Item 5ECity of Southlake, Texas
MEMORANDUM
July 28, 2003
TO: Billy Campbell, City Manager
FROM: John Eaglen, Assistant to the City Manager (481 -1433)
SUBJECT: Resolution No. 03 -047, Approval of Revisions to the Southlake Public
Library's Borrower Privileges and Responsibilities Policy to establish
minimum age requirements for obtaining a library card and establishing
requirements to obtain a Carroll Independent School District student, non-
resident (free) library card
Action Requested: Approval of Resolution No. 03 -047, revising the Southlake Public
Library's Borrower Privileges and Responsibilities Policy to establish
minimum age requirements for obtaining a library card and establishing
requirements to obtain a Carroll Independent School District student, non-
resident (free) Library Card.
Background
Information: Establishinz minimum aze requirements to obtain a library card - In
October 2002, The Friends of the Southlake Library (FOSL) took the lead
in raising $15,000 in community funds for the "Together We Grow:
Library and Community in Partnership" campaign to complete the
matching requirements of a $30,000 grant from the Hudson Foundation
located in Keller, Texas. The City Council approved $15,000 in funds in
the Fiscal Year 2002 -03 Annual Operating Budget to complete this
matching requirement.
During the fundraising effort, one item noted in discussions with the
public was that the schools should be more of a strategic partner for the
Library. Concerns were raised that high school students, while a targeted
demographic, currently have barriers to obtaining a library card,
potentially limiting the use of the library's services.
The regulating authority, the Borrower Privileges and Responsibilities
Policy, was adopted in January 2001 and revised in November 2001 and
April 2003. The policy sets forth this guideline for obtaining a library
card in the resident and non - resident categories:
"Any minor, as defined by the State of Texas, must have the signature of a
parent or legal guardian on the application signed in the presence of a
library staff member."
Billy Campbell, City Manager
July 28, 2003
Page 2 of 7
The proposed revision lowers the minimum age for obtaining a library
card from eighteen (18) years of age to sixteen (16) years of age. This
proposal does not amend the current minimum age of eighteen (18) years
of age for the checkout of videocassettes and DVD's. The proposed
revision also amends the requirement that parents have to sign consent for
their child to obtain a library card in the presence of a staff member. The
proposed revision allows an authorized representative of the Library to
meet that requirement. The purpose of this revision would be to allow
flexibility so that library volunteers or groups like the Friends of the
Library could go to school events and register students for a library card.
Establishinz requirements to obtain a Carroll Independent School
District student, non - resident (free) library card - In February 2003,
members of the Library Board, FOSL, and City staff hosted the CISD
Librarians monthly staff meeting and discussed ways to further increase
coordination between the City library and the schools. The school
librarians on the east side of town that have students that live in Southlake
and Grapevine expressed concerns about increasing promotion of the
Southlake Public Library if there were a significant number of students
that would have to pay for a non - resident card to utilize the facility.
The City Council approved revision of this policy to establish a library
card category for CISD employees on April 15, 2003. The goal of this
revision is to increase the school district's use of the Library as a tool to
help in achieving their mission, in turn helping further achievement of the
Library's mission. This proposed revision is based on the same goal.
Below is an estimate on the impact on the collection, with stated
assumptions:
Scenario Assumptions - Estimated Impact in Busiest Month to Date
• Busiest Month to date was June 2003. The number of cardholders at
that time was 8,099. The number of items in the catalog at that time
was 38,499. The number of materials checked out at that time was
11,320 items.
• CISD has 200 students living in Grapevine. Assuming 15% of this
demographic would obtain a library card, there would be 30 new
cardholders.
• Staff has attempted to standardize an estimate in order to evaluate the
potential impact of these new cardholders based upon the actual totals
for the month:
o In June 2003, on a cardholder basis, 1.4 items were checked
out per cardholder.
Billy Campbell, City Manager
July 28, 2003
Page 3 of 7
With 30 new cardholders, the estimated impact on the
collection during the busiest month to date is the following:
y Based on assumptions, CISD students that are non-
residents would have checked out 42 materials in June
2003.
Financial
Considerations,
/ Impact: Staff has developed scenarios in order to estimate the potential financial
impact (relating to fines, damages, and fees for materials only) of these
proposed revisions.
Reduction of the Minimum Ake to Obtain a Library Card
Scenario Assumptions - Estimated Cost Per Cardholder
■ 2000 Census data provides there are 1,761 Southlake residents
between the ages of 15 — 19.
■ Assuming 15% of this demographic would obtain a library card,
there would be 264 new cardholders.
■ Staff has attempted to standardize a cost estimate in order to
evaluate the potential financial impact based on the actual totals to
date for damages, fines, and lost items from the total number of
cardholders:
• Damages - $0.03 per card;
• Fines - $0.88 per card;
• Lost Items - $0.09 per card;
With 264 new cardholders, the estimated financial impact is the
following
• Damages - $7.92
• Fines - $232.32
• Lost Items - $23.76
Establishink repuirenaents for Carroll LSD Student, Non - Resident Card
With 30 new cardholders (based on previous assumptions stated), the
estimated financial impact is the following:
• Damages - $0.09 per card;
• Fines - $26.40 per card;
Billy Campbell, City Manager
July 28, 2003
Page 4 of 7
■ Lost Items - $2.70 per card.
Citizen Input /
Board Review: The Library Board approved a recommendation to revise the Borrower
Privileges and Responsibilities Policy to lower the minimum age for
obtaining a library card at their April 23, 2003 meeting (4 -0).
The Library Board approved a recommendation to revise the Borrower
Privileges and Responsibilities Policy to establish requirements for CISD
students to obtain a Carroll Independent School District (free) Library
Card at their May 28, 2003 meeting (6 -0).
Legal Review: These policy revisions were discussed with the City Attorney to assess the
level of risk associated with the proposed revisions.
Alternatives: Alternatives include the following:
■ Revision of the Borrower Privileges and Responsibilities Policy at a
desired scope;
■ Tabling Resolution No. 03 -047 pending further information and / or
discussion;
■ Denial of Resolution No. 03 -047 and staying with the current
Borrower Privileges and Responsibilities Policy.
Supporting
Documents: Supporting documents include the following items:
■ Copy of Resolution No. 03 -047, revising the Borrower Privileges and
Responsibilities Policy;
■ Redline / Strikethrough version of the Southlake Public Library's
Borrower Privileges and Responsibilities Policy, highlighting the
proposed policy revisions.
Staff
Recommendation: Place as an item on the August 5, 2003 City Council meeting agenda to
approve Resolution No. 03 -047, revising the Southlake Public Library's
Borrower Privileges and Responsibilities Policy to establish minimum age
requirements for obtaining a library card and establishing requirements to
obtain a Carroll Independent School District student, non - resident (free)
library card.
RESOLUTION NO. 03 -047
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS,
ADOPTING REVISIONS TO THE SOUTHLAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY'S BORROWER
PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES POLICY TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM AGE
REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING A LIBRARY CARD AND ESTABLISHING
REQUIREMENTS TO OBTAIN A CARROLL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
STUDENT, NON - RESIDENT (FREE) LIBRARY CARD.
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake (the "City ") strives to achieve the maximum efficiency and
effectiveness in the delivery of services to its residents; and
WHEREAS, the City Council established policies for the Southlake Public Library (the "Library") prior to
the opening of the facility in order to provide systematic and consistent guidance in the administration of providing
library services; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes the importance that student use of the Libraiy and the seivices provided
plays in achieving the mission of the Library, and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that there is potential benefit in lowering the minimum age to obtain a
library card from eighteen (18) years of age to sixteen (16) years of age in order to increase student access to the
Library; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that the Carroll Independent School District (the "CISD ") is a strategic
partner in the development of the Library; and
WHEREAS, the City has recently established requirements for obtaining a CISD employee, non - resident
(free) library card to allow school district employees to utilize the Library and the services provided; and
WHEREAS, the CISD has communicated to the City that their use of the Library and the services provided
would increase if free library cards were accessible to all students in the CISD, including non - resident students, and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that there is potential benefit in establishing requirements to obtain a
CISD student, non - resident (free) library card; and
WHEREAS, The City desires to establish these revisions in the current Borrower Privileges and
Responsibility Policy to provide systematic and consistent guidance in the administration of these desired policy
goals; NOW
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE,
THAT:
Section 1: The City of Southlake hereby adopts the proposed revisions to the Library's Borrower Privileges and
Responsibilities Policy, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and which is incorporated by reference
herein.
Section 2: This resolution shall become effective after its passage and adoption by the City Council.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS DAY OF 2003.
Andy Wambsganss, Mayor
Lori A. Farwell, City Secretary
Southlake Public Library Board
Policies and Procedures Manual
Policy: Borrower Privileges and Responsibilities
Source: City Council
Category: Administrative
Effective Date: January 2, 2001
Revised Date: Revised November 5, 2001; Revised April 15, 2003; Revised August
5, 2003
L Statement of Purpose.
The purpose of this policy is to provide consistent guidance for the Southlake Public Library
staff in borrower privileges and responsibilities.
II. Policy Statement.
The Southlake Public Library issues resident (free), city employee (free), Carroll Independent
School District employees and students (free), and non - resident (fee for service library cards.
Requirement to obtain a resident (free) library card:
A. Must be a resident of or a property owner in Southlake.
B. Must be at least sixteen (16) vears of age, and able to provide positive proof of
residence address (no P.O. Box).
C. Must present positive proof of residence address (no P.O. Box) or property
ownership, such as a real or personal property tax statement.
D. Must complete and sign the application card. This card expires three years from the
date of issue.
E. Anyone minor, as defined by the State of Texas, under the age of sixteen (16)
must have the signature of a parent or legal guardian on the application signed in the
presence of a library staff membe an authorized representative of the library
Requirement to obtain a city employee (free) library card:
A. Must be an active and current employee of the City of Southlake.
B. Must present a current City of Southlake employee ID card.
C. Must complete and sign the application card. This card expires one year from the
date of issue. The card is terminated upon employee resignation, retirement, or
termination.
Requirement to obtain a Carroll Independent School District (free) library card:
A. Must be an active and current employee or student of the Carroll Independent School
District.
B. Must present a current and /-ems valid Carroll Independent School District employee
ID card or proof of employment / enrollment
C. Must complete and sign the application card. The term of the card is valid from
September 1 (after the date of issue) through August 31 of the following year. The
card is terminated upon employee resignation, retirement, or termination. For
Southlake Public Library Board
Policies and Procedures Manual
C.LS.D. students, the card is terminated upon transfer to another school district
or upon graduation
D. Anyone under the age of sixteen (16) must have the signature of a parent or legal
guardian on the application signed in the presence of an authorized
representative of the library
Requirement to obtain a non - resident (fee for service library card:
A. Must present positive proof of residence address (no P.O. Box).
B. Must pay user fee as established by current City fee schedule.
C. Must complete and sign the application card. This card expires one year from the
date of issue.
D. A ny minor, as identified by the State of Tex Anyone under the age of sixteen
16 must have the signature of a parent or legal guardian on the application signed in
the presence of an library staff membe authorized representative of the library
Borrowers must be registered and must have a library card to borrow library materials. In order
to renew a library card, patrons must produce identification and must clear all outstanding fees.
New borrowers are limited to three items on the first visit.
Videocassette and DVD checkout will be limited to person's eighteen (18) years and older.
Patrons who borrow materials from the Southlake Public Library are responsible for returning
them in a timely manner and in the same condition. Any person who holds materials more than
one circulation overdue whose fees have accumulated to $5.00 or more will forfeit library
privileges until materials are returned and fees are paid.