COMMITTEE. WILL THE CLERK IS
CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS HER
CREDIT PRESENT.
>> GREAT. WE HAVE A FULL
COMMITTEE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE THIS MORNING. GOOD
MORNING TO COLLEAGUES AND THOSE
WATCHING ON THE SEATTLE CHANNEL.
WELCOME TO THE FIRST LIBRARIES,
EDUCATION, AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE MEETING OF 2026. I
FEEL SO PRIVILEGED TO BE LEADING
THE COMMITTEE FOR A SECOND TERM.
FIRSTLY , I WANT TO GIVE A WARM
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST COMMITTEE
MEMBER, COUNCILMEMBER DIONNE
FOSTER. WELCOME. WE ARE SO HAPPY
YOU ARE HERE. AND WELCOME BACK
TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND VICE
CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH, MY VICE
CHAIR FOR THIS COMMITTEE. AND TO
COUNCILMEMBER LIN AND
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. ESPECIALLY
IN LIGHT OF THE ATTACKS FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE WORKED
WITH DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
ENSURING OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH
EFFORTS WERE ROBUST ACROSS THE
CITY AND PRESERVING FUNDING FOR
PROGRAMS LIKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD
MATCHING FUND, WHICH ARE SO
MEANINGFUL TO OUR RESIDENTS
ACROSS ALL OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND WE ALSO LED THE VERY
IMPORTANT RENEWAL OF THE NEXT
FAMILIES EDUCATION AND PRESCHOOL
PROMISE LEVY , WHICH PASSED WITH
OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FROM 80% OF
VOTERS. THIS YEAR WE WILL BE
WORKING ON A LEVY RENEWAL FOR
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY'S.
THE IMPLEMENTATION AND
EVALUATION PLAN FOR THE FEP LEVY
AND WE WILL BE CONTINUING OUR
WORK , WHICH IS SO CRITICAL AND
PERTINENT AS WE CONTINUE TO
GRAPPLE WITH THE CRUEL AND I
BELIEVE TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL
ACTIONS OF I.C.E.. WE ARE ALL
ALARMED AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
OUR VERY OWN CITY. I KNOW I WILL
BE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL IN HOW WE CAN ALIGN A
LEGAL RESPONSE TO THE SACKS AND
ALSO WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY. THE
CITY ATTORNEY AND OUR ATTORNEY
GENERAL HAVE BEEN BOLD AND BRAVE
IN BRINGING LAWSUITS AGAINST THE
CRUEL ACTIONS IN WHAT I BELIEVE
TO BE AS I SAID EARLIER ON
CONSTITUTIONAL AND ILLEGAL
ACTIONS FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THEM
AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN DEALING
WITH THE SITUATION. AS WE KNOW,
WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY OVER THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WE NEED
TO LOOK TOWARD THE LEGAL SYSTEM
TO COMBAT THESE OVERSTEPS IN
CRUELTY. AT TODAY'S MEETING, WE
HAVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY'S PROGRAMS AND
OPERATIONS IN PREPARATION FOR
OUR UPCOMING LIBRARIES LEVY
RENEWAL. CHIEF TOM FAY WILL BE
PRESENTING ALONG WITH HIS STAFF
MEMBER, KIERSTEN NELSON. AS YOU
KNOW, SEATTLE LOVES ITS
LIBRARIES. SINCE 1998,
COLLEAGUES HAVE HAD EITHER A
BOND MEASURE OR LEVY TO SUPPORT
OUR LIBRARIES. ON A PERSONAL
NOTE, I HAVE A DEEP FONDNESS FOR
LIBRARIES. AS I HAVE SAID AT
THIS COMMITTEE IN PRIOR
MEETINGS, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP
IN AN UNSAFE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE
BRONX IN NEW YORK CITY, THE
LIBRARY WAS THE ONLY PLACE I
MOTHER WOULD LET ME GO. I WAS AN
AVID READER AND THE LIBRARY WAS
MY SANCTUARY. I FELT SAFE AMONG
THE STACKS OF BOOKS. LIBRARIES
ARE PLACES OF SAFETY , PLACES OF
LEARNING, AND PLACES TOGETHER
FOR OUR COMMUNITY. FROM
STORYTIME FOR OUR KIDDOS TO
GATHERINGS FOR OUR SENIORS IN
COMMUNITY. WE ARE SO LUCKY TO
HAVE SUCH A STRONG AND THRIVING
LIBRARY SYSTEM IN SEATTLE. I
KNOW SEATTLE HAS THE GREATEST
NUMBER OF E-BOOKS AND E-BOOK
READERS IN OUR CITY. I WANT TO
THANK CHIEF FAY AND HIS STAFF
AND ALL THE LIBRARIANS WHO WORK
SO HARD TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS .
WE HAD A SIMILAR OVERVIEW OF THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES
AND PROGRAMS TWO YEARS AGO AT
THE START OF MY TENURE WITH THIS
COMMITTEE, BUT IT SEEMED
APPROPRIATE TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE
TODAY AS WE BEGIN NOT ONLY THE
LEVY RENEWAL PROCESS BUT
ESPECIALLY FOR OUR NEWER
COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO WERE NOT
HERE AT THE TIME. SO NOW ON TO
TODAY'S AGENDA. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED . HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE WILL
NOW OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENT
SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA OR WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF
THIS COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE ONE IN
PERSON SPEAKER AND ZERO REMOTE
SO FAR.
>> THANK YOU. GIVEN THAT, THE
SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
CLERK , PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC
COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. 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 SPEAKERS AND
REMOTE SPEAKERS UNTIL THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD HAS ENDED.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A TIME WHEN
10 MINUTES ARE LEFT. WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON
THE LIST. THE FIRST IN PERSON
SPEAKER IS JENNIFER SHORT.
>> WELCOME, JENNIFER. STEP UP TO
THE PODIUM.
>> I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN REGARDS
TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD PORTION
INVOLVED HERE. MY SON WAS
ATTACKED ON CAPITOL HILL MAY
11th, 2024, AT THE LIGHT RAIL
SYSTEM THERE BY COREY BELL AT .
VIDEO FOOTAGE CLEARLY SHOWS
THERE WAS NO SOUND TRANSIT
OFFICERS THERE. SUPPOSEDLY THEY
EMPLOY OVER 500 OFFICERS FOR
SECURITY. THERE WAS NOBODY THERE
AT THE TIME MY SON WAS BEING
BULLIED WITH HOMOPHOBIC SLURS,
HIM AND HIS FRIEND. ALL MY SON
DID WAS APPROACH COREY TO GO
AHEAD AND ASK HIM TO STOP THE
BULLYING, WHERE COREY PROCEEDED
TO SHOVE MY SON NEXT TO THE
LIGHT RAIL AND PROCEEDED TO TRY
TO DRAG MY SON ONTO THE LIGHT
RAIL TRACK AS VIDEO FOOTAGE
ONLINE SHOWS. SOMETHING HAS GOT
TO BE DONE WITH SOUND TRANSIT.
THEY SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN TO
ANOTHER FAMILY EVER AGAIN. IT
SHOULD BE MANDATED THAT AT ALL
TIMES, 24/7, THERE IS AN OFFICER
ON THE LIGHT RAIL PLATFORMS .
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SON IS
COMPLETELY UNFAIR AND IT IS VERY
SAD THAT COREY DIED AS WELL,
HOWEVER, IF EVERYBODY HAD BEEN
IN PLACE DOING THEIR JOBS, THIS
ALL COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. WE
NEED TO BE BETTER HUMANS AND
KINDER PEOPLE AND DO WHAT IS
RIGHT TO PROTECT ALL THE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND ALL THE
COMMUNITY HERE ON ALL THE PUBLIC
TRANSIT SYSTEMS. I LIVE BACK
EAST, AND THIS HAS BEEN A
NIGHTMARE FOR MY FAMILY. MY SON
IS AWAY FROM HIS TWO YOUNG
CHILDREN UNDER FIVE WHILE WE
WAIT FOR A TRIAL TO PROVE MY
SON'S INNOCENCE AND HIS
DEFENSE. THIS HAS GONE ON FOR
OVER 20 MONTHS. BUT YES. I WANT
TO BRING SOME AWARENESS TO THE
FACT THAT SOUND TRANSIT IS NOT
DOING THEIR JOB AND THEY FAILED
EVERYBODY THAT DAY. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR LETTING ME HAVE A FEW
MINUTES OF YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE. I'M SORRY TO HEAR WHAT
HAPPENED TO YOUR SON. SOUND
TRANSIT IS NOT UNDER THE PURVIEW
OF THIS COMMITTEE, BUT WE WILL
DEFINITELY FOLLOW UP WITH MY
COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA,
WHO LEADS TRANSPORTATION WITH
OUR COLLEAGUE , COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS, WHO SITS ON THE BOARD
OF THE SOUND TRANSIT BOARD. I
WILL SAY IN GENERAL WE ALL AND I
VERY MUCH CARE ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY AND NOT JUST IN MY
DISTRICT BUT ACROSS THE CITY.
AND WE WILL FOLLOW UP AS I SAID
WITH OUR COLLEAGUES ON THIS
PARTICULAR NOTE. AND I
PERSONALLY HAVE SPOKEN WITH
SOUND TRANSIT AT THE LIGHT RAIL
STATIONS PRIOR, AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND I KNOW
SAFETY IS BIG FOR OUR --
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA BIG ISSUE.
SOMETHING IS GOING TO FOLLOW UP
ON. WE HAVE ACTUALLY PUT MONEY
IN THE BUDGET TO SUPPORT PUBLIC
SAFETY ON THE LIGHT RAIL AND THE
BUS SYSTEM, WHICH IS KING COUNTY
METRO. JUST TO SAY WE HAVE DONE
SOME THINGS AND I WILL FOLLOW-UP
WITH OUR COLLEAGUES.
>> YES, I'M SO SORRY THAT I
SPOKE. I AM BACK EAST. IT IS AN
IMPORTANT THING.
>> AND IT IS OKAY. I AGREE. AND
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
>> CHAIR, THAT WAS OUR LAST
REGISTERED SPEAKER.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU, CLERK. NO
ADDITIONAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
CLOSED AND WE WILL PROCEED TO
OUR ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE INTO
THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE. 2026 SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY OVERVIEW
PRESENTATION FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. THIS ITEM HAS BEEN
READ INTO THE RECORD. CHIEF FAY
AND KIERSTEN STATE YOUR NAME FOR
THE RECORD AND THEN YOU CAN
START YOUR PRESENTATION. AND I
KNOW, CHIEF FAY , THAT YOU HAVE
A BOARD MEETING TO ATTEND SO YOU
WILL BE WITH US AS MUCH AS YOU
CAN AND THEN KIERSTEN WILL BE
HERE AND I HAVE NO DOUBT SHE CAN
ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS. OBVIOUSLY,
COLLEAGUES , IF THERE WERE
QUESTIONS WERE NOT ABLE TO
ANSWER DURING COMMITTEE TIME, I
WILL MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW UP AND
GET YOU ANSWERS AFTER. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE,
CHIEF FAY. REALLY NICE TO SEE
YOU AGAIN. KIERSTEN TOO. HAPPY
NEW YEAR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM
CHIEF FAY. CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
>> I AM KIERSTEN NELSON, FOR THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
>> WELCOME TO THE NEW MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. PLEASURE TO
PRESENT THE WORK OF THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY. AS WE HEAD INTO
THE FINAL YEAR OF THE LIBRARY'S
SEVEN-YEAR 2019 LEVY, I DO LOOK
FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED
DISCUSSIONS AS CHAIR RIVERA
MENTIONED . FOR THOSE WHO MAY
NOT HAVE AS MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, WE DO
HAVE OUR CENTRAL LIBRARY IN 26
NEIGHBORHOOD LOCATIONS. WE HAVE
A MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION
CENTER IN GEORGETOWN. THAT IS
WHERE WE RUN ALL OF OUR
VEHICLES. WE HAVE OUR FACILITIES
AND MAINTENANCE AND SHOPS FOR
THE PARTICULAR FACILITY. WE HAVE
650 WONDERFUL LIBRARY STAFF
REPRESENTING 612 FTE . AND THEN
OF COURSE WE HAVE ALL OF THOSE
FLEET VEHICLES THAT I MENTIONED
AND OUR BELOVED BOOK MOBILES AND
MOBILE SERVICE VEHICLES IN THE
COMMUNITY. OF THOSE MOST
CERTAINLY EXTEND OUR OUTREACH
AND OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS. THE
LIBRARY IS GOVERNED BY A
FIVE-MEMBER VOLUNTEER BOARD OF
TRUSTEES , WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR POLICY AND ALL OF THE
FIDUCIARY ELEMENTS OF THE
LIBRARY. THEY ARE APPOINTED BY
THE MAYOR TO SERVE FIVE YEARS,
AND OUR CURRENT MEMBERS ARE
YAZMIN MEDHI , WHO IS PRESIDENT,
DR. W. TALI HAIRSTON, WHO IS
VICE PRESIDENT , CARMEN BENDIXEN
, RON CHEW , AND FAITH .
>> IT IS ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT
RON CHEW'S TERM EXPIRES THIS
YEAR. SO WE WILL BE BACK FOR A
NEW BOARD MEMBER.
>> AND AS WE LOOK AT LIBRARY
USAGE, THESE ARE HOT OFF THE
PRESS AS WE START COMPILING ALL
OF OUR USAGE FROM 2025. WE
OPERATE AN ACTIVE AND WELL USED
LIBRARY SYSTEM IN THE CITY. WE
HAVE A CITY OF READERS. SEATTLE
IS ONE OF TWO U.S. CITIES
RECOGNIZED BY UNESCO AS A CITY
OF LITERATURE. LIBRARY
CIRCULATED WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THESE NUMBERS OF 12.7 MILLION,
THAT IS A BIG NUMBER. BUT WHAT
THAT MEANS BECAUSE WE HAVE 24/7
SERVICES AVAILABLE -- WE
CIRCULATE 24 ITEMS EVERY MINUTE
OF EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO IT IS A
CITY THAT TRULY READS AND IT
READS EVERY MOMENT OF THE DAY.
WE HAD 2.9 PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL
ITEMS IN OUR COLLECTION IN 2025.
WE HAVE 329,000 ACTIVE PATRONS
IN THE 12 MONTHS . THOSE NUMBERS
ARE UP FROM 2024. 6100 CLASSES.
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES WITH OVER
118,000 IN ATTENDANCE. THOSE
NUMBERS ARE ALSO UP OVER 2024.
37,000 QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY OUR
INFORMATION SERVICES. AND WE
HAVE 369,000 PUBLIC COMPUTER
SESSIONS IN 2025.
>> CHIEF FAY, SORRY. APOLOGIES.
GENERALLY I WOULD SAY,
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR
HAND . WE CAN DO IT THROUGHOUT.
SOMETIMES THAT IS BETTER BECAUSE
WE ADDRESS IT WHEN IT IS
HAPPENING. TOWARD THAT END,
CHIEF FAY, I HAVE A QUICK
QUESTION ABOUT WHAT THIS VIRTUAL
ASSISTANT INFORMATION SERVICES
-- WHAT IS THAT?
>> THAT IS GOING TO BE ALL ABOUT
REFERENCE SERVICES THAT WOULD BE
ONLINE. SO IT WOULD BE EMAIL,
OUR CHAT SERVICES, OUR PHONE
SERVICES, AS WELL AS THOSE IN
PERSON SERVICES . WE ARE STILL
COMPILING THE IN PERSON
REFERENCE SERVICES AS WE SPEAK.
IT TAKES A LITTLE LONGER TO
COMPILE. BUT THIS GIVES YOU AN
IDEA OF ALL THOSE OTHER ITEMS ,
SUCH AS CHAT, PHONE, AND EMAIL.
>> TERRIFIC. THANK YOU. AND THAT
IS A PERSON ANSWERING. I ASK
BECAUSE NOW IN THE AI WORLD I
JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR ON WHAT
THAT MEANT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS A GREAT NOTE
THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AI, A
LOT OF THAT WORK THAT WE DO IS
PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO CONFIRM
WHAT THEY SEE OR HEAR.
ESPECIALLY IN THE WORLD OF
MISINFORMATION AND
DISINFORMATION THAT IS ONGOING.
WE WILL ALSO ADDRESS OUR BUDGET.
FUNDING COMES FROM A VARIETY OF
PUBLIC SOURCES. THE CITY BUT IN
GENERAL FUND DIVIDES 58% OF OUR
FUND. THE LEVY ACCOUNTS FOR 33%.
WE ALSO RECEIVE PUBLIC FUNDS
THROUGHOUT FOUNDATION AND OTHER
LIBRARY GIFT FUND . AND YOU CAN
SEE THAT DETAIL BROKEN OUT HERE.
THERE IS APPROXIMATELY $605,000
IN REET, REAL ESTATE EXCISE TAX
, 853,000 IN LIBRARY GENERATED
REVENUE THAT COMES IN FROM LOST
ITEM FEES, THE CENTRAL GARAGE ,
PRINT AND COPY FEES, ET CETERA.
AND THEN OF COURSE OUR WONDERFUL
FOUNDATION, WHO PROVIDES OVER
$5.6 MILLION THIS YEAR IN 2026.
THEY HAVE INCREASED THEIR GIVING
AND THEIR AWARD BY 8% OVER 2025.
THEY CONTINUE TO DO GREAT THINGS
IN SERVICE WITH LIBRARIES IN
THIS COMMUNITY. WITHOUT THEM WE
COULD NOT HAVE THE SUCCESS THAT
WE DO. WITH THIS, THE 2026
LIBRARY BUDGET ACROSS ALL
FUNDING SOURCES, INCLUDING
PRIVATE GIFTS AND GRANT SUPPORT,
IS $113.5 MILLION . IT IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE LIBRARY
CONTINUES TO SEEK OUTSIDE
GRANTS. WE LOOK AT ALL KINDS OF
NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC GRANTS
LOCAL AND REGIONAL GRANTS. AND
WHEN APPROPRIATE, FEDERAL
GRANTS, AS WELL. WE ARE VERY
SUCCESSFUL. THAT IS OFTEN IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FOUNDATION
AS WE SEEK THOSE GRANTS AND HAVE
THOSE GRANTS BE FUNNELED THROUGH
OUR FOUNDATION. THIS ONE
ACTUALLY DETAILS A LITTLE BIT OF
HOW THE DOLLARS ARE SPENT IN THE
ORGANIZATION. A MAJORITY OF
SPENDING IS GOING TO BE
PERSONNEL, MATERIALS, AND
BUILDINGS. PERSONNEL ACCOUNTS
FOR THREE QUARTERS OF ALL
SPENDING. BY NATURE, WE ARE
PEOPLE CENTERED. AND PEOPLE
POWERED. PEOPLE SERVING PEOPLE.
THE COLLECTION ACCOUNTS FOR 10%
OF THE SPENDING. FACILITIES AND
MAINTENANCE ACCOUNTS FOR THE
REST. AND SOME OF THE OTHER
COSTS NOTED INCLUDE CITY CENTRAL
COSTS , DIRECT PROGRAMMING
EXPENSES, SOFTWARE, AND
LICENSING.
>> CHIEF, CAN YOU PLEASE --
OTHER. WHAT FALLS UNDER OTHER?
THERE IS 8% THAT IS OTHER. IT'S
NOT VERY MUCH, BUT --
>> THE OTHER IS GOING TO BE
THINGS LIKE CITY CENTRAL COSTS.
SO EVERY CITY DEPARTMENT PAYS A
PORTION OF HR, I.T. , A NUMBER
OF OTHER SERVICES THAT WE PAY
FOR. SO THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT
PORTION OF THAT 8%. AND THEN
THERE ARE OTHER COSTS THAT MIGHT
BE RELATED TO SOME OF OUR
PROGRAMMING CLASSES, SERVICES
THAT WE OFFER THAT COME OUT OF
THAT. AND SOFTWARE AND LICENSING
THAT IS SPECIALTY SOFTWARE AND
LICENSING FOR LIBRARIES.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
>> ABSOLUTELY. ALL RIGHT. I LIKE
TO WALK THROUGH SOME OF OUR CORE
SERVICES. AS MENTIONED BEFORE WE
HAVE TWO POINT MILLION PHYSICAL
AND DIGITAL ITEMS. THESE INCLUDE
BOOKS, E-BOOKS, E AUDIOBOOKS,
DVDs, WI-FI HOTSPOTS, STREAMING
MUSIC, MOVIES, TV SHOWS,
RESEARCH DATABASES, AND
NEWSPAPER ACCESS. WE ALSO
PROVIDE ACCESS TO FREE PASSES
FOR MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL
INSTITUTIONS IN THE AREA , AND
WE EVEN OFFER FREE ACCESS TO
WASHINGTON STATE DISCOVERY PASS.
LIBRARY STAFF ARE EXPERTS IN
INFORMATION REFERENCE AND
REFERRALS. THEY CAN HELP YOU
FIND A BOOK THAT MEETS YOUR
INTEREST OR FIND AN ANSWER TO
YOUR QUESTION. AS I SAID, THIS
IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS DAY OF
DISINFORMATION. A LOT OF GREAT
AI DEFECTS . OUR FOLKS ARE THERE
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. AS
MENTIONED BEFORE, WE DO THIS IN
PERSON, ONLINE, OVER THE PHONE
IN A NUMBER OF FORMATS. WE ARE
IN MANY WAYS THE CITY'S LARGEST
REFERRAL SERVICE FOR A VARIETY
OF FUNCTIONS IN THE CITY. SO
THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE TO
KNOW. AND AS WE LOOK AT
ADDITIONAL LIBRARY SERVICES, WE
PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF FREE
CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES EACH
YEAR. 2025, OVER 6000 CLASSES,
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES. 118,000
IN ATTENDANCE. THESE MOST
IMPORTANTLY SUPPORT ALL AGES,
ALL BACKGROUNDS , AND A VARIETY
OF INTERESTS . WE ALSO PROVIDE A
NUMBER OF PROGRAMS IN OTHER
LANGUAGES. AT THE LIBRARY YOU
CAN FIND CITIZENSHIP CLASSES,
ENGLISH CONVERSATION CIRCLES,
CHILDREN'S STORYTIME , DIGITAL
LITERACY CLASSES, ENRICHMENT
CLASSES SUCH AS GARDENING,
WRITING , AND MUCH MUCH MORE.
THE SEATTLE ROOM PROVIDES IN
PERSON ACCESS TO TREASURED LOCAL
HISTORY ITEMS. OUR DIGITAL
COLLECTION MAKES SEATTLE HISTORY
EASIER TO ACCESS FOR STUDENT
RESEARCHERS, HISTORIANS, AND
OTHERS. I AM ALWAYS PROUD TO
NOTE THAT ALMOST EVERYTHING IN
OUR COLLECTION IS AVAILABLE FOR
PEOPLE TO ASK TO SEE . EVEN
THOSE THINGS IN OUR SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS . WE BRING THOSE OUT
AND PEOPLE CAN SEE THOSE
DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE HUNDREDS
OF YEARS OLD AND REALLY CONNECT
WITH HISTORY. IN 2024 ALONE, WE
ACQUIRED OVER 1000 NEW ITEMS FOR
OUR SPECIAL COLLECTIONS. ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES IN THE
LAST FEW YEARS IS THE COLLECTION
OF LOCAL HISTORIAN PAUL , WHO
DONATED HIS ENTIRE COLLECTION TO
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY. I
CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WAS A LOT.
HE WAS A VERY -- WROTE A LOT
ABOUT THE HISTORY OF SEATTLE
OVER HIS TIME. 300 BOXES WORTH
OF MATERIAL. AND WE ARE STILL
WORKING THROUGH THAT. AS WE
SPEAK. MOVING TO A FEW OTHER
SERVICES. WE HAVE OUR LIBRARY
EQUAL ACCESS PROGRAM, OFTEN
REFERRED TO AS LEAP. THIS
PROVIDES PATRONS WITH PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES. THIS TEAM ALSO
WORKS TO OFFER ACCOMMODATION
UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES ACT. THE L.E.A.P.
LAB LOCATED AT CENTRAL LIBRARY
PROVIDES ACCESS TO DIGITAL
TECHNOLOGY AND STAFF TO OUR
L.E.A.P. PATRONS. SCREEN
READERS, MAGNIFIERS, BRAILLE
DISPLAYS, ADJUSTABLE DESKS , AND
MUCH MORE. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
TECHNOLOGY, THE LIBRARY OFFERS
ACCESS TO SEVERAL TECHNOLOGIES,
INCLUDING COMPUTERS, LAPTOPS,
INTERNET , WI-FI, WI-FI HOTSPOTS
THAT SUPPORT BORROWERS, AS WELL
AS COMMUNITY PARTNER SITES, TENT
CITIES, AND OTHER ENCAMPMENTS .
WE HAVE PRINTING, SCANNING,
FAXING, PICK UP LOCKERS FOR 24/7
HOLD ACCESS, SELF CHECKOUT
STATIONS, AND ALL OF THIS REALLY
HELPS US TO CLOSE THE DIGITAL
DIVIDE. WE STAY RELEVANT TO
WORKERS, JOBSEEKERS,
SMALL-BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS,
RESEARCHERS , STUDENTS, AND
ANYONE ELSE WHO FINDS THEMSELVES
IN NEED OF DIGITAL ACCESS. OUR
I.T. TEAM ALSO OVERSEES THE
INFRASTRUCTURE, HARDWARE,
SOFTWARE ASSISTANCE AND CYBER
SECURITY NEEDS THAT SUPPORT ALL
OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES. THE
LIBRARY ONLINE WE ALSO HAVE
QUITE A FEW DIGITAL ASSETS .
THIS DIGITAL LIBRARY IS
AVAILABLE 24 SEVEN AT SPL.ORG.
LAST YEAR WE LAUNCHED THE MOBILE
APP AVAILABLE ON ANDROID AND
APPLE . IN 2025, WE SAW 5.5
MILLION VISITS TO OUR SITE .
VISITORS USE OUR ONLINE RESEARCH
DATABASE , NEWS ACCESS THROUGH
SITES LIKE NEW YORK TIMES, WALL
STREET JOURNAL , OR SEATTLE
TIMES, AND MANY OTHERS. THESE
ARE A CALENDAR OF OUR EVENTS TO
LEARN ABOUT OUR PROGRAM AND
AUTHOR EVENTS. AND OF COURSE
HAVE ACCESS TO OUR DIGITAL
ARCHIVES AND MANY MORE ONLINE
DATABASES AND RESEARCH TOOLS. IN
OUR PUBLIC SPACES WE PROVIDE
ACCESS TO FREE AND LOW-COST
SPACES IN MANY OF OUR LOCATIONS
ACROSS THE CITY. PRIVATE STUDY
ROOMS , WHICH OFFER A QUIET
PLACE TO STUDY OR WORK. MEETING
ROOMS AT MANY OF OUR LOCATIONS,
WHICH ARE FREE AND AVAILABLE TO
ALL. THEY ARE GREAT FOR
NONPROFIT SCHOOL GROUPS, SMALL
BUSINESSES, AND EVEN PERSONAL
USE. EVENT RENTAL SPACE IS
AVAILABLE AT THE CENTRAL
LIBRARY. AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY
WE HAVE OUR VERY FAVORED MUSIC
PRACTICE ROOMS . IF YOU ARE EVER
AT CENTRAL LIBRARY ON LEVEL
EIGHT, YOU WILL HEAR MUSIC
PLAYING OFTEN AS PEOPLE PRACTICE
WITH THEIR INSTRUMENTS. I WILL
SAY MOST IS GOOD. MOST ARE GOOD
ATTEMPTS IF NOTHING ELSE. AND SO
PEOPLE ARE LEARNING, PRACTICING,
ENJOYING THE SPACE. WE ALSO HAVE
AN ART GALLERY SPACE ON THAT
FLOOR AND WE USUALLY HAVE
EXHIBITS RUNNING . AS WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO RENOVATE SPACES
LIKE WE DID WITH GREEN LAKE LAST
YEAR AND UNIVERSITY THIS YEAR,
WE LOOK AT WAYS TO EXPAND PUBLIC
SPACE . WE CAN'T NECESSARILY
ALWAYS EXPAND THE FOOTPRINT OF
THE BUILDING. HOW CAN WE BE
CREATIVE IN THE SPACE THAT WE
HAVE AND GET BACK MORE PUBLIC
SPACE ? I'M PROUD TO SAY IN MY
TIME HERE WE HAVE DONE THAT IN
EVERY REMODEL OR RENOVATION OF A
BUILDING. BEING ABLE TO CLAW
BACK MORE PUBLIC SPACE AND BE
CREATIVE IN ITS USE. AND BOTH OF
THESE LOCATIONS -- GREEN LAKE
LAST YEAR. UNIVERSITY COMING UP
THIS YEAR. WILL HAVE NEW STUDY
ROOMS AT BOTH LOCATIONS. GREEN
LAKE. HAVE BEEN GREATLY
APPRECIATED. AND NOW FOR ONE OF
OUR WHAT I CALL SMALL AND MIGHTY
BUT EVER PRESENT MOBILE SERVICES
TEAM AT OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT.
OUR MOBILE SERVICES UNIT HELPS
EXPAND OUR SERVICES OUT INTO
EVEN MORE OF THE COMMUNITY THAN
OUR BRANCHES. THEY SERVE OVER
100 STOPS EACH MONTH, INCLUDING
29 PRESCHOOLS , 70 ADULT
FACILITIES, AND TWO TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES AS WELL. THIS GROUP
ALSO ATTENDS MANY COMMUNITY
EVENTS WHERE THEY PREVENT ACCESS
-- PROVIDE ACCESS TO BOOKS AND
INCLUDE LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UPS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK HAS
BEEN THE LIBRARY'S STRONG SUIT
IS COMMUNITY LISTENING. WE DO
THIS WORK CONTINUOUSLY. TO TRY
TO MEET THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS
OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE KNOW THE
COMMUNITY HAS CHANGED.
DEMOGRAPHICS CHANGE. NEEDS
CHANGE. WHICH MEANS THEIR NEEDS
ARE GOING TO CHANGE AS WELL.
MANY OF OUR STAFF MEET DIRECTLY
WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO
DEMONSTRATE THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE
THEY SERVE. EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT TO GUIDE OUR PROGRAM
SERVICE. PART OF ME. PARDON ME.
WE ACTUALLY HAD SERVICE DESIGN
SESSION, FOCUS GROUPS, AND ALSO
CONDUCTED A STATISTICALLY
SIGNIFICANT SURVEY, WHICH WAS
MAILED TO 15,000 RANDOMLY
SELECTED RESIDENTS. WE HAD A
RESPONSE RATE GOAL OF 5% BUT
ACHIEVED 7%. OVER 1000 RESIDENTS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY
PARTICIPATED. THE COMMUNITY
LISTENING GUIDED OUR 10-YOUR
STRATEGIC PLAN . PART OF ME. OUR
NEW COMMUNITY USE AGREEMENT. IT
IS ALSO GOING TO BE GUIDING OUR
LEVY PLANNING , WHICH YOU WILL
HEAR ABOUT LATER IN THE YEAR.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
SHARING OUR FINDINGS WITH YOU AS
WE MOVE THROUGH THOSE LEVY
DISCUSSIONS. THANK YOU,
KIERSTEN. IT IS ALWAYS IN THESE
SESSIONS WHEN YOU DECIDE THAT
YOU NEED TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
YOUR THROAT. SO OPPORTUNITIES.
THIS FINAL SLIDE REALLY OUTLINES
A FEW OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS IN
FRONT OF US IN 2026 AND BEYOND.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT
OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH AGAIN
IS FROM 2024 THROUGH 2034 WITH A
FOCUS ON COMMUNITY BELONGING AND
ORGANIZATIONAL RESILIENCY. WE
MAKE GREAT PROGRESS IN OUR
EFFORTS IN 2025. YOU CAN SEE
THOSE ON OUR WEBSITE AT W
WW.SPL.ORG /STRATEGIC PLAN. JUST
ONE OF THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WAS
INTRODUCTION OF A NEW OFFICE OF
INCLUSION AND BELONGING . WE
HAVE ON BOARDED A NEW DIRECTOR
FOR THAT OFFICE WHO IS WORKING
NOW TO SET THE VISION OF THIS
WORK . HIS FOCUS WILL BE ON
ENSURING WE ARE THOUGHTFUL AND
THOROUGH IN OUR APPROACH TO
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION,
AND ACCESSIBILITY. WITH OUR
STRATEGIC PLAN WE HAVE ALSO
INCREASED LANGUAGE ACCESS FOR
NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS, TRANSLATED
AND IN LANGUAGE MATERIALS SUCH
AS LIBRARY CARD APPLICATIONS,
PROGRAM FLYERS, TRANSACTION ,
EMAILS, AND MUCH MORE. WE HAVE
ESTABLISHED A NEW STORY SQUAD
PILOT WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS TO INTRODUCE CLASSROOM
SETS AT TITLE I SCHOOLS FOR
GRADES TWO THROUGH FOUR. WE HAVE
HIRED KEY POSITIONS TO INCREASE
SAFETY AND SECURITY BOTH IN
PERSON AND ONLINE. WE HAVE
ACHIEVED LEGAL CERTIFICATION
WITH OUR SEISMIC RETROFIT, AND
WE ARE OF COURSE AS MENTIONED
CONDUCTING SIMILAR WORK AT THE
UNIVERSITY BRANCH, WHICH WILL
CONCLUDE LATER THIS YEAR. WE
HAVE CONDUCTED A COMPETITIVE
BIDDING PROCESS FOR A NEW
INTEGRATED LIBRARY SYSTEM, OR
THE ILS AS WE CALL IT IN THE
TRADE. THAT WILL BE STARTING
IMPLEMENTATION AND BE AND
LAMENTED LATER THIS FALL. THIS
SYSTEM IS OUR OPERATIONS
RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCOUNT AND
COLLECTION MANAGEMENT AMONG MANY
OTHER THINGS . SOME SEEN AND
SOME UNSEEN. THIS IS THE SYSTEM
THAT ALLOWS YOU TO SEE AND HAVE
ACCESS TO ALL THOSE BOOKS AND
MATERIALS. THIS IS A HUGE BODY
OF WORK FOR LIBRARY SYSTEM THAT
HAS NOT DONE THIS IN ABOUT 26
YEARS. HAVING COME FROM OTHER
PLACES, WE HAVE DONE IT MORE
FREQUENTLY THAN THAT, SO IT WILL
BE A BIG LIFT FOR THE LIBRARY
THIS YEAR. I DO ENCOURAGE YOU
ALL TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE TO
LEARN ABOUT OUR ACTIVITIES LAST
YEAR AS WELL AS WHAT WE HAVE
PLANNED FOR THIS YEAR. SOME OF
THOSE ITEMS PLANNED FOR THIS
YEAR INCLUDE A NEW LIBRARY LEVY
RENEWAL PROPOSAL , WHICH YOU
WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT IN UPCOMING
MONTHS . IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR
ILS , AS MENTIONED. THOROUGH
SECURITY AUDIT AND EXPANSION OF
OUR CYBERSECURITY PROGRAM, AND
SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN REALLY
LOOKING FOR, A REFRESHED SUMMER
PROGRAMMING EFFORT, AND THAT
WILL BE FOR ALL AGES. NOT JUST
CHILDREN . EVERYONE. THERE ARE
MANY MORE THINGS AS WELL AS WE
CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK AND
PREPARATION FOR THE LEVY . BUT
TO CONTINUE DOING THE WORK THAT
WE HAVE OUTLINED IN OUR
STRATEGIC PLAN . AND WITH THAT,
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS
YOU MAY HAVE .
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF FAY. THANK
YOU FOR THAT EXCELLENT
INTRODUCTION TO OUR LIBRARIES
HERE IN THE CITY . AGAIN, I JUST
WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
ALL THE LIBRARIANS AT ALL THE
BRANCHES WITHIN ALL OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND ALL OUR
DISTRICTS ACROSS THE CITY. THEY
DO SUCH A GREAT JOB INTERFACING
WITH POPULATION -- ALL OUR
POPULATIONS THAT UTILIZE THE
LIBRARY. VERY IMPORTANTLY , OUR
SENIORS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
THEY UTILIZE THE LIBRARIES AS A
COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE. OUR
KIDS, WHO SHOW UP FOR TUTORING
AND TO USE DIGITAL SERVICES, THE
COMPUTERS, ET CETERA. AND OF
COURSE OUR LITTLE, LITTLE KIDS,
WHO SHOW UP FOR STORY TIME. AND
ALSO, YOU KNOW, VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THE MEETING SPACES
YOU PROVIDE. MANY BRANCHES HAVE
THOSE. THOSE ARE IMPORTANT TO
THE COMMUNITY. DIFFERENT GROUPS
MEET THERE AND THIS IS IMPORTANT
TO PROVIDE SPACES WHERE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN HAVE THEIR
MEETINGS REGARDLESS OF WHICH
GROUPS THEY ARE . BUT THEY ARE
VERY WELL UTILIZED AND WE SUPER
APPRECIATE THE ABILITY TO HAVE
THOSE SPACES FOR OUR RESIDENTS
ACROSS THE CITY, SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO
AND THANK YOU TO ALL YOUR
LIBRARIANS . AGAIN, REMIND ME
HOW MANY LIBRARIANS ACROSS THE
SYSTEM ?
>> WE HAVE 650 LIBRARY STAFF. OF
THAT , PROBABLY CLOSE TO ABOUT
110 TO 115 ARE LIBRARIANS BY
DEGREE. AND SO IN OUR LIBRARY
SYSTEM WE HAVE I.T., HR. WE HAVE
SO MANY OTHER FUNCTIONS WITHIN
IT . TRUCK DRIVERS. ALL THOSE
FOLKS GETTING THOSE BOOKS AROUND
THE SYSTEM . AND THEN OF COURSE
ALL OF OUR BRANCH STAFF AND
LIBRARY STAFF AT THE CENTRAL
LIBRARY THAT YOU SEE IN PERSON.
BUT THERE IS A LOT BEHIND THE
SCENES TO MOVE THOSE MILLIONS OF
BOOKS AROUND THE CITY EVERY
SINGLE DAY.
>> I CALL EVERYBODY A LIBRARIAN,
BUT ALL 650 OF THE STAFF ARE
EQUALLY IMPORTANT, SO I WANT TO
THANK ALL 650 OF YOUR STAFF
MEMBERS AND ALL THE FOLKS THAT
EVEN DRIVE THE BOOKMOBILE ,
WHICH IS A REALLY IMPORTANT
ASSET IN OUR CITY. ANYWAY,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR.
I'VE GOT TO LEAN INTO THIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR. I
APPRECIATE YOU COMING TO BRIEF
US AND TAKING THE TIME TO TALK
ABOUT LIBRARIES. THEY ARE
DEFINITELY ONE OF MY FAVORITE
PARTS OF THE CITY AS THIRD
PLACES AND LIVING ROOMS AND
PLACES FOR FAMILIES. I
APPRECIATED YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT
SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY
TAKEN PLACE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
WORKING LONG AND HARD ON. GREEN
LAKE, UNIVERSITY BRANCH . I ALSO
KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF NEEDS
ACROSS OUR SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE
WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THE
BUILDINGS THEMSELVES SO THAT WE
CAN PROVIDE THIS INCREDIBLE
SERVICE. I THINK I HAVE SEEN IN
SOME OF YOUR PLANNING AND
REPORTS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
SEISMIC UPGRADES FOR THE
COLUMBIA BRANCH LIBRARY, AND I
KNOW THERE MAY BE OTHER
LIBRARIES THAT HAVE TIMELY
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS . I WONDER
IF YOU CAN PREVIEW OR JUST SPEAK
TO THAT A LITTLE BIT FOR US .
>> SURE. THERE ARE. WITH THAT
MANY LOCATIONS, YOU CAN IMAGINE
THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT RESOURCE
NEED EVERY SINGLE YEAR. ONE OF
THE THINGS WHEN I BECAME CHIEF
LIBRARIAN FIVE YEARS AGO NOW
FOCUS WE DIDN'T HAVE A REALLY
GREAT UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT OUR
CAPITAL NEEDS WERE GOING TO BE.
I'M USED TO LOOKING AT A 20 TO
30-YEAR CYCLE SO THAT WE CAN
PLAN ACCORDINGLY. AS YOU CAN
IMAGINE WITH A VARIETY OF BUDGET
REDUCTIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS
OVER THE YEARS, THERE'S BEEN
CHALLENGES AND THERE'S BEEN
DEFERRALS OF THAT CAPITAL
MAINTENANCE. MUCH OF THAT MAJOR
MAINTENANCE NEEDED TO OCCUR. SO
WE HAVE REALLY PUT A FOCUS ON
THAT IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS OF
UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT 20 OR
30-YOUR WINDOW LOOKS LIKE. YOU
WILL DEFINITELY SEE AND HEAR
MORE OF THAT LIKELY AS WE
PRESENT THE 2026 LIBRARY LEVY
PROPOSAL. AS WE LOOK AT PROJECTS
THAT WE ARE WORKING ON, WE HAVE
BEEN VERY FORTUNATE PROBABLY
BEFORE THIS CURRENT ENDS
ADMINISTRATION TO RECEIVE A LOT
OF FEDERAL GRANTS THAT HAVE
HELPED US MOVE SOME OF OUR
PROJECTS IN THE ARENA OF
COOLING. SO WE WILL HAVE SEVERAL
AIR-CONDITIONING PROJECTS THAT
WILL BE GOING ON THIS YEAR .
THAT WILL BE AN UPGRADE TO BOTH
THE ELECTRICAL -- MOVING FROM
FOSSIL FUEL TO ELECTRICAL . IN
THOSE BRANCHES AS WELL AS BEING
ABLE TO HAVE AIR CONDITIONING.
OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE AIR
CONDITIONING IN ALL OF OUR
BUILDINGS WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE
OF YEARS. PROBABLY 2 TO 3 YEARS
DEPENDING ON CONSTRUCTION
CYCLES. JUST TO BE ABLE TO DEAL
WITH THE SUMMERS HERE THAT HAVE
CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN HEAT.
WE ALSO CONSTANTLY HAVE VARIOUS
LARGE-SCALE MAINTENANCE
OPERATIONS GOING ON IN BUILDINGS
. THAT COULD BE EVERYTHING FROM
THE CENTRAL LIBRARY MIGHT BE
SOMETHING LIKE AN AIR
CONDITIONING UNIT THAT HAS GONE
OUT OR IT COULD BE SOME OTHER
MAJOR EFFORT. WE ALSO HAVE A LOT
OF SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES MEANING
WE ARE GOING TO GO OUT AND
CHANGE OLD LIGHTING SYSTEMS TO
L.E.D. ALL OF THOSE HAVE COSTS,
BUT WE GENERALLY WORK WITH OUR
PARTNERS IN THE CITY TO FIND
FUNDING FOR SOME OF THOSE
EFFORTS AS WELL IF WE HAVE NOT
RECEIVED THOSE GRANT FUNDING
FUNDS. THERE IS A LARGE NEED . I
TRY NOT TO SCARE EVERYBODY WITH
WHAT THAT NEED IS BECAUSE WHEN
YOU HEAR IT, REMEMBER THESE ARE
OVER 20 AND 30-YEAR CYCLES, BUT
WE ALSO HAVE TO START AND WE
HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT. AND I
THINK AS WE LOOK AT AGING
INFRASTRUCTURE, IT IS THE
STAYING CONSISTENT WHICH IS
REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF FAY.
COUNCILMEMBER -- COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH , VICE
CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA . I
JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION .
FIRST, CHIEF FAY, I WANTED TO
THANK YOU FOR BEING SO KIND TO
MY MOTHER WHEN WE CELEBRATED THE
50-YEAR ANNIVERSARY FOR THE
DOUGLAS LIBRARY. THAT WAS
PHENOMENAL FOR THAT EVENT AND
THE PEOPLE. A TON OF FOLKS CAME
OUT. AND THE GARFIELD JAZZ
QUARTET WAS AMAZING. THEY PLAYED
SO WELL AND IT WAS JUST REALLY
GREAT TO SEE THE COLLECTION OF
BOOKS . AND I WILL TELL YOU WHEN
I GO TO DIFFERENT CITIES , THE
FIRST THING I LIKE TO DO IS GO
TO THEIR LIBRARY AND I GUARANTEE
ALL THE LIBRARIES SMELL THE
SAME. EVERY SINGLE ONE
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. ONE OF
THE THINGS -- AND YOU TOUCHED ON
IT JUST A LITTLE BIT. I WANTED
TO IF YOU JUST GIVE US A LITTLE
BIT MORE DETAIL OR HIGH-LEVEL
ABOUT HOW YOU ALL ARE SHIFTING
WITH THE TIMES IN TERMS OF,
THERE'S A LOT OF DIGITAL STUFF.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE
PEOPLE THAT GO TO THE LIBRARY.
BUT CAN YOU JUST TALK ABOUT A
LITTLE BIT OF HOW YOU ALL ARE
SHIFTING WITH WHEN THINGS ARE
BECOMING DIGITAL, PEOPLE FINDING
THAT LOVE AND PASSION FOR THE
LIBRARY AND WHAT YOU ALL ARE
DOING TO KEEP THAT ENGAGEMENT
AMONGST NEIGHBORHOODS .
>> SURE. I THINK AS WE SHIFT
THINGS DIGITALLY , IT IS BEING
ABLE TO PROVIDE ACCESS A LITTLE
MORE HOLISTICALLY. SOMETIMES
THAT MAY MEAN THAT SOMEBODY
NEEDS A PUBLIC COMPUTER TO BE
ABLE TO SEE A MOVIE. SO THAT IS
WHY WE HAVE EXTENDED TIMELINES
ON PUBLIC COMPUTERS, FOR
EXAMPLE. ONE OF THE THINGS WE
HEARD FROM FOLKS IS, WELL, I
WANT TO WATCH SOMETHING. MY ONLY
AVAILABILITY IS TO DO IT HERE.
SO WHEN OUR TIMELINE WAS AN HOUR
OR 90 MINUTES, I DID NOT GET TO
SEE THE END OF IT. SO EVEN
SIMPLE THINGS LIKE THAT. THINGS
YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT. STAFF
ARE LOOKING AT HOW CAN WE MAKE
SURE IT IS REALLY PROVIDING THE
FULL ACCESS, NOT JUST A THING.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ACTUALLY
CONSUME THAT THING? LOOKING AT
HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY PROVIDE NEW
FORMATS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WHERE
YOU HAVE READ LONG'S WHERE IT
IS ACTUALLY READING AS THE CHILD
CAN EITHER POINT A FINGER OR IT
WILL READ AN ENTIRE STORY TO
THEM SO THAT THEY ARE ALSO . WE
KNOW IT IS GREAT WHEN PARENTS
CAN DO THAT AND IT IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT FIRST TEACHER A CHILD
CAN HAVE AS A PARENT WHO WILL
READ. FIVE MINUTES OR 10 MINUTES
TO DO THAT. CAN THEY ALSO PUT
THEM WITH THIS BOOK THAT WILL
ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT MULTIPLE
TIMES DURING THE DAY THEMSELVES.
REALLY LOOKING AT TECHNOLOGY AND
HOW IT ALSO SUPPORTS THOSE BASIC
LITERACY FUNCTIONS ARE REALLY,
REALLY CRITICAL. HAVING THOSE
FORMATS AGAIN WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT AUDIOBOOKS . YOU KNOW, FOR
A LOT OF YEARS PEOPLE WOULD SAY,
WELL, THAT IS NOT READING. YES,
IT IS. IT IS A DIFFERENT WAY OF
READING. IT ACTUALLY ENGAGES THE
BRAIN DIFFERENTLY THAN YOU
SITTING DOWN AND JUST READING.
IT BRINGS SO MANY OTHER SENSES
TO IT AND IT IS AN IMPORTANT
PART. I ENJOY ALL FORMS OF IT. I
ENJOY AUDIO, I ENJOY E-BOOKS. I
STILL HAVE THE PRINT BOOK THAT I
LUG AROUND WITH ME. BUT FOR
SOME, IT IS THE ONLY WAY THAT
THEY ENGAGE IN READING. MY
DAUGHTER -- RELUCTANT READER.
SHE NOW AS A 24-YEAR-OLD ADULT,
THAT IS HOW SHE CONSUMES
READING. SO THAT IS REALLY AN
IMPORTANT PART THAT YOU STAY
MOVING WITH THE TECHNOLOGIES BUT
LOOKING AT IT HOLISTICALLY NOT
JUST AS A THING BUT HOW CAN WE
ALSO HELP PEOPLE ACCESS THEM?
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA.
THANK YOU, CHIEF LIBRARIAN FAY.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING WITH US
THE INCREDIBLE WORK BEING DONE
BY OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM . DURING
YOUR PRESENTATION I WAS
REFLECTING ON ALL OF THE
DIFFERENT LIBRARY BRANCHES I
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO VISIT THIS
PAST YEAR FROM BROADVIEW,
WEDGEWOOD, DOUGLAS , BALLARD,
CAPITOL HILL, CENTRAL, GREEN
LAKE. AND EVERY INTERACTION I
HAVE HAD AT OUR SBL BRANCH
LOCATIONS HAS BEEN NOT ONLY
WONDERFUL BUT HELPFUL. THE STAFF
AT SPL FOR JUST THE POSTURE THAT
THEY BRING TO THE WORK AND
REALLY MAKING SURE OUR LIBRARIES
ARE AUTHENTICALLY WELCOMING. SO
I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT .
JUST TO DIVE INTO THE
PRESENTATION BRIEFLY , ON SLIDE
SEVEN, YOU MENTIONED ON SOCIAL
SERVICE REFERRALS -- I WANTED TO
ASK IF YOU COULD EXPAND A LITTLE
BIT MORE ON THAT AND THE KIND OF
REFERRALS YOU ARE MAKING.
PARTICULARLY YOUR INTERACTIONS.
IF SPL IS CONSIDERING OR IN
CONVERSATION WITH SOME OF OUR
CITY RESOURCES LIKE THE EDDIE
LIN, HEALTH 99 .
>> WE ARE ALWAYS IN
COMMUNICATIONS WITH ALL OF
THOSE. IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE
STAY IN ALIGNMENT WITH CITY
SERVICES. WE DO NOT DO THIS WORK
OUTSIDE OF THE LIBRARIES. WE SEE
THIS AS REALLY SERVING OUR
PATRONS WHO WE KNOW ARE GOING TO
BE IN MANY TIMES EVERY DAY
THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE
WEEK. AND PEOPLE WHO TRANSITION
THROUGH OUR SPACES THAT MAY BE
TRANSITING THE CITY IN ANY
NUMBER OF WAYS. REALLY THAT IS
WHAT THIS GROUP FOCUSES ON. IT
IS NOT SAYING, LET'S GO OUT AND
DO XYZ FARTHER OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY. THAT IS NOT WHAT
THESE FOLKS DO. AND IT IS REALLY
MAKING SURE THAT OUR PATRONS ARE
SUCCESSFUL USING THE LIBRARY AND
THE SERVICES. WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE PEOPLE ARE SUCCESSFUL BEING
IN THE LIBRARY. AND THAT IS
REALLY WHERE OUR SOCIAL SERVICE
REFERRALS CAN HELP PEOPLE AND
THE NUMBER OF SPACES. IT CAN BE
DRUG ADDICTION, MENTAL HEALTH
NEEDS, HOUSING NEEDS AND ANY
OTHER NUMBER OF NEEDS OUT THERE
FOR HIM A SOCIAL SERVICES
PERSPECTIVE. OUR LIBRARIANS
ALREADY AND HISTORICALLY HAVE
DONE THAT WORK AS WELL, BUT BY
HAVING THIS ADDITIONAL RESOURCE
WITH THIS EXPERTISE, IT MAKES
SURE WE STAY IN ALIGNMENT WITH
THE CITY BECAUSE YOU CAN BE THE
BEST LIBRARIAN BUT UNLESS YOU
ARE IN TOUCH WITH FOLKS WHO DO
THIS CRITICAL WORK EVERY SINGLE
DAY, THIS IS PRETTY HARD TO KNOW
ALL THE NUANCE THAT GOES ON IN
SOCIAL SERVICES. SO THAT IS
REALLY WHERE OUR FOCUS IS IN
THAT. AGAIN AS I SAID WITH MY
MOBILE SERVICES TEAM, SMALL AND
MIGHTY, THIS IS EVEN A SMALLER
MIGHTY GROUP THAT DOES ALL THIS
IMPORTANT WORK , WORKS WITH OUR
LIBRARIANS, TRAINS OUR STAFF,
WORKS WITH SECURITY OFFICERS SO
THEY HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
THAT SOME THINGS ARE NOT A
SECURITY ISSUE . SOME OF THEM
ARE BASIC HUMAN NEED ISSUE . AND
HOW DO WE EVALUATE THAT
DIFFERENTLY IN THE HEAT OF THE
MOMENT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS
SUCCESSFUL AND THAT WE HAVE A
GOOD , SAFE, AND WELCOMING SPACE
FOR EVERYBODY WHO COMES IN.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. JUST TO
EXPAND ON THAT BRIEFLY HEARING
THAT, THIS IS A SMALL YET MIGHTY
TEAM, UNDERSTANDING THAT
MIGHTINESS CAN ONLY TAKE YOU SO
FAR SOMETIMES BEFORE YOU GOT TO
ASK FOR ADDITIONAL HELP.
ANYTHING YOU CAN SPEAK ABOUT OUR
CURRENT CAPABILITIES AND WHAT
EXPANDED SUPPORT YOU MAY NEED?
>> WHERE WE STAND, MOST OF OUR
SUPPORT CAN BE AT THE CENTRAL
LIBRARY. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE
TOURED SOME OF THE OTHER
LIBRARIES, YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE
SOME OTHER NEEDS IN OTHER PARTS
OF THE CITY AS WELL. AND IT
WOULD BE GOOD TO BE ABLE TO
EXPAND THAT INTO A COUPLE OF
THOSE SPACES. AGAIN, WE CAN MORE
DIRECTLY HELP PEOPLE BE
SUCCESSFUL IN THIS SPACE, MORE
REFERRALS OUT TO CITY RESOURCES
AND TO MAKE SURE STAFF ARE
GETTING THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEED
AS WELL . THIS GROUP REALLY
ALLOWS OUR LIBRARY STAFF WHO ARE
PROVIDING LIBRARY SERVICES WHAT
YOU CONSIDER YOUR CORE SERVICES
TO STAY FOCUSED ON THEM, WHICH
IS WHAT I WANT . WE ARE HERE FOR
LIBRARIES. SO AGAIN, IT IS NOT
THIS MASSIVE EXPENSIVE GROUP
THAT WE NEED, BUT WE JUST NEED
THEM TO STAY FOCUSED SO THAT OUR
LARGER BODY OF WORK CAN STILL BE
ACCOMPLISHED.
>> CERTAINLY. THANK YOU FOR
THAT. I WILL JUST STATE AGAIN MY
GOAL FOR THIS YEAR IS TO GO TO
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR LIBRARY
BRANCHES. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF
WE COULD DO SOME FIELD TRIPS
SOMETIME. THANK YOU, CHAIR
RIVERA.
>> IF YOU DO THAT, YOU WILL HAVE
PROBABLY BEEN ME THIS YEAR.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, AND THANK YOU, CHIEF FAY.
FOR FOLKS THAT MAY BE WATCHING,
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSCORE THAT WE ARE NOT
EXPECTING OUR LIBRARY STAFF,
WHETHER THEY BE LIBRARIANS OR
OTHER STAFF THAT WE JUST TALKED
ABOUT TO BE SOCIAL SERVICE
PROVIDERS . THIS IS -- WE ARE
SEEING FOLKS ENTERING THE
LIBRARY WHO HAVE NEED. NEEDS
THAT THE LIBRARY IS NOT MEANT TO
ACCOMMODATE . AND SO MAKING SURE
THAT WE HAVE OUR STAFF AT THE
LIBRARY THAT THEY ARE WELL
INFORMED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
REFERRALS, INCLUDING REACHING
OUT TO SOME OF OUR OTHER
SERVICES, LIKE THE EDDIE LIN,
WHO CAN THEN COME INTO THE
LIBRARY AND HELP A RESIDENT WHO
MIGHT BE IN NEED AT THE LIBRARY.
SO WE ARE NOT TRYING TO CREATE A
TEAM . YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT
TRYING TO EXPECT FROM OUR
LIBRARY STAFF THAT THEY ARE
GOING TO BECOME SOCIAL WORKERS.
THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS IS. AND
THAT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE.
IT IS REALLY SO THAT THEY ARE
INFORMED ON WHO TO CONTACT IF
THERE IS A NEED IF A RESIDENT
HAS A NEED IN ONE OF THE
LIBRARIES SO THAT, TO YOUR
POINT, CHIEF FAY, YOUR TEAM CAN
FOCUS ON THE SERVICES THAT THE
LIBRARIES DO PROVIDE. SO THAT IS
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
AND THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE,
TO YOUR POINT, WE ARE SEEING
MORE FOLKS ENTERING THE LIBRARY
WHO MIGHT HAVE NEEDS. AND WE
WENT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
CONNECTING THOSE FOLKS TO
SERVICES THAT THEY NEED. AND
THAT IS THE POINT OF THAT. SO I
WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT FOR THE
VIEWING PUBLIC WE ARE LEVEL
SETTING THE EXPECTATION AND WHAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE AND
ALSO FOR THE LIBRARY STAFF.
>> I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
NOTE THAT WE ARE -- IT DOESN'T
MATTER IF WE ARE IN THE CITY OR
ANY CITY. WE ARE THE LAST FREE
SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO SIMPLY BE.
SO WHEN PEOPLE SAY, WELL, YOU
KNOW, WHY ARE PEOPLE -- BECAUSE
IT IS FREE AND YOU CAN BE THERE
. AND MOST PEOPLE ARE JUST
SITTING THERE TRYING TO READ,
CONSUME, WATCH A MOVIE . ALL THE
THINGS THAT ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO
DO. THAT IS THE IMPORTANT PART
AND WHY WE FEEL IT IS AN
IMPORTANT PART IN OUR SUPPORT OF
THE CITY THAT WE CAN SEND THOSE
REFERRALS TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE SO
THAT HOPEFULLY PEOPLE ARE
GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED.
THANK YOU.
>> IMPORTANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT
IF SOMEONE IS SITTING THERE
QUIETLY AND HAVING A MOMENT,
THAT IS OKAY TOO. THAT IS NOT
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AS
FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING
SOME CRISIS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE CONNECTING FOLKS. SO
WE ARE NOT TURNING ANYONE AWAY
FROM THE LIBRARY. THEY CAN BE
THERE. OF COURSE. IT IS THEIR
LIBRARY TOO. IF SOMEONE IS
EXPERIENCING A CRISIS, THEN THAT
BECOMES WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO
REFER THEM SOMEWHERE . AND THAT
IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
THANK YOU FOR NODDING IN THE
AUDIENCE. YOU LOOK LIKE AN AVID
LIBRARY USER. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> THANK YOU, ALL, FOR BEING
HERE, AND FOR SHARING . I THINK
IN MANY WAYS OUR LIBRARIES --
OUR LIBRARY STAFF ARE TRULY
UNSUNG HEROES OF THE CITY AND I
THINK THE SERVICES AND SPACES
YOU PROVIDE ARE NEEDED MORE NOW
THAN EVER TO PROVIDE THESE FREE
PUBLIC SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO
TO TO BUILD COMMUNITY TO ACCESS
RELIABLE INFORMATION IN THIS
PERIOD OF DISINFORMATION. I'M
JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD
SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT -- YOU
HAVE SPOKEN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THIS, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR
MORE ABOUT THE EVOLVING ROLE OF
LIBRARIES EITHER HERE OR
NATIONWIDE GIVING OUR CHANGING
NEEDS, SOME OF THE CRISES WE
HAVE FACED . YOU ARE COMING OUT
OF COVID AND YOU HAVE PROVIDED
CRITICAL SERVICES THROUGH THAT.
BUT AS WE FACE , YOU KNOW,
AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES,
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES,
THIS EVOLVING INFORMATION SPACE
, I'M JUST WONDERING ABOUT YOUR
VISION , OTHER PEOPLE'S VISIONS
FOR THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES . YOU
KNOW, BOTH CURRENTLY AND IN THE
FUTURE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
YES. I THINK AS WE HAVE THESE
DISCUSSIONS -- AND I WILL USE
THE NATIONAL LEVEL WITH MY
COLLEAGUES WHEN YOU HAVE THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AND CHIEF
LIBRARIANS FROM ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. THE BIGGEST LIBRARY
SYSTEMS. REALLY, THE FOCUS AGAIN
IS COMING BACK TO SOME OF THE
BASICS . SO THOSE BASICS ARE
AROUND READING AND LITERACY. IF
YOU LOOK TODAY , THERE ARE
CHALLENGES OUT THERE. WE READ
LESS AS INDIVIDUALS AT ALL AGES.
THIS IS NOT JUST A YOUTH ISSUE,
CHILDREN'S ISSUE BY THIRD
GRADE. THIS IS AN ISSUE OF
EVERYONE READING LESS . WE NEED
TO, AGAIN, START DOUBLING DOWN
ON THAT , AND YOU WILL SEE AND
HEAR MORE OF THAT AS WE LOOK AT
LEVEE PROPOSALS AROUND
COLLECTIONS, AROUND CREATIVE
FORMATS, AS I MENTIONED TO
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH ,
BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE NEED. WE
NEED TO HAVE THE MATERIAL , THE
FORMATS, THE OTHER RESOURCES TO
REALLY MAKE THIS AVAILABLE AND
REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME
OUT AND READ. TO TIE THAT TWO
THINGS THAT ALSO ARE WHAT IS NOT
OFTEN CONSIDERED PROGRAMMING ,
CLASSES. THINGS THAT MAKE PEOPLE
CURIOUS AND WANT TO INQUIRE.
THAT IS WHAT LEADS TO ADDITIONAL
READING WHEN YOU ARE AN ADULT .
AS A CHILD, IT IS AN ENGAGEMENT
ON PROGRAMMING. SOMETHING FUN.
SOMETHING EXCITING THAT CHILDREN
ARE WANTING TO THEN HAVE THAT
TACTILE EXPERIENCE WITH A BOOK.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO DOUBLE DOWN ON
BECAUSE THE NUMBERS ARE
DISTRESSING WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR
SCHOOLS. WE KNOW THAT READING AT
THIRD GRADE LEVELS IS AN ISSUE.
WE KNOW THAT READING AT FIFTH
GRADE LEVEL IS ALSO AN ISSUE.
AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT IF YOU ARE
NOT SUCCESSFUL BY THOSE AGE
GROUPS IT IS NOT A GREAT OUTLOOK
FOR NOT ONLY YOUR ACADEMIC
SUCCESS BUT ALSO YOUR WORK
SUCCESS. IN SOCIETY. THOSE ARE
ALL THINGS AS WE TALK ABOUT FROM
THE NATIONAL STANDPOINT THAT WE
REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON. WE ALSO
NEED TO FOCUS ON THE
DISINFORMATION, MISINFORMATION ,
START LOOKING AT HOW WE PROVIDE
DIGITAL LITERACY TOOLS AROUND
THAT AND AROUND AI AND ITS
RESPONSIBLE USE. HOW DO YOU
PROMPT AI? HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT
DATA SOURCES THAT IT IS CALLING
ALL ITS INFORMATION FROM ? THOSE
ARE THINGS THAT WE ALSO ARE
TALKING ABOUT . HOW DO WE FOCUS?
I WAS ACTUALLY WITH A GROUP A
FEW MONTHS AGO PUT ON BY THE
DIGITAL PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASSOCIATION AND UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON. AND THAT IS EXACTLY
WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT. HOW
CAN FROM THE ACADEMIC LIBRARY
SIDE, PUBLIC LIBRARY SIDE -- HOW
CAN WE START DOING THAT AND
GETTING IN ON THE FRONT EDGE OF
THIS MAKING SURE WE ARE
PROVIDING THAT KIND OF
INSTRUCTION AND AVAILABILITY OF
THAT INSTRUCTION FOR THE PUBLIC?
OTHERWISE, FOLKS ARE JUST USING
THE TOOLS. TOOLS ARE DESIGNED TO
DO A LOT OF THINGS BUT NOT
NECESSARILY PROVIDE YOU -- HOW
ARE YOU GETTING TO THE ANSWER .
THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO DO A
LOT OF WORK AS WELL. THOSE ARE
THE BIG TOPICS WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN,
AND THANK YOU, CHIEF FAY, FOR
THAT. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE
BACK TO BASICS. THERE ARE A LOT
OF ARENAS AT THE CITY WHERE WE
ARE FOCUSING ON BACK TO BASICS.
I THINK A LITTLE BIT WHILE
WELL-INTENTIONED, WE HAVE GONE
BEYOND BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD TO --
THERE HAVE BEEN THINGS THAT HAVE
COME UP THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS,
BUT THEN THAT HAS TAKEN US AWAY
FROM THE BASICS AND VERY MUCH SO
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT READING AND
MATH, FOR THAT MATTER, BUT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT BOOKS TODAY AND
READING. READING IN OUR SCHOOLS
AND KIDS ARE JUST MISSING THE
MARK . THEY ARE NOT ACHIEVING
THOSE OUTCOMES . AND YOU ARE
CORRECT. THAT IS GOING TO HAVE
LIFELONG IMPACTS . OUTCOMES ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT. SO THIS BACK
TO BASICS PEACE AND MAKING SURE
THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS ARE READING
MORE . I'M FOCUSED IN ON KIDS
BECAUSE IF KIDS CANNOT READ AND
THEY CANNOT DO MATH , THEY ARE
NOT GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN
THE WORKFORCE. THAT IS ANYWHERE
BETWEEN TRADITIONAL COLLEGE OR
TRADE PROGRAMS. YOU NEED READING
AND MATH FOR ALL OF THAT. AND
OUR KIDS IN SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS -- MANY ARE NOT
ACHIEVING THAT. AND THIS IS A
PROBLEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SO I
DON'T WANT TO PICK JUST ON
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE ARE
ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. SO IT IS
LESS PICKING ON, BUT THESE ARE
REALITIES. THESE ARE FACTS. I
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE TALKING
ABOUT BACK TO BASICS AND HAVING
THAT FOCUS. IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM
YOUR CONVERSATIONS IT IS NOT
JUST IN SEATTLE. WE ARE SEEING
THIS ACROSS THE BOARD AND WE GOT
TO DO BETTER FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WE REALLY HAVE TO FOCUS ON THESE
ACADEMIC OUTCOMES, WHICH INCLUDE
READING. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER , YOU LOOK
LIKE YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
>> THINK YOU SO MUCH FOR
RECOGNIZING ME AGAIN, CHAIR. I
WAS LISTENING TO THE
CONVERSATION FROM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH AND
DISCUSSION OF E-BOOKS. SOMETHING
I WANTED TO TOUCH BASE ON, WHICH
IS I KNOW THAT FOR LIBRARIES THE
COST OF E-BOOKS AND E-BOOK
LICENSING HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE
GIVEN THE COSTS AND SOME OF THE
ISSUES WITH THE PROVIDERS. I'M
CURIOUS IF THERE ARE ANY
INNOVATIONS IN THAT SPACE OR
THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO
BRING TO OUR ATTENTION JUST
BECAUSE IT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT
SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION
TAPPING INTO E-BOOKS . MY
UNDERSTANDING IS A RISING COST
FOR YOU AND FOR US. AND SO I
WOULD LOVE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT THAT . AND IF THERE
IS ANY POTENTIAL BRIGHT SPOTS OR
AREAS FOR EXPLORATION SO THAT WE
CAN HELP INNOVATE IN THAT SPACE.
>> SURE. I WISH I COULD SAY
THERE ARE SPOTS FOR INNOVATION.
IT IS A CHALLENGE BECAUSE I HAVE
BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME. THIS IS
MY 43rd YEAR IN LIBRARY. I HAVE
BEEN THERE AT THE BEGINNING OF
E-BOOKS, WAS THERE DURING THE
BATTLES AROUND E-BOOKS AND FAIR
USE . ALL OF THAT WAS SETTLED
WHEN IT COMES TO E-BOOKS.
E-BOOKS WERE DESIGNATED AS
BASICALLY SOFTWARE . THEY DON'T
FALL UNDER THE SAME LAWS OR GUYS
OF A PRINT BOOK. SO THOSE
CHALLENGES WE FOUGHT AND WE ALL
DIED FOR AT THE TIME ,
SEEMINGLY, WHEN WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT THOSE PRICES . AND WE
REALLY ALL GOT ON THE BAD END OF
EACH OTHER WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT
SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THE
MIDDLE. AND I THINK AS WE LOOK
AT THE FUTURE OF THIS, WE HAVE
TO COME BACK TO THE TABLE TO
DISCUSS ALL OF THIS. THE PRICE
IS AN ISSUE. IT IS ONE OF THE
MOST EXPENSIVE THINGS AS FAR AS
LIBRARY MATERIAL THAT WE WILL
BUY. E AUDIO AND E-BOOKS.
E-BOOKS ARE GENERALLY AT LEAST
TWO TO THREE TIMES MORE THAN YOU
AS A CONSUMER WOULD PAY FOR AN
E-BOOK. THEY ALSO HAVE LIMITED
USE. IT COULD BE WE GET 26 USES
OF THAT. WE MIGHT HAVE SOME
OTHER AGREEMENT IN THAT
SUBSCRIPTION . AND THEN E AUDIO
CAN BE UP TO FIVE TIMES MORE
THAN YOU PAY AS AN INDIVIDUAL
PERSON. ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE
THEN GOING -- MAKING IT MORE AND
MORE DIFFICULT TO MEET THE
DEMANDS OF A GROWING POPULATION.
THAT IS WHY AGAIN YOU HEARD ME
SAY SOME OF THOSE THINGS GOING
BACK TO THE COLLECTION AND
BEEFING THAT UP WILL BE KEY. WE
ARE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS WE
CAN START NOW ENGAGING NOT ONLY
PUBLISHERS BUT WHAT WE CALL THE
MIDDLEMAN. THOSE PLATFORMS LIKE
YOUR LIBBY THAT YOU USE.
OVERDRIVE DRIVES THAT PROJECT.
BEING ABLE TO GO BACK TO THEM
AND SAY, HOW CAN WE TALK ABOUT
THIS HOLISTICALLY BUT NOT JUST
AS INDIVIDUALS. WE NEED TO COME
TOGETHER. THAT IS ANOTHER THING
AS LIBRARY DIRECTORS, CHIEF
LIBRARIANS, ET CETERA, TALKING
ABOUT , HOW DO WE DO THIS
NATIONALLY AND ENGAGE THEM IN
TRULY A DIALOGUE. NOT POINTING
FINGERS. NOT BACK IN THE DAY
WHERE WE WERE ALL FIGHTING ABOUT
THIS. BUT, HEY, HERE ARE THE
REALITIES. I ASKED SOMEONE WHO
HAS BEEN LONGING CAREER . I WANT
TO SEE NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE SOME
FAIR AND COMPETITIVE PRICING --
THAT WOULD BE GREAT. BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY -- THIS IS SOMETHING
IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT STEWARDSHIP AND TAX
DOLLARS . RIGHT NOW I OWN VERY
LITTLE IN THE DIGITAL REALM . I
SUBSCRIBE TO A LOT. WHEN I
SUBSCRIBE TO THAT, WHAT I WOULD
LIKE TO SEE IS SOME KIND OF
LICENSE IN PERPETUITY. AT LEAST
ONE. IF I BOUGHT 300 LICENSES ,
I WOULD LIKE AT LEAST ONE OR TWO
LICENSES SO THAT WE CAN KEEP IT
AND WE HAVE AN ACTUAL DIGITAL
LIBRARY. THAT IS THE KIND OF
THING THAT I THINK CAN START
RESONATING WITH PUBLISHERS.
MAKING IT MORE REASONABLE TO
THEM AS WELL BUT MOST CERTAINLY
REASONABLE TO AUTHORS. BECAUSE
AT SOME POINT YOU WANT TO MAKE
SURE YOUR TITLES, YOUR WORK ARE
STILL AVAILABLE EVEN AFTER MAYBE
YOU PASS. WHAT INTEREST IS IT TO
A PUBLISHER OR MIDDLEMAN DOWN
THE ROAD 30 YEARS FROM NOW FOR
AN AUTHOR WHO WROTE A BOOK THAT
NO ONE REMEMBERS BUT COULD BE
REALLY GREAT AND LIFE-CHANGING
FOR SOMEONE? THAT IS WHAT
LIBRARIES ARE ABOUT . SO THAT IS
THE KIND OF DISCUSSIONS WE NEED
TO HAVE NOT ONLY AS WE THINK
ABOUT IT AS A STATE , BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, I WAS JUST TELLING
KIERSTEN ON THE WAY HERE I HAD
THIS DIALOGUE WITH THE PERSON
WHO REPRESENTS ABOUT 190 OF THE
LARGEST PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN
NORTH AMERICA. HOW DO WE
ACTUALLY HAVE THAT DISCUSSION
TOGETHER AND ACTUALLY BRING THAT
LEVERAGE TO THE TABLE? SO IT IS
A VERY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION AND
ONE THAT IS AGAIN RAMPING UP.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. AND CHIEF FAY, IF WE
PURCHASE A BOOK AT THE LIBRARY
THAT HAS HOW MANY USES, DO YOU
THINK? ONE BOOK?
>> ONE BOOK ? ONE BOOK CAN HAVE
A LOT OF USES WHEN YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT A PHYSICAL BOOK. I
MEAN, WHAT GETS A BOOK OFF THE
SHELF IS GOING TO BE USUALLY
WEAR AND TEAR . IT IS JUST NOT
HOLDING TOGETHER. IT DOESN'T
HAVE PAGES. THAT WILL GET IT
TAKEN OUT. BUT AS LONG AS A BOOK
IS SERVICEABLE, OFTEN WILL STAY
ON A SHELF FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
THE OTHER THING WE DO IS WE LOOK
AT WHAT IS THAT IMPORTANCE OR
RELEVANCE OF THAT TITLE OR THAT
PARTICULAR SUBJECT . IT MAY GO
INTO OUR SPECIAL COLLECTIONS. IT
MAY GO INTO OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN
COLLECTION IF IT IS A SPECIFIC
SUBJECT OR TITLE OR ANY OF OUR
OTHER SPECIALTY SUBJECT AREAS.
>> AND YET WHEN I AM HEARING YOU
SEE THE E-BOOKS , YOU COULD HAVE
A BOOK AND WE PAY TO USE THE
DIGITAL VERSION BUT WE MIGHT
ONLY HAVE 26 USES OF IT.
>> CORRECT. OR ONLY HAVE IT FOR
TWO YEARS.
>> WHICH IS REALLY A SHAME. SO
JUST TO UNDERSCORE THE
IMPORTANCE IN A CITY THAT REALLY
RELIES ON E-BOOKS AND A CITY AS
AVID READERS THAT WE HAVE
NOTWITHSTANDING WE NEED EVEN
MORE INDIVIDUALS TO READ. THAT
IS JUST A NATIONAL PROBLEM. THIS
IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, FOR
RAISING THAT. COUNCILMEMBER LIN,
YOUR WRECK AND ICED --
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU. ONE TOPIC WE ARE
ALL CONCERNED ABOUT THAT CAME UP
EARLIER IS PROTECTING OUR
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY FROM THE
AWFUL ACTIONS OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. JUST WONDERING IF
YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT HOW WE CAN ENSURE THAT OUR
LIBRARIES CONTINUE TO BE SAFE
WELCOMING SPACES . ANY DATA
PRIVACY ISSUES. HOW SPACES FOR
FOLKS TO GET ACCURATE
INFORMATION AND RESOURCES . AND
THIS IS A SENSITIVE TOPIC , SO
IF WE NEED TO TAKE ANY OF THIS
CONVERSATION OFF-LINE, HAPPY TO
DO THAT . BUT ANYTHING YOU FEEL
COMFORTABLE SHARING IN THIS
SPACE ABOUT ANY RESOURCES ? ANY
BETTER COLLABORATION OR SUPPORT
THAT WE CAN PROVIDE GIVEN THE
CRITICAL SERVICES AND THAT YOU
PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY .
>> WE DO ACTUALLY WORK WELL WITH
OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
AFFAIRS WITH THE CITY AND WE
FOLLOW THEIR GUIDELINES ON THIS
. THEY ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION
WE CAN HAND OUT TO PATRONS. WE
WORK WITH OTHER PARTNERS IN THIS
ARENA AND ALSO HAVE THEIR
INFORMATION AND SERVICES AND/OR
REFERRAL NUMBERS , ET CETERA,
CONTACT INFORMATION. SO WE ARE
ABLE TO HELP THERE JUST AS IF
THEY HAD CALLED UP OIRA. AND
OFTEN WE MIGHT PUT SOMEBODY IN
CONTACT WITH OIRA FOR MORE
LEGAL. WE CANNOT PROVIDE AT THE
LIBRARY LEGAL ADVICE. WE CAN
POINT YOU TO IT, WHICH IS AN
IMPORTANT PIECE AROUND IT. I
WILL SAY THIS , OBVIOUSLY IT IS
ALWAYS TRICKY TO SAY ANY OF THIS
WITH ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS . WE
ARE A VERY PUBLIC SPACE . SO
OBVIOUSLY AS A PUBLIC SPACE , WE
ALL SEE WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN A
PUBLIC SPACE. THAT MOST
CERTAINLY COULD HAPPEN AT A
LIBRARY. IT COULD HAPPEN AT A
SCHOOL. WE HAVE SEEN ALL THE
THINGS HAPPENING. I THINK IT IS
ALWAYS BEING PREPARED AT LEAST
FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE
LIBRARY SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
LAW. AND THAT WE ARE DOING ALL
WE CAN TO INFORM PEOPLE BEFORE
THEY ARE IN SPACES, WHEN THEY
ARE IN PUBLIC, WHEN THEY ARE AT
HOME. THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE
ARE GOOD AT DOING. BUT YES. WE
NEVER KNOW WHAT MIGHT ENTER OUR
DOORS . AS WE HAVE SEEN
RECENTLY.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF FAY. ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
COLLEAGUES , ANY OTHER FINAL
QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I KNOW I SO
APPRECIATE CHIEF FAY. I KNOW YOU
HAVE A LIBRARIES BOARD MEETING,
I BELIEVE, AND I WANT TO MAKE
SURE YOU GET TO THAT. I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU STAYING TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS. COLLEAGUES, IF YOU
HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE
LET ME KNOW. I WILL MAKE SURE
THAT WE GET ANSWERS FOR YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL
QUESTIONS TODAY. WE ALL CARE
VERY MUCH ABOUT LIBRARIES. YOU
CAN SEE THAT, CHIEF FAY. I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED
CONVERSATION , COLLEAGUES. ALL
RIGHT. OKAY. SEEING NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, THIS CONCLUDES THE
JANUARY 14, 2026 MEETING OF THE
LIBRARIES, EDUCATION, AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE . OUR
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING IS
SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 28th AT
9:30 A.M. IF THERE IS NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, THIS MEETING WILL
ADJOURN. I'M LOOKING AROUND. I
DON'T SEE ANY HANDS. NO FURTHER
BUSINESS. IT IS