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.