HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 01 Update on Appropriate Levels of Library Services
Meeting Date:
Meeting Type:
Department:
Staff Contact:
Staff Phone No:
Estimated Time:
March 10th, 2008
Work Session
Library n ~
Debbie Steinman tJ-K'"
726-2238
35 minutes
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
SPRINGFIELD
CITY COUNCIL
ITEM TITLE:
ACTION
REQUESTED:
UPDATE ON APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF LIBRARY SERVICE
Initiate a conversation with the Council to determine the level of interest and
direction for the next steps for Library services and facilities. Determine a time line
for a work plan to report back to Council.
ISSUE
STATEMENT:
The Library has been unable to meet most of the Oregon Library Association's
Standards for Oregon Public Libraries. The Library is not keeping pace with similar
sized libraries in our State.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Comparison of similar size Libraries in Oregon as to staff,
population and hours open.
Attachment 2: Talking points to reintroduce topic area.
DISCUSSION/
FINANCIAL
IMP ACT:
The two major areas in which Springfield Library is not able to provide an adequate
service level, for a community our size, are hours of operation and the second is
acquisition of new materials. The hours of operation go hand in hand with adequate
staffing levels to keep the library open.
The Oregon Library Association Standards specify that a Library serving a city
with a population greater than 50,000 citizens should have .33 FTE employees for
each 1,000 people served in order to meet the minimum "Threshold" standard. To
reach an "Adequate" standard, Springfield should have .40 FTE per 1,000 citizens.
. Our Library is currently operating below the "Threshold" standard, at .24 FTE per
1,000 citizens.
The Springfield Library is currently open 42 hours per week. Using the same
Standards as above, we should be open 50 hours per week to meet the "Threshold"
standard. To reach this level, in our current building, the Library would need an
additional 5.0 FTE to staff the public service desks. Please see attachment 1 for
comparisons of like sized Oregon public libraries.
Based on Council discussion and direction, information will be compiled and
compared for the new Library Director. The new Library Director will prepare and
present a work plan to Council and other stakeholders at a future date to be
determined by the Council. .
Recommendation: Staff can provide initial analysis of funding alternatives,
update data as necessary, prepare (and perhaps conduct) a community survey and
gather feedback from Willamalane in anticipation of the appointment of a new
director. The director could then prepare and present a work p!an(s) to the Council.
Attachment 2-
Council Talking Points for Appropriate levels of Library Service
. What kind of information does the Council need to make decisions concerning
Library funding, service levels, and facilities?
. Library levy or Library District
. Merge with another agency
. Cooperative services and programs with other library providers
. State public library standards for service and facilities
. How to access the communities wants and needs?
. State standards
. Survey of community needs
. Focus groups or task force to determine community wants
. Some combination of all of the above
. Assessment of current programs and services the Library has with Willamalane
Park District and the Springfield School District.
. Early Literacy Programs
. After School Programs
. Tours
. Elementary School Outreach
· Assessment of Library facilities as a means to deliver services to the community.
. New central library
. Branch libraries
. Bookmobile services
· What are the next steps to help the Council determine appropriate levels of
Library service?
. Work plan
. Evaluation
. Financing plans
Recommendation: Staff can provide initial analysis of funding alternatives, update data
as necessary, prepare (and perhaps conduct) a community survey and gather feedback
from Willamalane in anticipation of the appointment of a new director. The director
could then prepare and present a work planes) to the Council.
Attachment 1 - Comparison of similar sized Libraries in Oregon to Springfield Public Library
~
Library Populatiorserved Total paid Staff Staff per 1,000 Hours open
population served per week
Albany 46,610 20.03 FTE 0.43 -threshold 53 hrs.-threshold
Cedar Mill 49,735 38.00 FTE 0.76 -excellent 62 hrs.-adequate
Oregon 53,568 8.4 FTE 0.16- below threshold 35 hrs. - below thresho
City
Springfield 57,065 13.60 FTE 0.24 - below threshold 42 hrs. - below thresho
Tigard 65,196 34.20 FTE .052 - excellent 55 hrs. - threshold
Klamath 65,455 34.25 FTE 0.52 - excellent 52 hrs. - threshold
Falls
Corvallis 84,725 45.77 FTE 0.54 - excellent 69 hrs. - threshold
(county)
Oregon Library Association Standards for Public Libraries With Population of 25,000+
Threshold
Adequate
Excellent
Staffing per 1,000 .33 FTE
.40 FTE
.50 FTE
Hours open 50 hrs/week
60 hrs/week
75 hrs/week