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12TH, 2026 MEETING OF THE GARLAND LIBRARY BOARD TO ORDER, AND THE TIME IS NOW SIX O'CLOCK.SO, BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR AGENDA, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBERS.
UM, AND SINCE THIS IS ALSO MY FIRST MEETING SERVING AS THE CHAIRPERSON, I THOUGH IT WOULD BE NICE FOR US TO BRIEFLY INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.
SO, IF YOU WOULD GO AROUND AND SHARE YOUR NAME, UM, HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD, AND YOUR DISTRICT.
I CAUGHT YOU WITH YOUR MOUTHFUL.
THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR ON THIS BOARD.
AND I'M, UH, CHRISTINE SANCHEZ.
THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR ON THE BOARD, MY FIRST MEETING EVER.
THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR ON THE BOARD.
UM, I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR ABOUT 13 YEARS AND I'M THE MEETING PAST CHAIR.
THIS IS LIKE, UH, MY THIRD MONTH OR SECOND MONTH TO BE ON THIS BOARD.
AND, UH, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER, BUT I'M MARGARET LUCK'S DISTRICT.
I'M LOUIS MOORE AND I'M DISTRICT EIGHT.
AND, UM, I SERVED 10 YEARS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND I'M GLAD TO BE ON THIS BOARD.
UM, AND I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND, UH, REALLY ENJOY IT.
AND IF OUR LIBRARY STAFF WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES TOO.
I'VE MET YOU ALL AND WELCOME CHRISTINE.
I'M THE PUBLIC SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR.
I'M KAREN ARCHIBALD, BOTH LIBRARY DIRECTOR.
WILL MASSEY, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
AND THEN WE HAVE ONE MORE ITEM.
EVERYBODY HAS ONE OF THESE LITTLE, UH, INVITATIONS IN THEIR BINDER.
UM, THIS IS THE CITY OF GARLAND BOARD AND COMMISSION DINNER AND IT'S MEANT TO CELEBRATE ALL THE, UH, THE GOOD WORK THAT OUR COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS DO.
SO IF YOU COULD RSVP TO THAT, YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN AN EMAIL, I THINK.
AND YOU CAN JUST RSVP IN THAT EMAIL.
ARE THEY SERIOUS ABOUT BREAKFAST?
WHEN, WHEN I USED TO GO TO IT, YOU KNOW, EARLY ON IT WAS A FORMAL DINNER OF VERY, YOU KNOW AND ALL THAT.
I DID A DOUBLE TAKE WHEN I LOOKED AT THE INVITATION.
I LOVE GOOD BREAKFAST FOR DINNER.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 21ST MEETING MINUTES.
SO HAS EVERYBODY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK OVER THE MINUTES? ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS? I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THEM.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
UH, AND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UM, OUR NEXT ITEM IS PUBLIC COMMENTS.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO ADDRESS THE BOARD? NO? OKAY.
SO THEN SEEING NO REQUEST, WE'LL MOVE TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
UH, ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION IS AN UPDATE ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND BOND PROGRAMS. SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO STAFF FOR THE PRESENTATION.
SO JUST, UM, QUICK UPDATES ON NORTH AND SOUTH.
SO OUR, UH, AS WE TALKED ABOUT LAST MONTH, OUR NORTH GARLAND PROJECT IS ALMOST COMPLETE FROM THE, THE 2019 BOND PROGRAM.
UM, THEY, UH, WORKED AND SECURED THE BACK WORKROOM AREA.
SO IF YOU KNEW WHAT THAT, UH, FACILITY LOOKED LIKE, IT WAS, WE HAD ABOUT FOUR ENTRYWAYS INTO THE BACK WORK ROOM THAT DID NOT HAVE DOORS AND NOW THAT'S REDUCED AND THERE ARE TWO DOORS.
UM, THEY HAVE INSTALLED SOME LIGHTING THAT I'LL SHOW YOU SOME DECORATIVE LIGHTING, BUT IT ALSO IMPROVES THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT AND SOME STRATEGIC AREAS IN THE LIBRARY.
AND THEN THERE WERE A COUPLE OF AREAS THAT WE HAD CARPET, UM, NEW CARPET INSTALLATION.
UM, NEXT STEPS, UH, THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 9TH, WE'RE LOOKING AT HAVING THE FURNITURE INSTALLED AT NORTH.
SO ALMOST, ALMOST BEING KEYWORD, ALL, UM, PUBLIC FURNITURE IS BEING REPLACED WITH NEW FURNITURE.
NORTH'S FURNITURE HAS BEEN WELL LOVED.
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UH, IT'S A SAVE DEBATE, WHICH I'LL SEND OUT A, A SAVE THE DATE REQUEST FOR Y'ALL OR OUR CALENDAR, UH, INVITATION FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH.WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE OPEN HOUSE RECEPTION.
THERE'LL BE AFTER HOURS AT SIX O'CLOCK THAT JUST COME BY, LOOK AT THE NEW, UM, THE UPDATES TO THE FACILITY, CELEBRATE WITH US, UM, THAT EVENING.
AND THEN JUST A COUPLE OF PHOTOS HERE TO SHOW SOME OF THE UPDATES.
SOME OF THESE ARE OVER IN THE CHILDREN'S AREA AS WELL.
UM, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SEE FROM THE, THE PHOTO WITH IT BEING LIGHT OUTSIDE, BUT IT REALLY INSIDE ADDS A, A NICE TOUCH.
AND THESE ARE GONNA BE OVER THE READING AREAS, UM, ONCE THE FURNITURE IS INSTALLED.
UM, THEN OVER ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, IF YOU REMEMBER, THIS WAS THE CHILDREN'S AREA, UM, BACK IN HERE, AND THAT CARPET WAS PRETTY WARM.
SO WE REPLACED IT WITH A REALLY PRETTY VIBRANT, UM, HEXAGON SHAPED, HONEYCOMB SHAPED, UH, CARPET WHICH MATCHES THE, THE SEAM AROUND, UM, ON THE WALL COVERINGS, WHICH IS PRETTY.
AND THEN OVER IN THE ADULT AREA VENDING AREA, UM, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A BIG DEAL, BUT, UH, THE LVT IN THIS AREA WAS REPLACED.
UH, SOME OF THE LVT WAS BEGINNING TO REALLY CHIP AWAY, SO THIS WAS VERY NEEDED.
UM, AND THEN OUT, UM, THIS CARPET WAS REPLACED HERE.
THIS AREA ON THE RIGHT IS GOING TO BE A NEW ADULT SITTING AREA, READING AREA, UM, RIGHT OUTSIDE THAT VENDING ONCE, ONCE THAT, UM, FURNITURE IS INSTALLED IN THAT SPOT.
AND THEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE, THE WORKROOM UPDATES.
THESE ARE, UH, TWO OF THE DOORS THAT WERE INSTALLED.
UM, SO IF STAFF, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE NEVER HAVE TO, BUT IF WE NEEDED TO SHELTER IN PLACE, UM, IF WE NEEDED TO SECURE THE BACK ROOM AREA FROM THE PUBLIC BEING ABLE TO GO, WE NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.
AND IN ADDITION TO THIS, SHOWING UP THAT, THAT WORK ROOM AREA, UM, UH, A COUPLE OF ACCESS CONTROLS WERE INSTALLED.
NOT ALL DOORS HAVE THE ACCESS CONTROLS BECAUSE THOSE ARE QUITE EXPENSIVE TO INSTALL, SO WE PUT THEM IN STRATEGIC PLACES.
AND THEN INTERIOR SECURITY CAMERAS WERE ALSO INSTALLED, INSTALLED.
SO THIS JUST GIVES YOU THE PROJECT, UH, TIMELINE.
SO, UM, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, I WANNA JUST REALLY FOCUS, UH, THIS UPDATE ON THE PLUMBING AND STRUCTURE HERE FOR SOUTH.
UH, YOU REMEMBER LAST MONTH WE TALKED ABOUT THAT THERE WERE GONNA, WE HAD SOME PLUMBING ISSUES WITH THE BUILDING THAT WE WERE WORKING THROUGH.
SO, UH, FACILITIES MANAGEMENT IS, UH, MANAGING THIS PART OF THE, THE PROJECT FOR SOUTH.
THEY'RE, THEY TOOK CORE SAMPLES, THEY DID PRESSURE TESTING, UM, AND THEN STARTING YESTERDAY...
STARTING LAST WEEK, UM, THEY BEGAN TUNNELING UNDER THE BUILDING TO MAKE SOME REPAIRS TO PIPES, PLUMBING ON THE SOUTH END OF THE BUILDING.
UM, HERE YOU CAN SEE
ONE OF THE THINGS THOUGH THAT THEY ENDED UP HAVING TO DO, UM, WAS ORIGINALLY THEY WERE GONNA TUNNEL SOMEWHERE IN THIS GENERAL AREA HERE.
I'M PROBABLY OFF A LITTLE BIT.
IT MAY BE MORE IN THIS, MAYBE THIS ONE.
UM, BUT THEY RAN INTO AN ISSUE WITH BEING ABLE TO GET TO THE AREA THAT THEY NEEDED TO, UH, BY DRILLING OUTSIDE.
SO THEY, THEY STARTED YESTERDAY ACTUALLY DRILLING INSIDE THE LIBRARY, THE CHILDREN'S AREA.
THEY'VE GOT IT ALL TINTED OFF.
UM, IT WILL ALL BE SECURED IN THE MORNING.
THE, THE TEAM HAS WORKED INCREDIBLY FAST AND EFFICIENT WITH GETTING, UM, THE, THE AREAS SECURED.
IF YOU COULD GO IN AND SEE, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A TENT AROUND THE, THE AFFECTED AREA THAT THEY'RE DOING THE DRILLING IN TO TAKE EVERYTHING OUT, MAKE THE REPAIRS, PACK IT ALL BACK, PUT CONCRETE OVER IT, AND THEN IN THE MORNING THEY'LL LAY THE CARPET BACK OVER IT.
BECAUSE OF THAT WORK THAT'S BEING DONE IN THE LIBRARY
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AND TRYING TO GIVE THEM AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE, LIKE I SAID, THEY STARTED ON A SUNDAY TO DO THAT.UM, THERE IS GOING TO BE A DELAYED OPENING TOMORROW ON TUESDAY OF FOUR O'CLOCK.
SO THERE WAS ONE CHILDREN'S PROGRAM, UM, THAT WAS SCHEDULED FOR THIS PRO - YESTERDAY, TOMORROW AFTERNOON.
THAT HAS BEEN CANCELED, BUT ALL OTHER PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE TOWN HALL, UH, THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR SOUTH TOMORROW AT SIX O'CLOCK, UM, SHOULD HAVE NO IMPACT.
AND THEN JUST THE FINAL STEPS OR THE NEXT STEPS WITH THIS PROJECT WILL, UM, FINALIZE OR WAIT FOR, YOU KNOW, FINAL FINDINGS FROM THE PLUMBING, UM, LOOKING AT WHAT THE SCOPE, UH, AND REPAIRS TO THE REST OF THE BUILDING ARE FROM THIS PROJECT, UM, AND WE'LL TAKE THOSE UPDATES TO CITY COUNCIL AND OF COURSE THE BOARD FOR NEXT STEPS IN THAT TIMELINE, BUT WE DON'T, DON'T QUITE KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE AT THIS POINT.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT.
SAL, JUST A REFRESHER, WHEN THIS PROJECT STARTS OUT FRONT IN THE PARKING LOT, WILL THE LIBRARY REMAIN OPEN? WE WILL REMAIN OPEN TO THE EXTERIOR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT THE NEW SENIOR CENTER HAS A LIBRARY.
WE DON'T MANAGE THAT, DO WE? WE DO NOT.
SO NEXT IS THE LIBRARY STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE.
UH, JUST TO RECAP, UM, THIS IS OUR ROADMAP FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS THAT WE HAVE TO HELP US NAVIGATE WHAT WE'RE DOING, UH, WHERE WE NEED TO PUT, YOU KNOW, SET THOSE GOALS, THOSE PRIORITIES, THE, THE WORK THAT WE, UM, THE ACTIONS THAT WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
THEY'RE ALSO REQUIRED BY THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION FOR ACCREDITATION PURPOSES.
WE ACTUALLY BEGAN THE PROJECT LAST OCTOBER, NOVEMBER-ISH WITH THE, UM, THE TEAM, AND I'M EXCITED TO SAY THAT COUNCIL APPROVED, FORMALLY ADOPTED AND APPROVED OUR PLAN AT LAST WEEK'S, UM, REGULAR COUNCIL SESSION.
SO THE NEXT STEPS NOW OF THIS PROJECT IS WE'LL GET THAT, UH, PROJECT OR THAT PLAN POSTED ONTO OUR WEBSITE.
UM, YOU SHOULD ALL HAVE DIGITAL COPIES OF THAT PLAN.
IF YOU DON'T, UH, LET ME KNOW, WE'LL GET THOSE TO YOU.
UH, WE'LL HAVE SOME PRINTED TO HAVE ON HAND AND AT ALL THE DIFFERENT LIBRARY LOCATIONS.
UM, WE'LL FINALIZE THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND, UH, TIMELINE.
SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW IS WE'RE STILL CONTINUING WORK ON THE PLAN.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE ABOUT 82 SEPARATE, UM, TASKS THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT PLAN THAT ARE DIVIDED UP BY, IS IT HIGH PRIORITY, MEDIUM, IS IT LOW? UM, SO OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE'LL, WE'LL WORK THROUGH A PROCESS OF TRYING TO, UM, IMPLEMENT AS MANY OF THOSE AS POSSIBLE AND LEAVE ROOM FOR DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT POP UP THAT WE CAN'T SAY NO TO ALONG THE WAY AS WELL.
AND THEN, UM, A BIG STAFF TRAINING, UH, PART, COMMUNICATION PART THAT, UH, THE PLAN AND THE TASKS WILL GO OUT TO, UH, THE ENTIRE LIBRARY TEAM.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE BOARD THOUGH, UM, FOR THE FREQUENCY OF UPDATES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE ON PROGRESS WITH THE, THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN.
MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO DO IT, UH, NO MORE THAN TWICE A YEAR, UM, JUST GIVEN THE NUMBER OF ITEMS AND SOME OF THE TIME IT TAKES TO PUT SOME THINGS INTO, UM, INTO PROCESS, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY RAMP THAT UP AT YOUR DIRECTION.
WILL WE STILL BE RECEIVING UPDATES DURING OUR LIBRARY BOARD MEETINGS? UH, FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION? THAT'S WHAT I'M, I'M ASKING.
OH, SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR THE...
I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEANT BY SENDING US EMAILS OR BY TALKING ABOUT.
AND I GUESS THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION AS WELL.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE THOSE UPDATES? SO I WILL SAY THIS, THAT WHEN WE'RE COMING AND PRESENTING ABOUT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS, THE SERVICES, THE INITIATIVES, THEY ALL TIE BACK TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.
BUT AS FAR AS AN OVERALL, UM, KIND OF LIKE AN OVERALL, WE'RE, WE'RE HERE AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ON, YOU KNOW, 25%, 35%, WE'VE HAD A SNAG HERE, YOU KNOW, JUST AN OVERALL, UM, UH, CHECK-IN WITH WHERE WE'RE AT
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IN IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN, I THINK IS MORE WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IN THIS, UH, SCENARIO.I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, WILL YOU BE PROVIDING PERIODIC UPDATES TO COUNCIL? AND IF SO, HOW OFTEN DO THOSE HAPPEN? AT THEIR REQUEST, UH, WE WILL.
AND PART OF, I WILL SAY PART OF WHAT THE, UH, WE DO AS A BOARD TOO IS EVERY YEAR PROVIDE EITHER A WRITTEN OR A VERBAL, UM, UPDATE TO COUNCIL ON WHAT WE DO HERE.
AND PART OF THAT CAN BE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE, THE STRATEGIC PLAN TEAM.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BE LIKE A, AS, AS THEY COME UP ALSO, BECAUSE IF A LOT OF THESE INITIATIVES ARE PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN, YOU COULD SAY, OKAY, THIS IS PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
IT'D BE MENTIONED IN A REGULAR MEETING.
AND THEN YOU'D HAVE THOSE CONSOLIDATED CHECKUPS EITHER QUARTERLY OR BIANNUALLY.
I LIKE THE BI-ANNUAL PART AND THEN AS NEEDED IS THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT CAME UP.MM LIKE, OH, BY THE WAY, EITHER WE'RE HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THIS OR, UH, SOMETHING CAME UP.
BUT THINK HOW MUCH YOU WOULD HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.
YEAH, THAT, THAT'D BE A REALLY GOOD REPORT.
LIKE THE PLUMBING THING, BECAUSE THIS IS ALL NEW, LIKE TO ME, BUT - SO THAT CAME UP UNEXPECTED? YES.
SO SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD BE AT THE MEETING, WE'D HEAR ABOUT IT, RIGHT? 'CAUSE IT'S NOT - PROBABLY BE OUTSIDE OF THE STRATEGIC - OH, IT WOULD BE.
OKAY.THAT'S JUST BASIC OPERATIONS.
AND I, I DO - SINCE YOU'VE COME ON BOARD, I THINK I DO NEED TO GIVE YOU A COPY OF THE UPDATED STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WAS JUST APPROVED.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD HELP PUT IT IN CONTEXT.
WHAT YOU RECOMMENDED, I GUESS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
SO OUR FINAL ITEM IS THE ALL ABILITIES COMMITTEE PRESENTATION RECAP.
AND SO STAFF WILL SHARE THE, UH, COMMITTEE'S FEEDBACK AND THE NEXT STEPS.
UM, SO A FEW MONTHS AGO WE WERE ASKED, THERE'S A RELATIVELY NEW COMMITTEE THAT COUNCIL FORMED, UM, WITH THE ALL ABILITIES COMMITTEE, UH, WHICH I THINK I DID NOT PULL WHAT THEIR MISSION IS, BUT, UM, LOOKING AT SERVICES AND, AND CITY, UM, BUILDINGS AND DIFFERENT THINGS, UH, HOW DO WE HELP PROVIDE SERVICES TO SOMEONE WHO MAY HAVE A DISABILITY? UM, IT'S A GREAT COMMITTEE.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF REALLY GREAT MEMBERS WHO ARE REALLY IN TUNE TO, TO LOOKING AT THIS.
SO WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY BACK IN JUNE TO GO PRESENT, UM, WHAT DOES THE LIBRARY PROVIDE, UM, OUR COMMUNITY? AND I WANNA HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT WE DO, REALIZING THAT I DON'T THINK WE, OR IF WE HAVE MADE THIS PRESENTATION BEFORE, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE'VE MADE THE PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD.
BUT THERE WAS A REALLY GREAT CONVERSATION THAT CAME AT THAT MEETING WITH THE ALL ABILITIES COMMITTEE.
SO THEY'RE, THEY PROVIDED A LOT OF REALLY GOOD FEEDBACK FOR US, MUCH OF IT POSITIVE, BUT THEY ALSO, UM, A COUPLE OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS IN PARTICULAR TOOK TIME WITH US BOTH AT THAT MEETING AND THEN SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS WITH OUR TEAM TO HELP IDENTIFY AND HELP US, UM, BRIDGE THE GAP ON SOME SERVICES THAT WE WERE LACKING IN.
SO I THINK THAT'S THE BIG TAKEAWAY OF WE'VE, WE'VE IDENTIFIED SOME AREAS THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE ON AND WE'RE PUTTING, UM, SOME THINGS IN PLACE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE.
SO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE LIBRARY WHERE WE'RE AT.
THESE ARE JUST STANDARD SLIDES THAT GO INTO EVERY PRESENTATION THAT I DO, WHEN WE'RE OPEN, WHERE WE'RE AT, AND WHO WE ARE, WHERE WE PROVIDE ACCESS FOR ALL.
UM, AS PART OF OUR 2021 MASTER PLAN, WE LOOKED AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, UH, REALLY FIVE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT MADE UP THAT PLAN, BOTH WITH, UH, ACCESSIBILITY IN OUR BUILDINGS, LIBRARY COLLECTION, LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS, TECHNOLOGY AND STAFF TRAINING AND LEARNING.
UM, ACCESSIBILITY WAS CONSIDERED IN HOW WE, UH, HOW OUR BUILDINGS WERE DESIGNED FROM ENTRANCES TO PATHWAYS, SHELVING, UH, THE FURNISHINGS, THE PUBLIC SPACES, AND IT
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ALSO HELPED SHAPE, UH, THE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER, THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE BUILD AND THE COLLECTIONS AND TECHNOLOGY THAT WE PROVIDE.SO WHEN WE UPDATED THAT PLAN AND, AND A COUPLE OF YOU HELPED US UPDATE THAT PLAN, WE LOOKED AT ALL OF THESE THINGS VERY INTENTIONALLY.
SO IN OUR BUILDINGS, ACCESSIBILITY STARTS WITH THINKING ABOUT HOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY USE THE SPACE, WHAT DO THEY NEED OUT OF THE SPACE.
UH, PEOPLE COME AT ALL SHAPES AND SIZES.
UH, THEY USE LIBRARIES IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
UH, THEY LEARN IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
SO SOME PEOPLE MAY FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE STANDING, UH, TO LEARN SITTING, TO LEARN.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, A CENTRAL LIBRARY, THE, THE DESKS THAT YOU CAN RAISE ARE LOWER IN A COUPLE OF PLACES SO YOU CAN MAKE IT MORE COMFORTABLE.
UM, BUT ALSO WE LOOK AT ACCESSIBILITY IN THE ENTRANCES.
SO HOW EASY IS IT TO GET FROM THE MAIN PARKING LOT INTO THE BUILDING? THE SHELVING HEIGHT, IF WE HAVE 90 INCH SHELVES, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE IN A, A WHEELCHAIR OR USING A MOBILITY DEVICE, THAT'S GONNA BE VERY HARD TO REACH THE TOP OF THE SHELVES BESIDES POSSIBLY BEING ON THE SHORTER END, WHICH I'M ON THE SHORTER END, NOT ABLE TO REACH THAT TOP SHELF.
UM, SO WE WANT OUR, OUR BUILDINGS TO BE ACCESSIBLE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
WE DO GO THROUGH AN ADA IN TEXAS ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS REVIEW WHENEVER WE'RE DOING ANY RENOVATIONS, UM, IN OUR BUILDINGS.
SO PARTNERSHIPS, WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT NETWORK OF PROFESSIONAL LIBRARIANS, EDUCATORS, AND EXPERTS IN THE FIELD THAT HELP US BE ABLE TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE TRY TO KEEP UP WITH CHANGES, UH, THAT ARE HAPPENING, FOR INSTANCE, IN, UH, LIKE GISD.
AND WE STARTED TALKING WITH GISD, UH, A FEW YEARS AGO, ACTUALLY BACK IN 2017 OR 2018.
UM, WE STARTED LEARNING AND REALLY TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH DIFFERENT CHANGES THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS MAKING FOR CHILDREN.
SO I BELIEVE AT THAT TIME, THE, THE NUMBER OF CLASSES FOR CHILDREN WITH SENSORY, UM...
HAVING AN, UH - DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES.
DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES WITH SENSORY AND AS WELL AS, UM, DYSLEXIA WERE ACTUALLY INCREASING.
SO THAT HELPED US TRIGGER, OR NOT TRIGGERED, BUT HELPED US GO IN, UM, CHILDREN'S LIBRARIANS ESPECIALLY START THE PROCESS OF LOOKING AT HOW DO WE CHANGE AND ADAPT SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS AND HOLDINGS TO HELP BE ABLE TO, TO HELP FACILITATE A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
SO I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER BIG TAKEAWAY IS WE DON'T ALWAYS WANNA ASK PATRONS TO ADAPT TO US, BUT IF THERE'S A GOOD NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE HAVING, UM, EXCUSE ME, HAVE A DISABILITY OR HAVE AN ISSUE WITH SOMETHING THE WAY WE'RE DOING IT, WE NEED TO ADAPT TO, TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO JUST AS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS, WE'VE BEEN OFFERING SENSORY FRIENDLY HOURS.
UH, WE TRIED THIS PILOT IN THE SPRINGTIME AND WE OFFERED IT AT ALL FOUR LIBRARY LOCATIONS, BOTH IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
WE HAD A, A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE WHO CAME AND PARTICIPATED IN IT.
WE'VE GOT, UM, STORY TIMES, UM, DIFFERENT PROGRAMS FOR, UH, THOSE WITH SENSORY, UM, ISSUES.
AND WE JUST LAUNCHED, WE JUST PICKED UP, I SHOULD SAY, SENSORY KITS THROUGH, UM, I BELIEVE IT WAS THROUGH A GRANT OR A PARTNERSHIP WITH ANOTHER ORGANIZATION SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO CHECK OUT, UM, KITS, UH, SENSORY KITS VERY SOON.
THEY'RE PUTTING THEM IN THE CATALOG, I BELIEVE.
THIS IS AFTER HOURS? THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, THIS EXAMPLE WAS, WAS AFTER HOURS.
UM, IT WASN'T WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE.
UH, I BELIEVE ONE OF THE LOCATIONS BEGAN EXPERIMENTING WITH THE TIMES THAT IT WAS OFFERED, SO MAYBE THE EVENING DIDN'T WORK, BUT MAYBE A MORNING SESSION WOULD WORK.
SO THEY'RE STILL, UH, WORKING AND TINKERING WITH SOME LITTLE THINGS TRYING TO FIND WHAT THAT, THE RIGHT FIT IS FOR, FOR THIS PROGRAM.
YEAH, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE CITY HALL TRIED THAT WITH THE CHRISTMAS ON THE SQUARE PROGRAM HERE AS WELL.
THAT MET WITH A REALLY LOW TURNOUT, I BELIEVE.
SO FOR, I WILL SAY, THE LIBRARY
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IS GOING TO HOST WITH, UM, EVENTS AS WELL.UH, CENTRAL LIBRARY WILL HOST AGAIN THE, UM, SENSORY CHRISTMAS - OKAY.
AND IT NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT SMALL.
UM, IF IT GETS TOO MANY - IT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE.
SO THAT WILL BE COMING, UM, SOON.
DO THE AFTER HOURS OR BEFORE HOURS, UM, EVENTS THAT, THAT'S AN EXTRA DEMAND ON STAFF? IT IS.
IS, IS THAT OKAY OR IS THAT, I MEAN, IS IT EXTRA OR ARE THEY ABLE TO COMPENSATE IN TIME, EITHER TIME SOMEWHERE ELSE OR...
THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES TO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.
DEPENDS ON WHAT IT IS AND WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.
UM, MORE TIMES THAN NOT, THE SCHEDULE CAN BE ADJUSTED, UM, TO BE ABLE TO, TO ABSORB IT OR, YOU KNOW, TO COME IN LATER TO BE ABLE TO, UM, STAY LATER IN THE EVENING.
ON OCCASION, UM, THEY HAVE TO, TO WORK OVER A LITTLE BIT AND, YOU KNOW, GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF, UM, BANKING THOSE HOURS AND THEY GET TO BANK THOSE HOURS FOR FUTURE TIME.
IT MAY BE THE NEXT WEEK OR AN UPCOMING, UM, TIME THAT THEY NEED TO BE OFF.
BUT, BUT BY AND LARGE, I WOULD SAY 95% OF THE TIME THEY CAN JUST FLEX IT OUT.
WHAT'S THE FREQUENCY THAT WE'RE OFFERING THIS PROGRAM? THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, I DON'T THINK WE'RE OFFERING IT RIGHT NOW.
THIS WAS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF - OH OKAY.
DIFFERENT PROGRAM THAT WE'VE OFFERED.
UM, BUT WE OFFERED IT, I WOULD SAY FOUR OR FIVE TIMES IN THE SPRINGTIME.
AT ALL THE BRANCHES OR JUST CENTRAL? ALL THE LOCATIONS.
THAT'S, THAT'S INFORMATIVE TOO, JUST TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ATTEND.
SO, SO WHEN YOU DO AFTER HOURS, THE DOOR IS LOCKED AND YOU HAVE TO COME UP AND ASK? YES.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE VELVET ROPE.
UM, YOU'VE REGISTERED FOR THE PROGRAM.
HOW MANY PEOPLE REGISTER? JUST DIRT.
MORE PEOPLE REGISTERED THAN SHOWED UP FOR THE, THE EVENT.
UM, NOT EVERY ACCESSIBILITY EFFORT IS LABELED AS DISABILITY SPECIFIC.
UM, SO SOME MORE ARE, ARE MORE ABOUT MAKING LIBRARY PROGRAMS WELCOMING AND SUPPORTIVE FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS.
OUR FAMILY PLACE PLAY GROUP THAT'S AT THE SOUTH HARLEM LIBRARY SUPPORTS, UM, EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, UM, EARLY LITERACY THAT DOES SO JUST WELCOMING EVERYBODY, UM, TO BE ABLE TO COME TO IT.
UM, AS Y'ALL KNOW WITH THE FAMILY PLACE, YOU CAN WORK WITH DIFFERENT CHILD DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS, DIFFERENT EXPERTS IN THE FIELD WHO CAN HELP, UM, HELP THE PARENT OR CAREGIVER WITH LEARNING ABOUT SOME OF THOSE, UH, POSSIBLE, UM, DISABILITIES THAT A CHILD MAY HAVE.
I SAW THAT LAST SCREEN SAID SOMETHING ABOUT ABLE TO SPEAK TO A CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST.
WHERE DOES THAT SPECIALIST COME FROM? WE WORK THROUGH, UH, WE WORK WITH A GOOD TEAM OF PEOPLE.
SO IT COULD BE, THEY'RE USUALLY DIFFERENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SO IT MAY BE DOCTORS, MAYBE A DENTIST, UM, TEACHERS, AUDIOLOGISTS, NUTRITIONISTS.
LOTS OF DIFFERENT FIELDS, UM, AND THAT'S PART OF THE GRANT.
SO WE CAN, WE CAN COME BACK, UH, WITH A HIGHLIGHT OR, UM, AN OVERVIEW OF THE FAMILY PLACE PROGRAM.
IT WAS ALL FUNDED BY A GRANT AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THAT CERTIFICATION, INCLUDING WORKING WITH THESE COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO, TO BRING THE EXPERTS COMING IN.
SEEMS LIKE I, I, I HAVE A GRANDCHILD AND I COULD USE IT.
SO, SO OUR PROGRAMS ARE GEARED TO CHILDREN.
DO WE HAVE ANY THAT ARE GEARED TO HANDICAP ADULTS? WE DO.
UM, WELL, I MAY HAVE THOUGH I HAD A SLIDE FOR IT.
SO WE, UM, I KNOW WE HAVE A SLIDE LATER.
WE WORK WITH THE WARREN CENTER, UM, AND THE OH GOSH.
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WHICH IS A CHILDREN.IT IS CHILDREN, UH, ACHIEVEMENT CENTER OF TEXAS, UM, AND A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT GROUPS WHO, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOVE TO DO IS IF YOU REACH OUT, AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT EDUCATORS GROUPS, UM, PARENTS REACH OUT THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A TOUR OR SOMETHING SET UP SPECIAL FOR THEIR GROUP, WE DO THAT.
SO, UH, LIKE WITH THE ACHIEVEMENT CENTER OF TEXAS, WE ACTUALLY, UM, DID A SPECIAL PROGRAM DOWNSTAIRS FOR, I BELIEVE THEY'RE ALL ADULTS THAT ARE IN THAT GROUP, THAT THEY CAN COME DOWNSTAIRS.
UM, WE DID A SPECIAL STORY TIME.
WE, WE TALK WITH THEM ABOUT LIBRARY MATERIALS, AND THEN THEY GET TO INTERACT WITH THE DIFFERENT MANIPULATIVES AND THINGS DOWNSTAIRS IN THE CHILDREN'S AREA AT CENTRAL.
AND WE REALLY DO IT AT ANY OF OUR LOCATIONS.
I THINK SOUTH AND WEST GARLAND LIBRARY BOTH HAVE GROUPS THAT FREQUENT THEM AND COME, WHETHER IT'S A DROP BY VISIT OR A, UM, SCHEDULED TIME THAT THEY COME IN.
BUT WE, WE DEFINITELY TRY TO TAILOR IT TO WHAT THE SPECIFIC NEED IS WITHIN OUR ABILITY TO DO SO.
SO WE HAVE, UH, OTHER PROGRAMS. SO WE, WE PARTICIPATE IN THE TALKING BOOK PROGRAM, UM, THAT IS, UH, A FREE SERVICE FOR ELIGIBLE TEXANS WHO CANNOT READ STANDARD PRINT.
SO IF YOU HAVE A SIGHT DISABILITY, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER THE, THERE USED TO BE THESE REALLY BIG GREEN MACHINES THAT, UM, I BELIEVE IT'S FEDERALLY, UH, PROGRAM THAT THEY WOULD SEND IT TO YOU AND THEN YOU LIKE CHOOSE WHAT MATERIALS YOU WANT TO READ.
AND IT WAS LIKE A AUDIO BOOK, BUT IT WASN'T A CASSETTE TAPE.
IT WAS A SPECIAL TAPE THAT WENT INTO THE, THE PLAYER.
YOU COULD SEND IT BACK AND FORTH THROUGH MAIL AND IT WOULD GO DIRECTLY TO YOUR HOUSE.
YOU HAVE TO SIGN UP FOR THAT PROGRAM.
AND ANY OF OUR GARLAND LIBRARIES, YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR THAT PROGRAM.
JUST COME IN, WE'RE HAPPY TO HELP WITH THAT.
UM, THE, THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES BRAILLE, UM, RESOURCES, UM, FOR FAMILIES.
AND WE HAVE A SMALL COLLECTION OF BRAILLE ITEMS AT THE LIBRARY, BUT IT'S MORE TO SHOW, UH, KIDS AND PEOPLE WHAT BRAILLE IS.
WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH, UM, VISUAL AID VOLUNTEERS, WHICH, UM, IS IN DOWNTOWN GARLAND.
UM, THEY'VE COME AND DONE SOME PROGRAMS TO TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT THE, WHAT BRAILLE IS, HOW TO READ BRAILLE, AND EVEN LIKE HOW THEY MAKE SOME OF THE BOOKS, UH, PUT BRAILLE IN SOME OF THE BOOKS TO HELP SOMEONE WHO HAS A SIGHT, UH, IMPAIRMENT BE ABLE TO READ.
ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT TODAY ARE FREE.
UM, THE ONE THAT WE JUST LOOKED AT WITH THE TALKING BOOK PROGRAM IS FREE.
UH, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE, THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE, BUT WE ALSO, UM, AS YOU KNOW, JUST, WE, WE'VE GOT TWO BIG THINGS WITH LIBRARY OUTREACH.
WELL, WE CAN COME TO YOU AND WE CAN DO THAT IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
UM, SO SOME OF THE SCHOOLS, UM, IT MAY BE A HOME THAT THERE ARE MOBILITY ISSUES THAT YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO COME TO THE LIBRARY.
OUR OUTREACH TEAM CAN COME TO YOU.
THEY CAN BRING A PROGRAM RE- RESOURCES, MATERIALS AND HELP YOU, UH, GAIN ACCESS TO THOSE.
WE ALSO HAVE THE LIBRARY AT HOME.
SO IF YOU LIKE PHYSICAL MATERIALS, YOU, YOU MAY LOVE LIBBY, BUT YOU STILL WANNA HOLD A PHYSICAL BOOK.
WE CAN BRING MATERIALS, UM, TO YOUR, YOUR HOME ON A, I THINK IT'S A THREE OR FOUR, A MONTHLY BASIS THAT WE'LL PICK THEM UP, WE'LL DELIVER THEM OFF IN A SPECIAL LITTLE BAG.
AND THAT CAN BE A LONG-TERM, UM, SITUATION OR IT MAY JUST BE VERY SHORT-TERM.
MAYBE YOU'RE, UM, RECOVERING FROM A SURGERY OR AN ILLNESS THAT, THAT YOU CAN'T COME TO THE LIBRARY AND WE CAN BRING IT TO YOU.
IS THAT ONLY FOR, BECAUSE I KNOW OTHER CITIZENS OUTSIDE OF GARLAND HAVE A LIBRARY CARD.
IS THAT ONLY FOR GARLAND CITIZENS OR IS THAT FOR ANYONE WITH A LIBRARY CARD? UH, GREAT QUESTION.
THAT'S FOR GARLAND RESIDENTS ONLY.
AND, AND HOW MUCH NOTICE, LIKE DO YOU HAVE TO APPLY AND SAY, "I HAVE THIS DISABILITY." LIKE WHAT'S THE PROCESS? WE DON'T WANNA KNOW WHAT THE DISABILITY IS.
WE HAVE A FORM ONLINE THAT YOU FILL OUT, UM, AND IF YOU, YOU CALL, UM, WE TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT TYPES OF THINGS YOU LIKE TO READ OR WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AND THEN WE PUT YOU ON THE ROTATION.
DO YOU HAVE VOLUNTEERS WORKING THAT PROGRAM AS WELL? WE DON'T YET.
UH, SO IT'S STILL A PRETTY SMALL PROGRAM.
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE CYCLE ON AND CYCLE OFF.
SO AT ANY POINT IN TIME, I'D SAY WE HAVE BETWEEN EIGHT AND 15 PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM,
[00:35:01]
WHICH IS SOMETHING AT THIS POINT IN TIME THAT WE CAN, UH, DO INTERNALLY.IF THE PROGRAM WERE TO, UM, YES, UM, THEN YES, WE WOULD HAVE TO, TO LOOK AT OUTSOURCING OR VOLUNTEER HELP TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT RUN.
AS AN EMPLOYEE, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO RUN AND DRIVE.
PARTNERSHIPS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR US BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US TO EXPAND OUR EXPERTISE OR EXPAND EXPERTISE OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND THESE ARE JUST EXAMPLES AS WELL, OR I SHOULD SAY THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE.
UM, BUT WE PARTNERED WITH UTB ON MAKE MOVEMENT MATTER, WHICH WAS A REALLY COOL PROGRAM THAT WAS AIMED AT TEENS.
UM, BUT IT, AND IT WAS HANDS ON STEAM.
THEY WERE AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY, THEY GOT TO USE THE MAKERSPACE, BUT THEY HAD TO CONCEPTUALIZE, UM, OR THINK THROUGH A PROBLEM.
SO SOMEONE WHO HAD, THEIR TASK WAS TO IMAGINE THAT THEY WERE DEVELOPING SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE WHO HAD A MOBILITY ISSUE AND THEY HAD TO, TO THINK THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
THEY HAD TO COME UP WITH WHAT, UH, THE DEVICE MAY BE, WHAT THE, UM, INSTRUMENT MAY BE THAT THEY WERE DEVELOPING TO HELP SOMEBODY WITH A MOBILITY ISSUE.
AND THEN THEY ACTUALLY HAD TO MAKE IT.
I THINK I PUT IT IN MY HANDBAG.
THIS WAS ONE OF THEIR PROTOTYPES.
BUT THEY, THEY CHOSE TO TRY TO, UM, DEVELOP SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE WHO HAD A GRIP PROBLEM.
SO THEY, THEY WERE HAVING ISSUES BEING ABLE TO TURN A DOORKNOB, UM, HOLD SOMETHING.
AND THEY DEVELOPED A DEVICE THROUGH EXPERIMENTATION AND MULTIPLE TRIBES
IT WAS A REALLY GREAT PROGRAM.
UM, HERE'S SOME PICTURES OF IT THAT THE, THE KIDS ACTUALLY LIKE WALKED THROUGH WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT SOLUTION MAY BE.
SO, SO WHO ATTENDED THIS? THIS IS KIDS FROM GARLAND, OR THESE COLLEGE STUDENTS THAT RAN IT.
THESE ARE NOT COLLEGE STUDENTS.
THESE ARE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
FROM THE GARLAND SCHOOLS THAT SIGNED UP TO DO THE PROGRAM.
WE DIDN'T ASK, UM, WHAT SCHOOLS THEY CAME FROM.
UH, MOST OF THEM CAME FROM GISD, UH, BUT THEY'RE, THEY'RE, I THINK THERE WERE A COUPLE THAT WERE ALSO FROM SCHOOL THAT PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM TOO.
DID THEY HAVE TO REGISTER TO - YES.
AND IT'S SPONSORED WITH THE PARTNERSHIP.
AND WE'VE DONE A COUPLE DIFFERENT PARTNERSHIPS WITH UTB.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE A GREAT RESOURCE FOR US.
AND THEN WE BRIEFLY, OR, UH, TALKED ABOUT THIS TOO, THAT WE, WE LOVE TO DO LIBRARY TOURS AND VISITS.
WE WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR YOUR, YOUR GROUP.
WHITE, RIGHT? OH, THAT'S AWESOME.
YOU GET TO LEARN COLORS, UM, DEXTERITY AND EYE COORDINATION.
AND THEN, UH, WE, WE LOOKED AT OUR LIBRARY COLLECTIONS.
SO NOT EVERYONE CAN READ IN THE SAME WAY.
UM, SIDE OF PYRAMID, YOU, YOU MAY NEED LARGE TYPE BOOKS, UM, AUDIOBOOKS, UM, BUT THERE'S, WE LIKE TO HAVE A, A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT RESOURCES THROUGH OUR COLLECTION FOR PATRONS.
UM, SO WE HAVE DIFFERENT FORMATS, UM, INCLUDING LARGE PRINT, AUDIOBOOKS, EBOOKS, E-AUDIO BOOKS, STREAMING MEDIA AND WONDER BOOKS.
WONDER BOOKS ARE, UM, KIND OF LIKE THE READ ALONGS THAT WE HAD WHEN WE WERE LITTLE WITH THE SET TAPE AND IT WOULD MAKE A LITTLE DING AND TURN THE PAGE.
THIS IS AN ALL IN ONE BOOK THAT YOU HIT THE BUTTON AND IT, IT BASICALLY DOES THE SAME THING.
UM, THE PATRONS GET TO CHOOSE THE FORMAT THAT WORKS BEST FOR THEM.
UH, IT'S, UH, BY OFFERING THE MATERIALS IN A VARIETY OF FORMATS, THIS GIVES PATRONS MORE FLEXIBILITY AND INDEPENDENCE AND IT HELPS ENSURE THAT ACCESS TO LIBRARY MATERIALS IS NOT LIMITED TO JUST ONE FORMAT OR ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE.
[00:40:06]
WITH LIBBY DYSLEXIA? YES.WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT IN JUST ONE SECOND.
UM, IN ADDITION TO OFFERING MATERIALS IN DIFFERENT FORMATS, WE ALSO PROVIDE TOOLS AND SUPPORTS THAT HELP MAKE COLLECTIONS EASIER.
RESOURCES LIKE PLAYAWAYS, MAGNIFIERS, READERS, LIBRARY OF THINGS ITEMS AND ACCESSI- ACCESSIBLE DIGITAL PLATFORMS HELP PATRONS ENGAGE WITH MATERIALS IN WAYS THAT ARE MORE FLEXIBLE AND COMFORTABLE.
SO WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS IN OUR LIBRARY OF THINGS COLLECTIONS OR MAGNIFIERS THAT YOU CAN CHECK OUT TO, TO BLOW SOMETHING UP.
BUT SOME OF THE REALLY NEAT THINGS LIKE THIS LIBBY, UH, AS KATHLEEN WAS SAYING, THERE'S A, A FORMAT THAT YOU CAN GO IN AND TURN ON.
SO, UH, DIFFERENT TYPES OF DYSLEXIA, IT MAKES IT, YOU TURN IT ON, IT MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER FOR SOMEONE WHO MAY, UM - IT CHANGES THE FONT.
AND IT'S A SPECIAL FONT THAT HAS BEEN TESTED AND MAKES IT EASIER FOR, UH, SOMEONE WITH DYSLEXIA TO READ.
SO IN THE, UH, ONLINE, THE, THE DIGITAL TEXT, IT'S AVAILABLE FOR THAT SO YOU CAN USE THAT.
I WAS ACTUALLY TRYING TO BRING IT UP.
IF YOU GO INTO LIBBY, IF YOU'VE GOT IT ON YOUR APP, UM, AND YOU CLICK THE LITTLE, THE BOOK DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CIRCLE.
IF YOU CLICK ON ACCESSIBILITY, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO START, UM, LOOKING DOWN A WHOLE, UM, LIST OF DIFFERENT ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES THAT LIBBY OFFERS, UM, TO HELP MAKE, MAKE IT EASIER.
AND WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DIGITAL FORMAT, A LOT OF OUR DATABASES HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR AS WELL.
SO SOME OF THEM IT WILL READ TO YOU, SOME OF THEM WILL PUT IT IN A DIFFERENT FONT OR A DIFFERENT, UM, FORMAT FOR YOU.
A COUPLE OF THEM HAVE FLASHCARDS AND A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OTHER, UM, MANIPULATIVES THAT MAKE IT EASIER DEPENDING ON IF, WHAT THE, THE DISABILITY.
I DON'T, I DON'T WANNA WASTE TIME OR NOTHING, BUT SO LIBBY IS THE LIBRARY APP THAT WE ALL SHOULD HAVE.
WHAT IS LIBBY? YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT.
WE'LL HELP YOU GET IT SET UP IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.
IT'S, UM, ALL OF OUR DOWNLOADABLE EBOOKS, THE AUDIOBOOKS.
OUR LIBRARY APP IS, YOU CAN FIND IT ON EITHER, UH, APPLE OR GOOGLE PLAY AND IT'S GARLAND PL.
AND THAT WILL GIVE YOU ACCESS TO YOUR ACCOUNT, TO OUR COLLECTION.
YOU CAN LOOK, YOU CAN PLACE HOLES, YOU CAN RENEW ITEMS. LIBBY IS ALL OF THE DOWNLOADABLE, EITHER AUDIO OR, UH, DOWNLOADABLE TEXT.
NO, I KNOW THERE'S ALL THIS STUFF.
I JUST, I'M STILL OLD SCHOOL LIFE BOOKS AND, YOU KNOW.
SO CAN YOU SAY THAT AGAIN? I GO TO MY APP STORE AND I GET PLP PUBLIC LIBRARY.
BUT I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT IT IS, IS GARLAND PL.
AND THERE ARE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LIBRARY'S WEBSITE.
LIBBY IS LIKE FOR, IT'S SORT OF LIKE AUDIBLE, BUT THE PUBLIC.
I DON'T HAVE TO PAY LIKE I DO HAVE THAT.
YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE A LIBRARY CARD AND IT'S ALL - THAT'S IT? WOW.
WHAT WAS THE APP BEFORE LIBBY CALLED? IT'S ANOTHER ONE.
UM, OVERDRIVE WAS BASICALLY THE WEB-BASED AND LIBBY WAS THE, THE APP.
AND THEN THEY JUST DECIDED TO GO WITH LIBBY.
AND JUST A COUPLE MORE THINGS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY.
SO IN ALL OF OUR LIBRARIES, UH, WE HAVE PUBLIC PCS, UM, BUT WE'VE GOT SOME BUILT-IN ACCESSIBILITY OPTIONS ON, UH, AN ADA DEDICATED PC FOR THE PUBLIC TO USE.
AND WE HAVE THE JAWS SOFTWARE ON IT AS WELL.
SO IF YOU HAVE A SITE IN HERE THAT YOU CAN BELOW THAT, UM, TEXT UP, UM, A LOT.
UH, THERE ARE DIFFERENT NAVIGATION, UM, ACCESS POINTS ON OUR WEBSITE THAT YOU CAN USE AS WELL AS THE, THE DATABASES THEMSELVES TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME DIFFERENT ACCESSIBILITY FUNCTIONS TOO.
OH YES, THE KEYBOARD, UH, YOU'LL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE
[00:45:01]
KEYBOARD.IT'S THE, THE ADA KEYBOARDS THAT HAVE THE DIFFERENT COLORS AND IT JUST, IT'S EASIER FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS VISUALLY IMPAIRED TO, UH, USE, TO SEE.
UM, AND THEN A BIG ONE FOR US IS STAFF TRAINING AND LEARNING.
SO I WOULD SAY ABOUT 18 MONTHS, TWO YEARS AGO, WE HAVE A, A GROUP OF DEDICATED STAFF MEMBERS WHO WANTED TO FORM, UM, AN ADAPTIVE, UH, PROGRAMMING TEAM.
AND THERE'S SOMEBODY FROM EVERY LOCATION THAT'S ON THIS TEAM, UM, BOTH ADULT SERVICES, YOUTH SERVICES, UM, THAT THEY LOOK AT TRAINING, THEY LOOK AT DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. THEY'RE VERY DEDICATED IN WORKING TO, TO BRING, UM, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO OUR PATRONS AND TO OUR STAFF AS WELL AND SHARE THOSE.
UM, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE WHAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS, FOR US BEING ABLE TO KNOW WHAT RESOURCES, PROGRAMS, WHAT DIFFERENT TRENDS ARE HAPPENING NOW.
NOT JUST THE LIBRARY WORLD, WORLD, BUT OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
ONE OF THE REALLY BIG PARTS OF THIS THOUGH IS PATRON FEEDBACK.
I KNOW WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THAT DURING THE STRATEGIC PLAN, BUT WE LOVE HEARING FROM OUR PATRONS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHETHER YOU USE US OR DON'T USE US.
THERE MAY BE A REASON YOU DON'T USE US.
MAYBE IT'S ONE OF THESE BARRIERS THAT WE MAY NOT KNOW THAT WE'RE PUTTING UP THAT WE NEED TO REMOVE OR WORK TOWARDS, UH, REMOVING THAT BARRIER FOR YOU.
DON, I JUMPED TOO SOON TO THIS SIDE.
SO ONE OF THE, UM, COMMITTEE MEMBERS WAS, TOOK A LOT OF TIME WITH US, CAME AND SCHEDULED SOME TIME WITH US BOTH AFTER THAT MEETING, UM, AND THEN A DEDICATED TIME TO MEET WITH OUR ALL ABILITIES TEAM TO WALK US THROUGH SOME DIFFERENT RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS, UH, AND SOME REALLY EASY TIPS AND TRICKS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE.
SO IF SOMEONE, WHEN SOMEONE COMES UP TO A SERVICE DESK OR IS IN A PROGRAM, THINGS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE AND MAKE THAT, UH, PATRON, HOPEFULLY MAKE THE PATRON FEEL WELCOME AND THAT THEY'RE, THEY CAN BE A PART OF OUR LIBRARY.
SO A COUPLE OF THE, THE TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS WAS, UM, AND WE'RE STILL IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THIS, BUT EACH SERVICE DESK WILL HAVE A TABLET, WHETHER IT'S IPAD OR ANDROID THAT HAS AN APP ON IT, UM, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE, UH, TRANSLATION, ALMOST LIKE THE, UM, CLOSED CAPTION SERVICES.
MR. LAIRD DEMONSTRATED IT IN THE MEETING.
IT DOESN'T PICK UP EVERYTHING PERFECTLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING, BUT IT PICKS UP, UM, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE CONVERSATION.
AND THEN JUST LIKE YOU'RE SEEING ON YOUR TV SCREEN, IF YOU EVER TURN ON THE CLOSED CAPTION, YOU'LL SEE THAT ON THE, THE SCREEN, WHICH THAT'S OPENING THE DOOR OF THE CONVERSATION, WHICH IS NEW.
UM, WE ALL HAVE THIS BASICALLY ON YOUR PHONE AS WELL, SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE A TABLET, AGAIN, UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE IPHONES VERSUS, UH, ANDROIDS.
UM, BUT LIKE ON THE IPHONE, WHEN YOU GO INTO YOUR SETTINGS, THERE'S AN ACCESSIBILITY APP ON THERE, WHICH YOU CAN TURN ON TRANSLATION SERVICES OR CLOSED CAPTIONING SERVICES AND HOLD IT AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE WHO MAY HAVE A HEARING IMPAIRMENT.
UM, HE ALSO HELPED US LEARN SOME, UM, I'LL SAY US.
SOMETHING THAT THEY'VE BEEN, UH, LEARNING ON THEIR OWN.
THEY'VE DONE ONLINE ASL CLASSES OR SOME OF THEM HAVE GONE IN PERSON JUST ON THEIR OWN.
AND I'LL SAY THAT WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING.
SO MANGO LANGUAGES IS ONE OF THE DATABASES THAT WE
[00:50:01]
OFFER THAT YOU CAN LEARN A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE.IT ALSO HAS ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, SO IF YOU'RE TRYING TO LEARN ENGLISH, THAT'S A, A GREAT RESOURCE TOO.
UM, BUT THERE'S AN ADD-ON THAT WE'RE TRYING TO, UM, SEE IF WE CAN AFFORD TO ADD THIS YEAR THAT'S AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING, UM, THAT WE GET ASKED FOR A LOT.
UH, AND SO IF WE CAN AFFORD, WE'LL TURN THAT ON FOR THIS, UH, COMING UP HERE THROUGH MANGA LANGUAGES.
ALSO HAD A LOT OF RESOURCES WHO MAY BE COMING BACK FOR ONE OF OUR STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAYS, UM, OR PUT US IN CONTACT FOR SOMEONE TO COME AND ADDRESS ALL OF OUR LIBRARY TEAM WITH SOME OF THESE, UH, DIFFERENT BASIC COMMUNICATION, UM, JUST WAYS TO HELP US BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY AND BETTER THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY ARE.
SO SOME OF THESE THINGS LIKE THE TABLETS, UH, THE APPS, THE, THE GREETINGS, THOSE ARE IN MOTION NOW.
THEY SHOULD BE OUT BY THE END OF, UM, I WOULD SAY NOVEMBER, UM, AT ALL THE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
THERE'S, THERE'S SO MANY WAYS FOR, THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS DIVERSE.
UM, BUT AGAIN, I GO BACK TO THE SLIDE ABOUT COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.
IF THERE IS, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS LIKE TO HEAR WHEN WE'RE DOING OTHER, YOU KNOW, EXCEPTIONALLY WELL AT SOMETHING, BUT WE, WE DO NEED TO KNOW THE, THE GAPS IN SERVICE, UH, TOO, FOR US TO BE ABLE TO IMPROVE ON THOSE THINGS.
SO SHARING THAT WITH US HELPS MAKE US BETTER.
I SEE WE ARE OFFERING OUR, OUR CITIZENS AND OTHERS A LOT OF, A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
ONE THING I'D ALSO LIKE TO KEEP AN EYE ON, HOW MUCH OF THIS AC - IS ACTUALLY BEING USED BY THE PEOPLE COMING TO THE LIBRARY? MM-HMM.
I'D HATE TO SEE US, THIS, I KNOW THIS IS A BAD WORD.
I JUST SEE US WASTE A LOT OF MONEY AND RESOURCES THAT ARE NOT BEING UTILIZED.
AND I WOULD ASSUME THAT SOME OF THESE SERVICES WE'RE OFFERING AFTER A WHILE IF THEY'RE NOT UTILIZED, THEY HAVE TO BE WEEDED OUT.
SOME OF THEM DO, AND I, WE, WE GO THROUGH A PROCESS FOR PROGRAMS, SERVICES, UH, COLLECTIONS.
WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME, UH, TIME AND, UH, MONEY ON CULTIVATING SOME OF THE PROGRAMS, RESOURCES AND, UM, SERVICES THAT WE HAVE.
HAVING SAID THAT THOUGH, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT, UM, ARE VERY HIGH IMPACT, BUT THEY MAY GET LOW USAGE.
AND SOME OF THE THINGS I THINK THAT WE, WE LOOKED AT IN THIS PARTICULAR, UM, PRESENTATION, I THINK ARE SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
SO JUST FOR EXAMPLE, THE JAWS SOFTWARE ON THE PUBLIC PC THAT BLOWS THE TEXT UP.
IT MAY NOT BE USED ON A DAILY BASIS, BUT IT HAS A REALLY BIG IMPACT WHEN SOMEONE COMES IN AND THAT'S A SERVICE THAT THEY NEED.
UM, BECAUSE THERE IS A COST INVOLVED WITH IT, BUT IT, IT WILL, IT SERVES A, A BIG PURPOSE WITH IT.
SO WE TRY TO BE REALLY, REALLY CAREFUL WITH WHAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING AND, AND WHAT WE'RE SPENDING FUNDS ON, WHAT WE'RE DEDICATING A LOT OF TIME TO.
BUT THAT IS PART OF THE PROCESS FOR US TO WEIGH WHAT'S A, WHAT'S A LOW IMPACT, NO IMPACT THING VERSUS A, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A COST, BUT IT HAS A HIGH IMPACT.
THAT'S SO SUBJECTIVE AND IT TAKES A WHILE TO ESTABLISH - WELL, MAYBE SOMEBODY USES IT AND THEN THEY KNOW WHAT'S AVAILABLE AND THEN THEY TELL OTHER PEOPLE.
LIKE IF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IT EVEN IT'S AVAILABLE.
AND THEN IT ALSO REINFORCES THE LIBRARY'S MISSION TO BE, YOU KNOW, A COMMUNITY SPACE, LIKE TRUE COMMUNITY SPACE.
UM, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE SENSORY, UM, PROGRAM.
I KNOW LIKE IN THE CLASSROOM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE STUDENTS WITH ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF ABILITIES.
AND SO WE, UM, HAVE TO DIFFERENTIATE, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR LESSONS OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER WE'RE DOING.
UM, THAT COULD BE ANOTHER WAY.
AND SO INSTEAD OF HAVING NECESSARILY LIKE A SEPARATE TIME, YOU COULD, UH, ADAPT A PROGRAM OR HAVE LIKE DIFFERENT WAYS TO ACCESS THE SAME PROGRAM.
SO KIND OF LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, YOU HAVE LIKE THE HEADPHONES OR THE SENSORY KITS.
[00:55:01]
KNOW, OR MAKE THEM EXPLICITLY AVAILABLE, YOU KNOW, DURING A, A PROGRAM AND SAYING IF YOU HAD, IF YOUR CHILD HAS SENSORY ISSUES, THESE ARE AVAILABLE SO THEY CAN STILL ACCESS THE PROGRAM WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.I BELIEVE WE HAVE, YES, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND I THINK WE HAVE, UM, ONE OR TWO PROGRAMS THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING THAT AS WELL OR HAVING, UM, VERY TACTICAL SENSORY FRIENDLY THINGS AVAILABLE WITH, UM, ONE OF OUR PARTICIPANTS IS HELP THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE.
OUR FRIENDS GROUP, UM, PROVIDED FUNDS, UM, FOR THAT AT ONE POINT THAT WE WERE, UH, EXITED TWO LOCATIONS, UH, SOUTH AND I BELIEVE CENTRAL.
AND WE HAD, UM, UH, LIKE FIDGET - UH-HUH.
THINGS AND WE HAD, UH, THE, THE SUNGLASS TYPE THINGS - YEAH.
UM, AND THEN WE GOT THESE OTHER ONES, I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT WE GOT THOSE FROM, BUT THE, THE SENSORY KITS, UM, AND THEY PROVIDE THEM IF YOU ARE WITHIN AN AREA, THEY PROVIDE, I THINK, 10, BUT IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE OF THE A- AREA, YOU CAN GET FIVE AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE OUTSIDE OF THAT AREA.
BUT THEY STILL PROVIDE THEM, BUT, BUT THEY JUST LIMIT THE NUMBER.
IT'S THROUGH THE HOPE AUTISM CLINIC.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW MANY LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN TRY REALLY HARD.
AGAIN, WE HAVE, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WITH THE PHONE BECAUSE THEY ALSO HAVE TRANSLATION, UM, THE APPS ON THERE.
AND IT'S JUST TRYING TECHNOLOGY, DIFFERENT WAYS OF, OF TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM.
AND THEN WE DO HAVE, UH, SEVERAL STAFF MEMBERS THAT, UH, SPEAK TO VARIOUS LANGUAGES, VIETNAMESE, SPANISH, CHINESE, UM - MANDARIN.
WE CAN'T HAVE SOMEBODY THAT SPEAKS EVERY LANGUAGE, BUT BETWEEN OUR STAFF AND TECHNOLOGY, HOPEFULLY WE'RE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE.
HAVING THE PHONE, UH, THE DEDICATED PHONE AND - FOR THE TRANSLATOR.
AND ACTUALLY I'M GOING TO WORK THE ELECTION AND WE WERE TRAINED THERE'S A LINE THAT YOU CAN CALL ANY LANGUAGE.
UH, WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST FOR A FUTURE AGENDA? NO? OKAY.
UH, HEARING NONE, WE WILL MOVE TO ADJOURN.
AND IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS, UM, DO YOU ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN OR DO WE JUST ADJOURN? YOU CAN.
I'LL BET IF YOU JUST SIT FOR ADJOURN.