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EXCITING.[Library Board on February 12, 2024.]
WELL, IT IS SIX O'CLOCK.SO DO YOU NEED TO PRESS THE BUTTON BEFORE I START? WE'RE GOOD.
THEN I WILL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
AND THE, UM, THANK YOU EVERYBODY.
THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES.
AND THE MINUTES THAT WE'LL WE WILL BE LOOKING AT ARE FROM THE DECEMBER 18TH, 2023 MEETING.
AND YOU HAVE A COPY OF THOSE AT YOUR PLACE.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? CORRECTIONS? MINE SAY SEPTEMBER 11TH, MEETING AT THE TOP.
YEAH, THE AGENDA SAYS SEPTEMBER 11TH.
OKAY, BUT THE MEETING, BUT THE MINUTES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ARE ACTUALLY FROM OUR DECEMBER MEETING.
NO, NO, I HAD RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE MEETING MINUTES FOR DECEMBER 8TH AS 18TH AS PRINTED.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING MINUTES AS PRESENT, SAY AYE.
UM, MOTION CARRIES AND THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
AND THE FIRST ITEM IS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN BOND PROGRAM UPDATES.
SO, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR SINCE WE HAVEN'T MET.
WE'LL JUST
UM, I HAVE A FEW SLIDES TO SHOW, UH, WITH SOME UPDATES ON OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND BOND PROGRAM.
UM, PROJECTS WE DID IN, UM, JANUARY, GO BEFORE COUNCIL AND PRESENTED OUR CIP FOR, UM, 2024.
THAT'S, UH, THE SLIDES THAT I'M SHOWING FOR THAT WILL BE THE SLIDES THAT WE, UM, PRESENTED TO COUNCIL.
UM, NO BIG SURPRISES ON ANYTHING OR BIG CHANGES.
UM, THE SLIDE, UH, SHOWING LIST, THE DIFFERENT CAPITAL PROJECTS, BOND PROJECTS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON.
UM, IF YOU NOTICE, THERE ARE TWO BIG THINGS IN THE, THAT SECOND FROM THE RIGHT COLUMN, THE CHANGE IN TOTAL PROJECT COST.
UH, ONE, THE LIBRARY PROJECT OR THE KIOSK PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
UM, WE'RE STILL, UH, IRONING OUT KINKS, UM, AND PROCEDURAL THINGS WITH THE KIOSKS, BUT, UM, THOSE PROJECTS ARE COMPLETED.
UH, UNDER THE, UM, OR FOR THE, THE RELOCATION EXPANSION OF WEST LIBRARY.
WE DID ASK FOR AN, UM, ABOUT 1.8, $1.9 MILLION THIS YEAR.
AND WE'LL GO OVER WHAT THAT, UH, ENCOMPASSES.
IF YOU'LL ALSO LOOK THE TARGETED COMPLETION DATE, YOU'LL SEE THAT 2025 IS GONNA BE YEAR OF THE LIBRARY.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON, A LOT OF PROJECTS, UH, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF TO CELEBRATE.
UM, AND IT WILL BE GEARING UP FOR THOSE CELEBRATIONS.
IT, SO WEST GARLAND, UH, Y'ALL KNOW THAT CONSTRUCTION'S OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY.
THE CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE COMPLETE IN LATE 2024.
I DO WANNA PAUSE ON THAT AND JUST SAY WITH THE WEATHER AND THE RAIN, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME DELAYS, UH, FOR THE RAIN ITSELF AND THEN HAVING TO WAIT FOR THE, THE GROUND TO DRY UP.
UM, SO THAT HAS IMPACTED CONSTRUCTION A LITTLE BIT.
UH, THEY DO HAVE SOME DAYS PROGRAMMED INTO THE CALENDAR OR IN, INTO THEIR SCHEDULE FOR WEATHER AND, UM, ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO I DON'T THINK IT'S HEAVILY IMPACTING THE OVERALL SCHEDULE YET.
UH, BUT THE, THE MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE EVERY OTHER WEEK, THEY KEEP US UPDATED ON THAT.
UM, CONSTRUCTION IS BEING COMPLETED IN LATE 2024, BUT OUR GRAND OPENING FOR WEST IS SCHEDULED FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2025, BARRING ANY MAJOR SCHEDULING ISSUE.
UM, THAT LULL IN WHEN CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE TO WHEN WE OPEN THE DOORS, ALLOWS US SOME TIME TO GET SET UP, GET MOVED IN, GET THE MATERIALS ON THE SHELVES, STAFF TRAINED, UM, ALL THOSE IMPORTANT THINGS SO WHEN WE OPEN THE DOOR, WE CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND WE'RE READY.
THAT 1.9, UM, COST IMPACTING THIS YEAR'S.
CIP GOES TO, UM, SOME A MH EQUIPMENT.
SO THE AUTOMATED MATERIALS HANDLING SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE AT ALL ABOVE THE LOCATIONS, WE'RE RECONFIGURING THE EXISTING ONE THAT, UH, WALNUT CREEK HAS AND REUSING IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY, UM, ADDING SOME PARTS TO IT.
UM, IT ALSO INCLUDES BUILDING ENVELOPE CONSULTING AND COMMISSIONING, WHICH IS JUST A FANCY TERM,
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UH, TO MEAN OVERSIGHT, ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT FROM THE ARCHITECT TO COME AND CHECK ON THE, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING.THIS IS SUCH A MAJOR PROJECT FOR THE LIBRARY AND SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROJECT THAT WE WANTED TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, OVERSIGHT AS TO THE CONSTRUCTION TO MAKE SURE THINGS, UH, WERE GOING THE WAY THAT THEY NEEDED TO GO.
AND THEN A SMALL, EXCUSE ME, OPENING DAY COLLECTION FOR THAT LOCATION.
AND HERE YOU CAN SEE ON A SUNNY DAY, UH, THIS IS SOME OF THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING AT WEST.
THEY'RE DOING ALL OF THE UNDERGROUND UTILITIES.
THEY'VE GOT ALL OF THE BEAMS OR THE PIERS IN, UM, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE GROUNDWORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE THAT THE, THE WEATHER'S SORT OF IMPACTED.
SO FOR CENTRAL, UH, LIBRARY, IT'S MUCH THE SAME OF, UH, WHERE WE WERE LAST MONTH.
UH, MINUS DEMOLITION IS COMPLETED FOR THAT, UH, STRUCTURE.
THEY'VE STARTED ON FRAMING DRYWALL.
THEY'VE GOT, UM, ALL SORTS OF TRENCHING GOING ON WITH NEW PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE LIBRARY.
UM, WE ARE MAKING THE FINAL DECISIONS ON ALL OF THE, THE FURNISHINGS FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT THAT WILL GO INTO THE BUILDING, UM, FOR THAT BIG ORDER TO TAKE PLACE, UH, IN TECHNOLOGY SELECTIONS.
UH, AS Y'ALL KNOW, THIS PROJECT IS ALSO, UM, ESTIMATED OR ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETE IN LATE 2024.
SAME THING WILL APPLY HERE OF HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF A, A PERIOD FOR US TO GET MOVED IN SET UP, TRAINED.
AND THEN THE GRAND OPENING ANTICIPATED FOR 2025.
AND I'M STILL, WE'RE STILL GEARING UP FOR JANUARY, 2025.
SO WE'RE GONNA START THE NEW YEAR WITH A BANG.
I DO WANNA, UM, JUST ADD, UH, WITH THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT TEAM AND THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM, UM, ORIGINALLY THIS PROJECT DID NOT INCLUDE, UH, A NEW ROOF ON THIS BUILDING SINCE THEN, UH, THE TEAM HAS GOTTEN TOGETHER, DONE SOME ASSESSMENTS, AND THIS PROJECT WILL INCLUDE A, A NEW ROOF, WHETHER IT'S AN OVERLAY OR A COMPLETE NEW ROOF.
I REALLY THINK THEY'RE GONNA GO WITH THE OVERLAY, UM, ON THE, THE STRUCTURE, BUT IT WILL ENTAIL LOOKING AT THE SKYLIGHTS UP ON THE, UM, THE MAIN, THE DRAINAGE, ALL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
CAN YOU REMIND ME WHAT THE MAKERSPACE EQUIPMENT IS THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING IN? SURE.
AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER MORE OF THAT AND JUST
FURTHER DOWN THE, SO WE HAVE, UM, A COUPLE OF GLOW FORGE MACHINES, UH, SOME 3D PRINTERS.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT, I DON'T THINK I BROUGHT THAT SHEET OF PAPER WITH ME, LOOKING AT GETTING, UM, SOME PLOTTERS, UH, CRICUT MACHINES.
SOME WE HAVE SOLDERING RIGHT NOW WE HAVE CRICKET, BUT WE'RE GOING TO ADD TO WHAT WE HAVE.
UM, AND THEN THE NEW ONES WOULD BE THE PLOTTER, PLOTTING MACHINES, THE PLOTTERS, AND THEN, UM, POSSIBLY THE SURGE.
SEWING MACHINES, EMBROIDERY MACHINES, UM, DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND I SHOULD SAY, UH, WEST WILL ALSO HAVE A CREATIVE SPACE, INNOVATION SPACE, MAKER SPACE, WHATEVER THE, THE NAME IS.
I THINK CENTRAL'S STAFF HAVE A PRETTY CREATIVE NAME PICKED OUT FOR WHAT THEY WANNA CALL THE, THE SPACE.
UM, THERE MAY BE SOME DUPLICATION BETWEEN LOCATIONS, BUT THERE WILL BE CERTAIN PARTS THAT ARE SPECIAL OR CERTAIN PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT WILL MAKE EACH ONE OF THOSE SPACES SPECIAL, UH, OR UNIQUE.
BUT WE'LL SAY THAT, UM, CENTRAL'S IS GOING TO HAVE A, UM, THANK YOU.
UH, IT'LL HAVE SOME OF THE FUN THINGS, BUT IT'LL ALSO HAVE SOME ELEMENTS THAT ARE GEARED TOWARDS SMALL BUSINESS STARTUPS.
UM, UH, WEST, THEY HAVE A LOT OF STAFF AND, UH, INTEREST IN TACTILES, UH, ESPECIALLY, UH, WHAT WAS IT? THE LOOM AND ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT, UM, HANDS-ON SEWING.
SO I KNOW THAT THEY WANT AN EMBROIDERY MACHINE.
I KNOW THEY WANT, UM, SEWING MACHINES AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WAY.
AND SO A LOT OF THE FIBER, YEAH.
WORKING WITH FIBERS AND STUFF.
AND SO ARE WE, UM, MY HUSBAND IS A MEMBER OF SOME MAKER SPACE OUT IN CARROLLTON MM-HMM.
ARE WE ANTICIPATING DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO JUST USE IT AND NOT ASSOCIATED WITH A CLASS OR A TRAINING? WE'RE, UM, WORKING THROUGH, WE HAVE A TEAM THAT'S WORKING ON THAT NOW.
UM, YOU'LL HAVE TO HAVE A LIBRARY CARD TO USE THE, THE MAKER SPACE.
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CHECK IT OUT.UM, THERE WILL BE SOME TRAINING THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE BEFORE YOU'RE JUST YEAH, WE OPEN UP THE SPACE AND, AND YOU GET TO USE THE SPACE SURE.
UM, IN THE DIFFERENT PIECES OF EQUIPMENT.
BUT THERE'S, THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME, UM, STEPS ALONG THE WAY.
THEY'VE BEEN, UH, CENTRAL STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE, THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE AND DOING SOME OPEN MAKER LABS, UH, THAT THEY, THEY GO THROUGH A PROCESS THAT YOU, YOU COME, YOU COME TO, I THINK IT'S ONE OR TWO TRAININGS, AND THEN YOU GET TO GO AND ACTUALLY MAKE SOMETHING OR DESIGN WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANNA MAKE AND HAVE THAT ABILITY TO DO IT.
ONCE YOU CHECK THE MACHINE OUT, THE MACHINE STAYS IN THE LIBRARY.
YOU CAN'T CHECK THE MACHINE OUT AND TAKE IT HOME WITH YOU, BUT IT'LL BE SOMETHING SIMILAR, JUST ON A MUCH BIGGER, UH, SCALE.
THERE WILL BE NO COST TO COME AND USE THE MAKERSPACE.
UH, THERE'S NO FEE TO DO THAT AGAIN.
YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE YOUR LIBRARY CARD.
WHAT, UH, WE WILL, UM, PROBABLY CHARGE IS JUST LIKE WITH ANY OF THE CONSUMABLES THAT WE CURRENTLY DO WITH PAPER INK, UM, ANY OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, THERE'LL, THERE'LL BE A, A CHARGE FOR THE CONSUMABLES.
WE ARE, UM, TWO THINGS WITH THAT.
UH, IF IT'S A LIBRARY SPONSORED PROGRAM, WE WILL NOT CHARGE ANYTHING FOR THAT PROGRAM.
UM, WE'RE ALSO WORKING AND WE HAVE SOME STEPS TO TAKE WITH IT.
WE REALIZE THAT ESPECIALLY, UM, FOR SOME OF OUR KIDS, THAT CONSUMABLE COSTS MAY BE A BARRIER TO BEING ABLE TO COME AND PARTICIPATE, USE THE EQUIPMENT, WANNA MAKE SOMETHING.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING ON A WAY THROUGH THE FRIENDS AND I THINK SOME OTHER SPONSORSHIPS TO BE ABLE TO, UM, OFFSET THAT COST FOR CHILDREN OR, OR PEOPLE WHO, THAT THAT MAY BE THE BARRIER WHERE THEY PROHIBITS THEM FROM COMING AND PARTICIPATING OR LEARNING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY.
SO ALL THAT'S FORTHCOMING, BUT YES, I JUST WANNA SAY HOW INCREDIBLY VALUABLE THIS IS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE WERE LOOKING AT, UH, THE SCHEDULE AND I THINK YOU GUYS HAD A SOLDERING CLASS RECENTLY.
AND WE WERE JUST THINKING NOW THAT'S SO IN DEMAND RIGHT NOW.
AND CLASSES ALL AROUND DFW ARE FILLED UP.
AND YES, TO HAVE AN OUTLET HERE IN, IN GARLAND IS JUST GREAT, ESPECIALLY AT THE LIBRARY.
SO THEY FELT THEY THANK YOU,
IT'S, WE HAVE A VERY ENGAGED AND PASSIONATE GROUP OF STAFF WHO ARE ALL ABOUT THIS.
IT'S SORT OF LIKE, JUST GO AND CREATE AND WHAT CAN YOU DO? AND THEY AMAZE ME EVERY SINGLE TIME WITH WHAT THEY CAN GO AND CREATE, LEARN, AND DO.
SO MY MIND JUST GOES TO LIKE A LIABILITY WAIVER OF SOME SORT.
'CAUSE HAVE YOU SEEN ME WITH A SEWING MACHINE LIKE
AND I'M SURE, UH, LIKE WE DO WITH SOME OTHER THINGS, WE'LL ENGAGE, UH, THE RISK MANAGEMENT OFFICE AND GET THEIR, THEIR INPUT AND SOME DIFFERENT STEPS THAT WE SHOULD TAKE.
I, UH, FOR ANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, I KNOW
UM, HEATHER, THE CENTRAL MANAGER, THEY BOUGHT A FIRE BLANKET AND A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS WITH THE, UH, THE GLOW FORGE JUST IN CASE, BECAUSE IT, YOU KNOW, THINGS HAPPEN.
AND I THINK THERE WERE SOME EARLY, UH, TRIALS THAT
SO, AND A LOT OF STAFF IS ALSO, UH, TAKING THE CLASSES TOO.
THIS GIVES YOU, UM, A FEW IMAGES OF CENTRAL, BOTH IN THE DEMOLITION PHASE, THEN YOU CAN SEE A COUPLE WHERE THEY'RE PUTTING IN THE TRENCHING.
UM, AND THEN ALSO PUTTING UP THAT FRAMING AND JUST SOME OF THE FURNISHINGS AND THE, THE FINISHES.
THESE TWO, UM, IMAGES HERE ON THE, IN THE MIDDLE AND ON THE LEFT WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF SOME OF THE COLORS AND THE PATTERNS THAT WE'RE USING, WHICH IS, IT'S, IT'S AMAZING TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.
AND YOU HAVE LIKE TABLE AFTER TABLE AFTER TABLE AFTER TABLE OF CHOICES.
AND IT'S LIKE, UH, WE DON'T NEED THAT MANY CHOICES,
AND SO IT'S ALMOST OVERWHELMING, BUT IN A REALLY, REALLY GOOD WAY.
UM, AND THESE OVER HERE, YOU CAN GUESS WHERE THEY'RE GOING, I'M SURE.
BUT, UM, THE CHILDREN'S AREA,
UM, UH, SUBSTANTIAL, BUT ALSO KIND OF SOFT, UM,
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CREATURES THAT YOU CAN SIT OR MANIPULATE IN DIFFERENT WAYS FOR KIDS.AND THIS IS JUST, JUST AS LIKE A TINY LITTLE TASTE OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE THROUGHOUT, UM, THE FACILITY AND SOUTH GARLAND.
SO I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT IN DECEMBER, UM, BOTH SOUTH GARLAND AND NORTH GARLAND, THOSE PROJECTS ARE KICKING OFF.
WE HAVE ARCHITECTS ENGAGED ON BOTH OF THOSE PROJECTS.
THEY'RE MUCH SMALLER PROJECTS THAN WEST AND CENTRAL LIBRARY.
AND THESE TWO PROJECTS JUST, UM, FOCUS ON THE INTERIOR RENOVATION UPGRADES OF, OF THOSE TWO SPACES FOR BOTH SOUTH AND NORTH.
WE'RE GOING THROUGH A SCOPE AND BUDGET ASSESSMENT WITH THE ARCHITECT, UM, AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE TO KIND OF SEE, GET SOME IDEAS WITH, UM, THE SCOPE THAT WE WANT TO SEE WHERE THOSE ESTIMATES FALL, UM, HOW THOSE ALIGN WITH THE PRIORITIES THAT WE'VE SET UP TO KNOW WHAT WE CAN AFFORD AND, AND WHAT WE MAY HAVE TO PHASE IN FUTURE, UM, PROJECTS.
SO BIG THINGS FOR BOTH PROJECTS, UM, INCLUDE MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH ELECTRICAL, UM, AND ELECTRICAL REALLY, UH, IN A LOT OF PLACES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE.
PIECES OF EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY THAT ARE NEEDED THROUGHOUT, ESPECIALLY IN OUR MEETING ROOMS AND STUDY ROOM SPACES.
UM, A LOT OF YOU HAVE BEEN TO SOUTH AND SOUTH HAS A LOT OF AMAZING SPACES IN IT, BUT THERE ARE ALSO SOME VERY STRANGE TRIANGLE ROOMS THAT IT'S NOT THE BEST, LIKE USE OF SPACE.
UM, AND THEN SAFETY AT BOTH LOCATIONS, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, CAMERAS THAT WE'VE GOT, THE ACCESS CONTROLS, UM, LINES OF SIGHT, ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT, THAT WE WANTED AT BOTH WEST AND CENTRAL.
SO FOR NORTH, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.
UM, BUT YOU'LL REMEMBER THIS PROJECT HAS, IT'S IN TWO PHASES.
IT'S TWO DIFFERENT POTS OF MONEY.
UM, ONE WITH THE EXTERIOR AND ONE WITH THE INTERIOR.
UM, THE EXTERIOR MODIFICATIONS, THAT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IS WELL UNDERWAY.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE SIGN ON NORTH GARLAND IS DOWN
IT'S THE, WHAT WAS IT? THE ARCH OVER THE BUILDING IS DOWN.
THEY'VE GONE THROUGH AND PAINTED THE ENTIRE BUILDING.
UM, WE STILL HAVE SOME DECISIONS TO MAKE AS FAR AS, UH, SOME PAINT COLORS AND SOME DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WAY.
UM, ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, WE ARE ENGAGING IN A PUBLIC ART, UM, PROJECT WITH THIS PARTICULAR SITE.
UH, MS. TERRY IS GONNA BE ON THE, UM, ART PANEL AS A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH CULTURAL ARTS TO DETERMINE THE ARTISTS AND WHAT THE PIECE SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
AND, UM, ALL OF ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS.
THIS, UM, PROJECT OR THE EXTERIOR PROJECT WAS THAT, UH, COLLABORATION OR PARTNERSHIP WITH NEIGHBORHOOD VITAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO THE, THE WHOLE SHOPPING CENTER IS GETTING A FACELIFT.
UM, IF YOU DRIVE BY THERE, IT LOOKS A LITTLE CHAOTIC RIGHT NOW.
IT, IT IS
THEY'RE PHASING THINGS AND TRYING TO MOVE THINGS, ESPECIALLY IN THE PARKING LOT, UH, AS THEY SHUT ONE PART OF THE PARKING LOT DOWN TO DO SOME EXTERIOR WORK, KEEPING PART OF THE PARKING LOT OPEN SO THAT THERE'S ACCESSIBLE AND, UM, JUST SPACE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND, AND PARK AND STILL ACCESS, UH, NOT ONLY THE LIBRARY, BUT THE OTHER BUSINESSES THAT, OR AROUND THAT SHOPPING CENTER.
UM, ONE CHALLENGE THAT WE'LL HAVE, AND WE'RE WORKING, UH, WITH THE CONSTRUCTION GROUP IS, UH, NORTH AND SOUTH, BUT AS THIS AFFECTS NORTH, UM, HOSTS VOTING, UM, THE FEBRUARY, UH, EARLY ELECTION, UM, AND ELECTION DAY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, MARCH, MARCH.
UM, SO WE'LL, WE'LL WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE STILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY DURING, UM, VOTING.
ABOUT LINES OF SIGHT AT NORTH MM-HMM.
THIS IS YEARS AGO, ALTHOUGH THE SHAPE OF THE BUILDING HASN'T CHANGED.
SO, YOU KNOW, HAVE, HAVE THERE BEEN ANY MODIFICATIONS? IS THAT STILL A CONCERN? OR DO WE FEEL LIKE THINGS ARE BETTER? UH, IT'S STILL A CONCERN.
I THINK LINE OF SIGHT ANYWHERE IS GONNA BE A CONCERN.
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OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE POSED TO THE ARCHITECT OF SAYING, WE KNOW THERE IS, WE CAN'T CHANGE THE SHAPE OF THE BUILDING.WE CAN'T CHANGE OUR PLACEMENT IN THE BUILDING, BUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP MITIGATE THAT? AND SHE HAS, WE HAVE A, UM, UM, I NOT, OH MY GOODNESS.
DSGN, UM, ARCHITECTS OUTTA DALLAS IS WHO'S WORKING ON THIS PROJECT? SORRY, I HAD A MOMENT THERE.
UH, WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH, UM, SOME SPACE EXERCISES, UH, WITH THE, THE CURRENT STRUCTURE.
AND SHE'S WORKING THROUGH, LIKE, IF WE MOVE THIS, IF WE DO THIS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE, UH, SHE HAS LOOKED AT HER NAME'S BETH, THE ARCHITECT, UM, ARE THE STACKS AND HOW THE STACKS THE, THE MATERIALS ARE PLACED THROUGHOUT THE LIBRARY, ARE THEY THE WAY THAT THEY SHOULD BE ALIGNED IF WE REALIGN 'EM A DIFFERENT WAY? AND YOU CAN SEE DOWN THAT OPENS UP SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.
WHAT'S IN FRONT OF WINDOWS? WHAT'S, IF WE PLACE A A DESK HERE, WHERE ARE YOU? UM, WHERE CAN YOU SEE, IT'S NEVER GONNA BE, UM, CAN'T CHANGE.
YEAH, YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE L RIGHT? WE CAN'T CHANGE THE L BUT AS WE'RE ABLE TO, UH, INSTALL SECURITY CAMERAS TOO, WE MAY BE ABLE TO, UM, HELP YOU.
I GUESS IT'S DIGITAL EYES INSTEAD OF, UH, PHYSICAL EYES ON CERTAIN AREAS THAT MAY STILL BE HIDDEN.
A LONG VERSION TO SAY
SO NORTH DOES LOOK, UM, A LITTLE CHAOTIC, BUT WE VERY MUCH ARE STILL OPEN, STILL OPEN, NORMAL HOURS, UM, TO THE PUBLIC.
YOU MAY HAVE TO GO INTO A DIFFERENT DOOR TO ACCESS DEPENDING ON WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE EXTERIOR, BUT NORTH IS STILL VERY MUCH OPEN, SO, OKAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN LATE 2025.
WE ARE GONNA PARTY THE ENTIRE YEAR,
ALRIGHT, NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE LIBRARY PROGRAMMING UPDATE.
WE HAD, UH, THREE MAJOR BLACK HISTORY PROGRAMS IN THE, UH, OUR THIS MONTH.
UH, FIRST ONE WAS, UH, TONY SIMMONS, STORYTELLER, TONY SIMMONS.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO BRING HER TO THE LIBRARY WITH PARTIAL FUNDING FROM THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS.
IT WAS A GRANT, UH, THAT ONE OF OUR LIBRARIANS APPLIED FOR.
AND SHE BROUGHT AFRICAN AMERICAN STORIES TO LIFE WITH, UH, SONGS, RHYTHMS, CHANTS, DRAMA AND AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION.
AND THAT WAS A, A POPULAR, UH, PROGRAM.
IT WAS THE LIBRARIAN THAT GOT THE GRANT WAS FROM CENTRAL, BUT BECAUSE OF SPACE REASONS, IT WAS HELD AT SOUTH.
SO IT WAS, UH, COLLABORATION BETWEEN THOSE TWO LOCATIONS.
THE NEXT ONE UP WAS OUR, UH, WALNUT CREEK, UH, ICE CREAM SOCIAL CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND LEARNING ABOUT THE FATHER OF ICE CREAM, AUGUSTUS JACKSON.
THERE'S IN RECORDED HISTORY EXAMPLES OF WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED ICE CREAM, BUT THE REASON WHY HE IS CONSIDERED THE FATHER OF ICE CREAM IS BECAUSE OF HIS MODERN ICE CREAM MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES AND RECIPES.
SO THEY HAD ICE CREAM SUNDAES AND, AND GOT TO LEARN ABOUT, UH, MR. JACKSON.
AND THEN THEY ALSO GOT TO TRY OUT ONE OF OUR NEW, UM, PIECES OF HARDWARE, WHICH WAS A META QUEST THREE MIXED REALITY VR, VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSET.
AND USING THAT, THEY WERE ABLE TO, UH, EXPERIENCE A-A-M-M-L-K VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE.
SO, AND, UH, MILLIE SAID THAT, THAT ONE, THAT THEY REALLY ENJOYED THAT.
AND WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER THINGS SET UP FOR THAT.
UH, AND HOPEFULLY ARE WE PLANNING ON GETTING THOSE, EXPANDING THAT AS WE CAN? SO, UH, WALNUT CREEK IS PILOTING IT.
UM, BUT THE, THE PROGRAMS AND THAT THEY HAVE IT AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE
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TO BE ABLE TO GO IN AND EXPERIENCE.UM, BUT THEY'RE ALSO USING THE VR SET AROUND DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. SO PEOPLE, IT'S LIKE A FOCUSED, UM, EXPERIENCE WITH WHATEVER THE PROGRAM IS.
FOR THAT IS, BUT IT ALSO HAS
IT ALSO HAS ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT GAMES ON IT THAT IF YOU'VE EXPERIENCED YOU IT AND YOU'RE IN THE GAME, YOU ARE PART OF THE GAME.
IT'S JUST REALLY, REALLY AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.
BUT, UM, THIS PARTICULAR ONE TOO, THERE'S, UM, I DIDN'T GET TO EXPERIENCE THE, THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, UH, WALKTHROUGH, BUT THEY DID A, UM, FOR HOLOCAUST, WAS IT FOR HOLOCAUST, UM, THE ANNE FRANK EXPERIENCE AND WALKING THROUGH.
SO IT WAS, IT'S QUITE AMAZING TO EXPERIENCE VIRTUALLY OR, OR THROUGH THIS DEVICE THAT YOU PUT ON YOUR, YOUR HEAD.
UM, WHAT ANNE FRANK OR WHAT, YOU KNOW, HOW WALKING THROUGH, YOU CAN WALK THROUGH THE LOUVRE WITH THIS AND SEE ALL THESE DIFFERENT PIECES OF ART.
IT'S JUST BRINGING SO MANY THINGS TO LIFE AND SOME AMAZING GAMES.
LIKE, AND I HAVE NOT TRIED IT.
BUT
BUT YOU'RE ALL WELCOME IF YOU WANT TO GO EXPERIENCE IT, KELLY AND MILLIE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU COME BY WALNUT AND EXPERIENCE THE VR, THE ME QUEST.
I WILL SAY I HAVE ONE AT HOME.
IT'S INSANE IN TERMS OF HOW REAL IT IS.
I HAVE A FRIEND, MY CLOSEST FRIEND LIVES IN TURKEY.
AND WE MEET UP ONCE A MONTH VIRTUALLY.
HE PUTS ON HIS, I PUT ON MINE AND WE FISH.
AND THERE'S, YOU JUST GO TO PLACES AND YOU JUST KIND OF SIT THERE AND FISH AND YOU TALK TO, AND HE'S LIKE, HE'S RIGHT NEXT TO ME.
OUR, OUR THIRD, UM, MAJOR PROGRAM FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH WAS, UH, THE ONE THAT WAS HELD AT NORTH GARLAND BRANCH RECENTLY.
AND IT WAS GARLAND ISD MAKING STRIDES.
AND THAT WAS WITH LOCAL PANELISTS, BERTHA WALLACE FROM CAPS, WHICH IS THE CAR CARVER ALUMNI PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
UH, CAROL MONTGOMERY, SHE'S A-G-I-S-D TEACHER.
AND HONORABLE LINDA GRIFFIN, WHO IS PRESIDENT OF GISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
AND THEY DISCUSS DESEGREGATION OF GARLAND ISD AND THE CHALLENGES OF INTEGRATION.
AND WE ALSO HAD SHORT VIDEOS THAT WERE RELATED TO DESEGREGATION THAT WERE SHOWN.
ONE WAS BEFORE AND ONE WAS, UH, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 45 PEOPLE ATTENDED, INCLUDING DR. LOPEZ, THE GISD SUPERINTENDENT AND OTHER GISD ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS.
SO THAT IS THE THIRD IN THE SERIES AT NORTH.
IT WAS ACTUALLY ON THURSDAY NIGHT, NOT FRIDAY.
I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE TURNOUT.
MALKE AND THE VIDEOS, EVERYTHING.
WELL, I GOTTA FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
I HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING
SO, BUT IT WAS VERY, VERY INFORMATIVE.
I HAD ALREADY SEEN PART OF THAT PRESENTATION.
I'M LIKE, OKAY, I'M GONNA GO 'CAUSE I'M ON THE BOARD.
BUT IT WAS VERY ENTERTAINING 'CAUSE THEY PRESENTED IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
SO I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT WHEN, IF YOU ALREADY KNOW THE, THE INFORMATION.
YOU HEARD NEW THINGS OR, OR THE WAY IT WAS PRESENTED.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? CHALLENGES TO INTEGRATION.
AND, UM, THERE WERE, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
WE HAD POSTED IT ON FACEBOOK, HAD IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES, MARKETING THE EVENT.
THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ON ONE OF OUR FACEBOOK POSTS.
UM, SOME PEOPLE NOT REALIZING THAT THIS IS A, A LOOK BACK.
UM, SOME PEOPLE QUESTIONING, YOU KNOW, DID,
[00:30:01]
WAS GARLAND EVER A SEGREGATED, UH, PLACE? UH, WAS THE SCHOOL EVER SEGREGATED? UM, AND THEN SOME TYPICAL SOCIAL MEDIA? YEAH.UM, AND I, I JUST WANNA, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS OR HAD THIS LAST YEAR WITH ANOTHER ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS. UM, IT'S, WE DON'T ENGAGE.
WHEN SOMEONE HAS, UM, COMMENTED ON ANY OF THAT, WE'LL JUST RESPOND BACK WITH A FACTUAL.
AND WE HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, SO WE DID RESPOND BACK.
THIS IS A HISTORICAL, UM, PROGRAM.
IT'S A LOOK BACK, UH, SHOWING HOW FAR WE'VE COME.
UM, I THINK ONE WAS ASKING, UH, WAS IT LOOKING AT IT FROM, IN THE 1960S, 1970S, AND WE COULD CONFIRM THAT SOME OF THE OTHER MORE CHARGED WE DO NOT ENGAGE IN OR COMMENT, BUT THE OTHER PEOPLE DID.
AND THEY WERE POSITIVE THOUGH, SO, OKAY.
THEY, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE PROGRAM.
UH, SO YOU JUST KIND OF LET YOUR MM-HMM.
AND AGAIN, SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR, IT SEEMED LIKE THE ONES THAT WERE MAKING THOSE COMMENTS, THOSE TYPES OF COMMENTS, THE NEGATIVE ONES ARE NOT EVEN GARLAND RESIDENTS.
SO, UM, THOSE WERE OUR THREE MAJOR PROGRAMS FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
BUT WE ALSO AT EACH LOCATION HAD DISPLAYS, UM, BOTH, UH, BOOK DISPLAYS AND WITH LIKE ARTIFACTS AND THINGS WE HAD SET UP.
OH, THAT'S THE ICE CREAM SOCIAL, YES.
AND, OKAY, SO THIS IS THE VR SET HERE.
THE, THE TWO CHILDREN ARE WEARING, IT'S REALLY COOL.
THE ICE CREAM SOCIAL, TONY SIMMONS IN THE MIDDLE, WHO WAS VERY ENGAGING, UM, AND IN THE GISD, THE MAKING STRIDES PROGRAM WITH THE THREE PANELISTS AND DR. LOPEZ, UM, HERE AND CRYSTAL ON THE, AND CRYSTAL.
UM, THE NEXT PROGRAM, OH, DID I NOT ECLIPSE? NO, I DIDN'T DO SOMETHING RIGHT.
UH, WE HAVE A REALLY COOL OPPORTUNITY THAT ACTUALLY THEY HAVE WORKED THIS AFTERNOON AT THE SOUTH CAROLINA LIBRARY PUTTING UP, UM, TODAY.
SO STUDENTS IN THE GISD VISUAL IMPAIRMENT DEPARTMENT SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS BY USING ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF MEDIUMS TO CREATE PIECES OF ART.
AND SOME OF THESE ARE ARE PAINTINGS.
SOME OF THEM ARE, UM, SCULPTURES.
WE HAVE, I THINK ONE LEGO SCULPTURE THAT'S A PART OF IT.
HALF OF THE STUDENTS WORK WILL BE ON DISPLAY, UH, DOWNTOWN AT VERITEX BANK.
THE OTHER HALF, UM, THEY JUST INSTALLED TODAY AT SOUTH GARLAND LIBRARY.
SO STARTING TOMORROW YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GO BY AND, UM, VIEW THIS, UH, THE ARTWORK AND THE COMMUNITY WILL BE INVITED TO VOTE ON THEIR FAVORITE PIECE OF ARTWORK.
UM, STARTING TOMORROW THROUGH THE END OF FEBRUARY, A RECEPTION TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNER WILL BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 29TH, UM, AT THE VISUAL AID VOLUNTEERS IN DOWNTOWN GARLAND.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS, UH, PROGRAM.
AND I THINK IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT, UM, IT'S EXPANDED OUTSIDE OF JUST DOWNTOWN GARLAND.
SOUTH GARLAND CAN BE A PART OF IT.
HAVE THE, THE ECLIPSE ON THERE.
WE HAD THAT, THE, I DON'T HAVE THAT.
WE HAVE IT ON, UH, FEBRUARY 17TH.
AND, UM, WE'LL HAVE THE, UM, HANG ON.
I DIDN'T HAVE THAT ON MY LIST.
[00:35:01]
THEY'RE GONNA BE MAKING DRAGON MASK, LION MASK AND, UH, THEY WILL HAVE THE, THIS WILL BE AT NORTH GARLAND BRANCH AND, UH, THEY'LL ALSO HAVE REFRESHMENTS.AND THIS IS, THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR THEY'VE HAD THIS, I BELIEVE, CELEBRATING LUNAR NEW YEAR.
SO YOU WANT TO, WHO'S LEADING THAT INITIATIVE? THAT'S THE STAFF AT THE NORTH ISLAND.
SO BEFORE KATHLEEN TALKS ABOUT MAKERSPACE PROGRAMS, UM, ALSO WANNA JUST TOUCH ON, WE HAVE A HUGE, UM, SOLAR LUNAR ECLIPSE, TOTAL ECLIPSE COMING UP ON APRIL 8TH.
UM, ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT LOCATIONS HAVE SOMETHING LEADING UP TO IT.
BRANCH LOCATIONS ARE NOT OPEN ON MONDAY, AND APRIL 8TH IS ON A MONDAY.
SO I KNOW SOUTH HAS A BIG PROGRAM PLANNED ON THE SATURDAY BEFORE APRIL 6TH.
UM, AND I THINK WALNUT AND NORTH BOTH HAVE SMALLER, UM, PROGRAMS PLANNED AHEAD OF TIME.
UM, ALL LOCATIONS WILL HAVE SOME, UM, THE ECLIPSE GLASSES.
I THINK FOR SOUTHS, YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE PROGRAM TO GET THE GLASSES.
UM, BUT WE WILL GIVE OUT OF THOSE VERY FAST.
SO
UM, BUT I, I DO THINK THE CITY IS WORKING TO, I THINK, COORDINATE SOME OF THOSE BIGGER OR, UM, ECLIPSE EVENTS TO, TO HAPPEN IN A MORE CENTRAL LOCATION.
SO WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE ABOUT THAT, UH, SHORTLY.
I GOT IT EMAILED ABOUT IT THIS AFTERNOON, BUT WE ARE PLANNING FOR A BIG, UM, TURNOUT ON APRIL 8TH AT CENTRAL LIBRARY EXPRESS.
OR, UM, MAY MOVE IT TO THE SQUARE.
UM, FOR THAT, FOR THE ECLIPSE.
UH, WE HAD, WE GOT THE EQUIPMENT FROM NASA.
WE'LL HAVE ALL OF THAT OUT THERE.
AGAIN, WE'LL BE ABLE TO USE THAT.
SO BETWEEN THE, THE GLASSES AND THE, ALL OF THAT EQUIPMENT, UH, I THINK WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE A FUN PROGRAM AND ESPECIALLY IF THE CITY'S OUT THERE TOO.
SO I WANNA DO THE, THE MAKERSPACE.
SO AS YOU BROUGHT UP AND, AND AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING, THE MAKERSPACE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY POPULAR.
THEY WILL SEND OUT AN EMAIL SAYING IT'S, THE PROGRAMS ARE, CLASSES ARE OPEN FOR REGISTRATION, AND A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, THEY'RE FULL.
SO, UM, WE HAVE THE PROGRAMS FOR IT'S 13 AND UP, OR IF YOU HAVE THE, WITH OR COMING WITH THE PARENTS.
WHAT WE FOUND HAS THAT HAS BEEN MOST POPULAR, HAVE BEEN THE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PRESENTED IN SPANISH.
AND WE HAVE, UM, OUR LIBRARY ASSISTANT, SHE'S OUR FULL-TIME, SPANISH LANGUAGE, UH, LIBRARY ASSISTANT.
SHE IS PRESENTING THESE PROGRAMS. SHE'S ACTUALLY AN ENGINEER.
AND SHE CAME FROM, WE GOT HER FROM PEROT MUSEUM, WHICH SHE DID KIND OF THE SAME THING.
SHE DID CLASSES AND THINGS, BUT SHE HAS A GREAT RAPPORT WITH ALL AGES.
SHE LIKES THE KIDS AND THEY LOVE DOING THESE.
AND SHE LOVES COMING UP WITH THE DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND WE'VE DISCOVERED THERE IS JUST A GREAT NEED FOR IT.
AND WE ARE YOU WANNA GO INTO THE NEXT PART? I WILL.
SO THESE, UH, JUST GIVE YOU SOME OF THE EXAMPLES THAT CENTRAL LIBRARY EXPRESS IS DOING CURRENTLY, UH, WITH MAKER CLASSES.
UM, THIS IS THE GLOW FORGE MACHINE.
IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A DEMO OF IT, COME BY.
JESSICA AND MIRIAM WOULD LOVE TO SHOW OFF THE GLOW FORGE AND MAKE YOU SOMETHING.
THEY'LL EVEN MAKE YOU SOMETHING WITH CURIOSITY ON IT.
THEY MAKE HER STUFF ALL THE TIME.
I'VE GOT SO MANY THINGS THAT, SO MANY, UM, 3D PRINTERS, MARY UP THERE BY THE MONITOR, UM, SOLD SOLDERING.
AND THE CLASSES, THEY'RE SMALLER.
I MEAN, I THINK WE CAP IT AT MAYBE 10 OR 12 PEOPLE.
SO YOU CAN HAVE THE PERSON, ALL THE HANDS ON INSTRUCTION, BUT THEY'RE ALWAYS FILLED UP.
[00:40:01]
UH, DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY'RE ALL ABLE TO MAKE OR TO LEARN.AND IT, IT ALL SUPPORTS STEAM, UH, YOU KNOW, THE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, AND MATHEMATICS.
SO IT'S, IT'S VERY COOL AND VERY NEEDED.
ALL THAT INTO THE PERFECT SEGUE WITH NO PICTURES.
I APOLOGIZE FOR NO PICTURES, BUT, UM, WE'LL JUMP DOWN TO THE, THE T SLACK SPECIAL PROJECTS GRANT.
UM, WE, WE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SOME DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES, EXCUSE ME, TO TRY, UH, TO, TO TRY FOR SOME COMPETITIVE GRANTS.
UH, TS SLACK IS THE TEXAS STATE, UH, LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION.
THEY HAVE, UH, A CYCLE OF GRANTS, UM, THAT WE JUST SUBMITTED FOR THE SPECIAL PROJECTS GRANT.
UM, WE ARE DOING THIS GRANT FOR THE CENTRAL LIBRARY, UH, NEW MAKER SPACE.
IT'S, UH, UP TO A THREE YEAR PROJECT AND CAN AWARD UP TO $75,000, WHICH IF AWARDED WILL BE USED TOWARDS EQUIPMENT FOR THE MAKERSPACE.
UM, ONE OF THE REALLY GREAT THINGS THAT OUR SYSTEM PROVIDES BESIDES, UH, THE FREE ACCESS TO THE EQUIPMENT AND THE CLASSES, IS THAT WE HAVE AN ESTABLISHED PROGRAM, A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, AND ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES IN THE METROPLEX THAT OFFERS IT IN SPANISH LANGUAGE.
SO HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, THAT HELPS US BE AWARDED THIS GRANT SO WE CAN DO EVEN MORE FOR THE PUBLIC.
UM, THE OTHER OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE IS WITH THE LIBRARY'S TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES ENGAGEMENT GRANT.
I'M GONNA BRING YOU DOWN FOR JUST ONE SECOND WITH THE PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES GRANT.
IN DECEMBER, I TOLD YOU ABOUT THAT.
WE APPLIED FOR THIS, THIS GRANT THAT WOULD HELP TRANSFORM PART OF, UH, IT WAS A SPACE MAKING OPPORTUNITY.
WE MADE IT TO THE FINALS, BUT WE DIDN'T GET THE GRANT.
THAT MEANS THERE'S SOMETHING BIGGER AND BETTER FOR IT.
SO WE JUST, WE'LL KEEP PLANNING AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
GIVE YOURSELF 24 HOURS TO WALLOW IN IT AND THEN PICK YOURSELF UP AGAIN.
UM, THE LIBRARIES MEANS WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
YEAH, WE'RE CLOSE TO THE FINALS.
I MEAN,
UM, THE, THE, SO WE DIDN'T GET THAT ONE.
WE'VE APPLIED FOR THE T SLACK GRANT.
WE'VE ALSO APPLIED FOR THE LIBRARY'S TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES ENGAGEMENT GRANT.
NOW, THIS IS THROUGH THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
UM, IT'S A SMALLER GRANT, BUT IT CAN HAVE A REALLY BIG IMPACT.
SO THERE, THIS IS THROUGH, UM, OUTREACH AND EVENTS THAT WE'RE, UM, DOING THIS PARTICULAR GRANT.
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT, UM, A LOT OF JOURNALS ARE STARTING TO PUBLISH, YOU KNOW, UH, PEER REVIEWED ARTICLES AND THAT WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF, UH, FEEDBACK FROM PARENTS, EDUCATORS SOCIETY, IS THAT WHILE IT WAS HAPPENING BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WERE GREATLY IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC.
AND SO HAVING THE SKILLS AND THE, UH, ABILITY TO ADULT, UM, AND BE PREPARED TO, YOU KNOW, GO OUT IN LIFE WAS SEVERELY IMPACTED.
UH, THE NUMBER OF TEST SCORES THAT HAVE DRAMATICALLY, UM, DECLINED, UH, THROUGH THE PANDEMIC OR BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, THE NUMBER OF KIDS WHO HAVEN'T, YOU KNOW, MET SOME MILESTONES OR SOME GOALS OF NOT GETTING A DRIVER'S LICENSE, MAYBE NOT MOVING OUT.
AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME ECONOMIC REASONS FOR NOT DOING SOME OF THESE THINGS TOO.
BUT WE, UH, WROTE THIS GRANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT 16 TO 22, THAT, UM, HELP PROVIDE SOME HANDS-ON INSTRUCTION AND EXPERIENCE FOR THIS AGE GROUP SO THEY CAN BE READY TO TAKE THAT NEXT STEP.
SO THE PLAN IS WHEN WE OPEN CENTRAL BACK UP IN THE SPRINGTIME, WE'LL HAVE A DAY THAT WE HAVE SPEAKERS, UM, GUESTS, UH, DIFFERENT, UM, EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD COME IN AND HELP KIDS LEARN HOW TO, HOW TO DRESS FOR AN INTERVIEW, HOW TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN AN INTERVIEW, HOW TO FILL OUT A LEASE, UM, TO, YOU KNOW, APPLY FOR AN APARTMENT OR HOW TO OPEN UP YOUR FIRST CHECKING ACCOUNT.
UM, HOW TO SOME OF THOSE BIG THINGS THAT ARE MAJOR STEPS, HOW
[00:45:01]
TO DO A RESUME AND HELP YOU BE ABLE TO DO THAT RESUME ALL IN THE HOPES THAT IN THE AFTERNOON WE HAVE SOME DIFFERENT, UM, BUSINESSES THAT MAY BE LOOKING FOR EMPLOYEES OR MAYBE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HELPING US DO MOCK INTERVIEWS, BUT HAVE THAT REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE IN THE AFTERNOON.GIVE THEM SOME POINTERS AND MAYBE IF IT WORKS OUT, HAVING SOME KIDS MAYBE MATCHED UP WITH A JOB OR A POTENTIAL INTERNSHIP, SOMETHING FOR THEM TO WALK AWAY WITH FEELING, YOU KNOW, MAKING THAT BIG STEP.
SO IF SUCCESSFUL, UH, I SHOULDN'T SAY THIS, BUT I AM GONNA SAY THIS.
WHETHER OR NOT WE GET, WE REWARDED THE MONEY FOR THE GRANT, WE'RE GONNA FIND A WAY TO MAKE THE PROGRAM HAPPEN.
THE GRANT WILL ABSOLUTELY HELP US BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
UM, BUT IF SUCCESSFUL, THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WE WANT TO DO ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO BE ABLE TO HELP THIS 16 TO 22, 20 4-YEAR-OLD, UM, GROUP.
SO THAT IN A NUTSHELL, ARE ALL THE PROGRAMS
AND CAN I ASK ONE QUESTION BEFORE WE YES, GO AHEAD.
THE PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES GRANT.
THE, THEY, UM, CULTURAL ARTS WAS AWARDED THAT.
UH, GOSH, I THINK IN MY NOTES, IT'S IN, IT'S THE I COMMISSION SOMETIME.
THE ARTS NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF ARTS GRANT.
SO WE'RE EXTREMELY EXCITED TO HAVE THAT DISTINCTION.
THAT'S WHY I'M SORRY, I DID JUMP AHEAD
UH, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AWARD.
UH, IT'S THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LIBRARY DIRECTOR, UH, DIRECTOR ASSOCIATION, UM, AWARD THAT THERE ARE OVER, I THINK 565 DIFFERENT LIBRARIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE WERE AWARDED THIS YEAR, AGAIN, KUS TO ALL THE LIBRARY STAFF AND BOARD FOR ALL THE SUPPORT.
UM, BUT THIS PUTS US IN THE TOP 15% OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE'RE, UM, ONCE WE RECEIVE OUR PLAQUE, UH, WE'LL HAVE IT PRESENTED, UM, AT A COUNCIL SESSION, WHICH WE'LL ALL BE INVITED TO.
WE'LL HAVE STAFF THERE AS WELL TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE AWARD.
BUT IT'S, IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL.
AND TALK, TALK ABOUT THE SUBMISSION FOR THIS AWARD.
THE, THERE ARE, I BELIEVE, 10 CATEGORIES AND YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT SOMETHING FOR EACH CATEGORY.
AND IT'S THINGS LIKE, UM, TECHNOLOGY, UH, PROGRAMMING, PROGRAMMING, UM, STAFF TRAINING.
IT'S, I'M THE ONE I REVIEWED IT ALL IN.
UH, BUT, BUT WE DO THAT IN, UH, DECEMBER.
IT'S ALWAYS DUE ON LIKE DECEMBER 31ST OR RIGHT.
AND OVER THE YEARS IT'S CHANGED.
IT USED TO BE ALL IN A BINDER.
AND DANNY, THE, OUR COURIER WOULD DRIVE IT OVER 'CAUSE IT WAS PLANO OR FRISCO OR SOMEWHERE, AND HE WOULD TAKE IT OVER THERE.
AND LUCKILY THEY HAVE CHANGED TO DIGITAL SUBMISSIONS.
AND, UH, SO THAT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER.
AND THEY'VE ALSO CHANGED IT WHERE THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO HIT EVERY SINGLE BULLET POINT.
THEY REALLY WANT YOU TO JUST ILLUSTRATE WHAT THE TOPIC IS.
AND YOU HAVE TO BE WELL ILLUSTRATED.
YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT YOU'VE SHOWN THAT YOU ARE, UH, COMPLETING THAT YOUR LIBRARY IS DOING EVERYTHING IN EACH CATEGORY, BUT IT'S, THEY DON'T WANT EVERY LITTLE NEWSLETTER OR, UH, GRAPHIC OR WHATEVER.
AND I'VE GOT THE, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE, UM, SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS THROUGH OUTREACH, SPECIAL PROGRAMS, COLLABORATIONS, CLASSES,
[00:50:01]
PROVIDE CURRENT MARKETING MATERIALS, HIGHLIGHTING OUR BASIC SERVICES AND DIFFERENT PUBLICITY.UH, INVEST IN COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
PROVIDE ENHANCED SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC DURING THE PAST YEAR, EITHER THROUGH INCREASE IN SERVICE OR A CHANGE IN THE TYPE OF SERVICE.
PROVIDE LITERACY SUPPORT FOR ALL AGES.
SUPPORT DIGITAL INCLUSION WITH INTERNET ACCESS, ONLINE LIBRARY SERVICES, SUPPORT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND PROVIDE CULTURAL, TOPICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR ADULTS AND FAMILIES.
AND ESTABLISH PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL STAFF.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, AS LIBRARIANS.
LIBRARIANS ARE REALLY THOROUGH.
SO WHEN WE, THE REASON THEY CUT IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT IS BECAUSE WE WOULD PROVIDE EVERYTHING.
AND WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR, THEY STARTED BEFORE I GOT HERE, SO I'M GOING ON 24 YEARS.
UM, WE, WE WERE TRYING TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHEN, UH, UH, BECAUSE AS I WAS TALK, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT AND I SAID, WELL, AT SOME POINT THEY CHANGED HOW THEY RECORD THE YEARS.
AND IT LOOKED LIKE WE ACTUALLY SKIPPED A YEAR, BUT WE DIDN'T BECAUSE THEY CHANGED THE, UH, TIMEFRAME.
TIMEFRAME OF IT AND EVERYTHING'S SORT OF BOXED UP SO
SO WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS AND WE'VE BEEN WINNING IT.
AND YOU CAN'T JUST TURN IN THE EXACT SAME THING EVERY YEAR.
SO WE ARE, IT'S A TESTAMENT TO OUR STAFF AND OUR STAFF BEING WILLING TO TRY NEW THINGS, PUSH THE ENVELOPE, DO BIGGER, MORE, BETTER, CONTINUING TO LEARN AND VALUING THAT, UM, CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING PART.
SO WE'RE EXTREMELY EXCITED AND PROUD AND PROUD.
AND I IMAGINE IT'S SOMETHING YOU WORKED TOWARD ALL YEAR LONG.
WE, WE START, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE HAVING THESE PROGRAMS AND WE HAVE FOLDERS SO THAT WE PUT ALL OF THESE THINGS IN AND SUMMARIES AND THE GRAPHICS, PHOTOS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SO THAT AT THE END WE START WORKING ON IT IN NOVEMBER, FIRST PART OF NOVEMBER AND THEY CAN START PULLING FOR ALL OF THIS.
UH, LUCKILY MOST OF THE CATEGORIES ARE THE SAME.
SO WE KNOW WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
AND WE HAVE A TEAM THAT WORKS ON IT EACH YEAR.
USUALLY ONE OR TWO PEOPLE THAT WORKED ON THE, THE, UH, PROJECT THE YEAR BEFORE AND THEN SOME NEW PEOPLE.
SO WE ARE ALWAYS, WE ALWAYS HAVE A GROUP WORKING ON IT.
NONE OF US ARE SURPRISED THOUGH.
'CAUSE
UM, UH, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO BRING UP FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, IDEAS, REQUESTS? MADAM CHAIR? NOT TONIGHT.
WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE AT SOME POINT? I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, UM, JUST TO HAVE A, A BRANDING UPDATE.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS.