Welcome.15 This is your first round budget16 experience?17
Take all19 of what Councilman Jones has articulated.20 It requires us to work different and21 smarter as a government, and with that in22 mind, have you and members of the Board23 and/or your strategic think tank had a24 chance to sort through or flesh out25 378 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 partnerships like with Girls Club and2 Boys Club? As Councilman Jones3 indicated, you have some parts of our4 city where once you close the library and5 rec centers, those young people have no6 place to go, and we know what happens7 between the hours of 3:00 and 6:00. So8 relationships with churches, what type of9 non-traditional approaches are you10 looking at given this circumstance that11 we are in as a city?12
There are a few13 right now. Obviously our strongest14 relationship at the moment is with the15 Rec Department, and so we work to have16 that strong collaboration in the17 neighborhood so that the children -- for18 instance, if we're closing the Wadsworth19 Library for the afternoon, they know to20 go around to the rec center around the21 corner.22 The other pieces of our23 relationship is building quite strongly24 with the School District so that we know25 379 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 when -- in trying to develop strong2 library services, so that if the school,3 which most schools don't have a library,4 where we can start building the strength5 in those communities and those libraries6 as well.7
Is that a8 new relationship that you're cultivating?9
So there's11 a designee at the School District who has12 the responsibility to sit with you and13 your team to figure out how those young14 people have access to what libraries15 offer?16
Yes. And then in17 each individual neighborhood library,18 part of our work as professional19 librarians is to make sure that we are20 reaching out deeply into each community.21 And our responsibility is to establish a22 relationship with literally everybody,23 but also those people who can partner24 with us on programming and space. And so25 380 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 naturally it would be the churches and it2 would be other social service agencies as3 well.4
How do you9 determine operating hours? That can go10 one of two ways. It can be having11 conversations, discussions, meeting with12 community members and let them drive the13 decision, or you knowing what your14 resources are from a staff perspective15 and letting that drive your decision.16 And then the greater problem is, then how17 are you informing the surrounding18 communities that in these hours of19 irregularity or during these days of20 irregularity, here are our operating21 hours so that we maximize our usage?22
Right. Well, the23 goal that's happening in 2010 is that we24 establish a set schedule, and so that we25 381 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 are looking at -- every single2 neighborhood library now would be five3 days a week across a six-day span of4 time. So that we are covered -- so two5 libraries would be paired. One library6 would be open Monday to Friday. The7 second library would be open Tuesday to8 Saturday. Our LEAP, after school9 assistance program, would cover all six10 days, and so we would be expanding LEAP11 to the weekend, to Saturday. Then we12 notify the -- so, for instance -- so I'm13 going to step back now.14 Now if we close a library, we15 notify the school in the local area so16 that they do know so that the children17 don't leave and go to a place that's18 closed. So we have a fairly large19 network of sort of calls that we make20 when we know that we're going to close a21 library or open it late.22 But we have great partners with23 the Friends, who have been helping us in24 this process. Practically every single25 382 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 library in the system has a Friends group2 and they work with us to try and3 coordinate efforts too, and we take4 advantage of volunteers to help us with5 the flow of information as well. But6 fundamentally if we don't have the right7 level of staff, we will not open.8
Well, I9 look forward to the School District10 coming before us so that we know that the11 dots are indeed connected.12
That's a very13 active conversation that began a couple14 of weeks ago. Actually, it began back in15 January with myself and Lori Shorr and16 Dr. Ackerman, and it has accelerated --17
It's time.20 Moving now to a totally21 different interest of members of Council.22 It was the hope and expectation of23 Councilmembers that every single City24 department that is receiving anything25 383 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 from the City of Philadelphia would come2 prepared in the body of their testimony3 to tell us where you are with regards to4 MBE/WBE participation, and we need to5 know what those numbers are.6
Okay. In my7 testimony, in the written testimony that8 you have, there is a chart which reviews9 the number of contracts that we have.10 And so we have 29 minority -- MBE and WBE11 contracts, and there's actually 15 this12 year. There were 29 last year. And13 that's just a reduced number of contracts14 overall because of budget.15
The bell18 has rung, so I'll circle back on the next19 round.20 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO:21 Councilwoman Sanchez.22
Thank23 you, Madam Chair.24 First I want to thank the Board25 384 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 of Trustees for their volunteerism, the2 Friends groups and all of the other3 stakeholders who worked through our4 discussion and our challenges in the5 budget this last fall, at some points6 very tense, but for me very healthy to7 see the level of passion that exists both8 in communities and among the different9 stakeholders for libraries and what we've10 come to enjoy to be a very robust library11 system because of, piggybacking on what12 Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds said,13 School District's lack of focus on14 providing that. And I'm encouraged by15 your discussion that there are some16 dialogues happening, but unless you tell17 me otherwise, they're still in a very18 superficial level, and let me explain19 why.20 We have a stimulus package21 that's coming in and the School District22 that's due to receive about $135 million23 and I think, from my vantage point, an24 opportunity to really change the tide in25 385 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 terms of the library services offered at2 school. Can you tell me if there are any3 discussions around facility coordinations4 with any schools in the School District?5 Are we going to hear any of that?6
Yes. You are7 right in that these are preliminary8 discussions that are going on, but the9 actual group is called Co-Location, and10 it is about how it is the public library11 and the school libraries on the School12 District can look at libraries13 particularly where there's a density of14 schools and not a density of public15 libraries to see where it is we can share16 the space half the day that would be17 under the management of the School18 District and the second half of the day19 where it would be open to the public in20 that area.21 As I said, it's very22 preliminary. It's called hybrid23 libraries. And so we have a lot of work24 to do, a lot of work to do with unions,25 386 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 and so we have to begin the discussion.2 And I think what's also important is that3 everybody understand the nature -- the4 difference and the nature of the work of5 the school media specialists, the school6 librarian, and they are part of the7 teaching curriculum of the school versus8 those of us who are public librarians and9 the breadth of our work is far more10 broad.11
Again,12 one of the opportunities that this13 financial crisis has enabled us to do is14 really help break down silos that have15 existed in government and really force us16 to think out of the box. This is a17 conversation I shared with the Mayor and18 I had with Lori Shorr and I have not had19 directly with you is, I don't know when20 we're going to get another opportunity21 for that type of School District22 investment. And so there is a sense of23 urgency around how those conversations24 move forward so that we make sure we see25 387 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 some of it happening quicker rather than2 later on that, because, again, we are3 very concerned about what a Plan B4 situation looks for the Library if we're5 not able to generate the revenues that6 the Mayor is requesting. And it's really7 challenging, because at the end of the8 day, people just see on the one hand we9 have a great PR spin of there's all this10 money coming in. On the other hand,11 we're telling people we got to increase12 their taxes. And on the other hand,13 we're cutting their services. And14 there's always this mixed messaging that15 we're sending.16 So I just want to go on the17 record and say -- because I'm going to18 ask this of the School District. I have19 quite a lengthy list of questions as it20 relates to that capital and libraries,21 but just from the Library's perspective,22 the School District is a huge bureaucracy23 and it's not as important to them as it24 should be to you, so we need to move that25 388 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 along.2 In your written testimony, you3 highlighted some good libraries.4 Feltonville, which the Mayor and I had an5 opportunity to visit when we were doing a6 groundbreaking of our new playground at7 Feltonville, and so our volunteers -- the8 success of those libraries are based on9 our volunteers, and I think the one thing10 that we learned in this last round is11 that if we talked to our volunteers, they12 will do more.13 (Bell rung.)14
If we15 talk to our volunteers, they will come up16 with out-of-the-box suggestions.17 And so I want to continue to18 encourage you to not only rely on the19 Friends groups, but the other folks who20 really made it possible for you to even21 have the budget that you have.22 Ultimately, we give you a budget and you23 got to make it work, but I think that I24 want to take this opportunity, because I25 389 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 do have to go to another meeting, to say2 that the library system is now really3 owned by a lot of stakeholders and we4 need to take advantage of that.5 Thank you.6
Councilman8 Green, do you have another meeting, too?9
Councilwoman, I must12 tell you that I grew up playing13 basketball at the B and Wyoming14 Recreation Center, and then when I was15 too exhausted after playing basketball,16 that was my library, the Wyoming branch17 of the Library.18
You were24 next and when you spoke, you lost your25 390 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 space. So are you speaking now?2
Thank you.6 So I appreciate what you're7 saying and the difficulties that were8 presented when you arrived in9 Philadelphia, and I'm sorry that your10 first year in Philadelphia was the year11 you experienced, and I must say that the12 Library is now doing what it testified in13 court that it couldn't do, which is14 keeping the branches open. So obviously15 you've been able to manage with these16 resources, and I think that's tremendous.17 I'm no management guru, but it18 seems to me if you have one library where19 there's three people and you have one20 library where there's six people, instead21 of sending the three people somewhere22 else, maybe you send one of the six to23 the one with three so that that library24 can open.25 391 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1
I'm sorry.7 That's opposite of how you just8 testified.9
If a library10 is -- what happens is that we have --11 when you're down 100 positions, not12 everybody has the six. So we're trying13 to get you to --14
Before you15 go any further, you said that several16 times. How many positions are you down17 in the extension service?18
Yes, but25 392 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 contributing to how it is we keep our2 libraries open, we pull people from the3 Central Library as well. So it's really4 acting as very much a system now.5 But if a library has enough to6 open, if in fact a library -- there's7 three people in the library and we know a8 fourth person is coming, we will open9 that library. We will not close that10 library. But you have to have four to11 operate. But I think you were saying12 that we will not operate if there's13 three, and you're right. If one of those14 three -- and especially if one of those15 three is not a security guard, that's16 absolutely right.17
No, that's18 not what I said. What I said was, if19 there are some libraries -- you say the20 average staffing is five to six people.21
So if there2 are any libraries where there are two or3 three people who show up, why don't you4 move people from the branches where six5 have shown up to the libraries where only6 two or three have shown up and then they7 can all be open?8
Well, basically13 today we opened all libraries, but we14 open --15
No, no, no. We22 regularly fare -- probably we open many23 late. About five are open late every day24 while we do the shuttling around. But it25 394 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 is about moving that group of people, if2 they have six to operate at five so that3 somebody can operate at four.4
So if you5 have five, why not move one so that --6 basically you can do that every single7 day.8
You're11 telling me that on -- I'll tell you what,12 the last ten times libraries were closed,13 send me the actual staffing at every14 single one of these 39 branches that15 you're talking about.16
Because I'm18 going to tell you what it's going to show19 me. It's going to show me that some20 libraries had six and three showed up at21 one and you closed them.22
But let me also23 say that what also has been complementing24 it up until recently is that since25 395 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 January we've had two libraries closed2 altogether for various building repairs.3 And so those five to ten to 12 people4 have been complementing and helping keep5 that open. Those libraries are all open6 now, so now it's been challenging.7
I know where8 to find you nine people, though. Book9 Mobiles. If we're going to leave all the10 branches open, perhaps you can explain11 why we want to spend half a million12 dollars on Book Mobiles, which could be13 Class 100 for additional guards so that14 there was a guard at every library.15
What we're also16 proposing is that moving money from the17 contract guards in the 200 series to --18 there's $281,000 there -- to the 100 so19 that we can bring on full-time security20 staff. So we will be covered.21
No. They're only24 security, and they're only security for25 396 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 six hours.2 (Bell rung.)3
Could I just add one5 thing at this point about security6 guards? Because as I've been traveling7 around to the branch libraries, a number8 of the security guards have told me --9 and I always talk to them, because I10 think they're very observant and very11 interesting people. A number of them12 have told me that the security problems13 in our branches are more difficult today14 than they have been in previous times,15 and they say the problem is not with the16 children. The children are fine. The17 problem is that in very difficult18 economic times, a lot of troubled people19 come into the libraries, people who are20 just angry because they're angry with21 life and they're angry with what happened22 to them and --23
And the result is25 397 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 that their job is more difficult and2 it's -- the importance of it has3 escalated.4
Let me8 follow up on that. How many guards would9 we need --10 COUNCILWOMAN TASCO:11 Councilman, your time is up.12
Thank you,16 Madam Chair.17 Did you know the library at18 6017 at Ogontz was closed today?19
Did I know20 it? I don't know nothing. I'm in here21 all day.22
All right.23 And do you know what the circumstances24 were as to why that library was closed?25 398 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1
Well, it's one of2 two things, either there wasn't a3 security guard or there wasn't enough4 staff to open.5
And under6 your formula that Councilman talked about7 that we couldn't have -- I really would8 like to know why this library was closed9 today, and if someone could find out why10 this library was closed today and what11 our alternatives were, that would help12 me.13 My second question is, what is14 your book disposal process?15
I'm going to have19 Hedra come up and answer that question,20 because she's best at that.21 (Witness approached witness22 table.)23
Hi. I'm Hedra24 Packman, Director of Library Services for25 399 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 the Free Library.2
Good evening.5 We have a collection6 maintenance policy, which basically gives7 us guidelines on what we remove from our8 shelves, which, first of all, are items9 that are physically in bad shape,10 possibly out-of-date items, items that11 have not been used, and, therefore, our12 staff, our branch staff and our materials13 management staff, make those decisions14 every day and they go -- there's an idea15 of about five percent of a collection16 will be weeded out every year.17 Once the collection is weeded,18 it is put into the books-to-go process,19 and that process is that we have an20 ability for City agencies to come get the21 books for free and then other agencies22 come and get the books, and then I23 believe there's a 25 cent charge for the24 general public. The last week of the25 400 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 month there's a 25 cent charge and2 anybody can come get any of those books.3
Is it true4 that some of those books actually wind up5 at the main library in the trash?6
First they're7 offered to the book bank. They're8 offered to other places, daycare centers.9 They're offered to all the City agencies,10 Prisons, whoever, and then if nobody11 wants them --12
When you say13 "offered," I would like you to do -- I'm14 not saying you're not doing a good job.15 Let's up our effort to try to make16 marketing of these books.17 The most horrifying sight I've18 ever seen was to come to that main19 library and actually see books wind up in20 the dumpster. It just spoke ill to -- it21 hurt my soul to see good books that to me22 were good, and we have probably different23 standards as to what is outdated, but I24 happen to know and I visited public25 401 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 libraries where, for example, the2 business section in some of our high3 school libraries are restricted only to4 accounting, bookkeeping and secretarial5 skills that could be enhanced by a good6 book about what an entrepreneur is versus7 a manager. And I actually saw some of8 those kinds of books in that disposal9 area.10 So what I'm respectfully saying11 is, could we do a little better job of12 marketing these books, these13 good-to-some-people books, that could be14 given away. And I understand that you15 don't want to incur an increased cost for16 mailing or anything like that, but I also17 know and have been to Graterford where18 they literally have a captive audience19 and that these kinds of books could mean20 the world to them and be even life21 transforming. So I'd like to see if we22 can't work with folks like Representative23 Waters, who does periodic trips to24 prisons, and see if we can't get a25 402 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 busload of those books up there and see2 if they can't be put into a good use as3 opposed to that dumpster out back of that4 main branch.5
Actually,6 Councilmember, it's interesting you7 should say that. I have come to discover8 a group of librarians that of their own9 volition and among their own time have10 gotten involved with an organization11 called Books Through Bars and are taking12 some of our ready-weeded materials and13 putting them in -- and we've created a14 contract with them. And they have15 established a relationship with the16 Riverside Prison and they go in there on17 their days off, and then they work with18 the population there in building the19 library and building the resources there20 as well.21
Could you22 provide to the Chair just some of the23 other institutions maybe that we could24 market that to. I think there are people25 403 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 that constantly go back and forth there,2 and through whatever screening processes3 we have, it might in some small way4 reduce the recidivism rate, increase the5 literacy rate of those vulnerable6 populations.7
Right. We're8 hoping to build that relationship with9 the prison population as well.10
Well, that's11 good news. I'm glad it's on the record.12 I'm going to ask about it next year.13
Yes.17 Councilman Jones, what library was that?18 I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be flip.19
That's24 Councilwoman Miller's district.25 404 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1
I didn't2 say it was your district. I said did you3 know.4
I know where6 your district is. That's the mighty 9th.7 This would only be the 8th.8
I just want to11 address the Councilman's question on the12 Ogontz Library, is that one of the things13 that we're challenged with now -- and I14 don't mean to sound cranky or whatever --15 is that our staff levels are frozen at16 the moment and we are down nearly nine17 positions and we're not able to replace18 them. And so Ogontz is one of these19 situations where we have three full-time20 employees there, one didn't show up and21 so we had two left, and it was the22 determination of the area coordinator23 when she looks at the deployment among24 the libraries in her region, in her area,25 405 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 to make a decision to either close or2 keep a library open through other3 redeployments, and she had already4 redeployed to cover other libraries for5 us.6
Well, could7 you provide the Council a running list of8 when this occurs so that as we keep track9 of what your challenges are as we make10 financial decisions, our intention is to11 be helpful.12
Thank you.19 Let me underscore Councilman20 Jones' important recommendation that21 every corner of the City where there are22 no books have an opportunity to have23 books.24
And2 include on that list homeless shelters.3 We do an annual event with the homeless4 with children, and I go into homeless5 shelters and there are no books. So they6 too should be on that list of children on7 the fringe who don't have the benefit of8 books.9 It is unfair to hold you10 accountable for that which you do not11 know. You've been in place for X number12 of months, and next year please13 understand that we are paying close14 attention to the numbers with regards to15 MBE/WBE activity. It is clear by the16 numbers here that our $5.4243, 4.517 percent, is the extent of the18 participation. So we would hope that19 internally you all will strategically20 figure out how the business you do with21 Philadelphia looks like Philadelphia,22 number one.23 Number two, it's been my24 observation in the nine years I've been25 407 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 here that at the executive level of the2 Philadelphia Free Library, it does not3 look like Philadelphia. And so not this4 year, but next year know that we want in5 the body of your testimony what you have6 done to improve the presence of women at7 the executive level and the presence of8 professionals of color at the executive9 level, because we know they are here in10 the City of Philadelphia and oftentimes11 all they need and deserve is an12 opportunity.13
Okay. Great. I14 do want to say that you are right, and15 this is something that we're actively16 working on, especially with Pat Coulter,17 the President of the Urban League, to18 start working with us on placing, you19 know, sort of our rising stars and who is20 that in our pool of staff that next21 generation of library leadership. So Pat22 is putting together a list of programs23 for me to begin identifying the staff24 that is ready for leadership.25 408 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 There's also, you should know,2 is that we have a grant from the3 Institute of Museum and Library Services,4 and in that we've made it possible for5 employees to complete their BA degree and6 in some cases their MLS degree, and that7 population, 69 percent of the people we8 have assisted have been female, 579 percent of that pool African American,10 eight Hispanic and one Asian.11
So you're12 actually creating a pipeline of13 professionals who want to grow --14
Excellent.19 Thank you all very, very much for your20 testimony and your important work.21
Thank you.25 409 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 The Chair recognizes Councilman2 Green.3
Thank you,4 Madam Chair.5 I'm going to close the loop on6 the question that I was asking you about,7 and then the Chair has informed me we're8 going to have the Library back again to9 testify on the 11th.10 We received at 1 o'clock today11 a response to questions that I've been12 asking since December of 2008. We13 haven't had time to go through it. We14 received it at 1 o'clock. So we will15 have you back on the 11th to complete16 your testimony. But just to close the17 loop on this question, could you tell me18 how many guards there are right now in19 the system?20
And how many22 guards would it take to ensure that23 there's a guard for each library every24 day? What is the average absentee rate,25 410 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 whatever you want to call it? How many2 additional guards would you need?3
We need 11 guards4 in the libraries, in the neighborhood5 libraries. So the difference between6 what we have also includes -- when I give7 you that number of 61 or 67 --8
They are -- when11 we move the money from -- am I answering12 the question correctly? When we moved13 the money from the 200 to the 100 and by14 nine guards, plus redeploy guards from15 the regionals, we will cover the 11 we16 need in the neighborhood libraries.17
Okay. But18 in FY10 you're going to a five-day-a-week19 schedule.20
So you're22 answering the question, but not quite.23 How many guards would you need24 using the current system in order to make25 411 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 sure that the libraries could be open six2 days a week?3
Well, basically12 we're going to a five-day system to13 ensure stability in the schedule, to14 ensure customer -- so that our customers15 know when the library is open. Right now16 is the catch-as-catch-can. But it's17 quality, it is stability and it is the18 need for people to be able to and for us19 to begin to develop a strong program.20 Right now we're kind of not there.21
We'll follow22 up on this on the 11th, how many guards23 do you need to make sure you have four24 people in each library on a25 412 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 six-day-a-week schedule.2 Thank you.3
It's four to4 open, but all I want to know -- can I5 finish this? What's important for us to6 understand is that our libraries are7 busier than they have ever been and that8 people are coming in, and it takes more9 to operate than just four people. We10 open with four, but we actually have to11 build a schedule that's stronger than12 that.13
Thank you15 very much for your testimony. There will16 be callbacks, not only just the Library17 but other departments will be asked to18 come back on Monday, the 11th. I imagine19 the President will hopefully develop a20 schedule so you have some timeline, but21 you will hear from the President's Office22 about that.23 Thank you very much. Thank you24 all for coming, and we appreciate your25 413 5/5/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.1 time. Sorry about the delay.2 Thank you.3 (Committee of the Whole4 recessed at 6:50 p.m.)5 - - -6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 414 1 CERTIFICATE2 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the3 proceedings, evidence and objections are4 contained fully and accurately in the5 stenographic notes taken by me upon the6 foregoing matter on May 5, 2009, and that this7 is a true and correct transcript of same.8 9 10 11 12 13 ______________________________14 MICHELE L. MURPHY15 RPR-Notary Public16 17 18 (The foregoing certification of this19 transcript does not apply to any reproduction20 of the same by any means, unless under the21 direct control and/or supervision of the22 certifying reporter.)23 24 25