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WE WILL NOW[FY 2023 Budget Workshop: Houston Public Library]
ADJOURN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT BUDGET WORKSHOP AND BEGIN OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP FOR THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.HELLO, ARE YOU READY? YES, MA'AM.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME DIRECTOR RHE BROWN LAWSON AND HOPE WELL WHILE YES WA TO PROVIDE THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY BUDGET PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023.
BEFORE I BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICLY THANK AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND, UH, OTHER STAFF WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR, UH, HELPING THE LIBRARY TO BE, UH, ONE OF THE BEST LIBRARY SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY.
SO, I'D LIKE TO PUBLICLY THANK AND ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THOSE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE TEAM.
IT IS MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH A TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS WITH SUCH AN ARRAY OF TALENT IN INNOVATIVENESS CREATIVITY AND DEEP COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF OUR GREAT CITY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION FOR THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY AND THEIR SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY'S PROGRAMS. JOINING ME TODAY FOR THE PRESENTATION IS THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT'S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR HOPE WABE.
WITH THAT, I'LL NOW PRESENT, I'LL PROPOSE FY AND IF YOU WOULD COME A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE.
SLIDE TWO PRESENTS THE LIBRARY'S FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL CHART.
THE CHART SHOWS THE DISTRIBUTION OF PROPOSED OF THE PROPOSED FY 23 BUDGET AND FTES WITHIN THE SIX DIVISIONS OF THE LIBRARY.
OUTLINES, OUTLINES DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMMING AND CONSIDERATIONS RELATIVE TO MAJOR SERVICES, STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS, AND THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF SERVICE ON SERVICE DELIVERY.
REGARDING SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, THE LIBRARY REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE DELIVERY OF EQUITABLE QUALITY SERVICES AND RESOURCES IN MULTIPLE FORMATS TO ALL RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON THROUGH THE DEPARTMENTS NETWORK OF 38 LIBRARIES EMBEDDED IN NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THE MOBILE LAB AND THREE HISTORY RESEARCH COLLECTIONS, AND THE CENTRAL LIBRARY.
ALSO IN HIGH DEMAND ARE RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, NEW ENTREPRENEURS, AND JOB SEEKERS.
THE LIBRARIES NETWORK OF 38 LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY ALSO SERVE AS CRITICAL COMMUNITY HUBS, WHICH INCLUDE TWO TECHNICAL FACILITIES, THREE HISTORY RESEARCH CENTERS OF TEXAS HISTORY, AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY, AND GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES WITH OVER 193 PRINT VOLUMES, 2,500 ARCHIVAL AND ORAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS, AND 320 MICROFORM RESOURCES PER STATE LAW.
IN TERMS OF STATU STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS PER, UH, THE STATE LAW, THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION OR T SLACK SETS THE STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ACCREDITATION OF LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
ACCREDITATION ELIGIBILITY REQUIRES A PER CAPITA OF $17 AND 50 CENTS, AND AT LEAST ONE ITEM
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OF LIBRARY MATERIALS PER CAPITA.THE LIBRARIES PER CAPITA FOR THE STATE FY 21 ANNUAL REPORT WAS $16 AND 90 CENTS TO FILL THE GAP.
HPL SUBMITTED SUPPLEMENTAL MAINTENANCE AND SECURITY DOLLARS FROM GSD FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS AS PART OF THE SUPPORT FOR LIBRARY OPERATIONS TO HELP MEET THE TLAC ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS.
WITH THE BUDGET INCREASE THIS YEAR, WE SHOULD BE POISED TO MEET STATE ACCREDITATION STANDARDS DURING THE NEXT REPORTING PERIOD.
FINANCIAL OR SOCIETAL IMPACT OF THE CITY SERVICE DELIVERY INCLUDES 1.4 MILLION CARD HOLDERS HAVE ACCESS TO 3 MILLION PRINT AND DIGITAL RESOURCES.
IN A WORLD WHERE HAVING TECHNOLOGICAL ACCESS IS A BASIC NECESSITY, THE LIBRARY IS THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF FREE INTERNET ACCESS IN THE REGION.
THROUGH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARIES, HOUSTON RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO WIFI HOTSPOTS, TABLETS, AND COMPUTERS.
ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY, FOR EVERY $1 INVESTED IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN TEXAS, THE COMMUNITY SEES A RETURN OF APPROXIMATELY $5 ANTICIPATED GROWTH OR REDUCTION OF POPULATION SERVED.
AND FY 23.8 MILLION PEOPLE UTILIZE THE LIBRARY IN PERSON OR VIA THE WEBSITE.
WITH HOUSTON'S GROWTH AND CURRENT USER DEMAND REQUIRING MORE ROBUST E-SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, WE HAVE SEEN MARKED INCREASE IN DIGITAL SERVICES, WHICH IS UP CURRENTLY 28% FROM FY 2020.
DATABASE USE INCREASED 41% LAST YEAR, ESPECIALLY THE USE OF LINDA.COM, WHERE USERS ACCESS INSTRUCTIVE, INSTRUCTIVE VIDEOS TO BUILD CREATIVITY AND BUSINESS SKILLS TO ACHIEVE PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS.
THIS INCREASED DEMAND IS PARTICULARLY IMPACTFUL TO THE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET AS DATABASES AND ELECTRONIC RESOURCES.
UH, VERY MUCH MORE COSTLY THAN PRINT MATERIALS.
THIS SLIDE PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT'S REVENUES FROM FY 21 ACTUAL TO FY 23 ANTICIPATED REVENUES.
THE LIBRARY IS NOT A REVENUE GENERATING DEPARTMENT, BUT IT DOES CONTRIBUTE TO THE GENERAL FUND THROUGH PASSPORT SERVICES AND THE LIBRARY, UH, CENTRAL LIBRARY PARKING GARAGE.
THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND GENERATES REVENUE FOR THE JULIA ADDISON BUILDING, WHICH IS USED TO SUPPORT THE SPECIAL MAINTENANCE THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THIS HISTORIC BUILDING.
THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR ADULT LITERACY.
NEXT SLIDE, SLIDE FIVE PROVIDES REVENUE HIGHLIGHTS.
WE ANTICIPATE RETURNING TO PRE PANDEMIC OPERATIONS IN FY 23, WHICH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO AN INCREASE IN THE REVENUE GENERATED FROM THE PASSPORT SERVICES FEES.
THE INCREASE IN FACILITY RENTAL FEES IS MAINLY DUE TO THE FRENCHIES RESTAURANT RENTAL FOR SMITH LIBRARY PARKING.
THE GRANT TRANSFER IS A ONE TIME FEMA INSURANCE ALLOCATION TO REIMBURSE KENDALL LIBRARY BOOKS AND MATERIALS THAT WERE LOST DUE TO HURRICANE HARVEY.
THE LIBRARY'S EXPENDITURES FOR FY 23 REFLECT AN INCREASE OF TH 13.7% BASED ON MANDATORY SALARY AND BENEFIT INCREASES AND AN INCREASE IN THE BOOKS AND MATERIALS BUDGET.
THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND EXPENDITURES DO NOT AFFECT THE GENERAL FUND AS RENTAL REVENUES COVER EXPENDITURES FOR IMPROVEMENT AND HISTORICAL MAINTENANCE OF THE JULIA ODD BUILDING.
SLIDE SEVEN OUTLINES THE FY 2023 EXPENDITURE HIGHLIGHTS FOR PERSONNEL SERVICES.
THERE WAS A 3% HOPE INCREASE, FRINGE BENEFIT, INCREASE, THE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE, AND ADDITIONAL 29 POSITIONS FOR STAFF.
TWO STAFF, TWO NEW LIBRARY BUILDINGS, A LEAF, AND DR. SHANNON WALKER,
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AND THE KENDALL RENOVATED LIBRARY.FY 23 WILL BE THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL YEARS THAT WE WILL HAVE ALL HPL LOCATIONS OPEN AND FULLY OPERATIONAL, REQUIRING AN INCREASE IN STAFFING.
THE INCREASE IN SUPPLIES AND SERVICES WILL BE USED IN THE LIBRARIES.
THE BUDGET ALSO REFLECTS AN INCREASE IN THE RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS.
THE 1.7 MILLION INCREASE IN BOOKS AND MATERIALS RELATES BACK TO THE ONE TIME FEMA INSURANCE ALLOCATION THAT COVERS KENDALL LIBRARY BOOKS AND MATERIALS, AND IMPROVED INCREASE OF 1 MILLION THAT WOULD ALLOW HPL TO MEET THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY ACCREDITATION STANDARDS.
THE PRIMARY DRIVERS IN LIBRARY EXPENSES ARE PERSONNEL AND MATERIALS.
PERSONNEL EXPENSES FOR THE LIBRARY REPRESENTS 72% OF OUR TOTAL BUDGET, AND THE NON-PERSONAL BUDGET IS 28% OF THE NON-PERSONNEL BUDGET.
NON-CAPITAL BOOKS AND MATERIALS REPRESENT 46% RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS, 25% SERVICES REPRESENT 22%, AND SUPPLIES REPRESENT 2%.
NEXT SLIDE, SLIDE NINE SHOWS OUR OPERATING BUDGET OF 30.4 MILLION, WHICH WE, WITH RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS TOTALING 13.6 MILLION.
THE CONTRACTED AND MANDATED ADJUSTMENTS TOTAL 1.5 MILLION.
OUR PROPOSED FY 23 BUDGET IS 50000000.342, WHICH REFLECTS A CHANGE OF 14.1%.
THE CHART ON SLIDE 10 REPRESENTS THE LIBRARY'S HISTORY OF BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE ALLOCATED FUNDS THE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES.
THIS CONCLUDES MY FORMAL PRESENTATION, AND I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE APPENDIX CONTAINS THE LIBRARY'S WORKPLACE ANALYSIS, INCLUDING STAFF NUMBERS AND DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION, DEPARTMENTAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR FY 22 AND RESTRICTED ACCOUNT DETAILS.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
WE'LL NOW TAKE QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WILL EACH RECEIVE TWO MINUTES PER THE NORMAL COMMITTEE RULES.
FIRST IN THE QUEUE IS VICE MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX.
TATUM, DIRECTOR LAWSON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
YOU KNOW, I LOVE THE LIBRARY AND ALL THAT Y'ALL STAND FOR AND ALL THAT WE DO IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ESPECIALLY AROUND ADULT LITERACY.
SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE DR. SHANNON WALKER LIBRARY COMING TO DISTRICT K SOON.
UM, BASED ON YOUR, UM, STAT ON PAGE THREE, WE SHOULD SEE A BIG RETURN IN SOCIETAL IMPACT, UM, IN DISTRICT K, UM, WITH THE NEW LIBRARY COMING ON BOARD.
BUT MY QUESTION IS, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE REVENUES FROM THE PASSPORT SERVICES? UM, AS WE LOOK AT OUR BUDGET AND HOW WE CAN INCREASE REVENUES IN THE CITY? I WAS INTRIGUED AT OUR MEETING THAT WE HAVE FOUR OR FIVE PASSPORT OFFICES IN LIBRARIES.
UM, PRE PANDEMIC, WE WERE, UM, PROVIDING, UM, MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF SERVICE PASSPORT SERVICES THROUGH THE CITY THROUGH FIVE LOCATIONS.
AND, UM, WE ANTICIPATE, UH, THEY'RE VERY POPULAR.
LET ME JUST SAY, UH, WE'RE BETTER THAN THE POST OFFICE.
AND, UH, WE HAVE, UH, MANY PEOPLE, UM, UH, COMPLIMENTING OUR STAFF ON, UM, THE PROCESS.
SO THEY LIKE TO USE THE LIBRARY AND, UH, DURING OUR DISCUSSION, COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU ARE WONDERING WHY WE DON'T DO IT IN MORE LOCATIONS AND GET, GENERATE MORE MONEY.
AND OUR CONVERSATION, UH, I COUNTED WITH, WELL, IF WE DO MORE LOCATIONS, MAYBE THE LIBRARY CAN KEEP HALF AND THE CITY CAN GET HALF.
UH, SO A MILLION A PIECE, WE'LL DO 10 LOCATIONS.
UM, WOULD YOU NEED ADDITIONAL STAFF? IF WE PUT FIVE MORE PASSPORT OFFICES IN FIVE LIBRARIES, WOULD WE NEED ADDITIONAL STAFF OR WOULD STAFF BE ABLE TO COVER THAT? WOULD, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO SEE A BIT, A BIGGER GAIN? OR WOULD WE NEED TO ACTUALLY HIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF FOR THAT RUNNING OF FIVE ADDITIONAL PASSPORT OFFICES? I THINK, UH, WE WOULD DEFINITELY NEED MORE STAFF.
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WE DID FIVE MORE LOCATIONS.WE'D NEED FIVE MORE, UM, AT LEAST FIVE MORE STAFF MEMBERS, BUT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THEMSELVES.
SO THE FIVE, FIVE PASSPORT OFFICES, WE'VE GENERATED A MILLION DOLLARS.
UM, THROUGH THE REVENUES WE, WE HAVE.
AND THAT MONEY WENT BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND AND NOT TO THE LIBRARY.
EVERY, EVERY CENT WENT BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, THANK YOU CHAIR, UM, AND DIRECTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO WITH SUCH LIMITED, UH, NUMBER OF STAFF.
IT'S REALLY, TRULY REMARKABLE.
SO I WANNA THANK YOUR TEAM PERSONALLY FOR THAT.
AND OF COURSE, YOU AND I ARE ALSO WORKING ON WHAT WE HOPE WILL BE A MAP MAP ARCHIVE FOR THE JULIA I LIBRARY DOWNTOWN.
SO REFERRING TO THAT SAME CHART OF REVENUES THAT THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM REFERRED TO ON PAGE FOUR, THAT CATEGORY OF SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT AND THINKING IN PARTICULAR ABOUT THE JULIA ADDISON, I KNOW IT'S COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE VENUE IN WHAT THE CITY FOR WEDDINGS HELP ME WITH THIS RECORD.
WE, WE ARE, UH, RATED ON A NATIONAL SCALE OF BEING, UH, THE TOP 10 PLACES FOR, UH, HOLDING WEDDINGS.
SO THAT'S TOP 10 IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
SO WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PASSPORTS, YOU KNOW, UM, LET'S TALK ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING MARRIED AT LIBRARIES,
AND I DON'T KNOW, JUST FOR THE RECORD, I AM A SINGLE MAN, BUT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT.
WE'LL HOLD A SPOT FOR YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, HOW MUCH MONEY YOU GOT, SAYS THE VICE MEMBER.
ANOTHER ASIDE, BUT IT DOES, IT DOES RAISE THE QUESTION ABOUT POTENTIAL REVENUE SOURCES FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL FACILITIES.
'CAUSE WHETHER IT'S THE NEW LIBRARY THAT'S GOING INTO DISTRICT K, WHETHER IT'S THE INCREDIBLE FACILITY THAT'S GOING INTO DISTRICT F ON THE WEST SIDE, UH, OUR FLAGSHIP, UH, LIBRARIES THAT ARE DOWNTOWN AND THE ONES THAT WE KNOW ARE MOST USED IT, WHETHER THOSE FUNDS GO BACK INTO THE GENERAL REVENUE FUND OR HOW ELSE WE CATEGORIZE THOSE REVENUES.
I'D BE REALLY INTERESTED 'CAUSE, 'CAUSE IT STRIKES ME THAT WHAT WE DO AS THE VICE MAYOR PRO TIM POINTED OUT FOR SOCIETAL IMPACTS, YOU KNOW, THAT IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT YOU, YOU'D THINK COULD FUEL SOME STAFFING AND FUEL SOME ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
IF, IF YOU CARRIED TO COMMENT, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
AND, UH, WE'RE REAL EXCITED ABOUT OUR, ALL OUR HISTORICAL BUILDINGS.
AND WITH THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF STAFF AND PROMOTION, WE, WE ASSURE THAT WE COULD GENERATE, UM, EVEN MORE ACTIVITY AROUND THEM.
BUT YOU'RE ONLY AS, UM, UH, YOU'RE ONLY ABLE TO DO THAT, UH, BASED ON YOUR CAPACITY TO DO IT.
AND SO YOU WOULD NEED LIKE ANY OTHER VENUE, UH, STAFFING AROUND THAT.
AND, UM, AND SO THAT WOULD BE THE ANSWER.
AND AGAIN, WITH THE GREAT RESIGNATION CHAIR, THAT'S GONNA BE A CHALLENGE FOR THIS DEPARTMENT, LIKE EVERY OTHER ONE WE'VE HEARD FROM TODAY.
FIRST OFF, WE LOVE OUR LIBRARIES.
UM, CAN YOU SAY IT ONE MORE TIME? WE, WHEN IT CAME TO INTERNET AS A PROVIDER OF INTERNET ACCESSIBILITY, DID YOU SAY THAT WE'RE THE LARGEST, OUR LIBRARIES ARE THE LARGEST PROVIDER IN THE, IN THE REGION.
AND, UM, GIVEN THE, UM, DIGITAL DIVIDE THAT WE SAW, UM, DURING THE PANDEMIC, UH, ESPECIALLY WITH STUDENTS AND YOUTH THAT DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET, I'M ASSUMING THAT THOSE PROGRAMS ARE CONTINUING BEYOND THE PANDEMIC.
WHAT WE DID DURING THE PANDEMIC, UH, WAS TO, UH, INSTALL HIGH POWERED ANTENNAS ON SEVERAL OF OUR LOCATIONS SO THAT THOSE, UM, FAMILIES THAT DID NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS COULD, AT LEAST FROM OUR PARKING LOTS WITH LIBRARIES CLOSED, HAVE, UH, THAT KIND OF ACCESS.
AND SOME OF THEM WERE STRONG ENOUGH TO BLEED INTO THE HOMES THAT WERE NEARBY.
UH, BUT BROADBAND IS A NATIONAL ISSUE, AS WE ALL KNOW.
AND HAVING, UH, ACCESS TO, UH, THE INTERNET IS NOW, LIKE, HAVING ELECTRICITY IN YOUR HOME IS A NECESSITY BECAUSE, UH, IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, YOU'RE CUT OFF FROM A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT'S NEEDED.
WE SEE PEOPLE USING, UH, LIBRARIES TO APPLY FOR JOBS TO HOLD, THEY RENT OUR SPACES
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SO THAT THEY CAN HOLD JOB INTERVIEWS.'CAUSE MOST JOB INTERVIEWS NOW ARE ONLINE.
UM, UH, WE SEE, UH, UH, NUMBER OF, UH, CITIZENS BORROWING HOTSPOTS SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE THAT HOTSPOT INTO THEIR HOME AND HAVE INTERNET ACCESS.
UM, ALL THAT WE'RE DOING, AND WE'RE DOING A LOT.
IT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET FOR THE WHOLE CONVERSATION AROUND BROADBAND AND ITS NECESSITY.
THE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT AND ALL THE EFFORTS TO CONFIRM ALL OF THE LIBRARIES ARE NOW BACK UP AND RUNNING THAT WERE PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.
AND I'M ASKING BECAUSE WE'RE COMING UP ON SUMMER, UH, WHERE OUR LIBRARIES, AGAIN, PLAY THAT REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE OUT OF SCHOOL, UM, UH, TO KEEP CHILDREN, UM, UH, SHARP DURING THE SUMMER.
UH, THEY, UH, ENGAGE IN SUMMER READING, AND YES, OUR LIBRARIES WILL BE OPEN, UH, FOR THOSE ACTIVITIES TO KEEP THEIR MINDS, UH, ACTIVE, UH, THROUGH HAVING FUN THROUGH READING AND HAVING, UH, FUN IN AND LIBRARY PROGRAMS DURING THE SUMMER.
UM, BECAUSE THERE IS, UM, UH, NATIONAL RESEARCH THAT SHOWS THAT KIDS THAT ARE NOT ENGAGED DURING THE SUMMER DO LOSE AS MUCH AS A GRADE LEVEL AND, AND IT PROVIDES A SAFE PLACE FOR THEM TO BE SOMETIMES.
UM, THE LAST QUE TWO OTHER QUESTIONS I HAD REALLY QUICKLY.
ONE, UM, DO ALL OF OUR LIBRARIES PROVIDE PRINTING AND SCANNING SERVICES CURRENTLY FOR THE PUBLIC SCANNING? YEAH.
LIKE SCANNING DIGITAL, UH, PAPER COPIES THAT THEY MAY NEED TO BE SCANNED, BUT ALSO PRINTING SERVICES.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF ALL OF THEM DO.
I WOULD JUST BE INTERESTED IN THE COST BREAKDOWN OF WHAT THAT IS.
I KNOW I'VE BEEN LOOKING IN THE DISTRICT, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE SUPPLEMENTED OUT OF DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS FOR PRINTING, UM, OFTENTIMES AGAIN, IT IT, FOR THOSE THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT, RIGHT? THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO APPLY FOR A JOB AND MAY NEED JUST THOSE FEW EXTRA DOLLARS, THOSE TYPES OF NEEDS.
I'M JUST TRYING TO EXPLORE THAT.
AND WHAT PRINTING, PRINTING IS EVERYWHERE SCANNING.
THAT'S WHAT I'D HAVE TO CHECK ON.
AND LASTLY, UM, DUE TO THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS THAT THE CITY CONTINUES TO FACE, UH, THROUGHOUT EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT, WHAT ARE THE, UM, NEEDS THAT YOU FORESEE FOR THE MOST IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM FUTURE THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO MEET RIGHT NOW THAT YOU WANT US TO BE FOCUSED ON? WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY AS A, A REPLY TO THAT QUESTION TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS IS TO, UM, APPRECIATE WHAT THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY IS ABLE TO, UH, PROVIDE FOR OUR CITIZENS.
UH, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR, UH, BOTTOM LINE BUDGET, UM, OUR BOTTOM LINE BUDGET, EVEN WITH THE INCREASE THIS YEAR, IS A FALL CRY FOR EVEN CHICAGO'S, UH, PUBLIC LIBRARY THAT SERVES, UM, 4.6 MILLION PEOPLE WITH A BUDGET OF, UM, A MILLION, UH, UM, A HUNDRED MILLION THREE.
AND OUR BUDGET IS AT 50 MILLION.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE.
THE MORE MONEY WE HAVE IN OUR BUDGET, THE MORE WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES.
WE STAFF OUR FACILITIES AT THE BARE MINIMUM, EXCEPT FOR THOSE THAT ARE THE BUSIEST.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS BEING SHORTCHANGED BECAUSE WE HAD MORE ROBUST STAFFS, UM, WE CERTAINLY COULD PROVIDE MORE SERVICES.
THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
IN THOSE ANSWERS WILL NOW MOVE INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THE FIRST PUBLIC SPEAKER WILL BE MR. JASON OLIVER.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT, THAT Y'ALL DO.
UM, I, I JUST WANT TO START OFF SAYING THAT.
UH, FIRST, I KNOW THE HARRIS COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM HAS ROLLED OUT THE ENHANCED ID PROGRAM THIS YEAR.
UH, I ACTUALLY TRIED TO USE MINE TO COME IN.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE NEED AN ID TO, TO COME INTO THIS BUILDING, BUT I TRIED TO USE IT AND WASN'T ALLOWED.
SO I, I HOPE THAT THAT CAN CHANGE BECAUSE THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM.
BUT I WANTED TO ASK IF, UH, HPL IS, IS PLANNING TO JOIN THAT AND LIKE, WHAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR HPL TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT? SO THAT'S MY MY FIRST QUESTION.
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AND THEN SECOND, UH, IT'S OFTEN HARD TO FIND BOOKS BY LOCAL AUTHORS IN THE LIBRARIES COLLECTIONS.HOW CAN WE CREATE A PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON ACQUIRING THE WORKS OF, OF LOCAL AUTHORS? SO FIRST THAT ENHANCED ID PROGRAM, AND THEN SECOND LOCAL AUTHOR ACQUISITIONS AND WRAPPING THOSE UP.
THANK YOU FOR, THANK YOU FOR THOSE QUESTIONS.
UM, IN TERMS OF ENHANCED ID, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY, UH, LOOK INTO.
WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT AS A PRIORITY FOR THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.
WE'VE HAD OTHER PRIORITIES, BUT WE CERTAINLY CAN LOOK INTO THAT AND, UM, UPDATE YOU ON THAT RESEARCH.
UM, AND YOUR SECOND QUESTION WAS ABOUT LOCAL AUTHOR ACQUISITIONS AND HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CREATE, JUST, JUST ACQUIRE MORE WORKS BY LOCAL AUTHORS.
UH, WE ARE, UM, UH, INCREASINGLY FOCUSED ON BUILDING OUR LOCAL AUTHOR, UH, COLLECTION.
WE HAVE A ONGOING LOCAL AUTHOR DISPLAY.
WE HAVE LOCAL AUTHOR PROGRAMS INVITING LOCAL AUTHORS, UH, TO COME AND EVEN, UH, PARTICIPATE IN WORKSHOPS WHEN, UM, EXPERIENCED LOCAL AUTHORS WILL GIVE ADVICE TO THOSE AUTHORS THAT ARE, ARE TRYING TO START, UM, UH, PUBLISHING AND HOW TO GET STARTED.
WE PROBABLY NEED TO DO MORE PROMOTION ABOUT THAT, BUT WE ARE VERY, UM, AND EMBRACING OF LOCAL AUTHORS.
UH, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, I JUST FIND IT HARD TO FIND THEIR BOOKS IN THE, IN THE LIBRARIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE DIGITAL COLLECTIONS.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WANTED TO BRING IT UP.
EVERY AUTHOR IS NOT A PART OF THE, UH, PERMANENT LIBRARY COLLECTION.
UM, AND I CAN EXPLAIN MORE ABOUT THAT.
I JUST WANNA SECOND, UM, APPRECIATION FOR THE LIBRARY.
IT'S SUCH A NOURISHING SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH.
I BROUGHT MY DAUGHTER AND I'M TRYING TO TALK HER INTO SPEAKING AND ASKING YOU A QUESTION, BUT FOR MY TIME.
UM, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU BASED, UM, ON YOUR METRICS.
THE LIBRARY HAS A HUGE IMPACT ON HOUSTONIANS.
I KNOW OUR FAMILY HAS FELT THAT PERSONALLY.
UM, AND I'M CURIOUS WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT WHETHER LIBRARY ACCESS OR SPECIFIC SERVICES ARE EQUITABLY, UM, AND HOW THEY'RE EQU EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE CITY.
UH, ONE HOUSTON, ONE LIBRARY, UH, MASTER PLAN IS BASED ON THAT ONE WORD EQUITY.
AND WE ARE LOOKING, MANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN, UM, SEEING THAT, UM, PRESENTATION OF OUR MASTER PLAN.
BUT IT IN, IT INVOLVES, UM, SEVEN REGIONS.
AND IN THOSE SEVEN REGIONS, WHAT WE PLAN TO DO IS HAVE SIMILAR SERVICES, IF NOT THE EXACT SERVICES, SIMILAR SERVICES IN EACH OF THOSE REGIONS SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO GO FROM ONE COMMUNITY TO ANOTHER UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO.
BUT, UM, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE STRIVING TO BE, UH, A CITY OF EQUITABLE LIBRARY SERVICES ACROSS THE CITY.
FIRST, I WANNA SAY SAME THING ABOUT THE LIBRARY.
ACTUALLY, MY NUMBER ONE THING I USE MOST ON MY PHONE IS MY LIBBY APP.
IT GETS THE MOST USE OF EVERYTHING THAT I USE, AND I APPRECIATE IT.
AND ESPECIALLY SINCE THE LIBRARY'S BEEN CLOSED, TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL.
UM, AND I ALSO TELL EVERYONE ABOUT IT,
UM, I WANTED TO ASK YOU, ARE THERE ANY PROGRAMS THAT THE LIBRARY, WELL, WE'RE GONNA INVITE YOU TO DO, UH, AN AD FOR THE LIBRARY.
I, I WOULD LOVE, WE'RE GONNA SIGN UP.
SOMEBODY'S GONNA COME UP TO YOU AND GET THAT BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING TO, TO, TO HAVE MORE, UM, USER COMMENTS ON OUR LIBRARY.
AND IF YOU FOUND SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY USEFUL, OH, I'D LOVE, REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I, I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT FOR YOU.
TELL ME WHERE AND WHEN SOMEBODY APPROACH YOU.
UM, ARE THERE ANY PROGRAMS THAT THE LIBRARY IS INTERESTED IN IMPLEMENTING OR SEEKING TO IMPLEMENT FOR WHICH IT DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE THE NECESSARY FUNDING? UH, HOW LONG A TIME DO YOU HAVE
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WE THINK WE'VE, WE'VE HIT A GOOD BALANCE WITH UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE CITIZENS OF OUR CITY WANT AND NEED.WE'D JUST LIKE TO DO MORE OF IT.
UH, LONGER, LONG, THAT WOULD REQUIRE LONGER HOURS, MORE WEEKEND SERVICES, MORE ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY.
WELL, LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN HELP.
SOMEBODY WILL COACH YOU SUNDAY COMING.
WE'RE GETTING SUNDAY COMING SOON.
I STAND WITH ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT WE WOULD BE WHEREVER DO WHATEVER BECAUSE THANK YOU.
UH, YOU ARE A TREASURE LIBRARIES PROVIDE A SAFETY NET FOR COMMUNITIES, FOR OUR CHILDREN, FOR OUR ADULTS, AND THEY ARE THERE.
AND SOMETIME THEY'RE JUST THERE AND THAT'S ALL IT REQUIRES.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU ABOUT MY COMMUNITY.
THERE IS A LITTLE LIBRARY CALLED CENIC WOOD REGIONAL LIBRARY.
WE WOULD LOVE, THIS MAY BE A CIP ISSUE TO EXPAND THE FOOTPRINT OF THAT LIBRARY.
BASICALLY THE CAPACITY, IT HAS LAND TO THE NORTH OF IT, VACANT.
IT HAS LAND TO THE SOUTH OF IT.
THIS IS FOREST, BUT IT'S STILL VACANT.
THERE ARE OTHER LIBRARIES LIKE DIXON LIBRARY, WHICH IS NEW.
WE WOULD LOVE TO EXPAND THE FOOTPRINT OF THAT.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF LAKEWOOD LIBRARY HAS COME BACK ONLINE.
BUT WE NEED TO KNOW, DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR NEW LIBRARIES IN THE FUTURE IN YOUR MASTER PLAN? HOW DO WE GET IT? HOW DO WE SUPPORT YOU? AND HOW DO WE GIVE INPUT FOR IT? UH, WE WOULD LOVE TO, UM, HAVE YOUR INPUT ON WITH OUR, UM, PLANNING FOR, UM, LIBRARY SPACES AND WHERE THE, AND UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.
WE KNOW THAT, UM, THERE ARE COMMUNITIES, UM, THAT NEED MORE.
AND IT, WHAT I ANSWERED ABOUT SERVICES, IT'S ALL ABOUT, UH, CAPACITY.
IT'S ABOUT, UH, HAVING ENOUGH FUNDING TO GO AROUND AND, UM, I MEANT WHAT I SAID ABOUT EQUITY.
WE'RE LOOKING AT EACH AREA OF THE CITY AND SEEING HOW WE CAN, UM, BE A MORE EQUITABLE, UM, DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF, UH, PROVIDING SERVICES.
UM, IF NOT RIGHT AWAY, A LARGER FOOTPRINT, AT LEAST THE SERVICES IN, UH, IN THOSE AREAS.
WELL, MY HEART IS FULL AND KNOW THAT THIS IS YOUR ARMY.
WE'VE ALL IT HAS, IT HAS BENEFITED US.
VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM.
I, I WANNA CLOSE WITH THIS COMMENT.
UM, DIRECTOR LAWSON, WHEN WE WERE LOOKING TO BUILD OUR LIBRARY IN DISTRICT A, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A TOUR OF SOME LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UM, HOSTED BY YOUR, BY YOUR STAFF AND I, WE'VE HAD QUITE A FEW, UM, RESIDENTS FROM, UH, DISTRICT B TO TALK ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU, THIS IS ONE AREA WHERE I CAN TELL YOU FIRSTHAND THAT DISTRICT B IS SHINING BRIGHT BECAUSE WE GOT TO VISIT THE LIBRARY AND SAW THE TECH LINK AND ALL THE TECHNOLOGY IN THE LIBRARY IN DISTRICT B.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, I WAS LIKE, I WANT ALL THAT AND OUR NEW LIBRARY IN DISTRICT K TOO.
SO I, I HEAR YOU WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT EQUITY AND YOU TALK ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT, UM, OUR COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES MANY TIMES TO BE, UM, MAYBE NOT HAVING THE SAME LEVEL OF RESOURCES THAT THE LIBRARY HAS WALKED THE WALK MM-HMM
AND THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARIES IN DISTRICT B, UM, WERE PHENOMENAL WHEN WE, WE WERE THERE ON THE TOUR.
SO THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ALL HAVE ACCESS TO GREAT QUALITY, UM, LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE HAPPIEST BUDGET AMENDMENT, I MEAN BUDGET SESSION OF ALL OF THE ONES THAT WE'LL HEAR OVER THIS WEEK.
SO WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
DID YOU SAY AMENDMENT? UH, UH,
I HAVE A AMENDMENT ON MY MIND BECAUSE I'M THINKING ABOUT THOSE PASSPORTS.
I I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT THAT ALL OF YOU, UH, GIVE TO THE LIBRARY.
[00:35:01]
DAUGHTER, BLANDING, DID YOU WANNA SIGN UP TO SPEAK? UH, I LIKE THE AUDIO BOOKS THAT THE LIBRARIES PROVIDE AND I WANT MORE OF THOSE FOR THE LIBRARIES.WHICH LIBRARY IS YOUR LIBRARY? UH, TONICA LIBRARY.
WE'LL TRY TO ACCOMMODATE YOUR REQUEST.
MS. BLANDING, I JUST WANTED TO SAY YOU DID A REALLY GOOD JOB.
YOU'RE PROBABLY ONE OF THE YOUNGEST PEOPLE WE'VE EVER HAD SPEAK AT BUDGET, AND YOU WERE AWESOME.
AND, AND THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING UP ABOUT AUDIO BOOKS.
WE WERE DEBATING THAT, UH, I THINK A FEW COUNCIL SESSIONS AGO ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF AUDIO BOOKS.
SO REALLY THANK YOU FOR MAKING SUCH A DIFFERENCE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL IN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL SPEAKERS.
I WANT TO, BEFORE WE WRAP UP, REALLY SAY THANK YOU.
NOT ONLY TO THE DIRECTOR, BUT YOUR ENTIRE STAFF, THE ENTIRE TEAM, ALL OF YOU ALL WHO WORK WITHIN THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, BUDGETS ARE TIGHT AND YOU ALL MAKE THE BEST OF WHAT YOU CAN WITH THE RESOURCES THAT YOU HAVE.
UM, THERE ARE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE CITY WHO TRULY VALUE AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS YOU MAKE TO US ARE, ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
I THINK I HEARD YOU BY SAYING THERE ARE 1.4 MILLION CARDHOLDERS.
AND SO WE'RE ROLLING UP ON 2 MILLION, SO THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
UH, BEFORE WE ADJOURN, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS WILL CONTINUE TOMORROW.
UM, TUESDAY, MAY 17TH AT 10:00 AM WITH GENERAL SERVICES.
REMINDER TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE CHECKING SHAREPOINT FOR UPLOADED PRESENTATIONS, AS WELL AS RESPONSES FOR ANY QUESTIONS SUBMITTED.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TODAY, AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.