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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07171990 - IO.6 I.O.-6 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS .sE--L._o 11J Contra FROM: Costa n INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE , _ County DATE: July 9 , 1990 °rpA cGi c ` SUBJECT: REPORT ON NEED TO FORM A COUNTYWIDE LIBRARY COMMISSION SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Endorse in concept the need for a countywide Library Commission to assist the Board of Supervisors in determining the role, mission, master plan for and means of funding more adequate library service for Contra Costa County. 2. Determine whether the County should have one or the other of the following types of Library Commission: A. A Commission which has on it a representative from each city and town in the County (appointed by each City or Town Council) , representatives from the unincorporated communities in the County (appointed by the Board of Supervisors) , and one or more representatives from the Alliance for Better Libraries representing the Friends of the Library groups throughout the County, or B. A Commission which is somewhat smaller than option "A" and includes representatives from regional groupings of cities and towns similar to the composition of the Contra Costa Transportation Commission (appointed by those groupings of cities and towns) , representatives from unincorporated communities (appointed by the Board of Supervisors) , and one or more representatives from the Alliance for Better Libraries, with subgroups or subcommittees which would include representatives from each city, town, unincorporated community and other interest groups. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YP&YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTE APPROVE OTHER i SIGNATURE S: T JNNEM .PEAK TO WERS ACTION OF BOARD ON July 17 , 1990 1 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER _f VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT I i TV ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. CC: ATTESTED /7 1990 PHIL ATCH OR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF Please see Page 3 . SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY DEPUTY M382 (10/88) -2- 3 . Request the County Administrator to discuss these recommendations with the City/County Relations Committee and ask that they bring the issue to the attention of the Mayors' Conference for their comments and recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. 4. Request the County Administrator to recommend the composition for a Library Commission, based on the input from the Board of Supervisors, Mayors' Conference and Alliance for Better Libraries and return to our Committee with a report on his recommendations at our meeting on September 24, 1990. 5. Agree that the basic charge to the Library Commission would be, by June 30, 1991, to return to the Board of Supervisors and Mayors ' Conference with an overall assessment of the needs of the library system in Contra Costa County and an overall workplan .for meeting those needs. 6. Agree that the basic charge to the Library Commission should be, by June 30, 1992, to return to the Board of Supervisors and the Mayors ' Conference with an analysis of funding options for achieving the workplan which has been outlined and recommended actions which should be taken to achieve full implementation of the workplan. 7. Request the County Administrator to forward the results of the survey which. is currently being undertaken in several cities of the County to this Committee and the Mayors ' Conference by August 31, 1990 for review by our _Committee at our meeting on September 24, 1990. BACKGROUND: On May 1, 1990, the Board of Supervisors referred to our Committee Resolutions from the City Council of the City of Pleasant Hill and the City Council of the City of San Pablo supporting the establishment of a Library Commission. In the meantime, the Board of Supervisors and several cities and towns have agreed to fund a survey of a sample of residents in the County regarding the extent of their support for library services and their willingness to provide additional funding to achieve the level of library services which is considered essential. On July 9, 1990, our Committee met with the County Librarian, staff from the County Administrator' s Office and representatives from the Alliance for Better Libraries and Friends of the Library groups from various communities in the County. There seems to be general support from those who were present at our Committee meeting for a Library Commission which would be responsible for formulating a long-term plan for library services in the County, identifying the steps which are necessary to achieve those goals and to identify alternatives for providing the funds necessary to achieve those goals. We have, therefore outlined the above recommendations which we believe will move forward the establishment of a Library Commission, which we see as an important adjunct to County government. Such a Commission can serve a valuable purpose by focusing attention on the needs of the library system and assisting in obtaining support from the public for the needs of the library system. -3- The results of the survey which is about to be undertaken with the cooperation of the. County and several cities, will be available by the middle of August. We believe that the Board of, Supervisors should move ahead with the formation of a Library Commission. With the results of the .survey, the recommendations of the County Administrator and the input from the Mayors' Conference, we believe that we will be ready to move ahead with the creation of a Library Commission and appointment of its members. We have outlined two possible options for the structure of a Library Commission, although certainly a variety of other options are possible. We have also attached for the Board's information comments made to our Committee by the Alliance for Better Libraries on July 9, 1990 and copies of letters the Alliance has received from various groups supporting the creation of a Library Commission. cc: County Administrator Chief Assistant County Administrator County Librarian George Sipel, Town Manager, Town of Danville Joe Tanner, City Manager, City of Pleasant Hill Charlotte Maggard, City Clerk, City of San Pablo Terry Goss, Co-Chair, Alliance for Better Libraries iancefor Better ibraries Remarks. to Internal Operations Committee Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors The Alliance for Better Libraries was.formed in 1987 and endorsed on April 19, 1988, by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors to serve as an advocate to support the development and implementation of a long-range plan. We are a collection of county-wide Friends of the Library groups, the Contra Costa County Interbranch Council of the American Association of University Women. The League of Women Voters has expressed support for our goals. We represent about 4000 people throughout the county. Our goals are to: a. ensure committed and.stable funding for the Contra Costa County library system b. place the library system within the average of the top ten Bay Area library systems in per capita funding c. meet the recommended minimum state standards of 2 books per capita, 1/2 square foot library building space per capita, and 50 - 60 hours of service per week per branch. Beyond that, we believe that libraries are a continuing educational resource -- not social services. Unfortunately, all too often libraries-come out on the short end of the stick when it comes to deciding the extent to which each service shall be funded. It's hard to convince people that it is as unhealthy to be without libraries as it is to be without physical protection. Libraries are an investment: the police are an insurance policy. P.O. Box 2192, Concord CA 94521 2 But the thought of being without public repositories of written information is frightening. What if: The only people who could read widely were those who could buy books? Only "popular" books were available? Children were totally dependent upon school libraries: Children whose parents don't read much were limited by their parent's choices? Students couldn't do research papers? "History" was only what movies and T. V. provide? We feel committed to the benefits of a county system. It is clear that the county library system has not kept pace with a 20th century world. We need a vastly improved system from the one we see today. It is not acceptable to rank 30th out of 31 comparably sized library systems in the Bay Area in per capita funding. Expenditures for material per capita and population per full-time equivalent library staff are approximately one half of comparable Bay Area library jurisdictions. A county-wide plan to improve a county system would benefit the cities, as well as the county. Spurred by the 1989 Grand Jury Report calling for the formation of a county library commission, the Alliance for Better Libraries has met regularly since November. We believe that a library commission will serve as a visible reminder of the importance of libraries and the county's commitment to literacy and education. Specifically, our objective is to create a county library commission which would assist in the formation of a long-range plan, advise the Board of Supervisors, and to develop stable and adequate funding. 1 3 The creation of a county-wide library commission needs to take place now. It needs to have broad base which represents the diversity of the county. We need commissioners who can look at the "big" picture and can put the pieces of the puzzle into place. The first priority is the development of a long-range Master Plan to guide library services for the next 10 years. It needs a clear direction outlining current demographics matched with the projected needs of tomorrow. It's a "Wish List," if you will, but additionally it tells how to go about getting what is on the list, by when. It should include plans for services, buildings, staff and technological requirements. Although professional library staff is crucial to the development of a long-range plan, the presence of library commissioners is the glue to hold it together, They would be your eyes and ears out in the cities. Presumably, there would be county-wide hearings, questionnaires, focused discussion groups and other vehicles used to gather information. A Commission could staff and organize these meetings, assemble diverse groups from their communities and collate data. There has been much talk of late about the possibility of a library tax. ABL has worked with a sub-committee of the Public Manager's Association which is studying the feasibility of passing a tax measure. Ten cities, plus the county, have formed a consortium. After reviewing applications, and interviewing the top three candidates, Strategic Research Institute (SRI) was selected to design a questionnaire and conduct a telephone survey to test the feasibility of a county-wide library tax 4 measure passing. The questionnaire is in final draft stage and will be ready for testing shortly. The survey will be conducted towards the end of July with final results ready by August 15, 1990. Regardless of how the survey turns out, there is a great need to increase public awareness of library issues and needs. Just as the Commission would be available to solicit information used to prepare the Master Plan, it also is the natural organization to receive public comment on a regular basis. It can also disseminate information on new programs and materials. True, the presence of a County Library Commission doesn't solve all the problems of the library. But for us to _to improve library services in Contra Contra County it IS a vital, immediate necessity. We deserve better than 30th out of 31. Please help us to get started without delay.