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Home My WebLink About07-27-1994 Library Commission Minutes Saratoga Library Commission Meeting Book-Go-Round July 27, 1994 7:30 p.m. Action Minutes I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. II. Roll Call Commissioners present: Ceppos, Grantham, Peacock, Sessler, Skow, Towse Commissioner absent: Martini III. Report on Posting of Commission Agenda The agenda was posted on July 21, 1994 IV. Approva~ of Minutes of June 22, 1994, Meetin~ Chair Sally Towse asked that the minutes be corrected to state that the Foundation had applied for tax-exempt status. The Minutes were approved as corrected. V. Old Business A. Foundation Chair Towse had nothing new to report. B. Report from Chair on Library Funding Campaiqn CQmmittee This group will begin meeting every Thursday. They are working on lining up big-name endorsements. Mayor Ann Marie Burger will try to get Senator Tom Campbell to endorse the measure. They will be emphasizing that the library funding measure will cost residents only $2.75 per month. County Librarian Susan Fuller reported that the League of Women Voters probably will endorse the measure, and that the Boards of Realtors will remain neutral. In September members of the speakers bureau will begin speaking at local service clubs. VI. New Business A. Nomination of Supervisor Dianne McKenna for CALTACAward The Los Altos Library Commission is nominating Dianne McKenna for a CALTAC award for support of libraries, and suggested that Saratoga's Commission do so also. The Commission agreed, and Chair Towse will obtain a copy of the nominating letter sent in by Los Altos. Staff Carolyn King will ensure that the Commissioners' memberships in CALTAC are current. B. Development of Model for Library Services at $33 Assessment Level (continued from May meetinq) County Librarian Fuller stated she would have new figures for the anticipated funding level. The goal is to restore the quality of library service to the 1991 level, before the budget cuts began. VII. Reports Susan Fuller, County Librarian County Librarian Fuller reported that $106,000 was raised by the bowling tournament put on by Cadence Corporation on June 25. TheCommission requested Staff Liaison King to write a letter of thanks to Cadence. The library system is working to implement Internet, and they hope to be able to work with other libraries in the County such as Palo Alto to share such things as full text journals. Dolly Barnes, Community Librarian Community Librarian Dolly Barnes reported on the summer reading program, and that there was a library school intern helping out. Carolyn King, City Staff Representative No report. Sally Towse, Chair Chair Towse reported on the Friends of the Library benefit concert at Villa Montalvo. VIII. Communications from City Council None IX. Oral and Written Communications None X. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Prepared By: Carolyn K~ng ' / Assistant to the City Manager . yf 13777 FRUiTVALE AVENUE · SARATOGA, CALIFORNIA 95070 · (408) 867-3438 COUNCIL MEMBERS: A.On Maf?e ~Gfgef Pau/E. Jacobs G?f,'lan MofJn A. aret7 7ucker August 8, 1994 'DonaldL. 14,~/?e Joe Costello President and CEO Cadence Design Systems 2655 Seely Road, MS:SA1 San Jose, CA 95134 Dear Mr. Costello: The Saratoga Library Commission would like to congratulate you on the success of the June 25 bowling tournament fund raiser. The Commission also wishes to express their appreciation to you and Cadence Design Systems for donating the funds to the Santa Clara County Library system for their use in extending the Internet system. As members of the Library Commission we strongly support the staff of the County Library system, and their work in these difficult times. We also support and applaud efforts in the community to raise badly needed funds for our libraries. Thank you from the Saratoga Library Commission, and the Saratoga/ Monte Sereno community. s l}y.T?ys . _. Chair.~,ratoga Lzbrary Commission ST:CK:jm Printed on recycled paper 13777 FRUITVALE AVENUE · SARATOGA, CAL~ORNIA 95070 · (408) 867-3438 COUNC~ ~MBERS: September 9, 1994 Ann Ma~ Burger ~u; £ ~cobs ~f~an Mo~n ~mn ~er Alice B. Grigshy, CALTAC Awards Chairman DonaZdLWol~ 10901 Ardath Avenue Inglewood, CA 90303 Dear Mrs. Grigshy: The Saratoga Community Library Commission has requested that I sponsor the nomination of Santa Clara County Supervisor Dianne McKenna for the CALTAC award for an elected local government official. I am delighted to do so. Due to Dianne McKenna's perseverance, leadership, and effort, the Santa Clara County Library system is in the process of approving a new form of governance as well as a new form of community support for the library. During the past years, the Santa Clara County Library system has had its state funding cut through drastic declines in Special District Augmentation Funds. In 1993 alone, the SDAF monies were slashed about 45%. City library commissions, the public, and staff were stunned and appealed to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors for assistance. The Board of Supervisors, while supportive, could not divert any general fund monies to the Library system because they were themselves dealing with state cuts to the County budget. Ideas, suggestions, and plans could not change the fact that the County itself could not solve the Library's budget problems. Library commissions appealed to their cities for help. Several cities buffered their library's problems somewhat by offering one- time financial supplements; Cupertino's City Council offered a one- time grant on the condition that the Library Commission and Friends generate matching donations. Other Friend's groups made city-wide appeals for funds and members. The use of volunteers at the libraries in the system increased dramatically. The help from the cities, the renewed fund raising efforts from the Friends groups, and the extensive volunteer efforts were not enough. Several cities in the Santa Clara County Library system began to give serious consideration to withdrawing from the County Library system. If the County could not fund the Library, some residents felt that the Library district should be disbanded and the collection distributed to the cities which would develop funding alternatives for the libraries on their own. Alice B. Grigsby September 9, 1994 Page 2 At this point, Dianne McKenna brought her negotiation skills, patience, and leadership to the table. She called a meeting for the cities which were within her county district; all mayors and city managers were asked to attend. The subject: the Library - its prospects and its future. Eventually the meetings expanded to include all the cities in the Santa Clara County Library district. Under Dianne's leadership and with the research assistance of her staff, the cities broke into two groups to analyze the pros and cons of continuing as a county library district or breaking into individual city libraries. Over several months, with the assistance of Dianne and her staff, the city managers, mayors, and Library staff developed a plan to save the County Library system. The plan recommended a new method of library governance: a joint powers authority which would allow the cities a voice in the management of the Library. The plan not only preserved existing sources of funds, but also allowed for the formation of a benefit assessment district to fund the Library under the new structure. Dianne garnered the support of all nine cities involved and then convinced her fellow Supervisors that the solution was a win-win situation. The County Library would survive intact with the possibility of supplemental funding, and the cities would finally get a voice in its governance. The County and the cities in the Santa Clara County Library district (Saratoga, Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas Monte Sereno, and Morgan Hill) have been working cooperatively to garner public approval for a benefit assessment in the Santa Clara County Library district to fund the Library. The cities, which were previously in a "my city first" mode, have pulled together to get across the board (and across the County) approval of an advisory measure on November's ballot regarding the proposed benefit assessment district. In light of her role in creating the new management structure for the Library, and because of her well-known, long-standing support for libraries, the city representatives to the campaign committee asked Dianne to serve as honorary chair for the campaign. After November, we hope to be celebrating not only the revitalization of the County Library system, but also the recognition of Santa Clara County Supervisor Dianne McKenna for her Alice B. Grigsby September 9, 1994 Page 3 key role in the process. Dianne McKenna deserves the CALTAC elected local government official award for drawing us together when we were pulling apart, focusing our needs when we were getting sidetracked by parochialism, and getting us all together to work for the future of our Library. Sincerely, Sally/To~se,/Chairman. Sar~og~ibraryCommlssioner sT:jv -