5.6. LIBSR 05-23-2017To: Elk River Library Board
CC: Robbie Schake, LSC
From: Brandi Canter, Lead Patron Services Supervisor
Date: May 15, 2017
Branch Agreement and City Request to Expand Open Hours
The City of Elk River approved the branch agreement with GRRL in April.
This month I met with the GRRL Executive Director, Karen Pundsack, and our Accounting Coordinator, Aron
Murphy to discuss the City's request regarding open hours increases. As a result of this meeting, Karen drafted
a conceptual framework for moving forward. A request for approval of this concept will be part of the agenda
for the May 16 GRRL Board of Trustees meeting (see attached). I also shared news of our progress with Cal
Portner, Elk River City Administrator.
High Five Campaign Wrap Up
Elk River library patrons gave 33 High Five gifts in March, totaling $217.50. Half of those funds have been
deposited into the Elk River GRRL Gift Fund and can be used for program incentives, posters and other display
materials, programmer fees, etc.
Throughout the region, we raised over $10,600. Over the last 17 years, High Five has raised over $250,000
region -wide. Next year we're planning a revamp, and all of the proceeds will stay local.
Library Funding at the National and State Level
Jami Trenam, GRRL's Associate Director of Collection Development is the current Chair of the Minnesota
Library Association Legislative Committee. In early May she attended the National Library Legislative Day in
Washington DC. I asked her for an update on state and library funding, which she generously provided
(below).
Minnesota le,,4slation
Because the House and Senate are pretty far apart in their respective Omnibus Budget proposals, much committee work
is being done to align the two proposals better before sending a compromise to Gov. Dayton.
• Bonding
The House and Senate both have included $2 million for Library Construction Grants in their respective
bonding bills. The bills are in the committee process right now.
• Legacy
The Senate Legacy bill includes $2.2 million/year for regional library system legacy funds and $300,000/year
for the digital library.
The House Legacy bill includes $2.75 million in FY 18 and $2.5 million in FY 19 for regional library systems
legacy funding and $375,000/year for the digital library project.
• Regional Library Basic Systems Support / Multitype funding
RLBSS is the state funding public libraries receive for basic operations. Unfortunately, neither the House nor
the Senate included the funding increases or RLBSS formula change in their E12 budgets. If you have a
relationship with any of the House or Senate E12 conferees or House/Senate leadership, you could reach out
and let them know we want to see HF 1382 & SF 1033 included in the E12 budget.
Federal 1 etr islation
Federal funding for libraries comes through the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) though a program
called the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). The IMLS is eliminated in the President's "skinny budget".
This funding is what powers Minnnesota's robust interlibrary loan system, the Braille and Talking Books Library for
the visually impaired, STEM and Early Literacy training for public and school library staff, as well as a competitive
grant process. GRRL has received grant funding for projects such as our portable laptop lab and the We Play Here kits.
There is a state match requirement for LSTA. Should the federal funding dry up, it is likely in many states that the local
dollars could shrink or disappear as well, a double whammy.
We are also advocating for another grant pool called the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program which
provides competitive grants to school libraries and national not-for-profit organizations to provide books and childhood
literacy activities to kids and parents in high need communities, but our primary focus is on IMLS/LSTA funding.
Strategically we focused on getting MN Senators to sign the "Dear Appropriator" letters circulating in the Senate for
LSTA and IAL funding for FY 18. These letters send a strong message to the Appropriations committee of the
importance of these programs. Our ask is for $186.6M for LSTA and $27M for IAL. As of May 10, both Sen. Franken
and Sen. Klobuchar have signed on to the FYI IAL and LSTA letters.
Other federal library issues include net neutrality, privacy, and copyright concerns.
If you would like to stay abreast of federal library issues, consider subscribing to the American Library Association's
District Dispatch: htt ://www.disti•ictdis atch.or /
If you would like information on Minnesota issues, consider signing up for the Legislative Listserv:
htt ://mnlibrar advocacv.orrhmailmandistinfo/mnlible mnlibrar advocac .or,
You may also contact Jami Trenam, Minnesota Library Association Legislative Chair at 'amit & rrl.lib.mn.us
GREAT RIVER REGIOM
WBRAnu
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED
❑ Information
RECOMMENDATION
Cost Determination for Enhanced Open
Hours — Elk River Library
Submitted by Karen Pundsack, Executive Director
❑ Discussion
Approve cost determination criteria for enhanced open hours.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
® Approve/Accept
• In July 2016, the GRRL Board approved the Library Assessment Plan which established
base level open hours for each library based on set criteria. It also included an option for
cities to enhance open hours at their library through local funds.
• In February 2017, the Elk River City Council passed a resolution expressing interest in
knowing the costs for additional open hours at Elk River Public Library.
• GRRL management developed the attached criteria as a starting point for discussion
with the City of Elk River and is requesting Board approval of the criteria.
® Supporting Documents Attached
• Cost determination criteria for enhanced open hours
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Estimated Cost: $ TBD
ACTION
Funding Source: Local funds Budgeted: ❑ Yes ® No
❑ Passed ❑ Failed ❑ Tabled
COST DETERMINATION FOR ENHANCED OPEN HOURS
1. Costs would be determined by the increase to weekly standard staff hours. If enhanced open
hour requests are within the existing regional hours of operation, costs will be for local open
hours coverage only. Coverage will be based on estimates from current base -level desk
coverage. If the request is outside the regional service window, additional costs for more
regional staff coverage, such as Information Technology back up, would be included in the costs.
2. Great River will retain discretion on how additional staff hours are applied to the schedule.
Board -approved guidelines and tools will set base open hour staff levels. Costs will vary
depending on local factors, for example, whether additional staff hours will require creation of
an additional position. Current staff calculator standards include an expectation that the library
services coordinator (LSC) will be on -desk at least 40 percent of open hours. GRRL may decide to
fill this time with LSC or equivalent library assistant time to meet this.
3. Great River will analyze existing patron traffic patterns to optimize the library's schedule. City
requests for additional open hours will be compared with existing data before finalizing new
hours.
4. Alternative services agreements for enhanced open hours will be for a 5 -year minimum
commitment to reduce negative patron impact from changing schedules. Costs will be reviewed
annually and adjusted to reflect changes in wages and benefits throughout the agreement.
Expanded hours continuation would be dependent on continued local funding.