[FY 2024 Budget Workshop: Houston Public Library]
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ALL RIGHT.AS WE WAIT, A REMINDER TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU ALL SHOULD SUBMIT ANY DEPARTMENT BUDGET WORKSHOP QUESTIONS IN A WORD DOCUMENT AND UPLOAD IT TO THE SHAREPOINT BUDGET.
WORKSPACE DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO PROVIDE RESPONSES WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE CONCLUSION OF THEIR PRESENTATION.
AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY ISSUES WITH THE SHAREPOINT ACCESS TO, PLEASE LET MAYOR PRO TEM MARTIN'S OFFICE KNOW, UH, HIS OFFICE SPECIFICALLY, NOT MINE OR ANYBODY ELSE'S.
JUST MAYOR PRO TEM DAVE MARTIN'S OFFICE.
HIS STAFF IS FULLY PREPARED AND READY TO GO.
LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ABOUT TO BE IN BUSINESS.
UH, I AM THE VICE CHAIR OF THE BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD.
AND WE ARE NOW GOING TO HEAR FROM DR.
RIA LAWSON AND THE DEPARTMENT CFO, HOPE IKA, WHO WILL NOW PROVIDE THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY BUDGET.
GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.
BEFORE I BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE LIBRARY'S EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM, JOHN MIDDLETON, WHO'S IN CHARGE OF SPACES, DOMINIC TONG IN CHARGE OF DIGITAL STRATEGIES, ROBERTA ZAPATA, IN CHARGE OF, UH, CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE OPHELIA GOMEZ IN CHARGE OF,
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UH, SYSTEMWIDE PROGRAMS. PATRICK ATKINS IN CHARGE OF MATERIALS, LORI COVINGTON AND, UH, WHO LEADS OUR DATA TEAM.AND JULIE MINSTER, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF COMMS. JOINING ME TODAY IS THE LIBRARY'S CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, RICK PERES AND HOPE IKA CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.
WITH THAT, I'LL NOW PRESENT THE LIBRARY'S PROPOSED FY 24 BUDGET.
THIS SLIDE OUTLINES THE TABLE OF CONTENTS AND KEY AREAS FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
SLIDE THREE DISPLAYS THE LIBRARY'S ORGANIZATIONAL CHART.
THE CHART CONTAINS THE KEY PROGRAM DIVISIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND PROVIDES A BREAKDOWN IN DOLLARS AND FTES FOR EACH AREA.
YOU WILL NOTE THAT THE NUMBERS REFLECT THE FOLLOWING PERCENTAGES.
44% OF THE BUDGET IS DEDICATED TO LIBRARY OPERATIONS.
20% OF THE BUDGET SUPPORTS LIBRARY MATERIALS AND DISTRIBUTION.
18% OF THE BUDGET SUPPORTS ADMINISTRATION.
11% OF THE BUDGET SUPPORTS DIGITAL STRATEGIES.
4% SUPPORTS LITERACY AND EDUCATION, AND 3% OF THE BUDGET SUPPORTS LIBRARY SPACES.
SLIDE FOUR SUMMARIZES THE LIBRARY'S ALIGNMENT WITH THE MAYOR'S PRIORITIES AND INITIATIVES.
THE MAJORITY OF LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ALIGN CLOSELY WITH THE MAYOR'S COMPLETE COMMUNITY'S PRIORITY.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ALIGNS WITH THE MAYOR'S SOUND, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRIORITIES AND INITIATIVES AND DEBT SERVICES AND INTER FUND TRANSFER ARE REQUIRED BY FINANCE.
NEXT SLIDE, SLIDE FIVE DISPLAYS THE LIBRARY'S PROPOSE EXPENDITURE FOR FY 24.
THESE EXPENDITURES REFLECT AN INCREASE OF 4%, THAT IS BASED ON MANDATORY SALARY AND BENEFIT INCREASES ADDITIONAL STAFF FOR THE NEW MONTROSE LIBRARY AND AN INCREASE IN THE RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS.
THE NEXT SEVERAL SLIDES WILL SHOW H P'S PROGRAMS BY MAYOR'S PRIORITIES, ALONG WITH MAJOR SERVICES AND ANY STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS HAVING FINANCIAL IMPACT ON SERVICE DELIVERY.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDES LEADERSHIP AND EXECUTIVE SUPPORT FOR THE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS DEVELOPING MONITORING AND RECORDING THE BUDGET, VENDOR CONTRACTS, RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS, ACCOUNTS, RECEIVABLES, AND THE PROCUREMENT OF GOODS AND SERVICES.
THIS PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION TO INCREASE DONATIONS FOR LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND PRO AND PROJECTS.
THIS INITIATIVE IS TIED TO THE MAYOR'S PRIORITY OF SOUND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.
SLIDE SEVEN THROUGH 11, OUR LIBRARY PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S COMPLETE COMMUNITY'S PRIORITY.
ON SLIDE SEVEN, THE DIGITAL STRATEGIES PROGRAM PROVIDES A ROBUST ARRAY OF PROGRAM OF PUBLIC FACING TECHNOLOGY SERVICES.
THESE SERVICES INCLUDE THE PROVISION OF FREE INTERNET ACCESS AND SUPPORT FOR ALL PUBLIC FACING DESKTOP COMPUTERS, LAPTOPS, TABLETS, SCANNERS, PRINTERS, WIFI, AND HOTSPOTS.
DIGITAL STRATEGIES ALSO SUPPORTS THE LIBRARY'S WEBSITE, MOBILE APP, ONLINE CATALOG, BOOK AND MATERIALS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS.
OUR TECH LINK LIBRARIES FEATURE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, MULTIMEDIA, AUDIO, VISUAL RECORDING STUDIOS, AND 3D PRINTING TECHNOLOGIES.
THIS PROGRAM IS TIED TO THE MAYOR'S PRIORITY OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES.
THE LIBRARY COLLECTIONS PROGRAM PERFORM, PERFORMS THE SELECTION, ACQUISITION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF ALL LIBRARY BOOKS AND MATERIALS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM.
IT ENSURES THE PROVISION OF A WIDE ARRAY OF PRINT AND ELECTRONIC LIBRARY MATERIALS AND RESOURCES FOR ALL AGES THAT
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REFLECT THE CULTURES AND DIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.THIS INITIATIVE IS TIED TO THE MAYOR'S PRIORITY OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES.
THE LIBRARY OPERATIONS PROGRAM SUPPORTS ALL ASPECTS OF LIBRARY OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARIES, CENTRAL LIBRARY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND RESEARCH COLLECTIONS.
THIS PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES GRANT ADMINISTRATION, STAFF TRAINING, DEVELOPMENT, AND MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS.
THE LIBRARY SPACES PROGRAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT ALL ELEMENTS OF THE LIBRARY'S FACILITIES AND BUILDINGS, INCLUDING DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, SECURITY, PUBLIC ART, FURNITURE, FIXTURES, AND EQUIPMENT, ARE OPTIMIZED TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SERVICES FOR HOUSTON'S RESIDENTS.
THIS INITIATIVE IS ALSO TIED TO THE MIRRORS COMPLETE COMMUNITIES PRIORITIES.
THE LITERACY AND EDUCATION PROGRAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING, PLANNING AND COORDINATING AND IMPLEMENTING ALL YOUTH, TEEN, AND ADULT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
THIS AREA ALSO INTERCEPTS WITH SYSTEM-WIDE OPERATIONS, CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND TECHNOLOGY.
THIS INITIATIVE IS TIED TO COMPLETE COMMUNITIES.
THE DEBT SERVICES, DEBT SERVICE AND INTERFUND TRANSFER IS A MANDATORY PROGRAM FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS WHICH REFLECT DEBT SERVICE, PAYMENTS AND INTERFUND TRANSFERS.
SLIDE 13 CONTAINS THE FY 2024 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES BY FUND FOR THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THE ONLY FUND IMPACTED IS THE GENERAL FUND.
INCREASES IN THIS FUND ARE MAINLY PERSONNEL SERVICES DUE TO A MANDATED 3% HOPE INCREASE, INCREASES IN FRENCH BENEFITS, AND AN INCREASE DUE TO SIX POSITIONS APPROVED BY MAYOR TURNER FOR THE NEW MONTROSE LIBRARY LOCATION THAT IS SLATED TO OPEN THIS FALL.
THERE ARE ALSO INCREASES IN THIS FUND DUE TO NEEDED SUPPLIES FOR THE NEW MONTROSE LIBRARY, CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND INCREASES IN CON IN RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS.
ON SLIDE 14, THE CHART REPRESENTS THE LIBRARY'S PERSONNEL VERSUS NON-PERSONNEL BUDGET.
THE PRIMARY DRIVERS IN LIBRARY EXPENSES ARE PERSONNEL AND LIBRARY MATERIALS.
PERSONNEL EXPENSES REPRESENT 73% OF OUR TOTAL BUDGET, AND THE NON-PERSONNEL BUDGET REPRESENTS 27%.
HERE'S THE NON-PERSONNEL BUDGET BREAKDOWN.
BOOKS AND MATERIALS REPRESENT 47.4%.
RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS REPRESENT 30.4%.
DEBT TRANSFER AND INTER FUND REPRESENT 5.3, AND SUPPLIES REPRESENT 2%.
NEXT SLIDE, SLIDE 15 PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT'S REVENUES FROM FY 22 ACTUAL TO FY 24 PROPOSED.
THE LIBRARY IS NOT A REVENUE GENERATING DEPARTMENT, BUT IT DOES CONTRIBUTE TO THE GENERAL FUND THROUGH PASSPORT SERVICES, PARKING LOT RENTAL FEES IN THE CENTRAL LIBRARY PARKING GARAGE.
NEXT SLIDE, SLIDE 16 SHOWS H P'S GENERAL FUND REVENUE AND GRAPH BOOM.
THE DECREASE IN REVENUE FROM FY 2023 ESTIMATE OF 2,585,000 TO, TO FY 2024, ESTIMATE OF 797,000 IS DUE TO THE ONE-TIME FEMA REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE
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KENDALL LIBRARY.AND THE COUNCIL APPROVE ORDINANCE TO DISCONTINUE CHARGING LATE FEES.
SLIDE 17 PROVIDES THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE HIGHLIGHTS AS SHARED IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.
THE DECREASE IN REVENUE IS DUE TO TWO OCCURRENCES, UH, THE ELIMINATION OF LIBRARY FINES AND THE FEMA INSURANCE PAYMENT TO REPLACE KENDALL LIBRARY BOOKS AND MATERIALS LOST DURING HURRICANE HARVEY.
THE INCREASED REVENUE IS MAINLY DUE, THE INCREASE IN REVENUE IS MAINLY DUE TO FRENCHIES RESTAURANT RENTAL FEES FOR A PORTION FOR USING A PORTION OF THE SMITH LIBRARY PARKING LOT.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
FIRST IN THE QUEUE, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER AMY P.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FIRST.
UM, IS, HAS THERE BEEN ANY, ANY CONSIDERATION INTO SHARING SOME DIGITAL SERVICES WITH THE COUNTY, UM, FOR CHECKING OUT EBOOKS AND AUDIOBOOKS? I KNOW, UM, THAT I HAVE BOTH CARDS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND CHECK OUT A LOT OF BOOKS.
AND A LOT OF TIMES THE COUNTY, IT'S ALREADY IN LIKE TWO WEEKS WHERE IT SAYS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, IT WOULD BE READY IN SEVERAL MONTHS.
AND SO JUST LOOKING AT THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY AND WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE THERE, SEEMS LIKE WE COULD MAYBE INCREASE OUR BUYING POWER INTO SOME OF THOSE DIGITAL OPTIONS WITH SOME KIND OF COMBINATIONS.
SO IS THERE ANY, HAS THERE BEEN ANY KIND OF CONSIDERATION INTO THAT? WHO HAS THE LONGEST WAITING TIME? THE CITY
UM, WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT, UH, DIGITAL SHARING IN THAT WAY, BUT WE ARE OPEN TO, WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN TO, UH, DISCUSSIONS WITH, UM, OUR NEIGHBORS.
AND ANOTHER QUESTION, UM, I WAS LOOKING AT SOME OF THE NUMBERS IN THE RAW DEBT DATA VERSUS THE PRESENTATION, AND THERE'S SOME DISCREPANCIES, FOR EXAMPLE, THE, UM, PASSPORTS, UM, REVENUES, THE NUMBERS ARE JUST DIFFERENT ON BOTH.
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT'S CHANGED SINCE IT WAS PUT IN THE PRESENTATION VERSUS THE RAW DATA? I ASKS HOPE ABOUT THAT PASSPORT, UH, DOLLARS AND THE, UH, YEAH.
HAS THERE PRESENT THERE CHANGED WITH PASSPORT SERVICES? WE WILL BE HAPPY TO LOOK INTO THAT.
RATHER THAN TRY TO DO IT RIGHT HERE.
AND FOR ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, JUST ENSURE THAT YOU, UH, UPLOAD YOUR QUESTIONS OVER TO US SO WE CAN ENSURE WE GET, UM, RESPONSES FROM YOU OFF OF SHAREPOINT.
NEXT WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY HOR.
THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK YOU DO AT THE LIBRARIES ON THE, ON THE DIGITAL STRATEGIES.
I'M LOOKING AT THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
AND WHAT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO ME IS TO ADD SOME PERFORMANCE MEASURES, HAVING TO DO WITH A LOT OF THE NEW TECH LINK STUFF.
THE, THE, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY, NOT JUST VISUAL, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DOING VIRTUALLY OR WHATEVER.
HOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY ATTENDING THE, THE, THE 3D PRINTING CLASSES OR USING THE, THE TECH LINK RECORDING STUDIO OR YOU KNOW, THAT MORE, MORE, MORE PERFORMANCE MEASURES ABOUT THE PROGRAMMING OFFERED AND LIKE HOW MANY NEW PROGRAMS ARE BEING INTRODUCED, NOT JUST ON THE DIGITAL PART, BUT ON, ON ALL ON ALL OF 'EM.
SO IT'S NOT JUST LIKE 3.1 MILLION PEOPLE ARE VISITING OR WHATEVER, BUT MORE LIKE, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE SPENDING MONEY ON FOR YOU GUYS TO DO? WHAT, HOW MANY PROGRAMS ARE WE ADDING? HOW MANY INITIATIVES ARE WE DOING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DRAWING IN THE PEOPLE? AND THEN ON SOME OF THESE NEWER REALLY COOL THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING, LIKE AT ALE AND SOME OF THE OTHER TECH LINK DEPARTMENTS, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE USING THEM? MM-HMM
BECAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANNA EXPAND THAT PROGRAM, IT'S GOOD TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE USING THOSE SPECIFIC THINGS.
SO IF THERE'S A WAY TO INCORPORATE THOSE PERFORMANCE MEASURES IN.
AND THEN ON THE PASSPORT THING, I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, HOW THEY'VE KIND OF GONE DOWN.
AND THAT MIGHT BE BECAUSE OF COVID OR WHATEVER, BUT I THOUGHT WE WERE MAKING AN A, A A, A CONCERTED EFFORT.
AND THERE WAS EVEN A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO DO MORE PASSPORTS, UM, TO PROBABLY DO MORE.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE KIND OF DOING LESS.
AND IS THAT, THAT JUST MIGHT BE COVID OR, OR WHAT IS THE PASSPORT SITUATION? UM, AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, PASSPORT, PASSPORT INCREASED REVENUE.
YEAH, PASSPORTS ARE A VERY POPULAR ITEM.
UM, UH, WITH THE LOCATIONS THAT HAVE THEM, I THINK WE HAVE, UH, SEVEN LOCATIONS NOW.
WE HAVE FIVE LOCATIONS NOW TRYING TO GET TO SIX.
AND, UM, UH, WE HAVE NOTICED, UH, AN INCREASE ACTUALLY AND PEOPLE COMING TO OKAY.
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900 IN, IN 22 AND IT'S LESS THAN THAT NOW, BUT YEAH.WELL, WE DID HAVE A DECREASE DURING COVID AND WHEN TRAVEL WASN'T AS PROMINENT AS IT IS NOW.
AND THEN ON THE REVENUE SIDE, YOU MENTIONED PART OF THAT WAS BECAUSE OF KENDALL REIMBURSEMENT AND PART OF IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE NO MORE FEES.
DO YOU HAVE, DO YOU HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF THAT? HOW MUCH WAS KENDALL AND HOW MUCH IS, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT CHARGING LIGHT FEES? WE DO.
AND WE CAN SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
I'M SORRY, I MISSED YOUR, WHAT WAS YOUR LAST QUESTION, COUNCIL? JUST ABOUT THE REVENUES DECREASING THIS YEAR, AND PART OF THAT'S 'CAUSE OF THE LIGHT FEE AND PART OF IT, 'CAUSE IT IS REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE KENDALL LIBRARY WAS A ONE TIME THING LAST YEAR.
UM, MY QUESTION IS, I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, REVENUE LOSS FROM, UM, THE LIBRARY, FINE AMNESTY IS ABOUT 1.8 MILLION.
UM, WHENEVER WE DECIDED TO, FOR THAT TO GO INTO EFFECT, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE LIBRARY'S BUDGET IS GONNA BE INCREASED BY ABOUT 2 MILLION.
SO IF WE'RE TAKING 1.8 MILLION THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING BECAUSE OF THE LIBRARY FINES, BUT THEN NEEDING TO INCREASE THE LIBRARY BUDGET OF 2 MILLION, UM, DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER ABOUT REINSTATING THE FINES FOR THE LIBRARY OR JUST DO IT FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, UM, AND THEN GO BACK TO COLLECTING FINES? I THINK THAT, UH, NOT COLLECTING FINES IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD DO PERMANENTLY.
UM, IT IS, WE HAVE DATA THAT WE'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE REINSTATED THEIR USE OF THE LIBRARY SINCE WE HAVE, UH, STOPPED COLLECTING FINES.
AND SINCE WE DID DO THE AMNESTY, UH, PERIOD, THAT I THINK THAT WILL SHOW HOW THIS MOVE WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE AND HOW, UM, WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO, TO, UM, BE A FINE FOR APPLYING FREE LIBRARY.
THE $2 MILLION I WANTED TO REEMPHASIZE, UH, THE 2 MILLION INCREASE IS BECAUSE OF THAT ONE TIME IN, UM, BECAUSE OF, UH, FEMA GIVING MONEY TO THE LIBRARY BECAUSE OF KENDALL LIBRARY, AND THAT WILL GO AWAY IN THE NEXT BUDGET.
HOPEFULLY WE COULD KEEP THAT MUCH MONEY.
BUT IT IS, UM, AN INFUSION, UH, THAT SHOWS UP BECAUSE OF THE FEMA REIMBURSEMENT.
AND, UM, IN TERMS OF THE PASSPORTS, I KNOW IT'S VERY POPULAR, BUT I TRIED TO GET ONLINE TO, UM, MAKE A PASSPORT APPOINTMENT AND I WANTED TO GO THROUGH THE LIBRARIES AND JUST KIND OF SEE WHAT THE PROCESS WAS LIKE.
AND AT ALL FIVE PASSPORT LOCATIONS, THERE WASN'T ONE APPOINTMENT AVAILABLE NO MATTER WHAT DATE I PUT IN.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO THERE WAS NOTHING AVAILABLE EVEN IF I DID IT A YEAR OUT IN ADVANCE, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF I WANTED TO COME NEXT YEAR.
SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS JUST SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM BECAUSE PROBABLY IT SOUNDS LIKE IT BECAUSE I MEAN, I, I TRIED EVERY COMBINATION OF DATES, UM, AND NOTHING CAME UP.
OUR PASSPORT SERVICES ARE, ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY POPULAR, AND IT, IT, AS SOON AS WE OPEN UP THE AVAILABLE SLOTS FOR APPOINTMENT, THEY GET FILLED UP RIGHT AWAY.
UM, AND SO WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE'S MORE DEMAND THAN, THAN THE OPEN SLOTS THAT, THAT WE HAVE.
AND, AND WITHIN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE OPEN THESE SLOTS, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY GET FILLED UP.
AND IF WE CAN ASSIST YOU IN ANY WAY, YOU KNOW, WE, WE CAN BE IN TOUCH WITH YOUR OFFICE.
I I'VE HEARD SIMILAR, UH, ISSUES WITH THE PASSPORT, UM, RESERVATIONS.
UM, IF WE'RE SEEING THAT WE'RE MEETING OUR CAPACITY, WE MAY WANNA LOOK AT INCREASING THE CAPACITY IF THAT'S A REVENUE GENERATOR FOR US.
I'M ALL FOR TRYING TO TURN THIS, I'LL ASK THE QUESTION.
IS THERE ANY WAY IN WHICH THIS DEPARTMENT CAN GO FROM A NON-REVENUE GENERATING A DEPARTMENT TO A REVENUE GENERATING DEPARTMENT BASED ON IDEAS YOU ALL MAY HAVE OR THINGS THAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING THAT ARE CREATIVE TO BRING IN MONEY TO THE CITY? UM, GIVE US SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
I THINK PASSPORTS IS OUR BIGGEST DRIVER, UH, RIGHT NOW.
AND, UH, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS, UH, HIRE STAFF AND DEDICATE TO THE PASSPORT OPERATION.
SO WOULD BE MEAN, IT WOULD MEAN AN INCREASE IN STAFF THAT WOULD OFFSET ANY REVENUE THAT WE BRING IN.
OR, UM, UH, WE, WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A CAREFUL LOOK AT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, WE STARTED DOING, UH, WITH ONE OR TWO PLACES AND THE DEMAND JUST KEPT GROWING.
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SO EVERY TIME, UH, WE SAY WE'RE GONNA OPEN UP ANOTHER PASSPORT LOCATION, WE HAVE TO SUPPLEMENT IT WITH THE STAFF TO RUN IT BECAUSE OF THE DEMAND.WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE THINGS THAT PEOPLE COME TO THEIR LIBRARY FOR? UH, INTERNET, I THINK ACCESS AND, UM, ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, UH, FOR OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNGER, UM, PARENTS WITH YOUNGER CHILDREN.
HAS THERE BEEN CONSIDERATION ON CONSOLIDATING LIBRARY SERVICES TO WHERE WE ARE PROVIDING HOTSPOTS OR OTHER WAYS IN WHICH PEOPLE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY OR BOOKS ONLINE FROM THE COMFORT OF THEIR OWN HOME OR WHEREVER THEY MAY BE, INSTEAD OF ALWAYS HAVING TO TRAVEL TO THE LOCAL LIBRARY AS A TRADITIONAL SENSE? OR DO WE SEE A BENEFIT IN HAVING PEOPLE STILL COME IN PERSON TO TRADITIONAL LIBRARIES, EVEN IN A DIGITAL AGE? UH, WE SEE, UM, PEOPLE STILL COME TO THE LIBRARY FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
UH, UH, BUT TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION, UM, WE HAVE A, A TREMENDOUS ONLINE PRESENCE AND A, A TREND TREMENDOUS ONLINE FOLLOWING, UH, THROUGH OUR ONLINE SERVICES WITH EBOOKS, UH, AND, UH, VIRTUAL PROGRAMS, ET CETERA.
UH, BUT PEOPLE, UH, LIBRARIES ARE, UH, ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY ASSET.
OFTENTIMES, LIBRARIES ARE THE ONLY, UH, UH, CIVIC PRESENCE IN A GIVEN COMMUNITY, UM, WHERE THEY CAN GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED, WHERE THEY CAN ATTEND PROGRAMS, PARTICIPATE IN CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS.
UM, SOMETIMES, UH, WE ARE THAT HAVEN FELL, TWO KIDS DOING THEIR HOMEWORK AFTER SCHOOL.
UH, SO THERE IS, UM, STILL A VERY CRITICAL NEED TO HAVE THAT PRESENCE IN COMMUNITIES.
UH, NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA PLUMMER.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I'M GONNA HOP BACK IN ON THAT CONVERSATION REGARDING THE PASSPORTS.
UM, HAVE WE DONE ANY TYPE OF BUSINESS ANALYSIS OR COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS TO SEE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO OPEN ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS? UM, WE ARE PLANNING TO OPEN ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY AS A PART OF OUR ONE HOUSTON ONE LIBRARY STRATEGIC PLAN.
UM, BUT IT ALL, I THINK EVERYONE, UM, AROUND THE, UH, THE HORSESHOE KNOWS HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO HIRE AND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO, UM, UH, TO GARNER STAFF FOR OUR BASIC OPERATIONS MM-HMM
AND SO THIS WOULD BE, UH, ON TOP OF THE OPERATIONS THAT WE WOULD DO AND WE WOULD JUST, WE DON'T WANT TO TURN THE LIBRARY JUST INTO A PASSPORT CENTER, IN OTHER WORDS.
YEAH, NO, NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT IF IT'S A PROFIT, IF, IF IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY, IF IT'S A PROFIT CENTER THAT WE SEE IS, IS SUCCESSFUL, I MEAN, YOU GO TO WALGREENS AND THERE'S NO ONE THERE BUT A GREEN SCREEN BEHIND THEM AND THEY TAKE THEIR OWN PICTURE ALMOST, YOU KNOW, SO I'M JUST SAYING THAT, I MEAN, I THINK THAT IF I JUST WANTED TO KINDA GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING IF YOU'VE REALLY DONE A, A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS, SEE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
I MEAN, IF FOR SOMEONE TO MAN A, UM, A, YOU KNOW, A CAMERA AND A, AND A GREEN SCREEN, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT JOB FOR A COLLEGE STUDENT, A GREAT HIGH SCHOOL JOB, POSSIBLY BELIEVE I'M IN, I'M IN BUSINESS.
I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT'S FOR STAFFING
I GET THAT MORE THAN I WOULD LIKE.
UM, BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE FROM A, FROM A BUSINESS MAN, FROM A BUSINESS PLAN PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AS WE INCREASE THAT.
'CAUSE I, UM, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE KNOW IS WINNING ON AND UM, AND CLEARLY WE DON'T WANNA TURN IN ALL OF THEM, BUT, UM, I THINK THAT THAT'D BE INTERESTING TO SEE.
UM, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
UH, AND I THINK MY MAIN PRIORITY THOUGH IS TO, UM, GET STAFF INTO OUR LIBRARIES DOING THEIR TRADITIONAL JOBS STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S OFFICE.
AND WE WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THE MONTROSE LIBRARY BEING MENTIONED.
I KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT THIS FALL.
ANOTHER FAVORITE OF OURS IS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LIBRARY AT THE GREGORY SCHOOL, WHICH WE'RE SO APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR STAFF FOR TAKING THE TIME TO GIVE US A TOUR.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE'VE HEARD IS THAT IT DOESN'T OFFER THE TRADITIONAL LIBRARY SERVICES THAT OTHER LOCATIONS HAVE.
AND I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO IF THERE ARE ANY PLANS IN THE NEAR F FUTURE TO INCREASE THE FOOTPRINT AS WELL AS THE BLACK
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BOTS THEATER COMPONENT THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP BEFORE.AND IF YOU KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD WHAT THE CLOSEST LOCATION IS OTHER THAN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LIBRARY, UM, IS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS, UH, I'LL TAKE THE QUESTION ABOUT TRADITIONAL SERVICES.
UH, WE HAVE THREE OF THEM THAT ARE JUST DEDICATED TO, UM, BEING RESEARCH LIBRARIES.
AND SO THERE ARE NO PLANS RIGHT NOW TO INCORPORATE TRADITIONAL SERVICES, TRADITIONAL SERVICES LIKE OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARIES.
AND I TOO, UM, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LIBRARY THAT IS CENTRAL IS CLOSE AND CENTRAL LIBRARY.
CENTRAL LIBRARY IS THE CLOSEST.
AND ARE Y'ALL STILL LOOKING INTO THE BLACK BOX THEATER COMPONENT? UM, YEAH, WE NEED ABOUT $10 MILLION.
UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS ABOUT HOW WE CAN, UM, OBTAIN THAT SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALIZE, UM, THAT VISION FOR THE GREGORY SCHOOL.
UM, A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY WHEN WE, UM, RENOVATED GREGORY, UH, THERE WAS PLANS FOR THE BLACK BOX THEATER, BUT THE RENOVATION OF THE FACILITY TOOK ALL OF THOSE FUNDS.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A WAY TO ACTUALIZE THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A PROGRAMMING SPACE THERE.
IT'S REALLY AN INCREDIBLE LOCATION.
WE WILL NOW TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC AND WE HAVE THE DIRECTOR, SEVERAL, UM, PUBLIC SPEAKERS, UH, THAT ARE HERE IN PERSON.
UM, DIRECTOR LAWSON, YOU AND YOUR STAFF CAN, UM, BE EXCUSED MM-HMM
AND WE WILL JUMP INTO THE FIRST PUBLIC QUESTION.
FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE MS. DIANA DALI, AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR AND YOUR STAFF FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS AND ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
UM, SO THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR ALL THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU DO.
I BELIEVE LIBRARIES ARE PUBLIC SAFETY.
I'M ALSO, UH, AN ENGLISH AS A SECOND LEARNER, AN IMMIGRANT.
SO LIBRARIES ARE JUST CLOSE TO MY HEART AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.
UM, I WANNA ASK, HOW CAN WE EQUIP THE LIBRARY TO REQUEST MORE BOOKS AND EXPAND THE CATALOG? HOW CAN WE MAKE THE PROCESS FOR REQUESTING BOOKS MORE TRANSPARENT AND RESPONSIVE TO RESIDENTS IN TERMS OF FUNDING FOR THE LABOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND STAFF TO FOLLOW UP WITH REQUESTS? LIKE WHAT, WHAT DOES FUNDING WOULD LOOK LIKE, UH, SPECIFICALLY FOR REQUESTS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE RESPONDING TO THOSE ON TIME? SO I KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO MORE BOOKS, UH, YOU CAN GO THROUGH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICE.
UH, WE HAVE COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS AND WE CAN ALLOCATE, UH, DOLLARS, UH, OF OUR BUDGET TO GO TOWARDS, UM, THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR SPECIFIC BOOKS OR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS. SO EACH COUNCIL MEMBER GETS A, UM, A SPECIFIC ALLOCATION EACH FISCAL YEAR.
UM, AND THEY HAVE THE DISCRETION TO KIND OF PUT FORTH THAT MONEY IN DIFFERENT PLACES THAT THEY SEE FIT, THAT ARE BEST INTEREST TO THEIR DISTRICT.
SO WHOEVER YOUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER IS, UM, YOU CAN ADVOCATE FOR THAT, UH, DIRECTLY WITH THEM TO USE THOSE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FOR THE LIBRARY.
NEXT PUBLIC SPEAKER IS ERIS BROWN.
UM, UH, MY NAME IS ARIS BROWN.
I'M THE HOUSTON POET LAUREATE FOR 20 23, 20 25.
IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE HEARING FROM DR. LAWSON.
UM, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I'D HAD, UM, WAS, UM, 'CAUSE I HEARD Y'ALL ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS AROUND THE HORSESHOE.
UH, I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT HOW Y'ALL SOLICIT INPUT FROM CONSTITUENTS ABOUT HOW THEY UTILIZE LIBRARY SERVICES.
UM, AND I'M CURIOUS OF, OF THAT ANSWER AND ALSO WHAT SERVICES HAVE PATRONS OF THE LIBRARY ASKED FOR THAT WOULD BE A BENEFIT, BUT THAT CANNOT BE CURRENTLY PROVIDED DUE TO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS.
I WAS CURIOUS, UH, ABOUT THAT ANSWER.
IF FOLKS HAVE I I'LL TAKE IT FIRST.
UM, I THINK MANY OF US, WE, WHEN WE HAVE CIVIC CLUB ORGANIZATIONS, TOWN HALLS, HOA MEETINGS, UM, WHEN WE GO TO THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS, WE'RE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH SOME OF THE, UH, STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, SOME OF OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS, AND ASK THEM DIRECTLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPROVED WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY? ONE OF THE BIG THINGS ALWAYS IS LIBRARIES.
AND SO WE TAKE THOSE ISSUES AND CONCERNS, UH, INTO CONSIDERATION AND THEN TRY TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENTS DIRECTLY ON THAT.
ANYBODY ELSE WANNA CHIME IN? SO I THINK THAT KIND OF SPEAKS TO HOW WE ALL LOOK AT IT.
[00:35:01]
UM, AT THE HOA MEETINGS THAT I'VE BEEN ATTENDING LATELY, UM, THERE'S BEEN A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE LIBRARY AT THOSE HOA MEETINGS AND IS THERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, UM, THAT CITIZENS HAVE AND KIND OF JUST HEAR SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES THEY MAY BE HAVING OR MAYBE THERE'S PROGRAMS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT.SO THEY'VE BEEN EXTREMELY ACCESSIBLE AND I, I APPRECIATE THE LIBRARY SENDING SOMEONE TO THAT.
AND THAT'S A A GREAT POINT THAT YOU MADE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, BECAUSE I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UH, THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF BECAUSE MANY TIMES AT OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS DIFFERENT, UH, RESOURCE FAIRS THAT WE HAVE, EVEN IF IT'S NOT REALLY DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, THEY HAVE A BOOTH THERE.
AND SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION OR AT LEAST HAVE CONSTANT PRESENCE WHEN WE HAVE THESE COMMUNITY UH, MEETINGS.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALWAYS BRINGING FORTH SOMEONE TO BE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
AND I, UH, MY LAST QUESTION, UM, THEY SPECIFICALLY, I REMEMBER THAT DURING THE PRESENTATION THEY SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED BEING, UM, UNDERSTAFFED AND NEEDING TO HAVE MORE STAFF.
AND SO AS WE CELEBRATE THE STAFF, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE FULLY FUNDED TO DO THESE PORT PARTICULAR, UM, OUTREACH INITIATIVES.
UM, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT IF THERE WERE SPECIFIC LIBRARY LAND BRANCHES, UM, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER OFFICES ARE PRIORITIZING AND COLLABORATING WITH FOR INCREASED PROGRAMMING AND BETTER RESOURCING.
UM, WE CAN TAKE THAT UNDER CONSIDERATION AND IF THERE IS, UM, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER IS, UH, LOOK INTO THAT AND PROVIDE MAYOR PRO TEMS OFFICE WITH A RESPONSE AND THEN WE CAN GET IT BACK TO MS. BROWN.
UM, THE ENHANCED LIBRARY CARD THROUGH HARRIS COUNTY IS LIKE A REALLY USEFUL RESOURCES RESOURCE FOR RESIDENTS WHO MAY NOT CURRENTLY HAVE, UM, LIKE A PHOTO ID AND IT ISSUES THEM REGARDLESS OF AGE OR IMMIGRATION STATUS AND HOUSING STATUS, OR ASSIGNED GENDER AT BIRTH.
I'M CURIOUS IF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS MUNICIPAL ID PROGRAM BEING EXPANDED INTO THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
UM, I'M SURE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL CONSIDERING, BUT I WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT YOUR TIME IS UP, SO IF YOU COULD SUBMIT THAT QUESTION, UH, TO YOUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, THEY WILL GET BACK WITH YOU WITH A RESPONSE.
NEXT PUBLIC SPEAKER IS MELISSA MARTINEZ.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY IN PERSON, BUT AGAIN, I JUST GOT HERE 'CAUSE I TRAVELED BY BUS AND IT TOOK ME CLOSE TO TWO HOURS BECAUSE OF HOUSTON TRAFFIC, IF ONLY TO A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT TRAFFIC.
DUE TO THE INTER NO OPPORTUNITY FOR VIRTUAL.
UM, YEAH, SO MY QUESTION FOR LIBRARIES IS, UM, THIS IS ALSO FOR MY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO'S NOT HERE, TIFFANY THOMAS, BUT JUST IN GENERAL FOR ALL LIBRARIES, UM, AS A WORKING STUDENT FULL TIME.
AND I WORK ALSO, HOW CAN WE USE THE GENERAL FUND TO EXPAND FOR MORE STUDY ROOMS AND HOW CAN WE EXPAND LIBRARY HOURS, UM, FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THESE PROGRAMS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO ALSO BROUGHT UP ON THESE PROGRAMS TO BE USED.
UM, SINCE ALL THE LIBRARY HOURS ARE VERY CUT SHORT AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY WHERE WHEN I'M FREE AND PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE FREE FROM, YOU KNOW, I'M WORKING POOR, QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO REALLY USE THESE SOURCES IN PERSON.
AND THAT'S WHY I HEAVILY RELY ON VIRTUAL, ON VIRTUAL, UM, SUCH AS LIKE CHECKING OUT BOOKS VIRTUALLY FOR MY LIBRARIES OR TUNING INTO BUDGET PROCESSES VIRTUALLY.
HOW CAN WE UTILIZE FOR STAFF AND LIBRARIES TO USE FOR IN-PERSON, UM, TO BE PRESENT WITH, AS TO ME HOUSTON LIBRARIES IS, I UTILIZE IT AS SAFE SPACES AND THAT IS MY FORM OF SECURITY.
AND MY SECOND QUESTION IS, HOW CAN WE PRESERVE THESE SAFE SPACES, UM, TO ALLOCATE THESE FUNDS FOR STAFFING COMMUNICATIONS WHEN REQUESTING BOOKS OF INTEREST AND LANGUAGES, CONSIDERING WHERE THE NUMBER ONE DIVERSE CITY IN THIS WHOLE NATION, UM, SUCH AS PROVIDING SECURITY OF LANGUAGES, UH, CITIZENSHIPS, PASSPORTS AND SERVICES.
I JUST WANNA REITERATE HOW IMPORTANT THESE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS ARE TO BE EXPANDED AND INVESTED ON IS CORRELATED TO BEING ABLE TO USE THESE ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS SUCH AS THE HOURS AND YEAH.
MS. MARTINEZ, THOSE ARE SOME VERY GOOD QUESTIONS.
I WANNA, UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN PERSON AND UM, I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE FOR BEING IN PERSON, BUT FOR THE INCREASED, UH, HOURS, UH, YEAH, THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LOOK INTO.
WHENEVER YOU HAVE INCREASED HOURS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE INCREASED CAPACITY.
INCREASED CAPACITY MEANS INCREASE DOLLARS THAT HAVE TO BE ALLOCATED TOWARDS THE, UH, THE SALARY FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES.
AND SO IT'S NOT LIKE A ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH, BUT,
[00:40:01]
UM, THE WAY I LOOK AT IT IS TRYING TO FIND WAYS IN WHICH TO GIVE YOU ACCESS WITHOUT YOU HAVING TO ALWAYS HAVE TO GO TO THE LIBRARY AND WITHOUT YOU MAYBE EVEN HAVING TO COME HERE.SO, UH, FIND WAYS TO, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO COME TO MY LIBRARIES AND ALSO BE ABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON.
WELL, IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THE LIBRARY WOULD HAVE TO BE OPEN WITH THE AMOUNT OF APPROPRIATE, UH, PERSONNEL AND EMPLOYEES, WHICH THEN COST MORE MONEY, NOT ONLY TO KEEP THE LIBRARY OPEN, BUT TO ALSO PAY THE EMPLOYEES, UH, WHICH HAS A TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT ON THE, THE COST OF SERVICE FOR, FOR EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK INTO AS A COUNCIL, UH, UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT THE, UH, CONSTITUENTS MAY WANT AND FINDING WAYS TO ALLOCATE THOSE DOLLARS PROPERLY.
AND YOUR SECOND QUESTION WAS TOWARDS, YOU HAD A SECOND QUESTION.
MY SECOND QUESTION WAS, BASED ON THOSE PROGRAMS ON HOW CAN WE ENSURE FUNDING FOR THAT TO BE EXPANDED, CONSIDER WE ARE NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION OF BEING DIVERSE, SUCH AS WHEN IT COMES TO REQUESTING BOOKS THAT SOMEONE PREVIOUSLY SPOKE ON ARE ALSO ON THE PROGRAMS OF, UM, STATUSES TO USE ON THE PASSPORTS.
AND 'CAUSE I KNOW MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN ALSO ASKED SOMETHING SIMILAR OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE USING THESE PROGRAMS. WAIT FOR ONE, YOU'RE STARTING BY DOING IT NOW YOU'RE BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT YOU BELIEVE IT'S A PRIORITY.
WE NEED OTHERS TO DO THE SAME, UH, TO REACH OUT TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, EVEN IF IT'S THROUGH A EMAIL.
BUT, UH, I SEE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON IS IN THE QUEUE.
AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, COMING IN AND RAISING THAT.
UM, IT'S A VALUABLE QUESTION ABOUT THE TIMING.
SO I'M JUST CURIOUS, WHAT, WHAT ARE THE HOURS OF OUR LIBRARY? JUST CURIOUS.
THE HOURS OF OUR LIBRARIES ARE DR. LAWSON.
AND YOU CAN GO ONLINE ALSO AND LOOK AT IT.
AND AS A COMMUTER ACROSS HOUSTON FROM U OF H AND TO WHERE I LIVE IN ALE, I USE A LOT OF DIFFERENT LIBRARIES.
SO WITH EACH LIBRARY HOUR COMMITMENTS, IT'S ALWAYS LIKE NEAR CLOSING TIME.
SOMETIMES IT'S AT NOON OR 5:00 PM AND THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE TRAFFIC HOURS.
SO THAT'S JUST TO GIVE YOU AS A PERSPECTIVE.
AND YEAH, THOSE ARE JUST THE SEATS I WANTED TO BRING IN TOWARDS THE GENERAL FUND COUNCIL MEMBER.
ALCORN, DID YOU HAVE, UH, JUST A MOMENT.
I, I JUST WANTED TO ADD THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THE HOURS.
I, I PULLED IT UP, UM, WHILE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE HOURS.
THERE ARE SOME, UH, LIKE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS THERE'S SOME OPEN TILL EIGHT.
UM, YOU KNOW, MOST OF IT'S FIVE OR SIX, SO THAT'S, THAT'S A POINT WELL TAKEN AND, AND SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
YEAH, IT'S, BUT IT DEFINITELY DEPENDS ON STAFFING AND I'M SURE THEY'VE RUN NUMBERS ABOUT WHICH, WHICH ONES ARE MOST NEEDED IN THE EVENING.
UM, BUT YOU MAKE A VALID POINT AND YEAH.
YOU KNOW, ALSO SATURDAYS I'M, IT LOOKS LIKE SOME ARE OPEN, SOME ARE CLOSED, SO, RIGHT.
YEAH, FOR MY BOTH QUESTIONS, I JUST WANTED TO CORRELATE OF THE HOURS AND ALSO THE PROGRAMS. AND THAT GOES THE SAME FOR THE STUDY ROOMS AS WELL.
AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THAT, UM, WE COULD TALK TO OUR COUNCIL MEMBER TO USE THE DISTRICT MONEY FOR THAT, BUT I WANTED TO ALSO, UM, SEE IF THAT COULD ALSO BE FOR THE GENERAL FUND FOR THOSE.
I'LL ALSO BRING THAT UP, BUT YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT PUBLIC SPEAKER IS CASSANDRA JONES.
UM, MR. CHRISTOPHER RIVERA, COME ON DOWN.
HEY, HOW'S IT GOING? GOING WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
UH, WELL, I DON'T REALLY HAVE A COMMENT.
I, I'VE, NOT A QUESTION, BUT MORE SO A COMMENT.
UH, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE OFFER SERVICES LIKE THE LIBRARY AND WE DON'T REALLY TURN 'EM INTO A REVENUE MAKING DEPARTMENT.
I THINK THESE, UH, DEPARTMENTS ARE REALLY THERE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND TO BUILD AND HELP THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE OFTEN UNDERSERVED.
AND I JUST WANNA SHOUT OUT THE LIBRARY AND, AND REALLY PRAISE THE MOBILE OUTREACH TEAM.
I HOPE THEY CONTINUE DOING THAT.
AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE ONLINE CAT, UH, CATALOG AND DIGITIZING THE LIBRARY.
I THINK THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
I WOULD HOPE WE WOULD FIND MONEY FOR THOSE THINGS.
AND IF WE DO, UH, NEED, YOU KNOW, MONEY FOR THE LIBRARY, I THINK THERE'S A LOT WE CAN CUT FROM, UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.
UH, WE SEE THAT THEY HAVE A LOT MORE CANDIDATES COMING IN AND, UM, THEY ALREADY HAVE A HARD TIME FILLING THOSE POSITIONS, SO WE CAN EASILY, YOU KNOW, SUBVERT SOME OF THAT FUNDING INTO PROGRAMS LIKE THE LIBRARY.
I THINK THEY SERVE A BETTER PURPOSE THAN, UM, POLICING, BUT THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.
SO I JUST REALLY WANT TO SAY THAT, UH, AND SHOW SOCIAL SUPPORT FOR LIBRARIES AND, YOU
[00:45:01]
KNOW, PROGRAMS THAT KEEP US SAFE AND EDUCATED INSTEAD OF, UH, HARASSED AND INCARCERATED.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
NO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
AND I, I WANNA JUST KIND OF CLARIFY.
UM, I'M NOT SURE, UM, IF YOU'RE AWARE AND DIRECTOR, PLEASE, YOU KNOW, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT MOST OF THE PROGRAMMING THAT HAS SUPPORTED THE LIBRARY HAS GOTTEN THROUGH GRANT FUNDING OR THE FOUNDATION.
UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON PRIMARILY, UM, SUPPORTS THE, THE, THE STRUCTURE MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDING AND STRUCTURE AND JUST MAYBE IF I'M RIGHT OR WRONG ON THAT.
AND SO WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY OF PASSPORTS, RIGHT? CLEARLY DO NOT WANNA TURN IT INTO A PROFIT CENTER, BUT IT ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT IF THE GRANTS ARE NOT BEING, IF THE GRANT MAYBE ARE NOT AVAILABLE, RIGHT.
OR, UM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE'RE DEPENDING ON THOSE, THOSE PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE SPEAKING OF, WHICH REALLY HELPS THE COMMUNITIES, UM, MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE IN ONE FISCAL YEAR.
IF THE LIBRARY IS GENERATING SOME LEVEL OF INCOME, UM, IT CAN NOW MAYBE BE USED TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE SO NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND SO I WANTED TO TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE, KINDA MAKE THAT CLEAR, YOU KNOW, WITH THAT DISTINCTION THERE.
UM, BECAUSE I MEAN, CLEARLY THE LIBRARY IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT DURING COVID.
A LOT OF OUR MOMS AND DADS AND GRANDMAS SAT IN PARKING LOTS OF SCHOOLS BECAUSE, OR LIBRARIES BECAUSE THEY HAD TO USE THE WIFI SYSTEMS, UM, FROM THERE, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A REALLY GOOD, UM, YOU KNOW, THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IS REAL, RIGHT? YEAH.
AND SO, AND SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I'M THINKING OF FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE.
HOW DO WE JUST MAKE SURE WE DON'T LOSE THE PROGRAMS, RIGHT? AND IF THE LIBRARY, WE SEE SOMETHING THAT IS DOING WELL.
UM, A LITTLE BIT MORE OPPORTUNITY FINANCIALLY THEN MAYBE WE MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROGRAMS DON'T DISAPPEAR.
I THINK THAT'S, I FEEL THAT'S NECESSARY, UH, NECESSARY, BUT IT'S MORE LIKE REIMPOSING THE FEES.
I THINK THAT'S MORE CONCERNING.
BUT WHICH ONE? I'M SORRY, REIMPOSING, LIKE THE FEES FOR LIKE LATE FEES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
I THINK THAT'S DETERRENT, BUT I'M GLAD THAT DIRECTOR SAID THAT.
NOT THAT THERE WAS AN BRILLIANT YEAH.
WE DON'T WANNA CREATE ANY BARRIERS OF LEARNING.
BY ANY CHA, BY ANY SCOPE OF THE IMAGINATION.
AND THE LIBRARY WAS REALLY ACTIVE WITH, YOU KNOW, GIVING, YOU KNOW, HOTSPOTS AWAY AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WE DEPEND ON, BUT THAT'S NOT SUPPORTED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND I'M NOT SURE IF THAT SPECIFIC PROGRAM WAS OR NOT, BUT, UM, I KNOW WE GAVE SOME MONEY THROUGH ARPA MM-HMM
UM, BUT JUST IN GENERAL, RIGHT.
JUST SPEAKING THEIR IN GENERALITY, THE PROGRAMS THAT WE LOVE MM-HMM
UM, ARE GOTTEN THROUGH GRANT FUNDING AND, AND THE FOUNDATION.
BUT AGAIN, IF WE DO NEED THAT, I, YOU KNOW, I SUGGEST WE CAN CUT THROUGH THE HPD FUNDING.
THAT'S JUST MY, YOU GOT, YOU GOTTA THROW THAT IN THERE.
UH, NEXT SPEAKER IS JADA SMITH.
AND ESPECIALLY SHOUT OUT TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY, ALICE MCKEAN SMITH.
THEY DO REALLY GREAT PROGRAMMING.
UH, MY QUESTION TODAY IS, UH, BOOK BANDS ARE A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE IN TEXAS AND FURTHER EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
WHAT IS HOUSTON'S POSITION ON BOOK BANNING AND HOW DOES OUR BUDGET REFLECT OUR RESPONSE TO THIS ISSUE? WELL, I I CAN TAKE THAT.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD, I'M GONNA SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
UH, REGARDLESS IF YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE ON A PARTICULAR SUBJECT MATTER, UM, IT'S OUR, IT SHOULD BE OUR STANCE TO ENSURE THAT LIBRARIES ARE A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN AND TO GET EDUCATION.
UM, AT THE STATE LEVEL, UH, THEY'RE PUTTING FORTH LEGISLATION THAT WILL SPEAK TO THAT.
UM, AND AS A CITY, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW WHAT'S UNDER STATE LAW.
AND SO, UM, WE CAN HAVE OUR OPINIONS ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WOULD PREFER, UH, BUT ULTIMATELY IT WILL BE THE STATE'S DECISION ON HOW THEY BELIEVE THOSE DOLLARS SHOULD BE ALLOCATED AND WHAT POLICIES ARE PUT FORTH WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT IS INSIDE OF THE LIBRARIES.
WELL, GIVEN THAT WE KNOW THAT THE STATE WANTS TO, UH, EXERT MORE CONTROL OVER WHAT CITIES ARE ABLE TO DO, IS THERE A PLAN FOR IF THAT CONTROL IS CONTINUED TO EXPAND, WHERE WILL WE BE ABLE TO FIND THESE BOOKS, THESE RESOURCES, IF THEY'RE TAKEN AWAY FROM THE LIBRARY? WELL, WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OFFICE THAT IS WORKING IN AUSTIN TO TRY TO DO WHAT, UH, THEY CAN TO PUT FORTH THE, THE ADMINISTRATION'S PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS A CITY.
UH, WHEN THERE COMES TO LEGISLATION THAT LIMITS OUR CONTROL, THEN WE JUST HAVE TO BE
[00:50:01]
CREATIVE WITH DIFFERENT NONPROFITS AND OUTSIDE, UH, SOURCES TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE STILL HAVE ACCESS, UH, TO CERTAIN EDUCATION AND, UH, RESOURCES.AND JUST WANT TO REMIND PUBLIC SPEAKERS, IF POSSIBLE, IF WE CAN, UH, HAVE OUR COMMENTS BE TAILORED TOWARDS THE PRESENTATION OF THE DEPARTMENTS, UH, THAT PUT FORTH, UM, THEIR INFORMATION.
I WAS HERE A YEAR AGO AND I WAS TOLD YOU HOW MUCH I LOVED LIBBY.
I GOT TO DO A INSTAGRAM FOR Y'ALL.
I DON'T THINK I GENERATED MUCH.
LET THEM KNOW WHAT LIBBY IS EXACTLY.
I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THE LIBRARY.
AND THEN ON THAT, JUST CURIOUS IF YOU ALL ARE LOOKING AT NEW PROGRAMS TO INCREASE LIBRARY ATTENDANCE.
FOR EXAMPLE, NEW YORK RUNS THE LIBRARY FARM, AND IT'S A PLOT OF LAND THAT CAN BE RENTED OUT BY INDIVIDUAL LIBRARY PATRONS TO USE AS GARDEN PLOTS.
THE IDEA BEHIND THE LIBRARY FARM IS ABOUT PROMOTING FOOD LITERACY, MEANING IN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE FOOD COMES FROM AND HOW IT'S GROWN.
IT'S ALSO A FREEWAY FOR LOCALS TO IMPROVE THEIR DIETS BY GROWING THEIR OWN VEGGIES, THUS BOLSTERING PUBLIC HEALTH.
UM, LENDING THINGS OTHER THAN BOOKS IS A MAJOR TREND IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES TODAY WITH LIBRARIES ACROSS AMERICA, LENDING EVERYTHING FROM MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS TO COOKIE CUTTERS, TO SEWING MACHINES, TO FISHING EQUIPMENT.
SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF, UH, Y'ALL ARE LOOKING INTO TO THINGS LIKE THAT AND, AND, AND DO YOU AS COUNCIL MEMBERS SUPPORT THE LIBRARY, UH, LENDING OUT THINGS OTHER THAN BOOKS? HONESTLY, I'VE NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT.
SO
AND SO, PERSONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE ABOUT THAT, AND THEN I'LL HAVE A BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU SOME FEEDBACK.
UM, FIRST OFF, I WANNA SAY IT'S REALLY DISCOURAGING TO HEAR THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE BEEN RESPONDING TO MS. MARTINEZ AND OTHER PEOPLE TELLING US THAT IN ORDER FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS TO EXIST, UM, FUNDS WOULD NEED TO BE ALLOCATED.
WE KNOW THAT AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TO SPEAK ON THAT.
UM, SECONDLY, I WANT TO REITERATE, UM, MS. BROWN'S QUESTION, WHICH SUGGESTS WAS, UM, IS THE CITY COUNCIL IN SUPPORT OF MUNICIPAL IDS? AND LASTLY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THE UNITED STATES HAS A 79% LITERACY RATE WHILE THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS A 61% LITERACY RATE.
DESPITE THIS, WE ARE SLASHING THE LITERACY AND EDUCATION BUDGET BY 38%.
AND SO I'M WANTING TO KNOW, UH, WHAT TANGIBLE STEPS WILL BE TAKEN TO ENSURE OUR LITERACY RATE IS BEING ADDRESSED WITH THE SAME ATTENTION AND EFFORT AS PREVIOUS YEARS.
UM, IF WE THINK THIS IS THE MORALLY RIGHT THING TO DO, AND IF THERE'S ANY EFFORTS WE CAN TAKE TO ADJUST THAT 38% FOR THE BETTER WELL PUT FORTH IS THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU SAW REGARDING THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE FOCUSED ON, THE NUMBERS YOU SEE OR WHAT WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ANYTHING DIFFERENT, WHICH YOU'RE STATING RIGHT NOW, WE'LL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND GET BACK TO YOU.
AND AS FAR AS THE TANGIBLE STEPS, EXCUSE ME, AS FAR AS THE TANGIBLE STEPS TO ENSURE, JUST GOING OFF OF THAT 38% THAT WAS WITHIN THE PRESENTATION, TANGIBLE STEPS OR WHAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WANT US TO CONSIDER.
THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING AND I'M ASKING IF THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO, AND WE'LL CONSIDER.
NEXT SPEAKER IS AMANDA C. GOOD AFTERNOON.
GOOD AFTERNOON, YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, ALWAYS HAVE JUST, IT'S SUCH A GREAT SPACE IN TERMS OF, UH, THE, THE, WHEN YOU MENTIONED IT BEING LIKE A, A CIVIC SPACE AND MAYBE THE ONLY ONE, UM, IN A NEIGHBORHOOD AND JUST WHAT AN ANCHOR THAT CAN BE.
UM, I KNOW GROWING UP, I WASN'T IN HOUSTON, I WAS IN CHICAGO, I WENT TO LIBRARIES ALL THE TIME.
UM, SO JUST TO KIND OF REITERATE ON WHAT OMER SHARED ABOUT THE LITERACY RATE, I ALSO WANT TO JUST ADD TO THAT, UM, VOICE IN THAT, UH, THE LIBRARY RECEIVES
[00:55:01]
NOT VERY GE NOT VERY MANY GENERAL FUND SUPPORT FOR THEIR PROGRAMMING.UM, WHEN LOOKING AT THE TOP 25 LIBRARIES BY POPULATION SERVED, HOUSTON RANKED SECOND FROM THE BOTTOM IN SPENDING PER CAPITA.
SO I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AND REITERATE THAT PERHAPS WE SHOULD HAVE MORE FUNDING FOR OUR LIBRARIES, UM, AND THAT I AM INTERESTED IN THAT.
AND THEN THE NUMBER, NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH LIBRARY CARDS HAS GONE UP FROM 1.4 MILLION TO 1.8 MILLION IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS WITH THE MORE, WITH MORE LIKELY ON THE WAY DUE TO THE FINE FREE SHIFT, UM, APPROVED BY Y'ALL.
UH, HOWEVER, PROGRAM ATTENDANCE HAS DROPPED TO A THIRD OF FIVE YEARS AGO.
AND SO HOW CAN WE PRIORITIZE JUST WHAT, WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THE PROGRAM ATTENDANCE AND THAT THE, UH, THE BENEFITS ARE GETTING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT'S A, A GREAT OBSERVATION.
UM, AND SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT ON REALLY FINDING OUT WHY THE, THERE'S AN INCREASE IN, IN, UH, LIBRARY CARDS OR LIBRARY MEMBERSHIP, BUT THERE'S A DECREASE IN, UH, IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS? UM, I, I, YOU KNOW, I WONDER ABOUT THE, THE, THE NUMBERS AND THE SHIFT JUST FROM THE, TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC AND THE, THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT MAY BE GOING ON.
UM, AND HOW YOUTH JUST NEED A LOT MORE OUTREACH NOWADAYS TO KIND OF COME BACK INTO COMMUNITY AND JUST COME BACK IN PERSON.
UM, IT MEANS, I THINK DIGGING IN RIGHT NOW AND INVESTING MORE RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE RECONNECT.
UM, 'CAUSE IT'S, YEAH, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TIME.
I THINK THAT, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD ANSWER.
I, I CAN SEE DR. LAWSON AND OTHERS SHAKING THEIR HEADS, UH, BEHIND YOU IN AGREEMENT.
AND, UH, I KNOW THAT THE PANDEMIC, UH, TOOK A TOLL ON THE LIBRARY SYSTEM AND NOW WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO REENGAGE PEOPLE, GET THEM BACK OUT THERE, UNDERSTAND THE PROGRAMS AND THE SERVICES THAT THE LIBRARY PROVIDES.
UH, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS RIGHT NOW.
AND I, I THINK YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THIS BUDGET.
AND ALTHOUGH WE CAN ALWAYS DO MORE, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I DO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL QUESTION.
I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MENTION ABOUT, UM, DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN BEING FUNDED BY GRANTS.
UM, AND I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE GRANT PROCESS MYSELF THAT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT, THAT REQUIRES STAFF AND MONEY ON ITS OWN TO, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN, UM, GRANTS.
SO ARE THESE DEPARTMENTS GETTING SUPPORT FROM THE GENERAL FUND IN ORDER TO GET THOSE GRANTS? OR LIKE WHAT IF THE STATEMENT IS THAT WE NEED TO FIND MORE GRANTS, ARE THEY ACTUALLY GETTING THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO GET THE GRANTS? THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, IF YOU WOULD WANT TO SUBMIT TO US OR IF DR. LAWSON CAN MAKE A MENTAL NOTE OF THAT, IF YOU ALL CAN WRITE THAT DOWN AS A, UH, A QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE ANSWERED, UH, WE WILL GET THAT ANSWERED TO YOU.
SO THAT IS THE LAST OF OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS FOR THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY PRESENTATION.
AGAIN TO THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION AND ALL YOUR WORK.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, MANY SUCCESSFUL, UH, YEARS AHEAD FOR THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM.