20/11-24
CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
MEMORANDUM
December 16, 2024
TO: Simi Valley Library Board of Trustees
FROM: Office of the City Manager
SUBJECT: RECEIVE AND FILE THE FISCAL YEAR 202 3-24 SIMI VALLEY PUBLIC
LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Simi Valley Library Board of Trustees receive and file the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 Simi Valley Public Library Annual Report (Exhibit 1, page 4).
BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW
In July 2013, the City began operating the Simi Valley Public Library (Library). In the first four years of operation, from 2013 to 2017, the Library focused on forming community partnerships, conducting outreach within the community, and improving service levels for all Library users. The Simi Valley Library Board of Trustees (Board) adopted a Collection Development Plan to guide the types of materials the Library should purchase, and a Technology Plan to address the increasing demand for online and wireless services.
In 2017, the Board adopted a five- year Strategic Plan (2017- 2022), which provided direction and goals for the Library with an intentional focus on five priority areas: Making Access Easier , Telling the Library’s Story , Empowering Customer Service, Cultivating Community Creativity , and Supporting Educational Pursuits. Following an intensive community engagement campaign in FY 2021- 2022, the Board adopted a second Strategic Plan, providing the Library with direction for another five–year term (2023-2027), with a focus on four new priority areas: Build Community, Connect and Increase Access, Enhance Services, and Build Awareness.
Each year staff presents an Annual Report to the Board, which includes information on Library usage trends throughout the year and an update on how the efforts of Library and City staff are supporting the Strategic Plan’s priority areas. New this year, Library Systems & Services transitioned the Annual Report to a web-based format for easier year-round access for all stakeholders and Library users. Anyone with a mobile phone can refer to the report without the need to download or print a document. The format highlights images of people using Library space and resources and connecting with other community members. Telling the Library’s story in this manner offers a picture of the modernized services that the Simi Valley Public Library seeks to provide.
AGENDA ITEM NO.
9B
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FINDINGS AND ALTERNATIVES
The Simi Valley Public Library Annual Report for FY 2023-24 can be accessed online at Simi Valley Public Library Annual Report . Exhibit 1 includes a narrative of Library activities and a brief overview of statistics. The priority areas of the newly adopted Strategic Plan were the focus of staff efforts in FY 202 3-24, and an overview of some of the Library’s recent successes are provided below:
• 3,010 Service Hours
• 154,682 Library Visits
• 4,528 New Library Card Holders (36,448 Total Library Card Holders) • 329,309 Physical Items Borrowed
• 67,100 Digital Items Borrowed
• 11,593 Computer Users
• 192,099 Wi-Fi Sessions
The launch of Adult Literacy Services in February was a significant accomplishment .
Library staff recruited and trained volunteers who provided one-on-one literacy instruction and coaching. Learners who aspire to improve their literacy skills were assessed and set personal goals with their tutors. Personal aspirations for the learners included interviewing for a job, improving performance at a current job, reading prescription labels, communicating with medical professionals , and becoming more involved with the community. The Adult Literacy Services program also includes an English as a Second Language component with one- on-one tutoring, and an English Conversation Class.
Adult learners engaged in 73 hours of one -on-one tutoring between February and June, and 111 hours of volunteer training and service were completed for the program.
The Library continues to serve residents as a community hub, hosting a wide variety of events, classes, workshops, and programs. By coordinating with local agency partners, the Library successful ly hosted events that included j ob fairs, community education on entrepreneurship and business, as well as sponsoring clubs and classes for special interest groups in the City. Additionally, the Library‘s partnership with the Simi Valley Unified School District ensures the greatest access to information and resources for all of Simi Valley students and more. The Library continues to emphasize availability and accessibility for all of Simi Valley residents.
In addition to grant funding for the Adult Literacy Program, funding from the California State Library continues to support Library programming, including the Zip Books program, which allows library patrons to request books through Amazon.com , have them shipped to their homes, then later added to the Library’s collection. The Library also offers a Lunch at the Library program with summertime lunch visits and educational programming for the Boys and Girls Club. The Simi Valley Library Foundation Board became active Library advocates at community events and held their first fundraising event at the Cultural Arts Center. The Library has also continued to receive generous financial support from the Simi Valley Friends of the Library, providing funding for a wide variety of programming 3 20/11-24
and services to our Library customers, including electronic and streaming content from Hoopla and other digital platforms.
T
he following alternatives are available to the Board of Trustees:
1. R
eceive and file the Simi Valley Public Library Annual Report for FY 2023-24;
2. P
rovide staff with other direction.
S
taff recommends Alternative No. 1.
SUGGESTED CITY COUNCIL MOTION
I mov
e to receive and file the Simi Valley Public Library Annual Report for FY 2023-24.
SUMMARY
I
n 2013, the City of Simi Valley began operating the Simi Valley Public Library. Since that time, the Library has focused on forming community partnerships, conducting outreach within the community, and providing an enhanced level of service. F iscal Year 2021-22 saw the completion of the Simi Valley Library’s 2017- 2022 Strategic Plan. Following an intensive community engagement campaign, a second Strategic Plan was developed and adopted by the Simi Valley Library Board of Trustees in November 2022, which provides direction on goals and priorities for the Library over the next five years.
E
ach year staff presents an Annual Report to the Board, which includes information on the Library’s operation and performance throughout the year, as well as an update on how the efforts of Library and City staff are supporting the Strategic Plan’s priority areas.
It is recommended that the Simi Valley Library Board of Trustees receive and file the Simi Valley Public Library Annual Report for FY 2023-24 as presented. ___
_________________________________
Samantha C. Argabrite
City Manager
P
repared by: Anna M. Medina, Deputy Community Services Director INDEX Page
E
xhibit 1 – Simi Valley Public Library Annual Report FY 2023-24 .... 4 2023-2024
EXHIBIT 1
4