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Agenda Item No: 6 . a . 3
Meeting Date: June 1, 2015
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: Library
Prepared by: Sarah Houghton, Library DirectoA City Manager Approval (k
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SUBJECT: Annual Update Presentation from the Library Board of Trustees
RECOMMENDATION: Receive update presentation from the Library Board of Trustees
BACKGROUND: The City of San Rafael City Council forms commissions and boards to
provide guidance to City Council on community issues. At its 2014 Annual Retreat, the City
Council requested that each of the commissions and committees provide an annual update to City
Council to improve communications and assist with planning city-wide strategic goals. Staff
provided a brief summary of recent Library Board of Trustees activity (see Attachment A). The current
Chair of the Library Board of Trustees, Sean Prendiville, will provide an update report during the
meeting.
Current Fire Commission membership includes: Sean Prendiville (Chair), Karen Nielsen, Melanie Leavitt
Cantarutti, Hanna Rodriguez Farrar, and Carol Manashil.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
OPTIONS: 1) Receive the Update Report.
2) Direct Staff to Provide Additional Information.
ACTION REQUIRED: None
Encls. Attachment A - Annual Report.
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
File No.: Ct _ �1- - `3
Council Meeting: t' C 16, Vel
Disposition: acc_zR6-' - Kator &
2014 Annual Report
Board of Library Trustees
The San Rafael Library Board of Trustees consists of five city residents appointed by the
Council to four year terms. In 2014, the Board had two vacancies. Board Chair Tom Allen
resigned in June and was replaced by Sean Prendiville. The terms of three Trustees expired in
April 2015. The Trustees serve to
• Provide support and guidance to the Director;
• Oversee the Library's budget and operations;
• Advocate for the Library to the City Council and residents of San Rafael;
• Support the Library Foundation in its planning for a future library; and
• Increase the visibility of the Library in the community.
To fulfill these responsibilities, the Trustees have regular public monthly meetings with the
Director. Agendas cover the Director's reports on the operating budget, library policies, and
operations. Members of other independent library support groups, the Friends of San Rafael
Public Library, the San Rafael Public Library Foundation, and the city -appointed Special Library
Parcel Tax Committee, report on their activities.
Between meetings, the Director keeps the Trustees informed about the Library through a
monthly report, which features events, activities, and initiatives, as well as the staff electronic
newsletter. As recommended by the Library Director, individual or pairs of Trustees complete
tasks as needed to forward library business.
2014 Highlights include:
Addition of a new tech learning center to provide patrons with the opportunity to learn advanced
skills and continued outreach to teach basics of using on-line Library data bases and services.
• Library upgrades in landscaping, flooring, furniture and signage;
• Improved security with new guards patrolling downtown Library;
• Revised guidelines for patron behavior to improve the public's experience at the library.
Most notably, the Library has begun to envision a new home by collecting data that will be used
in developing the design for a new building. The Library conducted a survey of library patrons
and residents to assess community needs, evaluate current Library offerings, and consider future
programming. A visioning session with San Rafael residents took place in March. The results of
these data -collecting efforts will assist the San Rafael Public Library Foundation in planning a
future library and raising necessary funds.
2015 Goals include:
• Continued outreach to the public and to San Rafael schools;
• Expanded programming for diverse audiences;
• Prepare to seek renewal of the library parcel tax in 2016;
• Continued work with the community on a vision for the future library
Attachment A