Finance Highlights 2009 0317 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~~ F ~ r r ~~ March 13, 2009 Mr. Tony Santos, Mayor City of San Leandro 835 E. 14m Street San Leandro, CA 94577 Dear Mayor Santos: Subject: Library Budget A pressing family matter may prevent my attending the next meeting of the City Council's Finance Committee: Consequently, I'm writing to express my thoughts about the pivotal role the Library Services Department has in the overall health of the San Leandro community, and its funding for FY '09-10. First, some numbers (impersonal but impressive). During fiscal '07-`08, the Library system had 600,000-plus patron visits to check out materials, conduct research, access periodicals and to use (snd learn to use) computers. Staff handled 118,000 reference requests. Some 23,000 folks attended educational, arts, cultural and ethnic programs (close to if not more than the average attendance at an A's game). Summer reading programs attracted 4,000 kids. We have anecdotal evidence that these programs positively affect academic performance. Library usage was up 50 percent last December vs year ago, reflecting the Department's value as a resource during these trying times. The system has 64,000 active card holders. That's about 75 percent of the City's population. This brings us to the personal: for the great majority of our residents, Library Services is the heart, soul and face of the City. Our libraries provide a service that supports education and personal growth. A thoughtful and creative staff offers a truly impressive array services and programs that reach and help shape all of the City's demographic groups, from toddlers and pre-schoolers to kindergarten- readiness and on to the critical teen-age groups and to adults. Our libraries are like an extension of the homes where prized values aze taught and practiced. The Marina-Mulford and South branches are intrinsic to the City's library system. They serve 7,500 cazd- holders. We don't have numbers, but there's no doubt that many of these patrons depend on these branches because they're too old/infirm or too young to drive, or family schedules make visiting Manor or the Main impossibly inconvenient. Closure of the two branches would deny these patrons access to resources essential to individual enlightenment, growth and fulfillment. There's an old saying (albeit sexist): When a man dies, a library burns. On the other hand, we can say, when a library closes, people fail to flourish. I know that you and the other Council members face some very difficult choices in allocating the City's financial resources for FY "09-10. There's no question that Library Services will have to make some sacrifices. But as you weigh your options, please consider the value the entire Department brings to the community. Try to provide a level of funding to keep the four libraries operating; to make the necessary additions to the libraries' collection of books; and to support the most critical services and programs. Sincer ly yours, . ~f-{- ~ 1~t,.-- Frederick A. Reicker Chairman, Library-Historical Commission Copies to Council Members Michael Gregory and Jim Prola