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>> CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER THIS EVENING AT 7:02,
[1. Call to Order: The Library Board of the City of Sachse will hold a Regular Meeting on Monday, October 9, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. to consider the following items of business:]
AT THE LIBRARY BOARD OR THE CITY OF SACHSE, WHO WILL HOLD OUR REGULAR MEETING TONIGHT, MONDAY, OCTOBER THIS 9, 2023 AT 07:00 P.M. TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING ITEMS OF BUSINESS.FIRST WE'LL HAVE EMBARKATION, AND PLEDGES TO THE FLAGS.
WE'RE SO GRATEFUL THAT WE CAN MEET IN PEACE, AND REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY, HELP US ALL TO KEEP THOSE IN CONFLICT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IN OUR THOUGHTS, AND PRAYERS, AND ESPECIALLY OUR ARMED FORCES THAT ARE TRAVELING TO PROTECT OUR ALLIES, AND OTHER AMERICANS THAT ARE CAUGHT UP IN THIS CONFLICT.
WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE LIBRARY BOARD, WE GIVE THANKS FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS THAT WE RECEIVE ON A DAILY BASIS.
>> THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD REGARDING ANY TOPIC NOT ALREADY ON THE AGENDA.
THE TIME LIMIT IS THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER.
A PUBLIC COMMENT CARD SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE ACTING SECRETARY PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, THE BOARD IS PROHIBITED FROM DISCUSSING ANY ITEM NOT POSTED ON THE AGENDA, BUT WE'LL TAKE COMMENTS UNDER ADVISEMENT.
MOVING ON TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 14, 2023 MEETING MINUTES.
[4. Consider approval of the August 14, 2023, meeting minutes.]
>> GOOD EVENING. I [INAUDIBLE] MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT MEETING MINUTES FOR AUGUST 14, 2023.
>> WE HAVE APPROVAL. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
[BACKGROUND] THIS TIME WE'LL RECEIVE AND DISCUSS.
>> WE NEED TO WAIT FOR THE VOTE.
>> YEAH, WE DO THROUGH THE COMPUTERS.
>> RECEIVE, AND DISCUSS THE LIBRARY MANAGERS MONTHLY REPORT.
[5. Receive and discuss the Library Manager's monthly report.]
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE STEVEN BOARD MEMBERS.
WE DID NOT HAVE A MEETING IN SEPTEMBER SINCE I WAS OUT, BUT I HAVE TWO MONTHS OF REPORTS TO DISCUSS THIS EVENING.
BOTH AUGUST, AND SEPTEMBER 2023.
BOTH REALLY GOOD FOR THE LIBRARY.
WE HAD A GOOD NUMBER OF CHECKOUT TO BOTH IN MONTHS.
WE HAD A LOT OF PROGRAMS, AND ACTIVITIES IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, AUGUST, WE TEND TO AFTER SUMMER, READING CLUB DIAL THAT BACK A LITTLE BIT FOR.
OH, THANK YOU FOR TURNING THAT ON.
IN AUGUST WE TEND TO DIAL PROGRAMMING DOWN A LITTLE BIT JUST TO PREPARE FOR THE FALL PROGRAM, AND GIVE US A LITTLE BIT TIME TO GET THINGS READY BECAUSE SUMMER, THAT'S A WHIRLWIND.
BUT SEPTEMBER WE KICKED OFF OUR STORY TIMES AGAIN, WE HAD SOME SPECIAL EVENTS, AND PROGRAMS WHICH WE ARE CONTINUING.
WE HAD A COUPLE OF THINGS THIS WEEK, AND LAST WEEK ACTUALLY LIKE A HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH STORY TIME, AND THEN ANOTHER SPECIAL STORY TIME LATER THIS MONTH.
WE HAVE HIRED A PROGRAMMING LIBRARIAN, AMANDA KING, WHO COMES TO US FROM THE FORT WORTH PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM,
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AND SHE HAS BEEN HERE ABOUT A MONTH AT THIS POINT, AND SHE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH OUR EXISTING PROGRAMMING STAFF TO PLAN, AND LEAD PROGRAMS INCLUDING OUR STORY TIMES, AND SPECIAL EVENTS.SHE'S DOING A GREAT JOB. SHE'S GOT GREAT IDEAS, AND SO WE'VE GOT A VARIETY OF NEW, AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS COMING IN THE FALL, AND IN THE SPRING, ESPECIALLY.
WE ALSO, JUST AS A GENERAL THING, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOURS FOR THE LIBRARY.
I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WITH THE NEW BUDGET YEAR ON THE CITY COUNCIL DID VOTE TO APPROVE OUR NEW POSITIONS FOR THE LIBRARY SO THAT WE CAN EXPAND OUR HOURS BEGINNING IN JANUARY.
THEY HAVE ADDED TWO FULL-TIME POSITIONS, AND TWO PART-TIME POSITION SO THAT WE CAN ADD 12 ADDITIONAL OPEN HOURS, IT'S A 25% INCREASE IN OUR HOURS.
WE'LL OPEN A LOT MORE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN COME AT TIMES IN THE EVENING THAT ARE CONVENIENT FOR FAMILIES, AND THEN EXPANDED HOURS A LITTLE BIT, AND A LITTLE BIT IN THE MORNING, AND THEN ON SATURDAYS AS WELL.
WE HAVE SOME OF OUR FOLKS HAVE STARTED, AS I MENTIONED, AMANDA KING, THE NEW PROGRAMMING LIBRARIAN, WE ALSO HAVE TWO NEW PART-TIME POSITIONS THAT HAVE STARTED, AND THEN TWO YET TO START IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, SO WON'T BE TOO LONG, AND WE WILL HAVE ALL THOSE POSITIONS FILLED SO THAT WE CAN TRAIN, AND BE READY TO BE OPEN FOR THOSE EXTRA HOURS.
LET ME SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE OF IMPORT THAT I NEED TO BRING UP.
WE DID RECEIVE OUR NOTICE OF ACCREDITATION FOR THE NEXT BUT THE CURRENT AT THIS POINT, FISCAL YEAR, THE STATE REPORT THAT WE SUBMIT EVERY YEAR DID COME BACK, AND WHERE WE HAVE RETAINED OUR ACCREDITATION AGAIN FOR THE YEAR, SO WE'RE ELIGIBLE FOR THINGS LIKE GRANTS FROM THE STATE LIBRARY, AND SPECIAL FUNDING, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD ABOUT THE AUGUST, AND SEPTEMBER REPORTS? PRETTY GOOD MONTHS OVERALL, I HAVE OUR YEARLY REPORT ON OUR NEXT ITEM, BUT ANYTHING ABOUT THE TWO MONTHS PLACE THAT WE HAVE THERE.
>> STOOD ACCREDITATION MEAN THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN WAS APPROVED OR UNCERTAIN?
>> OH, WELL, THAT WAS ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR US TO RETAIN OUR ACCREDITATION.
BUT SO WE DID GET THAT DONE IN TIME SO THAT WHEN WE RECEIVE THAT NOTICE IN AUGUST, THAT'S WHY THEY NEEDED IT IN JULY, SO THAT WE CAN RETAIN THAT.
BUT WE DO A REPORT EACH YEAR TO THE STATE LIBRARY THAT'S A LOT OF STATISTICAL, AND FUNDING RELATED HOW MANY DOLLARS WERE SPENT ON THIS, AND THAT.
WHEN WE SEND THAT TO THE STATE LIBRARY, AND THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS FOR LIBRARIES TO SPEND NEW INDEX NUMBER AMOUNT OF MATERIALS, AND THIS THING, AND BE OPENED THIS NUMBER OF HOURS, AND HAVE THIS MANY STAFF.
ASSUMING THAT WE MEET ALL THOSE CRITERIA WHICH WE EASILY DO IN MOST CASES, THEN WE RETAIN THAT ACCREDITATION, AND THE ONE THAT WE'RE COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE WAS THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN THAT WE PASSED A FEW MONTHS AGO.
WE DID, AS I MENTIONED, RETAIN THAT ACCREDITATION FOR THE COMING YEAR, AND THAT GIVES US ACCESS TO APPLY FOR GRANTS THROUGH THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY, AND SOME THROUGH THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AS WELL.
BUT NOT NATIONAL ARCHIVES, THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
>> I ACTUALLY DO HAVE A QUESTION.
>> MY APOLOGIES. HAVE YOU ALREADY FORMED A PLAN OF ACTION FOR YOUR GRANTS, AND WHAT TYPE OF GRANTS YOU'RE LOOKING TO?
>> WE'VE DISCUSSED A COUPLE OF THINGS.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO DO GRANTS EACH YEAR BECAUSE THEY TAKE SO MUCH EFFORT, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S FEDERAL PASS THROUGH GRANTS JUST TAKES SO MUCH EFFORT TO KEEP TRACK.
WHEN WE GET ALL OF OUR STAFF IN PLACE MIGHT MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO DO MORE OF THOSE.
WE DO HAVE A GRANT THAT WE ARE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL MATERIALS ON TOUGH TOPICS SUCH AS DIVORCE, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND FOR ALL OF OUR COLLECTIONS, CHILDREN, TEENS, AND ADULTS, APPROPRIATE MATERIALS FOR ALL THREE AGE GROUPS.
WE RECEIVED A GRANT, IT WAS A SMALL $2,500 GRANT THROUGH THE TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL BUT WE WILL, NOW THAT THE FISCAL YEAR HAS BEGUN, WE'RE PURCHASING THOSE MATERIALS, AND WE'LL ADD THEM TO THE COLLECTION IN THE COMING MONTHS SO THAT WE CAN BOLSTER THOSE JUST TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AN UP-TO-DATE COLLECTION ON THOSE TOPICS.
BECAUSE MANY OF THOSE, ESPECIALLY HEALTH-RELATED THINGS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE UP-TO-DATE MATERIALS ON THOSE THINGS.
>> WHY DO YOU THINK THE ADULT AND THE YOUNG ADULTS MATERIALS ARE SO MUCH HIGHER ON THIS YEAR OVER LAST YEAR AND THE JUVENILES STAY THE SAME.
>> YEAH, I DID NOTICE THAT AND I THINK A LOT OF IT IS JUST NORMAL FLUCTUATION, ALTHOUGH THE ADULT BEING SO MUCH HIGHER,
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I BELIEVE, POSSIBLY COULD BE DUE TO THE POPULARITY OF ADULT READING CHALLENGE.WE STARTED A FEW YEARS AGO AND THIS YEAR, IT HAS REALLY TAKEN OFF IN POPULARITY, I WOULD GUESS PROBABLY TWICE AS MANY ADULTS PARTAKING IN THAT THIS YEAR.
ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS, JULIE BIRD, I BELIEVE, HAS PUT TOGETHER THE PROMPTS AND CATEGORIES FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND SHE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB THIS YEAR PICKING REALLY UNIQUE TYPES OF BOOKS FOR PEOPLE TO SEEK OUT, I THINK ONE OF THEM IS A BOOK WITH A CAT ON THE COVER.
A BOOK THAT YOU WISH YOU READ IN HIGH SCHOOL, OR MAYBE YOU DID AND FORGOT ABOUT.
FOLKS WILL COME IN AND THEY WILL ASK US FOR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THESE DIFFERENT TOPICS, SO WE WILL HAVE DISPLAYS OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
I THINK THAT HAS HAD A HAND IN BOLSTERING THOSE NUMBERS.
IT IS QUITE A BIT MORE THAN IT WAS THE YEAR BEFORE, AND THEN CHILDREN'S, IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME IN MOST CASES THERE ARE A COUPLE THAT ARE UP OR DOWN, JUST FLUCTUATIONS.
THE ADULT FICTION WAS A LOT HIGHER THAN YOUNG ADULTS.
WE DID MAKE THAT CHANGE WITH THE GRAPHIC NOVELS AND MANGA AND THEN THE YOUNG ADULT, MATERIALS WE SPLIT THOSE OUT AND I THINK THAT THE SPLIT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH MAKING THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE EASIER TO FIND FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR MANGA AND GRAPHIC NOVELS VERSUS YOUNG ADULT.
LET ME JUST LOOK AT AUGUST HERE FOR THOSE, SO WE HAVE A BIT OF AN INCREASE IN MANGA AND GRAPHIC NOVELS, WHILE IN MATERIALS IT'S PRETTY CLOSE.
THE INITIAL CHECKOUTS IS A LITTLE MORE, BUT THE TOTAL CHECKOUTS WITH RENEWALS IS A LITTLE DOWN, THAT THE NORMAL FLUCTUATION THERE, I THINK.
>> WE'VE INCREASED THE SIZE OF THE MANGA COLLECTION QUITE A BIT TOO, BECAUSE THEY ARE EXTREMELY POPULAR AT THE MOMENT.
ANOTHER REASON I THINK THAT THAT MIGHT HAVE GROWN IN POPULARITY SO MUCH AS THE BOOK BOXES THAT WE DO, WE HAVE BOOK BUNDLES THAT ONE OF THE OPTIONS IS MANGA GRAPHIC NOVEL.
I BELIEVE THAT'S PROBABLY CONTRIBUTED TO SOME OF THAT.
>> MANGA IS A JAPANESE GRAPHIC NOVEL.
IT'S USUALLY BLACK AND WHITE PRINT PUBLISHED IN A PICTORIAL FORMAT.
>> OKAY, AM NOT SURE OF THOSE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR BOARD GAMES ALSO, I DON'T KNOW IF THE NUMBERS REFLECT IT ON HERE BECAUSE WE LUMP OUR BOARD GAMES.
LIKE BROAD GAMES THAT YOU CAN CHECK OUT AND TAKE HOME IN WITH OUR BOARDS, WERE GAMES THAT YOU CAN PLAY IN HOUSE, BUT I'VE NOTICED ANECDOTALLY A BIG INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF GAMES THAT ARE CHECKING OUT TO GO HOME.
I THINK THAT OUR FAMILIES ARE BEGINNING TO REALLY WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH THAT WHOLE COLLECTION I THINK, TRY NEW GAME EVERY WEEK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OVER A FEW FAMILIES THAT COME IN AND ASK FOR RECOMMENDATIONS, WHAT SHOULD WE PLAY NEXT?
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD?
>> WAS JUST CURIOUS, THERE'RE 3D PRINTER BROKEN OR?
>> IT'S NOT BROKEN, WE JUST HAVEN'T RECEIVED [LAUGHTER]
>> THE ONE THAT WAS JUST CONSTANT WITH THE PARTS FOR THE SPRINKLER INSTALLATION, AND THAT GOES IN WAVES AS WELL.
WE HAD, LET'S SAY AUGUST 18 AND THEN 14 IN SEPTEMBER COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
AGAIN, THOSE ARE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS THAT ARE BEING PRINTED.
WE DID HAVE ONE DEVELOPMENT AND THAT WAS THAT.
ACTUALLY, FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, WE HAD A ROBOTICS TEAM THAT I WAS USING.
THEY WOULD PAY TO HAVE THEIR PARTS AND THINGS 3D PRINTED FOR THEIR ROBOTS FOR THEIR COMPETITIONS.
THAT PROGRAM, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WHAT IS NO LONGER IN OPERATION, I BELIEVE THEY SHUT DOWN THAT ROBOTICS PROGRAM AT THAT SCHOOL, AND SO WE HAVEN'T BEEN PRINTING THEIR STUFF.
THAT'S PROBABLY ANOTHER REASON WHY IT'S DOWN ON THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.
WE'VE TAKEN AN OPERATOR TO PRINT SOME THINGS IN HOUSE FOR OUR PROGRAMS. FOR LIKE OUR DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS PROGRAMS BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT MEDIUM FOR CREATING A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE USE FOR THOSE.
WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT DOWNTIME, BUT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO KEEP IT ACTIVE SO THAT PEOPLE SEE IT RUNNING.
BECAUSE THAT GENERATES INTERESTS A LOT OF TIMES JUST FROM THE VISUAL OF IT RUNNING, PEOPLE WILL ASK QUESTIONS.
I HAD A GUY COME IN TODAY ASKING SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT PRINTING ACTUALLY, A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT FAMILIES TODAY.
NOW, THAT SCHOOL IS BACK IN SESSION, I THINK WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE SOME RENEWED INTEREST IN IT FROM STUDENTS.
>> COULD THE 3D PRINTER BE USED TO PRINT GAME PIECES LIKE MONOPOLY GAME?
>> YES, AND WE'VE USED IT FOR MISSING PIECES LIKE THAT AS WELL.
>> THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE'VE TRIED TO PRINT THAT DON'T WORK OUT SO WELL FOR BOARD GAMES.
FOR INSTANCE, THE GAME OF LIFE HAS THOSE LITTLE BITTY PEOPLE.
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>> IT DOESN'T WORK WELL FOR THOSE LITTLE BITTY PEOPLE, IT'S JUST TOO SMALL AND THEY BREAK.
IT'S JUST TOO TINY, BUT MONOPOLY PIECES LIKE LITTLE HOUSES, PERFECT SIZE FOR THAT THING, OR MOST OTHER THINGS.
WE'VE USED IT TO REPLACE PUZZLE PIECES.
PUZZLE PIECES FOR TODDLERS LIKE SHAPES, LIKE A BLUE SQUARE, THAT THING.
FOR LITERACY KITS AND FOR IN-HOUSE PUZZLES AND GAMES.
WE'VE USED IT FOR A LOT OF OUR IN-HOUSE THINGS TO REPLACE PIECES, AND THEN TO CREATE SOME THINGS FOR OUR PROGRAMS AND THEN OUR IT DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO ON OCCASION USE IT TO CREATE SOME PROPRIETARY THINGS FOR THE IT DEPARTMENT TO USE HERE IN THE CITY COMPLEX.
>> BECAUSE YOU'RE SAVING FILES?
>> YES, IT DOES. IT DOES SAVE US A BIT OF THAT.
>> YEAH, I FEEL BAD THAT THE GAME OF LIFE PIECES THAT WERE LOST, I HAD TOLD THAT PATRIOTISM IS A WHILE BACK.
I WAS LIKE, WE CAN 3D PRINT THOSE, AND THEN WE COULDN'T AND BUYING THOSE REPLACEMENT PIECES WAS $10 TO BUY A PACK OF REPLACEMENT PIECES FOR THAT.
I HAD ALREADY TOLD THE PATRON.
IT'LL BE SUPER CHEAP SO WE HAD THAT, BUT I FOUND OUT THAT'S JUST A LITTLE TOO SMALL PRINT THOSE LITTLE PIECES, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, WE CAN REPLACE MISSING PIECES AT A REASONABLE COST [LAUGHTER]
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> WELL, WHAT I WANT TO SAY AM PROUD OF THE INCREASE FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE THAT.
>> WE DID HAVE A GOOD INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR, AND I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF DATA ON THAT ON OUR NEXT ONE.
WE CAN GO AHEAD AND I THINK MAYBE MOVE ON WITH THAT, A FEW ONE HERE.
>> NEXT, WE'LL RECEIVE AND DISCUSS
[6. Receive and discuss a statistical summary of Library services for FY 2023.]
STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF LIBRARY SERVICES FOR YEAR 2023.>> THANK YOU, JOHN. YES, SO THE FINAL PAGE IN YOUR PACKAGE IS A SUMMARY OF SOME OF OUR STATS THAT WE'VE KEPT FROM YEAR TO YEAR AND WE COMPARE THESE EACH YEAR, USUALLY IN OUR OCTOBER MEETING LIKE THIS.
AS JOHN MENTIONED, WE HAVE HAD A BIG INCREASE IN SOME CATEGORIES AND AN INCREASE IN ALMOST ALL OF THEM.
WE HAD LAST YEAR, AND BY THAT I MEAN 2021-2022.
THE LAST FULL YEAR, WE HAD AN ENORMOUS INCREASE IN OUR CHECKOUTS.
WE WENT FROM 123,000 TO 152,000 ALMOST 153,000.
IT WAS AN ENORMOUS INCREASE AND WE WERE SHOUTING FROM THE ROOFTOPS JUST HOW MUCH OF AN INCREASE THIS WAS AND I WAS PRAYING THAT THAT WOULD NOT GO DOWN.
THAT WASN'T A FLUKE AND WE ACTUALLY WENT UP A LITTLE BIT MORE THIS YEAR.
WE HIT 156, JUST OVER 156 CHECKOUTS FOR THE YEAR.
THAT'S NOW THE HIGHEST YEAR THAT WE'VE HAD ON RECORD, WENT UP ABOUT 2 PERCENT THOUGH.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT WE'LL TAKE IT.
THEN OUR NUMBER OF PATRONS IS ALSO UP, ALTHOUGH THAT ALSO FLUCTUATES BECAUSE WE DO PERIODICALLY PURGE OUT OLD CARDS AND THINGS SO, WE HAD AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ITEMS, WHICH WE ONLY HAVE ROOM FOR SO MUCH AGAIN, SO THAT'S ALSO CYCLES IN AND OUT.
WE HAD AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF COMPUTER SESSIONS IN THE LIBRARY.
A SLIGHT INCREASE THERE TO ABOUT 2,127.
NUMBER OF PROGRAMS INCREASED QUITE A BIT, 15 PERCENT OVER LAST YEAR, THIS IS ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, THE LAST FEW YEARS DURING SUMMER READING, WE HAVE TRIED TO, IMMEDIATELY POST-COVID AND THE COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER, TO HOST A LOT OF OUTDOOR EVENTS, TO ALLOW FOR GREATER DISTANCING, BUT IT'S SO HOT DURING THE SUMMER THAT WE REALLY DIDN'T GET MUCH TURN OUT FOR THEM.
WE WENT BACK THIS YEAR TO DO IN OUR TRADITIONAL, IN THE LIBRARY PROGRAMS EACH WEEK, DREW IN VERY LARGE CROWDS, IF YOU ALL REMEMBER THE NUMBER IS 200, 300 PER PROGRAM AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO THEM WEEKLY RATHER THAN BI-WEEKLY OR WHAT NOT, AND SO WHEN WE INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER, AND WE'VE GOT TO 228 PROGRAMS ISSUE, WHICH ACTUALLY KNOW TO LOOK AT IT AS ALMOST AS HIGH AS WE HAD IN 2019, 233.
WE'RE UP THERE WITH OUR RECORDING PROGRAM ATTENDANCE.
WE WERE JUST OVER 10,000 PROGRAM ATTENDANCE, A 33 PERCENT INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR.
THOSE NUMBERS ARE REMAINING VERY HIGH.
NOW, THAT WE ARE PLANNING ON ADDING THOSE EXPANDED HOURS AND EXPANDED PROGRAMMING, THE NUMBER OF PROGRAMS, THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS, NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING THROUGH OUR DOORS IS PROBABLY GOING TO GO UP CONSIDERABLY NEXT YEAR.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO SHARE THOSE NUMBERS.
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THE ONLY TWO CATEGORIES THAT WENT DOWN AND EVEN THEN, LESS THAN 2 PERCENT EACH, VOLUNTEER HOURS, WE JUST WENT DOWN LIKE EIGHT HOURS DIFFERENCE FROM LAST YEAR AND INTER-LIBRARY LOANS SHIPPED AND RECEIVED JUST WENT DOWN EIGHT TOTAL ITEMS. WE DOWN LESS THAN A PERCENT THERE. THAT'S FAIRLY STEADY.THEN THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER HOURS WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT THIS YEAR, ACTUALLY A COUPLE OF VOLUNTEERS OUT WITH FIRST AND MEDICAL REASONS AND SO THAT PREVENTED THEM FROM COMING IN FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AT A TIME FOR SUM OF MOMENTS.
THOSE NUMBERS WOULD HAVE BEEN A BIT HIGHER WITHOUT THAT.
>> I FEEL THAT, I NEED TO BE BETTER ABOUT LOGGING.
>> YOU'VE BEEN GREAT AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR HELP TODAY.
>> LITERACY COMPUTER USES, THOSE ARE THE, IF YOU'VE SEEN THEM IN THE LIBRARY, THE AWE CHILDREN'S GAMES, COMPUTERS THAT HAVE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS, BIG INCREASE THERE, A 19 ALMOST 20 PERCENT INCREASE THERE IN THEIR USE.
WE HAVE THEM IN AS, IN A SPOT THAT'S A LITTLE OUT OF THE WAY BUT STILL VISIBLE FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE IN THE CHILDREN'S AREA, THEY DO MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF NOISE AND SOUND, SO WE TRY TO KEEP THEM IN A CORNER WHERE THERE'S LITTLE SOUND BUFFER THERE, BUT STILL VISIBLE FOR FAMILIES AND THEY GET USED A LOT.
IN FACT, NEXT YEAR WE'LL PROBABLY BE LOOKING AT ASKING FOR SOME FUNDS IN THE BUDGET TO REPLACE THOSE BECAUSE THEY'RE PROBABLY ABOUT EIGHT YEARS OLD AT THIS POINT.
THEN LASTLY, OUR DOOR COUNT UP ABOUT 11% FROM LAST YEAR SO THAT IS ALL COMING BACK REAL HARD.
IT'S NOT THE MOST PEOPLE WE'VE EVER HAD COME THROUGH OUR DOORS IN A YEAR, BUT IT'S THE MOST IN SEVERAL YEARS SO THERE IS THAT.
ALRIGHT EVERYBODY, SO THAT'S JUST THE BASICS OF THE STATISTICS FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.
I WILL SAY IN FISCAL YEAR 2023 WAS A STRONG YEAR FOR US.
IT WAS HIGHER IN MOST CASES THAN THE PREVIOUS.
WE DID IT WITH STAFF THAT SHOULD HAVE PROBABLY AT THE TIME BEEN A LITTLE LARGER THAN IT WAS.
EVEN IF WE HADN'T GOTTEN THESE POSITIONS APPROVED FOR MORE HOURS, WE WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN ASKING FOR A COUPLE OF PART-TIME POSITIONS JUST TO MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT HOURS BECAUSE IT'S BUSY AND WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT GOING ON.
BUT WE'RE THANKFUL THAT VERY SOON WE'LL BE ABLE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC A LITTLE EARLIER IN THE MORNINGS AND A LITTLE LATER IN THE EVENINGS, SO THAT WE CAN BE AVAILABLE AND HAVE SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES AT TIMES THAT ARE CONVENIENT FOR THEM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT NEXT YEAR AS WELL.
VERY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE YEARLY EXTENTS?
>> NEXT WE'LL DISCUSS THE LIBRARY BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS REGARDING SPECIAL EVENTS,
[7. Discuss Library Board announcements regarding special events, current activities, and local achievements.]
CURRENT ACTIVITIES, AND LOCAL ACHIEVEMENTS.>> THANK YOU, SIR. FOR THE LIBRARY, WE JUST HAVE SOME UPCOMING ACTIVITIES.
I MENTIONED A SPECIAL STORY TIME COMING LATER THIS MONTH, IT'S A CAMPFIRE STORY TIME OUTDOORS, NOT WITH REAL FIRE, BUT FIRELIGHT OUTSIDE WITH ALL THE KIDS.
I WISH I HAD MY CALENDAR PULLED UP HERE.
IT IS ON THE EVENING OF THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26TH IS WHEN THAT WILL BE IN THE EVENING, I BELIEVE 6:30.
THAT'S ONE THAT I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO.
WE HAVE OUR ADULT CRAFT NIGHT THIS WEEK, REGISTRATION FOR THAT WILL OPEN THIS TUESDAY SO TOMORROW AT 06:00.
WE WERE GOING TO ADD ANOTHER ONE OF THESE PROGRAMS IN THE SPRING BECAUSE WE JUST HAVE HAD ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF INTEREST IN IT.
FOR THE SEPTEMBER ADULT CRAFT, WHEN WE OPENED UP THE SIGN-UPS ONLINE, WE RAN OUT IN LESS THAN TWO MINUTES, 6:02, THERE WERE NO MORE SPOTS.
>> THAT TELLS YOU THAT THERE IS WAY MORE INTERESTING THAN WE THOUGHT.
WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO ADD A SECOND CRAFT NIGHT PROBABLY FOR ADULTS STARTING IN THE SPRING, BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE PROBABLY AS MANY PEOPLE IN THE GROUP THAT WE CAN DO EASILY WITH JUST A COUPLE OF PEOPLE RUNNING IT.
>> ARE YOU SAYING IT ALWAYS FILLS UP THAT QUICKLY?
>> IT'S BEEN FILLING UP THE LAST SIX MONTHS OR SO, WE WERE SURPRISED THAT IT FILLED UP TWO MINUTES AFTER.
THIS IS LIKE TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT.
>> WE HAD PEOPLE SAYING, HEY THE FORM IS BROKEN, I CAN'T REGISTER AT 06:05, IT'S GONE.
>> THEN NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WHEN YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE ADULT HALF NIGHTS, I'M NOT SURE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS, BUT I HAVE, YOU WILL STILL GET PEOPLE COMING TO THE DOOR JUST ON THE OFF CHANCE THAT A SEAT WAS NOT TAKEN BECAUSE SOMEONE MAY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COME AND JUST THE LOOK OF JUST SADNESS
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ON THE INSTRUCTOR WHO LEADS THE CLASS FOR THE ADULT NIGHT AND HAVING TO TURN PEOPLE AWAY, WE CAN FEEL IT, ALL OF US THERE CAN FEEL IT.BUT IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND I'M HOPING THAT EVERYONE IN SACHSE GETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THAT BECAUSE I WANT TO SAY THE LAST ONE WAS THE HOBBIT, THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> AND IT WAS SUCH A GREAT EVENT.
I DIDN'T GET TO GO TO IT, BUT I'VE HEARD NOTHING BUT GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT AND I'M HOPING THAT THANK YOU FOR ADDING MORE OPPORTUNITIES AND SPACE.
WE ACTUALLY ASKED FOR A LITTLE BIT OF AN INCREASE, JUST AN IRREGULAR BUDGET WASN'T A SUPPLEMENTAL TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS FOR THE ADULT CRAFTS SO WE CAN ADD A SECOND ONE SO THAT'S COMING.
ONCE WE GET A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH OUR SCHEDULE WE WILL BE HAVING ANOTHER ONE AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT, PROBABLY THE SAME CRAFT, BOTH ONES EACH MONTH SO THAT CAN SPLIT UP THE PEOPLE.
THIS MONTH, BY THE WAY, IS GOING TO BE GHOST [INAUDIBLE], SO IT'S A LITTLE FISHBOWL LIKE AQUARIUM WITH A TINY LITTLE GHOST AND THINGS INSIDE THAT YOU CAN PUT TOGETHER.
>> YOU HAVE DONE THAT IN THE PAST.
THAT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS WITH THE TEAM BECAUSE REMEMBER, IT WAS A TEEN CRAFT A FEW YEARS BACK.
WE STILL HAVE OURS AND I HAVE TWO TEENS IN MY HOME AND THEIR MINDS WERE BLOWN.
WE HAVE A PUMPKIN DECORATING CONTEST GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE ACCEPTING MINIATURE PUMPKIN DECORATED BY KIDS UNTIL THE END OF THE WEEK.
WE'LL START DISPLAYING THEM ON MONDAY OF NEXT WEEK.
THERE'LL BE ON DISPLAY WHERE YOU CAN VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH.
ANY MINIATURE PUMPKIN WILL DO.
WE ENCOURAGE STYROFOAM MINI PUMPKINS AND THEN PAINTING OR MARKERS, PLEASE DON'T CARVE.
WE DON'T WANT YOU TO BRING CARVED PUMPKINS BECAUSE THEY'LL ROT.
BUT PAINT IS GREAT. WE HAVE SOME GREAT ONES THAT WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN IN.
I THINK PROBABLY 30 OR SO ALREADY WILL HAVE ON DISPLAY STARTING NEXT WEEK.
COME OUT AND VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE MINIATURE PUMPKIN AND MAKE A KID'S DAY.
>> IS THAT VOTING IN-PERSON OR IF YOU HAVE AN ONLINE OPTIONS?
>> IT'S IN-PERSON, WE'LL HAVE THEM ON DISPLAY AND A LITTLE CIRCULAR THING IN THE CHILDREN'S AREA, HOPEFULLY THEY WON'T WALK AWAY.
THAT WAS A LITTLE ISSUE LAST YEAR BECAUSE THEY LOOK VERY FUN BUT YOU GET TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE, YOUR NUMBER.
>> TO BRING THEM IN, THE CLOSING DATE IS, I BELIEVE THIS SATURDAY, THE 14TH.
THEN STARTING MONDAY, THE 16TH, WE'LL HAVE THEM ON DISPLAY IN THE LIBRARY FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE.
THE VOTING CLOSES ON THE 28TH.
I THINK IT'S JUST TWO-WEEK PERIOD AND THEN HALLOWEEN AND ITS COURSE ON THE 31ST, THE TUESDAY AFTER THAT.
IT'S REALLY CUTE. WE HAD A DECORATING THING LAST WEEK AT THE LIBRARY FOR THIS BUT KIDS ARE BRINGING IN THEIR OWN STUFF TOO THAT THEY DID AT HOME, SO A LOT OF FUN.
THOSE ARE OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS, UPCOMING EVENTS FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE.
THAT'S ALL FOR ME, IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OR ANYTHING.
>> THIS IS GOING TO BE MY LAST LIBRARY BOARD MEETING.
YOUR TERM ENDS AND YOU HAD TO GO AND [BACKGROUND]
>> THEN WE'LL GET IT UP BECAUSE I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.
>> ACTUALLY IT'S JUST LISTED AS MS. RODIN IN THE NOTES.
BUT YOU REMEMBER YOUR PROPER PRONUNCIATION, YOUR FIRST NAME?
>> DIA. WE WERE AT THE SAME MEETINGS AND THEN THEY ASKED US LIKE, WHAT WE THOUGHT OF WHAT NEEDED TO BE IMPROVED.
NOT NECESSARILY IMPROVEMENTS, BUT WHAT OUR IMPRESSION OF THE LIBRARY BOARD WAS, WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE IT, AND JUST OVERALL.
IF THEY PUT YOU ON THE SPOT THERE AND ASKED YOU WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE SAID?
>> NO. IN TERMS OF LIKE HOW THE LIBRARY CAN BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY, OR WHAT CAN BE DONE.
>> GOT IT. WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES TO MIND FIRST IS THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE RESIDENTS WANT AND ASK FOR THAT WE AREN'T ABLE TO PROVIDE JUST WITH OUR CURRENT FACILITIES.
I THINK THAT IN THE LONG TERM, WE WILL NEED A NEW BUILDING OR RENOVATION OR REMODEL OR SOMETHING SO THAT WE CAN ADD THESE THINGS.
WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE EVERY WEEK, SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY THAT COME IN AND ASK FOR STUDY ROOMS, OR JUST WHERE THEY ARE AND WE DON'T HAVE THEM TODAY BECAUSE IT IS FALL BREAK.
IT WAS NOISY AT THE LIBRARY AND I HAD TWO PEOPLE LOOKING FOR QUIET AREAS.
NORMALLY, WE DON'T HAVE A QUIET LIBRARY.
IT'S USUALLY QUIET ENOUGH TO DO SOME WORK AND STUDY.
BUT TODAY, WITH IT BEING FALL BREAK, IT WAS A LOT OF KIDS.
IT WAS LIKE THE NOISE LEVEL OF BEING AFTER STORY TIME MOST OF THE DAY.
>> AS MUCH. THAT WOULD GIVE PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT OF A SANCTUARY TO HAVE A LITTLE QUIET AREA FOR THEMSELVES,
[00:30:03]
WHICH IS REALLY ALL WE CAN DO IN THIS DAY AND AGE IS JUST KEEP AN AREA OF QUIET FOR THEM.THERE'S ALSO THE CHALLENGES OF WE HAVE ONE MEETING ROOM AND PROGRAM ROOM THAT WE USE BOTH FOR OUR ACTIVITIES AND FOR PUBLIC USE AND RENTAL.
IF WE ONLY EXPAND OUR HOURS AND THINGS IN THE SPRING, THAT WILL BE EVEN LESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO RENT THE ROOM BECAUSE WE WILL BE USING IT FOR PROGRAMS THAT'S UNDER NIGHTS OF THE WEEK AND THOSE OTHER DAYS.
THAT WILL BE VERY MUCH LESS FOR THE PUBLIC, UNFORTUNATELY.
WE REALLY NEED I THINK, TWO MEETING ROOMS FOR ONE FOR CHILDREN'S AND PROGRAMMING, AND ONE FOR PUBLIC RENTAL, AND THEN A COMPUTER LAB SO THAT WE CAN TEACH COMPUTER CLASSES.
BECAUSE WE ARE OFTEN HAVING PEOPLE ASK US FOR A CLASS ON HOW TO USE MICROSOFT WORD OR EXCEL, OR HOW TO BUILD A RESUME OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE CAN SHOW PEOPLE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, BUT TO HOLD A CLASS FOR THIS, WE NEED A LAB WHERE WE CAN HAVE AN INSTRUCTOR SHOW PEOPLE.
THEY CAN FOLLOW ALONG AND DO IT THEMSELVES AND WE DO NOT HAVE A SETUP THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO THAT.
FACILITIES IS THE ONE THAT COMES TO MY MIND IMMEDIATELY.
WE HAVE THINGS THAT RESIDENTS ASKED FOR THAT WE JUST CAN'T MEET ABSENT AND LARGE-SCALE PROJECT LIKE THAT.
THAT'S WHERE I WOULD ANSWER AND MEET IF THEY WERE TO ASK ME THAT JUST OFF THE CUFF, THAT WOULD BE WHERE MY MIND WENT IMMEDIATELY.
BEYOND THAT, WE'RE ALREADY MAKING BIG IMPROVEMENTS FOR NEXT YEAR, ADDING HOURS, MORE STAFF SO THAT WE CAN BETTER SERVE OUR RESIDENTS.
I THINK WE'RE MAKING HEADWAY IN THOSE AREAS AND WILL ACCOMPLISH A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE SET OUT TO IN OUR FIVE-YEAR PLAN I THINK PRETTY QUICKLY BECAUSE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'LL BE MAKING IN THE NEXT YEAR WITH OUR HOURS AND STAFF.
>> MEETING ROOMS, QUIET ROOMS WAS LIKE THE FIRST THING CAME TO MY MIND.
>> THAT IS THE ONE THING THAT WE'RE ASKED FOR ALL THE TIME.
>> I STILL MARVEL AT HOW MUCH IS AVAILABLE AT THE LIBRARY THAT I DIDN'T KNOW THAT I WAS THINKING BACK TO WHEN I FIRST CAME IN MY FIRST LIBRARY BOARD MEETING.
I DIDN'T KNOW YOU COULD ACCESS SO MUCH ONLINE RESOURCES FROM OTHER LIBRARIES THAT CAN BE SENT HERE AND LIKE SOME ADDITIONAL ADVERTISING FOR THE LIBRARY.
EVEN THOUGH THERE'S ALL THESE DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT ARE LIKE REGULAR BASIS, IT'S STILL SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE PROBABLY STILL DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CAN DO AT THE LIBRARY.
THE MARKETING OF THE LIBRARY IS [NOISE]
>> SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT MORE WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT STUFF THAT'S GREAT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA.
GETTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDS AND TRYING TO JUST BE WITTY AND FUNNY AND CLEVER AND GOING VIRAL WITHIN THE SACHSE COMMUNITY CAN SOMETIMES GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
WHAT WE WANT IS FOR PEOPLE TO SHARE THAT ACROSS THEIR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND THEIR OWN GROUPS THAT THEY'RE IN SO THAT IT REACHES THAT BROAD AUDIENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE OFTENTIMES WILL HIT THAT WAVE, SOMETHING FUN AND COOL, AND THEN IT JUST CARRIES OUT A LITTLE BIT.
YOU'LL KNOW WHEN IT HAPPENS BECAUSE I GET CONSTANT EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS THAT SUCH AND SUCH AS COMMENTS THAT ARE FOLLOWED OR LIKED OR, THAT THING.
IT'S LIKE, WELL, JULIE, YOUR POST THAT YOU MADE ABOUT THIS IS DOING REALLY WELL, LET'S KEEP ON THIS.
BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS.
>> IS JUST TRYING TO BE WITTY AND FUNNY AND CLEVER AND REACH A BROAD AUDIENCE.
BUT ADVERTISING AND MARKETING OR SERVICES IN GENERAL, IT'S PRETTY TRICKY.
WE HAVE PAGES IN THE PARKS AND REC BROCHURE THAT ARE AVAILABLE AT CITY FACILITIES WHERE PEOPLE WILL KNOW ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR HOURS AND OUR SERVICES THAT WE OFFER.
WE HAVE PAGES THERE JUST LIKE THE PARKS AND REC FOLKS HAVE.
>> BUT DIFFERENT WAYS, BETTER WAYS TO MARKET OR SERVICES IS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
>> JOHN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> FOR THE RECORD, AS TO BE CONTINUE ON THE LIBRARY BOARD, BUT I ALSO ASKED TO BE ON THE EDC BOARD.
I'LL BE ON THE EDC BOARD AND I THINK THEY WANT TO KEEP FOLKS SO LIKE ONE BOARD AND KEEP MORE OPPORTUNITY.
SHOULD I HAVE SOMEONE GREAT JOINING IN NEXT MONTH FILL MY PLACE UP.
>> COOL. EXCELLENT. IT'S BEEN GREAT HAVING YOU. APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.
>> IT'S BEEN GREAT SERVING. JOHN.
>> CONGRATULATIONS ON THE EDC.
I'LL CALL FOR ADJOURNMENT AT THIS TIME.
[00:35:03]
THANK EVERYONE FOR ATTENDING.>> ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.