2019-11-04 LB MinutesVCITY OF
SOUTHLAKE
SOUTHLAKE LIBRARY BOARD MEETING: November 4, 2019
LOCATION: 1400 Main Street, Southlake, Texas
Southlake Town Hall — 4A
TIME: 6:08 p.m.
SOUTHLAKE LIBRARY BOARD PRESENT: Lori Burr, Beth Darr, Margaret Subedi,
Tracy Eaton, Janet Theaker
SOUTHLAKE LIBRARY BOARD ABSENT: Natasha Siebach, Katherine Bennett (K.
Bennett attending a special City Council meeting at the Marq on behalf of the Library
Board)
STAFF PRESENT: Cynthia Pfledderer, City Librarian
OTHERS PRESENT: None
1. CALL TO ORDER — City Librarian Cynthia Pfledderer
2. WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
3. CONSENT
A. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE September 25, 2019
SOUTHLAKE LIBRARY BOARD MEETING.
APPROVED
A motion was made to approve the minutes from the September 25, 2019
Southlake Library Board meeting.
Motion:
Burr
Second:
Theaker
Ayes:
Darr, Subedi, Eaton
Nays:
None
Abstain:
None
Vote:
5-0
Motion Carried.
4. REPORT
A. LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
City of Southlake Values:
Integrity ♦ Innovation ♦ Accountability ♦ Commitment to Excellence ♦ Teamwork
Minutes of the November 4, 2019 Southlake Library Board Meeting
Page 2 of 4
City Librarian Pfledderer discussed the September, end of FY 2019, Library statistics.
Print circulation was 32,450 items in September, an 8% increase, with an end of year
total increase of 7%. The collection size has been reduced for more browsing. The
cookbook collection is highest in circulation, about 18% of non-fiction circulation. Digital
circulation was 10,704 items accessed, a 46% increase over the month the same year
before. Total circulation was 43,154 for the month. A total of 112 new library cards were
issued in September, which is down 6% overall for the year. Digital traffic was 3,816.
Current library collection is around 40,000 items, not to include CISD youth books
borrowed over the summer. A total of 2,146 items are owned in the digital library. The
Library has a partnership with 23 other libraries to share resources. One of the biggest
partners is Bexar County's BiblioTech with 40,000 — 50,000 items in their digital library.
The partnership provides 134,000 items available for $10,000-$12,000 invested by
Southlake each year. Ebooks average in cost at $40-$50 per title, with audiobook
bestsellers at $125 per title. Budgeted funds are correlated to overall circulation usage,
about 10% of circulation. The Library budget for collection items is $105,000 per year,
with $90,000 for collection materials and the remaining for collection services. There
were 3,446 titles checked out from the Cloud Library in September. BookFlix is the
digital resource for kids at the elementary schools. They use Southlake Public Library
for this resource. Flipster digital magazines are $1.00 or a little less per circulation, with
2,000 circulations this year and about a $1,600 investment. The Library tried
Creativebug for six months, but felt it was a niche, which we don't do as a small library.
There were 284 computer users, down a bit and flat for the year. Study room usage
increased this year. The reading area was redesigned to follow retail trends and to
create a private feel in the public space. There is an increase in demand for study
rooms and study space. Not a lot of adult programs this time of year. Storytime
attendance was 1,056 - up 2% for this year. Youth programs are up 9%. There were
four grants received this year - two were $10,000 each for audiobooks for the digital
library. Volunteer hours were about 4,000 hours per year. Volunteers had a 10% growth
with mostly teens and a handful of adults. Exam proctoring is down 6%. ILL request are
growing dramatically, 41 %, partly due to procedural change in the Library. Notaries are
standard Library service. A question was asked if notary services were published. It is
on the City's website through the City Secretary's office. The Texas Public Library
standard for average item usage is at 3 for exemplary, Southlake is an 8.82. This
number indicates the collection size is too small for this community. There were 33
transactions per hour, physical items. Digital library transactions are 16 items per hour.
Circulation percentages are 59% youth, 4% teen and 37% for adult. Videos account for
19% - adult and children combined. The adult total was 38% for fiction, non-fiction was
27%. Same as last year, non-fiction went down from 29% to 27% since last year.
College planning and study guides were moved in the teen area and may have given
the young adult a boost. A total of 81 % of what the kids are checking out is fiction, same
as last year, and 9% non-fiction - same for this year and last year. CDs and movies
account for the rest.
City of Southlake Values:
Integrity ♦ Innovation ♦ Accountability ♦ Commitment to Excellence ♦ Teamwork
Minutes of the November 4, 2019 Southlake Library Board Meeting
Page 3 of 4
5. LIBRARY OVERVIEW & 2020 PROJECTIONS
City Librarian Pfledderer explained that the Library Board is an advisory board to the
City Council. Board Members also serve as a representative of the citizenry and make
recommendations to Council. The status of the proposed new Library was discussed. It
is understood that the Library will be in the initial phase of the new development. There
are no new details other than the City has agreed to work with the developer.
New Library project briefing: numbers were presented by City Librarian Pfledderer,
based on a 2016 survey. The current annual budget is closer to $800,000 with 136,000
visitors to the Library and 38,000 in program attendance for 2019. Annual circulation
was up to 419,000 from 380,000 from two years ago. There were 42,000 items in
collection and 2,146 items in the digital collection. Last year, there were 482 programs,
with a $10,000 grant to help pay for hands on learning. The number of programs will go
down this year. Overall, there is about $25,000 for programming, including teens and
adults. The Southlake Library is #1 in the State of Texas for a community of this size, for
usage and circulation. The Library performs closer to a community of 100,000. The
library has 10.5 FTEs, with a new position this past year. A question was asked about
how the Library gets its budget. The Library is funded out of the general fund and the
budget dollar amount is determined by the City Manager. This past year, the Library had
two new self -check machines installed. This year, there will be a water bottle refill
station, a new pad reader and other equipment to be replaced. The City Librarian was
asked what she thought it would take to run a new Library. Staffing would cost the most.
There was discussion about the physical location of the new Library, being that a good
portion of library customers live South of Hwy 114. This impacts the perception of how
accessible the Library is. A site analysis study was done in 2016. A total of 81 % of the
citizens want an expanded collection, 78% want comfortable seating. Programming
space, access to convenient parking, technology and training resources, children's
learning space and natural light were also requested. The proposed library is a 60,000
SF facility. 30,000 SF is set aside for the Library and the remaining space for an art
center, if decided.
City Librarian Pfledderer discussed opportunities for the current Library space - continue
to have an adult reading room, an expanded general collection, expand and improve the
study and work space. In looking at future trends in the Library, the Southlake Library is
small and doesn't have space for older children seating, as it is currently designed for
preschoolers. Creative placemaking is another trend in libraries to ensure everyone
feels there is a space for them at the Library. Also having a teen and tween study and
lounge area, expanding kids and teen collection are important. There is an auditorium
and art center proposed for the new Library, with possible retractable seating, tables
and chairs. Flexible seating is a better fit for the type of programming the Library offers.
City Librarian Pfledderer said she would like to have classrooms that are equipped for
all digital and technical needs, a kitchen in the library for cooking programs, a hands-on
learning space and a makers space would be ideal. The youth programs are most
successful. A children's garden has been proposed with direct access to the Library and
an eight acre park. The observatory is unique to the facility being proposed, as well as
City of Southlake Values:
Integrity ♦ Innovation ♦ Accountability ♦ Commitment to Excellence ♦ Teamwork
Minutes of the November 4, 2019 Southlake Library Board Meeting
Page 4 of 4
educational and exhibit space. Art tours, hands-on learning tours can be brought in. A
question was asked if the Library could charge for the exhibits. It was answered that if
the program were in the arts portion of the building, they may be able to charge but
public libraries are prohibited from charging for programs. A large event space and an
outdoor activity space would be a good opportunity to have for the Library as well.
City Librarian Pfledderer discussed local history and the book sale - FOSL raises about
$4,500 a year, which is donated to the Library for summer reading programming. It was
discussed that Genealogy would be an opportunity for the new Library and there is
support for a cafe. A drive up window would be ideal as well for a book drop. The
Library replaced 14% of the collection this year. The goal is 15%. This means that
books are not staying longer than 7.5 years in the library. Materials budget was
$105,000 in 2018 and this fiscal year. The proposed materials budget for the new
Library would be $213,000 with an opening day collection. Basic operational cost would
be more than double for the new space, such as landscaping. Personnel would be an
extra $300,000 with a total budget of $1.2 million in operating cost.
6. LIBRARY AND CULTURAL FOUNDATION UPDATE
The foundation is still in the planning stages. Some preliminary work has been done
7. NEW BUSINESS
Officer elections will be on the next agenda.
8. PUBLIC FORUM
City Librarian Pfledderer opened the public forum at 7:09 p.m. and asked for anyone
wishing to speak to come forward. There being no questions, the public forum was
closed at 7:09 p.m.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by Library Board Member Lori Burr at 7:11 p.m.
Motion: Burr
Second: Subedi
Ayes: Darr, Eaton
Nays: None
Abstain: None
Vote: 5-0
Motion Carried.
Attest:
atherine Bennett, Vice -Chair Cynthia Pfledderer, City Librarian
City of Southlake Values:
Integrity ♦ Innovation ♦ Accountability ♦ Commitment to Excellence ♦ Teamwork