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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 09232003 - SD.6 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM: Anne Cain, County Librarian s, Costa DATE: September 23, 2003 County k#ri' SUBJECT: Acknowledge the County Library's 90'hBirthday and Authorize the Acceptance of Online Donations to the Contra Costa County Library SPECIFIC REQUEST (S) OR RECOMMENDATION (S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. ADOPT Resolution No. 2003/524 proclaiming October as"Contra Costa County Library 90'x'Birthday Month in Contra Costa County." 2. AUTHORIZE the County Librarian to solicit donations for funds for books and other material through the Library's website and to accept online donations to the Library using a variety of methods of payment, including credit cards and/or"Pay Pal". FINANCIAL IMPACT: This new method of soliciting donations to the Library from the Library's Website will increase revenues by an amount yet to be determined. This is part of an overall plan to mitigate the 25%reduction in the Library's book budget in 2003104. Pay Pal charges a fee to donors to use its payment service and could act as the intermediary between the Library and donors to receive donations made by credit card. There are no other costs associated with these transactions. BACKGROUND: October 2003 marks the 9e birthday of the Contra Costa County Library. Subscription libraries and free reading rooms existed in Contra Costa County as far back as 1860. The State law that authorized the establishment of county libraries was passed in 1911. and in July 1913 the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to establish and maintain a County Free Library. The Contra Costa County Library began operation in October 1913 with libraries in Antioch, Concord, Danville, Hercules, Iron Horse, Martinez,Oakley, Richmond and Walnut Creek. The following year libraries opened in Avon,Associated, Bay Point (name changed.to Port Chicago in 1931), Brentwood, Crockett,Jersey Landing, Nichols, Orinda Park, Pacheco, Pinole, Pittsburg, Roden, St. Paul's Parish, San Pablo, Selby and Winehaven. In 1915 county libraries opened in Byron, Knightsen, Lafayette,Pleasant Hill and the County Jail and the St. Paul's Parish Library closed. In its first year of operation(1913), 3,395 new books were bought for the County Library. County Librarian Mrs. Alice G. Whitbeck personally selected all of these books. At the time of the Library's 50"'birthday celebration in 1953,the Library had 433,000 books. Today the Contra Costa County Library serves over 900,000 people with a collection of 1.3 million books,tapes, CDs, DVDs and videos. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: E YES SIGNATURE: CIAECOMMENDATtON OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR [] RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE F-�OTHER SIGNATURE(S):4— ' ACTION OF SON (' €`. ') ' APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED K OTHER F] s 1 VOTE OF SUPERVISORS: I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF UNANIMOUS(ASSENT Y ?�' � ��` ; AN ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE AYES: NOES: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ASSENT: ABSTAIN: Contact: Susan Caldwell,(926)6"4423 ATTESTED. SEPTEMBER 23,2003 JOHN SWEETEN,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF cc: County Library SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR County Administrator �fA County Auditor Ai �'a.p�`r ��f�„ County Counsel 13Yti,#Z C -,Deputy Acknowledge the County Library's 90`h Birthday and Authorize the Acceptance of Online Donations to the Contra Costa County Library September 23, 2003 Page 2 Use of these items is at an all-time high. Circulation topped 4 million for the first time ever in the history of the County Library in 2001/02. Last year, the circulation increased an additional 5.5%to 4.25 million. We consistently hear from our Library customers that their highest priority is to have the Library open hours that are convenient for them. The only way for the Library to maintain all open hours was to recommend to you a drastic 25%reduction in the Library's book budget. While Library customers are consistent in wanting convenient open hours,they also place a very high priority on finding what they need at the Library. In 2003/04, the County Library faces a major challenge in purchasing the new releases and updated resources customers are requesting. Each day as the doors open at our 23 locations, children, teens and adults stream in looking for information. They seek stories, advice,opportunities, guidance and recreational reading. While many find what they are looking for, some are forced to leave empty handed. In recognition of the Library's 9e birthday, we would like to make a direct appeal to Library users to help support the Library's collections. This is in addition to the outstanding commitment of many of the Library's Friends of the Library groups and Foundations as well as the Library Commission to identify and pursue opportunities to offset the $366,000 reduction in the materials budget. A kick-off to the birthday celebration is the establishing of an online method for accepting donations from Library patrons and others wishing to make donations to the Library by credit card. The Library is prepared to begin using Pay Pal as a third party contractor, to facilitate the receipt of donations by credit card. Donations are largely expected to come from patrons who may not otherwise have an opportunity to make contributions because they are primarily remote Library users. These contributions are intended to bolster the Library's materials budget and the Library's literacy program, Project Second Chance, which lost up to 15%of the money it receives from the State this fiscal year. Individuals will be able make a monetary contribution to the materials budget, or contribute to Project Second Chance, using a credit card. If the contribution is made to the materials budget they will also have the opportunity to recommend a book title or category that they would like to see their donation used to support. Funds collected by Pay Pal will be wire transferred to the designated County Library bank account. Pay Pal charges a fee of 3% on each transaction. Monthly reports will be provided to the Library by Pay Pal listing the contributor and the amount of each contribution. County Counsel has advised that this method of receiving donations is allowable. Based on our experiences, the Library will continue to investigate additional efficient methods of receiving funds, such as collecting fines and fees online. In the Matter of the 901h Birthday of the Contra Costa County Library RESOLUTION NO. 2003/524 WHEREAS, the Contra Costa County Library was established by the Board of Supervisors on July 21, 1913; and WHEREAS, the Contra Costa County Library began operation on October 7,1913;and WHEREAS, the County Library has for 90 years prodded our communities and our customers with access to information,in a variety of formats, to build their futures and fulfill their daily needs; and WHEREAS, use of the library and its collections is at an all-time high, with the circulation of the collection exceeding 4.2 million in 2002/03; and WHEREAS, the library faces a major challenge in 20013/04 in purchasing new releases and updated resources with a 25% reduction in the material's budget; and WHEREAS, each day as the doors open at the 23 library locations,children,teens and adults stream in looking for information, stories, advice, opportunities, guidance, recreational reading and enhanced literacy; and NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County PROCLAIM October 2003, Contra Costa County Library 90th Birthday Month in honor of the Library's 90 years of service to our communities. �Ar MARK DESAULNIER Chair ' District IV Supervis JOHN GIOIA GAYLE .t7ILICEMA District I Supervisor District II Su r MILLIE GREENBERG EI3ERAI,D.GLOVER District III Supervisor District V Supervisor I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Hoard of Supervisors on the date shown: ATTESTED: September 23,2003 JOHN SWEETEN, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator By �Gf C e4 Deputy