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TO EVERYBODY, TO THE, UH,[Municipal Library Board Meeting on March 28, 2023.]
CITY OF DALLAS MUNICIPAL LIBRARY BOARD AND MEETING.UH, WE'RE CALLED TO ORDER AND THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
AND WE HAVE NONE ON TAP TODAY.
SO ROLLING RIGHT INTO APPROVAL OF THE FEBRUARY 28TH MINUTES.
ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENT ON THAT, OR IT WAS ONE CORRECTION, BUT THEY MADE THAT IT'S, IT'S JACK LOW AWARD, NOT JAKE.
OH, FELICIA HAS CORRECTED THAT.
SO WE ARE APPROVED, AND NOW WE COME TO THE REPORTS OF OFFICERS, BOARDS AND STANDING COMMITTEES.
ALONG THOSE LINES, IF, IF WE WERE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE MEETING IN PERSON, THAT WOULD NEED TO BE DONE AHEAD OF TIME.
IS THAT RIGHT? OR CAN THAT, UM, YOU CAN ADD IT UNDER NEW BUSINESS.
THEN LET'S MOVE TO THE STAFF REPORTS AND BRIEFINGS.
SO OUR FIRST STEP, WE HAVE OUR EDUCATIONAL PORTION, WHICH IS, UH, WELCOME HALEY CRAWL.
AND SHE'S GONNA GIVE YOU, UM, A BRIEFING ABOUT THE THOUSAND BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN.
AND HERE COMES KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS. SO TAKE IT AWAY, HALEY.
I'M GONNA SEE IF I CAN SHARE THIS HERE.
SO, YEAH, MY NAME'S HALEY KRA.
I'M THE EARLY LITERACY MANAGER, AND I'M THE MANAGER OF THE BOOKMARKS LOCATION AT NORTH PARK CENTER.
UM, I THINK I'VE SEEN A FEW OF YOU BEFORE WHEN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT THEY WANTED ME TO SHARE TWO OF OUR COOL EARLY LITERACY PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON.
UM, SO THE FIRST ONE I WANNA TELL YOU ABOUT IS THOUSAND BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN.
UH, THIS IS BASICALLY WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.
WE'RE CHALLENGING FAMILIES TO READ 1000 BOOKS WITHIN THEIR CHILD BEFORE THEY ENTER SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME, UM, IN THE HOPES OF BUILDING PRE-READING SKILLS AND SCHOOL READINESS, BECAUSE PARENTS REALLY ARE THEIR CHILDREN'S VERY FIRST TEACHER.
UM, AS MUCH AS WE, WE LOVE WHEN THEY COME TO THE LIBRARY AND WE WANNA HELP THEM, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, A MUCH SMALLER IMPACT ON THEM THAN THEIR PARENTS DO OR THEIR CAREGIVERS DO, WHOEVER THEY LIVE WITH.
UM, SO WE WANT TO HAVE FAMILIES MAKE IT A HABIT TO BE READING AT HOME WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
UM, THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE INDICATOR OF READING SUCCESS LATER, IS IF THEIR PARENTS READ WITH THEM OR THEIR CAREGIVERS READ WITH THEM WHEN THEY'RE UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE.
SO WE HAVE THIS VERY COOL PROGRAM WHERE, UM, NOW THANKS TO OUR LOVELY DONORS, WE HAVE PRIZES FOR THIS PROGRAM.
SO EVERY 100 BOOKS THAT THEY READ, THEY GET TO COME TO THE LIBRARY AND CHOOSE A PRIZE FROM THE PRIZE BOX.
AND THEN AT 1000 BOOKS, THEY GET AN EXTRA SPECIAL PRIZE.
UM, SO HERE YOU'LL SEE ON THE LEFT THERE, THAT'S OUR ONLINE TRACKING SYSTEM WHERE THEY CAN GO ON.
IT'S THE SAME THING WE USE FOR SUMMER.
THEY CAN GO ON AND TRACK ALL THE BOOKS THAT THEY'RE READING, UM, AND THEN IT'LL LET THEM KNOW EVERY A HUNDRED BOOKS, HEY, IT'S TIME TO COME TO THE LIBRARY AND GET A PRIZE.
AND THOSE THINGS ARE, IT'S LIKE A TREASURE CHEST THEY CAN DIG THROUGH THAT HAS LIKE PLAY-DOH CRAYONS, COLORING BOOKS, LITTLE BOARD BOOKS, EGGS, SHAKERS, ALL KINDS OF FUN, DIFFERENT THINGS TO CHOOSE FROM.
AND THEN AT 1000 BOOKS THEY GET OVER HERE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, OUR LOVELY PEGGY MASCOT PLUSH, THESE ALL JUST ARRIVED TO US.
UM, SO THAT IS THEIR BIG PRIZE AND A CERTIFICATE THAT TELLS THEM THAT THEY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM AND THEY READ ALL 1000 BOOKS, WHICH IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT.
UM, I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A TON OF BOOKS, BUT OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL YEARS, IT'S VERY EASY TO ACCOMPLISH.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A FAMILY AT BOOKMARKS THAT IS GOING FOR 2000 BECAUSE THEY ALREADY DID A THOUSAND BEFORE WE STARTED DOING PRIZES, AND NOW THEY'RE SUPER EXCITED TO GET TO GET SOME MORE.
UM, AND THEN AS PART OF THIS, WE ACTUALLY RECENTLY HAD SOME PARTIES AT SOME OF OUR LOCATIONS.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY, THEY'RE STILL HAPPENING.
THERE'S STILL SOME PARTIES ONGOING, UM, TO HELP KICK OFF THE PROGRAM AND INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO THE CONCEPT OF A THOUSAND BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN.
SO THESE IMAGES ARE FROM, UM, PLEASANT GROVE, THE LITTLE GIRL READING NEXT TO THE BOOKSHELF, AND THEN THE OTHER TWO ARE FROM LOCKWOOD.
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CHALLENGED OUR STAFF AT THESE LOCATIONS TO HAVE A PARTY THAT WOULD GET THE PARENTS READING WITH THE KIDS.AS MUCH AS WE LOVE HAVING THEM AT STORY TIME AND AS BENEFICIAL AS STORY TIME IS, I WAS LIKE, LET'S DO SOMETHING THAT SHOWS THEM HOW EASY IT IS TO READ A HUNDRED, 200, 300 BOOKS WITH YOUR CHILD.
AND IT ALL STARTS WITH ONE BOOK.
SO, UM, WE HAD THESE EARLY LITERACY CAMPINS, AS YOU SEE, THEY GOT LITTLE FLASHLIGHTS TO READ WITH.
UM, THEY GOT THESE TABLE PLASTIC TABLECLOTHS TO EITHER USE AS SOME PEOPLE ARE USING THEIRS AS A PICNIC BLANKET.
SOME PEOPLE BUILT FORTS AND THEY GOT TO READ WITH THEIR KIDS AND THEN TAKE HOME A LOG TO START TRACKING THEIR THOUSAND BOOKS.
WE STILL HAVE A FEW MORE COMING UP, BUT THESE ARE TWO THAT I GOT TO SEE THAT WERE GREAT.
AND THEN HERE COMES KINDERGARTEN MORE ON THE TOPIC OF SCHOOL READINESS, BECAUSE THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.
UM, IF YOU HAVE HEARD ANYTHING FROM D I S D, UM, MANY, MANY OF THEIR STUDENTS, I THINK THEY WERE SAYING IN THE REALM OF OVER, OVER, PROBABLY 60% ARE ENTERING KINDERGARTEN, NOT REALLY AT THE LEVEL WHERE THEY SHOULD BE IN ORDER TO JUMP INTO THE STATE CURRICULUM.
UM, AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO WHAT WE CAN AS A LIBRARY TO HELP BRIDGE SOME OF THAT GAP AND HELP TEACH PARENTS WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW BEFORE THEIR KIDS START SCHOOL.
VIRTUALLY IT WAS A SIX WEEK LONG WORKSHOP THAT FAMILIES COULD LOG ON EACH WEEK AND HAVE AN HOUR OF TIME WHERE WE FOCUSED ON SCHOOL READINESS TOPICS LIKE, UM, THE ALPHABET NUMBERS, SHAPES, COLORS, RHYMES, COMPOUND WORDS, ALL THOSE KIND OF GOOD THINGS, AS WELL AS SOCIAL SKILLS AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS.
UM, WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS WITH THE GRANT FUNDING FROM TLAC, WE'RE TAKING THIS IN PERSON.
SO AT SIX OF OUR LOCATIONS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, HERE COMES KINDERGARTEN EVENTS THAT PARENTS CAN COME TO.
UM, SOME ARE GOING TO BE LIKE A TWO HOUR LONG DROP IN CLASS WHERE THEY CAN COME ENGAGE WITH DIFFERENT STATIONS, UM, THAT ALL HAVE DIFFERENT HANDS ON LEARNING THINGS.
SO AT ONE STATION YOU MIGHT HAVE MATS WITH, UM, THE ALPHABET ON IT AND PLAY-DOH THAT YOU CAN SHAPE AND PRACTICE YOUR ALPHABET OR YOUR NUMBERS AT ANOTHER STATION.
YOU MIGHT HAVE, UM, THE TANGRAM SHAPES THAT YOU CAN MAKE ART OUT OF AND TALK ABOUT THE NAMES OF YOUR SHAPES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, AND THEN AT ANOTHER, IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING ABOUT LIKE EXPRESSING YOUR FEELINGS OR FOLLOWING ROLES.
WE EVEN HAVE ONE THAT'S GONNA BE ABOUT WASHING YOUR HANDS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WITH LITTLES THAT'S SO, SO IMPORTANT.
UM, AND THOSE ARE THOSE KIND OF SKILLS THEY NEED TO HAVE WHEN THEY GET TO SCHOOL THAT WE DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT.
WE ACTUALLY, WHEN WE ASK TEACHERS WHAT DO THEY NEED TO KNOW BEFORE THEY GET TO KINDERGARTEN ON THE LIST WITH ALL THE THINGS LIKE YOUR ALPHABET AND YOUR NUMBERS WE'RE THINGS LIKE, UH, WASHING YOUR HANDS, BEING ABLE TO OPEN YOUR OWN PACKAGES AT LUNCHTIME, UM, CLEANING UP AFTER YOURSELF, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT TEACHERS JUST DON'T HAVE THE TIME IN THEIR DAY TO DO 25 DIFFERENT TIMES IF THEY HAVE TO TIE EVERYONE'S SHOE AND, UM, WASH EVERYONE'S HANDS FOR THEM.
SO WE HAVE THIS COOL OPPORTUNITY COMING UP, AND THEN AT, UM, HAMPTON, ILLINOIS, IT'LL ACTUALLY BE ANOTHER SIX WEEK LONG WORKSHOP WHERE WE'LL GET TO COVER A NEW TOPIC EACH TIME, ALL WITH THE GOAL OF GETTING OUR FAMILIES MORE SCHOOL READY BEFORE THEY MAKE IT TO KINDERGARTEN.
UM, AND AS PART OF THIS D I S D IS PLANNING TO PARTNER ON WITH US, UM, AT FIVE OF THE SIX LOCATIONS TO BE THERE ON HAND AND ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR PARENTS, TALK TO THEM ABOUT BOTH PRE-K AND KINDER ENROLLMENT, UM, AND, AND KIND OF FORM THAT CONNECTION FOR FAMILIES BETWEEN NOT BEING PART OF SCHOOL AND BEING PART OF SCHOOL.
THAT'S MY LITTLE BLURB ON THOSE, UNLESS ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS FOR ME, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANYTHING.
YEAH, YOU HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS HERE.
I WILL SAY THAT TLAC IS THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION.
FUNDING THE, THE, UH, KINDERGARTEN READINESS PROGRAM.
UM, SO YEAH, TOM, NO, DONNA HAD A QUESTION, I THINK.
I, I JUST, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A THOUSAND BOOKS THAT YOU, YOU CAN REPEAT THE SAME BOOK MORE THAN ONCE AND IT, AND IT STILL COUNTS.
SO GOODNIGHT MOON, YOU CAN READ
ALL NO KIDS LOVE REPETITION AND IT'S ACTUALLY VERY, VERY GOOD FOR THEM TO READ THIS ONE TIME.
AND I'VE BEEN CAMPAIGNING TO GET A PEGGY, BUT HALEY TOLD ME TO, TO, UH, REGISTER MY GRANDSON AND START READING TO HIM.
I CAN GET A PEGGY PEGASUS LIKE YOU EARN.
HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, I GUESS, IS THIS HOW HE WON THE JACK LOW AWARD?
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IT WAS PART OF IT.UM, IT WAS THESE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THE ADULT, UM, EDUCATION PROGRAMS, BUT IT'S, IT WAS ALL OF THE EDUCATION PROGRAMS. OKAY.
UM, BUT WHEN I WAS TALKING TO 'EM, THEY SAID THEY TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE ADULT PROGRAMMING AS WELL.
BUT YEAH, CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING IS WHAT HE LOVED, BUT YES, YES.
THESE WE'RE JUST PART OF THE PROGRAM.
THERE'S AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THERE.
THERE SURE IS A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER HIM.
AND HALEY DOES A GOOD, GREAT JOB OF PARTNERING WITH ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.
UM, BECAUSE WHILE WE PRIMARILY HAVE D I S D, WE ALSO PARTNER WITH RICHARDSON AND PLANO SCHOOLS BECAUSE WE HAVE THOSE IN DALLAS, JUST TO MAKE THINGS FUN.
WHAT ABOUT THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS? AND SAME PARTNER OF THEM.
SO WE GET LITTLE GROUPS IN ALL THE TIME.
THERE WAS A FIELD TRIP HERE TODAY.
AND HOW ARE THE SIX BRANCHES CHOSEN, HALEY, THE SIX BRANCHES, HOW ARE THEY CHOSEN? UM, FOR HERE COMES KINDERGARTEN.
UM, PRIMARILY OUR, UM, RACIAL EQUITY MEASURES.
THAT IS THE GOAL THAT THE CITY SET OUT FOR US.
UM, WE WANNA TARGET THOSE AREAS WITH OUR LITERACY EFFORTS.
UM, SO THAT'S THE VERY FIRST THOUGHT.
WE ALSO LOOKED AT, UM, WHO HASN'T HAD A LOT HAPPENING AT THEIR BRANCH RECENTLY FOR EARLY LITERACY WITH MY OTHER INITIATIVES.
UM, OFTEN WE CAN'T HIT EVERYBODY WITH EVERY SINGLE THING.
SO, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, FOUR SCREEN IS ONE OF OUR LOCATIONS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO AS MUCH OUT THERE YET.
AND THEY HAVE A BEAUTIFUL NEW BUILDING THAT'S PERFECT TO MAKE THESE KIND OF THINGS HAPPEN IN.
UM, SO YEAH, WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT OUR, OUR, OUR RACIAL EQUITY MEASURES FIRST AND SECOND OF ALL, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BE AS EQUITABLE AS POSSIBLE WHEN WE'RE SPREADING THINGS AROUND TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, AS WELL AS WHAT SPACE DO THEY HAVE AVAILABLE TO MAKE THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
I WAS JUST GONNA ASK ABOUT MESSAGING.
SO, YOU KNOW, A THOUSAND CAN SOUND OVERWHELMING.
SO I THINK MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW IF SOME OF THE MESSAGING IS BREAKING THAT DOWN.
IT'S 15 MINUTES A DAY OR 10 MINUTES A DAY DEPENDING ON THE BOOKS.
UM, JUST TO MAKE IT NOT SOUND LIKE A THOUSAND
THE, THE HANDOUT THAT WE HAVE, UM, THERE'S LIKE A A QUARTER PAGE HANDOUT THAT THE BRANCHES WERE GIVEN, UM, AND THEN THE READING LOGS, I ACTUALLY THINK, LET ME SEE IF MY READING LOOKS OF IT.
UM, IT BREAKS IT DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU READ A BOOK A NIGHT THAT'S 365 BOOKS A YEAR, YOU KNOW, 360 4 BOOKS A YEAR, THEN IF YOU READ TWO BOOKS A NIGHT, THREE BOOKS A NIGHT, ALL THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
SO, UM, USUALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING DIRECTLY TO THE PARENTS, WE ARE MAKING IT SOUND A LOT MORE ACCESSIBLE THAN I PROBABLY DID JUST NOW.
UM, BECAUSE IT'S, IT IS VERY, VERY DOABLE, ESPECIALLY WITH PICTURE BOOKS AND OUR EVENTS THAT WE HAD.
PART OF WHY WE WANTED TO OFFER THOSE IS TO SHOW PEOPLE, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, IN A, IN A SHORT, THE EARLY LITERACY CAMP IN, WE HAD, THAT'S NO MORE THAN AN HOUR LONG.
YOU COULD HAVE READ FIVE BOOKS WITH YOUR CHILD BY THE TIME YOU WENT HOME.
WELL WRAP HALEY'S REPORT UP IS THAT WE DO HAVE THE BOOK AND I'LL PASS IT AROUND.
I'M SORRY Y'ALL ARE NOT SEEING IT ONLINE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DID ALSO THE READING READY PLAY SPACES, UM, IN COOPERATION WITH THE DAVID MONA MUNSON MONEY THAT WAS DONATED TO THE FRIENDS, UM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CREATING SPACES THAT ENCOURAGE LEARNING IN PLAY.
SO, 29 LOCATIONS, GOT THE FULL PACKAGE IN.
OF COURSE, BOOKMARKS BEING THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARY AND A SMALLER LOCATION, GOT SOME ELEMENTS, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM.
BUT THERE'S SOME BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES IN THIS PARTICULAR BOOK THAT THE FRIENDS PUT TOGETHER FOR THE MUN AND FAMILY, UM, TO SHOW THEM HOW IT'S COME.
UM, WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT WHAT OTHER ITEMS COULD BE ADDED TO THESE SPACES TO ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO COME IN, UM, USE THE RESOURCES AND PLAY TOGETHER.
THE, I CAN YOU IT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
WE'VE HAD, UM, ESPECIALLY THE OAK LAWN LOCATION THAT DID NOT HAVE MANY FAMILIES WITH SMALL CHILDREN VISITING IT.
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WE REARRANGED THE CHILDREN'S SPACE, MOVED A BOOKSHELF AND ADDED THIS EQUIPMENT, AND NOW GABBY, THE MANAGER, IS REPORTING THAT THEY'RE OVERRUN WITH FAMILIES AND SMALL KIDS COMING.SO IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
AND IT'S, UM, ABSOLUTELY A SUCCESS IN BRINGING FAMILIES INTO THE LIBRARY.
SO, AND THEN, AND THEN WE CATCH 'EM WITH ALL OF HALEY'S FUND PROGRAMS. RIGHT.
CAN YOU REPEAT THE, THE NAME OF THAT? READING? READING READY, PLAY SPACES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR HAILEY? ANYBODY? ALL RIGHT, THANKS HAILEY.
SO, UM, ON TO ME, THE REMINDER THAT I HAVE FOR YOU OF COURSE, IS WE'RE COMING UP ON, I PUT THE PLANTS WHERE I WANT.
TRYING TO TELL, TO TELL MY HUSBAND WHERE TO HAVE THE LAWN MAN PLANT ALL MY FLOWERS.
SO, UM, WE HAVE EMBARKED UPON OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, OUR STRATEGIC AND FACILITIES PLANNING, UM, THAT WE'VE BEEN MENTIONING FOR A WHILE NOW.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, TO REMIND YOU ALL, AND THANK YOU, THOSE WHO ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO JOIN US AT 4:00 PM ON MONDAY, APRIL 10TH, RIGHT HERE, UM, AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY HERE ON THE SECOND FLOOR FOR INTERACTION WITH THE CONSULTANTS.
AND IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO JOIN US AT THAT TIME, YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE, UM, BOTH THROUGH THE COMMUNITY SURVEY AND THROUGH THEIR SUBSEQUENT VISITS TO INTERACT WITH THEM AND, AND LET YOUR THOUGHTS BE, GET, BE RECORDED.
WE ARE HAVING VISIONING SESSIONS AT FIVE LOCATIONS, AND THESE ARE THE KICKOFF OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
SO IT'S NOT, AGAIN, NOT THE ONLY TIME, IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT THAT WILL BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, COLLECTING INFORMATION.
AND THESE VISION VISIONING SESSIONS WILL BE INTERACTIVE.
IT'S NOT A LECTURE, IT'S NOT SOMEBODY STANDING UP TELLING YOU, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE YOUR TWO CHOICES FOR THE LIBRARY.
WHICH ONE DO YOU CHOOSE A B? RIGHT? SO THERE ARE INTERACTIVE STATIONS, UM, SO FAMILIES CAN COME AND INTERACT AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO AT THE LIBRARY? AND THERE'S, THEY'VE COME UP WITH LOTS OF GREAT WAYS TO COLLECT THE DATA THAT'S ABOVE AND BEYOND JUST A SURVEY.
UM, AND CAN BE VERY EASILY UTILIZED WITH PEOPLE THAT MAY BE NOT HAVE ENGLISH AS THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE OR MAYBE ON A LOW LITERACY LEVEL.
SO OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
NO, THESE ARE ALL, THESE FIVE SESSIONS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND IT'S THE FIRST ONE.
SO THERE'LL BE MULTIPLES AFTER THAT.
BUT THIS IS THE KICKOFF, THE ENVISIONING SESSION, THE VISIONING SESSIONS.
AND THEN IN ON TOP OF THAT, EVERY SINGLE LOCATION WILL HAVE A KIOSK, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, THAT THERE WILL BE A FEATURE, I GUESS IS THE BEST WORD, UM, IN EACH LOCATION TO COLLECT DATA.
SO AS YOU VISIT YOUR BRANCH OR FRIENDS VISIT A BRANCH, THERE'LL, THERE'LL BE A THING
SO I THINK PEOPLE WILL, UM, BE INTRIGUED BY WHAT IS THAT? AND THEN START LOOKING AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, PUTTING THEIR DOTS AND, AND GIVING US FEEDBACK.
ORIGINALLY WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW TO DO THIS, THEY TALKED ABOUT USING LIKE AN OLD, UM, DIAL PHONE,
I'M LIKE, NOBODY WILL KNOW HOW TO USE IT.
SO ANYWAY, WE'RE EXCITED TO GET STARTED.
UM, YEAH, DONNA, SO WHEN WILL THOSE KIOSKS BE AVAILABLE, DO YOU THINK? UM, WE ARE PLANNING, HOPEFULLY, FINGERS CROSSED THAT THEY WILL BE UP AT THE VISIONING SESSIONS.
WE MAY OR MAY NOT MAKE IT, UM, CUZ THEY'RE BEING FABRICATED.
UM, SPECIFICALLY FOR US, THE FINGERS CROSSED THAT THEY'LL BE UP AND RUNNING WHEN WE DO THESE VISIONING SESSIONS STARTING ON APRIL 11TH.
SO THE FIRST VISIONING SESSION IS APRIL 11TH AT HAMPTON, ILLINOIS, THEN APRIL 18TH AT PRAIRIE CREEK, THEN MAY 2ND AT BACHMAN LAKE.
AND ALL THREE OF THOSE START AT 6:00 PM IN THE EVENING AND GO TO SEVEN 30.
AND THEN MAY 13TH WILL BE AT THREATS AND MAY 20TH
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WILL BE AT LOCKWOOD.AND THOSE ARE BOTH SATURDAY MORNINGS AT 10:00 AM SO, BUT, BUT FOR THE, BUT YOU SAID THAT THEY'LL BE AVAILABLE AT ALL LOCATIONS THAT I, EVERYTHING.
THESE ARE JUST THE SESSIONS WHERE THE, UM, THE CONTRACTOR WILL BE THERE ENGAGING, UM, BUT THE KIOSKS WILL BE AT EVERY SINGLE LOCATION AND AVAILABLE EVERY, WHEN WE'RE OPEN AF AFTER THE 20, AFTER THE 20TH OF MAY.
IS THAT IT? AFTER THE AP, APRIL 11TH, THEY'RE GONNA BE UP, THEY'RE GONNA BE UP MONTHS.
LIKE WE WANT THEM UP ALL SUMMER LONG.
SO AS ALL THESE FAMILIES ARE COMING AND GOING FROM THE LIBRARY, WE CAN COLLECT LOTS OF DATA.
SO THEY'LL THEY'LL BE UP FOR MONTHS.
AND WE'LL ALSO BE PUSHING OUT, YOU'LL BE SEEING THIS SOON CUZ YOU'LL BE GETTING IT AS WELL.
SO, AND UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA, WE PUSHED OUT THE STAFF SURVEY, WHICH IS OF COURSE A DIFFERENT SURVEY FROM THE STAFF SIDE.
WE PUSHED THAT OUT LAST FRIDAY.
AND, UM, OF COURSE THIS PARTICULAR GROUP DID THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND SO WE KNOW HOW THE PERCENTAGE OF STAFF THAT PARTICIPATED IN THEIR SURVEY, AND OF COURSE I WANNA BEAT IT.
SO
NO COMPETITION GOING ON HERE, BUT YEAH, SO I, I ACTUALLY WANT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF MY STAFF TO RESPOND.
SO WE'LL SEE
YEAH, NO, I SAW MELISSA HAD A PEGGY ON HER DESK, BUT SHE SAID SHE WAS JUST FOSTERING IT AND WAS GONNA HAVE
I WAS LIKE, WHERE'S MINE? WE'RE A HOT COMMODITY.
AND OUR FRIENDS AT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UM, THE LITTLE LOVE LOUNGE AT LOVE FIELD HAS A TAKE A BOOK, LEAVE A BOOK OR WHAT WE CALL A MINI D P L IN THAT LOUNGE THAT THE MAVERICKS HAVE HELPED REDESIGN.
UM, SO THEY HAVE A BOOKSHELF THERE.
UM, THE PARENTS CAN, THE KIDS CAN PLAY AND THEY CAN TAKE A BOOK, UM, AS THEY'RE TRAVELING.
AND SO WE SHOWED THEM THAT AND NOW THEY HAVE COMMISSIONED A LITTLE LOVE PLUSH.
AND SO PEGGY HAS A COUSIN
WE DID THE ONE OTHER THING I'LL MENTION IS WE DID, UM, SUBMIT OUR PROPOSED BUDGET TO THE CFO F THIS IS THE VERY BEGINNING, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT THIS EVERY YEAR.
THIS IS THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE BUDGET PROCESS WITH THE CITY.
SO, UM, WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO MAKE A CUT, WHICH EVERY CITY DEPARTMENT WAS ASKED TO DO.
AND IT'S SORT OF THE, THE WAY IT GOES EVERY YEAR AS THEY'RE FORECASTING THE BUDGET FOR THE YEAR SAYING, OH, YOU HAVE TO CUT TO START AND KNOCK WOOD, IT HASN'T HAPPENED FOR US FOR A WHILE.
WE HAVEN'T HAD OUR BUDGET CUT AND WE'VE SEEN AN EXPANSION.
WE ARE ASKING FOR MORE, OF COURSE.
WE ARE ASKING FOR THE REMAINING 15 LOCATIONS THAT ARE AT FIVE DAYS A WEEK TO BE EXPANDED TO AT LEAST SIX DAYS A WEEK.
UM, WE'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WOULD PREFER THEIR LOCATIONS BE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, NOT JUST SIX DAYS A WEEK.
SO, WE'LL, WE'LL ALLOW, WE WILL, WE'RE HAPPY
UM, BUT WE'RE, SO WE'RE IN THAT PROCESS NOW AND, AND, UM, WE, UM, WE ACTUALLY ASKED FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR MONEY FOR MARKETING AND PROMOTION AND AN ADDITIONAL POSITION.
UM, RECENTLY THE URBAN LIBRARIES COUNCIL DID A STUDY AND ASKED, UH, LIBRARIES IF THEY HAD MET NOW THEIR 20, 20, 20 19 NUMBERS.
SO LIKE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GAUGING AGAINST, YOU KNOW, PRE COVID ARE OUR NUMBERS FOR PROGRAMMING AND ATTENDANCE, JUST VISITS TO THE LIBRARY.
HAVE THEY COME BACK AND NOBODY HAS COME BACK.
NOBODY IS AT 2019 NUMBERS NOW IN, IN 2022.
SO WE'RE ALL STRUGGLING A LITTLE BIT.
I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO COME BACK OR THEY'VE FORGOTTEN ABOUT US OR WHAT.
SO WE FEEL LIKE WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER, THAT WE'RE THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN TOWN.
SO IN AN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED MONEY AND WE NEED TO
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BE ABLE TO MARKET OURSELVES.SO WE'VE NEVER HAD A MARKETING BUDGET BEFORE AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL SEE FIT TO GIVE US THAT FUNDING IN OUR BUDGET.
SO WHO, WHO IS THE GROUP THAT YOU SAID NO LIBRARIES HAVE RETURNED IN 2019? IS THAT WITHIN OUR SYSTEM OR NATIONALLY? NATIONALLY.
SO URBAN LIBRARIES COUNCIL IS A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION AND THEY HAVE ABOUT 350 LIBRARIES.
AND, AND GENERALLY THEY TEND TO BE LARGER URBAN PUBLIC LIBRARIES, URBAN LIBRARIES, COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, BUT THEY DO HAVE SOME SMALLER LIBRARIES AS WELL WHO ARE MEMBERS.
AND SO THAT, THAT MEMBERSHIP AND THEY JUST FINISHED THAT STUDY.
I CAN GIVE YOU THE COMPLETE STUDY, BUT LONG AND SHORT OF IT WAS NOBODY
WITH ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS BEING ASKED TO CUT THEIR BUDGETS THIS YEAR, IS THE CITY EXPECTING LESS REVENUE TO COME IN? WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL A FORECAST AT THIS POINT.
AND, AND I'M NOT AN ACCOUNTANT OR A BUDGET PERSON.
THAT'S PROBABLY MY LEAST FAVORITE THING TO DO,
THAT'S WHY I HAVE CLINTON
BUT AT THIS POINT I WOULD SAY YES.
BUT LIKE I SAID, THIS, THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR AND USUALLY IT RESOLVES ITSELF, AT LEAST FOR US.
NOW, I WILL TELL YOU AT STAFF DAY, WHICH WAS MY NEXT TOPIC, ANY MORE BUDGET QUESTIONS? SO IT'S, WE HAD OUR STAFF DAY ON MARCH 3RD, WHICH WAS FRIDAY.
WE CLOSED FOR THE DAY AND WE HAD THE STAFF IN FOR, UM, WHICH IS TYPICALLY A TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT DAY.
BUT THIS TIME WE HAD A DAY OF FUN AND RECONNECTING AND RE-ENERGIZING FOR THE STAFF BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S BEEN QUITE THE YEAR, IT'S BEEN QUITE THE LAST THREE YEARS.
AND THIS WAS OUR FIRST IN-PERSON SINCE 2019.
SO WE, UM, WE HAD A, A LOVELY TIME.
THE FRIENDS OF THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDED THIS FULL DAY, INCLUDED LUNCH FOR ALL THREE.
OUT OF THE 377 WE EMPLOYED, SOME HAD DAYS OFF ALREADY SCHEDULED, BUT, UM, TC CAME AND SPOKE TO THE STAFF AND HE TOLD THEM, AND I HAVE 355 WITNESSES.
AND OH, YOU ALSO SAID I HAD THE EASIEST JOB IN THE CITY, WHICH I WOULD DISAGREE WITH.
BUT, UM, BUT AT, ANYWAY, JOE, THIS LIBRARY, THIS LIBRARY DID SUCH A PHENOMENAL JOB WITH OPENING ITS DOORS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO NEEDED TO COME DURING OUR AWFUL ICE STORMS AND ALL OF THAT.
LETTING PEOPLE JUST COME AND SPEND THE NIGHT AND BE HERE.
IT'S OPENING THE DOORS AND YOU OPENED YOUR DOORS WHEN THEY NEEDED, THEY NEEDED HELP.
WE'RE ACTUALLY INCLUDED IN THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
NOW I, HEATHER AND I WERE JUST AT TRAINING THIS WEEK AND THEY ACTUALLY, WE IN THE PAST HAD BEEN A THIRD TIER, MEANING WHEN YOU WERE DOING EMERGENCY OPERATIONS, WE WERE LIKE ONE OF THE LOWEST.
AND WE'VE GOTTEN MOVED UP TO SECOND TIER.
SO WE'RE LIKE, THEY COUNT ON YOU.
THE FIRST TIER IS FIRE AND RESCUE AND I DON'T WANNA FIRST, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALRIGHT, I'M ALRIGHT BEING SECOND HERE.
UH, SO YEAH, I, I THINK THAT WAS VERY SMART.
WELL, AND THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FUNDED THE CHANGES ON OUR FIRST FLOOR.
SO THEY USED THE, SOME ARPA FUNDING FROM THE RECOVERY ACT.
DID THEY ASK THE MUSEUM ELVA IF THEY COULD GO OVER HERE? OH, WELL YES.
WHERE DID THEY COME? GOOD POINT.
BUT YEAH, SO WE WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT SO WE COULD SLEEP A LOT, COULD COULD SLEEP.
PROBABLY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE PLUMBING THAT WE HAVE HERE.
SO WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU? A 40 YEAR OLD BUILDING?
CONSTANT AS PUMPING PROBLEMS. NO, THAT'S ALL I HAD.
BUT WE HAD A GREAT STAFF DAY AND IT WAS FUN CUZ EVERYONE THOUGHT THEY WERE COMING FOR THIS INTENSIVE TRAINING LIKE WE ALWAYS DO.
WE USED TO HAVE A KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND WE TALK, WE DO DIS DEESCALATION AND CUSTOMER SERVICE.
AND, AND IT JUST WAS LIKE, AFTER THE SPEAKERS FOR THE MORNING TC MARY AND ASSISTANT
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CITY MANAGER, LIZ SADIA PREYA CAME AND THAT WAS LIKE 15 MINUTES OF TALKING AND THAT WAS IT.AND WE HAD LOTS OF FUN INTERACTIVE PROGRAMS FOR 'EM.
AND I THINK THE BEST PART THEY LIKED WAS THAT THERE WAS, THAT IF THEY DIDN'T WANNA GO TO ONE OF THE SEVEN PROGRAMS WE WERE OFFERING, THAT WAS OKAY TOO.
THEY JUST WANTED TO MEET UP WITH OLD FRIENDS, UM, OR SIT IN A CORNER AND READ A BOOK.
HOWEVER YOU NEEDED, AFTER THIS PLUSH ANIMAL
THEY, PEOPLE HADN'T BEEN IN THIS BUILDING IN THE LONG TIME OR WELL, WE HAD 80 NEW STAFF.
SO YEAH, IT WAS REALLY GREAT BECAUSE, AND I ENCOURAGED, THE ONLY THING I TOLD 'EM WAS I ENCOURAGED THEM, AND THIS WAS IN THE INVITATION AND THAT MORNING WAS THAT MAKE A NEW FRIEND, IF YOU SEE SOMEONE YOU DON'T KNOW, GO UP AND TALK TO THEM.
AND YOU KNOW, AND THEN CENTRAL LIBRARY STAFF WERE TAKING BRANCH STAFF ON TOURS OF CENTRAL.
AND WE, UM, REINSTITUTED CLUB DPL, WHICH IS OUR DANCE, WHICH IS OUR LINE DANCING DANCE CLUB
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL 'EM EVERYTHING
SHOW ME HOW TO DO THAT ON THE YEAH, WE COULD, WE COULD TOTALLY DO THAT.
ANY NEW BUSINESS? UH, YOU HAVE THE FRIENDS FRIENDS REPORT OR FRIENDS UPDATE.
I HOPE EVERYONE GOT THEIR POSTCARD FOR NATIONAL NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK EVENT AND ARE PLANNING TO COME.
YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THEM AT YOUR HOMES.
I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE EVERYONE'S ADDRESS.
UH, WE'RE HOSTING A SLATE OF EVENTS THE LAST WEEK OF APRIL FOR NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK, UM, INCLUDING A, UH, PUBLIC EVENT WITH NATIONAL LIBRARY ADVOCATE, JOHN KRAKA, WHO'S WITH EVERY LIBRARY.
IT'S, AGAIN, IT'S A FREE EVENT IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH LIBRARIES NOW IN A NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND LOCAL LEVEL.
UM, JOE HAS SHARED WITH, UH, SURROUNDING LIBRARY SYSTEMS AND WE HAVE GUESTS COMING FROM FORT WORTH LIBRARY AND PLANO AND I THINK A FEW OTHERS.
SO, UM, WE CAN ACCOMMODATE A FEW HUNDRED PEOPLE.
THE EVENT WILL BE AT THE COMMUNITY'S FOUNDATION OFFICES.
UM, SO, AND THEN IN, IN STILL AN ADVOCACY FOR US, WE, WE'LL BE HOSTING CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A NUMBER OF, A NUMBER OF PARTNERS COMING UP IN APRIL.
UM, THOSE WILL ALL BE PR UH, SENT OUT IN OUR APRIL NEWSLETTER NEXT WEEK.
THERE'S A CANDIDATE FORUMS FOR ALMOST EVERY RACE.
WE ARE NOT HOSTING THEM ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE FORMING, UM, TO BRING THESE CANDIDATES TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT.
I MEAN FOR US IT'S ASKING THEM LIBRARIES, YOU KNOW, RELATED QUESTIONS.
UM, BUT OTHER GROUPS WILL DO, DO THEIR OWN, UH, INFORMATION.
WE'LL ALSO DO A CANDIDATE SURVEY.
UM, WE MAIL A SURVEY TO ALL THE CANDIDATES AND ASK THEM SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THEY, UH, THEIR FEELINGS OR WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY, HOPEFULLY EDUCATE THEM A BIT.
WE'RE CLO WE'RE CLOSING IN ON OUR GOLD.
RAISE THE MONEY THAT'S NEEDED.
AND IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WE'LL BE RECONNECTING WITH ALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO INVITE THEM TO BE READING AMBASSADORS AGAIN.
WE'LL PROBABLY EVEN WITH THE ELECTION, WE'LL PROBABLY GO AHEAD AND DO THAT BECAUSE SOMEBODY, THERE'S THERE, THERE'S, THERE'S NO, UH, OBLIGATION REALLY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY DO AS AN HONORARY POSITION.
AND IF SOMEONE IS NOT REELECTED, WE'LL JUST ASK THE
BUT WE DO ASK OUR COUNCIL PEOPLE TO SHARE, UH, INFORMATION EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS JUST
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TO HELP PROMOTE THEM BACK TO YOUR MARKETING.AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO SCRAPE TOGETHER SOME MARKETING.
SO I'M GLAD YOU'RE ASKING FOR SOME MARKETING DOLLARS FROM THE CITY CUZ THAT'LL BE GREAT.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UM, I'M HAPPY TO SAY MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER 26TH.
OUR FALL DINNER WILL FEATURE AUTHOR LINDA RUTLEDGE.
UM, WE'LL BE HERE IN THE SIXTH FLOOR.
AGAIN, WE ARE HONORING DAVID MUNSON SR.
AS A THANK YOU FOR HIS INCREDIBLE GENEROSITY.
NOT ONLY FOR THE PLAY-BASED PROJECT, BUT UM, YOU KNOW, FUNDS THAT HE'S DONATED TO.
THE FRIENDS WILL HELP FUND EARLY CHILDHOOD FOR, I MEAN TWO, TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
UH, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
TABLES, TICKETS, SPONSORSHIPS,
I, THE ONLY THING WE, WE TALKED ABOUT IN ADDITION TO ALL THAT WAS JUST SOME GENERAL AWARENESS OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.
UM, WE AS A GROUP CANNOT FORMALLY TAKE A POSITION ON ANYTHING, BUT WE AS INDIVIDUALS CAN PAY ATTENTION TO THE LEGISLATION AND RAISE OUR VOICES.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY 37 DIFFERENT BILLS THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT LIBRARIES AND MOST OF THEM ARE TARGETED AT SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND SCHOOL LIBRARIANS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A HALF STEP UNTIL THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE, OF THIS BUILDING LOOKING AT STAFF IN THIS BUILDING.
AND YOU MAY WANT TO TAKE ACTION ON IT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
I HOPE YOUR POSITION IS PROLI, BUT I CAN'T YOUR CHOICE ON THAT
BUT DO, UM, THE LEGISLATURE ONLY MEETS UNTIL BASICALLY THE BEGINNING OF MAY.
SO JUST IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, BE REALLY VIGILANT AND IF YOU SEE SOME LEGISLATION MOVING, JUMP ON IT REALLY QUICK.
CUZ THOSE BILLS MOVE VERY, VERY FAST.
THE, AND AS ANNE SAID, THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE FOCUSED ON SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
THERE IS ONE THAT CONCERNS US.
WHERE, UM, IS THE, THAT THE ONE TO CREATE A PARENT ADVISORY TO APPROVE BOOKS IN SCHOOL.
LIBRARIES CONCERNS US A LOT BECAUSE THAT'S THE LIBRARIAN'S JOB AND WHAT THEY'RE PAID TO DO.
UM, WE'RE, WE WROTE, UM, IN A, IN OPPOSITION OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE LEGISLATION.
WE DIDN'T MENTION THAT WE CO-LOCATE WITH TWO SCHOOL LIBRARIES HERE CUZ WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY WANNA BRING THAT TO THEIR ATTENTION
BUT WE ARE WRITING AHA OPPOSITION BECAUSE IT, IT WILL 100% AFFECT HOW WE DO BUSINESS AND TWO OF OUR LOCATIONS THAT ARE CO-LOCATED WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
SO, UM, OUR LOBBYIST IS ON IT AND I'VE WRITTEN A FORMAL OPPOSITION LETTER THAT'S BEING PRESENTED TO TO THEM.
AND SO THAT ONE REALLY CONCERNS US.
AND THE ONE, UM, DO, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS? UH, HEATHER WHAT? SB 13.
AND THE HEARING IS TO, AND MY HEARING IS, I DUNNO WHAT TOMORROW, BUT IT'S TOMORROW.
I DUNNO WHAT TIME, BUT IT'S TOMORROW.
IT'S AT 9:00 AM BUT GIVEN THE NUMBER, SORRY, THIS IS HEATHER FROM DISTRICT SEVEN.
UM, GIVEN THE NUMBER OF HEARINGS THAT ARE ON THE DOCKET FOR THE PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE, UM, IT MIGHT BE PUSHED TILL LATER, BUT IT'S SUPPOSED TO START AT NINE.
AND UM, IS IT HOUSE BILL OR SB 1601? IS IT HOUSE BILL 1601, HEATHER, THE OTHER ONE I BELIEVE IT'S SENATE BILL.
SO SENATE BILL 1601 IS THE BILL THAT HAS MADE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE, WHICH JUST, I HOPE WE WERE HOPING IT WOULD DIE IN COMMITTEE, BUT IT HAS NOT.
AND IT STATES THAT ANYONE, UM, WORKING IN A MUNICIPAL LIBRARY, UM, WHO DRESSES AS THE OPPOSITE SEX AND TELLS A STORY OR READS A BOOK, UM, IT COULD BE UNLAWFUL TO DO SO.
AND THAT IF THAT HAPPENED, THEN MUNICIPALITY COULD LOSE ANY STATE FUNDING AS A RESULT.
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AS HALEY MENTIONED, WHO'S THE AUTHOR OF THAT? UH, HUGHES, I BELIEVE.IS THAT RIGHT HEATHER? AT ANY RATE, IT IS, IT'S VERY CONCERNING FOR THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR STAFF, NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE MALE LIBRARIANS AND MALE LIBRARY STAFF WHO COULD VERY EASILY BE DOING READING LITTLE RED WRITING HOOD AND PUT A HOOD ON TO PLAY THE STORY.
AND THAT WOULD BE INTERPRETED AS AGAINST THE LAW.
NOT, I MEAN THIS IS, THIS ALL CAME ABOUT FROM DRAG REALLY.
IT'S A TARGET OF TRANS AND DRAG STORY TIME AND WE'VE ALWAYS IN, WE'VE, WE'VE HAD GREAT DRAG STORY TIMES AT DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY AND I EQUATE IT TO, YOU KNOW, THE CHILDREN KNOW IT'S SOMEONE IN A COSTUME.
IT COULD BE A CLOWN, IT COULD BE ANYTHING.
ESPECIALLY AT DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
WE'VE, WE TRAIN THE DRAG QUEENS THE SAME WAY.
WE TRAIN A LIBRARIAN TO DO STORY TIME WITH THE EARLY CHILDHOOD TENANTS AND THEY PERFORM.
AND, UM, THE ONES WE HAVE HAD HERE HAVE EVEN RECO THEMSELVES TO BE MORE CHILD-FRIENDLY.
SO IT'S NEVER BEEN, IT'S BEEN ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT TELLING A STORY AND ACCEPTANCE.
UM, BUT WHAT REALLY CONCERNS ME ON THIS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TRANS STAFF, I HAVE NON-BINARY STAFF, UM, AND SOMEONE WHO JUST DOESN'T DRESS LIKE THEIR GENDER COULD BE ACCUSED OF A CRIME FOR WORKING HERE AND DOING THEIR JOB.
AND JEOPARDIZING YOUR ENTIRE LIBRARY.
AND NOT, AND NOT, I MEAN, WE GET UPWARDS OF $75,000 A YEAR IN STATE FUNDING, SOMETIMES MORE THAN THAT.
SO IT'S A LOT OF MONEY IF, IF THESE, IF THE LEGAL, IF THESE BILLS PASS MM-HMM.
NO, I HAVEN'T REALLY EVEN THOUGHT THAT FAR.
I'M REALLY HOPING IT, IT GETS SQUASHED AND DIES, BUT I REALLY DON'T KNOW.
BUT IT'S, IT, YEAH, IT, IT'S CONCERN RIGHT UP THERE WITH YEAH, GO AHEAD HEATHER.
HEATHER LOWE OR HEATHER HORNER.
HEATHER HORNER HAS HER HAND UP.
HEATHER HORNER HAS HER HAND UP.
UM, DOES THE VERBIAGE OF 1601 ACTUALLY, IF YOU HAD A DRAG THING COME INTO A STORY TIME, WOULD IT BE TREATED EQUALLY? IT DOES.
IT SAYS MAN, SAY DRESSING AS A WOMAN OR A WOMAN DRESSING AS A MAN.
SO THAT COULD INCLUDE YEAH, THANK YOU.
IT, AND ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, IN THE, WHAT WE WROTE IN HEATHER AUTHORED IT.
I MEAN, HEATHER HAS SHORT HAIR AND SHE DOESN'T DRESS PARTICULARLY GIRLY.
SHE USES HERSELF AS AN EXAMPLE OF, YOU KNOW, I HAVE ON A FLANNEL SHIRT AND JEANS TODAY AND I HAVE SHORT HAIR.
I COULD BE ACCUSED AND THIS IS HOW I DRESS EVERY DAY.
ARE CLOWNS INCLUDED IN THIS OR A
IT IS, IT IS MALE GENDER BASED.
IT'S IF YOU, IT'S GENDER BASED, IF IT'S A, IF YOU ARE, IF YOU ARE A BIOLOGICALLY A MAN AND YOU COME AND DO STORY TIME AND DRESS AS A WOMAN OR VICE VERSA, THAT'S WHAT IT STATE CLOWNS HAVE RED LIPS.
SO LIKE WHY NOT? YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ACTUALLY RIDICULOUS.
THERE WAS A A, AN EDITORIAL IN YESTERDAY'S PAPER WRITTEN BY PAUL SOEL, WHICH I JUST THOUGHT WAS WONDERFUL.
UM, AND IT BASICALLY, HE JUST SAID, YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS TO PAY ATTENTION TO MM-HMM.
SO ANYWAY, WE'VE NEVER, AND HEATHER IS OUR LEGISLATIVE LIAISON.
UM, I'M ON THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE WITH THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND KIRSTEN'S BEEN OUR LEGISLATIVE LIAISON FOR YEARS AND SHE'S NEVER HAD TO WRITE, UH, FILL OUT THESE FORMS OF WRITING.
WE'VE DONE, HEATHER'S DONE TOO IN THE LAST WEEK.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE YOU TOLD ME THIS WAS GONNA BE AN EASY JOB, JOE.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE A LIST OF LEGISLATION THAT TEXANS FOR THE RIGHT TO READ HAS A REALLY GREAT WEBSITE THAT IS ACTIVELY TRACKING ALL THE LEGISLATION.
YOU CAN CLICK ON EACH LINK AND SEE WHERE IT IS AND WE WROTE IT AND THAT DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THE BILL DOES.
SO TEXANS WITH THE RIGHT TO READ, I THINK IT'S JUST TEXAS FOR THE RIGHT TO READ.ORG.
IT IS, BUT IT'S A REAL, I MEAN IT'S NOT A VERY COMPLICATED WEBSITE AND, AND SOME REALLY GREAT INFORMATION AND YOU CAN GET ON THEIR EMAIL LIST TO BE ALERTED IF YOU WISH.
[00:45:03]
RIGHT.SO I'VE HAD A FEW PARENTS EMAIL ME ABOUT THE LAKEWOOD LIBRARY MM-HMM.
IT CLOSES AT FOUR THEN IT'S NOT UP UNTIL TUESDAY AND THEY WORK TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.
BASICALLY THEY'RE JUST LOOKING FOR KIND OF A TIMELINE.
WHAT DO, WHAT DO WE SEE WITH THE BUDGET? LIKE WHEN COULD THAT POSSIBLY CHANGE THE DAY? YEAH.
SO IF THE BUDGET IS APPROVED AND WE DO GET THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE HOURS THAT WE WILL IMPLEMENT THE NEW HOURS IN JANUARY, 2024.
AND SO WHEN WOULD WE KNOW APPROVAL HAPPENS THE BUDGET WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVES THE BUDGET AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER AND BUT ARE YOU, WHEN WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT LIBRARIES ARE GONNA GET ADDITIONAL? WELL, IS THAT GONNA BE ALL THE REMAINING ALL? SO ANYBODY THAT'S FIVE DAYS A WEEK WILL GO TO SIX DAYS A WEEK.
UM, SO IT WILL AFFECT EVERYBODY WHO'S NOT THERE NOW.
SO AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOUR, IF THEY APPROVE IT ALL, THAT'S IF THEY APPROVE IT.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE WHEN THE CITY HAS THEIR BUDGET COMMUNITY HEARINGS AND IT'S THE WHOLE MONTH OF AUGUST, GO OUT AND TELL THEM YOU WANT MORE HOURS AT YOUR LIBRARY COUNCIL PERSON.
AND AND COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY'S A HUGE SUPPORTER OF THE LIBRARY, SO, BUT THEY ALL REALLY ARE, I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY THAT'S INTER-LIBRARY
APPARENTLY SOMEBODY THANK HUGHES.
YEAH, CITY COUNCIL ARE PRETTY, AND TCS A HUGE SUPPORTER TOO.
I MEAN, HE DOES REALLY BELIEVES IN THE WORK THAT WE DO.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE WAS OUR KEYNOTE AT OUR GED GRADUATION.
UM, AND, AND I JUST LOVE THAT HE TELLS THE GRADUATES HIS SON IS A G E D GRADUATE.
AND SO IT REALLY BRINGS IT HOME.
LIKE HERE'S THE CITY MANAGER'S SON.
SO TOM, WHO DO YOU WANNA BRING UP? ATTENDANCE? I THINK I'LL, I'LL ROLL THAT OUT NEXT.
ANY OTHER NEW BUSINESS? HAVE A REQUEST OF EVERYONE.
I WAS CHALLENGED BY A SWEET FRIEND OF MINE AND HIS NINE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO VISIT EVERY LIBRARY BRANCH IN THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM AND PROVED THAT I DID IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY TAKING A SELFIE IN FRONT OF EACH ONE.
AND I DID ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL.
I WOULD CHALLENGE EVERYBODY ON THIS BOARD TO TRY AND DO THE SAME.
UM, IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
UH, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT REALLY ARMED ME TO DO THIS JOB AND TALK TO BOTH MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE LIBRARIES IN MY DISTRICT WHEN THEY SAY WE ARE THE WORST LIBRARY IN THE SYSTEM.
WE NEED MONEY FOR RENOVATION, WE NEED FOR WHATEVER.
I, I CAN REALLY HONESTLY SAY I'VE BEEN TO EVERY BRANCH AND LET ME TELL YOU WHICH LIBRARIES ARE WORSE OFF THAN YOU.
OR WHEN MY CITY COUNCIL PERSON SAYS, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS BOND ELECTION AND WE WANNA PUT LIBRARIES ON IT, WHAT LIBRARIES ARE GONNA NEED THE MONEY? AND I CAN REALLY SAY, I THINK THESE FOUR LIBRARIES NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE BOND ELECTION, INCLUDING TWO IN YOUR DISTRICT.
SO EVERYBODY GO TO ALL THE BRANCHES AND POSTED ON YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND LEMME SEE WHAT YOU DID.
SHE'S THROWING DOWN THE GAUNTLET.
ANY OTHER NEW BUSINESS? UM, YOU HAD MENTIONED MEETING IN PERSON AND I KNOW YOU WANTED TO TABLE THAT, BUT IF WE DID THAT, WOULD IT BE HERE OR WOULD WE HAVE TO GO ACROSS THE STREET? WE CAN DO IT HERE.
UM, EVENTUALLY AND I THINK NEXT YEAR THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO MAKE US GO ACROSS THE STREET AND BE TELEVISED.
BUT, UH, WE'RE THE ONLY BOARD LEFT THAT'S NOT ON THE CABLE NEWS STATION.
MAYBE WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF QUALITY OUR LAST TIMES TO MEET.
AND PICK OUT ALL BE ZOOM IN IN EVERY LIBRARY NOW, BUT GOT SOME THAT YOU FEEL ARE IMPORTANT THAT WE SEE.
WE'D HAVE TO AGREE TO MEET IN PERSON BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY AT EVERY BUILDING TO ALSO DO A VIRTUAL HYBRID MEETING.
WHICH BUILDINGS HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY? WE HAD
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NO VOLUNTEERS TO DO THAT.WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN IF WE NEED TO.
SO WHERE THERE'S, WE WE CAN DO ANYTHING.
SO OUR NEW BUSINESS FOR APRIL, WE'LL WE'LL HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MEETING IN PERSON AND, AND WHAT OUR OPTIONS MIGHT BE THERE.
SO IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? I STILL MOVE.
WE'VE GOT A SECOND ADJOURNED AT FOUR 50.