HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-10-12 - AGENDA REPORTS - PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMITTEE (2)Agenda Item• 10
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
NEW BUSINESS City Manager Approval_ �
Item to be presented by: Darren Hernandez
DATE: October 12, 2010
SUBJECT: CREATION OF CITIZENS PUBLIC LIBRARY ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
DEPARTMENT: Administrative Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Approve the creation of a Citizens Public Library Advisory Committee.
2. Direct the City Clerk to publish a notice requesting volunteers to serve on the Committee,
and approve the recruitment process.
BACKGROUND
On August 24, 2010, the City Council adopted a resolution to withdraw the City of Santa Clarita
from the Los Angeles County Public Library System and to establish an independent municipal
public library, effective July 1, 2011. The City Council also expressed a desire to establish a
citizens public library advisory committee, to conduct a community needs assessment for public
library services, and to develop a long-range strategic plan for the Santa Clarita Public Library.
The first step in this process is to establish the Citizens Public Library Advisory Committee
(Committee).
The purpose of the Committee will be to assist with conducting the community needs assessment
and developing the long range strategic plan. The City will be led through this process by an
outside facilitator who is an expert in the area of public library needs assessments and strategic
planning. While the composition of the Committee will depend upon who applies to participate,
the Committee should represent the broad diversity of our community and include people of a
variety of ages and backgrounds and from a variety of communities. Ideally, the individuals on
the Committee will represent youth services, senior services, public education, PTA, early child
D
development, private education, higher education, home schooling, cultural groups, local history,
media, teens, book clubs, commuters, the disabled, library advocates, service organizations,
healthcare, small business, etc. The size of the Committee should be flexible, based upon the
applications.
Upon establishment of the Committee, the City will commence the community needs assessment
process to determine the public library service needs and priorities of the residents of the City of
Santa Clarita. The information gathered through conducting the community needs assessment
will serve as the foundation for developing a long range strategic plan that will include specific
goals and objectives to guide and customize the services of the Santa Clarita Public Library.
Topics typically covered in a public library strategic plan include collection development, special
programs/services, facilities, staffing, and information technology.
The proposed recruitment timeline for Committee members is as follows:
October 14
October 14 — November 12
November 15 — November 23
November 23
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
City Clerk to post and publish a notice requesting
volunteers to serve on the Citizens Public Library Advisory
Committee.
City Clerk receives applications.
Library Ad -Hoc Committee reviews applications.
City Council appointment of the Citizens Public Library
Advisory Committee.
Other actions as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact by this action.
2