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[Municipal Library Board Meeting on January 13, 2026.]
IT IS FIVE O'CLOCK AND YOU HAVE A COURT ON THE OTHER SIDE.TODAY IS TUESDAY, JANUARY 13TH, 2026.
THE CITY OF DALLAS MUNICIPAL LIBRARY BOARD, REGULAR MEETING FOR JANUARY HAS BEEN CALLED TO ORDER.
AT 5:00 PM WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT.
LEGAL NOTICE HAS BEEN POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, AND THIS MEETING HAS BEEN DULY CALLED WELCOME BOARD MEMBERS AND WELCOME STAFF AND GUESTS.
WE WILL BEGIN OUR MEETING WITH A READING OF THE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE IN ACCORDANCE WITH DALLAS CITY CODE.
THE MUNICIPAL LIBRARY BOARD IS CHARGED WITH ADVISING THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY MANAGER AND DIRECTOR OF LIBRARIES ON MATTERS RELATED TO LIBRARY OPERATIONS AND SERVICES.
THE BOARD ALSO ASSUMES A SUPPORTIVE ROLE THROUGH ITS PROMOTION OF THE LIBRARY AND ITS PROGRAM.
ITEM TWO ON TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UM, EACH REGISTERED PUBLIC SPEAKER WILL HAVE A MAXIMUM OF THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND MAY ONLY ADDRESS THE CHAIR.
MEMBERS WILL NOT RESPOND TO ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS AT THE MEETING.
ONLY ONE PERSON MAY APPROACH THE MICROPHONE AT A TIME AND ONE PERSON IS ALLOWED TO SPEAK.
DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE REGISTERED TO SPEAK AT TODAY'S MEETING? WE HAVE FOUR CITIZENS REGISTERED TO SPEAK.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO WELCOME OUR SPEAKERS TO OUR MEETING TODAY.
UM, AGAIN, I MENTIONED EVERY SPEAKER HAS THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
UM, WHILE MLB MEMBERS SHOULD GIVE THE SPEAKER THEIR FULL ATTENTION, MEMBERS WILL NOT RESPOND DURING THE MEETING TO COMMENTS.
IF WE FEEL A TOPIC WARRANTS ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION.
IT MAY BE SUGGESTED AS AN ITEM AT A FUTURE MEETING.
SPEAKERS MUST OBSERVE THE SAME RULES OF PROPRIETY DECORUM IN GOOD CONDUCT, APPLICABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE LIBRARY BOARD IN DALLAS, PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF MAKING PERSONAL IMP PERTINENT PROFANE OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS, OR BECOMING BOISTEROUS WHILE ADDRESSING THE BOARD WILL RESULT IN REMOVAL.
SO, MOVING ON TO OUR FIRST SPEAKER, BRIAN BIRMINGHAM.
UH, MY NAME IS BRIAN BIRMINGHAM.
I AM THE DIRECTOR OF MASS RESISTANCE OF TEXAS.
I'VE PREPARED A SERIES OF COMMENTS HERE THAT I'LL READ FROM.
SO NOT MUCH OF WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY IS GONNA BE SAID EXTEMPORANEOUSLY.
ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
UM, I'VE TRIED TO SET UP MEETINGS WITH THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR ABOUT CERTAIN BOOKS THAT I'M OBJECTING TO, UM, THAT ARE IN CIRCULATION IN THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY BECAUSE I, THE REASON I WANTED TO MEET WITH HER IS BECAUSE I WANTED TO GET AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY CERTAIN BOOKS ARE PERMITTED IN LIBRARIES AROUND CHILDREN.
AND I WANT TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE THINKING OF LIBRARY STAFF OR ALLOWING THESE MATERIALS TO BE AROUND CHILDREN OR TO HAVE, OR FOR CHILDREN TO HAVE ACCESS TO.
UM, AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU A COPY OF A BOOK CALLED GENDER CLEAR BY MAYA KOBA.
AND THE ILLUSTRATIONS THAT I'M REFERRING TO SPECIFICALLY, I MEAN, THESE ARE JUST TWO EXAMPLES ON PAGES 1 35 AND 1 67.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INVOLVES PICTURES OF, YOU KNOW, GRAPHIC INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ADULTS AND CHILDREN.
ON PAGE 1 67, WE HAVE A PICTURE OF CHILDREN ENGAGING IN SEXUAL CONTACT.
OKAY? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE THIS.
UM, IF THIS WERE, IF THESE WERE PHOTOGRAPHS INSTEAD OF IT BEING A GRAPHIC NOVEL, THEN I'D BE ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.
AND I WOULD BE, I WOULD DESERVE TO BE SO ARRESTED BECAUSE SUCH IMAGES WOULD INDEED BE PORNOGRAPHIC.
UM, I JUST, I'M TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OR A JUSTIFICATION FOR, FROM THE LIBRARY BOARD ABOUT WHY THESE BOOKS ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR KIDS.
AND IF YOU WANNA GET THE BOOKS AND THE PEOPLE BRINGING THESE BOOKS OUT OF THE LIBRARIES, THEN PLEASE JOIN TEXAS MASS RESISTANCE AT MASS RESISTANCE SUB ORG.
THE LAST QUESTION I WANNA ASK IS, YOU KNOW, THIS BOOK, I FOUND THIS IN THE ADULT SECTION OF THE, OF THE OAK LAWN
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PUBLIC LIBRARY.UM, AND I REALIZE THAT IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENTS TO MONITOR WHAT CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO.
SO EVEN IF CHILDREN WOULDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THIS, THE NEXT QUESTION I WOULD WANNA ASK IS, WHAT KIND OF ADULT WOULD WANNA LOOK AT THIS? HOW IS THIS ACCEPTABLE? HOW IS THIS NOT CONSIDERED PORNOGRAPHIC? AND WHY DO CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO THIS IN THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM? AND THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE.
BY THE WAY, I'VE GOT A WHOLE LIST OF SUCH BOOKS, BUT THIS IS THE MOST EGREGIOUS ONE THAT I'VE FOUND.
MOVING ON TO OUR SECOND SPEAKER, LUIS LOUIS.
UM, MOVING ON TO OUR THIRD SPEAKER.
WHERE DO I JUST DO IT FROM HERE? IT'S FINE.
HE'S ASKING SURE IF THEY CAN HEAR HIM.
CAN YOU HEAR HIM? CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES.
DO I MOVE CLOSER TO THE TV? MM-HMM.
SO, ALL OF US IN HERE ARE, UH, AGE, WE AS AMERICANS HAVE EXPERIENCED OUR, IN OUR LIVES, THE LIBRARY AS A BASIC FUNDAMENTAL PART OF, OF WHATEVER NEIGHBORHOOD WE'VE GROWN UP IN ALL ACROSS AMERICA.
SO, UM, THIS SMELLS LIKE ANOTHER PEPPER SQUARE ISSUE.
THIS PEPPER SQUARE PROPERTY IS UP IN NORTH DALLAS.
I'M SURE AT LEAST A FEW OF YOU HAVE HEARD OF THE PEPPER SQUARE DEBACLE, WHERE THE GOVERNMENT, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT HERE SPENT OUR TAX MONEY, UH, ON LAWYERS FIGHTING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE PEPPER SQUARE IS SITUATED.
AND THIS IS 95% OF THE CITIZENS IN THAT AREA, BOTH DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN.
92 TO 95% OF THEM SAID, NO, DO NOT DO THIS.
FOR THE ENTIRE THREE YEARS, THIS TEAM OVER HERE AT THE HORSESHOE LITIGATED AGAINST US, TAKING OUR MONEY, USING IT AGAINST US ON LAWYERS, UH, ABOUT THAT, UH, PEPPER SQUARE PROPERTY.
AND I BELIEVE THAT FIGHT IS STILL GOING ON.
THERE'S STILL SOME DRIBS AND DRABS BEING, UH, FOUGHT OVER.
UH, THIS SMELLS VERY MUCH LIKE WHAT'S, WHAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN AGAIN ON OUR, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, UH, PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
UH, THE, THESE, THESE, UH, THESE, THE LIBRARIES ARE SITUATED ON PRIME REAL ESTATE AT MAJOR CORNERS, AND IT'S IN SOME CASES SIGNIFICANT, UH, SQUARE FOOTAGE.
UM, SO THEY'RE LICKING THEIR CHOPS, IN MY OPINION, THE HORSESHOE IS LICKING THEIR CHOPS OVER THE PROSPECT OF, UH, A, A ANOTHER MONEY GRAB.
THERE ARE MANY, MANY, UH, EXAMPLES IN ADDITION TO, UH, PEPPER SQUARE AND, UM, THE DEBACLE AND THE RUNNING OVER OF THE CITIZENS' WILL SPOKEN OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, HAS TO STOP.
THE SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS TOLD THE HORSESHOE, NO, YOU MUST NOT HAVE YOUR PROPOSITIONS.
THAT, THAT, UH, UH, UH, GO AGAINST THE PROPOSITIONS THAT WE, THE PEOPLE CAME UP WITH, THE PROPOSITIONS ST.
AND THERE AGAIN, UH, DISTRICT SEVEN REPRESENTATIVE AGAIN WENT AGAINST THAT EVEN AFTER THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT RULING.
IT IS ALL ABOUT THEM AND NOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE.
OUR COUNTRY IS A REPRESENTATIVE, UH, UH, REPUBLIC.
UM, MOVING ON TO OUR FOURTH SPEAKER, JENNIFER LOCKE.
UM, MY NAME IS JENNIFER LOCKE AND I'M HERE, UH, TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE SKYLINE LIBRARY, WHICH I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE IS, UM, UNDER, UNDER THREAT.
UH, MY NAME IS JENNIFER LOCKE.
I'M A SKYLINE LIBRARY, FREQUENT FLYER, AND A RESIDENT OF BUCKNER TERRACE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ATTRACTED US TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS THE LIBRARY.
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IN FACT, WE FOUND OUR HOUSE DRIVING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO GET TO THE LIBRARY.AND A MAJOR, UM, SELLING POINT FOR OUR HOUSE WAS THAT IT WAS AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE LIBRARY.
AND MANY AFTERNOONS, MY FAMILY AND I WALK THERE AND THEN ACROSS THE STREET TO THE PARK.
AND I LOVE THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OFFERS THESE ENRICHING EXPERIENCES FOR MY FAMILY.
THE SKYLINE LIBRARY IS A HUGE PART OF OUR FAMILY'S LIFE, WHERE THEY'RE, EVERY WEEK, SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, WE CHECK OUT BOOKS.
MY KIDS HAVE ACCOMPANIED ME TO COUNTLESS ELECTIONS, AND THEY ALWAYS LOVE RECEIVING CANDY FROM THE ELECTION VOLUNTEERS.
UH, WE GO TO THE LIBRARY IN THE SUMMER WHEN IT'S TOO HOT TO PLAY OUTSIDE.
WE'VE BEEN TO STORY TIME THERE WHEN MY KIDS WERE YOUNGER.
WE ATTEND SPRING BREAK EVENTS AND SUMMER CAMPS.
NEIGHBORS GATHER THERE FOR WEEKLY EVENTS.
ONE NEIGHBOR IS A PART OF A MYSTERY BOOK CLUB, AND ANOTHER JUST ASKED THIS WEEK, UM, IF ANYONE WOULD ACCOMPANY HER TO MAHJONG NIGHT.
UM, SO THESE EVENTS ARE ALWAYS FULL IN RAUCOUS, AND A LOT OF FUN.
THE SKYLINE LIBRARY IS A VITAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR BOOK LOVERS, JOB SEEKERS, PEOPLE WHO NEED INTERNET SERVICES, FAMILIES, UM, WHO CARE ABOUT CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND ENRICHMENT.
IN SHORT, FOR EVERYONE, UH, IT IS INTEGRAL BOTH TO MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND FRIENDS' LIVES.
AND SO, LOSING THIS LIBRARY WOULD BE DEVASTATING.
IT WOULD BE REMOVING A VITAL SERVICE FROM AN AREA OF DALLAS THAT HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED.
WE NEED THE LIBRARY AT HIS HOME.
AND SO I'LL DO WHATEVER I CAN TO ADVOCATE FOR IT.
UM, FELICIA, ARE THERE ANY MORE SPEAKERS REMAINING? THERE ARE NOT.
ITEM THREE IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE MUNICIPAL LIBRARY BOARD MEETING ON NOVEMBER 18TH, 2025.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MOVE TO APPROVE THERE.
THERE'S A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER CLAP TO APPROVE.
AND A SECOND BY A BOARD MEMBER.
HARDING, ANY DISCUSSION RELATED TO CHANGES AT ALL TO THE MINUTES? HEARING NONE.
AS A, A REMINDER, WHEN ATTENDING, VIRTUALLY MLB MEMBERS MUST BE ON CAMERA THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE MEETING TO BE COUNTED AS PRESENT.
UM, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY CELEBRATING HOW THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY WELCOMED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS IN NOVEMBER, 2025 WITH MORE THAN 137,000 IN-PERSON VISITS, AND MORE THAN 165,000 VIRTUAL VISITORS OF 18% ARE LIBRARY BRANCHES AND DIGITAL RESOURCES REMAIN ESSENTIAL AND VIBRANT SPACES FOR LEARNING ACCESS AND CONNECTION.
NEARLY 640,000 ITEMS WERE CHECKED OUT.
MORE THAN 22,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED PROGRAMS UP 20%, AND SEVERAL THOUSAND NEW CARDHOLDERS JOINED OUR COMMUNITY.
SO IT'S TRULY LIBRARIES, A VITAL RESOURCE, AND I'VE CIRCULATED THESE STATS TO MY COUNCIL MEMBER.
I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO CIRCLE, CIRCULATE THEM TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SHARE ABOUT HOW WELL YOU IS THE LIBRARY IS.
UM, AND I ALSO AM THANKFUL TO THE LIBRARY FOR PROVIDING SO MANY, UM, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES DURING THE HOLIDAYS.
I KNOW THE LAST PLACE MY SON WANTED TO GO BEFORE HE WENT BACK TO SCHOOL WAS THE LIBRARY BRANCH.
HE SAID, I WANNA GO TO THE LIBRARY.
UM, AS A REMINDER, DALLAS CITY COUNCIL, QUALITY OF LIFE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE MEETINGS IS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 20TH AT 9:00 AM AT DALLAS CITY HALL.
AND COUNCIL CHAMBERS, DIRECTOR OF UR SCHEDULED TO PURCHASE THE ON THE REGIONAL LIBRARY MODEL.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TRY TO ATTEND OR WATCH ONLINE AS A MEETING IS STREAMED, AND SHE'LL BE SPEAKING TO US MORE ABOUT THAT MODEL ONCE THAT'S RELEASED.
UM, AT OUR NEXT MEETING IN THE COMING MONTHS, WE'RE ALSO GONNA PLAN TO HAVE PRESENTATIONS FROM STAFF ON THE AMAZING AMERICA TWO 50 PROGRAMMING THAT'S COMING IN THE POET LAUREATE PROGRAM.
DAN TATUM WAS REAPPOINTED TO THE BOARD BY COUNCIL MEMBER KAREN MENDELSON, AND CONFIRMED IN NOVEMBER.
ALSO, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE SERVICE OF SAM STAGGS, UM, ON THE BOARD, ORIGINALLY APPOINTED BY A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER TENNELL ATKINS, IN JUNE, 2022.
UM, I BELIEVE THIS WILL BE HIS LAST MEETING AS A LORI.
BLAIR HAS NOT, UH, DEPUTY AUSTIN, A RETIRED LIBRARIAN FOR THIS POSITION.
UM, SAM HAS INDICATED HE HAS AN INTEREST IN CONTINUING TO ATTEND
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AND, UM, LIBRARY MEETINGS.AND I CERTAINLY WELCOME ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO COME TO MEETINGS.
SO, MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM, WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS THE DRAFT ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD AND SETTING GOALS MOVING FORWARD.
UM, VICE CHAIR ANN HARDING WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT AND FUTURE GOALS.
THANK YOU TO AND ON HER HARD WORK AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS REPORT.
AND AGAIN, PLEASE NOTE HOW WE DISCUSS IN THE POINTS LIKE MORE THAN 8.8 MILLION ITEMS CHECKED OUT FROM THE LIBRARY, UM, IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR.
UM, JUST HUGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE USING OUR LIBRARY AND THE SERVICES.
IT, IT CONTINUES TO BE SUCH A BELOVED PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
SO, AS ALL OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW, UM, THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ALL DO ANNUAL REPORTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE END OF EVERY FISCAL YEAR.
UM, THIS IS DUE TO THE CITY ON FEBRUARY 1ST, AND IS JUST A SUMMATION TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
AS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT MANY TIMES, THIS IS AN ADVISORY BOARD.
WE DO NOT SET POLICY, WE DON'T MAKE MANAGEMENT DECISIONS.
UH, WE DON'T SET THE GOALS FOR THE LIBRARY ITSELF, BUT WE DO TRY TO ALIGN TO THEM IN WHAT WE HOPE TO DO IN EACH YEAR.
SO, UH, OUR ANNUAL REPORT IS QUITE A BIT SHORTER THAN A LOT OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS BECAUSE WE ARE ADVISORY IN NATURE RATHER THAN POLICY SETTING.
AND SO IT SHOULDN'T TAKE US VERY LONG TO GO THROUGH THIS.
BUT, UM, IN THE PAST, WE HAVE HAD SOME DISCUSSION AROUND UPCOMING GOALS.
AND SO I WANTED TO REVIEW THIS WITH YOU.
SO CATHERINE DISTRIBUTED A COPY OF THIS ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE ROOM, YOU DO HAVE A PAPER COPY IN FRONT OF YOU.
UM, IT REALLY STARTS ON PAGE THREE BECAUSE WE HAVE A COVER SHEET AND A NOT VERY USEFUL TABLE OF CONTENTS.
UH, BUT WE ALWAYS START WITH A CHAIR'S MEMO, WHICH IS A LETTER FROM THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE MLB.
AND IT'S REALLY FOCUSED MORE THAN ANYTHING ON THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE LIBRARY.
AND, UM, SOME OF THE STATS THAT WE REALLY WANNA BRING TO THE COUNCIL'S ATTENTION.
OBVIOUSLY, MANA AND HER TEAM MAKE A MUCH MORE ROBUST REPORT THAT GETS REALLY DEEP IN THE WEEDS ON A LOT OF THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.
BUT WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL AND THEIR STAFF MIGHT ACTUALLY READ A BULLET POINT OR TWO AND COME AWAY WITH JUST SOME GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF HOW MUCH WE DO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO THIS IS REALLY A LOT OF STATS AS, UM, CATHERINE WAS POINTING OUT EARLIER.
AND, UM, IF THERE ARE AREAS WHERE YOU THINK WE NEED TO HIGHLIGHT FURTHER, UM, CATHERINE IN PARTICULAR REALLY WANTED TO, FELT STRONGLY ABOUT ADDING A BULLET POINT ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO THERE, IF THERE'S AN AREA THAT YOU THINK THIS IS REALLY MEANINGFUL OR THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I REALLY WANT COUNSEL TO BE VERY AWARE OF, THEN, UH, YOU CAN LET US KNOW NOW DURING THE MEETING, OR YOU CAN SEND A NOTE TO EITHER ME OR CATHERINE, YOU KNOW, SOMETIME THIS WEEK WHEN WE'LL BE, UH, REVISING THIS.
SO OBVIOUSLY WE DID NOTE THAT WE WERE PLEASED TO WELCOME MANUS CHORE AS OUR NEW LIBRARY DIRECTOR AND, UM, ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH HER.
AND WANTED TO JUST HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE OTHER, UM, SORT OF MILESTONES IN THE LIBRARY YEAR.
UM, ESPECIALLY THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING ON THE TWO BOND PROJECTS.
SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT BEING RENOVATED, BUT ALSO SAD THAT IT WILL BE CLOSED FOR ABOUT A YEAR WHILE THAT HAPPENS.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE DID WANNA NOTE THAT WE DID HAVE TO CLOSE SKILLMAN SOUTHWESTERN BRANCH LIBRARY, WHICH WAS QUITE DIFFICULT FOR, UM, US TO DO.
WE NEVER LIKED TO CLOSE A BRANCH, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S, IT'S PART OF OUR COST SAVING MEASURES.
AND, UM, SO IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT, UH, WE MIGHT WANNA ADD TO CATHERINE'S OVERVIEW MM-HMM
THAT, THAT'S KIND OF THE PLACE FOR THAT OF WHAT WE DO HERE.
UH, THE NEXT PAGE, PAGE FIVE, IS JUST OUR LIST OF BOARD MEMBERS.
AND, UM, IN THE PAST, FOR THE PAST MULTIPLE YEARS OF THIS REPORT, WE HAVE NOTED, UM, IF THERE HAD BEEN
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COUNCILS, IF THERE HAVE BEEN, UM, CHANGES TO THE MLB AFTER THE FISCAL YEAR, BUT BEFORE THE REPORT WAS DUE.AND SO YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THOSE, UM, NOTED IN THIS.
I WOULD ADD TO THIS, THAT IN DISTRICT FIVE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ HAS APPOINTED, UM, MIRIAM HERNANDEZ MM-HMM
UM, YOU MAY RECALL THAT ALICIA MCCLUNG, UM, DID NOT SEEK REAPPOINTMENT LAST SUMMER.
SO THAT POSITION HAS BEEN VACANT FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
UM, BUT WE JUST FOUND OUT THIS MORNING WHEN THEY POSTED THE LIST FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA TOMORROW, THAT, UM, MIRIAM WILL BE, UM, JOINING US AS OF, UH, TOMORROW'S VOTE.
SO WE'RE VERY PLEASED THAT THAT, UM, POSITION IS OPEN.
UM, I HOPE THAT THE INFORMATION ON PAGE SIX DOESN'T COME AS A SURPRISE TO ANYONE, BECAUSE THAT IS OUR STATEMENT OF PURPOSE THAT CATHERINE READS AT EVERY BOARD MEETING,
THEY HAVE HAD THIS MISSION AND VISION FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
SO THE AREAS THAT WE MAY WANT TO DISCUSS TODAY ARE ON PAGE SEVEN AND EIGHT.
AGAIN, THIS IS A DRAFT, AND WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO CHANGE THIS IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO, BUT WE DO HAVE TO TURN IT IN BY FEBRUARY 1ST.
SO THERE ARE SOME LIMITATIONS TO HOW LONG WE CAN, UM, KIND OF ADJUST IT.
UM, THE ON PAGE SEVEN IS THE FISCAL YEAR 24 OR 24, 25 OBJECTIVES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
AND REALLY THAT'S JUST TAKING, UM, LAST YEAR'S PROPOSED GOALS AND GOING THROUGH AND NOTING WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO AND AND ACCOMPLISH.
SO THE, THE FIRST OBJECTIVE IS REALLY JUST TALKING ABOUT OUR CORE ROLE AS A LIAISON AND ADVISOR TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TO, UH, THE WAY THAT WE WORK WITH THE LIBRARY SYSTEM STAFF.
THAT'S REALLY, I HOPE YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE DO THAT.
UM, THE SECOND SECTION IS ABOUT STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS THAT BENEFIT THE LIBRARY.
AS YOU KNOW, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE FRIENDS GROUP AND HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO, UM, BOLSTER THAT RELATIONSHIP.
AND ESPECIALLY WITH DENISE COMING ON BOARD AND BEING ABLE TO FILL THE DIRECTOR POSITION, WE'LL BE ABLE TO, TO A LOT MORE, SINCE I DID HAVE SOME, SOME STAFF ISSUES.
AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE, UM, FRIENDS GROUPS AT OUR BRANCHES, UM, I HOPE YOU'RE ENGAGING WITH YOUR FRIENDS GROUPS AND ATTENDING THEIR MEETINGS AND, UM, ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION WITH THE FRIENDS GROUPS BECAUSE THEY REALLY DO A LOT FOR THE, THE INDIVIDUAL BRANCHES.
UM, I HOPE ALL OF YOU ARE SUPPORTING THE LIBRARY AT THE BRANCH LEVEL.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE, UH, REALLY TRY AND DO AS THIS ADVISORY BOARD IS TO REMAIN ENGAGED WITH THE BRANCHES AND THEIR STAFF TO REALLY BE TUNED INTO WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE BRANCHES, WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE, UM, AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE BRANCH MANAGERS ABOUT, UH, WAYS THAT WE CAN BETTER SERVE THEM, BETTER COORDINATE, UM, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT MAKING DECISIONS ON HR OR PROBLEMS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT SOMETIMES WE RECOGNIZE OR, OR HEAR FROM OUR NEIGHBORS THAT WE'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE A CERTAIN PROGRAM OR A CERTAIN SERVICE, AND THEY MAY NOT BE COMFORTABLE SPEAKING WITH THE BRANCH MANAGER OR SUGGESTING THINGS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A ROLE WE CAN CERTAINLY FULFILL.
UM, I THINK THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH WE HAVE FOCUSED ON THE CONTINENT CONTINU OF SERVICES, AND WE JUST TRIED TO LIST SOME OF THE, UM, AREAS THAT WE HAVE ADVISED ON OVER THE YEAR, UH, SPECIFICALLY THE, THE STRATEGIC PLAN, THE FACILITIES PLAN, UH, THE TRANSITION TO THE NEW DIRECTOR, UM, CONTINUING, CONTINUING TO LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY.
I MEAN, I'M NOT GONNA READ ALL THIS TO YOU, BUT YOU CAN, YOU CAN SEE THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT CATHERINE AND I NOTED, AND YOU MAY HAVE MORE TO ADD THERE, AND JUST OBVIOUSLY FULFILLING OUR OWN BOARDS EXPECTATIONS IN SHOWING UP FOR MEETINGS AND LEARNING ABOUT ALL OF THE LIBRARY POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND PROCEDURES.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY SPECIFIC NOTES THAT THEY WANNA ADD OR SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY WANNA BE SURE TO BRING UP? YES, DAN, THERE'S A NEW PROGRAM THAT STARTED IN MAY AT HAMPTON.
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MM-HMMIT'S A NEW, UM, READING PROGRAM.
IS THAT THE ONE? WELL, IT'S, IT'S THE ONE WHERE THE PARENTS HELP THE KIDS GET TO READY TO READ.
I THINK IT'S, IT'S FUNDED BY THE FRIENDS.
BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING, ANOTHER WAY, ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW WE'RE REACHING OUT TO YOUNG KIDS.
THE OTHER THING IS IT'S PLAY WITH ME, SO SPEAK IN SPANISH.
AND I GOT LITTLE BOOKLETS IN THE CHECKOUT AND I CHECKED WITH THE STAFF AGAIN TODAY MM-HMM
AND THEY SAID YES, THEY'RE CHECKING THEM OUT.
UH, IT'D BE A GREAT THING IF WE COULD EXPAND IT.
NO, I MEAN, I PLAY BOTH SIDES OF FIELD ON THAT.
UH, AND I WAS, I WENT BY MY BRANCH, PAUL DUNBAR, LANCASTER CASE THE OTHER DAY THAT VISIT, THE MANAGER.
AND AGAIN, WE IDENTIFIED THE NEED FOR A FRIENDS GROUP, BECAUSE IF A BRANCH DOESN'T HAVE A FRIENDS GROUP, THEY'RE SORT OF AT A DISADVANTAGE VERSUS A FRIEND, A BRANCH THAT HAS A FRIENDS GROUP, RIGHT? MM-HMM
AND IT'S A POOR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WE'RE GONNA TRY THIS YEAR.
TO GET A GROUP STARTED, UH, WE'RE GONNA START WITH A POSTER AND JUST SEE IF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED.
AND I'LL, I'LL HELP IN THE SENSE THAT I'VE, I'VE HELPED START A COUPLE GROUPS THAT ARE STILL FUNCTIONING.
YOU'VE, HAVE, YOU, YOU'VE STARTED A LIBRARY, FRIENDS GROUPS, THREE MM-HMM
SO, AND THEY'RE ALL ACTIVE AND THEY'VE GOT MONEY IN THE BANK.
SO, UH, BUT IN THAT AREA, TO ME IT'S, IT'S HARD TO MAKE IDENTIFICATION OF WHO TO REACH OUT TO, BECAUSE IT'S SO FAR FROM WHERE I LIVE, IT'S CLEAR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DISTRICT FROM WHERE I LIVE.
'CAUSE MY CLOSEST BRANCH IS HAMPTON.
BUT I DO GO OVER THERE, UM, AND THEY JUST, THEY'RE, THEY FINISHED THE SCHOOL ACROSS THE STREET THAT THEY'VE REPLACED MM-HMM
SO THEY'RE STARTING TO GEAR UP WITH, UH, ENROLLMENT.
AND THE LIBRARY WAS QUITE ACTIVE WHEN I WAS OVER THERE.
I WAS SURPRISED THE LAST TIME I WENT, IT WAS QUITE DEAD.
AND NOW IT'S QUITE BUSY, EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.
UH, IT'S REALLY POPPING AGAIN.
UM, BUT WHEN I LOOKED, WHEN SHE SHOWED ME ALL THE SPACE THEY HAVE AVAILABLE, I'M LIKE MM-HMM
WE COULD DO SOME THINGS THERE.
WE COULD DO SOME THINGS
SO I'M GONNA TRY AND SHARE WHAT KNOWLEDGE I HAVE AND CONTACTS I HAVE TO HELP HER.
BUT I MEAN, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE.
AND I THINK IF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT FRIENDS GROUPS DO AND HOW THEY CONTRIBUTE, IT REALLY MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE GETTING INVOLVED.
IT SORT OF LIKE MAKING A QUILT.
YOU SORT OF PIECE IT TOGETHER, PIECE IT TOGETHER.
IT JUST, WHAT IN THAT NEW SCHOOL? UH OH, OH, SORRY.
IT'S JUST BOARD MEMBERS SPEAKING.
IT WAS THE CONGRESSMAN FROM GEORGIA.
MIDDLE, MIDDLE, MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THAT PROGRAM.
AND IT WAS NICE MEETING YOU AT HAMPTON TODAY.
STAND AND WALKING AROUND, SO, THANK YOU.
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING ON KIND OF THE, ON THE PAST, WHAT WE DID HAVE DONE IN THE PAST HERE, OBJECTIVE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS SECTION? IF YOU CAN'T THINK OF IT RIGHT NOW, IT'S OKAY.
YOU CAN, UM, GIVE IT A LITTLE THOUGHT AND JUST, UH, GET BACK WITH US IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO.
NO, IT'S JUST WHEN I, I VISIT THE BRANCHES, THEY DO SEEM BUSIER THAN THEY USED TO.
WELL, WE TOUCHED UPON, UH, CATHERINE TOUCHED UPON THAT A LITTLE BIT IN HER CHAIR'S MEMO IN TERMS OF LIKE TOTAL PROGRAM ATTENDANCE AND CHECKING OUT OF HOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE WALKED IN THE FACILITY.
LIKE THE VERY FIRST BULLET IS ALMOST 2 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE WALKED IN THE FRONT DOORS OVER THE LAST FISCAL YEAR.
SO I THINK THAT THAT KIND OF REALLY ADDRESSES THE BRANCHES SEEM BUSIER IN TERMS OF THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.
UM, BUT WE COULD CERTAINLY ADD, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S UP FROM LAST YEAR, IF THERE'S A, HAS BEEN A PERCENTAGE GAIN.
[00:30:02]
WELL, I HAD ONE QUESTION ALSO.IT SAYS, UH, RIGHT SIZING THE COLLECTION MM-HMM
SO ARE WE GETTING RID OF THAT? SO WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE LAST MEETING WHEN I PRESENTED THE YEAR TWO OBJECTIVES.
AND IT IS NOT GETTING RID OF BOOKS.
IF YOU WALK AROUND OUR LIBRARIES, YOU'LL SEE THERE'S A LOT OF EMPTY SHELVING AND SHELVING THAT'S HALF EMPTY MEANS NO SEATING.
SO THE GOAL IS TO CONSOLIDATE.
SO WE CAN PUT IN MORE GATHERING SPACES.
SO THERE WILL JUST BE FEWER BOOKS IN THE BRANCH, BUT NOT, I MEAN, THE, THE COLLECTION WON'T SHRINK, RIGHT? YEAH.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S FEWER BRA BOOKS IN THE BRANCH EVEN, BECAUSE IT COULD JUST BE CONSOLIDATION.
WE HAVE A LOT OF EMPTY SHELVING IN, IN A LOT OF OUR LOCATIONS, ESPECIALLY LOCATIONS THAT, UM, ARE, ARE USED IN NON-TRADITIONAL WAYS, INCLUDING A LOT OF THE LIBRARIES IN THE SOUTH.
UH, KLEBERG RILEY BEING A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT.
AND THEY HAVE 12 FOOT TALL BOOKSHELVES, VERY, VERY TALL.
AND THEY, THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF BOOKS ON THEM AT THIS POINT.
SO IF WE COULD CONSOLIDATE THOSE, TAKE SOME OF THE EMPTY SHELVING OUT AND PUT SEATING IN THERE, WE COULD REALLY HELP MAXIMIZE THE GATHERING SPACE.
THE PEOPLE WITH TODDLERS CAN TOAST THE EMPTY SHELVING.
'CAUSE OUR KIDS THINK THEY'RE LETTERS
SO I THINK STAN, STAN HAS LED US TO THE LAST PAGE, WHICH IS OUR, UH, PROPOSALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS FISCAL YEAR HAS ALREADY STARTED, IT STARTED OCTOBER 1ST, SO THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT INTO THIS.
UH, BUT THE SECTION AT THE TOP IS THE SAME AS THE YEAR BEFORE, WHICH IS JUST REALLY EMPHASIZING OUR ROLE AS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, A LIAISON BETWEEN THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
THE SECOND SECTION IS, UH, WHERE STAN WAS TALKING ABOUT THE RIGHT SIZING, THE SHELVES.
UH, THESE ARE ALL, UM, STRATEGIES TAKEN, OBJECTIVES TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT OUR LAST MEETING IN NOVEMBER.
SO, UH, THEY ARE NOT ANY GOALS THAT I, THAT WE HAVE CREATED FOR THE LIBRARY.
THAT IS NOT OUR ROLE AS AN ADVISORY GROUP.
UM, BUT WE DO WANT TO ALIGN WITH THOSE, UM, OBJECTIVES THAT HAVE BEEN SET FORTH BY THE LIBRARY THEMSELVES.
SO SOME OF THAT IS LOOKING AT THE WAYS THAT WE CAN BETTER USE THE GIANT BUILDING WE'RE SITTING IN.
AND THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THE YEAR.
UM, MANA WILL BE TALKING, UM, LATER IN THIS MEETING ABOUT THE, UM, FLAGSHIP SERVICE MODEL AND THE CHANGES THAT WE'LL BE ROLLED OUT WITH THAT.
AND I WAS VERY CAREFUL ABOUT PUTTING THE WORDS UNDERSTANDING OF, AND NOT NECESSARILY FOR OR AGAINST, WE CAN MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS ON THAT, BUT WE AS A GROUP, WE DO WANT TO HELP THE, UM, THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING, WHAT LED TO THIS POINT, AND HOW THE LIBRARY, UH, WILL, UM, WELL, THE VALUE AND NECESSITY OF THIS, THIS CHANGE.
AND, UM, WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE MORE, UM, LATER IN THE MEETING.
UM, THE WAYS THAT WE WILL HOPEFULLY SHAPE PROGRAMMING, UH, THE WAYS THAT WE CAN, AS YOU SAID, ADVISE THE LIBRARY STAFF IN RIGHT SIZING THE COLLECTION OR MOVING THINGS AROUND, OR MAKING BETTER USE OF THE, THE SPACE THAT WE HAVE.
AND, UM, AS ALWAYS, SAFETY MEASURES AT ALL OF OUR LOCATIONS.
IT TALKS HERE ABOUT A FOCUS ON YOUTH SERVICES MM-HMM
NOW, IN THE PAST, LIKE WHEN MY BRANCH OPENED, WE HAD A, A GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN SECTION THAT IT WAS FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM MACY'S, AND THEN LATER, I GUESS FOLEY'S.
I MEAN, IT CHANGED OVER TIME, BUT THEN IT WENT AWAY, AND THAT PROGRAMMING AND ALL THAT EFFORT DISAPPEARED.
SO, AND ALSO WE USED TO HAVE TEEN CENTERS, AND THOSE WILL COME AND GONE AND COME AND GONE A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE LAST 30 ODD YEARS.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING THESE SERVICES, ARE WE TALKING JUST THE, UH, TODDLERS UP TO TWEENS? OR ARE WE TALKING BEYOND TWEENS?
[00:35:02]
UM, I THINK WE ARE TALKING ALL YOUTH, BUT WITH A FOCUS ON THE YOUNGEST KIDS.BUT AGAIN, THAT'S A, THAT'S A LIBRARY OBJECTIVE.
SO IT'S, IT'S NOT OUR LANGUAGE.
SAYING THAT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON YOUTH SERVICES.
THAT'S TAKEN, THAT'S LANGUAGE THAT'S TAKEN FROM THE, THE LIBRARY STRATEGIC PLAN.
I'M JUST TRYING TO, TO CLARIFY.
'CAUSE I KNOW WE'VE HAD EMPHASIS IN THE PAST ON TEENS, TEEN CENTERS, EVEN THAT, THAT WERE FUNDED, I THINK BY AT AND T AT ONE TIME.
SURPRISINGLY, TEENS DO NOT WANT TEEN CENTERS.
THEY HAVE ONE AT THE FRISCO LIBRARY THAT'S COMPLETELY EMPTY ALL THE TIME.
UM, ONE OTHER AREA THAT WE OBVIOUSLY TALKED ABOUT BEFORE IS, UM, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE FRIENDS, UH, BUT LAST YEAR AT THE SAME TIME WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, EXPLORING PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WITH SUBSIDY DEPARTMENTS, WITH OTHER AGENCIES OR ORGANIZATIONS.
BUT, UH, THAT'S KIND OF UP TO Y'ALL IF WE, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT WANNA PURSUE IN THE NEXT YEAR, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT CAN, THAT CAN BE WHATEVER WE WANT IT TO BE.
BUT SOME OF THE DISCUSSION WAS AROUND, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THE PARK BOARD OR WORKING WITH ARTS AND CULTURE ON KIND OF CROSS POLLINIZATION OF WHAT THEY DO AND WHAT THE LIBRARY DOES, AND THE WAYS THAT WE CAN, UM, BRING ALL OF THOSE KIND OF CITY SERVICES TOGETHER.
WELL, WE THINK ARTS AND CULTURE, BECAUSE WE HAVE FIVE BLACK BOXES THAT WE DON'T, WE DON'T TOTALLY UTILIZE, I SHOULD MM-HMM
UH, SUPPORTING THE BRANCH AT THE LIBRARY, UH, AT THE BRANCH LEVEL IS, UM, KIND OF WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR, STAYING ENGAGED, INTERACTING WITH THE COMMUNITY, ATTENDING BUDGET TOWN HALLS, THAT KIND OF THING.
AND AGAIN, FULFILLING OUR BOARD EXPECTATIONS.
SO WERE THERE ANY, UM, GOALS OR OBJECTIVES THAT YOU REALLY WANTED TO KIND OF ADD TO THIS LIST OR SEE THE, THE BOARD TRY AND, UM, FOCUS ON IN THE COMING YEAR? AND AGAIN, IF YOU CAN'T COME UP WITH IT OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, I DO UNDERSTAND, UH, YOU CAN SEND US, UM, A NOTE VIA EMAIL IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO.
BUT ANN, IF WE WERE TO DO THAT, WOULD IT BE JUST BETWEEN THE PERSON MAKING THE SUGGESTION AND YOU, IT WOULD NOT BE THE ENTIRE BOARD, CORRECT? UM, YOU CAN MAKE AN INDIVIDUAL, UM, SUGGESTION AND I, I, WE CAN SEND IT OUT TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL.
I KNOW I'M BRAND NEW ON THE BOARD.
UM, BUT IF I MAY, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS WITHIN THE SCOPE, BUT I WAS AFFECTED BY THE KOMAN BRANCH CLOSING BECAUSE I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN THAT WE USED TO TAKE, MY DAUGHTER AND I USED TO TAKE THERE ALL THE TIME.
DOES, DO WE HAVE ANY SAY OR ANY WAY OF SUPPORTING THE LIBRARY, STOPPING THE CLOSING BRANCHES? IS IT THE LIBRARY THAT DECIDES, OR THE SPEAKER OF THIS, THE FIRST SECOND SPEAKER IMPLIED THAT IT WAS THE CITY COUNCIL THAT DECIDES WHICH BRANCHES SHOULD BE CLOSED, THE CITY MANAGER.
I MEAN, WE ARE AN ADVISORY, UM, BODY, SO WE AREN'T, UM, MAKE VOTING ON AND MAKING THOSE DECISIONS AS A, AS A BOARD OURSELVES.
UM, THE, THE LIBRARY STAFF MAKES A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL.
AND THE COUNCIL ACCEPTS OR AMENDS OR REJECTS THAT RECOMMENDATION.
AND IS THE LIBRARY, IS IT NECESSARY FOR THE LIBRARY TO CLOSE BRANCHES? I MEAN, THE SKILLMAN BRANCH WAS BUSY EVERY TIME WE WERE THERE.
THE CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS WERE BUSY.
UM, PEOPLE WERE USING THE COMPUTERS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THEIR CIRCULATION WAS GREAT, BUT PEOPLE WERE USING COMPUTERS CONSTANTLY.
UM, WE USUALLY WENT, I THINK IT WAS MONDAYS WHEN THEY HAD A, A ART PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN.
SO THAT THE, THE CLOSURE OF LIBRARIES IS NOT A DECISION THAT THE MUNICIPAL LIBRARY BOARD MAKES.
AND, UH, MANA WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
[00:40:01]
THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN HER DIRECTOR'S REPORT TODAY, BUT SHE IS ALSO WILLING TO MEET WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY ABOUT THESE PLANS.MAY I ADD SOMETHING FROM THIS, SANDRA? I, I'VE REACHED OUT TO YOU A COUPLE OF TIMES TO SEE IF WE COULD GET TOGETHER AND, AND TALK.
SO IF YOU, IF YOU WANT TO GET TOGETHER, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
DECEMBER AND THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF JANUARY HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY BUSY FOR ME.
WE HAVE JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN PEOPLE IN OUR FAMILY, AND SO I WAS HAVING MORE THAN ONE CHRISTMAS AND MORE THAN ONE HANUKKAH.
AND MY BIRTHDAY IS IN DECEMBER.
I'M STILL, I'M GONNA BE CELEBRATING MY BIRTHDAY WITH A FRIEND THIS THURSDAY.
SO YES, I WILL GET TOGETHER WITH YOU.
AND I'M SORRY THAT I HAVEN'T CONTACTED YOU AND THE NOVEMBER MEETING, I WAS ACTUALLY ON A TRIP, BUT I DID GET INTO THE MEETING
WAS MR, WERE YOU RAISING, I'M SORRY.
I, I I THINK SOMEONE WAS RAISING THEIR HAND TO SPEAK.
I JUST WANTED TO, UH, CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME WELL? YES.
I JUST WANTED TO, UH, DERON ARMSTRONG, UH, DISTRICT, UM, M UH, REPRESENTATIVE.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD, UM, A FEW COMMENTS, SUPPORT THE DALLAS LIBRARY STRATEGIC PLANS, YOUR TWO OBJECTIVES, AND THEN ALSO EXPLORE PARTNERSHIPS THAT BENEFIT THE LIBRARY.
UM, ON THE FIRST ONE, UM, I LOVE THE HELP SHAPED PRIORITY PROGRAMMING WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON YOUTH SERVICES.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT RIGHT NOW, LIKE, I'M A VERY STAUNCH LITERACY ADVOCATE, AND RIGHT NOW IN DALLAS COUNTY, THERE IS, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT I WOULD SAY, LIKE THE LITERACY CRISIS, KIDS READING ON GRADE LEVEL IN THIRD GRADE.
AND, UM, JUST PROPOSING SOME PROGRAMS THAT, UM, REALLY, UM, ENCOMPASS LIKE THE SCIENCE OF READING, UM, AS LIKE A STRATEGY, UM, FOR YOUTH PROGRAMMING.
I HAVE A FEW IDEAS AROUND THAT, BUT I'M HAPPY TO SHARE, UM, THAT I'VE SEEN, LIKE NATIONAL MODELS THAT WORK WELL IN OTHER STATES.
AND THEN AROUND THE EXPLORE PARTNERSHIP DEPART.
UM, I'VE ALSO, UM, SEEN A LOT OF, UM, NATIONAL, UM, RESEARCH AROUND LIKE, UM, SPECIFIC SPECIFICALLY WITH THE, UM, PARK AND, UH, RECREATION WHERE THEY, UM, REIMAGINED THOSE SPACES AND ADDED LIKE LITERACY, LIKE, UM, THINK LIKE, UM, UH, STORY WALKS AND, UM, DIFFERENT WAYS FOR THE KIDS TO ENGAGE, UM, AT LIKE A PUBLIC PARK WHILE STILL, UM, LIKE PRACTICING LITERACY SKILLS.
AND SO, UM, I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE THOSE IDEAS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT, UM, PROBABLY THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR, YOUR INSIGHT AND THAT THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
AND MAY I, MAY I BOLSTER YOUR, NO, I'M SORRY.
YOU CAN'T SPEAK DURING THE MEETING.
IT'S JUST BOARD MEMBERS AND STUFF.
SO IF YOU WANT TO, UM, SEND US IF THERE'S ANY PROPOSED LANGUAGE IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU WANNA SEND TO, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE, UM, VIRTUALLY WHO WANTS TO LOG DOWN ONLINE? WHO WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING? OKAY.
UH, PATTY, SHE'S, PATTY, YOU'RE ON MUTE IF YOU'RE TRYING TO TALK TO US.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THE PARTNERSHIP COMMENT THAT WAS MADE AND LOOKING AT REACHING OUT.
I THINK THE FRIENDS ARE THE MOST FANTASTIC PARTNER WE COULD HAVE, BUT I THINK REACHING OUT TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT MIGHT HAVE SOME SIMILAR GOALS IN ADDITION TO THE CITY APARTMENTS, UH, OUGHT TO BE A PRIORITY FOR THE YEAR.
DID YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC IN MIND? I'LL SEND YOU SOME, ANNE.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT THIS WEEK AND I WAS STARTING TO MAKE A LIST, SO I'LL SEND YOU SOME OF THE ONES I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT.
AND I, I NOTICED THAT, UM, A HAND UP BY ONE OF OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS WE'RE JUST HAVING BOARD MEMBERS, UM, SPEAK DURING THIS AGENDA ITEM.
UM, UH, MSIKA, I BELIEVE YOU, WE NEED TO SPEAK.
UM, I KNOW THAT WHEN WE WERE SPEAKING MORE OF LAST YEAR, UH, SOME OF THE METRICS AND BENCHMARKING THAT I KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC WAS NEEDING, UH, WAS, UH, TRYING TO GET THE DATA ALL CLEARED UP SO THEN WE CAN GET A GOOD STORYLINE AND VISUALS OF WHAT
[00:45:01]
IT IS THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.UM, I THINK WHAT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING ALL THE CHANGES THAT WILL MOST LIKELY HAPPEN, UM, UH, IN THIS YEAR, IS HAVING, UH, GOOD DATA AND, AND, UH, HAVING REALLY GOOD, UH, BENCHMARKS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE BACK TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IF, FOR EXAMPLE, IF, UM, THESE, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, NOT CONFIRMING ANYTHING, UM, BUT IF THESE LIBRARIES ARE SPECIFICALLY UP ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK SOME, AND IF THE PUBLIC WANTS TO KNOW WHAT ARE THE METRICS THAT THOSE LIBRARIES ARE BEING MEASURED AGAINST, I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL JUST TO HAVE THAT, UH, FOR THE PUBLIC.
UM, I THINK, SO WE'RE ON ADDED SOMETHING IN THE MM-HMM
CHAT, BUT I CAN'T READ THE CHAT ASKING YOU TO SEND HIS SUGGESTIONS TO, AND YOU CAN EMAIL OH.
UM, MYSELF AND, AND ME AND CATHERINE.
AND THEN WE'LL SEND OUT THE EDITS.
WE WILL SEND A FINAL VERSION OUT TO THE FULL BOARD.
THIS IS NOT REQUIRE US TO FORMALLY VOTE AND ADOPT IT, WE JUST KIND OF HAVE TO ALL AGREE THIS IS REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR, UM, ASSESSMENT OF THE YEAR PAST AND THE YEAR OF MOVING FORWARD.
SO I THINK THAT COVERS THIS PART OF THE AGENDA.
IF WE'RE READY TO MOVE ON, I DON'T WANNA BE HERE.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTED TO ADDRESS THE OTHER, ANYBODY ELSE TO ADD ANYTHING SPECIFIC? OKAY.
UH, YOUR POINTS ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIPS I THINK CAME FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE, AND THAT IS SO IMPORTANT, UM, TO REALLY BROADEN THINGS AS FAR AS WHO WE'RE CONNECTED WITH.
UM, DENISE MCGOVERN, THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FRIENDS OF THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY, HAS JOINED US AND SEEKING ON PARTNERSHIPS.
WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HER JOINING MEETINGS NOW TO PROVIDE UPDATES FROM HER ORGANIZATION.
SHE JUST, UM, STARTED HER POSITION, BUT, AND WE WELCOME HER
UM, I STARTED IN THE ROLE ON LAST TUESDAY, SO I'M ONE WEEK IN.
AND, UM, I HAVE HAD A GREAT WELCOME FROM THE LIBRARY STAFF AND FROM ALL OF YOU ALL HERE IN, UM, AND SPEAKING WITH, WITH ME ABOUT, UM, YOUR LIBRARY AND YOUR BRANCHES.
UM, MANA HAS SET UP TIMES FOR US TO VISIT THE BRANCHES AND SPEAK TO THE MANAGERS ACROSS THE SYSTEM WILL TAKE US QUITE A LOT OF TIME, BUT EVEN IN THE SHORT TIME THAT WE HAVE DONE THAT, UM, WE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE PLACES THAT ARE LINED UP AND IT'LL GIVE ME A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE BRANCHES AND LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND THEIR INDIVIDUAL AUDIENCES ARE, WHICH WILL HELP US AS THE LARGER FRIENDS BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM, UM, MORE INDIVIDUALLY THAN JUST AS A SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.
SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO TAKE PART IN ACTIVITIES AROUND THE LIBRARY, INCLUDING THE FRETZ PARK 50TH ANNIVERSARY THIS PAST WEEKEND, WHICH IS MY NEIGHBORHOOD BRANCH.
AND IT WAS EXTREMELY WELL ATTENDED AND VERY EXCITING.
LOTS OF MUSIC AND, UM, POPCORN AND FOOD AND WONDERFULNESS,
UM, IT WAS, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE THERE CELEBRATING A LIBRARY THAT'S BEEN A BIG PART OF A SYSTEM FOR WHILE.
SO MORE, MUCH, MUCH MORE TO COME SEVEN DAYS IN.
I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, AND YOU, SINCE YOU'RE NOW THE, UM, LIBRARY DIRECTOR, FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY, THANK YOU FOR PAYING ATTENTION TO THE BRANCHES.
UM, THAT IS, LIKE STAN POINTED OUT, IT'S REALLY AN ESSENTIAL PART OF WHAT MAKES THE SYSTEM GO.
SO I'M AT NORTH OAK CLIFF, SO WE WILL WELCOME YOU WHEN YOU COME.
AND THIS, UH, SATURDAY THE 17TH, WE'RE HAVING A GRAND REOPENING OF THE CHILDREN'S AREA, A REFURBISHMENT AT 2:00 PM IF YOU'RE ABLE AWESOME.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT MEETINGS WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT, ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND MOVING ON, WE HAVE STAFF REPORTS FROM, UH, HER DIRECTOR'S REPORT AND UPDATE ON FACILITIES IN BOND.
THANK YOU CATHERINE, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE.
SAM, WOULD YOU MIND PASSING THAT AROUND? JUST A FOLLOW UP TO THE EMAIL THAT I SENT TO THE BOARD.
I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE KICKED OFF AMERICA TWO 50 IN 2026.
WE HAVE A WHOLE YEAR'S WORTH OF PROGRAMMING PLANNED AT THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY TO CELEBRATE
[00:50:01]
THE, UH, 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES.THAT QR CODE WILL TAKE YOU TO THE PAGE.
WE HAVE A READING PROGRAM, AS WELL AS SCAVENGER HANSON AND LOTS OF OTHER ACTIVITIES.
MONTHLY BOOK CLUB, MONTHLY BOOK CLUB, LOTS, LOTS OF STUFF.
UH, I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU, PLEASE TO SHARE THIS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND, AND, UH, ATTEND THESE EVENTS AS WE CELEBRATE OUR COUNTRY'S BIRTHDAY.
I ALSO WANNA LET YOU KNOW, UH, SOMETHING EXCITING THAT'S HAPPENING THIS FRIDAY.
THE TEXAS CENTER FOR THE BOOK, WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION IN AUSTIN, IS TRAVELING UP HERE TO RECORD A, UH, SHORT DOCUMENTARY CALLED LONE STAR LIBRARIES.
THIS IS A SERIES OF, UH, VIDEOS AND ARTICLES THAT CELEBRATE LIBRARIES AROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND THEY ARE COMING HERE TO HIGHLIGHT THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THE SHAKESPEARE FOLIO, UM, TO COINCIDE WITH THEIR CELEBRATION OF AMERICA TWO 50.
THEY'RE JUST COMING HERE TO FILM.
UH, I WILL BE, UH, SPEAKING ON CAMERA AS WELL AS THE MANAGER OF THE SEVENTH FLOOR AND THE EIGHTH FLOOR, AND JUST REALLY CELEBRATING THE RESOURCES THAT, THAT WE HAVE IN THIS BUILDING.
SO I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
OF COURSE, ONCE IT COMES OUT, I WILL LET THE BOARD KNOW AND SHARE THE LINK.
ANN MENTIONED
I I'M NOT DISCUSSING THE REGIONAL MODEL TODAY BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING TO DISCUSS AT THIS POINT.
I DO WANNA LET YOU KNOW, AND, AND I THINK, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH, IF IT WAS THE CHAIR OR THE VICE CHAIR THAT SHARED THIS, BUT NEXT TUESDAY, A WEEK FROM TODAY, I WILL BE PRESENTING AT THE QUALITY OF LIFE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE MEETING.
THAT'S A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL AT 9:00 AM IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
I WILL BE DOING A PRESENTATION OF THE REGIONAL MODEL, AND THAT, UH, IS WHEN I WILL BE DISCUSSING THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FLAGSHIP LIBRARIES AND THE RECOMMENDATION FOR, UH, LIBRARIES TO CLOSE.
SHE IS THE CHIEF DATA OFFICER FOR THE CITY AND THE HEAD OF THE DATA ANALYTICS AND BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM ON THE METHODOLOGY AND DATA THAT WE'RE USING TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLOSURE.
THAT PRESENTATION WILL BE RELEASED AS PART OF THE AGENDA BY 5:00 PM THIS FRIDAY.
SO WHEN THAT COMES OUT, I WILL BE SENDING AN EMAIL TO THE BOARD, LETTING YOU KNOW.
SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE PRESENTATION BEFORE THE PRESENTATION.
UM, IN ADDITION, I WANTED TO MENTION IT'LL BE POSTED ON, OR WILL IT BE POSTED? IT WILL BE POSTED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
THIS REGISTRAR? YEAH, IT'S IN, IT'S IN.
I'LL, I'LL SEND THE, THE LINK TO IT.
UM, AND THERE'S A LINK IN THE AGENDA THAT WILL LEAD TO THE PRESENTATION, CORRECT? YES.
SO I'M STRUGGLING TO, TO OUTLINE EXACTLY HOW YOU GET THERE, BUT, SO IF YOU GO TO THE CITY SECRETARY'S SITE, THERE'S A LINK THAT TELLS YOU HOW TO FIND THE COUNCIL AGENDAS, ALL OF THE AGENDAS.
AND THE AGENDA ITSELF IS ALREADY POSTED TODAY.
IT SHOULD BE POSTED, POSTED THIS EVENING.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BEEN POSTED TONIGHT, BUT ITS BEEN POSTED TODAY.
BUT THE LINK TO THE PRESENTATION IS NOT LIVE UNTIL FRIDAY, CORRECT? IT IS NOT FINALIZED YET, BUT IT WILL BE POSTED, UH, ON FRIDAY.
WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO SEND THAT INFORMATION TO US, THE, THE LINK ABSOLUTELY.
TO THE CITY SERVICES, BECAUSE YES, I WILL ALSO SEND A LINK TO THE, TO THE AGENDA, WHICH WE'LL HAVE THE PRESENTATION ONCE IT'S POSTED ON FRIDAY.
AND ON THAT PAGE THAT, THAT ANNE IS REFERENCING, WE CAN LOOK AT AGENDAS FOR ALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, ALL CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
IT'S LISTED THERE, UH, AS THEY ARE RELEASED.
SOMEONE MENTIONED DATA, AND I JUST WANTED TO, UH, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO SEAN TO GIVE THE FACILITIES AND BOND REPORT.
I JUST WANTED TO MENTION, UH, TO BUILD ON SOMETHING THAT MYSTICA SAID, THIS IDEA THAT, THAT WE ARE GATHERING DATA FOR PRESENTATION.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF DATA, BUT IT JUST HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN ORGANIZED.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT SEAN HAS BEEN TAKING ON IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS TO REALLY GET OUR DATA ORGANIZED SO THAT WE CAN SHARE IT PUBLICLY.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MUNICIPAL LIBRARY BOARD.
I, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF YOU WHO GET DATA BECAUSE IT'S EVOLVED OVER TIME
[00:55:01]
THAT YOU GET EMAILS WITH DATA.BUT AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, OUR DATA IS PUBLIC AND SHOULD BE PUBLIC.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA START, WE'RE JUST, AS SOON AS WE CAN CATCH A BREATH, WE'RE GONNA START WORKING ON A MONTHLY REPORT TO MLB OUTLINING DATA FOR ALL THE LOCATIONS SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO ASK ONE BY ONE LIKE YOU DID THIS WEEK, STAN, OR THAT SOME OF YOU DO.
UM, THERE IS NO REASON FOR US TO BE PRIVATE WITH OUR DATA.
WE ARE A, A GOVERNMENT ENTITY, AND OUR, OUR DATA SHOULD BE PUBLIC.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY FOR US TO RUN THE EXACT REPORT YOU MAY BE ASKING FOR AT THAT EXACT TIME.
BUT MY HOPE IS THAT BY GIVING YOU REGULAR REPORTS, WE CAN GET OUT AHEAD OF, OF SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
SO IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE US A LITTLE GRACE, WE'RE STILL GETTING DATA ORGANIZED.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT AS PART OF THE WORK WITH THE DATA ANALYTICS DEPARTMENT.
AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO BEING ABLE TO PRODUCE REGULAR REPORTS.
YOU DO GET THAT ONE PAGER THAT, THAT SHOWS THE ROLL UP DATA, THE HIGH LEVEL DATA.
I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT WITH BRANCH, WITH BRANCH LEVEL DATA, AND I SEE NO REASON NOT TO.
SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE ARE WORKING IN THAT DIRECTION.
I'LL, I WAS GONNA COME CLOSER, SO NEAR ME BETTER.
UM, I JUST HAVE A FEW QUICK UPDATES FOR THE FACILITIES RELATED ITEMS. YOU KNOW, OVER THE HOLIDAY, WE WERE STILL WORKING VERY HARD ON ALL OF OUR BOND FUNDED PROGRAM PROJECTS.
SO, UM, PRESTON ROLL IN PARTICULAR IS IN THE DESIGN PHASE, AND WE'VE BEEN MEETING REGULARLY WITH THE ARCHITECT ON THAT.
ABOUT EVERY TWO WEEKS WE GET TOGETHER WITH A LARGE GROUP AND WE DISCUSS ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO, TO FULLY RENOVATE THAT BUILDING
SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE'RE CLOSE TO THE END OF THE INITIAL DESIGN PHASE TO WHERE THEY'RE TAKING ALL OF OUR PROGRAMMATIC FEEDBACK THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA ACTUALLY GET TO WORK AND MAKE THAT DESIGN FOR US.
UM, WE'RE HOPING THAT'S GONNA END HERE IN THIS CURRENT MONTH HERE RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE'LL BE SOME ENGAGEMENT THAT WILL TAKE PLACE ONCE THAT'S COMPLETED.
WE STILL ARE ON PACE FOR THE LARGER SCHEDULE TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT TO, UH, WHAT THEY CALL THE, UM, THE, THE PUBLIC ADVERTISEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION PHASE, WHICH IS GONNA TAKE PLACE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2026, WHICH WOULD THEN MEAN THAT WE WOULD AWARD THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE CONTRACT AT THE DECEMBER 9TH, 2026 MEETING.
SO OF COURSE, THERE'S A LOT THAT HAPPENS IN BETWEEN THAT TIME, BUT THE HEAVY LIFTING ON THIS FRONT END THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THE DESIGN PHASE.
UM, THE OTHER TWO LOCATIONS, THE PARK FOREST AND NORTH, OR CLIFF, YOU KNOW, THAT WE WENT TO THE COMMITTEE, WHAT WAS IT BACK IN OCTOBER, TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THE IMMERSION AND DISCOVERY FOR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A MULTI USE FACILITY, THE LIBRARY, AND ANOTHER USE TYPE.
WE HAD CONTEMPLATED ANOTHER BRIEFING THAT WAS GOING TO POTENTIALLY BE IN JANUARY THAT'S NOW SLATED FOR FEBRUARY 17TH AT THE QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, COMMITTEE.
WE ALSO HAVE, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE BATHROOM RENOVATION PROJECTS TO UPGRADE TO A DA COMPLIANCE.
UH, WE HAVE ALREADY
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN GOING EXACTLY AS PLANNED.
IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL PROJECT.
THINGS HAVE BEEN VERY SMOOTH, ALL DISRUPTION.
WE HAVE HAD TO CLOSE IN SOME CASES WHEN WE'VE GONE INTO THE DEMOLITION PHASE FOR A FEW DAYS, JUST TO JUST NOT HAVE DISRUPTION WITH NOISE.
UM, THOSE THAT REMAIN, WE HAVE THE, UH, KLEBERG RILEY AND LAKEWOOD BRANCHES TO COME.
I WILL SAY THE LAKEWOOD BRANCH, WHICH IS SLATED FOR EARLY FEBRUARY, IS A LITTLE BIT MORE INVOLVED IN THE OTHER PROJECTS.
WE HAVE TO MOVE A WALL, IN FACT, TO BE COMPLIANCE.
SO WE MAY ACTUALLY NEED TO CONSIDER CLOSING FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN A COUPLE DAYS, BUT WE'RE GONNA FIND THAT OUT HERE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE AND WE'LL MAKE SURE TO
AND IS THAT CLOSING THE BRANCH OR JUST THE BATHROOMS? SO AT ALL OF THE OTHER LOCATIONS, BUT LAKEWOOD, THAT'S BEEN THE CASE.
THEY'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB OF JUST CLOSE CLOSING THEM.
JUST YES, NO, THEY CLOSED LAKEWOOD IS GONNA BE THE SAME THING, BUT THERE'S JUST MORE THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN AND IT'S GONNA REQUIRE US TO, TO SHUT DOWN DURING THAT INITIAL PHASE WHERE THEY'RE GONNA MOVE THAT WALL AND THEN IT'LL BE OPEN RIGHT BACK UP.
THEY'LL FINISH UP THE PROJECT.
WE'VE TO STAN'S POINT, WE HAVE, WE DID CLOSE ONE BRANCH DURING DEMO NOW, I CAN'T REMEMBER.
YES, WE HAVE, WE'VE SORT OF MADE THE DECISION ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS BASED ON WHERE THE BATHROOMS ARE AND HOW DISRUPTIVE WE THOUGHT THE DEMO WOULD BE, UH, AS TO WHETHER WE CLOSE IT OR NOT.
SO OAKLAWN, WE CLOSED, BUT WE HAVEN'T CLOSED ALL OF THEM DURING DEMOLITION.
THE ONLY THING I WONDERED WAS WHY DID IT, WHY IS IT TAKING SIX WEEKS,
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I GUESS, TO DO THE BATHROOMS? SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY GAVE US A SCHEDULE THAT WAS, WAS IN THEIR MIND, WORST CASE.AND THEY, FRANKLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO, TO MOVE THINGS UP, AND THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THINGS ALONG PRETTY QUICKLY TO WHERE THEY'RE AHEAD OF THEIR SCHEDULES.
SO WE'VE BEEN LAYING OUT THOSE WORST CASE TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY MESSAGING TO THE PUBLIC WHAT TO EXPECT.
UM, WE, WE ARE GETTING TOGETHER HERE JUST TOMORROW OR THURSDAY, RATHER, TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE AT TOWARDS THAT.
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
I IT DOES, IT'S PRETTY MAJOR CONSTRUCTION.
THEY'RE BASICALLY RIPPING THE BATHROOM.
AND, AND SOME OF IT ALSO HAS TO DO WITH CODE REQUIREMENTS, INSPECTIONS AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT THAT CAN TAKE TIME TO SCHEDULE PROPERLY SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT OWL HAPPENS.
SO MASKS, SO HOW, HOW LONG? JUST, JUST A BALLPARK AND MOVING A WALL IS BIG DEAL.
AND LIKE, SO, SO YOU THINK IT'LL BE A MONTH? NO, NOTHING LIKE THAT.
I WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT MORE.
I, I, I DON'T WANNA OVERSTATE WHAT THAT COULD BE, BUT YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE UP TO A WEEK.
AND, AND DONNA, AS THESE HAVE BEEN HAPPENING, I AM AN EMAIL IN THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND ALSO THE MLB REP, SO YOU WILL FIND OUT.
WHEN, WHEN WE KNOW MORE AND WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, WHAT, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE AVOIDING DISRUPTION.
WE DON'T WANT FOLKS IN THERE WHEN IT'S A, A LIVE ACTION CONSTRUCTION SITE.
WE WANT TO TRY TO MAKE IT AS MINIMAL AN IMPACT AS POSSIBLE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE COULDN'T OTHERWISE BE OPEN.
I MEAN, THERE, WE, WE ARE GONNA WORK WITH THE, THE CONTRACTOR VERY CLOSELY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE VERY SPECIFIC ON WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND, AND THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR RIGHT NOW, THAT THAT WAS THE MAIN FOCUS.
SO, SO I KNOW THERE WAS A, A, A WATER SEEPAGE IN THE LAKEWOOD LIBRARY, AND THEY WENT OUT AND TOOK CARE OF, IS THAT ALL COMPLETED THAT PROJECT? YES.
THAT, SO WE HAD, WE, OUR PARTNERS WITH FACILITIES REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT COMPLETED A, WHAT, WHAT THEY CALL WATER INFILTRATION PROJECT OUT AT LAKEWOOD.
THEY WERE OUT THERE IN DECEMBER AND WE WERE ABLE TO FINISH THAT AND EVERYTHING WENT TO PLAN.
AND I, AND I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
WHAT, WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE MURAL AT AT OAK LAWN? WE DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE.
DID THEY EVER GET AN ARTIST? UM, I BELIEVE SO, BUT WE'VE HAD SOME ISSUES GETTING THE ARTIST UNDER CONTRACT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR SEAN OR FOR ME? I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS IT? REGARDING A MURAL IN OAK LAWN? YES.
IF YOU'RE STILL LOOKING FOR AN ARTIST, I CAN RECOMMEND.
WE, WE HAD AN ARTIST SELECTION PROCESS, SO WE DO HAVE AN ARTIST.
IT'S BEEN AN ISSUE OF THE CITY PROCESS.
I HAVE A GOOD FRIEND WHO'S A VERY TALENTED MURALIST
I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS FOR YOU MANIA.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, UH, WHAT WAS THE COST OF THE DPL VIDEO, UH, NOW ON YOUTUBE AND WHO PAID FOR IT? WHICH, I'M SORRY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT VIDEO YOU'RE REFERRING TO.
THE ONE WHERE YOU SPOKE, YOU INTRODUCED IT TO SHOWING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE LIBRARY DURING THE PAST YEAR.
OH, THAT WAS, WE PRODUCED THAT INTERNALLY.
I, I'M, I DON'T KNOW THE COST.
WAS THERE A COST TO PUT IT ON? UH, YOUTUBE OR JUST, UH, IS THAT NO, NO.
IT'S FREE TO PUT THINGS ON YOUTUBE.
SECOND QUESTION REGARDING THE MAVERICK'S READING CHALLENGE, UH, FROM JANUARY TO MARCH MM-HMM
IS THIS A NEW PROGRAM THIS YEAR, OR HAS IT TAKEN PLACE BEFORE? I DO NOT.
WE HAD IT IN COURT FOR MANY YEARS.
THEY'VE BEEN DIGGING, THEY'VE BEEN AROUND.
THE THIRD QUESTION IS, UH, YOU MANA, UH, YOU MANA ARE SEEKING ELECTION AS PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
HOW WOULD THIS POSITION CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR, UH, POSITION AS DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC DALLAS LIBRARY MM-HMM
AND HOW WOULD YOU, UH, HAVE TIME TO DEVOTE TO SUCH AN ADDED, UH, COMMIT, COMMIT, UH, COMMITMENT, WHICH YOU YOURSELF HAVE SAID THAT INVOLVE TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE? SURE.
SO THE TEXAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION IS A, UM, IT'S A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION AND I BELIEVE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO BE INVOLVED IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
THE PRESIDENT OF TLA IS A LITTLE BIT LIKE CATHERINE, IT'S A PRESIDENT OF A BOARD AND IT'S A THREE YEAR TERM.
SO IF ELECTED, I WOULD BE PRESIDENT ELECT IN THE FIRST YEAR, WHICH WOULD START IN APRIL AT THE END OF THE MOST RECENT, UH, CONFERENCE AND THEN BE PRESIDENT THE SECOND YEAR, AND THEN PAST PRESIDENT THE THIRD.
SO I GAVE IT A LOT OF THOUGHT BECAUSE THIS YEAR IS OBVIOUSLY NOT A GOOD YEAR.
IT'S MY FIRST YEAR, BUT I WOULD BE PRESIDENT, UM, UH, OVER A YEAR FROM NOW.
SO I FELT THAT I WOULD'VE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE, UH, FIGURED OUT HOW TO MANAGE MY TIME.
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AND IT WOULD ALSO, UH, A LOT OF IT WOULD BE ON MY PERSONAL TIME, NOT ON WORK TIME.FOR JUST KIND OF DOING SO FOR THE DIRECTOR.
UM, IS THERE ANY CHANGE WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AS FAR AS THE COUNCIL TERMS CHANGING WITH APPOINTMENTS TO THIS BOARD? OH, THE VOTE THAT THEY TOOK TO EXTEND TO NOVEMBER? UH, YES.
WE CAN ASK, I KNOW FELICIA IS LISTENING.
WE CAN ASK THE CITY TE SECRETARY.
MY ASSUMPTION WOULD BE IS THAT THE TERMS OF MLB WOULD BE EXTENDED, WOULD BE MY ASSUMPTION, BUT WE'LL VALIDATE THAT THAT'S TRUE.
THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
UM, AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TODAY.
THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 6:06 PM THANK YOU.