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HomeMy WebLinkAbout111924-07.1 Library Commissioners ReportContra Costa County Library Commissioners Report to Danville Town Council November 19, 2024 Nicole Gemmer, Library Commissioner Bob Sanguedolce, Alternate Library Commissioner Contra Costa County Library Commission Report • Danville has 27,244 active patrons with circulation of 199,312 in fiscal year 2023-24 • Danville had 181,566 checkouts of e -books and e -audio books in the Overdrive application • There are over 65,800 items in the collection at the Danville Library • The most popular resources include newspapers such as the East Bay Times, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Consumer Reports • Views of the East Bay Times were up 62% in the previous year Contra Costa County Library Commission Report • Popular resource: Brai n F u se • A service that provides live real-time homework assistance in multiple languages • And, a redesigned Saturday Story Time has returned Contra Costa County Library Commission Report Recently completed additional building upgrades: • Two new coats of paint throughout the library's interior • New carpeting in key areas of the library including Periodical Room, Friends' Book Store, Mt. Diablo Room, and staff area • Refinished all original study tables throughout the library to remove deep scratches and graffiti and expand seating in children's study area • Deep cleaned tile and grout in all the public and family restrooms plus the library lobby • Deep steam cleaned all upholstered furniture in the library Contra Costa County Library Commission Report Launch of Updated Library Strategic Plan • Commissioners provided input along with other stakeholders and public surveys • Goals and objectives modified to more fully address: o Rapid digitalization o The epidemic of loneliness o Low literacy levels o The need to address racial and other inequities in services o An increase in attacks on intellectual freedom • Annual progress reports will be published • In 2025, Danville staff will focus on increasing the number of library cards held through increased visits to schools Contra Costa County Library Commission Advocacy Ad Hoc Group • Formed in February 2024 • Goal is to explore alternative additional funding models for the Contra Costa County Library • Members: • Sue Hamill (Co -Chair) —District 4 • Susan Hildreth (Co -Chair) —District 2 • Clifton Louie —District 3 • Rachel Rosekind —District 1 • Bob Sanguedolce — Town of Danville (Alternate) • Alison McKee —County Librarian Contra Costa County Library Commission Advocacy Ad Hoc Group Local Income Per Capita (LIPC) • Metric developed by California State Library • Compares different funding levels across varying populations • Calculated by: Library Income divided by residents served • Data is for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 County Library System LIPC-Funding per Person Alameda $64.36 Contra Costa $36.31 Napa $91.83 Marin $121.29 Solano $ 63.73 CCCL is primarily funded by 1.5% of the 1% county ad valorem property tax Contra Costa County Library Commission Advocacy Ad Hoc Group Why are Comparable Library Systems Better Funded? Library System Additional County Funding Alameda User utility tax Contra Costa $0 Napa Higher ad valorem of 2.07% Marin Measure B $98 parcel tax Solano Measure L 1/8 cent sales tax Contra Costa County Library Commission Advocacy Ad Hoc Group Contra Costa County funds a base of 40 weekly open hours across its 22 full-service library branches 40 Base Open Hours Schedule Monday: Closed Tuesday: 12 - 8 Wednesday: 10 - 6 Thursday: 10 - 6 Friday: 9 - 5 Saturday: 9 - 5 Cities may fund 6, 12, or 16 extra weekly hours Contra Costa County Library Commission Advocacy Ad Hoc Group Let's Talk About Sunday Open Hours at the Library • Surveys show Sunday open hours one of the most requested features by residents • All peer libraries offer Sunday hours. • Contra Costa Library did have some branches open on Sunday prior to Covid but was difficult to staff and cut to save costs. • A trial of limited Sunday hour services will begin in Concord in December 2024. Library System Total number of branches Number of branches open on Sundays Number of Sunday open hours Percent of Branches open on Sundays Contra Costa 26=11111W o MI 0% 2 - Alameda 12 Marin 10 Napa 4 Solano 9 6 4 2 5 1 4 3 5 50% 20% 25% 33% Contra Costa County Library Commission Advocacy Ad Hoc Group A final report has been drafted by the Advocacy Ad Hoc Group that is scheduled to be discussed and voted on at the Library Commission's November 21, 2024 meeting. Advocacy Ad Hoc Group PRELIMINARY Recommended Actions to the Contra Costa Library Commission: • Recognize the Contra Costa County Library's limited funding. • Endorse the goal of 56 fully -staffed service hours per week at all full-service branches - this would result in Danville no longer having to fund additional library hours • Provide for at least 6 equitably distributed branches to be fully staffed for at least 4 hours on Sunday.