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Home My WebLink About03-26-2003 Library Commission Minutes SARATOGA LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING Administrative Conference Room 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Saratoga, CA 95070 Wednesday, March 26, 2003 ACTION MINUTES I. Call to Order Chair Manzo called the meeting to order at 7: 10pm. II. Roll Call Commissioners Present: Chandra, Cross, Gipstein, Foscato, Johnson, Manzo Commissioner Absent: Grover Other City Officials Present: CounciImember Bogosian, Assistant City Manager Tinfow III. Report on Posting of Agenda Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda was properly posted on March 21, 2003. IV. Oral and Written Communication . Annual Library Issues Breakfast Invitation distributed (See Attachment A) . Letter from County Librarian Cervantes regarding Governor's proposed budget cuts distributed (See Attachment B) . SF Chronicle article (02/05/03) regarding the Oakland Library circulated V. Approval of Minutes of January 22,2003, Library Commission Meeting Commissioner Johnson moved to approve the minutes of the January 22,2003, meeting as amended. Commissioner Cross seconded the motion and it passed 4/0. VI. Old Business a. Library Expansion Committee Update . Substantial completion date delayed. PG&E not connected to date. Installation of carpeting and tiles in process. Installation oflighting is ongoing and results ofthose installed are great. . Furniture delivery may be scheduled prior to completion date. . Library will be closed for three weeks during move-in to coincide with check out period. b. Library Opening Update Tentatively scheduled for June 21, 2003. c. Volunteer Recruitment Campaign . Development of Docent Tour Script tabled until substantial completion date of building is established. . Moving Volunteers I. Three trainings scheduled - 45 attendees at 1 st training VII. New Business a. Library Lease . Viewed videotape of City Council discussion of lease from 03/05/03 meeting. . Councilmember Bogosian communicated that Council discussion and concern about the lease was not a referendum of quality of service, but due diligence on a part of the Council to explore options should budget/cost become an issue in the future. He communicated that current service levels are superior. . Councilmember Bogosian stated that he intended to make a motion at the 04/03/03 City Council Meeting to continue the current policies regarding the Community Room. . Commission Chair Manzo suggested that the City undertake a study ofthe cost to run a library in light of the impending sunset of Measure A and the March 2004 ballot issue regarding future library funding. . County Librarian Cervantes stated that the County's Library System's funding is separate and independent from the Santa Clara county funding. - JP A authorized the use of reserve funds to maintain current services levels through fiscal year 03/04. Commissioner Gipstein made a motion that: "In light of the intent expressed by the Saratoga voters to fund the current library building and expressed again during the successful Measure N campaign to expand that building, and in consideration of the re-enforced message communicated to City Council at the March 19th meeting, and in consideration of the potential displacement of many non-profit groups should policies be revised, the Saratoga Library Commission recommends maintaining the existing policy and practice regarding the Use of the Community Room," Commissioner Cross seconded the motion and it passed (5 affirmative votes and I abstention). b. Friends of the Saratoga Libraries Mission and Operations - Bill McDonnal (See Attachment C) VIII. Reports a. Melinda Cervantes, County Librarian Library Legislative Day in Sacramento Wednesday, April 30 - 8:30am - Noon Registration fee required - Carpools to be arranged - More information to follow b. Marcia Manzo, Chair Joint Meeting with City Council at North Campus Saturday, April 26 - 2:55pm - 3:40pm Distributed suggested topics to be discussed (See Attachment D) To be agendized for discussion at April Commission meeting c. Dolly Barnes, Community Librarian Staff continues to prepare for move while providing ongoing library services. d. Lori Burns, Staff Liaison Mold to be removed from Book Go Round and building re-roofto be funded included in the City's Capital Improvement Plan. e. Cathy Foscato, Friends of the Saratoga Libraries Paperback Book Sale - Sunday, April 20th Presentation by BookBrowse.com author at Emmanuel Lutheran Church Monday, April 7 -7:00pm IX. Adjournment Commissioner Foscato moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned at 9:30pm. 6/0 prepare~BY: . 6 tY'-'U i~ Lori B s, HR Analyst 868-1252 hr(@,saratoga.ca.us . . . ... .~ Cl> .<:: ~ .<:: ~ .~ I::: o .~ ~ ro ... Cl> p.. o o u I::: .~ :;E ~ Eo< en >-< en ~ .x: p:; I'Q ~ ...:I >-< ~ ...:I ...:I :; Z o {) ~ ...:I .~ en c(j :;E ~ Eo< en >-< m >-< p:; .x: p:; I'Q ~ ...:I .x: ...:I :::> m Z ~ Z ~ p., ~ ro u o ...:I ... o .... ~ tIl ro .... ~ ct! Cl> ... ..Q ~ I': .~ o .~ ~ ro ;::l I': I': ro ... .~ Cl> .<:: ~ "0 I::: Cl> ~ ~ ro o ~ ::l o :>- Cl> ~ .~ ~ .~ :>- ~ ~ ttI .~ "0 ... o u tIl "0 ... ttI o I'Q ~ ... o '" .~ ~ .i; I::: .x: EJ g I': Cl> ... ~ (]) '" :> ~ 0 U} 0 tIl ... 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I'Q E: .~ rei .... 0 P<o KJ:i .. ...... >-~ ro "0 H ;::l 0 ~ ('I) 0000 ~ ~ (]) ro ~ Cl> o p:; ::r: 0 ~ I::: :;; '8 ~ p., ro ... "0 " ro ... '-' p., o ~ 0 ....!:LI~ H 0 H ~ 0 ()) U}~;;s Aitc)ch"",,-,.d' A A +t ::>c '^ ""-'-''' +- 6 , .. S~~e~~~cS22~2~~~: ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES -- ~ March 14,2003 Dear Library Commissioners and Friends: The Governor's 2003 Budget proposes the elimination of$12.5 million in funding for Transaction Based Reimbursement (TBR). Instead, he proposes that libraries charge fees for direct loan - $1 per item, and $5 for Inter-Library Loans. The Santa Clara County Library joins the California Library Association (CLA) in strongly opposing the Governor's elimination of the funding for this important program and the shift to a fee- based approach. I've attached a copy of the letter that the Library Joint Powers Authority Board sent to our legislators along with some background on TBR. While there are two other types of state aid that SCCL receives, Public Library Foundation funds and Vehicle In-Lieu Tax (VLF), Transaction Based Reimbursement is by far the most significant for two reasons. First, TBR allows residents of the SCCL district to borrow at no additional cost from any library in the state. This program allows Californians to access libraries wherever they 0 to school or work in addition to where they live. Secondly, because SCCL is a net-lender of materials to residents outside the district, SCCL receives an annual reimbursement of $1.4 million that goes back into the budget for the purchase of books and other materials. The Governor's proposed budget for libraries will be before the Assembly and Senate Budget Subcommittees in the coming weeks. Options for these committees will be to accept the Governor's proposal, reject it outright, or choose a level of funding between $0 and $12.5 million for the program. CLA lobbyists, Mike Dillon and Christina Dillon, are preparing a letter on behalf of CLA to all members of the Senate and Assembly to make them aware of the Governor's drastic action regarding the TBR. Shortly, I will be asking you to write to members of the Budget subcommittees where this issue will be initially discussed. Please contact me with any questions you might have about the Governor's proposed cuts and how they will affect the high quality of library service our residents expect. Sincerely, ft(~~ Melinda Cervantes County Librarian SANTA CLARA COUNTY LIBRARY www.sant8claracountylib.org Alum Rock Campbell Cupertino Gilroy Los Altos Los Anos Hills Milpitas Monte Sereno Morgan Hill Saratoga fSi"NTA CLARA 1(5-0 U'N.T Y !L\BRARY . & SANTA CLARA COUNTY LIBRARY JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY BOARD 1095 North Seventh Street. San Jose, CA 95112-4446 . (408) 293-2326 . (408) 287-9826 FAX SAMPLE LETTER February 10, 2003 The Honorable State Capitol Building, Room Sacramento, CA 95814 Re: Proposed Budget Impact on Library Services Dear Senator: Lost in the dispute about the state budget deficit magnitude, is the gross inequity of the Governor's proposed budget reduction in state support oflibrary services. Most rational people would agree that the state is facing so large a revenue problem that the solution requires shared pain across state departments, local government, schools and, probably, even taxpayers. What is confounding is that while state departments are asked to take a 9% across-the-board reduction (except for public safety), the Santa Clara County Library is faced with a 91.1 % reduction in state support! Here are the details. ..__......_......... ...._......._n_._... State Aid Category FY 2ooi=02'''--r .....Fy...2C)"oi={j'3 i\ctual Proposed .-..-.-........"-.-.....__.,,.... FY 2003- Change from %, 04 2001-02 Change i _l'r~l1~sed . ., $18~ ,653-------. ---~~<~~~:~~{[~}~i~! $181,653 I -$1,854,795 i -91.1% \ i Public Library Foundation ..... .n.. .__. . _,..,...~.,.,.. I Transact Based Reimburse. ._m.m_",_,_..".....,.... Total I --$616;457 1:$181,653\ $1.419.99i' $1.419:991'-- $2,036,448 ! -$1;601:6441 ""_._-.-; The Public Library Foundation exists to "assure the availability to every resident of the state an adequate level of library service regardless of the taxable wealth of the local jurisdiction providing service". Despite this provision of the Education Code, the Governor has proposed to cut the prograrn appropriation by 72% since FY 200 I. More egregious, is the Governor's proposal to eliminate the Transaction Based Reimbursement program which has been in state law and continuosly appropriated for over 25 years. This small $12.1 million program is the only incentive for all libraries to participate in equal access or universal borrowing. The program allows Californians to access libraries wherever they go to school or work in addition to where they live. The Governor's revenue replacement suggestion that libraries be authorized to collect a $1.00 fee for every book borrowed is wholly unworkable and expensive to administer based upon experiments in other states. Moreover, the notion is anathema to the tradition of free public libraries that have existed in California for over 100 years. Santa Clara County Libra>)' operates under a Joint l'owel:1 Authoritv and serpes tbe communities of Alum Rock' Campbell' CUINrtino Gilroy' l.os Altos' Los Altos Hills' Milpitas . Monte Sereno' Morgan Hill' Saratoga' aud tbe unincorporated areas ~(tbe County '. . We are resigned to being asked to do more than our "fair share" to help the state during this challenging time. Asking us, however, to bear the brunt of a 91 % cut in state support goes beyond any sense of fairness. We ask that you employ the powers of your good office to seek a more equitable distribution of the cut-backs needed to balance the state budget. Yours truly, Daniel Furtado JP A Chair Kris Casto Legislative Committee , . Libraries-a great bargain for aI/-are endangered by a new proposal from the Governor. Whether you need job information, programs for your preschooler, computer training, small business information, or a good book, public libraries provide it all with economy and convenience. When money is tight, people use their libraries more than ever. Thanks to 30 years of state support, California residents can walk into any library in the state and check out a book. Or, if your local library does not have a particular item, you can ask to borrow it from another library. Libraries can do this because the state gives money to local jurisdictions to help pay for service to people who don't live within their boundaries. This program is called Transaction Based Reimbursement or TBR. The Governor's proposed budget eliminates TBR and asks that people be charged for borrowing books from libraries other than their own. The suggested amount is at least one dollar for each item, What this means IfTBR is eliminated, a preschool child or a senior on a fixed income who lives closer to a library in a neighboring city could have to pay at least a dollar for every book borrowed. Students whose school districts cross several community lines could have to pay to use the public library nearest their school. College students, researchers or anyone who wishes to borrow a book not available at their local library would have to pay fees. This places an unfair burden on those who most need libraries and can least afford to pay for them. Although a miniscule part of the state budget, TBR is a significant part of many local libraries' budgets. If there is no support from the state, many libraries will be forced to charge or deny service to those who live outside their community. They may also be forced to cut hours, book budgets and other services that residents depend on. Last year people like you borrowed more than 30 million items from libraries other than their own. At less than 40 cents per loan, all Californians ertioy access to information resources much greater than even the largest local libraries can provide. The Bottom Line Charging fees is neither efficient nor effective for California residents. Eliminating TBR will save little money for state government but decrease library service significantly, CALIFORNIA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 717 20th Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95814-916-447-8541-www.c1a-net.org V22/27/03 . . . A-i+~Ch rN--At c... NOTES FOR LIBRARY COMMISSION, MARCH, 2003 FRIENDS OF THE SARATOGA LIBRARIES - A Non-profit, non political organization - Formed in 1972, when there was an Oak Street and a Quito library - Have kept the plural to recognize that we also support and recognize the voluntary librarians at the school libraries. - 1200 members. . . 1,000+ regular members and 185 Life members About the same as last year, but more work ONE PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARY - Encourage and assist in providing adequate physical facilities. . . Our focus since 1999 - Be an additional financial support group by providing materials, systems, and personnel support. . . worth a few minutes . . . $1 million since 1993, ten years, up to now Nearly $2 million dollars over 11 years will have been made available . . . $ 431 K for furniture this year . . . $ 350K for expanded collections available this year . . . $ 100K (estimate) will be available for normal grants - Examples of grants since 1993 (limited since 1999): - $30K for Furniture: Data Terminal Tables, Children's Furniture, Self-checkout System, Flat Panel Computer Projector - $100K for Books: Best Seller Browsers, General Books, Adult Collection, Children's Books - $21 K for Reference Books: Science/Techonology, Computer Books & Videos, and Other - $18K for Award Books: Recognizing School Library Volunteers, Library Volunteers, etc. - $140K for Materials & Staffing: Workshops, Children's, Young Adult and Adult Programs, Sunday Summer Hours - $78K for Community Awareness and Measure N Election Campaign Dollars are impressive. . . Hard work and hours by over 200 volunteers is even more so - 150 volunteers regularly staff the Book-Go-Round - There were about 50 volunteers who spent lots of time on the Awareness Program . . . - These 50, as citizens, not Friends, were joined by 150 or so on the Measure N - About 20 have done the bulk of the work on Furnishing the Future A+tDVh~-+ 10 DRAFT Some topics for a Council/Commission Discussion Historic perspective . Development of City and County Libraries in California . County Library Department became County Library ulsrrict see. L, br.::>/ ,{ j fA Current Organization . Budget . Governance . Community Library Configuration (not Main/Branches Configuration) . Benefits of a cooperative organization Future . Measure A Sunsets . March '04 Election . Ongoing tradition of cooperation Role of Friends . Membership and purpose . Fundraising Role of Library Commission . Advisory opportunities with City Council . Ongoing advice to County Library about local library service . Local library advocates