[FY2025 Budget Workshop: Houston Public Library]
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AS, AS REPEATED, NO FLUFF ALL NUMBERS.LET'S JUST GET TO THE MEAT OF THIS PRESENTATION PLEASE.
UM, I AM HAPPY AND DELIGHTED TO INTRODUCE DIRECTOR CYNTHIA WILSON, INTERIM CHIEF AND INTERIM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER JOHN MIDDLETON.
I HOPE I'M GOT YOUR NAMES AND HOPE ABCA, WHO WILL NOW PRESENT THE HOUSTON PUBLIC PUBLIC LIBRARY BUDGET.
THANK YOU MUCH, SO MUCH, UM, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR PROPOSED BUDGET THIS YEAR.
THEY'RE GOING TO PRESENT THE BUDGET AS I AM, NEW TO THIS, UH, TO THIS FIELD, AND THEY WILL HAVE, UM, MORE DEVELOPED ANSWERS FOR YOU.
BUT SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REMAINING AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION, PLEASE, UM, EXPRESS THEM AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO RESPOND.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, AND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT, WHICH IMPLO, WHICH INCORPORATED SO MANY OF OUR SUGGESTED PERFORMANCE MEASURES INTO YOUR, UM, INTO YOUR BUDGET THIS YEAR.
UM, WE ARE WITH, UH, MEMBERS OF OUR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND, UH, OTHER LIBRARY STAFF.
SO, UH, I THANK THEM FOR BEING HERE.
UH, WE'LL GO STRAIGHT TO SLIDE THREE.
SO SLIDE THREE SUMMARIZES OUR ALIGNMENT WITH THE MAYOR'S DEFINED PRIORITIES AND INITIATIVES.
UH, MOSTLY ALL LIBRARY PROGRAMS ARE ALIGNED WITH THE MAYOR'S QUALITY OF LIFE INITIATIVES.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND DEBT SERVICES AND INTERFUND TRANSFER ARE ALIGNED WITH THE MAYOR'S GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS INITIATIVE.
SO, OUR EXPENDITURES BY PROGRAM, THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS OUR EXPENDITURES PLAN EXPENDITURES FOR FY 25, WHICH REFLECT A DECREASE OF 2.2% BASED ON, UH, THE MANDATORY REDUCTIONS, UM, AND AN INCREASE IN THESE RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS.
OUR PROPOSED F 5 25 BUDGET, TOTAL LIST, 51,760,602, WHICH REFLECTS THAT 2.2% REDUCTION AND A DECREASE OF 17.7 FTES, MOSTLY FROM VACANCIES.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES HAS A REDUCTION IN PERSONNEL AS APPROVED BY THE MAYOR, BUT SHOWS AN INCREASE AS MENTIONED DUE TO THE RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS, MANDATORY INCREASES.
SO FURTHER BREAKDOWN OF THESE NUMBERS.
UH, DEBT SERVICES IS A FLAT BUDGET WITH NO CHANGE.
DIGITAL STRATEGIES, WHICH IS OUR IT SERVICES, UH, HAS A REDUCTION OF FIVE FTES.
UH, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, UM, HAS A REDUCTION OF FOUR FTES.
UH, LIBRARY COLLECTIONS REDUCTION OF ONE FTE LIBRARY OPERATIONS, A REDUCTION OF SEVEN FTES AND LIBRARY SPACES.
UH, DIVISION HAS A REDUCTION IN ITS, UH, BUDGET FOR THE ROW HOUSES.
OUR LATEST STUDENT EDUCATION, UH, PROGRAM HAS A REDUCTION OF FOUR FTES.
OUR REVENUE BY PROGRAM, ALTHOUGH WE'RE NOT A REVENUE GENERATING DEPARTMENT OFFICIALLY, WE DO CONTRIBUTE TO THE GENERAL FUND THROUGH PASSPORT SERVICES PRIMARILY AND THE CENTRAL LIBRARY PARKING GARAGE.
THE DECREASE IN PROPOSED REVENUE FOR FY 25 IS ATTRIBUTED TO A ONE-TIME INSURANCE CLAIM REIMBURSEMENT RECOVERY FOR WINTER STORM DAMAGE OR LIBRARY PROPERTY.
FURTHERMORE, DE DECREASE, UH, IS ALIGNED WITH THE REDUCTION IN ELIMINATION OF FINES FOR OVERDUE LIBRARY MATERIALS.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES PROVIDES, UH, LEADERSHIP AND EXECUTIVE SUPPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS DEVELOPING MONITORING AND RECORDING THE BUDGET CONTRACTS, RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS, ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES, AND THE PROCUREMENT OF GOODS AND SERVICES FOR THE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS SUPPORT THE H-P-L-H-P-L FOUNDATION, UH, TO INCREASE DONATIONS FOR THE LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS.
I THINK THEY'RE TURNING UP THE VOLUME A LITTLE BIT, BUT I, I'VE, IT'S BEEN NOTED THAT, JUST TO SPEAK UP JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THE DIGITAL STRATEGIES PROGRAM ENSURES TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION, ACCESS AND SUPPORT FOR ALL LIBRARY PUBLIC SERVICES, INCLUDING DESKTOP COMPUTERS, LAPTOPS, TABLETS, NETWORK, WIFI SCANNERS, PRINTERS, HOTSPOTS, WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT, MOBILE APPS, OUR ONLINE CATALOG, BOOKS AND MATERIALS, CHECKOUT SYSTEMS, CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS, TECH LINK, OUR MULTIMEDIA AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDING STUDIOS, 3D SCANNING AND PRINTING TECHNOLOGIES.
THIS INITIATIVE IS TIED TO THE MAYOR'S
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QUALITY OF LIFE.NEXT SLIDE, SLIDE EIGHT, LIBRARY COLLECTIONS, UH, PERFORMANCE, A SELECTION ACQUISITION, AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF ALL LIBRARY BOOKS AND MATERIALS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM ENSURES THE PROVISION OF A WIDE ARRAY OF PRINT AND ELECTRONIC LIBRARY MATERIALS AND RESOURCES FOR ALL AGES THAT REFLECT THE CULTURES AND DIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.
THIS INITIATIVE IS ALSO TIED TO THE MAYOR'S PRIORITY FOR QUALITY OF LIFE.
LIBRARY OPERATIONS SUPPORTS ALL ASPECTS OF LIBRARY OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION IN NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARIES.
THE CENTRAL LIBRARY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS INCLUDES GRANTS, TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING AND SYSTEM-WIDE COMMUNICATION SERVICES AND CONTRACTS WE PROVIDE.
THIS GROUP PROVIDES SYSTEM WIDE OPERATIONS, CUSTOMER SERVICE, TECHNOLOGY AND COMPLIANCE, TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR STAFF.
ALSO TIED TO THE MAYOR'S PRIORITY OF QUALITY OF LIFE.
LIBRARY SPACES IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL ELEMENTS OF LIBRARY FACILITIES AND BUILDING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, BRANDING, SECURITY, IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR, OUR FRIENDS AND OUR TEAMMATES AT GSC, OPERATING LIBRARIES, PUBLIC ART COLLECTION, FURNITURE, FIXTURES, AND EQUIPMENT THAT ARE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT EVERY LIBRARY SPACE IS OPTIMIZED FOR SERVICE TO HOUSTON'S RESIDENCE.
ALSO TIED TO THE MAYOR'S PRIORITY QUALITY OF LIFE.
LITERACY AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS PLANS DEVELOPS, COORDINATES, IMPLEMENTS AND MANAGES SYSTEM-WIDE YOUTH, TEEN AND ADULT PROGRAMS AND EVENTS FOR ALL LOCATIONS.
IT PROVIDES SYSTEM WIDE OPERATIONS, CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND TECHNOLOGY, ALSO TIED TO THE MAYOR'S PRIORITY OF QUALITY OF LIFE.
SLIDE 12, OF COURSE, THE DEBT SERVICE, INTER TRANSFER, INTER FUND TRANSFER IS A MANDATORY PROGRAM, UH, WHICH REFLECT DEBT SERVICE, PAYMENTS AND OR INTER FUND TRANSFERS.
THIS CHART REPRESENTS, OF COURSE, OUR PERSONAL PERSONNEL AND NON-PERSONAL BUDGET.
THE MAIN LIBRARY EXPENSES ARE FOR PERSONNEL MATERIALS.
PERSONAL PERSONNEL EXPERIENCES FOR THE LIBRARY REPRESENTS 72% OF OUR BUDGET, AND NON-PERSONAL BUDGET IS 28% OF THE NON-PERSONNEL BUDGET.
NON-CAPITAL BOOKS AND MATERIALS.
COMPUTERS AND FURNITURE REPRESENT 46.3%.
RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS REPRESENT 29.9% SERVICES AND CONTRACTS REPRESENT 16.7%, AND SUPPLIES REPRESENT 1.9%.
THE DEBT PAYMENT TRANSFER MENTION IS 5.2% OF THE NON-PERSONAL BUDGET.
THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS OUR OVERVIEW OF OUR EXPENDITURES FROM FY 23 ACTUAL TO FY 25 PROPOSED BY FUND FOR GENERAL FUND, THERE'S A 2.2 BUDGET REDUCTION, THE LIBRARY REVENUE FUND AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUNDS ARE REVOLVING FUNDS.
SLIDE 15 IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT'S REVENUES BY FUND FROM FY 23 ACTUAL TO FY 25 PROPOSED.
AGAIN, THE LIBRARY IS NOT A REVENUE GENERATING DEPARTMENT, BUT IT DOES CONTRIBUTE TO THE GENERAL FUND THROUGH PASSPORT SERVICES AND THE LIBRARY PARKING GARAGE.
IN SUMMARY, A DECREASE IN REVENUE IS DUE TO ELIMINATING LIBRARY FINES AND THE ONE-TIME INSURANCE CLAIM.
AND THIS CONCLUDES OUR SLIDES AND PRESENTATION.
TATUM, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE, THE PASSPORTS AND THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE GENERATED BY THE PASSPORTS.
I THINK ON PAGE NINE, WE, WE HAVE THE, UM, ESTIMATE NUMBER OF, OF PASSPORTS PROCESSED, UM, AND THE ANNUAL REVENUE FROM THE PASSPORT SERVICES.
I THOUGHT THAT LAST YEAR WE HAD MORE REVENUE THAN THIS FROM PASSPORTS MORE THAN SEVEN 50.
UH, THE PROPOSED FOR LAST YEAR, WE NEVER, WELL, WE NEVER WAS NEVER ABOUT ABLE TO INCREASE BECAUSE WE NEEDED AN INCREASE IN OUR DEPARTMENT.
SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE ABOUT EIGHT FTES, AND WE STILL ONLY HAVE FOUR PASSPORT LOCATIONS OPEN.
IS IT FOUR? FIVE? WE HAVE FIVE, YES.
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THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE TWO MORE AT SHANNON WALKER.THAT WAS A RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE.
DOES THE TWO OFFICES COUNT AS TWO OFFICES, OR IT IS JUST ONE OFFICE? BECAUSE IT'S ONE LOCATION IN THE ONE LOCATION.
PEOPLE THAT CAN DO THE PASSPORTS.
BECAUSE I REMEMBER WHEN WE, WE DID THE BUDGET LAST YEAR, I WAS JUST SURPRISED AT HOW MUCH MONEY WE WERE BRINGING IN ON PASSPORTS.
AND I WAS LIKE, WELL, I WANT A PASSPORT OFFICE IN MY LIBRARY.
BECAUSE I MEAN, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO GET PASSPORTS, THAT'S A REVENUE GENERATOR.
I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO HAVE A PASSPORT OFFICE IN ALL THE LIBRARIES AND GENERATE MORE MONEY.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR MONEY IN THE CITY, AND I FEEL LIKE, I MEAN, SO MANY PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET A PASSPORT, AND I WILL TELL YOU, I GOT MY PASSPORT AT THE STELLA LINK, UM, LIBRARY.
IT WAS EASY, IT WAS EFFICIENT, IT WORKED WELL.
UM, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO THAT OTHER PLACE THAT I WON'T SAY AND BE STRESSED OUT.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR AN EASY WAY TO GET THEIR PASSPORT.
AND IF WE CAN PROVIDE THE SERVICE AND GENERATE MORE DOLLARS, WE SHOULD PUT THAT ON THE THINGS TO EVERYTHING'S ON THE TABLE.
WHAT UP DELICIOUS WE ARE RUNNING INTO IS THAT WE'RE USING EXISTING RESOURCES TO, TO RUN THE PASSPORT OFFICE.
SO WE DID SUBMIT, UM, A PROPOSAL, WHICH WAS NOT INCREASED, BUT WE NEED INCREASE IN PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES.
WE WOULD NEED AN INCREASE IN PERSONNEL, BUT I GUESS IT WOULD, IT WOULD DETERMINE, UM, IS THERE LIKE A SPECIAL TRAINING THAT YOU HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO BE A SPECIAL TRAINED PASSPORT OFFICIAL, AND YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE SPECIAL TRAINING, BECOME A PASSPORT.
SO DO WE HAVE ANY CROSS TRAINING IN THE LIBRARY FOR FOLKS THAT COULD BE WORKING IN THE LIBRARY AS WELL? I'M, I'M JUST THINKING, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WORK AT THE LIBRARY, YOU SHOULD BE A PASSPORT OFFICIAL
WELL, THOSE WHO DO WORK IN THE PASSPORT OFFICES ALSO WORK AT THE LIBRARY.
BUT I'LL JUST PUT IT OUT THERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, OR SHE'S NOT HERE? WELL, HOLD ON.
UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR LIBRARIES AND OUR LIBRARIANS.
UH, ESPECIALLY, WE HAD A LOT OF TALK AT COUNCIL TODAY ABOUT HISD.
UM, AND AS LIBRARIES ARE CLOSING IN OUR SCHOOLS, UH, OUR HOUSTON LIBRARIES ARE STAYING OPEN.
UM, THEY'RE BEING USED BY MORE FAMILIES.
AND WE SAW EVEN THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, THE CRITICAL ROLE, UM, THAT YOU ALL PLAY.
SO THAT'S MY MY THANK YOU AT THE OUTSET OF ALL OF THIS.
UH, AND I WILL SPOTLIGHT THE, I FOR, I ALWAYS MESS UP THE NAME OF IT, BUT THE FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.
UM, IT STARTED IN DISTRICT CI KNOW THAT, I THINK WE'RE CELEBRATING AN EXPANSION OF THAT FAMILY PLACE.
FAMILY PLACE IS JUST LIKE, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
I MAY HAVE MISSED IT, BUT, UH, ARE Y'ALL, IT LOOKED TO ME LIKE Y'ALL ACTUALLY HAVE A BUDGETARY INCREASE BASED ON SLIDE FOUR, BUT DO I KNOW THAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE HAVING A BUDGET DECREASE? DID I MISREAD THAT OR WHAT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF BUDGETARY DECREASE Y'ALL ARE EXPERIENCING? 2.2%.
AND WHAT IS THE IMPACT, UM, OF THAT REDUCTION? WHAT, UH, SERVICES ARE BEING AFFECTED? UH, I WOULDN'T SAY SERVICES ARE BEING AFFECTED IS PRIMARILY VACANCIES.
SO WE HAVE TO BE MORE EFFICIENT, UH, AT THIS TIME.
AND, UM, YOU HAD MENTIONED ALSO, I THINK ON THE LAST SLIDE, SOMETHING THAT PIQUED MY INTEREST RELATED TO ON PAGE 16, UM, COUNSEL HAD PASSED AN ORDINANCE DISCONTINUING THE ASSESSMENT OF LATE FEES, BUT CUSTOMERS ARE CONTINUING TO PAY SOME DID.
UM, THEY STILL PAY FOR LOST BOOKS.
THEY STILL PAY FOR DAMAGED BOOKS.
UM, IT'S ONLY THE LATE FEES THAT WERE ELIMINATED.
SO THERE'S STILL CERTAIN TYPES OF PENALTIES YES.
IT'S JUST THE LATE FEES THAT WERE DISCONTINUED.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
UM, SPECIFICALLY TO DISTRICT C, WE JUST HAD ONE SPEAKER COME, AND I THINK I HAD GIVEN Y'ALL THE HEADS UP.
WE'VE, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE HEIGHTS LIBRARY AS ONE OF THE TOP USE, BUT WITH CRITICAL NEEDS.
UM, WHERE ARE WE WITH THE, WITH THAT FALL TO GSD SPECIFICALLY? OR WHAT IS THE LIBRARY'S INVOLVEMENT IN ASSESSING, UM, THE NEEDS OF OUR DIFFERENT LIBRARIES AND THE PRIORITIZATION AND THE NEED FOR FUNDING FOR THOSE? RIGHT, RIGHT.
SO WE WORK WITH GSD TO COMPLETE THE FACILITY, FACILITY, UH, CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT LAST YEAR.
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IT'S DONE ABOUT EVERY 10 YEARS.UM, AND IT'S, THAT'S THE REPORT THAT SAID THAT HEIGHTS CURRENTLY IS OUR WORST IN MOST NEED.
UM, AND SO WE USE THAT TO PRIORITIZE OUR CIP REQUEST, OUR BOND REQUEST.
IT'S PROBABLY CLOSE TO $20 MILLION TO MAKE IT RIGHT.
UM, AND MAKE IT RIGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UH, THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR PROTECTIONS GOING FORWARD AND PROBABLY REQUIRE A BOND TO DO THAT.
AND WHEN WE SAY MOVING FORWARD, IS THAT RELATED TO, AGAIN, FOR THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE, THE CIP OR WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR? IT'S FOR THE CIP.
SO WE'LL GET THAT TO THE, IN THE CIP, UH, IF I CAN GO BACK IN QUEUE.
I JUST HAD TWO MORE QUESTIONS.
UH, GOOD, GOOD AFTERNOON FOLKS.
SO, LOOKING AT THE LONG-TERM GOALS, ONE OF THEM WAS DEVELOP ADDITIONAL LONG-TERM STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS FOR, FOR THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.
AND SO I'M WONDERING WHAT THAT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT.
AND I MEAN, IT'S NOT A SECRET THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS, CASTILLO MARTINEZ AND I HAD, HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE ENGAGEMENT THAT WAS DONE WITH REGARD TO THE HISPANIC, UH, RESEARCH CENTER AND ARCHIVES BUILDING.
SO WHAT'S THAT GONNA LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD? THAT STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT? SO, A COUPLE OF THINGS ARE GOING TO OCCUR OVER THE NEXT, UM, YEAR, SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR.
WE'RE ENGAGING SOMEONE TO HELP US DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH WILL HELP US TO, UH, NARROW OUR SCOPE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON.
IN THAT WE WILL ALSO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN A MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WAY, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE HISPANIC, UM, UH, HERITAGE SITE.
WE ARE GOING TO DEVELOP A COMMITTEE OF PEOPLE WHO WE HAVE, UM, SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO'S WILLING TO GO OUT AND LEAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
AND WE THINK THAT THAT INFORMATION WILL COME BACK TO US AND TO HELP US MOVE FORWARD IN A MORE, UM, COLLABORATIVE WAY WITH HOW WE DESIGN AND FULFILL ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT THAT SITE TO REPRESENT.
WELL, I'M SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
AND WE HAVEN'T MET DIRECTOR WILSON, BUT, UM, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH DAVID YES.
WHO IS A LULAC ARCHIVIST AND VERY INTERESTED IN, IN THE CONDITION OF THE HISPANIC COLLECTION YES.
THANK YOU FOR BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH HIM AND, UH, OTHERS WHO ARE INTERESTED.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
ONE OF THE OTHER LONG-TERM GOALS DEALS WITH, UH, EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM.
AND CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT? WELL, I THINK IT'S, UM, THERE ARE SEVERAL CITY COUNTY LIBRARIES THAT HAVE COMBINED OVER THE YEARS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
AND FROM TIME TO TIME WE LOOK AT THIS OPPORTUNITY, UH, I THINK IT'S, UH, WORTH DOING, UH, TO SEE HOW THAT CAN WORK AND IF IT WORKED.
SO DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE ME USING THE SAME BUILDING OR MERGING THE TWO SYSTEMS IN SOME WAY? I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHAT IT MIGHT, WE HAVEN'T STARTED YET, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE GOAL.
UM, I HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE HARRIS COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM.
AND I THINK WHAT WE'LL SPEAK TO IS SHARED SERVICES.
IF THEY'RE IN A LOCATION WHERE OUR PROXIMITY IS NOT AS CLOSE AS THEIRS, THEN WE WILL DECIDE WHO WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE, THIS SERVICE BETTER THAN THE OTHER ONE SO THAT WE'RE NOT DUPLICATING EFFORTS.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'LL HAVE.
AND THAT IS SCHEDULED, I BELIEVE, FOR NEXT WEEK.
UM, SO WE'RE EXCITED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE EFFECTIVE.
ALSO, WE'RE HAVING SOMEONE ASK ABOUT THE HI ABOUT HISD.
WE'RE DESIGNING A SUMMER PROGRAM FOR SEVERAL OF OUR SITES SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS WHO HAVE NOT HAD ACCESS TO THEIR LIBRARIES DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR TO COME INTO OUR LIBRARIES FOR A SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED PROGRAM FOR THAT.
MAY I CONTINUE OR BACK IN THE QUEUE? LEMME, LEMME PUT YOU BACK IN.
THERE'S QUITE A FEW IN THE QUEUE.
THANK YOU CHAIR, AND GREAT PRESENTATION.
UH, JUST REAL QUICK, UM, I SEE THAT THERE'S A DECREASE ON YOUR, UM, ON THE DONATIONS AND GRANTS FROM THE FOUNDATION FROM FY 20.
UM, THE TARGET WAS A MILLION IN THE ESTIMATES 1.8, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT THEN IT'S GONNA DROP FOR FY 25 TARGET.
IS THAT GOING THAT THE, THAT KIND OF FLUCTUATION, IS THAT AFFECTING PROGRAMS? 'CAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT MOST OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE SEE ARE SUPPORTED AND FUNDED BY THE FOUNDATION.
SO, SO THE, UM, THE PROPOSED FOR OUR FOUNDATION IS ACTUALLY ENDOWMENTS.
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SO WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ENDOWMENTS IN PLACE TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAMS WE HAVE.SO EVERY YEAR WE DO SPEND A PERCENTAGE OF THAT ENDOWMENTS BASED ON THE, ON THE INTEREST THAT WE RECEIVED.
SO WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS YOUR PROPOSAL BASED ON OUR ESTIMATE ON WHAT THE, UM, THE INTEREST THAT WE HAVE ON WHAT THE PERCENT WE CAN ONLY SPEND UP TO 5% MOST YEAR IS 10% OF ANY INTEREST.
SO THE ADDITION WILL COME IF THE FOUNDATION RAISES FUNDS FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS, THEN THAT WILL MAKE THAT NUMBER GO UP.
AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION IS, UM, I KNOW THAT WE OFFER, UM, WIFI AND UH, REMEMBER DURING COVID Y'ALL WERE KIND OF GIVING OUT LIKE WIFI HOTSPOTS TO FAMILIES.
ARE WE STILL DOING THAT? UM, YES.
SO IS IT STILL A RENTAL? IS THAT, IS THAT A REVENUE STREAM FOR US OR IS THAT FREE? IT'S FREE.
AND THEN HOW MANY, WHAT'S, WHAT DOES THAT NUMBER LOOK LIKE? I MEAN, IS THAT, WHERE WOULD THAT BE IN HERE? HOW LONG DO WE HAVE NOW? HOW MANY DO WE HAVE? 1000.
UM, AND THEN ONE LAST QUESTION.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WIFI USERS, IS THAT BECAUSE, IS THAT IN THE LIBRARY ITSELF? THAT'S CONNECTED TO OUR, OUR WIFI? YES.
IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE ONES THAT THE HOTSPOTS.
I THINK IT'S LIKE 12 MILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
ANNUAL NUMBER OF WIFI SESSIONS.
IS THAT THEM USING IT WITHIN THE LIBRARY OR IS THAT YES.
UH, JAMES FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN'S? NO.
ISAAC, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS'S OFFICE.
UM, FIRST THING, UH, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE, UM, UH, THE LIBRARY, THE HUNTINGTON LIBRARY AND A, UH, THE, A LEAF NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, ESPECIALLY THE PASSPORT OFFICE THAT STAYS FULL AND STAYS BUSY, HELPING OUT A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY GAIN THEIR PASSPORT.
UH, IN REGARDS TO THE LIBRARY, DO WE FORESEE ANY INCREASED STAFFING AND, AND EXTENDED HOURS, UM, BEING ALLOCATED TO THROUGHOUT THE CITY? UH, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT PRE INCREASED STAFFING 'CAUSE WE'RE HAVING STAFF RE UH, VACANCY REDUCTIONS, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT INCREASING HOURS, UH, AT THAT LOCATION TO MATCH THE FACILITY HOURS.
AND WE SHOULD HAVE THAT FIGURED OUT BEFORE THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
UM, AND I KNOW THERE WAS A, UH, UM, SOME COMMENTS ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN REGARDS TO PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WANT TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVE, UH, AMENITIES LIKE THE TECH LINK, WHICH WE KNOW OFFERS SO MANY GREAT THINGS.
UM, ARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, ABLE TO CONNECT DIRECTLY TO THE LIBRARY? WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST APPROACH FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PARTNER WITH THEIR LOCAL LIBRARY TO PROVIDE A PROGRAM ATTACHED TO THE TECH LINK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? UH, TALK TO THE MANAGER OF THE LIBRARY, OR THE MANAGER OF THE TECH LINK.
THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT, UH, GROUPS, UH, BUT THEY OF COURSE COORDINATE TOGETHER AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE PEOPLE COME IN.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HAVING, UH, PEOPLE COME INTO TECH LINK TO TEACH OR TO HAVE SEMINARS OR WORKSHOPS ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT WE HAVE.
WE, WE, WE, UH, SPECIFICALLY IN F WE HAVE A LOCAL DJ WHO WANTS TO DONATE SOME EQUIPMENT YEAH.
AND OFFER, UH, AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH, SOME KIND OF PROGRAM THAT CAN HELP OUT THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER YOUTH OR ADULTS.
YOU CAN GO RIGHT INTO TECH LINK.
AND THE LAST THING, UM, WILL THERE BE ANY, UM, FUNDING ALLOCATED FOR THE GREGORY ARCHIVES, UH, TO HELP SUPPORT, UM, THOSE ARCHIVES? I'M SORRY, THE QUESTION, THE GREGORY, THE FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION, SORRY.
THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION WAS ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING OR, OR, OR ANY ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION OF FUNDING TO SUPPORT OR, UH, CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE ARCHIVING? WE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN OUR BUDGET.
WE NORMALLY, UH, SEEK FOR PUBLIC SUPPORT.
UH, GREATLY DOES HAVE FRIENDS.
SO SOME, MOST OF THE TIMES THEY DO, UH, SUPPORT, BUT RIGHT NOW WE DEPEND ON PRIVATE FUNDING FOR MOST OF THOSE INCREASE.
AND WHAT KIND OF PRIVATE FUNDING WOULD THAT BE? LIKE? THE FRIENDS OF THE GAR SCHOOL HAVE PROVIDED FUNDS TO, UH, BUILD SOME, UH, STORAGE, NEW STORAGE FACILITIES, AND THEY PROVIDE FUNDS FOR SOME PROGRAMS. UH, GREGORY HAS A FRIENDS GROUP, CLAYTON HAS A FRIENDS GROUP.
UH, THIS, THE ONE DOWNTOWN THAT HOUSTON HISTORY RESEARCH CENTER HAS A FRIENDS GROUP.
SO THEY'RE VERY HELPFUL FOR US IN MEETING SOME OF THOSE GAPS.
THE OTHER THING I JUST QUICKLY ADD IS THAT OUR FOUNDATION PROVIDES FUNDING TO US BASED ON WHAT WE ASK FOR.
SO THEY, THEY HAVE A ROBUST, UM, FUND AND WE ARE ABLE TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT ARE OUR PRIORITIES, WHAT DO WE WANT? AND IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE SEE THAT WE'RE LACKING IN ANOTHER, IN, UH, OTHER AREAS AND OTHER FUNDING, THEN WE CAN PRESENT THAT TO THEM AS SOMETHING WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM FUN.
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UH, DJ, IF YOU CAN SUBMIT THAT NAME TO ME, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.UH, AND, AND I GUESS JUST TO PIGGYBACK A LITTLE BIT ON THE GREGORY LINCOLN, UH, AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S GOOD TO SHARE AS WELL, YOU KNOW, THE HISPANIC RESEARCH CENTER IS GONNA BE TAKING ON, UH, SOME OF THAT SUPPORT FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN, UH, HI HISTORIC, UH, RESEARCH CENTER TO GATHER SOME OF THEIR ARCHIVES.
UH, HOUSTON FAMILY RESEARCH CENTER.
SO, UM, JUST SO THAT FOLKS ARE MADE AWARE, YOU KNOW, THE HISPANIC RESEARCH CENTER, ALTHOUGH IT'S THE HISPANIC RESEARCH CENTER'S, REALLY PLAYING A, A PIVOTAL ROLE IN, IN SUPPORTING OUR ARCHIVES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
EVERYONE GOT TO DISTRICT C'S GREGORY LINCOLN BEFORE I COULD
WE KNOW HISTORICALLY IT IS A RESEARCH LIBRARY.
IT'S THE AFRICAN AMERICAN RESEARCH LIBRARY, BUT BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION IN HISTORIC FOURTH WARD FRIEDMANS TOWN TO ALLOW, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUTH ACCESS TO IT, JUST TO ENJOY A BOOK, IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP.
UM, GOING BACK TO WHAT DISTRICT F HAD BROUGHT UP ABOUT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, THERE'S TWO NEEDS THAT I WAS MADE AWARE OF, UM, WITH THE RESEARCH LIBRARY.
ONE, AS YOU DISCUSSED, WE HAD VERY GENEROUS IN INVESTMENTS IN THE ARCHIVES AND ARTIFACTS AND EVEN NEW SHELVING, ELECTRONIC SHELVING THAT MOVES.
BUT WHAT I LEARNED WAS IT'S ALL, THE FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM IS STILL A SPRINKLER SYSTEM IN THERE.
SO GOD FORBID SOMETHING HAPPENS, THERE'S NOTHING TO ACTUALLY PROTECT THE ARCHIVES THAT ARE IN THERE.
UM, SO MY REQUEST WOULD BE THAT WE PARTNER TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES FOR FUNDING TO ADDRESS THAT NEED BECAUSE GOD FORBID SOMETHING HAPPENS.
UH, AND THOSE, THOSE ARTIFACTS HAVE BEEN DONATED GIFTED TO THE CITY.
WE DON'T WANT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN TO THOSE.
AND THERE'S A MORE BASIC, UH, SIMPLE NEED THAT LIBRARY NOW ALSO SERVES AS A VOTING CENTER, WHICH IS FANTASTIC.
UH, BUT WHAT I SAW WAS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE A DA ACCEPTABLE PUSH BUTTONS TO OPEN THE DOORS.
UH, SO THAT'S ONE OF THOSE, AGAIN, I, I KNOW I KEEP HARPING ON THE, THE STRUCTURAL NEEDS OF THE BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES, BUT, UM, AS WE WELCOME AND WANT TO WELCOME MORE AND MORE PEOPLE INTO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE, UM, ACCESSIBLE DOORS AND ENTRYWAYS, UH, IS SOMETHING, AGAIN, I KNOW Y'ALL ARE STRAPPED RIGHT NOW, I RECOGNIZE THE, THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS.
BUT WHATEVER WE CAN BE DOING TO BAKE THAT INTO OUR PLANS OR GO TO THE FOUNDATIONS OR TO A COMMUNITY PARTNER, UH, WE, WE SHOULD HAVE A DA, YOU KNOW, ACCESSIBLE DOORS THERE.
SO WE ARE LOOKING INTO BOTH THOSE ISSUES WITH THE GSD, UH, AND THE DOOR.
THE DOORS ARE ACCESSIBLE, UM, BUT THE PUSH BUTTON DOORS HELP.
UH, AND WE ARE LOOKING INTO THAT, UM, THOSE COSTS AND SCHEDULES FOR BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.
I AND YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC TO, TO WORK WITH.
AND IT'S NOT A COMMENT TO SAY THAT THE LIBRARY IS NOT WORKING DILIGENTLY.
THIS IS JUST MY ONE OPPORTUNITY WHILE I HAVE YOU ALL HERE AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET, THESE ARE SOME OF THOSE BUDGETARY, UM, NEEDS THAT WE, WE, WE HAVE TO HONE IN ON.
AND REGARDING SLIDE FOUR, EXPENDITURE BY PROGRAM, UH, UNDER DIGITAL STRATEGIES, I NOTICED THAT, UH, FY 25 PROPOSED, UH, SHOWS A DECREASE, UH, FROM THE ESTIMATE FOR FY 24.
AND I'M THINKING IN TERMS OF THE DIGITIZATION OF THE, UM, VEEVA MAGAZINES, WHICH WERE INSERTS IN THE HOUSTON POST.
I KNOW WE'VE, WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS BEFORE, UH, JOHN.
AND, UM, DOES, DOES THIS, DOES THIS, THESE FUNDS INCLUDE WHAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THE HOUSTON ENDOWMENT OR NOT? OR DIGITAL STRATEGIES? YEAH, DIGITAL STRATEGIES.
SO THE DECREASE THERE IS RELATED TO STAFFING IN THE IT DEPARTMENT.
I'M SORRY, DOES, DOES DECREASE THERE IS RELATED TO VACANCY REDUCTIONS IN THE IT DEPARTMENT, NOT IN THE, UH OKAY.
SO WHERE WOULD THE FUNDS FOR THE DIGITIZATION OF THE VEEVA MAGAZINE INSERTS, UH, WHERE WOULD THAT BE FOUND IN YOUR PRESENTATION? YES.
THOSE ARE PART OF THE RESEARCH CENTER BUDGET, WHICH DOES NOT HAVE A REDUCTION IN IN DIGITAL STRATEGIES.
[00:30:01]
NO.WELL, IN, IN ANY EVENT, UM, CAN, CAN YOU TELL US THE STATUS OF THAT, THAT PROJECT? I CAN'T TODAY, BUT I CAN GET IT TO YOU.
SO, UH, A FEW OTHER QUESTIONS ON SLIDE NINE, LIBRARY OPERATIONS.
YOU'VE GOT A CATEGORY FOR ANNUAL IN-HOUSE LIBRARY VISITS.
UM, AND SO THE TARGET FOR FY 25 IS 2.5 MILLION.
ESTIMATE FOR THIS YEAR IS JUST UNDER 2 MILLION.
CAN YOU TELL US, UH, REGARDING YOUR TARGET, HOW, HOW MUCH OF THAT COME COMES FROM, UM, VISITS TO THE CENTRAL LIBRARY VERSUS VISITS TO SOME OF OUR BRANCH LIBRARIES OR BRANCH LIBRARIES? WELL, IT'S NOT BROKEN OUT HERE, BUT ALL COMES FROM ALL LIBRARIES.
UH, WE CAN PROBABLY GET THAT BREAKDOWN TO YOU.
I DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME TODAY.
AND, AND I KNOW NATIONWIDE, THERE'S BEEN A TREND LAST 10 TO 15 YEARS, UH, PHYSICAL VISITS TO LIBRARIES HAVE GONE, HAVE GONE DOWN DURING THAT PERIOD.
AND I'VE JUST, I JUST WONDER WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE FOR THE CENTRAL LIBRARY OVER THAT PERIOD.
AND, AND I THINK, I CAN'T SWEAR TO IT, BUT I THINK WE'VE REQUESTED THAT INFORMATION AND, AND NOT RECEIVED IT YET.
BUT IF YOU COULD FOLLOW UP ON THAT, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
AND, AND ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS I HEAR IS THAT FOLKS, A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T COME TO THE CENTRAL LIBRARY 'CAUSE THEY DON'T REALLY FEEL SAFE THERE.
ARE THERE ANY EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING MADE TO MAKE FEE PEOPLE FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IN COMING DOWN TO THE CENTRAL LIBRARY? YES, WE'VE INCREASED OUR SECURITY HOURS, NOT JUST THE CENTRAL, BUT ALL THE LIBRARIES OVER THE LAST YEAR BY MORE THAN A HUNDRED PERCENT.
UM, WE'VE RE-ENGAGED, UH, OFF-DUTY HPD OFFICERS TO HELP WITH SECURITY AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY DUE TO INCREASE IN THE KIND OF THINGS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
OUR STAFF EN ENGAGES IN SOME OF THAT CONDUCT ALMOST EVERY DAY, UM, ESPECIALLY AT CENTRAL LIBRARY.
AND SO, UM, MORE SECURITY HELPS, UM, BUT IT'S ALSO BOUND BY OUR BUDGET.
LEMME PUT YOU RIGHT BACK IN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU MUCH.
I, UM, WAS WATCHING IN MY OFFICE AND I WANTED TO COME SO I CAN BE MORE SURGICAL IN MY QUESTION, UM, UH, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE GREGORY SCHOOL.
SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING ABOUT THE FOUNDATION AND THOSE FUNDING PRIORITIES.
I'M INTERESTED IN IF THE REQUEST TO THE FOUNDATION HPL FOUNDATION WILL INCLUDE FUNDING PRIORITIES FOR ARCHIVES.
SEVERAL ORGANIZATION, UH, BLACK ORGANIZATIONS HOUSE THEIR ARCHIVES WITH GREGORY SCHOOL.
UM, AND THERE NEEDS TO BE PERSONNEL SUPPORT IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE CLERKING, UM, ACTIVATED.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, MAYOR LEE BROWN'S GYM THAT HE, UM, STOOD UP IN THE CITY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ONCE THOSE PRIORITIES ARE IDENTIFIED, THAT THE PERSONNEL TO SUPPORT THAT.
UM, UM, SECONDLY, THE COMMENT TO COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ ABOUT HOUSING AFRICAN AMERICAN ARCHIVES AT THE HISPANIC LIBRARY.
WHEN DID THAT CONVERSATION, WHAT'S THE GENESIS OF THAT? UM, AND THEN WHAT'S THE, UM, ENGAGEMENT AROUND THAT? BECAUSE THERE ARE ALGIN, SCOTT DAVIS, RIGHT NOW'S PROBABLY DROPPED OFF A HUNDRED FUNERAL PROGRAMS OF, UM, UH, BLACK HOUSTONIANS THAT ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING CLERKED.
SO I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE, UM, WALKED THROUGH HAND IN HAND, UH, BECAUSE THERE'S SOME THINGS GOING ON WITH ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE ARCHIVES THAT WANNA HAVE A PRONOUNCED SPACE WITH THE GREGORY SCHOOL.
SO I THINK, HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT A BUDGETARY, UM, CONVERSATION, BUT I WANT THAT TO BE, I NEED TO, YEAH, I NEED TO CLOSE THE LOOP ON THAT TO, TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
SO, BUT, BUT THE BUDGET ASK IS MORE SO ABOUT THE FOUNDATION AND THEN, UM, WHAT WOULD IT COST IF IT WAS PERSONNEL IN ORDER, UM, TO PRESERVE THE ARCHIVES AND HAVE THE GREGORY SCHOOL PRESERVE THAT HISTORY? WHAT DOES THAT COST LOOK LIKE FOR THE CITY? AND THEN, AND, AND LET'S ADD TO THAT, LET'S SAY IF A DISASTER HITS.
'CAUSE MY CONCERN IS, IS THAT WHEN THE BLUE, UM, CIRCLE BLUE TRIANGLE AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY THAT JOHN BIGGERS, THAT ORIGINAL PIECE STARTED TO DETERIORATE AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE, UM, CAPITAL, UM, FUNDING TO DO THAT.
AND SO, UH, NONPROFIT GROUPS, THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS AND OTHERS HAD TO INFUSE DOLLARS.
SO THERE'S HISTORY THAT'S IN THAT SCHOOL.
AND WHEN WE LOOK AT CUTTING DEPARTMENTS, 5% NOT HAVING FUNDING FOR CAPITAL OF EXPENDITURES, I'M CONCERNED THAT IF ANOTHER HURRICANE COME AND WE DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE FUNDING AVAILABLE, THAT HISTORY WILL NOT BE PROTECTED.
UM, SO I'M INTERESTED IN THE GREGORY SCHOOL FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
SO IF THAT'S NOT AN ANSWER, YOU CAN GIMME TODAY.
YOU CAN FOLLOW UP AND THAT'S FINE.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND, AND THE INFORMATION.
UH, YESTERDAY WE HEARD, UM, ABOUT THE MONTROSE LIBRARY NOT MOVING TO THE COLLECTIVE, THE MONTROSE COLLECTIVE.
UM, ARE THERE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH KEEPING IT IN ITS CURRENT LOCATION? I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME, UM, CONDITIONS THERE THAT
[00:35:01]
NEED TO BE, UH, IMPROVED.ARE THOSE COSTS REFLECTED? IF SO, IN THIS BUDGET PRESENTATION,
SO
UH, A LOT OF THAT WILL GO INTO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ELEVATOR.
UM, THAT'S A HIGH COST FOR US.
WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED, ALLOCATED IN THE CIP TO OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE MAY NOT DO BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT FULLY FUNDED.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS, REALLOCATE THEM.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE TURS.
THEY EXPRESSED AN, UH, A DESIRE TO HELP US COMPLETE THAT PROJECT.
THE OTHER, THE, UH, THE MANTRAS COLLECTIVE, WE'RE CONTINUING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW THAT'S GONNA PLAY OUT.
UM, AND I JUST DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU TODAY, BUT WE WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION TOMORROW ABOUT IT AND EVERY DAY FOLLOWING.
AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
AND JUST TO, SORRY, DIRECTOR, COME ON BACK.
JUST TO, JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT, I TOO, I KNOW THAT WHEN WE HAD GONE TO THE REOPENING, WHICH I WAS VERY GRATEFUL FOR, UM, AND I KNOW THAT TOOK A LOT OF EFFORT TO GET, GET IT BACK UP AND RUNNING.
UM, AND THE MAYOR EXPRESSED A DESIRE YEAH.
UM, BECAUSE OF THE BEAUTY OF THE BUILDING.
AND I SAID, LOOK, IF WE CAN FIND A WAY, YOU KNOW, TO INCORPORATE THIS INTO FUTURE PLANS, I I SUPPORT THAT.
UM, BUT HIM ANNOUNCING IT, JUST THAT THE BUDGET WAS KIND OF THE FIRST TIME I HAD EVER HEARD THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING.
UM, AND THAT, THAT'S NO FAULT OF Y'ALL'S, I'M NOT POINTING FINGERS, BUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD ENGAGING WITH OUR OFFICES SO THAT WE DO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
BUT THERE'S THE TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S QUESTION.
THERE'S THE COST OF THE MONTROSE FREED LIBRARY RENOVATIONS.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE MONTROSE COLLECTIVE AND MY UNDERSTANDING, I COULD BE MISTAKEN, INVESTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE THERE.
AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS THERE AS WELL.
SO IF WE WERE TO, UH, BACK OUT OF THAT, THERE'S A COST I WOULD ASSUME, AND THAT IS ALSO PUT A, A DEVELOPER, UM, IN A HUGE, YOU KNOW, AND NOT A, A SITUATION THAT WOULD, IT WOULD, IT'D BE OUR FAULT.
IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY THERE.
WE COMMITTED TO SOMETHING AND THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS MADE BASED ON THAT.
SO AS WE TALK ABOUT THE COST OF ALL OF THIS, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US CHAIR TO HAVE A GAUGE ON, IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE RENOVATIONS OF MANTRAS FREED, BUT IT'S ALSO THE COST OF WHAT, I MEAN, IT'S ALREADY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
SO WHAT ARE THOSE COSTS AND WHAT ARE WE COSTING, UH, UH, SOMEBODY THAT ENTERED INTO IN GOOD FAITH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON? SURE.
I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS TO RECONCILE.
AND WHEN I TELL YOU, HONESTLY, I JUST DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS TODAY.
UM, I DO KNOW OUR CONVERSATIONS WILL BEGIN FRIDAY.
UM, NOT ONLY ABOUT FUNDING, BUT ABOUT PROGRAMMING AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT, THAT'S NEEDED THERE.
UH, WE DO NOT WANT TO LOSE OUR PRESENCE IN MONTROSE.
UM, SOMEONE ASKED ABOUT HOW MANY VISITORS WE HAVE TO OUR MAIN LIBRARY.
I KNOW THAT MONT TRUSTS IS IN OUR TOP 12 TO TOP 14 SITES VISITED IN THAT SMALL LOCATION.
SO THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE WANNA GIVE UP.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO US, IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE CITY.
SO, AGAIN, I DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWERS TODAY, BUT I WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED AS WE BEGIN TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE DECISIONS AND, AND FOR YOU GUYS TO HELP US MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
AND I KNOW, UM, WE, THEY CALL THEMSELVES THE MONTROSE GROUP.
WE GOT A LOT OF PARENTS AND MONTROSE THAT HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS, THAT, UH, WE'D LOVE TO GET INFORMATION TOO.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK ON THIS.
BUT AGAIN, FROM A COST PERSPECTIVE, IT'S NOT JUST THE REHAB OF THE NEW BUILD, THE OLD BUILDING.
IT'S WHAT'S THE COST OF POTENTIALLY BACKING OUT OF WHAT HAS BEEN PLANNED NOW FOR MULTIPLE YEARS.
AND WE JUST DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS.
AND I WANNA THANK THIS TEAM, ALL OF THEM, FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY DID TO GET MONTROSE BACK UP AND RUNNING.
I THINK EVERY SINGLE PERSON HAD A PART IN IT.
IF THERE'S ANY PUBLIC SPEAKERS WHO DIDN'T SIGN UP IN ADVANCE TO PLEASE SIGN UP ON THE SIGNUP SHEET OVER THERE.
ALRIGHT, SO LAST QUESTION THEN I'LL HAVE AN OBSERVATION.
SO THIS ONE PERTAINS TO INFORMATION ON SLIDE 11, UM, WORKFORCE LITERACY.
CAN YOU TELL US, UH, WHAT SORT OF, UM, CURRICULUM OR TOPICS THAT,
[00:40:01]
UH, THAT ENTAILS AND WHO, WHO IS SERVED BY THAT? I, WE'LL GET YOU YOUR ANSWER.AND, AND THE OBSERVATION I WANTED TO MAKE WAS, UM, AS, AS YOU KNOW, ABOUT A MONTH AGO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO MARTINEZ AND MYSELF HAD, UH, WELL ATTENDED TOWN HALL AND THE LIBRARY DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF SUPPORTING THAT.
IT WAS, THERE WERE PROBABLY ABOUT 200 PEOPLE THERE AND COULD NOT HAVE BEEN THAT SUCCESSFUL, UH, WITHOUT YOUR HELP.
UH, COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS FROM ME.
THE LIBRARY OPERATIONS, YOU SAY YOU WERE DOWN SEVEN, IS THAT DOWN SEVEN REAL PEOPLE OR SEVEN VACANCIES OR WHAT? IT WAS IN THE INITIAL VACANCIES, SEVEN VACANCIES HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED.
AND I NOTICED IN THE RAW DATA, UM, THE SALARY, THE PART SALARY FOR PART-TIME, UM, CIVILIANS, UH, HAS THE COST GONE UP 22%? IS THERE A SPECIFIC REASON FOR THAT? OR YOU CAN GET BACK TO ME IF YOU NEED TO.
IT WAS 22% INCREASE IN PART-TIME SALARIES.
SO JUST GET BACK TO ME ON THAT ANSWER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UM, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION LIBRARY.
AND WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT NOW.
I'M THE SENIOR POLITICAL ORGANIZER FOR NAKASEC ACTION FUND TEXAS.
BY THE TIME YOU'RE DONE HERE, YOU'RE GONNA HATE THE COLOR.
UM, REFERRING BACK TO A COUNCIL PERSON, UM, CAYMAN'S COMMENTS ON HOW FAMILIES ARE REALLY LEANING ON PUBLIC LIBRARIES RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF, UM, THE FACT THAT THE TAKEOVER LENDS ITSELF TO REDUCING LIBRARIES AND USING THEM AS, UH, ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE LIBRARY.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF WE CAN ALLOCATE, CAN YOU COMMIT TO NOW ALLOCATING SOME OF THAT MONEY SO THAT WE CAN, UM, HAVE LANGUAGE ACCESS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE, THE FOUR MOST POPULAR LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN HOUSTON OUTSIDE OF ENGLISH WOULD WOULD BE SPANISH, CHINESE, VIETNAMESE, AND KOREAN.
UM, UNDERSTANDING THAT, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS AREN'T NECESSARILY GETTING THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEED.
THEY MIGHT WANNA COME WITH THEIR FAMILIES WHO MAY NOT BE ENGLISH SPEAKING AND DEFINITELY STILL DESERVE ACCESS TO THOSE RESOURCES.
SO CAN YOU COMMIT TO REARRANGING THE BUDGET TO MAKE ROOM FOR THAT? CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE CAN ASK THEM.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.
AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT, UM, THERE ARE NONPROFITS, RIGHT, THAT DO WORK.
HOWEVER, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONSIDER MAKING MIX OF LIBRARIES RESPONSIBILITY MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES PROVIDING THE SERVICES AND NONPROFITS, IF YOU KNOW THEM, THEY WORK TIRE LIKE TIRELESSLY SO MANY HOURS AND GET UNDERPAID.
AND SO TO ASK OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO ASSIST WITH THIS IS, UM, A BIT OF A BIG DEMAND.
I'D LIKE TO JUST REMIND YOU OF THAT.
UM, I WAS ALSO ENCOURAGED WITH THIS PAST PRESENTATION ABOUT THE ENERGY TO WORK BETWEEN CITY AND COUNTY SERVICES.
UH, I REALLY AM GLAD TO HEAR THAT DR. WILSON SAID THERE WAS SOME, UM, ONGOING CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY AND HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY AS A WAY OF BEING MORE EFFICIENT WITH OUR DOLLARS.
HARD TO HEAR, UH, ON THE D TOO FROM ALL OF Y'ALL ABOUT INTEREST IN DOING THE SAME THING.
AND I KNOW MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS ALSO SIGNALED A LOT OF INTEREST OF CONSOLIDATION AND OR BEING MORE JUST INNOVATIVE WITH THE WAYS OF MAYBE NOT HAVING AS MUCH REDUNDANT REDUNDANCY WITH OUR PROGRAMS. AND SO ONE, ONE IDEA THAT, UH, A LOT OF OUR PARTNERS AND OUR ORGANIZATION REALLY ARE PUSHING FOR RIGHT NOW IS THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY ENHANCED LIBRARY CARD, WHICH SOME OF Y'ALL MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH.
IT'S A PHOTO ID THAT IS, UM, A VERY ACCESSIBLE FORM THAT, SORRY, THAT IS VERY ACCESSIBLE TO A LOT OF RESIDENTS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY.
OBVIOUSLY HARRIS COUNTY CREATED THIS AND ACCEPTS IT.
HARRIS HEALTH ACCEPTS IT AS WELL.
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE COUNTY SIDE TO HAVE OTHER AGENCIES ADOPT THIS AS A VALID FORM OF PHOTO ID.
AND FOR US, IT WOULD BE AMAZING TO SEE IF THERE'S INTEREST TO CONSOLIDATE BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES TO HAVE JUST A UNIFORM PUBLIC
[00:45:01]
LIBRARY CARD.I ALSO DON'T LIKE CARRYING SO MANY DIFFERENT CARDS IN MY WALLET.
IT'S A PAIN IN THE BUTT, IT'S A HASSLE.
SO TO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS MORE OF A QUESTION TO THE DIRECTOR, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, WOULD LOVE TO SEE SUPPORTS AND ENDORSEMENTS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OF LIKE, HEY, LET'S JUST HAVE ONE SINGLE CARD, ESPECIALLY ONE WITH OUR AMAZING FACES ON IT WITH OUR DRESSES.
THERE'S EXPANDED GENDER MARKERS.
SO, UM, YEAH, WE'LL LOVE TO SEE AND HEAR IF THERE'S A LOT OF, IF THERE'S ANY INTEREST AMONG COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ENDORSEMENT OF THIS CARD TOO.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN? NO, JUST TO ADD ON, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS YOU'VE BEEN PARTICIPATING, BUT I KNOW, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ'S PREDECESSOR AND I, I'M, I DON'T WANNA PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH.
I WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THOSE EFFORTS, UM, TO HAVE A SINGLE CITY GOVERNMENT ISSUED CARD.
'CAUSE AGAIN, FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN USE, UH, FOR PUBLIC SAFETY PURPOSES TOO.
UH, SO WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR, I PERSONALLY APPRECIATE, 'CAUSE I DO THINK THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVE TO START AGAIN, BUT I'LL DEFER TO, UM, THE DISTRICT THAT STARTED IT ALL.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS GREAT WHENEVER YOU'RE ABLE TO WORK WITH SOMEONE THAT YOU ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH.
AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT DEFINITELY THROUGH THE, THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE OFFICE WE'RE SUPPORTIVE OF.
UM, IT'S A CONVERSATION I DEFINITELY WANNA PICK UP AS WELL.
UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE, WE TALKED TO, UH, SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS AND WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
UM, BUT IT'S A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY.
I DON'T SEE TOO MUCH OF A COST FOR US, RIGHT.
IF WE, IF WE COLLABORATE WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM TO HAVE THE ENHANCED PLUS LIBRARY CARD AND UTILIZE IT AS A FORM OF ID.
SO, UH, DEFINITELY HERE TO PICK UP THE TORCH AND CONTINUE DOING THAT WORK.
AND SO, WOULD IT BE EASY TO SAY THAT IF WE HAD A SIGN ON LETTER AND IF Y'ALL COULD JOIN US, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER.
AND JUST A SUGGESTION, A DIGITAL OPTION WOULD BE GOOD TOO.
I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE NO COST TO ANYONE.
UM, AND IT COULD BE DIGITAL AND I MEAN, I KNOW THAT, THAT, I MEAN, WE COULD ALSO HAVE CARDS TOO FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE PHONES.
BUT I THINK HAVING IT AS A DIGITAL OPTION THAT WOULD JUST GO IN THEIR WALLET OR WHATEVER, I THINK THAT WOULD BE, UM, BENEFICIAL AND, AND LESS EXPENSIVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, ONCE AGAIN.
JUST, UH, JUST TO YOUR POINT, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND, UM, MARTINEZ, I, I WOULD SUPPORT THAT IDEA CREATION OF, UH, PHOTO ID LIBRARY CARD.
GOT SOME TRACTION THERE, STEVEN.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION WITH YOU REALLY QUICK.
UM, HOUSTON SPENDS THE LOWEST PER CAPITA OF THE LARGEST 20 PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEMS. UM, AND I THINK ALL OF US LOVE THE LIBRARY.
HOW COULD YOU NOT? I MEAN, THEY'RE THE BEST.
UM, IF YOU WANT ME TO DO A SPECIAL PRESENTATION ON HOW MUCH MY FAMILY LOVES THE LIBRARY, I'D BE HAPPY.
SO, UM, MY QUESTIONS ARE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ADULT LITERACY? UM, IT'S STILL INCLUDED IN THE SHORT TERM GOALS, BUT DOESN'T HAVE A LINE ITEM.
BEEN HEARING SOME RUMORS AROUND TOWN, BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR IT FROM THE COUNCIL.
I CAN, WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THAT.
I, I WAS ON THE BOARD OF WHEN IT USED TO BE THE HOUSTON REED COMMISSION LONG AGO BEFORE IT WAS BROUGHT INTO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
SO WE CAN CERTAINLY ASK SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
UM, MY NEXT QUESTION IS, UM, IT'S KIND OF A TWO-PARTER.
HOW WILL THE CITY OF HOUSTON MEET THEIR TARGETS FOR LIBRARY OPERATIONS WITHOUT AN INCREASED BUDGET? UM, AS OF NOW, THE BUDGET IS SET TO DECREASE BY 1% IN OPERATIONS.
UM, AND THEN ALONG WITH THAT, UM, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT PROPOSED CUT TO THE LIBRARY SPACES IN THE BUDGET, DESPITE HOUSTON'S POPULATION GROWTH.
UM, HOW IS THE CITY GONNA CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THE LIBRARY SPACES WHEN THERE'S, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S NO LISTED TARGET FOR FACILITIES BEING CLEANED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THAT'S A GOOD PERFORMANCE MEASURE WE CAN SUGGEST TO ADD.
AND, UM, I THINK OF SOME OF THE CUTS WERE VACANCIES THAT HADN'T BEEN FILLED IN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, SO I DON'T THINK IT'S AN ACTUAL LOSS OF PERSONNEL, BUT WE'LL GET YOU SPECIFIC ANSWERS.
UM, I SEE THAT THERE IS, UM, AN INCREASED TARGET FOR VIRTUAL
[00:50:01]
VISITOR, UH, VIRTUAL VISITS AND VISITORS FOR TECH LINK.I'M CURIOUS IF COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL ADVOCATE FOR GENERAL FUNDS TO BE, UH, UTILIZED FOR THESE NEEDS.
I'M ALSO CURIOUS IF, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL ADVOCATE FOR, UM, USING GENERAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARY'S IMPACT ON LITERACY FOR HOUSTONIANS.
UM, CONSIDERING THE ATTACK ON HISD AND K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION ON A STATE LEVEL, UM, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE PROPOSED IMPACT OF A 19% CUT TO LITERACY AND EDUCATION.
UM, I'M ALSO CURIOUS ABOUT, UH, A SIGNIFICANT, THE SIGNIFICANT DROP IN DIGITAL STRATEGIES.
UM, UM, HOW IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT, UH, THE LIBRARY'S OFFERINGS? AND I ALSO JUST HAVE LIKE A SORT OF GENERAL QUESTION, UM, ABOUT THE PROCESS FOR THESE BUDGET HEARINGS.
I NOTICED COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ASKING IF THERE ARE FUNDS THAT CAN BE ALLOCATED TOWARDS THINGS LIKE PERSONNEL COSTS, ARCHIVES AND DIGITAL PROGRAMMING.
WHAT IS THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S ROLE IN ACTUALLY FORMULATING THE BUDGET? BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES SOUND LIKE Y'ALL DON'T HAVE AN IMPACT ON DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT THE BUDGET CAN BE ADJUSTED.
DO Y'ALL LIKE, OR DO Y'ALL ADVOCATE FOR THE BUDGET TO BE ADJUSTED? OR LIKE, ARE THESE QUESTIONS GOING TO THE COUNCIL, TO THE DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR THEM TO MAKE THE DECISION? WHAT IS Y'ALL'S ACTUAL ROLE? SO WE SPEND THE NEXT FEW WEEKS HAVING THESE HEARINGS, ASKING QUESTIONS, UM, LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC.
AND THEN WE DO FORMULATE BUDGET AMENDMENTS OURSELVES TO SUBMIT.
AND THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED, I THINK, I BELIEVE THE DATE WAS JUNE 4TH.
AND, UM, SO YES, WE DO AMEND THE BUDGET.
AND SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL ADVOCATE FOR GENERAL FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED TOWARDS VIRTUAL VISITS AND VISITORS TOWARDS TECH LINK, UM, AS WELL AS, UH, UH, DIGITAL, UM, LITERACY AND EDUCATION.
UH, IF, IF COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL ADVOCATE FOR GENERAL FUNDS TO BE USED TO SUPPORT, UH, THE LIBRARY'S IMPACT ON LITERACY FOR HOUSTONIANS.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE SAID.
THE LAST ONE IS, UH, WILL COUNCIL MEMBERS ADVOCATE FOR GENERAL FUNDS TO BE USED TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARY'S IMPACT ON LITERACY FOR HOUSTONIANS SINCE THERE IS A CURRENT 19% CUT TOWARDS LITERACY AND EDUCATION IN THE, IN THE LINE ITEM OF, UH, FOR THE, UM, LIBRARIES.
I WAS CURIOUS IF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL ADVOCATE FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THERE TO BE GENERAL FUNDS USED TOWARDS THIS LITERACY EFFORT THAT THE, UH, LIBRARY ENACTS.
I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK INTO THE SPECIFICS OF, OF THAT LINE ITEM, BUT UM, BEFORE COMMITTING TO THAT, THERE MIGHT BE OTHER FUNDING FOR IT OR SOMETHING, BUT WE NEED TO DIG INTO THE, DIG INTO THE, THE DETAILS OF THAT.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, THANK YOU TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHAT IS COUNCIL'S ROLE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS? YOU'RE WATCHING IT RIGHT NOW.
UM, WE GOT THE BUDGET YESTERDAY AND HAVE NOT HAD VERY MUCH TIME TO GO THROUGH THIS MATERIAL.
UM, I WOULD LOVE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS EARLIER.
I'M SURE EVERYONE AT THIS TABLE WOULD BE, AND WE'VE ACTUALLY MADE THAT REQUEST, UH, IN THE PAST.
SO WE'LL, WE'LL SEE GOING FORWARD IF, IF, UH, WE'RE ABLE TO GET INVOLVED EARLIER OR NOT.
APPRECIATE YOUR, APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
SARAH, ARE YOU ONLINE? MM-HMM
I'M SURE YOU KNOW THAT BY NOW.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF STAR SIX IS STILL A THING.
IS THAT'S, LET ME SAID STAR SIX SO MANY TIMES DURING COVID, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THAT'S STILL AN INSTRUCTION, BUT I KNOW THERE YOU ARE.
I I ACTUALLY ASKED TO, I UH, I ASKED TO BE PASSED FOR LIBRARIES AND INSTEAD PUT ON NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
SEEING MM-HMM