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Item C04 C.4 County of Monroe P W ;� w 1rJ� BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS r,�� Mayor Craig Cates,District 1 The Florida Keys Mayor Pro Tem Holly Merrill Raschein,District 5 y Michelle Lincoln,District 2 James K.Scholl,District 3 Ij David Rice,District 4 County Commission Meeting March 22, 2023 Agenda Item Number: C.4 Agenda Item Summary #11756 BULK ITEM: Yes DEPARTMENT: Public Libraries TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Anne Layton Rice (305) 292-3594 N/A AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of the Library Long-Range Plan of Service, 2023-2028, as part of the annual State Aid to Libraries Grant application. ITEM BACKGROUND: This is a required element of the annual Florida Department of State, State Aid to Libraries application. PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: The previous Library long-range plan was approved at the October 2019 BOCC meeting. CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: N/A STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval. DOCUMENTATION: MCPL Long range plan 2023-2028 (1) FINANCIAL IMPACT: Effective Date: Expiration Date: Total Dollar Value of Contract: Total Cost to County: Current Year Portion: Budgeted: Source of Funds: CPI: Packet Pg. 345 C.4 Indirect Costs: Estimated Ongoing Costs Not Included in above dollar amounts: Revenue Producing: If yes, amount: Grant: County Match: Insurance Required: Additional Details: None. REVIEWED BY: Kimberly Matthews Completed 02/28/2023 11:16 AM Christina Cory Completed 03/01/2023 1:14 PM Purchasing Completed 03/01/2023 1:29 PM Budget and Finance Completed 03/01/2023 2:33 PM Brian Bradley Completed 03/02/2023 11:05 AM Lindsey Ballard Completed 03/06/2023 10:11 AM Board of County Commissioners Pending 03/22/2023 9:00 AM Packet Pg. 346 C.4.a Keys to the Future Monroe County Public oPlan 2023-2028 CL CL qb / r .�� 1��y/�� '%; i ��drrii 2,n1' /��u fllfllllll'rl��r✓�� h"!?� q CL I i 00 CD CD UFfJ IUi/r CL (D CD CL II r i West �u III„ iii iiiii III r < < , PUBLIC LIBRARY < Marathon llllliiriir ' ,r Ilk slIII Ir II es. III III III,,,, iir Packet Pg. 347 C.4.a I From he Director I am pleased to submit the Library Plan of Service 2023-2028. With these ambitious goals and actions, it is clear staff is committed to empowering our Keys community through service. Since the last Plan of Service (2020-2022)the libraries have experienced extreme challenges Ec resulting in resilient growth.These challenges included: N N • retirements of long-time Library Director Norma Kula and Historian Tom Hambright N • hardships due to COVID closures/recovery with quick pivots to curbside service and online U story times, teen programs and author lectures 2.1 LO • opening of the state-of-the-art Marathon Branch Library - • unprecedented technology enhancements via the ARPA grant The Library ARPA grant was the highest amount awarded in Florida. Arriving on the heels of the pandemic, the struggles of supply chain delays and shipping backlogs were stressors for this project CU creating a compression of delivery and implementation of major equipment and systems into the final hours of the grant. Literally, staff was met with new systems and equipment to master on a 0 weekly basis during the Summer of 2022. , CU Thus, our next five years are devoted to continued mastery of these systems with a focus on exceptional customer service. Libraries seek to extend our reach to underserved communities 0 76 through programs for all ages, promotion of the library kiosks, and literacy outreach. Our digital > collections of eBooks, online learning, and historical archives are thriving alongside our in-house CL materials and programs—all are growth opportunities detailed within this Plan of Service. CL We are excited to strengthen the Libraries' worth throughout our Keys community and welcome your participation. - 00 CN CU y '/ r Kimberl Matthews �� i/�' ��% CL CU Sr. Director of Strategic Planning and Libraries �! // Monroe County Board of County Commissioners o� �/� � Monroe County, Florida U c� AL - m�'' .wwwW PUBLIC 1Xp RAR L U I J)A, K ' 1 � gas Packet Pg. 348 C.4.a 2 Mission u n The Monroe County Public Library will meet the changing needs of our communities for information, education and recreation in a variety of materials, formats and technologies. The 00 Library responds to the needs of users of all ages and diversity by providing equal, easy and N open access to materials and services delivered in an efficient, timely, and professional manner by staff members who are friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable, in buildings that are inviting, Q comfortable and fitted for technological growth and development. 4- Monroe an CL Monroe County, better known to the wider world as the Florida Keys, is celebrating its Bicentennial in 2023. On July 3, 1823, the Florida Territorial Legislature created a new county encompassing much of today's Central and South Florida. Key West was, at that time, a new and small settlement—it had just been claimed in the CU name of the U.S. the previous year, 1822. But in the 19t" century it became one of Florida's largest and wealthiest cities, with a thriving 4- economy based on shipwreck salvaging, cigar manufacturing, and sponging. i "I Y Libraries in the city were �- organized and supported by various civic groups including00 a Sunday School, the Masonic Temple, the Knights of N ry Columbus and the Key West Woman's Club. >;? In 1959, the county N built its first library inCL �f Key West and began a countywide public library system. That building remains CUY s our headquarters branch. It has been joined by branches in Marathon and Key Largo (1962), Islamorada (1966) and Big f Pine Key (1995)—with new facilities offering library materials to underserved communities at additional hours added just this past year(2022). c� Packet Pg. 349 C.4.a 3 As a community spanning a 100-mile-plus island chain, linked by 42 bridges, the Keys are one county and many communities. The Library reflects this community character, with an overall ire ri��l i�l'l%i�rr�f�f�✓ � "� commitment to serving residents and providing access to resources-- but also individual branches that focus on the needs and wishes of their N communities. This structure allows the Monroe N N County Public Library to work together to serve everyone from the Bahama Village neighborhood of Key West to the Ocean Reef Club on North Key La rgo. 0 As of the end of Fiscal Year 22 (September, 2022), the Monroe County Public Library had 31,524 registered users, more than 98 percent of them residents of the Keys. The vast majority of the Library's operating funds come from local property taxes. In 2022, the Library received a one- time grant of$955,469 through the American Rescue Plan Act, administered by the Florida Department of Library and Information Services. This grant fully funded needed technology upgrades throughout the system, along with the two Lending Machines (self-contained kiosks CU stocked with library materials) and after-hours holds lockers to increase access to the Library. 4- 0 Change has been a constant throughout the history of the Keys, with several swings from prosperity to poverty—most notably in the 1930s, when the city of Key West declared 0 CL bankruptcy and was taken into receivership by the state, and in the 1970s, when the Navy CL closed Naval Station Key West. In recent years, the Keys have prospered on paper, setting records for tourism numbers and real estate values. But there have also been severe challenges. `N C� CN Hurricane Irma crossed the Lower Keys as a Category 4 Q cN storm in September, 2017. Maximum sustained winds were measured at 132 miles per hour and a storm surge C. of up to 8 feet hit parts of the Lower and Middle Keys. , CU Three people in the Keys drowned in the storm and w � another 14 died from hurricane-related causes, including 0 being unable to obtain life-saving medical treatment. Almost 8 percent of the housing units in Monroe County U &' were destroyed or suffered major damage. cs Packet Pg. 350 4 The pandemic hit the travel industry especially hard and the Keys were closed off entirely to non-residents for two months in the spring of2O2O' And the low-lying island chain is one ofthe nation's areas rnost vulnerable to th.e with residents and businesses coping with both "nuisance flooding" during especially high Go CD tides and increased storm surges.The thriving real estate market, with strong demand for second homes and vacation [eDt3lS` also Rle3DS housing is '. increasingly difficult tO find for the service workers who staff the tourism industry—and local government � (D agencies, including the Library. And because of hurricane evacuation requirements, the Keys �� are restricted on new building. The scarcity ofavailable, affordable housing is reflected in Z_8Z8 __ CL showing that 33.7 percent of housing units in Monroe County were listed as vacant— more than double the rate in the state and triple that of the country: ACS 2021 1-year � � Table universe:iHmumimgUnitw U � Column Florida Monroe Count FL United �� ~� . � �Occupied 85.2% �o�s� 60.3% �oo� 89.7% *o� Vacamt 14.8% 33.7% 10.3% 0,1 CL CL So"rc,:c,nmsr,nort,r.org00 —^ CD Despite all these challenges, and predictions that Hurricane Irma would lead to a significant CD drop in population, the 2O2O census actually showed an to N a|noost83,OOO residents. The Monroe County Public Library is ref|eotin�this rebound. �� 5 Circulation of physical materials in Monroe County Pubhc UbrarV 2O22 was at the highest level since dirculaflon 2018-2022 before Hurricane Irma, while the circulation of digital materials (ebooks and eaudiobooks) has 400000 almost tripled in the last five years. 04 200000 Use Of other digital materials, N CD �� including language-learning and O N 2010 2010 2020 2021 2022 video streaming, is also at record levels. iiiiiiiiiiirota|circu|ation (includes streaming films and|eamingcourses) (D 4- IN Physica| materials(books, ovos,audiobookson Co) 0 The Monroe County Public Library, �eaooks&eAudiobooks � in the next five years, plans to CL continue providing the services it has for decades— books, videos, programming for children and adults, including games, crafts, movies and book clubs. The Library will also focus on newer offerings, |ikeone-on-one "teohtutor" sessionstohe|ppeop|e |earntobetterusetheirovvn devices and software and online self-directed courses for personal enrichment and professional -� advancement. While few members of the public still turn to public libraries for basic reference services as they did before the Internet and search engines were available, public libraries are still irnportantinforrnationcenters—espeda||y for those vvhornaylack Internet access orbe 4� comfortable navigating the digital world (required for almost all basic functions now, including applying for benefits and employment). Public libraries are especially important as information CL CL portals for issues of high priority— in Monroe County, that includes housing, health care and <� climate adaptation. This role becomes especially relevant after natural disaster, evident afterGo �r Hurricane Irma in 2017and, more recently, Hurricane Ian in 2022, vvhioh caused a storm surge CD in the Lower Keys that flooded homes and damaged boats at anchor (a key source of affordable housing in the Key West area). CD Florida Keys History Center CL The Florida Keys History Center, based at the Key West Library, is continuing and expanding its collection, preservation and public access to the history of the Keys. In 2022, the Library hired � Dr. Corey Malcom as its new Lead Historian —the first time this department has been led by a 0 _j PhD historian. Dr. Malcom is continuing with the immensely popu|ar (4O CL million page views and oounting\, vvhi|ea|sode|vin� intoprevious|yunknovvnareasofKeys �� ' 2 history. He also oversaw the donation of an immensely significant addition to the collection— the bound volumes of the Key West Citizen, Monroe County's only daily newspaper, going back » totheear|y2[� century. C.4.a 6 How we get there Monroe County's, ,0, ,0 ,t,r,a„te„g,u,c,.,,f�,Ia„r,i envisions a resilient community, balancing concerns for quality of life, the economy and the environment. The Monroe County Public Library is a key component for the realizing those goals. The Library enhances residents' lives through 00 entertainment, education, information and community connection. It also bolsters the Q N economy, by providing free access to materials and services, and serving as an information M portal throughout the island chain about services and programs available to residents (as well N as connectivity through free wifi and computer access). In the spirit of the state of Florida's ug!1t Service at the ig!It �urae program, the Monroe County Public Library aims to help all patrons find the information they need to make their lives in the Keys sustainable and 0 enjoyable. Goal 1: Embrace changing technologies, community needs, and physical space redesign. `U Actions: 1.1 Increase digital resources to supplement print and media collections, including digital books, audiobooks, magazines, streaming video and online learning courses for all age groups and interests. 1.2 Create online information portals for issues of community concern (e.g., housing, health - care, climate adaptation, storm recovery) 1.3 Assess physical locations for renovation, wayfinding ease, and adaptable space. 0 CL 1.4 Enrich catalog for discovery, inclusivity, and changing terminology. CL 1.5 Update library policy and procedures to meet changing needs. 00 Goal 2: Strengthen Library's Worth in the Community Actions: N N 2.1 Reach underserved youth and senior citizens with regularly scheduled outreach visits. 2.2 Welcome new residents via collaborations with utility services, DMV, or other methods. CL 2.3 Increase percentage of residents with library cards through outreach and marketing efforts. CU Currently 34% of residents have active library cards. Goal of 40%. 2.4 Implement engaging communications to citizenry through impactful newsletters, podcasts, and email. 2.5 Establish physical library locations as information centers, for visitors and especially for residents seeking information on issues of community concern (e.g., housing, health care, climate adaptation, storm recovery). c� Packet Pg. 353 C.4.a 7 Goal 3: Leverage the Florida Keys History Center(FKHQ as a world-class resource for history of the Florida Keys. Actions: 3.1 Acquire collections management software to accession and register the FKHC archival collection. 3.2 Expand range of collections via social media. Examples include "Today in Keys N N History," "Occasional Papers in Monroe County History Research," and podcasts of archival and M historical relevance. N 3.3 Create space in the vault by removing outdated or irrelevant books and materials. Utilize newly freed space to better store and organize the collection. 3.4 Organize the Islamorada history collection and transfer relevant materials to there. 4- 3.5 Recruit volunteer assistance; add student volunteers/interns. 0 3.6 Collect, store, and register"digitally born" historical materials. 3.7 Solicit donors to acquire historical materials related to Monroe County. CU Goal 4: Promote community literacy by offering technology instruction, lectures of local and timely interest, maker sessions, book clubs and all-ages story times. 0 Actions: 4.1 Provide technology training classes and one-on-one tutoring sessions on various applications, focusing on underserved populations, such as senior citizens. 4.2 Nurture literacy within the community with age- and interest-targeted book clubs, story 0 times, and untraditional venues, such as StoryWalks and library kiosks. 4.3 Engage all ages (from toddlers to senior citizens) in creative hands-on programs aimed CL CL to spark curiosity, exploration and personal enrichment. 00 Goal 5: Recruit and retain professional staff to deliver a generous and engaging library Q experience. M Actions: N 5.1 Empower staff with a culture of continuous advancement to ensure excellent service and CL programs. 5.2 Encourage staff involvement in special interest groups, webinars, and conferences for CU opportunities to gain exposure to new concepts, practices, and learning. 5.3 Support staff in attaining MLS. Sponsor two staff members to completion of their formal 0 librarianship education. 5.4 Encourage and support staff cross-training so unexpected absences or staff shortages can U be covered without loss of service to library users, and staff can better support colleagues and ; potentially discover new areas of interest within the Library. 5.5 Ensure all staff are trained and aware of patron privacy expectations and rights, and their rights under the First Amendment. Packet Pg. 354 8 Goal 6: Foster the Library Svstenfs presence asa cultural and artistic center for the Florida Keys community Actions: 6.1 Facilitate world-class programming with bestselling and literary authors at each of the larger branches of the Monroe County Library System. 6.2 Host creative performances from musicians and other artists for the public good at no cost for attendees (regardless of financial means) systemwide. 6.3 Engage all ages with interactive creative programming that inspires and promotes patrons �� to use their own imagination and talents. � CU CU CL ~— �� C.4.a 9 Images: Cover—Marathon Library ribbon-cutting,June 2021, Bernstein Park Lending Machine, Bernstein Park Holds Locker, Florida Keys History Center program, 2022. Monroe County. EF c14 p.2 Act of incorporation for Monroe County, July 1823. Florida State Archives. c14 p.2 Key West Library at Knights of Columbus, circa 1930s. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys c14 History Center. 6 2.1 p.2 Ribbon-cutting for the first Monroe County Public Library, November 1959. Library Director May Hill LO Russell, center.This building is now the headquarters branch in Key West, named for Russell. Monroe - County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center. CL p.3 Aerial view of the Lower Keys. Florida Keys & Key West Tourism Development Council, Monroe County. CU p.3 Radar image of Hurricane Irma crossing the Florida Keys, September 2017. National Weather Service. 0 p.4 King tide flooding on Adams Drive in Key Largo, 2018. Monroe County. 4- Contact: 0 II. Ill�i 11ilr ilr�i urn i�iIii ..............i iiiii i , �rw�� ..��,...........,...r.w , � N a M N N C i2 CL 0 U ass E Packet Pg. 356