To the members of t he:
CITY COUNCIL
Date l~CA ✓ CC .-JL'
CM ..\L.. ~ ✓ocM (3) _L
October 26, 2023
Council Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor Blackburn and Members of the City Council From: Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager
Suzanne Smithson, Library & Cultural Aiirector
Via: Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager ~
Re: Library & Cultural Arts Hours of Opera • n (Districts - All) {city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2023110
The Library & Cultural Arts (L&CA) Department is providing information regarding its current hours of operation as an update to a previous Council Memorandum, dated March 30, 2023 (Attachment B).
Background
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Georgina Cole Library and the Carlsbad City (Dove) Library were open to the public 68 hours per week, seven days per week, while the Library Learning Center was open 60 hours per week, Monday through Saturday.
Pre-COVID-19 service hours are listed below:
• Dove and Cole Libraries:
o Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
o Friday - Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
o Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.
• Library Learning Center
o Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
o Friday - Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
o Sunday - Closed
Library facilities' hours of operation have gone through several iterations from pre-COVID-19 times to present. After a complete shut-down in March 2020 in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, library sites reopened incrementally from September 2020 through May 2021, settling on 50 hours of service per week at all three facilities.
In May 2023, an additional 6 hours of service per facility per week were added, arriving at the current 56 hours per week of service. These additional hours were accomplished at no extra cost to the city.
Community Services Branch
Library & Cultural Arts Department
1775 Dove Lane I Carlsbad, CA 920111442-339 -2090 t
Council Memo - Library & Cultural Arts Hours of Operation (Districts - All) October 26, 2023
Current service hours at all three locations are listed below:
• Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Friday - Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
While this adjustment of hours did not return Carlsbad to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic schedules, staff's comparison to regional libraries, as well as analysis of circulation patterns, foot traffic and staffing show the new hours meet the needs of most library patrons.
Discussion
Carlsbad is open more hours per week than all of the libraries in the City of San Diego and San Diego County systems. Of all the 81 public library facilities in the region, only six are open more hours than Carlsbad libraries (Coronado, Escondido, and two locations each in Oceanside and Chula Vista). Less than one-third (25) are open on Sundays.
Current hours at all three Carlsbad libraries serve most library patrons adequately. As libraries re-opened post-COVID-19 pandemic, L&CA had a similar experience to other local and national businesses, struggling with hiring challenges while trying to return services to normal. Usage data and community feedback indicated that 50 to 56 hours open per week met most of the community demand with available staff.
Restoring the 9 to 10 a.m. hour was accomplished at no extra cost to the city:
• Staff were already on site. Opening the doors to the public at 9 a.m. meant assigning existing staff to service desks an hour earlier. Staff were processing materials and doing other behind-the-scenes and preparatory work until 10 a.m. • Any occasional gaps in hourly staffing are covered with full-time staff who are also already on site and working. Occasionally, part -time staff need to be scheduled for an extra hour, but the L&CA Department's existing budget allows for this.
Remaining closed on Sunday created a $196K savings to the city.
Carlsbad L&CA Department service hours are meeting the overwhelming majority of community needs. Carlsbad is open more hours than 92% (75) of the libraries in San Diego County and only 31% (25) of the 81 libraries in San Diego County are open on Sunday. To open additional hours at library facilities would require additional budget.
The table in Attachment A compares Carlsbad's days and hours of service to other libraries in the region.
Attachments: A. San Diego County libraries hours of operation on Sundays B. City Council Memorandum dated March 30, 2023
Council Memo - Library & Cultural Arts Hours of Operation (Districts - All) October 26, 2023
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Cindie McMahon, City Attorney
Laura Ro~ha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services_.
Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
Zach Korach, Finance Director
Sunday hours for librar ies in San Diego County
As of Oct. 20, 2023
Summary:
• 25 of 81 libraries in San Diego County are open on Sunday • 6 of 81 libraries are open more hours than Carlsbad
Hours
OPEN ON SUNDAYS open per · CLOSED ON SUNDAYS
week
Carlsbad City Libraries - all t hree
branches
Coronado, 1-5 pm 66.5
Escondido
Oceanside - Civic Center branch;
Oceanside - Mission Branch, 1-5 pm 62 (In addition, smaller Oceanside libraries in senior centers, parks,
and literacy center are closed)
Chula Vista Public Library - 3 sites; 58 (two) two open 1-5 pm and one open 12-6 43 (one) pm San Diego County Library- San Diego County Library-
6 of 34 branches open on Sundays 10 28 of 34 branches are closed on am -5 pm: Vista, San Marcos, 51 Sundays including nearby Encinitas, Poway, La Mesa, El Cajon. branches in Cardiff, Del Mar, In addition, there are five 24/7 kiosks Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, in the county Fallbrook, and Valley Center
San Diego Public Library (city) - San Diego Public Library (city) - 14 of 36 branches are open on 22 of 36 libraries are closed on Sundays; this includes the closest 55 Sundays; this includes the branches to Carlsbad in Mira Mesa, closest branches to Carlsbad in Rancho Bernardo, Scripps Miramar Rancho Penasquitos, Carmel Ranch Valley, Carmel Mountain
National City
Attachment A
Hours
open per
week
56 60
58 Varies
37 -48
Varies
Most 51
55 To the members of the:
CITY COUNCIL
Date q/?D\23CA_L CC v
Civl ✓ ACM~DCM{3) ✓
March 30, 2023
Council Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor Blackburn and Members ofthe City Council From: Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager
Suzanne Smithson, Library & Cultural Ai t Director
Via: Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager
Re: Library & Cultural Arts Hours of Opera 10n (Districts - All)
ATTACHMENT B
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2023028
The Library & Cultural Arts (L&CA) Department is providing the following information regarding the potenti'al to restore additional hours of operations at libraries:
• Restore the 9 to 10 a.m. hour of service to the community, Mondays through Saturdays, at all L&CA facilities.
Background
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Georgina Cole Library and the Carlsbad City (Dove) Library were open to the public 68 hours per week, seven days per week, while the Library Learning Center was open 60 hours per week, Monday through Saturday. After initially shutting down completely in March 2020, L&CA facilities have incrementally reopened beginning in September 2020, settling on the current hours in May 2021- providing 50 hours per week of service at all three locations.
Current service hours at all three locations are listed below:
• Monday- Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Friday - Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Staff is providing the following information in consideration of restoring one additional hour of service, 9 to 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday at all three locations. The addition of six more hours per week of service will have no fiscal impact.
Discussion
Since March of 2020, the L&CA Department has followed city, county, and state guidelines for providing appropriate levels of public service during the COVID-19 pandemic, L&CA staff used the various levels of closure to the public to be innovative and create new ways to support the community in· their library and cultural needs. Areas of adapted service include:
• Increased and diverted funding for downloadable materials, available from home 24/7 • Provided staff availability via phone, chat, email, or other e-connections (such as Zoom, MS Teams, Face Time, etc.) to support patron learning of new virtual technologies Community Services Branch
Library & Cultural Arts Department
1775 Dove Lane I Carlsbad, CA 920111 442-339-2090 t
Council Memo - Library & Cultur~I Arts Hours of Operation (Districts -All) March 30, 2023
ATTACHMENT B
• Extended circulation periods and due dates to minimize public exposure • Provided virtual storytimes and increased ·on line early literacy support resources • Provided online K-12 one-on-one tutoring resources
• Incorporated online versions of book clubs and summer reading programs • Supported favorite cultural programs in new ways: TGIF in Your Backyard; ukulele ins~ruction and distributio'n; streaming of events from the Kennedy Center • Cannon Gallery tours provided virtually and related art kits distributed to school classes which would have visited in person
• Coordinated virtual one-on-one literacy instruction for existing tutor/learner pairs • Developed a curbside pick-up service for library and arts materials - which developed into a permanent service
• Adjusted "in-library only" databases to add access from home • Adjusted arrangements with our partner agencies including developing drive-through Mail Ballot Drop-Off services with the Registrar of Voters • Hosted Carlsbad Reads Together programs via Zoom
• Gradually increasing levels and hours of service open to the public Additional Hour of Service 9 -10 a.m.
• Current service hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at all three locations (50 hours per week; since May 2021).
• The additional potential restored hour of service of the 9 to 10 a.m. hour Monday through Saturday would increase service hours to the community from 50 to 56 hours per week equally at all three facilities. This would extend the continuing increase of services and service hours over the past three years.
Listed below is an overview of L&CA's service hours and adjustments since March 2020:
March -June 2020 All services virtual and online (phone, email, chat, text, downloads, etc.) June 2020 Curbside pickup added at all sites
Book returns allowed incorporating a quarantine period
Sept 2020 Computer use inside the libraries offered on alternating sites/days Oct 2020 Gallery opened to limited number of visitors at a t ime April 2021 Opened buildings for browsing of materials; still on alternating sites/days lne;orporated greeter staff positions to assist patrons in understanding what services were available
May 2021- All libraries and cultural arts facilities open Monday- Saturday, 10a.m-7p.m.
June 2021 Removed occupancy requirements; allowed seating July 2021 Began accepting donations
Invited some volunteers to return
Stopped quarantine of returned library materials
ATTACHMENT B
Council Memo - Library & Cult ural Arts Hours of Operation (Districts - All} March 30, 2023
Sept 2021 Outside organizations once again able to rent meeting spaces; Friends of the Library bookstore reopened at Dove Library
Oct 2021 In-person programs and movies gradually begin to return • While this adjustment of hours does not bring L&CA to pre-pandemic schedules, staff's analysis of pre-pandemic data shows that 9 to 10 a.m. had the highest number of visits and circulation of materials of any service hour that is currently unrestored . • There are no anticipated additional staffing costs associated with restoring the 9 to 10 a.m. hour:
o Staff are already on site. Opening the doors to the public at 9 a.m. simply means assigning existing staff to service desks an hour earlier . Right now, staff are processing materials and doing other behind-the-scenes and preparatory work until 10 a.m. o Any occasional gaps in hourly staffing can be covered wit h full -time staff who are also already on site and working. Occasionally, part-time staff may need to be scheduled for an extra hour, but t he department's existing budget allows for this. • The fiscal year 2022-23 budget is funded at a level that can support the extra hour open to the public six days per week.
• Impact to utilities costs will be. minimal: no adjustments are needed for HVAC hours of operation and only slight increases in electricity is anticipated with public computers available for use for an extra hour per day.
As a comparison, a survey of local libraries in nearby cities was conducted in mid-March with the following results:
North County Libraries Hours of Service,_March 2023
Oceanside Public Library Main- 58 hours, Branch - 62 hours, new library added in Community Center - 45 hours
Escondido Public Library 60 hours
San Diego County Library larger local branches (Encinitas, Vista, San Marcos} - 51 hours San Diego Public Library four closest branches along 56 corridor - 51 hours (City of San Diego)
A detailed list of open hours including daily schedules as of March 2023 is attached (Attachment A).
Conclusion
The city can offer an additional six hours of library services per week at no additional cost. For comparison, restoring library services on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. requires sc;heduling additional part-time staff and paying overtime to full-time staff, at an estimated annual cost of $195,572.
Next Steps
Staff intends to restore one additional hour of service, 9 to 10 a.m., Monday t hrough Saturday, at all three locations starting on May 8, 2023, and will continue to evaluate hours of operation with more information to follow in the fiscal year 2023-24 budget presentation.
Council Memo - Library & Cultural Arts Hours of Operation (Dist ricts -All) March 30, 2023
Attachment A: North County libraries, hours of operation cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Cindie McMahon, City Attorney
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
Zach Korach, Finance Director
ATTACHM ENT B
San Diego North County Libraries
Hours of Operation
Carlsbad City Library
Current hours for all sites:
Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday closed
Total hours: 50
Proposed hours for all sites:
Monday -Thursday 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday closed
Total hours: 56
March 2023
Pre-covid hours:
Dove and Cole:
Monday - Thursday
Friday and Saturday
Sunday
Total hours: 68
Learning Center:
Monday- Thursday
Friday and Saturday
Sunday
Total hours: 60
ATTACHMENT B
ATTACHMENT A
9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
closed
Oceanside Public Library
Civic Center Library
Monday - Thursday
Friday- Saturday
·sunday
hours verified via website and shared staff member (works at CCL and OPL) Total hours: 58
Mission Branch Library
9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
closed
Monday- Thursday 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Total hours: 62
John Landes Community Center Library
Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
total hours: 45
Plus bookmobile service
Escondido Public Library hours verified via website and Library Director Monday
Tuesday - Thursday
Friday - Saturday
Sunday
Total hours: 60
9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
closed
ATTACHM ENT B
ATTACHMENT A
SAN DIEGO COUNTY LIBRARY: hours verified via website and Vista Branch Manager Note: No SDCL location is currently open more than 51 hours per week.
Encinitas, San Marcos, Vista (larger local branches)
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Total hours: 51
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
12 p.m. - 7 p.m.
12 p.m. - 7 p.m.
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Solana Beach - joint use with middle school
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Total hours: 38
Cardiff
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Total hours: 37
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
12 p.m. - 7 p.m.
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Closed
Closed
Closed
12 p.m. - 7 p.m.
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Closed
SAN DIEGO PUBLIC LIBRARY hours verified via website, phone call to branch service desk Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Penasquitos, Carmel Valley, Carmel Mountain Monday - Tuesday 11:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Wednesday - Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday Closed
Total hours: 51
SDUT article from late January notes that Sunday hours will resume at 13 of SDPL's 36 branches this spring