HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet - LB - 2008.05.20 URLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY BURLI"GA"'E 1
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Board of Trustees Agenda _
May 20, 2008-5:30pm
480 Primrose Road-Library Conference Room
SUGGESTED ACTION
FALL TO ORDER
II. �ROLL CALL
III WARRANTS & SPECIAL FUND Approval
IVVIMINUTES Approval
Library Board of Trustees' Minutes April 15, 2008
W/CORRESPONDENCE AND INFORMATION Information
A. Hillsborough Information Packet Update (VIII. B.)
B. Draft of Lions Name Rules (VIII. A. b.)
C. Press Release: "Literacy Tastings"
VI.✓FROM THE FLOOR (Public Comments)
_ 1. IREPORTS
VtCity Librarian's Report - Escoffier Information
Foundation Report - Foundation Board Member Information
VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS f o * 0i,
A. Library Centennial Updated u `" yo Report
1. Change in Mural/Lion Event Discussion/Approval
2. Naming Contest Team Pae,, N Discussion/Approval
B. Hillsborough Update - Escoffier Information
IX. NEW BUSINESS
A. Staff Development - Endowment for December 2008 Discussion/Approval
B. New Centennial Library Cards Information
X. ANNOUNCEMENTS
XI. ADJOURNMENT Adjourn
BURL NGANI
Board of Trustees Minutes
April 15, 2008
I. Call to Order
President Griffith called the meeting to order at 5:30pm.
II. Roll Call
Trustees Present: Nancy Brock, Bruce Carlton,
Deborah Griffith, Katie McCormack
Pat Toft
Staff Present: Al Escoffier, City Librarian
Sidney Poland, Recorder
Foundation Representative Kris Cannon
III. Warrants and Special Funds
The Trustees unanimously approved the Warrants.
M/S/C (Brock/Carlton)
IV. Minutes
The Trustees unanimously approved the minutes of the March 18, 2008
meeting. M/S/C (Carlton/Griffith)
V. Correspondence and Attachments
A. Monthly Statistics - March 2008 Circulation statistics showed a
6.32% increase over statistics for March 2007.
B. Burlingame Library Events -The marketing committee has created a
hand out of all library events to be available to the public. The Trustees
suggested putting the information on. the Website and stating at the top of the
page that all events are free. Trustee McCormack suggested that each Trustee
contact their City Council Counterpart and inform them of the programs that
the Foundation is providing for our Library patrons. The City Librarian noted
that some libraries do have programs funded through the City budget but in
our case most adult and children's programs are funded by the Foundation.
C. Children Events Calendar-The Trustees reviewed the program
calendar for the Children's Department which gives detailed information on all
the children's events such as age level of program, time and place.
Calendars are available at all the public desks.
VI. From the Floor - No one from the public attended.
480 Primrose Road Burlingame•California 94010-4o83
Phone(65o)558-7474'Fax(650) 342-6295•www.burlingame.org/library
VII. Reports
A. City Librarian's Report - Highlights
1. Library Survey- The City Librarian discussed the results of a
national library survey taken by the Institute for Library and Museum
Services Surveys 2000-2005. Burlingame Library ratings were above
the national average in the following areas:
Category Burlingame National Average
Excellent Library Experience 96% 60%
Located Needed Materials 81% 55%
Easily
Use of Library Website 55% 23%
previous to visiting Library
Items checked out on per 17% 7.5
capita basis
Per Capita Visits to Library 13.8 4.8
2. Lighting Project Completed - Facilities updated our lighting
system with energy saving lamps and ballasts in March. The lighting
throughout the library is noticeably brighter. The new system should
result in a cost repayment to the City in 18 months.
3. "Free 2" Library Public Relations Campaign - On March 17t
four cooperative library systems in the Bay Area began promoting their
"Free 2" campaign. The focus of this campaign is to increase public
awareness with regard to the many library services that are "Free 2"
their patrons. Some of the visual tools are placards on bus exteriors,
signage in the cities, and public relations materials in libraries.
B. Foundation Report - Kris Cannon
1. Author Luncheon - The Foundation's Author luncheon will be
held May 3rd at the Crystal Springs Golf Club. Three authors will be
featured: Michael Karasny -"Off Mike", Henry Neff- "Hound of Rowan",
and Julia Siler - "House of Mondavi".
2. Foundation Retreat -The Foundation Board held a retreat on
Saturday, April 12th in the Lane Room to formulate a 2 year plan for
fundraising drives and events.
3. Children's Mural- Lynne Rutter, Muralist for the Children's
mural, will prepare a maquette to be displayed at the Foundation -
luncheon. The mural is scheduled to be completed by October in time
for the beginning of the Library centennial. Al Escoffier, Pat Harding,
Sue Reiterman, Maryam Refahi, and Kris and Jim Cannon comprise the
mural committee.
4. Book Sale - Kris passed around a sign up sheet for the Book
Sale which will be held April 24th -April 28th.
Library Board of Trustee Minutes April 15,2008 2
VIII. Unfinished Business
A. Staff Recognition Dinner-This year the annual staff achievement
awards and recognition dinner 'will be held on Sunday, December 14th
at the Doubletree Hotel in Burlingame. An e-mail will be sent to staff to
"save the date". The price of the event will be the same as last year.
B. Confirmation of Library Centennial Events
1. Confirmed Centennial Dates and Events - Confirmed dates
and activities planned by the library staff for the Library Centennial and
sponsored by the Trustees are Fine Free Week- October lst-8th and
Winter Wonderland at the Library Friday evening December 12th. This
event will be on the scale of the successful Harry Potter event held last
July. The public will be invited and there will activities for children.
2. Unconfirmed Dates for Planned Events - Events planned with
unconfirmed dates are the Centennial Kick-Off Celebration tentatively
scheduled for Friday, October 10th at 4:00pm and the Dedication of
the Children's Mural tentatively scheduled for Friday, October 17th.
The dedication and naming of the lions will be the main focus of the
kick-off celebration. Burlingame and Hillsborough schools will be
invited to submit names for the lions; The Trustees will select the
finalists. Trustee Toft suggested having a scout troop with one of the
members carrying the flag at the kick-off event.
3. Custom Library Christmas Ornaments - Custom hand blown,
Polish glass ornaments of the Burlingame Library will be for sale in
October. Sale price has not been determined. The Trustees will sponsor
this project.
4. Staff Recognition Dinner and Employee Achievement Awards
The City Librarian proposed initiating a project entitled "Invest in the
Library Staff' at the Employee Achievement Award dinner on December
14th. An endowment fund would be created for the purpose of providing
the means for the City Librarian to further the education of his staff by
sending them to professional conferences and seminars. This matter
will be discussed at the next Trustee meeting.
IX. Announcements - Proposed Activities for 2009
Activities and events that are in the working stages for next year are as
follows: 1) Centennial Poetry Month to be held in January featuring poet
Robert Haas; 2) History Displays every month featuring historic events of the
Library; 3) New Library cards to be distributed during National Library week
April 12th - 18th and 4) The Centennial Author Luncheon to be held at a yet to
be determined date in May.
Library Board of Trustee Minutes April 15,2008 3
X. Adiournment
The meeting was adjourned at 6:40pm. M/S/C (McCormack/Toft) The next
meeting of the Library Trustees will be held May 20, 2008 at 5:30pm in the Library
Conference Room.
Re ectfully Sub tted,
Alfr�H. coffier
City Librarian
Library Board of Trustee Minutes April 15,2008 4
April 17, 2008
TO:Tony Constantouros, Hillsborough City Manager
FROM: Al Escoffier, Burlingame City Librarian
RE: Potential Overview of Library Options for Hillsborough
At your request I researched the options for Hillsborough Library service. I used the grid that you
suggested: a) Current contract; b) Hillsborough owned facility as a County Library Branch; c) a
Hillsborough Municipal Library.
Obviously taking on the construction of a public library branch is a large task requiring extensive and..
professional planning. I would strongly urge you to consider a qualified Library Consultant to assist you,
should this be your desire. Library buildings are unique in their requirements: ADA access is a major
concern at service desks, as well as restrooms; appropriate load bearing floors are often needed to be
twice that of regular construction; specialized furnishings which require little maintenance;just to name
a few. Furnishings are expensive because they need to remain comfortable even with hard use.
Computers and networks need to be continually updated as technology changes, and technology is
always changing.
For this study, I envisioned a library facility slightly larger than Atherton, as the Town of Hillsborough is
nearly 30% larger in population than Atherton. Also, I looked into the cost of facilities in the last year
and there were two libraries of similar size in Southern California which were in the neighborhood of
$ 500 per square foot to build. State Library Consultant, Richard Hall, indicated that $ 495 per square
foot is the average for libraries in the State of California. Library construction costs in northern California
are generally more expensive.
Another area of uncertainty would be the negotiation that would be necessary with the Peninsula
Library System for services and to join the PLAN network. Libraries in PLS have been automated in one
form or another since 1982, so the building, refining and presentation of the database has undergone a
number of changes, all of which have cost the libraries in the system a large capital cost.There would
necessarily need to be some accommodation for a new library coming into the system to pay some of
this cost, in addition to on-going costs for services.
Decision-making for the public library is also a factor. As a branch of the San Mateo County Library,
there would be little decision-making on the part of the city member library. With the municipal model,
Hillsborough would have a vote on the PLS Administrative Council for decision-making on systems,
databases, delivery and other issues.
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Finally, it should be noted that the construction or establishment of a library should not be taken lightly.
It is very difficult to close a library once it is established, and combining libraries by closing one to save —�
costs sound good on paper, but realistically the political movement to retain a library as a service is very
strong.
If you have any questions you would like me to review with you, please feel free to contact me.
C:Jim Nantell, Burlingame City Manager
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Options for Hillsborough
Library Service
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0
•CONTRACT FOR SERVICE - CURRENT
•SAN MATEO COUNTY BRANCH
W/ HILLSBOROUGH - OWNED FACILITY
•HILLSBOROUGH MUNICIPAL LIBRARY
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Library Model Assumptions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- n(2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost of library construction in California $ 495.00 SF;
(Richard Hall, California State Library); 7000 SF Library
Personnel contract costs likely to rise 3% per year
Personnel costs for city-owned library based on Atherton
Average traffic for library based on 75,000 visits per year
or 205 visits per day (similar to Atherton)
No allocation made for parking
Collection costs include vendor cataloging and
processing
PLS costs are unknown; would need to be negotiated
< < f
Components of LibraryCost
----------------------------------------------
Initial Investment:
---------------------------------------------InitialInvestment: Operational "Givens"
E ;
Facility construction Year *1 Costs high
Opening Da collection Years *2- costs lower
p g y 5
Initial Technology costs Inflationary costs for
PLS one-time costs personnel and operations
for the life of the service
Debt service on facility if
bonded figured at 3 /
Costs include: building
maintenance; collection
maintenance;
technology, etc.
Option # 1 - Contract (Current Plan)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- n0i ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2008-2009 = $ 64.56 cost per capita
Total cost of contract= $ 698,862
5 Year cost = $ 3,710345
Cost based on average per capita cost of all PLS libraries
per current contract
Cost Includes: Full library service and access to all
Peninsula Library System libraries, and all California
libraries with a valid card. (Facilities: 5locations in SM &
Burlingame; Collections; Operating; Maintenance; PLS
Network included.
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Option * 2- City facility/County Branch
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2008-2oog = $ 7,301,440 (Facility and operating costs for
first year.
Facility: $ 5,000,000 ($ 50oK, FFE; $600K, Project
management; $ 2ooK site work; $ 235K miscellaneous costs
collections;ns$ 2,051,440 ($ 286,44o
, Debt service; $ 65K
ol
$ 50,000 Technology; $ 50,000 PLS network;
$ i,000,000 personnel costs; $ 600,000 overhead costs)
5 Year costs Total = $ 5,000,000 (facility) plus $ 2,o5i,44o
annual operating = $ 15,257,200
Option # 2- City Facility/County Branch Detail
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 ---------------------=----------------------------------------------------------
DetailL F
Cost
I On. ®
OptioncostsBranch
z
00o SF Pro
7, Proposed p $ 1,600,000 contract for
Library (25% larger than ersonnel and o eratin
Atherton, based on ;
p p g,
basedon Atherton
population)
Opening Day collection
$ 65,000 contract or
collections w/vendor
j Technology/Network •
processing
Peninsula Library
$ 6 8,o o o facility
System fees- TBD '
Probably $ 7 M, 1st year
maintenance
Probably $ 2M 1st year
{
Option #3- Municipal Library
------------- - --------- --------
FY 2008-2009 = $ 7,051,440 (Facility and operating
costs for first year)
On-going costs Year #2 = $ 2,342440
Five Year Total = $ 18,712,200
Option # Municipal LibraryDetail
________________________________________________________________________________ g ________________________________________________________________________________
Facifi!y Costs Operatip-g
s
All costs of Option * 2 : All costs of Option 2,
7�301�440-
plus costs of
administration @
$ 291,600 (
Librarian & Executive
assistant: fully loaded
staff costs) or
$ 2,090,054 annually
LibraryOptions
________________________________________________________________________________ y ________________________________________________________________________________
OpOpOpOption *3
Currentborough Hillsborough
Contract facility/County Municipal
Per Capita Cost $ 62.57 $ 141.04 $212.74
Facility Cost Included $ 5,000,000 $ 5,000,000
Operating Cost Included $ 1,551440 $ 2,051,440
5 Year Library $ 3,710,345 $ 15,257,000 $ 18,712,200
Investment
Escoffier, Al
From: Escoffier, Al
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 1:49 PM
I: Escoffier, Al
—object: FW: Library Services
From: MGR-Nantell, Jim [mailto:jnantell@burlingame.org]
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 11:11 AM
To: Escoffier, Al
Subject: FW: Library Services
Can you respond to this please
Jim Nantell
City Manager
City of Burlingame
(650) 558-7205
(650) 556-9282 fax
Sign Up for City e-News at www.burlingame.org
From: Anthony Constantouros [mailto:AConstantouros@HILLSBOROUGH.NET]
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 11:03 AM
To: MGR-Nantell, Jim
Cc: acroce@cityofsanmateo.org
Subject: Library Services
Jim,
As you are aware, funding requests in Hillsborough are brought before the Citizens Financial Advisory
Committee (FAC) for their review and consideration. At a meeting earlier this week, several questions were
raised and I was requested to obtain this information from you or San Mateo.
1) According to your figures, Hillsborough residents' usage of the Burlingame library represented 9.6% of
total circulation usage. Applying this 9.6% percentage against the Burlingame library operating budget
of$3,559,816, the Town's usage would be $341,722. For the San Mateo library, with ar operating
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budget of$5,534,183 and 3.7% usage by Hillsborough residents, the number would be $204,704. Thz
total for the two libraries based on circulation usage would thus be $546,486. Is this correct?
While usage is a factor in library support, libraries (like parks, street lights and roads) are provided for -�
the benefit of all residents, not just those who use the service. This was the purpose of the Grand
Jury's decision in 1977 indicating Hillsborough was required to provide library service to all residents. It
was also at the center of the California Library Services Act, which is now more than 25 years old,that
all California residents must have free and equal access to library service.
Under the current contract, Hillsborough pays about 30% less than the average Burlingame resident. In
effect, Burlingame residents are subsidizing library services for the residents of Hillsborough. With the
mean household income of Burlingame at$ 118,000 per annum and the mean Hillsborough household
income at$ 264,000, it is easy to see the concern a Burlingame resident might have in this regard.
Hillsborough residents have a very high percentage of library card holders (60%) compared to the
national average, so we know that Hillsborough residents use the libraries of Burlingame and
Hillsborough because they entered our libraries to register for a library card. In addition, since
Hillsborough's educational level is high, we know that highly educated, motivated parents and children
use library services to enhance the educational experience.
So in answer to your question: No. One cannot base funding for library services on usage of the library
alone. Funding of libraries is based in the importance of the library in the communities they serve. The
educational, recreational and entertainment value of an excellent public library cannot be
overemphasized. Education, lifelong learning and the importance of education in a free democracy is
what libraries are about.
2) The FAC would like to understand usage by Hillsborough residents of non circulation services such as
reading rooms and information services (computers, periodicals, servers, children reading area, etc.).
FAC members noted that circulation services represent only 14% of the San Mateo library operating
budget. Presumably for Burlingame it is a similarly small percentage. It was felt by the FAC that
because the two libraries are not located in Hillsborough, use by Hillsborough residents of reading
rooms is probably lower in percentage terms than circulation usage (due to less walk-in traffic from
Hillsborough residents). Similarly, it was felt that the usage of library computers/information services
was probably at a lower percentage because of the high penetration of home/home office computers
in Hillsborough. What light can you shed on usage by Hillsborough residents of non circulation
services? Could a study be undertaken to provide this data?
The small percentage referred to as "library users" is really a skewed percentage based on the much
higher populations served by Burlingame and San Mateo. Burlingame's population is nearly 3 times
that of Hillsborough, and San Mateo's is nearly 8 times the size of Hillsborough, so of course the
percentage of use by Hillsborough residents will appear lower by percentage. The high penetration of
computers in Hillsborough is very likely similar to that of Burlingame. Though we have not surveyed
this for several years, when we did do a survey, it revealed that nearly 80 percent of our users had a
computer at home (this included both Burlingame and Hillsborough residents.) I expect the figure is
even higher now. So most of our library users do have computers at home, no matter where they live.
Our in-house computers offer convenience, databases and online services from both t library and
remotely. Burlingame has databases that are only accessible with a Burlingame/Hillsborough library
card. These are databases the Burlingame/Hillsborough communities need and use. f
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Hillsborough residents, children and adults, are a significant percentage of our users. We can tell this
when we go into the classrooms in Hillsborough schools. We have had 100% library card holder
classrooms in Hillsborough. We see many children with nannies at our 7 children's story hours each
week and we expect they are from both of our communities. Hillsborough children register for our 3
summer reading clubs and we send a letter to their schools at the end of the summer letting the
principal know their accomplishments.
As for a study of Hillsborough residents using our facility, I would see that as a violation of patron
privacy. I don't feel in all good conscience that we can do a survey with the express purpose of asking
users if they live in Hillsborough. We have found that Hillsborough residents often do not wish to be
identified as living in Hillsborough. Sometimes they say they live in Burlingame, or they will chose not
to answer the question. I expect privacy and security issues are at least part of the reason. We do not
try to segment our in-house users in any way. We are free and open to all.
I would hope that Hillsborough would want to continue this very valuable partnership in education and
lifelong learning with the cities of Burlingame and San Mateo. Libraries offer professional services,
proprietary databases, and one-on-one children's services that no other organization in the community
offers.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
,,_uny
J,
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DRAFT
BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY
NAME THE LION5 CONTEST RULES
The Burlingame Public Library was the recipient of two bronze lions which were a gift
of the Duncan Trust. The lions symbolize many things, including guarding the gates of
knowledge. The Library Board of Trustees is sponsoring a contest to name the lions.
The winning entries will be chosen by the Board of Trustees.
1. Proposed names should be submitted on a Name the Lions form which can be
picked up at either Burlingame Library.
2. Entrants may choose to name one or both lions.
3. The Board of Trustees may choose to take one name or both names from an
entrant.
4. Names should reflect the importance of lions.
5. Entries are due to the Main Library, 480 Primrose Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
by
6. Entries should include: name, address, phone number and email address.
7. Entries will be chosen in September and announced at the Dedication of the
Lions on Sunday, October 19, 2008.
Name the Lions Entry Form
Left Lion Name: Right Lion Name:
Your name:
Address: '(d
Phone number:
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Email address:
Burlingame Public Library
480 Primrose Road
Burlingame, CA 94010
Contact:Alfred Escoffier,City Librarian
Literary Tastings @Burlingame Library: Food and Wine
2008 Adult Summer Reading Program, June 16-July 31
Burlingame Public Library announces the 2nd annual adult book club and
summer program series: Literary Tastings @Burlingame Library: Food and
Wine, June 16th through July 31St. Participants read 3 books in 6 weeks and are
eligible for weekly prizes and a Grand Prize, along with 8 food and wine related
programs and 6 Thursday night movies with a food and wine flavor.
Culinary programs include:
June 21, 2 PM- San Francisco Brew Craft "Home Beer Brewing"
June 25th, 7 PM-Therapeutic Chef Karen Diggs "Foods that Heal"
June 30, 7 PM- Dianne Jacob "How to write a cookbook"
July 7, 7 PM- Personal Chef and author Laura Stec "Global warming diet"
July 23, 7 PM- Cookbook writer Peggy Fallon
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May 9, 2008
July 26, 2 PM- Wine writer and prize-winning homemade wine maker,
Tim Patterson "Homemade wine Workshop and tasting"
July 28, 7 PM- Baker Nancy Kux on "Cupcakes"
July 30, 7 PM- San Francisco Baking Institute presents "Croissant Tasting"
All programs are sponsored by the Burlingame Library Foundation in
partnership with the Burlingame Public Library and representatives of the San
Francisco Professional Food Society.
Burlingame Public Library is located at 480 Primrose Road. For
more information please call the Reference Desk at 650-558-7444 or visit our
website at www.burlingame.org/library.
• Page 2
DRAfr
LIBRARY CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
REVISED MAY 9, 2008
OCTOBER 2008- OCTOBER 2009
GOAL Of Trir CE,rng TION:
To celebrate the Burlingame Public Library's 100th anniversary with a
year long celebration beginning October 1, 2008 and culminating
October 11, 2009. The celebration will honor our library users and the
role of the library in the community.
PROPOSED ACTIVITIES FOR 2008:
• FINE rffX MCK, OCTOBER/-8, 2008 All materials would be fine free
during this one-time, one- week period. Approved and sponsored
by the Trustees.
October 1-8, 2008 (Date firm)
• CbmiVN/AL KICK-Off'CtLWRATION Dedication and Naming of
Lions; Dedication of Children's Mural, Gift of the Burlingame
Library Foundation. Sponsored by the Trustees.
Music from children in the schools.
Sunday, October 19, 2008, Noon, Front Porch (Proposed new date)
• WINTER WONDERLAND AT TI'IE L/BRARYlThe winter experience at the
Library, complete with twinkling white lights, snow villages,
refreshments, programs, (similar activities to Harry Potter)
featuring events adults and children.
Sponsored by the Library Foundation.
Friday Evening, December 12, 2008 (Firm)
• CUSTOM LIBRARY 01RI5TMA5 ORNAMENTS.Custom library
ornaments will be for sale beginning in October. Ornaments will be
hand blown Polish glass ornaments similar to the Burlingame High
School and Burlingame Train Station keepsake ornaments. Limited
�-- edition of 500. Trustees will sponsor purchase and sale.
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Price: $ 50.00- $ 60.00
• C£NTENN/AL STAfT R£COGN/T/ON DINNER. Honoring all staff of the
Library during the Centennial Year. Employee Achievement
Awards. Co-sponsored by the Trustees and the Library
Foundation. Event to feature "Invest in the Library Staff for the
Future." Foundation to honor staff with an endowment fund to
allow the City Librarian to send staff to continuing education and
professional conferences throughout the year.
Sunday, December 14, 2008, 6 PM
PROPOSED ACTIVITIES fog 2009=
• C£NT£NN/AL POETRY MONTH.,featuring poetry in programs, displays
and readings. Sponsored by the Foundation.
Month of January 2009
• LIBRARY HISTORY D/SPLAYS. Each month will feature a different era
of library history on display featuring early children's books, early
library cards, views of the first and second library buildings, etc.
Throughout the Centennial Year 2009
•
RAW BOOKS APPRAISAL CLINIC. Sponsored by the Library
Foundation. Event features Pacific Book Auction Galleries
appraising books brought in by the public.
February 2009 (Date TBD)
• NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK. New Centennial Library borrower's cards
distributed during the month of April. Sponsored by the Library
Trustees. Adult and children's programs.
April 12-18. 2009
• CENTENNIAL AUTF1ORLUNCrIEON. Featuring major authors.
Sponsored by the Library Foundation. Venue to be determined.
May 2, 2009 (Date tentative)
• 4 CENTENNIAL SUMMER READING CLUBS for all ages. Special reading
lists, adult programs, family fun nights for "Read to Me,"
School age, Teen and Adult Reading Club participants. Sponsored by
the Library Foundation.
June 8s July 2009
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• GALA FOUNDAT/ON EVDVT. Type of event to be determined by the
Foundation. Event should be an open community event, perhaps a
fundraiser for the "next 100 years." Venue to be determined.
Proclamation from the U.S. Congress and the
California Legislature.
Friday, October 11, 2009 (Tentative date)
Note: Most Library Programs will include a salute to the Centennial
during the year
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BURL 01 NOAME
ci ` - rt
`-- May 20, 2008
Library Budget, 2008-2009 Submitted
The Library Budget was submitted with a zero increase in operating, including
-. collections. Due to increases in contracts with vendors, we have had to cut the other
areas of the budget by 3.3% to come out to a zero increase. The Foundation will assist
us with some collection funding, and, of course, with programming and PR.
Councilman Jerry Deal will be the Library's advocate during the budget process.
Important dates for the budget: Wednesday, May 28, 6 PM, Lane Room, Budget Study
Session (Pat Harding will be doing the presentation); Monday, June 16th, 7 PM, Budget
approval by City Council.
Author Luncheon a success!
Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Foundation Luncheon committee, the 2nd Annual
Author Luncheon was a great success. Event chair, Scott Nedwick, noted that the
event grossed $ 20,000. Authors Henry Neff, Julia Flynn Siler and Michael Krasny
gave excellent presentations. The raffle prizes, donated through the efforts of Board
member, Jim Ensign, consisted of a number of hotel accommodations throughout the
Bay area and beyond. Books, Inc. sold a,number of books at the event, with 15%
coming back to the Foundation. With this kind of success, this event will surely be an
annual one.
Foundation Book Sale grosses $ 6,800
Event chair, Jim Cannon, led the Foundation volunteers to the best efforts yet in the
library book sales. The gross of$ 6,800 was up over $ 5,000 from the sale last fall.
Jim and his crew are well organized and are selling library discards, as well as the
many wonderful donated books we receive.
Book Sale Expansion to eBay
Jim Nagel, who has been selling books on eBay for the Foundation for some time, gave
an evening class in bookselling on April 29th. He reviewed sources to find out prices,
as well as teaching about condition, description of books, etc. We will now have a new
group of volunteers to sell books on eBay. This effort is very lucrative for the more
expensive books.
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48o Primrose Road Burlingame•California 94010-4083
Phone(650) 558-7474•Fax(650)342-6295'www.burlingame.org/library
"Mysterious California" Series continues
The Mysterious California Series (film, author panel and book discussion) continues
on Tuesday, May 14th with Nadia Gordon and Kirk Russell.Both mystery writers are
very popular with mystery readers. Staff will take Gordon and Russell to dinner
preceding their event on the 14th. Other events in the series include: May 27th, Laurie
King; June 1 lth, Nina Revoyr.
Marketing and Public Relations
The newest effort to advertise programs is with a large scale sandwich board. Our new "
custom sandwich board has a place for the poster of the event, and a permanent sign
that says "Program Today." We are putting out the sign the morning of the program
day. We think this helps remind citizens of library programs.
Renovation Plan for Children's Room
Plans for a mini-facelift of the Children's Room are being developed by staff and
funded by the Foundation. We are planning:,3 new small scale "Craftsman" lounge
chairs; refinishing of some of the existing tables and chairs; reupholstering of the
settees; painting of the walls and beams in the room. All of this will be in preparation
for the installation of the Foundation-funded "Children's Mural" which is-taking shape
through the efforts of muralist Lynne Rutter. Lynne provided a maquette for the
Author Luncheon to acquaint the attendees with the project. Fundraising for the
project is in the planning stages. We hope to install the mural in September.
Library Centennial Events
The marketing team is honing in on the Library Centennial Events. We have decided to
combine the naming and dedication of the Lions, along with the dedication of the
mural. It was felt that one well-done event would be more effective than two smaller
ones. We are working on the naming forms and rules to go out during the summer.
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The Trustees will choose the names at their September Board meeting.Prizes will
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include Lion-related gifts.
New Custom Library Cards
Staff has been working on upgrading patron Library Cards with anew custom design
featuring a photo of the Burlingame Public Library on the front. The new cards will be
given away during our Centennial year to those who wish to receive them. It will not be
possible to keep the old barcode for patron cards, so this may limit those who like
their current barcode number. The cards will be used during our Library Card
Campaign in April 2009, as well as during the rest of the year. We will also be getting.
"key ring" library cards with a smaller card that fits on your key ring.
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`- NIMS Disaster Training
Sidney and Al spent two days in Disaster Training learning a new methodology for
assisting in an area-wide disaster. NIMS training is provided by FEMA and the ICS or
Incident Command System was developed in California to fight wildfires. The flexibility
of the system makes it appropriate to plan for all types of emergency situations. The
content was daunting, but important and we feel better able to understand the role of
city staff during a disaster.
Peninsula Library System Technology Planning
PLS has hired a consultant to assist in the planning of technology for the future of San
Mateo County Libraries. The planning will take place over the next 3 months and will
focus on the dealing with the challenges and changes in technology anticipated over
the next 5 years, including, but not limited to: increase in bandwidth; RFID
technology; improvement in self-check; online catalog enhancements. The plan will
also result in a list of options and a timeline for accomplishing them. The plan will
also help PLS/PLAN and the local libraries to better plan financially for the changes.
Library Board Vacancies
There will be two library board vacancies this spring. Council has set the due date for
application for Friday, May 30th. Seated Board members who wish to re-apply must go
through the same process of application and interview. Applications are available at
City Hall. Interviews with City Council are tentatively scheduled for June 16, 2008.
Hillsborough Library Contract Negotiations stalled
Hillsborough library negotiations between the cities of Burlingame, Hillsborough and
San Mateo are stalled with the Hillsborough Citizen's Finance Committee. The
committee seeks additional information and statistics periodically. At the request of
'the Hillsborough City Manager, I developed a matrix of 3 possibilities fora type of
library for the Town of Hillsborough. I have also developed statistics and other
information which I will share with you. We hope to have this wrapped up in June in
time for the new fiscal year.
Alfred H. Escoffier
City Librarian
May 9, 2008
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