THEY WERE
HAVING MORE DISCUSSIONS WITH
THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT NUMBERS,
SHAPES, AND SIZES. NOT DIRECTLY
FUNDED BY THE LEVY, LEVY DOLLARS
ALSO HELP PROVIDE STAFF SUPPORT
FOR OTHER PROGRAMS AS WELL. ONE
EXAMPLE IS SUPPORTING OVER 6000
STUDENTS IN 2024 WITH OUR AFTER
SCHOOL HOMEWORK HELP, AVAILABLE
AT NINE LOCATIONS DURING THE
SCHOOL YEAR. 189 LOCAL VOLUNTEER
TUTORS CONNECTED WITH STUDENTS
AT THESE DROP-IN PROGRAMS TO
PROVIDE SUPPORT WITH SCHOOL
ASSIGNMENTS . WHILE THIS IS A
VOLUNTEER SUPPORTED EFFORT LEVY
DOLLARS HELP FUND THE STAFF
RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING THE
PROGRAM . WE DO THIS WORK IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SEATTLE
TUTORING COALITION, INTERAGENCY
INITIATIVE WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, AND OTHERS. 76% OF
PARTICIPANTS REPORTED THE
PROGRAM HELPS THEM BETTER
UNDERSTAND THEIR ASSIGNMENTS,
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS , AND 83%
REPORT USING THE LIBRARY MORE
OFTEN WITH THEIR FAMILIES. WE
ALSO OFFER OVER 900 OF OUR VERY
POPULAR STORY TIMES IN 19
BRANCHES IN THREE LANGUAGES IN
2024 . THESE TWO IN ATTENDANCE
OF OVER 34,000. WITH
ENTHUSIASTIC FEEDBACK FROM
PATRONS, WHO PARTICIPATED IN
THESE PROGRAMS, WE KNOW THERE IS
A STRONG COMMUNITY INTEREST . AT
THE NORTHEAST BRANCH, OUR WEEKLY
STORY TIMES ON TUESDAY MORNINGS
SEE OVER 100 PEOPLE IN
ATTENDANCE. OUR PATRONS
EXPRESSED APPRECIATION FOR THESE
PROGRAMS AND WISH WE CAN HOLD
THEM MORE OFTEN AND AT MORE
BRANCHES. OUR CURRENT FUNDING
AND STAFFING CAPACITY MAKES IT
DIFFICULT TO GROW PROGRAMMING TO
MORE LOCATIONS AND MORE
RESIDENTS . SAME STAFF TO PLAN
AND CARRY OUT THESE PROGRAMS
WORK TO KEEP OUR DOORS OPEN,
MANAGED OUR FREE PUBLIC SPACES ,
CHECKOUT MATERIALS, ANSWER
PHONES, HELP PAGES WITH
QUESTIONS, AND MUCH MORE.
DEDICATED FUNDING WOULD INCREASE
THE LIBRARY'S ABILITY TO
SUPPORT COMMUNITY INTEREST IN
THESE LEARNING ENRICHMENT
OPPORTUNITIES. SOME
ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH LIBRARY
OPEN HOURS AND OTHER WAYS WE
EXPAND ACCESS TO LIBRARY
RESOURCES . SINCE THE PANDEMIC ,
MAINTAINING STAFF AND PUBLIC
FACING CUSTOMER SERVICE
ORGANIZATIONS HAS BEEN
CHALLENGING IN EVERY INDUSTRY
LIBRARIES HAVE BEEN NO EXCEPTION
WITH BUDGET UNCERTAINTY IN 2024
AND CHALLENGES WITH OUR STAFFING
LEVELS, THE LIBRARY WORKED TO
STABILIZE OPEN HOURS AND PREPARE
FOR AN INCREASE OF HOURS IN THIS
PAST JANUARY. THAT WORK INCLUDED
ADJUSTING SUMMER HOURS, TO
REDUCE UNEXPECTED CLOSURES WHILE
UNDERSTAFFED. IDENTIFYING HIRING
FREEZE EXEMPTIONS TO IMPROVE
STAFFING CAPACITY AND ADOPTING A
FIXED SCHEDULE MODEL IN OUR
UNION CONTRACT TO CREATE MORE
STAFF CONSISTENCY THROUGHOUT THE
YEAR. PATRONS NEED -- NEEDS HAVE
CHANGED SINCE THE BENEFIT OF THE
PANDEMIC PATRONS WERE IN THE
EVENING BUT POST PANDEMIC ,
PATRONS WANTED MORE WEEKEND
HOURS. WE ARE NOT HAPPY TO SAY
THAT ALL LIBRARY BRANCHES ,
EXCEPT UNIVERSITY, WHICH IS
CLOSED AND STARTS CONSTRUCTION
ON MARCH 3rd, ARE OPEN AT LEAST
SIX DAYS A WEEK , PROVIDING AT
LEAST ONE WEEKEND DAY AT EVERY
LOCATION, AND 13 LOCATIONS ARE
OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. WE HAVE
EXPANDED ACCESS TO BOOKS OUTSIDE
OF OUR BUILDINGS , PROVIDING
ACCESS TO BOOKS ALL THE TIME.
WITH THE ADDITION OF A LOCKER AT
BALLARD LAST YEAR, FUNDING CIP
TEAM, THEY HAVE NOW BEEN
INSTALLED AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BALLARD,
BROADVIEW, HIGH POINT, GRAND
LAKE, NORTHEAST , AND RAINIER,
WE ALSO CELEBRATED FIVE YEARS OF
BORROWING FOR FREE, THIS POLICY
CHANGE WAS MADE TO ADDRESS AND
MAKE SURE THAT FINES
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT LOW
INCOME FAMILIES. THIS CHANGE ,
HOWEVER, HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE
FOR ALL, MAKING A MORE WELCOMING
AND STRESS-FREE ENVIRONMENT.
WHEN WE FIRST PROPOSED THIS
CHANGE, A FEW PATRONS SHARED
CONCERNS THAT OUR POLICY WILL
KEEP THEM WAITING TOO LONG FOR
BOOKS. BUT RETURN RATES HAVE ON
AVERAGE NOT CHANGED. PATRONS TO
KEEP CERTAIN MATERIALS A LITTLE
BIT LONGER, SUCH AS YOUNG
CHILDREN WHO WERE NOT QUITE
READY TO GIVE UP THEIR BOOKS AT
BEDTIME. BUT WE ARE HAPPY TO
MAKE A SMALL TRADE-OFF IF IT
MEANS SEATTLE'S CHILDREN ARE
LEARNING TO READ. THE LEVY ALSO
FUNDING OUR SOCIAL SERVICES TEAM
AND PROVIDES INFORMATION AND
RESOURCE REFERRALS TO PATRONS
WHO NEED HELP OR ARE IN CRISIS.
AS THE LIBRARY IS THE CITY'S
LARGEST REFERRAL AGENCY, THIS
TEAM EXPANDS COMMUNITY ACCESS TO
CRITICAL INFORMATION AND
RESOURCES . MEMBERS OF THE TEAM
DO NOT ACT AS CASEWORKERS OR
COUNSELORS, BUT CONNECTORS, THEY
WORK WITH MANY COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, SERVICE
PROVIDERS, AND CITY AND COUNTY
AGENCIES INCLUDE COORDINATION
WITH THE MOBILE INTEGRATED
HEALTH PROGRAM THROUGH SEATTLE
FIRE AND HUMAN SERVICES. THE
CARE TEAM FOR THE CITY , AND
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS. ALL
OF THESE ASSIST PATRONS WITH
COMPLEX CRISIS NEEDS . THEY ALSO
COLLABORATE WITH PUBLIC HEALTH
AND DSHS TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND
SUPPLIES ON-SITE TO OUR
LIBRARIES. THERE IS
STRENGTHENING TIES WITH KING
COUNTY REGIONAL HOMELESS
AUTHORITY, ESPECIALLY WITH
RESPONSE WITH SEVERE WEATHER
SERVICES HAS BEEN A SUPPORTIVE
PARTNER FROM THE BEGINNING AND
WE THANK THEM FOR HELPING US
SHAPE OUR APPROACH TO THIS WORK.
IN 2024, THE TEAM HELPED
COMMUNITY MEMBERS OVER 1100
TIMES TO FIND RESOURCES FOR
SHELTER TRANSPORTATION,
HEALTHCARE, AND MORE WE STARTED
A COFFEE AND CONVERSATION
PROGRAM, PROVIDING SPACE TO
VISIT WITH OTHERS WITH A WARM
CUP OF COFFEE. THEY WORKED WITH
DOZENS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO
HOST RESOURCE FAIRS AT THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY AND THE CITY
BRANCH TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO
CLOTHING, HAIRCUTS , JOB
RESOURCES, AND MORE. THE TEAM
PROVIDE SUPPORT TO OTHER LIBRARY
STAFF THROUGH OUR SYSTEM WHO DO
NOT HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF
TRAINING WITH SOCIAL SERVICE
SUPPORT AND REFERRAL. THE LEVY
HELPS SUPPORT THE USE OF
COMMUNITY MEETING SPACES WHICH
ARE FREE AT OUR 26 BRANCHES, AND
AVAILABLE FOR A MODEST FEE AT
THE CENTRAL LIBRARY DOWNTOWN .
IN 2024, THE LIBRARY PROVIDED
ACCESS TO OVER 10,000 -- BY
COMMITTED NONPROFITS , PUBLIC
AGENCIES, ELECTED OFFICIALS ,
SCHOOL GROUPS, BOOK CLUBS ,
LIBRARY STAFF, AND MORE. IN
ADDITION TO INCREASING LANGUAGE
ACCESS IN OUR COLLECTIONS, THE
LEVY ALSO HELPS EXPAND LANGUAGE
ACCESS IN OUR INFORMATIONAL
MATERIALS . IN 2024, OUR LIBRARY
FUNDED MARKETING TEAM STARTED A
NEW STRATEGIC PLAN WEBSITE
TRANSLATED INTO FIVE LANGUAGES ,
ENGLISH, SPANISH, SIMPLIFIED AND
TRADITIONAL CHINESE, AND
VIETNAMESE. THEY STARTED A
WELCOME BACK TO THE LIBRARY
CAMPAIGN IN SIX LANGUAGES,
REMINDING THE COMMUNITY OF OUR
BROAD ARRAY OF SERVICES
WALLOWING OUR SUMMER RANSOMWARE
INCIDENT . OUR COMMUNICATION
OFFICE DID SIMILAR WORK
PROMOTING LIBRARY RESOURCES TO
SPANISH-LANGUAGE MEDIA OUTLETS
AND RELEVANT NEWS RELEASES IN
CHINESE AND SPANISH LOCAL MEDIA.
WE CONTINUE TO GROW IN THIS AREA
EACH YEAR. SOME IMPORTANT
ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN LIBRARY
BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE AND
UPGRADES, MOST NOTABLY WE ARE
THRILLED TO REOPEN THE GREEN
LAKE BRANCH LAST YEAR AFTER THE
SEISMIC RETROFIT AND REMODEL ,
WITH THIS PROJECT, THE LIBRARY
IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF THE
BUILDING, PRESERVED HISTORIC
CHARACTER, INCREASED PUBLIC
SPACE WITH TWO NEW STUDY ROOMS,
INSTALLED AIR CONDITIONING FOR
THE FIRST TIME EVER IN THE
SPACE, REDUCED CARBON OUTPUT BY
AN ESTIMATED 20 TO 30 METRIC
TONS PER YEAR AND IMPROVED
ACCESSIBILITY BY ADDING A NEW
RAMP , AND A PARKING STALL, NEW
RESTAURANT ELEVATOR , AND FULLY
ACCESSIBLE BUILDING ENTRANCE.
THIS PROJECT WAS FUNDED SAFETY
5% BY THE LIBRARY LEVY, 18% BY
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX REVENUE, 16%
BY WASHINGTON STATE COMMERCE .
THE UNIVERSITY BRANCH IS CLOSED
THROUGH 2026 FOR SIMILAR
UPGRADES AND CONSTRUCTION WILL
BEGIN ON MARCH 3rd. THE COLUMBIA
BRANCH IS SLATED FOR SIMILAR
IMPROVEMENTS AND WE ARE STILL
WORKING TO DETERMINE
CONSTRUCTION DATES FOR THAT
PROJECT. THE LIBRARY MAINTAINED
OUR FACILITIES AND MADE
IMPROVEMENTS IN 2024 . INCLUDING
ROUTINE AND PREVENTATIVE
MAINTENANCE IN ALL FACILITIES .
OUR FACILITIES AND JANITORIAL
CUSTODIAN TEAMS RESPONDED TO
NEARLY 6000 WORK ORDERS TO KEEP
OUR BUILDINGS CLEAN AND IN GOOD
WORKING CONDITION ROOF
REPLACEMENT AT THE QUEEN AND --
ANN BRANCHES, HVAC AND
BROADVIEW, AND THANKS TO COUNCIL
FOR SUPPORTING THE LEVY AS WELL,
WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO INSTALL
HVAC SYSTEMS AT NORTHEAST AND
SOUTHWEST BRANCHES . WITH HVAC
INSTALLS AND UPGRADES , WE HAVE
AIR CONDITIONING IN 22 OF 25
BRANCHES. A GRANT AWARD FROM
FEMA LAST YEAR IS EXPECTED TO
FUND HVAC INSTALLATION AT THE
THREE REMAINING LOCATIONS IN THE
NEXT FEW YEARS. FREMONT, QUEEN
ANN. THE LAST CATEGORY UPDATE IS
A TECHNOLOGY AND ONLINE
SERVICES, THE LIBRARY'S 850
WI-FI HOTSPOTS , LEVY FUNDED,
ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ITEMS IN
OUR COLLECTION AND WERE CHECKED
OUT OVER 5400 TIMES IN 2024 LAST
YEAR, WE BEGIN WORK TO UPGRADE
THESE DEVICES TO A NEW 5G MODEL
WHICH WILL PROVIDE FASTER AND
MORE STABLE CONNECTIONS . AS YOU
KNOW, ALL OF OUR TECHNOLOGY
SYSTEMS WERE AFFECTED BY THE
RANSOMWARE ATTACK LAST YEAR AND
IN RESPONSE TO THE LIBRARY
ACCELERATED A NUMBER OF EFFORTS
TO IMPROVE OUR CYBERSECURITY ,
INCLUDING MOVING SYSTEMS TO THE
CLOUD, AND LIMITING MULTIFACTOR
AUTHENTICATION, HIRING A NEW
CYBERSECURITY ANALYST WHO WILL
LEAD THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MORE
MATURE CYBERSECURITY PROGRAM AT
THE LIBRARY. EVEN WITH THAT
DISRUPTION, WE FACILITATED
240,000 PUBLIC COMPUTING
SECTIONS, AND PATRONS PRINTED
1.5 MILLION PAGES USING LIBRARY
TECHNOLOGY IN 2024. WE ALSO MADE
PROGRESS ON TWO LEVY FUNDED
TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES ,
INCLUDING A NEW LIBRARY APP AND
A REPLACEMENT OF OUR INTEGRATED
LIBRARY SYSTEM. ILS SOFTWARE
HELPS LIBRARY MANAGE BOOKS,
CATALOGS, CHECKOUTS , AND OTHER
SERVICES IN ONE CENTRALIZED
SYSTEM. IT IS THE TECHNICAL
BACKBONE OF OUR OPERATION
REQUIRING SIGNIFICANT
COORDINATION, TRAINING, TESTING
, DOCUMENTING TO IMPLEMENT A NEW
SYSTEM OUR CURRENT SYSTEM IS NOT
OUTDATED BY A GREAT NUMBER OF
YEARS AND LIMITS WHAT WE CAN DO
FOR OUR FUTURE EXPERIENCES . THE
WORK IS BEGINNING THIS YEAR AND
EXPECTED IN THE FIRST PHASE OF
IT IS EXPECTED THE -- TO BE
COMPLETED MIDYEAR 2026. LASTLY ,
I WANT TO SHARE HOW WE ARE
LOOKING OUT INTO THE FUTURE OF
THE LIBRARY . IN 2023, WE
CONDUCTED A LEVY FUNDED STUDY
WITH RESEARCHERS FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE FUTURE OF THE
LIBRARY'S . WE CONSIDERED
EVERYTHING FROM THE IMPACT OF
CYBERSECURITY, AI, QUANTUM
COMPUTING, AND CLIMATE CHANGE,
CULTURE WARS CHANGING READER
HABITS, AND MUCH MORE. WE
DEVELOPED A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN
IMPACTING EQUITY FOCUSED TO
ADDRESS FUTURE CHALLENGES AND
OPPORTUNITIES . IT EMPHASIZES
LITERACY , ENRICHMENT,
EMPOWERMENT , COMMUNITY
BELONGING, AND ORGANIZATIONAL
RESILIENCE. AREAS THAT WERE
IMPACTED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND
CALLING FOR OUR ATTENTION TO
THIS PLAN WILL HELP GUIDE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW LIBRARY
LEVY PROPOSAL, TENTATIVELY
PLANNED FOR 2026 , WITH
ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
. WE ARE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE CITY BUDGET OFFICE AND
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON THAT
PROPOSAL AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
BEING IN DISCUSSION WITH THIS
COMMITTEE , THE FULL COUNCIL,
AND THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE TO
ENSURE WE ARE PROPOSING A
PACKAGE THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF
SEATTLE RESIDENTS . WHILE THE
CONTENTS OF A FUTURE PROPOSAL
ARE NOT YET DECIDED, WE DO KNOW
THAT SOME FUTURE NEEDS AND
OPPORTUNITIES, WE KNOW WE WILL
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FREE
COMMUNITY ACCESS TO BOOKS,
INFORMATION , REFERRALS ,
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, PUBLIC
SPACES AND TECHNOLOGY TO DO THIS
WE KNOW WE NEED SUSTAINABLE,
LONG-TERM FUNDING . AND WE'RE
OPERATING WITH CERTAIN TYPES
WHEN IT COMES TO FEDERAL FUNDING
AVAILABILITY . WE KNOW THAT
COSTS ARE RISING TO PROVIDE
ACCESS TO INCREASINGLY POPULAR
E-BOOKS AND AUDIOBOOKS , THESE
DIGITAL MATERIALS , AS I HAVE
DISCUSSED, ARE SOMETIMES TWO TO
FIVE TIMES MORE EXTENSIVE FOR
LIBRARIES THAN THE AVERAGE
CONSUMER. MORE OF OUR COLLECTION
WILL NEED TO BE DIGITIZED TO BE
MORE ACCESSIBLE AND HELP US
BETTER PRESERVE OUR LOCAL
HISTORY. DIGITIZING COLLECTIONS
IS TIME-CONSUMING AND COSTLY
WORK. BUT WELL WORTH THE EFFORT
FOR LEADING 21ST-CENTURY LIBRARY
. WE KNOW OUR COMMUNITY IS
GROWING AND DIVERSIFYING OVER
TIME, A NEED FOR MORE
SPECIALIZED STAFFING TO HELP
MANAGE OUR PUBLIC SPACES. SUCH
AS ADDITIONAL SECURITY OFFICERS
. WE KNOW WE NEED TO MAINTAIN
OUR AGING BUILDINGS. SIX OF
WHICH ARE HISTORIC CARNEGIE
LIBRARIES . THAT WE LACK FUNDING
TO CARRY OUT THE NEEDED AND
OFTEN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE . IT
HAS BEEN 27 YEARS SINCE THE 1998
LIBRARIES -- WHICH BUILT OR
UPGRADED MOST OF THE LIBRARIES
WE OPERATE TODAY. OVER THE NEXT
20 YEARS, WE ANTICIPATE
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 100 TO $150
MILLION OF BASIC BUILDING
MAINTENANCE NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
THIS DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR MAJOR
MAINTENANCE SUCH AS SEISMIC
RETROFITS. AT THE WORLD-RENOWNED
CENTRAL LIBRARY, SEVERAL ISSUES
LAST YEAR, WITH OUT OF ORDER
ELEVATORS, ESCALATORS, AND
ISSUES WITH END-OF-LIFE HVAC
SYSTEM , THESE ARE ALL COSTLY
SYSTEMS TO REPAIR AND WE LACK
THE FUNDING RESOURCES OFTEN TO
DO THEM IN A TIMELY MANNER.
LASTLY, WE KNOW OUR DIGITAL
SECURITY NEEDS WILL INCREASE TO
ENSURE WE ARE PROVIDING A SAFE
AND SECURE ONLINE EXPERIENCE.
THAT IS A LOT OF INFORMATION TO
SHARE WITH YOU IN A SHORT TIME.
BUT THIS IS MY LAST SLIDE .
SIMPLY SHARING A FEW RECENT
COMMENTS . ABOUT WHAT THE
LIBRARY MEANS TO THEM PLEASE DO
NOT THAT WE WILL BE TRANSMITTING
OUR OFFICIAL ANNUAL LEVY REPORT
IN APRIL WITH MORE INFORMATION
AND THE FINAL 2024 NUMBERS WILL
BE COMING SOON. WE HAVE PROVIDED
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR YOUR
REVIEW AS YOU HAVE TIME, WHICH
WILL TELL MORE OF THE LIBRARY
STORY OVER THE LAST YEAR AND AT
THIS TIME , I AM HAPPY TO TAKE
ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE .
>> THANK YOU . COLLEAGUES ,
THERE WAS A MINOR CHANGE TO THE
SLIDE DECK AND THAT IS WHY HE
WAS AT YOUR DESK. WE WILL MAKE
SURE THAT GETS UPDATED INTO THE
SYSTEM . I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
TAKING US THROUGH THIS AND
GIVING SOME CONTEXT IN TERMS OF
THE REPORT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN
APRIL, THE REASON I ASKED THE
LIBRARY TO COME TODAY IS BECAUSE
WE WILL BE TAKING UP THE FAMILY
EDUCATION LEVY AND I DID NOT
WANT TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE
PROCESS TO BRING THE LIBRARY
INTO START TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF
THE LEVY FUNDED WORK . NEXT
YEAR, WE WILL BE TAKING THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES LEVY
AND I WANTED TO BEGIN THE WORK
OF LOOKING AT THE PROGRAMS AND
ALL THESE THINGS THE LEVY FUNDS.
I REALLY THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR
PUTTING TOGETHER AN ABBREVIATION
VERSION OF WHAT YOU WILL BRING
WHEN YOU SUPPORT -- I WILL
REQUEST YOU MAKE AVAILABLE TO US
YOUR COMMENTS FROM TODAY ,
BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT MORE
INFORMATION CONTAINED THAN IS ON
THESE SLIDES. I WANT TO MAKE
SURE EVERYONE HAS ALL THOSE
GREAT DATA POINTS AND
INFORMATION COLLEAGUES, DO ANY
OF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH , MADAM
CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR THE
PRESENTATION , THAT WAS VERY
HELPFUL . WE HAVE HAD THIS
DISCUSSION IN THE PAST I WAS
WONDERING, UPDATE ON WHERE WE
ARE AT WITH THE DIGITAL
COLLECTION , DEALING WITH THE
COST? YOU MENTIONED THERE WAS
SOMETHING AT THE STATE OR
FEDERAL LEVEL. IF YOU COULD GIVE
AN UPDATE .
>> WE HAVE A REQUEST IN TO THE
LEGISLATURE TO CONDUCT A STUDY
ON E-BOOK AND E-AUDIO PRICING ,
TO BRING IN EVERYONE WHO IS
INVOLVED. PUBLISHERS , THE
MIDDLEMEN , SO TO SPEAK ,
OVERDRIVE, THE COMPANY'S
HELPING US PROVIDE THAT
INFORMATION , PROVIDING THE
COLLECTIONS, AS WELL AS OTHER
INTERESTED PARTIES. IN IT , WE
ARE ASKING THE STATE TO CONSIDER
, WHAT DOES IT MEAN IN THE LONG
TERM FOR STATE AID, FOR
LIBRARIES, THE STATE IS ONE OF
THE FEW STATES THAT DOES NOT
PROVIDE STATE AID TO LIBRARIES
AND RURAL COLLEAGUES CANNOT EVEN
GET IN THE GAME OR GET IN THE
GAME IN A VERY SMALL LEVEL,
WHICH MEANS IT IS AN ACCESS
ISSUE. WE HAVE THAT IN PROGRESS.
AS YOU KNOW, THE STATE HAS A BIG
BUDGET ISSUE. STUDIES ARE NOT
FREE. BUT WE , AND A GROUP FROM
OUR ADVOCACY GROUP, IN OLYMPIA A
COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WE HAVE SOME
LEGISLATORS WILLING TO CHAMPION
AS -- US, WE ARE HOPING IT AT
LEAST GETS A REASONABLE HEARING.
I THINK ALL OF YOU KNOW, STATE
LEGISLATURES, ALWAYS BEST TO
BEGIN THE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN .
IT USUALLY DOES NOT HAPPEN YEAR
ONE, IT USUALLY TAKES A COUPLE
YEARS TO STICK AND MAKE
PROGRESS.
>> ARE YOU SEEING ANY IMPACT
FROM WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL?
>> AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL , WE ARE
NOT DEPENDENT ON FEDERAL FUNDING
BUT WE WILL CERTAINLY ARE
OPPORTUNISTIC AND WE DO GO AFTER
EARMARKS . WE WILL GO AFTER
CERTAIN TYPES OF FEDERAL
FUNDING, LIKE THE FEMA FUNDING I
MENTIONED. WE DO HAVE CONCERNS
THAT SOME OF THOSE SOURCES WILL
BE TURNING OFF IN SOME WAY , OR
BE REDIRECTED. ANOTHER ONE IS
BIG FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES,
SCHOOLS AND LEVERS, AND IF IT
FROM THAT, ALLOWING A
REIMBURSEMENT FOR THOSE DATA AND
INTERNET CONNECTIONS. THAT IS TO
THE TUNE OF ABOUT $1.5 MILLION.
OVER ABOUT THREE OR FOUR YEARS .
NOT A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY.
THAT IS ANOTHER CONCERN . THAT
HAS BEEN TARGETED AS WELL. YES,
I THINK THE CONCERN FOR US, I
HAVE SPOKEN TO COLLEAGUES ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, WHAT WE SEE NO IS
THE TRICKLE AND, WHEN WE SEE THE
FEDERAL BUDGET, EITHER BUDGET OR
CONTINUING RESOLUTION, ALL OF
THESE OTHER IMPACTS, IT WILL BE
LIKE THE HOSE IS TURNED ON FULL
AND WE WILL FEEL IT , EVERYONE
WILL, IT WILL TRICKLE DOWN TO
THE STATE AND TO THE CITY.
>> PROBABLY SOMETHING WE SHOULD
BE MINDFUL OF WHEN WE LOOK AT
THE LEVY, AND THE LAST QUESTION
I HAVE, IT DOES CONTINUE TO
REMAIN A CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY ,
AND PEOPLE FEELING LIKE -- WE
HEARD THE COMMENTS FROM THE
CALLER, ANYWAY, JUST WONDERING
HOW THAT IS IMPACT PEOPLE'S
WILLINGNESS TO COME TO THE
LIBRARY, LAKE CITY IS A HUGE
COMMUNITY HUB, LOTS OF CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES, ARE YOU DOING ANY
KIND OF SURVEY OF LIBRARY USERS,
HOW THEY ARE FEELING ABOUT THE
SOCIAL CHALLENGES THE LIBRARY IS
VALIANTLY DEALING WITH -- YOU
KNOW, TRYING TO BE MINDFUL , HOW
IS THAT IMPACTING THE DAY-TO-DAY
EXPERIENCE OF LIBRARY USERS?
>> WE WILL CONDUCT SOME SURVEYS
LATER THIS YEAR THAT WILL GET TO
THAT. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE
KNOW THESE THINGS HAPPEN. OUR
STAFF ARE WELL TRAINED IN
DE-ESCALATION. THAT WOULD BE OUR
LIBRARIANS AND THE LIBRARY STAFF
MEMBERS, NOT JUST SIMPLY
SECURITY. AS WE LOOK AT THAT
NEXT LEVY, WE DO NEED TO -- WE
HAVE TO OWN ALL THE CONDITIONS ,
HAVE THAT TOTAL COST OF
OWNERSHIP IN EVERYTHING, THAT
INCLUDES THE SECURITY . FOR
YEARS, WE HAVE NOT HAD IT AS
FUNDED AS WELL AS IT SHOULD BE.
WE ARE NOW A BIG CITY. I HATE TO
SAY IT. COMING FROM ANOTHER
CITY, WE ARE GROWING INTO A BIG
CITY WITH BIG CITY ISSUES. IT
CANNOT JUST BE SECURITY. HAVING
THOSE ADDITIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS,
CLASSIFICATIONS ON STAFF, THAT
CAN BE THERE BEFORE A CRISIS
BEGINS. THAT IS WHAT WE SEE A
LOT, EVEN WITH OUR SECURITY
OFFICERS. WE CAN SEE THESE
THINGS STARTING TO HAPPEN.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND INTERRUPT
BEFORE WE HAVE A CRISIS , HOW
CAN WE HELP YOU? IT CAN BE
SIMPLE THINGS LIKE , I JUST NEED
A DRINK OF WATER. SOME OF THOSE
THINGS WE HAVE. THE GOOD FORTUNE
OF HAVING A FOUNDATION TO
PROVIDE THOSE THINGS. AS THE
INDIVIDUAL MAY HAVE SAID,
SOMETIMES IT MAY NOT DEFUSE ALL
OF IT. WE TALK ABOUT MENTAL
HEALTH, THAT IS A DIFFERENT TYPE
OF ISSUE. YOU CAN TRY TO
INTERVENE BEFORE A CRISIS BUT
SOMETIMES A CRISIS IS ALREADY
THERE. THAT IS WHEN WE WORK WITH
OUR PARTNERS IN CARE AND OTHER
INSTITUTIONS , THEY KNOW WE ARE
A PART OF THIS ECOSYSTEM AND WE
ARE A CENTRAL PLACE WHERE PEOPLE
COME BECAUSE THEY FEEL SAFE OR
FEEL LIKE THEY WILL BE HEARD ,
THEY KNOW, WE NEED TO RESPOND TO
THESE BECAUSE THE LIBRARY --
THEY ARE IDENTIFYING A CRISIS
THAT THEY ARE THERE TO HELP AS
WELL.
>> OKAY. I WOULD BE INTERESTED
IN SEEING THE SURVEYS, MAKING
SURE THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE
USING LIBRARIES ARE FEELING LIKE
IT IS WORKING FOR THEM AND A
SAFE PLACE FOR THEM.
>> YOU SHOULD SEE ALL OF THAT AS
WE GO INTO THE LEVY PROPOSAL,
THE MAYOR , THE COUNCIL , THAT
INFORMATION SHOULD BE AVAILABLE,
IF IT IS AVAILABLE FOR HAND, --
IF IT IS AVAILABLE BEFOREHAND, I
WILL MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO YOU.
>> WE CAN -- I WILL TALK TO
CHIEF FAY IN A COMMITTEE
MEETING, AFTER WE GET TO THE
LEVY, WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION
BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING MANY
OF OUR COLLEAGUES CARE ABOUT
THROUGHOUT THE CITY SO LET'S
PUT A PIN ON THAT, IT IS AN
IMPORTANT ISSUE, THANK YOU FOR
RAISING THE FEDERAL FUNDING
ISSUE, I WANT TO PUT YOUR MIND
IN EASE, THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY IS NOT DEPENDENT ON
FEDERAL FUNDING . I THINK THAT
IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO HEAR.
BECAUSE WE ARE IN THIS CRISIS
MOMENT. THAT IS GOOD TO HEAR. I
APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING
ABOUT TRICKLE DOWN AND WE HAVE
TO MONITOR IT, AND WE DEFINITELY
SHOULD COME PEOPLE SHOULD NOT
KNOW IT IS NOT DEPENDENT ON
FEDERAL FUNDING SO WE DO NOT
WANT TO UNNECESSARILY PANIC
PEOPLE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> THANK YOU , FOR TODAY'S
PRESENTATION GREAT CONNECTING
WITH YOU A BIT MORE A COUPLE
WEEKS AGO AND TALKED AT LENGTH
ABOUT OUR WONDERFUL LIBRARY
SYSTEM WHICH IS SUCH AN ASSET TO
OUR COMMUNITY . IT WAS WONDERFUL
TO JOIN THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION
EARLIER THIS WEEK, SPEAKING OF
THE GREEN LAKE BRANCH ,
CELEBRATING THE INCREDIBLE WORK
TO BRING THOSE RENOVATIONS
ONLINE . IT WAS A GREAT SPACE
AND OUR COMMUNITY LOVES OUR
LIBRARIES, WE ARE SO LUCKY. THE
LEVY FUNDED RENOVATIONS LIKE
GREEN LAKE ARE BEAUTIFUL . THE
UPCOMING WORK AT UNIVERSITY AND
COLUMBIA CITY BRANCHES, LOOK
AMAZING , AND THESE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS OR A BIG
PHYSICAL REMINDER OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE LEVY, BUT THE
IMPACT OF THE LEVY ON THE
LIBRARIES AND THE FUNDING AND
THE THRIVING COMMUNITIES WE
SERVE, AND ARE AN ANCHOR IN
EVERY DISTRICT IN OUR CITY. MY
QUESTION -- I HAVE A COUPLE
QUESTIONS FOR TODAY, ONE, WHERE
ARE WE WITH CLOSING OUT THE LAST
OF THE PREVIOUS LEVIES PLANNED
CAPITAL PROJECTS , ARE THERE ANY
MAJOR ROADBLOCKS TO GETTING
THOSE ACROSS THE FINISH LINE?
>> REFERRING TO 2012 OR 2019?
>> 2019 .
>> IN 2019, THE LAST OF WHAT I
CONSIDER MAJOR PROJECT, NOT
TALKING ABOUT THE MINOR
PROJECTS, COLUMBIA. COLUMBIA ,
AS I HAVE SAID , THE LAST TIME
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, THESE
PROJECTS WERE UNDERESTIMATED ,
AS FAR AS THE COST. THROW ON TOP
OF THAT THE PANDEMIC , THE
SUPPLY-SIDE ISSUES, PAPER
INFLATION AND CONSTRUCTION, WE
SIT WITH PROJECTS THAT ARE MORE
THAN DOUBLE WHAT WAS ANTICIPATED
FROM THE LEVY . WE HAVE BEEN
FORTUNATE TO SECURE STATE AND
FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP IN THOSE
AREAS, AND FORTUNATE TO HAVE A
FOUNDATION THAT IS HELPED. AS WE
LOOK AT COLUMBIA, WE HAVE AN
EARMARK IN RIGHT NOW WITH
REPRESENTATIVE SMITH . WE HOPE
THAT CONTINUES FORWARD. IT IS
IMPORTANT FUNDING. WE HAVE TO
FIND ANOTHER RESOURCE, OR HOLD
THE PROJECT UNTIL THE NEXT LEVY
WHERE WE CAN SECURE ENOUGH
FUNDING TO FINISH THE PROJECT .
THE PROJECTS WERE BASICALLY
SLATED ON AVERAGE ABOUT $6
MILLION , THOSE PROJECTS ARE
COMING IN AT $10 MILLION , $12
MILLION, $13 MILLION TO DO THAT
WORK TODAY.
>> THANK YOU . LOOKING AHEAD AND
FUTURE NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES,
IT HAS BEEN EXCITING TO SEE THE
WAY THE DIGITAL AND PHYSICAL
COLLECTIONS HAVE GROWN . I AM
WONDERING, FOR A LIBRARY SYSTEM
OF OUR SIZE, WHAT IS OUR
NORTHSTAR WHEN TALKING ABOUT A
COLLECTION AND THE SIZE THE
COLLECTION SHOULD BE?
>> A COUPLE OF FACTORS. WE HAVE
NOT BUILT ANY NEW SPACE IN A
NUMBER OF YEARS. MUCH LIKE
RETAIL, EVERY FOOT IS VERY
VALUABLE WHEN IT COMES TO
PUTTING MATERIAL . WE TALK ABOUT
THE PHYSICAL MATERIAL, WE ARE
PROBABLY CLOSE TO WHERE WE WERE
WHEN WE STARTED, AT MAX , WITH A
HALF-MILLION ITEMS ACROSS THE
ENTIRE SYSTEM , MAYBE A LITTLE
BIT MORE AND WE TALK ABOUT THE
DIGITAL ARENA, WE ARE NOT
LIMITED, BUT WE ARE LIMITED IN
OUR FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT IT. MY GOAL , VERY
SIMPLY , AS I LOOK OUT IN THE
NEXT FEW YEARS , BECAUSE OF THE
READERSHIP THAT WE HAVE IN
SEATTLE, AND OBVIOUSLY A VERY
EDUCATED POPULATION . I WANT US
TO HAVE THE LARGEST E-BOOK ,
E-AUDIO COLLECTION IN THE
COUNTRY , IF NOT THE WORLD . I
THINK WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE THAT
WOULD SUPPORT THAT. IT WILL
REQUIRE CONSIDERABLE FUNDING. IT
ALSO WILL REQUIRE , TO THE
COMMENTS BY COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
, THE OTHER PIECE WE HOPE TO SEE
, ALL PUBLISHERS, NOT JUST A
FEW, WILL PROVIDE PERPETUAL
LICENSING SO I CAN DEVELOP A
COLLECTION , MUCH
PHYSICAL COLLECTION, THAT HAS
DEPTH AND BREADTH , RIGHT NOW,
IF YOU SAY, WHAT IS YOUR
COLLECTION LOOK LIKE 10 YEARS
FROM NOW? IF EVERYTHING STAYS
THE SAME AS IT IS TODAY, I
DON'T KNOW, WHATEVER IS POPULAR
10 YEARS FROM NOW AND NOTHING
ELSE BEHIND IT. WE HAVE TO GROW
AS A COUNTRY AND ALMOST
CERTAINLY THE PROFESSION HAS TO
PUSH THAT SO WE HAVE THOSE
COLLECTIONS. IT IS PRETTY
MEANINGLESS TO THE 3 MILLION
ITEMS AND NOT WHAT IS THE MOST
POPULAR IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
>> THIS POINT ABOUT HAVING
PERPETUAL, WHAT PROFESSIONAL
LICENSING -- HOW CAN WE SUPPORT
TRYING TO PUSH IN BEING ABLE TO
GARNER THAT? IT MAKES A WORLD OF
SENSE FOR OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES
TO HAVE THAT ABILITY?
>> I THINK, IN OUR CASE, WE KNOW
THAT GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AT THE
CITY , WHO ARE SUPPORTING US IN
THAT EFFORT, WE HAVE THE SUPPORT
OF THE CITY IN THOSE EFFORTS. IT
IS GETTING THIS STUDY TO GO
THROUGH IF IT IS NOT THERE, IT
WILL BE THE NEXT YEAR . SOMEBODY
ELSE IN ANOTHER STATE WILL HAVE
SOME SUCCESS. WE ARE KEEPING
TRACK OF THIS NATIONALLY . I SIT
WITH NATIONAL COLLEAGUES AT THE
LARGEST LIBRARY SYSTEMS IN THE
COUNTRY, WE MEET MULTIPLE TIMES
PER YEAR. EITHER ONLINE OR IN
PERSON AT VARIOUS CONFERENCES .
THIS IS SOMETHING ON ALL OF OUR
RADARS . SOMEBODY HAS SUCCESS,
WE ALL KNOW ABOUT IT.
>> MY FINAL QUESTION, RELATED TO
DATA SECURITY , SOME OF THE
ISSUES WE FACED, WHICH WERE
CONCERNING FOR MANY OF US. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE WAY IN
WHICH SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES
HAVE CONNECTED WITH LIBRARY
PARTNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ,
HAVE OTHER LIBRARY BRANCHES
EXPERIENCED THINGS LIKE THIS,
AND CAN WE LEARN FROM WHAT THEY
MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH SOME
OF THESE DATA BREACHES OR CYBER
SECURITY CHALLENGES AND APPLY
THEM TO RESOLVING OUR OWN
CHALLENGES?
>> MOST CERTAINLY . BEFORE WE
EXPERIENCED IT, THE BRITISH
LIBRARY, TORONTO, BOSTON PUBLIC
AS WELL, THE BRITISH LIBRARY DID
SUFFER SOME OF THE EFFECTS.
OLDER SYSTEMS IN PLACE . A
LITTLE MORE COMPLICATION .
TORONTO , WENT THROUGH ABOUT SIX
MONTHS OF STRUGGLES, THEY ARE A
HUGE SYSTEM, THE LARGEST LIBRARY
SYSTEM IN NORTH AMERICA. THEY
ALSO HAVE A LOT OF BIG SYSTEMS
AND SOME OLDER SYSTEMS. I WAS ON
THE PHONE WITH THE DIRECTOR FOR
TORONTO , EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO
TORONTO , SATURDAY NIGHT, BY
SUNDAY MORNING SHE HAD OUR TEAMS
MEETING WITH US. WE HAVE OFFERED
OUR ADVICE, TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE
EITHER EXPERIENCED IT OR
PLANNING TO MAKE SURE THEY DO
NOT EXPERIENCE IT. OUR CHIEF
TECHNOLOGY OFFICER HAS BEEN ON A
NUMBER OF PROGRAMS , ONE IN THE
MIDDLE OF MARCH, TALKING ABOUT
HOW CYBERSECURITY IN THIS
PROGRAM IS ALSO AN EQUITY ISSUE
. AND ACCESS MAKING SURE THAT
CONTINUES . WE CONTINUE TO DO
THAT WORK.
>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> I WILL SAY THAT, I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE , IN THE YEAR I HAVE
BEEN HERE , THE CONVERSATIONS
WITH CHIEF TOM FAY AND HOW
ROBUSTLY YOU PARTNER WITH OTHER
LIBRARY SYSTEMS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. YOU HAVE A GREAT
NETWORK, LIKE LAST YEAR , WHEN
THE CYBERSECURITY PIECE
HAPPENED, I KNOW YOU HAD
PARTNERS , LIKE TORONTO, THAT
YOU COULD REACH OUT TO , AND I
APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT FOR
OTHERS. I VERY MUCH ADMIRED THE
WAY AND I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THE
WAY THE LIBRARY SYSTEM ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, SYSTEMS KEEP IN
TOUCH . I WILL ALSO SAY THAT ,
YOU KNOW, WE ARE SEATTLE, BIG
FANS OF THE E-BOOKS AND DIGITAL
BOOKS AND MATERIALS . I AM HAPPY
TO HEAR THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE
WORLD'S LARGEST ELECTRONIC
CIRCULATION LIBRARIES , NOT TO
SAY WE NEED TO IMPROVE UPON
THAT, AS WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF
ALL THE WORK . BUT IT SOUNDS
LIKE SEATTLE IS ALMOST LEADING
IN THIS SPACE, SOMETHING TO BE
PROUD OF AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP . BECAUSE THESE
THINGS DO NOT JUST HAPPEN.
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND STAFF
UNDERGO LEADERSHIP ARE GIVING
BIG FOCUS TO THIS AND I
APPRECIATE HEARING YOUR WORK AT
THE STATE LEVEL. IN TERMS OF
E-BOOKS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
A WAY TO DEAL WITH THAT
LICENSING ISSUE. IT WOULD BE
GREAT TO GET STATE FUNDING FOR
LIBRARIES. BUT I UNDERSTAND THE
STATE HAS BUDGET DEFICITS LIKE
WE DO. WHEN YOU THINK OF YOUR
LONG-TERM 10 YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN
, THESE ARE ALL THINGS YOU NEED
TO WORK ON NOW. I APPRECIATE
THAT . CHIEF FAY , I HAVE A
COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ON PAGE 7,
IN TERMS OF THE HELPING CHILDREN
LITERACY AND ENRICHMENT, YOU
MENTIONED YOU HAVE A PARTNERSHIP
WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS . I
AM WONDERING, BECAUSE THE CITY
IS A BIG BUREAUCRACY AND
BUREAUCRACIES OFTEN SUFFER FROM
A LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
DEPARTMENTS. I WANT TO KNOW ,
HOW ARE YOU PARTNERING WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN THIS
LITERACY SPACE? WE KNOW KIDS ARE
NOT MEETING THEIR -- WHERE THEY
NEED TO BE IN READING AND MATH.
IN TERMS OF LITERACY, THAT IS A
BIG COMPONENT. HOW ARE YOU
PARTNERING WITH THAT DEPARTMENT
? ARE YOU PARTNERING? IS THERE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE COORDINATING WITH OUR
EFFORTS ON THIS AND HELPING
CHILDREN GET WHERE THEY NEED TO
BE?
>> DIRECTOR AND I HAVE
OPPORTUNITIES , DISCUSSING A
NUMBER OF ITEMS. AS FAR AS
PARTNERING, IT WOULD BE SOMEWHAT
INDIRECT, IN THAT A LOT OF THE
FOLKS THAT DEAL FUNDING , THE
ORGANIZATION THAT DEAL FUNDS ,
ARE THE ONES WHERE PARTNER WITH
TO EITHER HELP PROVIDE THE
SERVICE, IT COULD BE AROUND
LANGUAGE, IT COULD BE AROUND
INSTRUCTION, IT COULD BE A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS. THAT
IS WHERE WE DO THE PARTNERING WE
KNOW, WHO THEY'RE WORKING WITH,
AND WHO THEY ARE FUNDING. THAT
ALLOWS US TO WORK WITH GROUPS
THAT ARE IN COMMUNITY . SO THAT
WE ARE NOT TRYING TO RE-CREATE
THAT WHEEL OURSELVES. THAT IS A
LOT OF HOW WE WORK AROUND THAT
PARTNERSHIP .
>> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A MORE
ROBUST PARTNERSHIP AND THAT YOU
WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER --
YOU ARE PROVIDING THIS DIRECT
SERVICE TO STUDENTS. THEY WORK
WITH SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, YOU ALSO HAVE
INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN SHARE
AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT AS
THEY ARE DOING THE WORK,
PRIORITIZING THEIR FUNDING. I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THAT.
JUST MOVING FORWARD. IS IT YOUR
EXPECTATION THAT THE NEW LEVY
WILL ACCOUNT FOR THE SAME
PERCENTAGE OF BUDGET IN THE
GRAPH YOU SHOWED ON PAGE 3?
>> THAT IS NOT A QUESTION THAT I
CAN ANSWER. THERE IS A NUMBER OF
REASONS FOR THAT. FIRST, WE DO
NOT KNOW WHAT THE BIANNUAL
BUDGET WILL BE WHEN WE GET TO
THAT POINT. WE ALSO DO NOT KNOW
WHAT THE AMOUNT WILL BE. THAT WE
ARE SEEKING. THE NEXT LEVY. IF
YOU WANT ME TO GO FROM MY GUT,
MY GUT WOULD SAY IT WOULD BE
MOST CERTAINLY NO LESS OF A
PERCENTAGE. THEN WHAT IT IS
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. MORE TO COME.
>> YOU WILL HAVE PLENTY NEXT
YEAR FOR SURE.
>> MY OTHER QUESTION IS, SORRY,
I HAD A LIST OF QUESTIONS, YOU
ADDRESSED SOME OF THEM .
REGARDING THE INTEGRATED LIBRARY
SYSTEM , PAGE 14, CAN YOU TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS SYSTEM AND
WHAT THE INTEGRATION IS? SAYS
NEW INTEGRATED LIBRARY SYSTEM
UNDER TECHNOLOGY AND ONLINE
SERVICES . WHAT FALLS UNDER
THAT? IF YOU COULD ELABORATE A
BIT.
>> YES, IT IS THE BACKBONE OF
ALL THE LIBRARY ELECTRONIC
SERVICES YOU SEE AS FAR AS WHEN
YOU WANT TO LOOK UP A BOOK, THAT
IS, WHILE WE HAVE A DISCOVERY
LAYER , ONE COMPANY, BEHIND THAT
IS THIS ILS WHERE ALL OF THE
RECORDS ARE STORED, AS WE
PURCHASE AND PROCESS MATERIAL,
THAT IS IN THE ELECTRONIC
SYSTEMS IN THIS INTEGRATED
LIBRARY SYSTEM IT IS THAT BACK
END -- WHEN YOU CHECK OUT A
BOOK, WHETHER YOU CHECK IT OUT
YOURSELF , OR HAVING A STAFF
MEMBER DO THAT, THAT IS ALL
HAPPENING IN THE BACK OF THAT
SYSTEM ALL YOUR HOLDS, THE HOLD
REQUESTS HAPPEN THERE. WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT THIS BEING MORE ONE
OF THE COLLOCATED THINGS TO
REPLACE, IT IS, AFTER 42 YEARS,
DO NOT MESS WITH PEOPLE'S
HOLDS. IN THE EARLY DAYS, THAT
HAPPENS A LOT BUT DOES NOT
HAPPEN OFTEN TODAY. IT SHOWS YOU
THE IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE HAVING
THESE SYSTEMS . SOMETIMES THEY
DO NOT KNOW IT, IT IS
BEHIND-THE-SCENES , BUT A
CRITICAL SYSTEM . WE HOPE TO
REENGINEER SOME OF THE WORKFLOWS
TO MAKE THINGS MORE EFFICIENT.
BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS 35 YEARS
OLD. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW
UPGRADES HERE AND THERE, WE NEED
-- A SYSTEM 35 YEARS OLD IS NOT
PROVIDING THE BEST EXPERIENCE
FOR ANYONE.
>> THANK YOU. SOMETHING PEOPLE
DO NOT THINK ABOUT, THE BACK OF
THE HOUSE WORK THAT REQUIRES A
LOT. I RECOGNIZE, WE HAVE A LOT
OF THE BACK OF THE HOUSE STUFF
AT THE CITY, I CERTAINLY
UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU FOR
ELABORATING ON THAT . I THINK
THIS WILL BE MY LAST QUESTION.
WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE SOCIAL
SERVICES PIECE AND DOING THE
REFERRALS, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ,
YOU RAISED THIS, WE NOW HAVE UCT
AND CARES IN THE DISTRICT OR IN
REGIONS, UCT IN EVERY DISTRICT
AND CARES IS IN EVERY REGION,
HOW ARE YOU PARTNERING WITH
THOSE ENTITIES BECAUSE THEY DO
PUT PEOPLE IN WITH SERVICES? I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UCT HAS
ALREADY STARTED ON THE GROUND ,
AS THAT WORK IS DONE, THERE IS A
PARTNERSHIP AND YOU CAN OFFER
PEOPLE, MAYBE EVEN IN A FASTER
WAY, YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO -- I
UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE -- DO NOT
HAVE THE SECURITY YOU NEED, BUT
WE MAKE OTHER INVESTMENTS THAT
HELP THE CITY POPULATIONS, I
WOULD LOVE TO SEE PARTNERSHIP.
>> WE UTILIZE OUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH UCT. AS WE HAVE ISSUES IN
PARTICULAR HOTSPOTS , WE CAN
WORK WITH THEM . SOMETIMES, IT
IS A COMBINATION MAYBE NOT
PATROLS AT NIGHT BECAUSE UCT
CAN'T START UNTIL X TIMES.
OBVIOUSLY , WE WORK WITH CARE,
CHIEF AND I TALK QUITE A BIT
ABOUT VARIOUS ISSUES AS THEY
COME UP. IF WE HAVE ISSUES, WE
CAN SAY WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW WE
CAN DO IT BETTER, MAYBE THE
LIBRARY CAN REPORT SOMETHING AND
HOW CAN WE MANAGE THIS
DIFFERENTLY? WE HAVE THOSE
DISCUSSIONS AND I FEEL
COMFORTABLE WITH THEM. UCT, I
CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON. CHATTING
WITH DEPUTY MAYOR WASHINGTON ,
IF WE ARE HAVING ISSUES.
>> GREAT. REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR
THAT, GLAD UTC IS IN EVERY
DISTRICT AND HOPEFULLY THEY CAN
HELP YOU AND YOUR TEAM AS WE TRY
TO SUPPORT OUR UN-HOUSED
POPULATION WHO MAY GO WHEN
NEEDING SERVICES. I WILL -- YOU
HAVE GIVEN US EXTRA TIME I
APPRECIATE YOU STAYING LONGER TO
ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS -- OUR
QUESTIONS. I HAVE OTHER
QUESTIONS BUT YOU AND I MEET
REGULARLY. I APPRECIATE YOU
BEING HERE TODAY, CHIEF FAY, AND
YOUR TEAM, ONE TODAY BUT YOU
HAVE A MUCH BIGGER TEAM.
COLLEAGUES , DO YOU HAVE ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS OF CHIEF FAY ?
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE ALWAYS
APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP .
>> THANK YOU ALL .
>> LOVE OUR LIBRARIES.
>> ALL RIGHT . COLLEAGUES , ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS , THIS CONCLUDES THE
FEBRUARY 27th , 2025 MEETING OF
THE LIBRARIES, EDUCATION, AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE , OUR
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING IS
SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, MARCH
13th 2025 AT 9:30 A.M. WITH NO
FURTHER BUSINESS , THIS MEETING
WILL ADJOURN . HEARING NO
FURTHER BUSINESS, 10:33 A.M. AND
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK
YOU, COLLEAGUES.