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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda Packet - LB - 2003.02.18 :'►URLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY BURLINGAME Board of Trustees Agenda ti February 18, 2003 — 4:30pm 480 Primrose Road - Board Room ` '� SUGGESTED ACTION 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. WARRANTS & SPECIAL FUND Approval V4: MINUTES a. Meeting Minutes January 13, 2003 Approval b. Meeting Minutes February 4, 2003 (Special Meeting on Easton) Approval -ta. CORRESPONDENCE AND ATTACHMENTS Information a. Letter from Sterling Speirn of the Peninsula Community Foundation b. Acknowledgement Letter to David and Jane Pine for Library Donation c. News From the Capitol d. Letter to the Editor by David Johnson- Independent e. "President's Message" by Maurice J. Freedman C -ROM THE FLOOR (Public Comments) 7. REPORTS Information �,A: City Librarian's Report - Escoffier Discussion b Foundation Report - Rossi Discussion 8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Impacts of Library Budget Reductions on the Public Discussion b. Easton Status Report Discussion 9. NEW BUSINESS 610 a. Options for Building Support for Easton Branch pn� / Discussion b. System Advisory Board Member j Discussion/Action 10. ANNOUNCEMENTS \ LDJOURNMENT Adjourn BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY .Burlingame Public Library Board of Trustees Minutes January 13, 2003 I. Call to Order President Andrew Gurthet called the meeting to order at 4:30pm. I1. Roll Call Trustees Present: Cecile Coar, Andrew Gurthet, Catherine McCormack, Mary Herman and Carol Rossi Staff Present: Pat Harding, Library Services Manager Sidney Poland, Recorder Staff Absent: Al Escoffier, City Librarian III. Warrants and Special Funds The Trustees unanimously agreed to approve the warrants. M/S/C (Gurthet/Rossi) IV. Minutes The Trustees unanimously approved the minutes of the December 17, 2002 meeting as amended. M/S/C (Herman/Rossi) V. Correspondence and Attachments Correspondence and Attachments mailed in the Board packet were reviewed. A. CALTAC Workshop February 8, 2003 - The Trustees decided that they should attend the Goals study session on February 8th rather than the CALTAC workshop. B. Internet Policy - Internet Policy is agendized to be discussed under New Business. VI. From the Floor - No one from the public attended the meeting. 48o Primrose Road•Burlingame•CA 94010-4083 Phone (650) 558-7474'Fax(650) 342-6295 VII. Reports A. City Librarian's Report - Pat Harding reviewed the report. 1. City Budget Reductions - The council will hold a study session to review the proposed budget on January 21St 2003 at 5:00pm. The session is open to the public. The Council traditionally does not invite comments or opinions from the audience at this time. 2. Proposed Reductions For the Library a. Tier I, which if approved, would cut Library Hours by 7 hours. Opening and closing times would be as follows: Monday through Friday 10:00am - 9:00pm; Saturday 10:00am - 5:00pm; Sunday 1:00 - 5:00pm. b. Change in the Library hours would become effective July 1, 2003 resulting in loss of 2 FTE hourly positions or 6 hourly staff. Full time staff will be used to cover the public desks whenever possible. 3. IPAC - IPAC replaces WebPac, which is our current on- line catalog system, and will be out in the next couple of months. Pat will provide the Trustees with the URL. Burlingame Library will still maintain the Dynix as our in - house database system. B. Foundation Report - Sidney Poland 1. Election of Officers -The following slate of officers for the coming year was approved at the Annual Foundation meeting held on January 9th: Jane Dunbar - President, Carol Rossi - 1st Vice President, Don Roberts - 2nd Vice President, Mary Blythe - Treasurer, and Lauren Rosen - Secretary. 2. Friends and Foundation Merger - The Friends have been granted official tax exempt status from the Federal Government and are now in the process of trying to obtain tax exempt status from the State of California. VIII. Unfinished Business A. Easton Status Report - The design team comprised of Al Escoffier, Pat Harding, Sue Reiterman, Hal Brandes and Bharati Dahanukar, architects for the project, met with the lighting consultant, David Malman. Mr. Malman presented several lighting systems from which the design team selected the light fixtures they felt best represented the architectural feel of Easton. The design phase of the project is scheduled to be completed in March of this year. Library Board of Trustee Minutes 2 January 13, 2003 B. City Budget Status 1. Transit Occupancy Tax - The hotel tax has shown a �— slight increase. However, room rates are considerably less than before 9/11 and therefore tax revenues paid to the City are not yet high enough to help prevent the budget crisis. 2. Tier I - City Department Heads and the City Manager will recommend to the City Council that only Tier I cuts be implemented July 1, 2003. 3. Golf Center Contract - The City is planning to cancel their contract with the present Golf Center management company. IX. New Business A. Internet Use Policy 1. Time Out Software - Once the time out software has been installed, Internet procedures will undergo some changes. Each patron will have a total of 2 hours Internet time per day; 1 hour on lower level and 1 hour at express stations in 20 minute increments during the day. Installation of this software should result in less need for reference staff to monitor patrons. 2. Internet Stations - There will be an addition of 3 express stations on main level. 3 Library Card - Trustee Rossi inquired as to whether all users would have to have a Library card to use the Internet with the new software. Pat Harding advised that visitor cards would be given with a specified expiration date. This procedure would be mostly to accommodate out of town visitors. 4. Recommendation: The Trustees accepted Trustee Rossi's recommendation to put the discussion of the Internet Policy on hold until the time out software has been installed and evaluated by Library staff. X. Announcements A. Disciplinary Action of Mr. George Lee - Pat Harding advised the Trustees that Mr. Lee did conform to his suspension from the Library for misuse of the Internet. Pat thanked the Trustees for their concern and support in this matter. Library Board of Trustee Minutes 3 January 13, 2003 XI. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 6:00pm in the memory of Christine Escoffier. M/S/C (Herman/Rossi) The next meeting of the Library Board of Trustees is scheduled for February 18, 2003 at 4:30pm in the Library Conference Room. Respectfully Submitted, Alfred H. Escoffier City Librarian Library Board of Trustee Minutes 4 January 13, 2003 BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY Burlingame Public Library Board of Trustees Minutes February 4, 2003 I. Call to Order President Andrew Gurthet called the meeting to order at 6:00pm stating that this special meeting of the Board of Trustees was convened for the purpose of discussing the future of the Easton Branch with regard to the current budget crisis. -11. Roll Call Trustees Present: Cecile Coar, Andrew Gurthet, Catherine McCormack, Mary Herman and Carol Rossi Staff Present: Al Escoffier, City Librarian, Pat Harding, Library Services Manager, Sue Reiterman, Easton Branch Librarian, Sidney Poland, Recorder City Councilman: Joe Galligan City Manager: Jim Nantell Public Present: Jane Dunbar, President, Library Foundation, Kris Cannon, Burlingame Resident III. Easton - Options and Implications of Closure - Al Escoffier At the request of President Gurthet, the City Librarian reviewed his recommendation to the Trustees in which he asked for the Trustees, as well as the Council, to delay the closure of Easton for one year. This would give all parties time to sufficiently determine service levels and the viability of the operation. A. Options for Branch: The following were identified as possible options for the Easton situation: 1) Remain open and proceed with renovation, (2) Remain open and delay renovation, (3) Close Easton as of July 1St 2003, (4) Close Easton only if Tier II budget reductions are implemented, (5) Close building for a year and then decide on course of action. There would be some maintenance costs with this last plan. 48o Primrose Road•Burlingame•CA 94010-4o83 Phone (650) 558-7474'Fax(650) 342-6295 B. Renovation Schedule: Design will be completed in March 2003; the project is scheduled to go out to bid in May 2003. Completion of renovation is anticipated to be approximately 9 months from the start date. C. Operation Cost - Easton yearly operation cost is $100,000 which is 3% of the Library budget. IV. Discussion and Comments of Trustees A. Schools: Consideration should be given to the schools that use Easton on a regular basis: Roosevelt, Lincoln, McKinley, OLA and Burlingame Intermediate. B. Place in Community: Easton has become an institution in the Community. Many parents feel more comfortable taking their children to Easton due to the smaller size of the facility. C. Hillsborough Contract - City should try to increase the Hillsborough contract in order to increase income. D. Approval of Budget Cuts at Main Library - The Trustees have already approved reduction of hours by 7 which will result in the equivalent of 2 FTE hourly staff effective July 1, 2003. Increased fees for the Lane Community Room and interlibrary loans have been implemented. Trustees have already begun to do their part to respond to the budget crisis. E. Easton Monies: .� 1. City monies budgeted for the Easton Branch for the design phase will be expended by March of 2003. The Marshall Trust monies will be used to begin the renovation and will be supplemented by the donations made to the Foundation through the Easton Branch Campaign, Newsletter and the Elegant Affair Branches Out Event. 2. The Foundation is confident that it can raise further contributions to reach its goal of$200,000. Four Hundred and fifty donors have given approximately $160,000 to renovate Easton. F. Closure: If Easton is closed in July, it could be permanent. Since budget cuts have already been made at the Main library, wait and see how the budget fares and if the situation becomes worse next year, then consider closing Easton. Library Board of Trustee Minutes 2 February 4, 2003 V. Comments and Recommendations by Mr. Galligan: A. Councilman Galligan stated that if Tier II cuts have to be made, he would advocate removing Easton from Tier II and considering its future on a separate basis. Proceeding with Tier II cuts depends on the employees in the bargaining units. Mr. Galligan will be willing to use the reserves if the bargaining units agree to freeze salaries. This action would pull the City away from Tier II and save jobs. B. Councilman Galligan recommended to the Trustees that they proceed with the renovation. Easton will be closed for renovation for at least 9 months which would result in an approximate savings of$75,000. C. Councilman Galligan indicated some optimism in the future budget noting that the hotel tax has picked up slightly and all auto dealerships are occupied. VI. Comments from Jim Nantell, City Manager A. Trustees need to determine where the impact of the cuts is going to occur in the library and communicate this decision to the City Council. A distinction needs to made between Easton and Main library. 1. Mr. Nantell feels that a determination has to be made between convenience and scope of service. In his view, Easton is a convenience and has to be considered in light of where it stands in comparison to library services at the main library. The main library has a better selection of material for all ages. 2. Selling Easton property is not on the table at the present time. 3. Council needs to hear that the Trustees are willing to spend the money from the Marshall Trust Fund on what is termed as "brick and mortar" rather than ongoing operational expenses. VII. Public Comments A. Jane Dunbar, Foundation President: President Dunbar expressed the following concerns in regard to delaying the renovation and/or closing Easton permanently. 1. All donors would receive a written explanation for the delay in the renovation and be given an option of having their contribution returned or having it placed in a Certificate of Deposit. President Dunbar feels most donors would be understanding of the necessity to delay the renovation. 2. Closure of Easton could damage the credibility of the Foundation for future fund raising projects. Library Board of Trustee Minutes 3 February 4, 2003 3. Donors who request that their money be returned may not be interested or able to contribute again. Contributions could be less than the original amount. Momentum and interest in the project could be lost. B. Kris Cannon, Burlingame Resident: Kris Cannon emphasized that closing Easton could be the end of public giving to the Foundation and even the end of the Foundation, as its credibility would be lost. Kris noted the significance of the 450 donors who gave approximately $160,000 to the Easton project. Kris encouraged the City Council, represented by Councilman Galligan, and Mr. Nantell to find a way to keep Easton open. VII. Concluding Comments on the Easton Branch A. Mr. Nantell felt that the Trustees have reached the decision that they are willing to take reductions at the Main Library to save Easton. Mr. Nantell personally feels that it is not a good use of Easton to keep it open only 23 hours a week. B. Trustee Gurthet stated that it is difficult, as a Librarian, to separate convenience and scope of service. In his view, they are one and he sensed that the Trustees felt the same way. C. City Librarian, Al Escoffier, advised the Trustees that there may be a time when the services and goals of the main library cannot be compromised and the Branch would have to be closed. VIII. Easton Branch - Conclusion of Special Meeting A. Trustee Herman made a motion to proceed with the Easton Branch renovation which passed unanimously. M/S/C (Herman/Coar) B. Trustee Rossi made a motion to form a sub-committee of two Trustees, President Gurthet and Katie McCormack, to draft a letter to Council advising them of the Trustees recommendation to proceed with the Easton Branch renovation. IX. Announcements - The Trustees want to agendize the topic of options for building support for Easton Branch for the February 18, 2003 meeting. X. Adjournment - The meeting was adjourned at 7:45pm. M/S/C (Coar/Rossi) Respectfully Submitted, Alfred H. Escoffier `-- City Librarian Library Board of Trustee Minutes 4 February 4, 2003 peninsula community foundation Board of Directors 1012 John H.Clinton,Jr.,Chair January 30,2003 Patricia Bresee Bernadine Chuck Fong,Ph.D. Susan Ford Mr. Alfred H. Escoffier Nylda Gemple, R.D./L.D. Burlingame Public Library Umang Gupta 480 Primrose Road Charles "Chip" Huggins Burlingame,CA 94010-4083 Rick Jones Olivia G. Martinez, Ed.D. Linda R. Meier Dear Al, Karen V.H.Olson Nancy J. Pedot As I scanned the numerous quickly reports,orts,it uicklY became clear that most reviewers Jennifer Raiser Y P William L.Schwartz,M.D. labeled 2002 a year that we should try to forget. Here then let me offer a different viewpoint— Donald H. Seiler some good news from recent months as well as some things we at Peninsula Community Warren E. "Ned" Spieker,Jr. Foundation are hopeful about for 2003. Indeed,in times of adversity,the connections within Jane H.Williams our community are pressed and often strengthened. Recent successes began years ago,and Board Emeritus we're planting seeds today for tomorrow's exciting innovations. las E. Bailard ot..brie Bolton Robust community philanthropy has a flywheel effect,carrying good times into bad,and Hugh C. Burroughs T.Jack Foster,Jr. targeting surpluses to subsidies and new investments.You,your fellow Peninsula Community Bruce Hinchliffe Foundation donors and PCF's endowment giving demonstrated this in 2002 with an amazing Hon.Thomas M.Jenkins total of$63 million in grants to nonprofit agencies and institutions. As so many other indicators Charles B.Johnson were our falling, generosity s critical counterbalance for hundreds of public charities Robert C. Kirkwood g Y g �'waa cuP ' Gordon Russell hospitals,schools and universities. William Wilson III Rosemary Young Looking to 2003,our Board of Directors authorized an 8%payout from our community Committee Advisors endowment for responsive and catalytic grantmaking,and to support the Foundation's many Richard L. Bennett programs,including our Community Conference Center(already in use by dozens of Elizabeth Obershaw community agencies from dawn to well after dusk),our Venture Van tours,and our Peninsula Of Counsel Nonprofit Center(PNC). I encourage you to utilize PNC Director Georgia McDaniel when Albert J. Horn, Esq. you have questions about philanthropy,the nonprofit world,or other issues pertaining to charitable giving. Georgia can be reached by email,geor ia@pcf org,or at 650.358.9392.Also President check out Philanthropy Center,our online searchable database,on the home page of the PCF's Sterling K.Speirn Web site at www.pcf.or7,for profiles from more than 400 nonprofit agencies and projects in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Such aggressive support for our community and our donors reminds us of the critical role our endowment plays in our ability to create,connect and convene. I hope to talk with many of you in the coming year about building this unique resource. Like the ballast of a great sailing ship, the endowment's weight and balance have enabled us to navigate through storms as well as run before the fair trade winds.Your generosity will help us meet the challenges ahead with even more determination and imagination. Peninsula Community Foundation TEL 650.358.9369 1700 South EI Camino Real,Suite 300 FAx 650.358.9817 San Mateo, California 94402-3049 wEe www.pcf.org Challenges facing low-income, unemployed and working poor families in 2003 will be severe for many. In San Mateo County parents will find a new cause for hope with the newly launched Children's Health Initiative,which provides universal health insurance for children ages 0-18. The Foundation is once again in a strategic public/private partnership with San Mateo County Health Services Agency,the county's First Five Commission, hospitals,private donors and foundations. The Foundation's Directors approved an unprecedented$250,000 for this new initiative. PCF Program Officer Srija Srinivasan has worked closely with the project since its inception, and will represent the foundation in administering all non- governmental funds for the project. Our long-time partner The Packard Foundation,with its typically quiet and early leadership style, has made a grant of$700,000 to PCF for this initiative. Eight hundred children were enrolled at three kick-off events in Daly City, Redwood City and East Palo Alto and activities on the Coastside earlier this month. Gov. Gray Davis and First Five State Chair Rob Reiner will celebrate the launch, in conjunction with the anniversaries of the San Francisco and Santa Clara initiatives,later this month. Another advantage local families will see in 2003 is the growing emphasis on school readiness. Our Peninsula Partnership for Children Youth and Families has collected and analyzed two successive years of school readiness data gathered by kindergarten teachers throughout San Mateo County. Thanks to this work and the leadership investments of our county's First Five Commission, San Mateo is well positioned to take advantage of January's statewide launch of the statewide School Readiness Initiative. One final preview for a project already in incubation:watch for the Earth Day launch of the Center for Venture Philanthropy's third Social Venture Fund,the Environmental Solutions Forum. A tremendous collection of local environmental education organizations, science museums,and Santa Clara and San Mateo County Offices of Education have already begun meeting for trainings,briefings, and peer dialogue at the CVP on Sand Hill Road. And remember, unlike the profit venture capital funds,the funds at the CVP are never closed! Your charitable investment and participation are always welcome. Given our base in Silicon Valley,the Foundation continues to take a leadership role in promoting the effective use of information technology by nonprofit organizations. One of our key grantees in this work is San Francisco-based CompuMentor,whose increasing range of expertise and services to nonprofits is attracting national attention and support from prominent corporate and private foundations. On January 24th,we co-hosted an event for CompuMentor with Microsoft,AOL Time Warner, the Surdna Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation. Finally, market conditions in 2002 stimulated PCF's Investment Committee to investigate new options for equity pool allocations for donor advisors,as well as new guidelines for our cash pool.We will also be reviewing our socially responsible pool in the coming months. Please see the insert with this letter and your quarterly statement explaining these changes in more detail. More information will be coming to you in the future. I look forward to working with you in the coming year and hope you will call me or our Donor Resources staff if we can be of assistance to you at any time. Happy New Year, Ster' S eirn [� President and CEO Peninsula Community Foundation TEL 650.358.9369 1700 South EI Camino Real, Suite 300 FAx 650.358.9817 San Mateo,California 94402-3049 wee www.pcf.org Advised Family Fund Investment Pool Revisions `. peninsula January 2003 community foundation Equity Pool: The Equity Pool will be restructured in January to improve diversification by adding exposure to domestic small cap equity. The allocation to small cap will be taken from large cap core.* There will also be small changes to the style allocation within large cap and we will be choosing a new growth manager to replace the Vanguard US Growth Fund. Below is a chart showing the current allocation and the revised allocations. Current Equity Pool Allocation Revised Equity Pool Allocation Vanguard Index 500 25% Vanguard Index 500 25% Goldman Sachs Core Equity 20% Goldman Sachs Core Equity 0% Vanguard US Growth 20% TBD—Growth Fund 22% Washington Mutual (Value) 20% Washington Mutual (Value) 22% Small Cap 0% Rice Hall James-Small Cap 16% EuroPacific Growth 15% EuroPacific Growth 15% The small cap equity assets will be managed by Rice Hall James through the UAM RHJ mutual fund. Rice Hall James manages a somewhat concentrated portfolio of small and mid cap stocks. They are considered "GARP" — Growth at a Reasonable Price. We will view them as a core manager with a slight growth bias. The allocation to large cap growth, currently managed by Alliance Capital through the Vanguard US Growth fund, will be moved to a new large cap growth mutual fund. The new manager has not yet been chosen,but we expect that decision to be made in February. The changes highlighted above should serve the Equity Pool well by increasing diversification and reducing volatility while being better able to meet return expectations going forward. Socially Responsible Pool: We have removed all restrictions on the percentage that can be invested in this pool. Previously, if a fund holder chose the Socially Responsible Pool, the fund had to be 100% invested in this pool. You may now choose any percentage to this pool. If you have questions or would like to make a change to your allocation to include this investment pool, please contact Kara Coyle at 650.358.9369 or kara@pcf.org. We will also be looking at performance of this pool over the next few months. If a change of managers is warranted,we will notify all investors in this pool. *Core equity managers have investments in both value and growth, generally in equal amounts. Peninsula Community Foundation TEL 650.358.9369 1700 South EI Camino Real, Suite 300 FAx 650.358.9817 San Mateo, California 94402-3049 wee www.pcf.org Peninsula Community Foundation 1012 Roger and Jean Hunt Duncan Fund peninsula Fund Activity Statement Ct�l�''1t�l,tni foun fafit n October 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002 Prepared for: Mr. Alfred H. Escoffier Burlingame Public Library 480 Primrose Road Burlingame, CA 94010-4083 Fund Activity Q-T-D Y-T-D Beginning Balance $ 831,252.13 $ 951,531.23 Contributions 0.00 0.00 Investment Income 14,051.13 27,223.58 Gain/Loss on Gifted Securities 0.00 0.00 Gain/Loss on Investments 19,783.48 (110,151.08) Interfund Contributions 0.00 0.00 Other Income 0.00 0.00 Grants 0.00 0.00 Interfund Grants 0.00 0.00 Administration Fees (1,070.62) (4,587.61) Other Expenses 0.00 0.00 Ending Balance $ 864,016.12 $ 864,016.12 Grants Payable $0.00 Balance Available for Grants $277,439.00 Investment Allocation Asset Allocation Per Agreement: Endowment Pool 100.00% Comments If you have any questions regarding your statement, please call Kara Coyle, Controller, or Vera Bennett, Vice President of Finance and Administration, at 650.358.9369. BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY January 29, 2003 Jane and David Pine 320 Chapin Lane Burlingame, CA 94010 Dear Mr. and Mrs. Pine: What a wonderful surprise to receive your generous donation of$ 1,000 to the library children's programs! It is indeed a generous gift. As you know, .the city has been hard hit by the need to make budget reductions. At the library, we are in the process of grappling with how to deliver our full array of children's services for next year. Your gift will be added to our Trustees Special Fund. It will go a long way toward sponsoring our children's programs that reach thousands of Burlingame children, as well as adding important funding for children's collections. Children's books are one of the areas where our books "wear out" from so much use. We are constantly replacing popular titles and keeping the quality of the collection intact, even as we purchase new titles. �. Your gift qualifies you for addition to our Donor Wall at the Main Library. We would like to place your name on a bronze leaf in the donor recognition area. My administrative assistant, Sidney Poland, will be in touch with you shortly to determine exactly how you would like your name to read on the recognition leaf. Again, thank you for your generous donation and your continuing support of the Burlingame Public Library. Sincerely Alfr6d H. Escoff1w City Librarian 480 Primrose Road•Burlingame•CA 94010-4083 Phone (650) 558-7474' Fax (650) 342-6295 Escoffier, Al From: Susan Negreen [snegreen@cla-net.org] int: Monday, February 10, 2003 2:30 PM _J: CLA Listserve-CALIX Subject: NEWS FROM THE CAPITOL February 10, 2003 MEMORANDUM To: CLA MEMBERS/SYSTEMS/NETWORK CONTACTS From: Mike Dillon, Lobbyist; Christina Dillon, Lobbyist Subject: NEWS FROM THE CAPITOL I . BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD Last week, Governor Davis announced that he would veto AB 4X, by Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson, that would increase the vehicle license fee (VLF) to its pre-1998 level. Anticipating this possible action by the Governor, the Legislature tied several other bills implementing cuts sought by the Governor in areas such as education, healthcare, and general government, to AB 4X. This is known as "double-joining. " If the Governor follows .rough *** Sith his veto, as expected, none of the other bills, totaling more than $3 billion in cuts, would take effect. Thus, it will be back to the drawing board. Last week, State Treasurer Phil Angelides and Governor Davis' new Director of Finance, former Senator Steve Peace, traveled to New York to meet with the large bond houses. Their primary mission was to show that California's bond rating should not be downgraded, despite the fiscal crisis. This will be especially important, as the State may need to borrow several billion dollars early this summer to meet its cash flow obligations. With his Finance team in New York, the Governor held a 2-hour meeting with the Assembly Democratic caucus to explain the reasons for his actions and relieve some of the tension between the Democrats and the Governor over his proposed cuts. II. IS LEGISLATION NEEDED TO TRIGGER THE VLF? When State coffers were flush in the final years of Governor Wilson's administration, and several Republican legislators were proposing a Dnstitutional amendment to eliminate the VLF (sometimes referred to as "car tax") , an agreement was reached between lawmakers and the Administration to reduce it by about two-thirds. Since this was a major 1 revenue source to local governments, Governor Wilson and the Legislature agreed to "backfill" the amount of money being lost by local governments with State General Fund monies (which the Governor now proposes to take away) . The agreement also contained a so-called "trigger" that would i.low e VLF to be restored to its prior level in bad economic times. In announcing his intended veto of AB 4X, Governor Davis listed, as one of his reasons for doing so, the need to encourage "bipartisan support" of any eventual Budget plan which will need some Republican votes for passage. Subsequently, Director of Finance Peace indicated that current law allows the Administration to pull "the trigger" administratively and that legislation is not needed. However, recently the newly-elected State Controller, Steve Westly, said he felt legislation was needed, a position with which the Governor's Administration disagrees. The VLF issue is extremely important to local governments as the Governor's Budget currently proposes to eliminate the $4 billion in State "backfill" funding to local governments. We have heard from several library directors who have indicated that their local services would be severely impacted if the "backfill" is not realized. III. SB 40-ALPERT: LIBRARY BOND BILL SCHEDULED FOR HEARING \,.3 40, by Senator Dede Alpert, principal coauthor Assemblywoman Lois Wolk, and coauthor, Assemblyman Abel Maldonado, has been scheduled for hearing in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, March 5, 2003 at 9:30 a.m. The bill seeks to provide $2 billion in General Obligation bonds for the purpose of financing the construction and renovation/remodel of libraries throughout California, if approved by the voters in the 2004 direct primary election. SB 3-Rainey/Burton/Alpert, which was approved by the voters on the March 2000 ballot, is currently providing $350 million in bond grant funding for the purpose of library construction. However, due to the overwhelming demand for funding during Cycles One, Two, and Three, it is estimated that approximately 75 percent of all applicants will be denied a grant due to lack of available bond funding. Thus, SB 40 hopes to alleviate that pressure amongst applicants by providing an appropriate, and much needed level of funding for library construction. SB 40 contains the same 35% local match requirement as is currently found in he existing library bond, provides up to $25 million to encourage the .development of joint use projects between libraries and school districts that serve K-12 students, and would allow unfunded Cycle 3 applicants to get 2 "first call" on new bond act funds. Remaining funds would be available to any additional applicants. -lease take a moment today to write the members of the Senate Education � mmittee and encourage their strong support of this important measure: Senator John Vasconcellos, Chair Senator Jack Scott Senator Bruce McPherson, Vice Chair Senator Byron Sher Senator Richard Alarcon Senator Jackie Speier Senator Dede Alpert (SB 40 author) Senator Ed Vincent Senator Jeff Denham Senator Betty Karnette Sample Address: Senator Pete Knight The Honorable John Vasconcellos Senator Gloria Romero Chair, Senate Education Committee State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 -----------------------------------------------------------------calix-+ How to get off CALIX: Subscribers are strongly encouraged to keep abreast of CLA and California library news via this mailing list. To sign off from the list, send email to listproc@listproc.sjsu.edu with the following request: SIGNOFF CALIX or UNSUBSCRIBE CALIX in the body of the message. Make sure your subject line is blank and nothing other �.an the command is in the body of the message. --------------------------------------------------------------calix-- 3 phony `spring break'? Editor: The principle of the separa- tion of church and state set out in the Constitution is honored more in the breach than in practice. Locally, a visit to the San Mateo DMV office on virtually any Friday will bring you face- to-face with a Watchtower table set up in the entry to distribute wares to people try- ing to do state business. One can also note that on virtually every Sunday morn- ing a sturdy band of mostly Latino Christians turns the Burlingame Community Cen- ter into their private church. Additionally, the Burlingame Public Library closes for "spring break" on Easter Sun- day each year. They used to say it was closed for"Easter Sunday" until I complained it was not only discriminatory toward other religions but probably also a violation of the Consti- tution.After discussing the issue at their board meetings for five months and receiving advice from city counsel, they re-named the closing. Although Easter Sunday is a floating Christian holiday, "Spring Break" magically occurs on the same Sunday. The Library Board never did address the fact that they were open for business as usual on Passover.I have also been told that the entire Peninsula Library System clos- es for "Spring Break" on East- . er Sunday.I guess that some- how if enough people do it that makes it OK. David Jonson Burlingame ALA 5 -President's Message mobilizin-S3 to Save Americals iib r ries by Maurice J. Freedman S Every country has hospitals, po- pressure to charge fees for library ser- lice, and schools, but only free vices, we need renewed public commit- countries have free libraries. _ ment and attention to libraries, the Yet, libraries are an institution people who work in them, and espe- the American public takes for granted ;* cially the growing number of users who until the doors of their own local li- are depending on them. braries close. Now, as budget cuts are At this month's Midwinter Meeting once again threatening all publicly in Philadelphia, I intend to marshal supported libraries, I intend to ALA's public-awareness and advocacy strengthen and renew ALA's advocacy resources in a campaign to save efforts to oppose threats to America's libraries. democracy's preeminent institutions. Our goal must be to call public at- tention to this national crisis and move America's free libraries as viable insti- people to action. We must pressure tutions—and the future of librarians, funding agents everywhere to ad- library workers, and library users—is at stake in this equately finance their libraries. Public libraries should faltering economy. To name just two: The Seattle Pub- not have to compromise their mission by charging fees. lic Library has closed down completely for two weeks; School libraries should not have to downgrade or the Queens Borough Public Library announced a major eliminate staff. Academic libraries should have the curtailment in hours. money they need to maintain and grow collections and I have been working with my staff(yes,I do have a day services. Business, medical, law, and other special li- job) at the Westchester Library System in Ardsley, New braries are being jeopardized by the perilous state of York, to figuxe out how to prepare a budget the trustees many of their parent institutions. And library workers can responsibly approve. Given Westchester County's everywhere must be paid living and equitable wages. current cuts, we have to reduce staff, curtail programs, In the 1990s we proved that we could make a signifi- and shave most of the discretionary budget lines (see _Fant impact by working together with national leader- News Fronts, this issue). Another cooperative public li- ship for local advocacy campaigns and in concert with brary system in the state of New York is considering other library organizations. Sadly, that time has come charging fees for "value-added service," such as asking us- again. Along with budget cuts, the bad news is that we ers to pay to have reserved items delivered to their home also have to contend with other issues affecting librar- library from the library that originally held the item. ies such as the Children's Internet Protection Act and the USA'Patriot Act. The good news is that ALA now has Fees seductive but dangerous S an ongoing advocacy structure; a strengthened Wash- The fee solution is seductive but dangerous. Aside from ington presence; the "@ your library" public-awareness discriminating against those who can't pay, it opens the Campaign for America's Libraries, which is well under door to the concept of what some have called a pay-per- way; and a strong salary advocacy within the soon-to- use society. It is impossible to replace public funds with be-launched Allied Professional Association. private fees and not change the very nature of libraries. Yes, the economic climate seems to have stacked the Privatization is a popular concept,but in the long run fees deck against libraries. But history shows us that we can will simply make us a bigger target for even bigger budget have considerable impact on the public and the deci- cuts. Philosophically and practically, Americans cannot sion-makers by using the Association's power and voice, afford drastic budget cuts or fees for library service. The and by mobilizing our resources in new and better ways. consequ6nces are all too predictable. By working together to get the message out, I know that In the early 1990s, ALA successfully spearheaded you and I can, once again, help to save America's librar- public-awareness and legislative campaigns to fight the ies, and ultimately the public's right to know. drastic budget cuts faced by libraries across the nation. Then, as now, these cuts were sometimes greater than ALA President tifAURICE J.(MITCH)FREEDMAN is director those in the Great Depression. Rather than cave in to of the Westchester Library System in Ardsley,Nein York. JANUARY 2003 1 A,IMEP!CIAN LIBRARIES BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY City Librarian's Report February 18, 2003 City Budget Reduction At the City Council budget session of February 8, 2003, Council moved forward with Tier #I and #2 reductions citywide. They also agreed to a series of other options related to increased fees, shared services and cost transfers to rate payers. Reductions in Library Budget Pending future action, the Library will close 11 hours per week for a savings of over $ 120,000. Additional savings will be gained by reducing expenditures by at least 10% in books and media. Two current vancancies will renlain unfilled. At the Tier#2 level, the City Manager asked the library to restructure eliminating two mid managers. We will lose two middle managers, an account clerk and additional hourly staff. We will restructure library operations from 6 divisions to 4 effective July 1, 2003. The reduction for the library is approximately 19% in funding (or nearly $ 600,000) and 25% in FTE staffing. The middle managers will make up the transition team to implement these changes. Tutor.com A number of staff, including those at Easton, has been trained on Tutor.com, the live homework help available at both libraries. Begin with Books Program During January we did a total of 213 programs including: 5 Preschool Story Times, 9 Toddler Story Times, 1 Saturday Story Time, 3 visits to Easton and 5 programs at schools. These programs were attended by a total of 1,039 people. Our largest Toddler Story Time on January 22nd had 125 people in attendance! L. 48o Primrose Road•Burlingame•CA 940io-4o83 1 Phone (650) 558-7474'Fax(650) 342-6295 Status of Transaction Based Reimbursements Transaction based reimbursements (or TBR's) are the basis of system resource sharing statewide. As a result of state budget cuts, public libraries are now facing the elimination of this benefit. Public libraries receive $ .78 per direct loan to a non-resident and $ 4.49 for an interlibrary loan to a non- resident. This revenue for Burlingame amounts to approximately $ 180,000 per year. Statewide the cost is $ 12 million. The California Library Association is expected to take a leadership role in approaching legislators to restore this funding. It will be necessary to act quickly. Upcoming Events: • February 17, 2003, Monday, President's Day Holiday, Closed • February 18, 2003, Tuesday, Library Board Meeting • March 1, 2003, Saturday, System Advisory Board Meeting • March 7, 2003, Friday, Commissioner's Dinner, 6 PM • March 13, Thursday Foundation Board Meeting, 4:30 PM • March 15, Tuesday, Library Board Meeting, 4:30 PM Alfred Escoffier City Librarian February 12, 2003 2 City Librarian's Report February 18, 2003 City Budget Reduction At the City Council budget session of February 8, 2003, Council moved forward with Tier #1 and #2 reductions citywide. They also agreed to a series of other options related to increased fees, shared services and cost transfers to rate payers. Reductions in Library Budget Pending future action, the Library will close 11 hours per week for a savings of over $ 120,000. Additional savings will be gained by reducing expenditures by at least 10% in books and media. Two current vancancies will remain unfilled. At the Tier #2 level, the City Manager asked the library to restructure eliminating two mid managers. We will lose two middle managers, an account clerk and additional hourly staff. We will restructure library operations from 6 divisions to 4 effective July 1, 2003. The reduction for the library is approximately 19% in funding (or nearly $ 600,000) and 25% in FTE staffing. The middle managers will make up the transition team to implement these changes. Tutor.com A number of staff, including those at Easton, has been trained on Tutor.com, the live homework help available at both libraries. Begin with Books Program During January we did a total of 213 programs including: 5 Preschool Story Times, 9 Toddler Story Times, 1 Saturday Story Time, 3 visits to Easton and 5 programs at schools. These programs were attended by a total of 1,039 people. Our largest Toddler Story Time on January 22nd had 125 people in attendance! 1 Status of Transaction Based Reimbursements Transaction based reimbursements (or TBR's) are the basis of system resource sharing statewide. As a result of state budget cuts, public libraries are now facing the elimination of this benefit. Public libraries receive $ .78 per direct loan to a non-resident and $ 4.49 for an interlibrary loan to a non- resident. This revenue for Burlingame amounts to approximately $ 180,000 per year. Statewide the cost is $ 12 million. The California Library Association is expected to take a leadership role in approaching legislators to restore this funding. It will be necessary to act quickly. Upcoming Events: • February 17, 2003, Monday, President's Day Holiday, Closed • February 18, 2003, Tuesday, Library Board Meeting • March 1, 2003, Saturday, System Advisory Board Meeting • March 7, 2003, Friday, Commissioner's Dinner, 6 PM • March 13, Thursday Foundation Board Meeting, 4:30 PM • March 15 `fuesday, Library Board Meeting, 4:30 PM Alfred Escoffier City Librarian February 12, 2003 2 Impacts of Library Budget Reductions on the Public February 12, 2003 • Reduction of$ 594,000 or 19% of library budget; Reduction of 25% FTE staff. • Reduce Main Library service hours by 11 hours per week: 10 AM- 9 PM, Monday through Thursday; 10 AM- 5 PM, Saturday; 1 PM- 5 PM, Sunday. • Reduce staffing levels at public service desks; Staffing will move from double staffing to single staffing at times. • Reduce 41% of hourly staff hours • Add permanent staff to public service desk at least 2 more shifts • Reduce book budget by 10% or $ 24,000; Reduce media budget by 20% or $ 5,000 • Eliminate Children's specialist and backfill with lower level staff • Eliminate Cataloging specialist and backfill with existing staff; contract out for some cataloging and processing services • Eliminate adult programming • Reduce children's programming • Eliminate teen programming • Eliminate Account Clerk; share financial services with Finance Department • Close Easton Branch for one year for renovation. • Reduce on-call staff to serve during regular staff vacancies and illness • Reduce public and staff computer maintenance and replacement • Reduce pamphlet file and local history files maintenance to a minimum �"-' 0 Reduce electronic resources for information retrieval by 40% Board of Trustees Agenda Item: 9b February 18, 2003 System Advisory Board Membership Background: The Peninsula Library System maintains a citizen's advisory board for the system. The System Advisory Board (or SAB) meets 4-5 times per year and acts as an advocacy and advisory group to the Peninsula Library System. The SAB sponsors the annual Legislative Breakfast. Proposed Action: It is recommended that the Board accept Jane Dunbar's resignation from the SAB. It is further recommended that the Board discuss and take action on recommending a new SAB member to act as Burlingame's representative. Board recommendations for SAB members must be confirmed by the City Council. Terms are for 2 years; with an additional 2-year term possible. Budget Impact: None