Okay, good afternoon everyone. We are on the record. Today is Friday, the 24th day of July in the year 2026. This is a budget hearing for the public library with the Jersey City Municipal Council. We have a
scheduled 100 p.m. start. The clock on my cell phone is showing 10:07 p.m. May we have a roll call for the commencement of this budget hearing? Council person Brooks >> here. Council person Zupa
>> here. >> Council person Efos here. Council person Little >> here. >> Council person Gilmore is not here. Council person Sing >> here. >> Council person Griffin is not here. Council person Lavaro not here. And council president Ridley
>> here. We have six council members in attendance at 10:07 p.m. In addition, at its time of its preparation, the notice of this meeting was similarly disseminated on Friday, July 17th, 2026 at 3 p.m. to the mayor, Municipal
Council, Business Administrator, Corporation Council, and the local newspapers so I can certify as to our total compliance with the Sunshine Law. Council President, I'm going to turn it over to you. >> Good afternoon. Uh our afternoon session will cover the Jersey City Free Public
Library. We have individuals from the library here, the library director. This uh session will be chaired by Councilman Tom Zupa. Um, but before I hand it over to Councilman Zupa, just for the um the
council and for the public's understanding, I'm going to ask if either our BA or um our library director, uh, Mr. Hill would explain the relationship between the city and the library because we know the library
isn't a city department. So, can we just kind of explain what that relationship is and why you're here presenting your budget to us? >> Yes, thank you. Uh Terry Hill, library director. U we are an autonomous uh agency um in the city of Jersey City.
Our funding is uh comes from one-third mill from property tax. So, that's uh one,000 for um sorry, [clears throat] I have the formula here. It's $1,000 for every um I'm sorry, onethird of every
thousand dollars of assessed property value. So that's how our budget uh comes about. So that is collected by the city of Jersey City and then um that is a line item in the city's budget which is then uh given to the board of trustees
that has uh operational and fidiciary responsibilities for for the library. We uh one more thing. We also do occupy uh seven city- owned buildings throughout the city of Jersey City.
>> Okay. All right. With that, I will hand it over to Councilman Zupa. >> Thank you, Council President. All right. Director, I understand you have a presentation for us. Yes. >> Or do you want to make do present to us and make any remarks before we get into some questions? >> Um yeah, I'll go ahead and do the
presentation. Uh but I'll start with introducing my colleague Charles Hatchet who is our finance director. We can go. >> Okay. So um we really focus second director we're going to get Okay, we got it. We have it now in front of us. Go
ahead. >> All right. Uh so we want to share a lot of the growth that the library has experienced over the past uh five or so years especially since uh reopening since co uh currently we have uh over
102,000 uh registered borrowers. Last year we had nearly 600,000 visitors to our library branches, over 11,000 programs that we delivered across our 12 locations and we do now have two bookmobiles. We put a second bookmobile
into operation in October of 25. That vehicle contains uh space for about 500 books as well as four computer stations. Uh it also has a monitor on the outside of the vehicle so we can do uh programming on the outside of of the
vehicle. One of our focuses for uh 2025 and 26 has been on teen services. Uh the library now has its first teen service coordinator. Um so we're really excited about the the growth there. We have a
number of teen advisory boards across various branches uh in the system as well. We also launched a health and wellness initiative where we provide programming on chronic disease nutrition. We provide exercise classes from yoga uh meditation. You can even
take kickboxing at the library. salsa dancing if if you're up to that. We also participate in the summer lunch program and we do have a produce refrigerator at our Cunningham branch. Uh I do also want to point out another special branch that
we have um that we've had almost for two years, our creative arts center, which is located at the corner of 10th and uh Jersey Avenue. Uh that space is uh allows people to have creative expression uh through written or um
written arts or um excuse me through uh through writing and various art forms uh in that space. They have a lot of uh program series like on watercolors uh sketching and that kind of thing, photography. So that uh that branch alone it really is dedicated to the arts
and mostly programming. They have a small collection there that they do circulate now. Um but there's been a lot of uh community building that's come out of that of that location. Okay. Where we serve. So the library was founded in uh 1889. We are the largest
municipal library in the state of New Jersey. As I mentioned, 12 locations, two bookmobiles, 2.6 million print and digital items that we provide access to. Uh, and we are budgeted for 185 full and part-time staff across all of our
locations. Uh, you see a list of our locations here. The ones with an asterric are the ones that are owned by the city of Jersey City. The other ones are rental locations um from private landlords. in uh pointing out our growth here, our
circulation re uh levels have really increased especially uh for the ebook side. Um our print circulation has has increased quite a bit as well uh since since co one thing I do want to point out about ebooks because those are very
popular now. It's a very complicated cost and uh and access model. It's not the same as buying a print book. So, when we buy a print book, we pay a set price and it's ours in perpetuity. For
ebooks, um some models you get to lease access to it for maybe 10 checkouts and once it's been checked out 10 times, then you have to release access to it. So, we don't own the content to that. Fortunately, uh, Senator Andrews Wicker,
uh, has intro introduced a beer for, uh, a bill for fair practices for libraries purchasing electronic material. uh it's currently in the Senate Education Committee, but this would address the terms that publishers and the book vendors are the electronic book vendors
are putting on libraries because we don't have uh any negotiation room. Uh aside from the increased cost of an ebook, having to pay for access multiple times uh really cuts into um our collection budget. Right now about 42%
of our collection budget is dedicated to electronic resources. Um the the print book, just to give you an example of cost, you know, if we pay 20 or $30 for a print book that we will own forever, uh the equivalent ebook may
be $60 or $70. And again, that's just providing access to it for under the limited circumstances. Our digital access has expanded quite a bit. Um you know, we provide Wi-Fi access, the public computer stations in
the branches. We also have a technology lending program where we provide laptops or hotspots that the public can check out. Uh our learning center uh has uh experienced a lot of growth over the past couple of years. For our ESL
students, uh we had 89.1% of students advanced at least one level after one year of instruction, which is twice the national average. We serve over 1,500 students in that program from 60 countries uh speaking 40 languages.
Also, uh our Aspire program, uh focusing on youth, we support students from grade K through 12, we provide one-on-one tutoring, homework hubs, uh in English language arts and math, college prep
support, as well as SAT boot camps. Those are held at the Gardener main library as well as the JCEDC co-working space on MLK. With the SAT boot camps, in four weeks, 40% of the students improve their scores
by 120 points. And after completing the course, we had two students who scored 1350 or higher, placing them in the top 10% of test takers nationwide. We've gotten a lot of comments and feedback from caregivers and parents about the
tutoring program. I'll share one with you. Um my student uh the tutoring contributed to my daughter's reading skills improvement and she tested out of reading intervention at her school in May. This was after just starting the
Aspire program in February. So, we're receiving uh a lot of good results quickly in that program. All of our literacy programs as well as our story times now incorporate the science of reading. So science of reading is the only scientifically based
approach to teaching reading. Uh it uh provides uh teaching of phonics which uh has the sound and letter correlations and all the materials related to uh science of reading. The books are called decodable books. We purchased about 3,000 of those earlier this year and
since April we've had over 3,600 checkouts of those items. Uh most recently the uh foundations Hudson gives campaign raised over $18,000 for us to purchase more of those uh decodable items.
Uh one last thing I'll share with you about the learning center. We recently were selected as one of five libraries across the state and were awarded a $20,000 AI focused grant by Microsoft, the Gates Foundation and the New Jersey
State Library. So, this is a 14-month initiative where we'll collaborate with Microsoft experts as well as Princeton University's AI hub and design and deliver three new AI focused courses. One will be AI for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The other is AI for job
seekers and the other is AI for all. So this uh material once it's developed will be shared uh by Microsoft to libraries across the country. That actually kicked off on July 10th of of this year. Uh one more thing I I'll share um just
about the the library and our in our role. One thing that we of course as information professionals are constantly com combating is uh misinformation. Uh that's a challenge for libraries everywhere. We all know that it's it's very easy to believe everything that we
see and hear. Uh but it's harder a lot of times for the truth to come through and that's that's really uh where the value of the library is. Uh I always say people can Google information or find it on social media. You can get a lot of results, but the library will always
give you the right information. Okay, this is just another look at our overall growth. Uh 230% increase in circulation. Our public internet sessions uh since two uh 2020 is 282%
increase. Uh the public computer increase 13%, that's just for our fixed desktop um computers within the branches. And again the 25 snapshot uh 594,000 visits uh 323,000 web visits uh you see
the e circulation is 351,000 there. Uh how the library is funded. So the 1/3 mill rule it's uh one/3 for every thousand of equalized assessed property value. Uh municipalities with a free public library must raise at least 1/3
mill for an uh annually for library support. Uh that is the minimum that is required. Municipalities uh do have the option to allocate more funds to to libraries. Taxpayers do see that as a line item on their tax bill. And as I
mentioned the the library is an autonomous uh organization. The board of trustees has uh authority over operations personnel policy and library funds. So, our 2026 budget is uh $21,512,729, which is a 13% increase uh over 25.
We have also been uh working closely with the new administration with uh Dr. Brian and the mayor in particular looking at how we can start to consolidate some of our services because as an autonomous organization, you know, there are still a lot of overlap with
with the city and then as I mentioned, we do occupy a number of of city- owned buildings. So, we're looking at how we can achieve some more efficiencies uh um that way with some official uh service agreements between the the two organizations.
uh our proposed budget as you see we are uh even with the growth in our staff we're at about uh 55% of our budget is allocated to personnel uh on the programming side that includes uh our books all of our e- resources technology
programming uh under that 4 million contracts uh we have our insuranceances legal services auditing uh equipment leasing and Then other we have uh you know supplies, repairs, vehicle maintenance, utilities, uh any you know
repairs that we have to make to to facilities or any of our our vehicles uh for the total of 21,512. Uh we do also receive uh I think this past year was 158,000 in state aid. Uh
so how we qualify for that there's an annual survey we must complete. uh we have to abide by a minimum number of hours of operation and also the board of trustees are required to take continuing ed uh classes throughout the year for us
to qualify for that funding. uh some things that we're working on uh of course streamlining in uh internal workflows uh there are there are a lot of uh back of house things that we are we are working on to to streamline one
thing I will mention that um that will be a direct have a direct impact on the public is we recently implemented the uh software called collection HQ and that is constantly analyzing um our book checkouts as well as our book purchases
and it also gives us good data about what items are no longer being used. Um, and it also tells us even at the branch level what materials based on prior checkouts would be good to purchase for that books for that location. So, we can be a lot more strategic about the
collections that we're building versus just buying uh a lot of books. Uh we also have uh some software called Orange Boy which I don't know where these names come from but we we're able to track and target usage across the city and it's
more at the um uh age and like genre of material. So we know that you know teens like this certain genre or uh older adults may like this certain genre. So that kind of helps us narrow down who's using the library and what materials
they are they're looking for. Uh, one interesting fact is our average library user is 35 years old, which is kind of kind of interesting. Um, okay, looking ahead, um, I do want to
share also I I mentioned uh here in the presentation about our program. So, if you're not familiar with that, that's administered by the Universal Service Admin company under the FCC. The FCC is um looking to cut.
So -ate helps us pay for all of our telecom needs. So telephone use as well as all of our internet service. So in 2025 uh our telecom was around $188,000. Uh with the - discount, we only paid 26,000.
This is going to affect libraries and schools across the country if if it is cut. So we will it will also affect our school system here as well. Um so that uh that's FCC cutting uh rate is is going to be
that's going to be a big cut for a lot of people because access is uh you know it's going to be reduced in a lot of places. um we may be a little more fortunate here than you know a lot of rural areas but a lot of libraries really depend on that funding to be able
to provide um internet service to their to their communities. Um also you know we our foundation is uh it's really starting to come along and um you know get really organized to be
able to start raising some funds. Um, you know, they they've been doing a number of events around the city as well to to bring some notoriety. Um, I don't know if I'm allowed to say, but I'll just go ahead and say it. We we were notified that we won uh one of the
Newport grants. We don't know how much yet, but that announcement will be coming out later uh in the year. I think September 24th is the date that's announced. Uh so that'll be um a grant that the foundation will accept on our behalf. And also two things that we're working
on this year is uh some targeted service to daycare centers. We're going to be partnering with the Urban League to work on that as well as um implementing some book lockers around the city. So the book lockers are very similar if you've ever used an Amazon locker. Uh so we
we're hoping to have these in city parks in various parts of the city where patrons can go into our catalog and have a book sent to a certain locker and they go there and it's you know you can check it out there just like getting your items out of a locker and then we'll
have uh book returns there on site as well. So, that's just another way we're looking at being able to um to expand our services and reach into areas where there's not any physical locations. Okay, I think that's that's it. Yeah,
I'm happy to answer any questions. >> All right. Thank you, director. So, um we don't have a line by line the way some of the other departments do. So, um, if everyone's okay, I'll start with some questions and then we'll just go around and ask as many as your heart desire instead of going, um, back and
forth. Um, so, >> can I ask um, >> council, before you start asking questions, I just wanted to point out for the record, council person Lavaro entered the room at 1:22 p.m. So, we now have seven council members at 1:22.
Thank you. just wanted to uh point out for the council because I know the library budget is set up a little differently than the department budgets that we saw. So, I just wanted to make sure that everyone understood what they were looking at and director correct me if I'm wrong on anything, but the first
column of numbers is for the month of June 2026. >> Yeah, >> current the current month uh column is for June 2026. Uh then if you look at year-to- date, that's how much they spent on that line to this point through
June. Uh and then that following column is how much they're allocated for the year for that line. And then the next is what is left in that line item for them to spend for the rest of the year. And
then the last one is what they spent for May, prior month, year to date. >> Yes, we do. Thank you, council president. So the question I was going to ask too was uh do you have the projections for the remaining six months of the year?
>> We generally don't project uh going forward. We project salaries of course because we have our schedule for employees listed. The library most of the time encounters different situations particularly for the building maintenance services. So there's more
flexibility in our our facilities lines when you look. >> Yeah. >> So when we encounter basically, you know, floods or other damage or surprise breakdowns of machinery. >> Yeah. We'll get we'll get to that, too. We'll get to that. So, Director Hill,
you I've shared this with you. I I have a great amount of uh appreciation for the library and what you do uh specifically for the Five Corners branch. My grandfather worked there uh essentially up to the time of his death. Um, and which I'll have some questions for you in a minute. So, I I really do
appreciate the library as a a part of our social infrastructure of our city. Um, let let me get into my questions. So, about 96% of your budget comes from our taxpayers, correct?
>> Yes. turn to you. Uh so even though you're it's an autonomous agency with a board of trustees that are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council, uh almost all your money comes from from the city. >> Correct. >> Okay. Uh in terms of city appropriations from
2025 to 2026, it looks like you're up 573,000. No, I'm sorry. You're up 1.5 million in city appropriations. Is that accurate? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, can you speak to the decisions
that went into some of the uh allocate allocation of that extra funding? So, for example, it looks like, and correct me if I I'm reading it wrong, looks like from 2025 to 2026, there's an additional salaries of 1.5 million. Is that right? >> Yes.
>> Okay. Uh, but the maintenance allocation, even though you were given an additional 1.5 million, is only $573,000. Can you speak to why it was determined that salaries should increase by 1.5 but the maintenance budget should increase uh by only a third of that?
>> Yeah. Uh one reason the salaries increase is because we did add hours at our small library branches. So each library branch small library branch now has an evening and Saturday hours. And there are uh a number of other positions
that we've had um that we needed to fill uh for the library. of the salary line. That's that's the main one for that one. >> Um and then you want to speak to the maintenance. >> Yes. I think one of the things that is not evident in the schedule is that the
utilization of employee time to certain maintenance functions may not be captured in this uh calculation for services or vendors and other expenditures for keeping up the buildings. However, we do have intensive
services from our employees that we probably should break out in some sort of other schedule to show how uh how we care for the buildings with our employees, our staff. >> Yeah, that'd be great. I I think a more detailed presentation would be helpful. Uh going individual by individual. Um
and so just so you know, I I I volunteered to chair this committee before yesterday's unfortunate announcement about the Five Corners closure. Um but it is ironic. So, I I do want to ask you some things about that and how it relates to the the budget. Um, let let me start with uh the main
branch improvements. So, it looks like $1.4 million was set aside in 2025 for main branch improvements, and an additional 2.1 million this year. >> Yes. The allocation is based on our coming renovation process. We have a
matching grant between the state of New Jersey and the city of Jersey City, which is $10 million to upgrade the Garden of Maine. And we think because of um the timing and the way costs are going up, we're trying to allocate more money into the uh the Silicard Main
Library fund based on any savings or um um surpluses that we may come up with to make sure that we can get that project done relatively quick. What was what were the upgrades that were were made in 2025 and 2026 to the main branch?
>> Mostly the uh those maintenance items take care of uh electrical circulation and air conditioning. We have um added air conditioning and we're also completing uh city granted program. The city had
capital funds that allocated to phase three and phase four renovations of the library which are not really part of our operating cost. That's comes from the uh capital improvements project which I think we have about $150,000 left to spend to close out the the final
vendor. >> And without that three $3.5 million that was invested in the main branch's upgrades, could the main branch have remained open in 2025 and 2026 without some or all of those upgrades? Uh well not consistently. No not
consistently because you know a lot of the equipment we have even the plumbing the plumbing is 20 25 years old from the last infusion of recast we've had from the city. So, and the technology of
computer um sorry well we're computerizing some of the air conditioning uh calculations so we can have better efficiency but the equipment itself is changing for better efficiency and the sizes of the uh appliances are changing. So we have to make those kinds of adaptations
for new equipment where prior say five or 10 years we've been maintaining old equipment. Now, the director knows this, but just for the public and anyone else watching, um the director had extensive conversations about trying to get the
library a brand new Marian branch that we're working on. Uh we just recently had a conversation about Five Corners. Uh but what I am concerned about is the timing and the announcement of the permanent closure of Five Corners. So, so director, could could you speak to who in the city you spoke to about
yesterday's press release before releasing it? Yeah, I spoke with uh Dr. Dia Bryant about it and um it's minor saying she also ran that by the legal department as well. >> The the someone that they did not run it
by was the WC councilman whose constituents are most most directly impacted by the closure. So, I know you and I spoke about the temporary issues, but the fact that the city did not inform the councilman is uh noteworthy. Uh >> I have a follow-up question, councilman, >> I have a few on five corners. Do you
want me to turn it over to you after? >> No, that's fine. Okay, carry on. >> Um, in terms of the timing now, we've known that five the Five Corners branch is in in tough shape for a long time. Uh, but I'm concerned that we we announced a
permanent closure or you announced a permanent closure without a plan to a plan in place other than the bookmobiles to have the services replaced. Now, whether it's a commercial lease, temporary commercial lease, whether it's trailers on site, can you speak to why
my residents are are are stuck without a community space and a library with with the announcement yesterday from the board of trustees? >> Yeah, gladly. Um, this is probably my I know it's different people, but my fourth or fifth time here speaking before the council. uh every time I make
clear about the condition of the buildings and uh the past four or five years uh the help I've been seeking from the city to help with those buildings was exactly to avoid this situation because I could see that coming. Um, the
main reason we don't have uh space to go into right now cuz there's there's hardly space in Journal Square and I I just looked at a space yesterday, commercial space, uh, you know, they're asking $48 a square foot. We can't afford that. Um there there's a a
current partner in the in the neighborhood on Hoboken that we're talking to about being able to provide some uh some temporary space, but um we were really in a position where I could not allow that building to be reopened. I couldn't allow my staff back in there
um because we we do know there's uh some significant environmental abatement that needs to be done before even the air conditioning can be can be replaced. We've been putting band-aids on that building and and several other ones just to keep the doors open and and
unfortunately Five Corners came to a point where there's nothing else that that we could do. Um so we're the building had to be had to be closed and unfortunately had to be closed without an alternative at the moment. That is our top priority is to get some services
in that in that location. Um but that's that's really where things lie. This is we're we're really at a tough spot with a lot of silly of city-owned buildings uh across across the city. And
yeah, I I mean it's it is it is a concern our mind because we want the library and services open as much as anyone else does, if not more so. Um you know, my staff that work there, that is that's their community, right? They're missing their people and and all the services they provide. Um but also we we
have got to collectively figure out a way forward. >> But director sorry to jump here. U my do you anticipate any other uh renovation in the library this year? Any other location?
>> No, not this year. No, our Morgan branch was closed for um I think about two weeks for HVAC. We do have uh a solution, a temporary solution in place there. The long-term solution at Morgan is uh a little easier because that
building uh is much older and unfortunately doesn't have, you know, asbestos and those things to deal with. we're going to be able to replace all of the many split units in that building. But again, that's a number of hundreds of thousands of dollars that we're
taking out of our budget to make that uh available as well as the the rental on the on the temporary units that are there. Um we just replaced the uh complete HVAC system at the Cunningham branch. Again, another city-owned
building. uh that was around $300 and some thousand dollars um that we uh we we paid for that. So that was in June. They have a completely new system. Um but that's that's the only one. We have
some AC issues at um or just HVAC issues at Pavonia branch, but I think we have a plan to to be able to get that under control uh without much disruption. Just to add on to this director, is it possible that any renovation you can
avoid in future around summertime because kids, families rely on these libraries for activities, for books, not everybody can travel. So something, >> right? Yeah. If if it's a planned renovation, we can definitely plan
around that. The the other side of that is if it's winter time, then it's it's cold, right? There's never a great time to do that. Um, but what we're dealing with are emergencies, right? And and even in our effort to like apply for the CDBG funding, that is a long process,
right? And we're we're working with them to identify um uh projects that we we that aren't so urgent. But when we have HVAC issues that have to be addressed right now, you know, that process is is not uh helpful for us. But
>> and just so your your benefits, I was on some emails. Uh there's a speestous in the plaster which wouldn't be implicated without doing the repairs. The repairs are estimated between I'm sorry, the the ases abatement estimates I received from the director between $700 $800,000.
There was a temporary uh solution. Well, I say solution, a temporary option which was um $73,000 for an installation of a temporary system rental cost of 23,000 about 100 thou $100,000 plus to get
through the summer. Um- which gets to my would have been my next question which was was there any consideration given to having that temporary improvement keeping the library open and then when we hit September October pre-winter months when there there's not as big of a need for
the air big the air conditioning system the heating system to to kept the library open while we worked out these issues to find a more find a temporary solution. Yes, that was considered and uh honestly to not pass the buck my board was not willing to put that kind of money into
an option that we there's no ending to it. Um we yeah that was that was just kind of their final um decision. >> Well my and director these aren't all directed at you. I understand the prior administration did not do among several things not do a prop proper job of
keeping the library in in working condition. Uh but my concerns are that with $1.5 million extra from the taxpayers instead of adding significantly to the maintenance costs or looking at five corners that went to salaries. I'm concerned that gardener
branch no disrespect to it's a beautiful library and deserves attention in the last two years has $3.5 million in in renovation costs given to that while WC yet again is left behind. our our citizens don't have a place to uh use
the community center, go to the library, increase education, and as you know, we've discussed uh I contend that library is your busiest branch. And I was I'm going to ask you if you have the numbers on on on where the the majority of the circulations are, but I my my my guess if I were betting that would be it
was Five Corners. We have a immigrant population that goes to the library seeking better lives for their children, education for their kids and families, and and we're left without a library with no answer other than well, we had some issues. It didn't pass muster from my board while that board having
replaced the one W city resident uh is spending $3.5 million on on downtown renovations. So again, I'm not it's not all resting with you. Um, I wasn't in this the seat before the last seven months. So, I will find the solution for for five corners, but uh I'm frustrated
by by by yesterday's announcement and it was compounded by the fact that I I learned about at the same time every other resident did. >> Well, and I also think um because I I hear what you're saying, but I think we also have to look at over the past uh
several years the amount of money the library has invested just to keep Five Corners open. So, I don't think it's a it's a uh all the money's been spent downtown and nothing on Five Corners. This is this has been years of band-aids that have been put on Five Corners. Uh and and really that's the reason it was
open as long as it was. >> Follow-up question on Five Corner. >> Let's go. Let's go. We'll go Martha then we'll go around. >> Finishing one question on five corner. So about social worker for seniors are
also services are also there. Uh did you think about um reaching out to senior centers so that their lobby or their community room can be um used to have social worker there for seniors. Um and
we we can talk we can reach out to you. Just wanted to let you know that seniors are reaching out asking for that service. Um, so maybe we can talk about it offline, right? >> Uh, councilman, can I ask general questions? >> Yeah. So, like I said, this budget is not as detailed as our other
departments. Uh, so instead of going line by line to each council person, uh, why don't you take your time, ask as many questions as you want, will go around and then anyone else who wants to have a followup question can ask a question. >> Thank you, Councilman. Director Hill, thank you for the presentation.
Um you talked about uh library working with Urban League schools. Can you please talk more about it? How are you partnering up with them? >> Yes. So, the daycare centers that Urban League works with, uh, two things we're
going to be doing is going directly into the daycare centers, um, to provide access to books, uh, programs, story times, but we are also going to be providing some continuing ed for the daycare teachers and and owners as well.
As I mentioned, we use the science of reading um program for all of our early literacy and getting like those decodable books into daycare centers and have so they have more access to to materials. Um a lot of times daycare
centers are rated on their access to books like well that's part of their overall rating. Um, so that's one thing that we want to make sure we're we're helping contribute to and and getting materials into into children's hands.
>> Thank you, director. Um, my other question and uh pardon me if I missed that uh uh amount on the sheet. Uh you have on the slide you have shown the grants you received. Can you please talk more
about it? What are the grants you have received this year? What was the amount and are you anticipating receiving more grants this year? >> Yeah. So, right now we're uh starting the second year of a Department of Labor
grant. That grant uh was a two-year um $500,000 grant that was for the learning center. So, that funds all of the learning cent's activities. Um so, we're in year two of that. We have the AI grant um that we were just awarded. Um
let me think what else? Um the from the Hudson County. Yeah. Could you speak to that one because I I can't remember all of them. >> We do this the library uh pro uh librarians do apply for different kinds of assistance from Hudson County. Hudson
County has given us $4,000 for a number of programs that help us basically reach out and u embrace our our patrons a little more for uh presentations of historical value um and other lectures. So, the county has been very good for us
and they're trying to give us more opportunities. So, we're exploring those items as well as the foundation doing separate situations for fundraising for our behalf. any grants for seniors this year you are anticipating for senior programming in
library? >> Uh I'm not aware of any senior grants. I know I know at Five Corners the um the librarians out of their daily uh stipens basically accommodate seniors and a number of different programs like
knitting and um other coloring and arts. Also, our creative arts center has a budget dedicated to taking care of seniors when they do knitting and some other cultural things and u gatherings which have been pretty helpful. >> Thank you.
Thanks so much. Um I wanted to dig in a little bit more um to the question about personnel and um salaries and wages being 1.5 million more uh than they were in the previous year. Can you in in in other budgets we've seen sort of a
breakdown of of what positions have been hired for and which are vacant but you are currently hiring for. Can you give us a breakdown of um which which positions have already been hired and added and which you are actively hiring
for right now and what those roles are? >> Sure. Um I think our most recent position that we're hiring for is a director of facilities position. Uh we hired a chief operate um we we hired a chief operating officer
position this year. Um, also due to the uh expansion of of hours, there have been some librarian uh like entry- level librarian positions as well as some management level positions uh uh for librarian positions that have
been uh filled. some part-time positions as well that helped cover uh evening hours as well as uh times where there's uh you know lunch breaks and those things during the day uh at the branches. Uh I'm trying to think of some
specific uh positions. Um the other part of our our salary our personnel growth is we did have uh during co a number of retirements uh resignations people leaving uh for other positions and we're
we're getting back to the point now where our staffing is at about the same levels it was several years ago. >> Okay. So this is largely backfilling positions and expanding to meet the um the demand given the extended hours
at many of the facilities. >> Yes. Back fill. And there are some new positions that we have. Um in the time I've been here, for example, we've hired a um a librarian that controls our ILS. So the library's never had that before.
Um >> sorry, what is ILS? >> The ILS is the integrated library system. So, as a as a patron, that's where you go in and check the catalog. On the back side of that, that's where we keep all the hundreds of thousands of of catalog records for each item, all of
our patron database. Um, and then also, you know, being able to work out different efficiencies use utilizing that system that we were not able to use before. >> Thank you. Um, and I guess in the next
couple of years, like what what will it take to get a library back to the Five Corners area in Ward C? Will it are you looking to rent a space temporarily? Are you looking to purchase land? Are you looking to construct a new facility? Um,
is it some combination? Rent a space in the interim and then and then build a new facility. What what does that road map look like over the next 5 years? >> Uh the on the immediate side, we're looking at some locations to rent possibly. Uh I just spoke yesterday with
uh St. Peter's Church. They have some nice space. We could provide some basic level u um library services there, some access to books, some programs, computers. Um long-term we have had a conversation about uh possible
development on that site. Um Councilman Zupa and I met with uh uh some interested parties who are interested in in possibly de there to have a discussion. Um the idea would be that they would rebuild a new library there
that we would occupy as well as be housing above it. Um, but that is a long-term solution because, you know, at best that would probably be four, five, maybe six years out. Um, if we look to having to rent something that long uh
totally from the library, we would have to be really careful about what that is. Uh, as I mentioned, commercial space in Journal Square is pretty expensive. Um and um you know unfortunately when we start looking at spaces uh there's
there's no discount given to the library and um we we're up against those those prices. Uh St. Peters would be a much more reasonable um arrangement for us for a little while but if you know if we're looking at five years or so being
closed we would probably need a a larger temporary location. And uh it's my understanding too that um they there may be some space that the the city is looking at uh for us to discuss.
>> Has the Pompadoo space come up at all? >> I'm sorry. >> Has the Pompadoo space come up at all? >> The Pompadoo space? No, it hasn't. That wouldn't be an option based on some of the administration's conversations with the developer. you.
>> Uh, thank you, directors. I'll start off with some questions about the Heights branch. Uh, Risky. Um, excited about the renovations that were completed earlier this year. That was a really, uh, nice moment for the
community. Um, but we've had HVAC issues and, uh, issues of our own. Can you just speak to the status of those issues and um how ready the Zabriski uh site is to have community members come by? >> I'm sorry, I didn't hear the last part.
>> Uh just how ready is the uh site to have community members come by and enjoy the space? >> Yeah. Well, the Heights is is open. Um the air the uh HVAC is not working at full capacity. When we did the renovation there, we did replace uh the
air handler on the top of the building. Um once that uh was up and running, the building was open uh opened back up. There were some other parts of the system that failed. And um my last update uh from uh from maintenance staff
is our HVAC vendor is waiting on a couple of parts. I think there's a compressor they're waiting on uh and that just needs to be stalled and we should be back to 100% there. They're also integrating that with the we replaced the boiler there. uh two years
ago. I think that was uh close to $300,000 we spent on that. Um the new air handling system will integrate with that so that the heating and cooling throughout the building is much more even and efficient. Um so that one is really just an any day we'll have that
last part and and the height should be good. Uh we probably know that the heights was closed for quite some time. It was supposed to be a short renovation. Uh but we ran into some structural issues that had to be addressed. And again, you know, we we paid for that to to happen. We had to
restore the front steps because they were crumbling. Uh as well as the handicap uh walkway uh ramp going into the building. So, the um the parts that we're waiting on and then the labor to
get those parts in and to uh repair the rest of the HVAC system, um is that additional money that's going to need to be allocated or uh is that going to be covered by the 9,000 or just under 9,000 remaining in the Heights Branch
renovations? Is that incumbent on the the vendor uh who was originally doing these HVAC repairs uh during the renovation period? Where's that money coming from? >> Yeah. So, that's going to come out of our repair line or what
>> we'll adjust whatever repair line costs are because we do have some flexibility in our budget. So as the need arises, we will move money from one line to another to make sure that the uh the different improvements are actually achieved within this calendar year
>> from the maintenance and repairs line, the second line under facilities and maintenance. Is that right? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um it looks like only uh $5,000
are available for the rest of the year though. Is that right? Well, again, our money for the foring this line is fungeible from one building to another. So, we basically try to uh put our finger in a dyke where necessary because some projects are
easier to do than others, >> right? >> And with the bidding process and trying to find the qualified biders, we do have some limitations in our uh ability to negotiate, but then when those things are, you know, considered, we actually do get these things done.
>> Right. And do we have a an anticipated or do we have an estimate of how much the costs will be to finalize the Hback at >> We're looking at additional uh electrical work within the uh Heights branch because the uh electrical wiring is pre960.
So all the wires are black wires. So the electrician now is giving us the colored wire system which is standard compliance. So that is why we're having a little trouble with some of the uh the board in the HVAC as we are now. So that speed uh really depends upon how fast
the electricians can get those parts working with the HVAC uh vendors. >> Right. So it's both the waiting on the part um from our vendor for the HVAC system, but then also redoing the wiring throughout the building. >> Yes. It's a general upgrade for a
building that was created in 1927. And was was that electrical upgrade uh anticipated during the renovation period or >> sorry these repairs are basically serendipity? You know when you take out the old HVAC system and you run into the
next part of it and you pull the wall out then you can see where the wiring is not sufficient to handle you know modern day uh power power surges from PSE and G which also has been very helpful for us in upgrading some of our transformers.
And I'll just add also to that because you know obviously our our conversation now is about things that really aren't about the library services to the to the public, right? Uh, and I think this is another good example of um the library's
struggle to not only provide all the services that we do for the community, but also to take care of very expensive repairs and replacements that should not be on us. Um I I I know we we're all here and we kind of in inherited some of
this stuff, but you know the the library buildings uh these are many many decades of deferred maintenance and and year to year you you we just go into each year not knowing what is going to break and and we have to figure out how to how to
keep the doors open. >> Director, just on that point, I'm sorry, Jake. Um how much rent do you pay to the city for each of the buildings? you know, for the [snorts] city buildings, we don't pay rent. >> Okay. So, uh the city has no no control over
well, let's say the board of trustees of the library controls the city, the library's money. The city taxpayers give the $22 million a year, give or take $21 million a year. Uh and the buildings that you want the city to renovate, you
don't pay any rent in. Correct. >> Correct. I would >> and it's and it's primarily capital level uh help that we need general maintenance upkeep even interior renovations those things the library can definitely handle but uh when we when we
have buildings that HVAC systems date back nearly as long as I am old uh that's where our capacity really ends and uh and also you know it really just being the cities for those level of of repairs being the city's responsibility
for those things. >> There's a question for our BA, maybe for the law department. Um, what what control does the city council have over the library's budget in terms of where the money is allocated? >> Um, my understanding as um, director mentioned is that it is through the
board of trustees as it was explained earlier. So, I am happy to take that back to the law department for a determination on the um council's role. >> Is that your question? I'm I hope I'm understanding it correctly.
>> It is. Yeah. Yeah. The question is what control what oversight, if any, does the city council have over the li library liaries budget? I'm not suggesting cuts by any means. Like I said, what you do is imperative to our citizens. It's just that um again not blaming anyone from the prior
administration necessarily, but we do need to find solutions. And if all I'm hearing is well, we didn't budget this money that we got from the taxpayers for capital improvements, but my library is closed in W C or or HVAC's working not working in W D. This council needs greater oversight over that.
Yeah, I I can take this back um to get the official um response, but I believe there is an ordinance that says that there is no uh role, but feel free to record. I would I what my understanding
is and the way that I understand it and we'll wait for a legal opinion but I think that the council's control or the city control comes in with how the library is funded with uh as the director mentioned one-third
uh portion goes to the library um and I think he mentioned that that is not the I guess maximum amount that be can be dedicated to the library. So, I think our controls come in with how much of the tax role we are dedicating to the
library, how much of a budget we're giving them. >> Thank you, Council President. Before I give my time back to Councilman Efro, I'm happy to talk about greater uh tax um greater amount of the tax allocation for the library. Um, but and if that's a
trade-off we're going to have, we're going to need I I I would need to see a more detailed budget, who's getting paid what, and where the money's going. >> Can can I just chime in for a second, Councilman, on this very subject? So, um I I think we should get the opinion from the law department. I think statutoily
there's a allocation um that that's the from this slide here with the 21 million um that is statutoily that's the minimum that we allocate to and correct me if
I'm wrong because I'm just quickly glancing at these numbers. I came in late, but um the 21 million512,000 minimum that's allocated to them, we can allocate more. I think historically the
city hasn't allocated more. I I haven't been here for the last four years, so I don't know if that changed. I don't think so. I'm pretty sure not. Um and so um you know this this budget this dollar amount and the the entire budget is um
comes under the authority of your board um to to be able to determine how you want to expend those monies. And the question is I mean you I don't know if you my question is if you need to expend all of it or if you can set aside money or if you do set aside money for surplus
rainy day fund emergency fund capital improvement so forth. So >> yeah, >> historically the city has maintained the library property using um capital improvement funds and our architect would draw up a plan
saying what our repair needs would be over a fivey year or six year period and we would seek capital funding to basically um draw down the long-term funding to repair the buildings. City city bonding basically is the
process that we've uh done in the past. The city hasn't bonded in a number of years. So naturally we have basically reallocate some of our surpluses toward repairs. >> Y
may continue. >> Sorry. Yes. Councilman, please continue. >> Thank you. And just to the earlier note, I I would love to um spend time celebrating the many achievements of the library and I I look forward to getting to partner and the many achievements of the increased checkouts and the and the
circulation that's going on. Um it's wonderful. But yeah, we during this budget hearing, I I want to do my due diligence as a city council person um and really like look with as much of an eagle eye as I can at at at the money and um work through your presentation.
Uh so just on that note because we don't have a more detailed breakdown on the personnel um would you be able to at least provide a general sense of uh what share of uh personnel goes to administration what share goes to middle
management so to speak and what share goes to rank and file uh staff at the library may know numbers more than but I think percentagewise uh administration is probably about 20% % or so of the salaries.
>> Administration's 25%. Our maintenance staff, our librarians actually are another 40% of our budget and the remaining um union which is 2265. They're non librarians which
basically do most of the work are the remaining uh 60% of our budget. So there's about 25% administration, about 40% librarians, and then the remaining amount the remaining amount are the other non-union I mean unionized
workers which basically are library assistants, maintenance staff, clerks, different things like that, different positions. >> And are all the librarians also represented? Um >> the librarians have their own union. Yes, professional union. that that 40%
or so um that are librarians >> between 35 and 40%. >> There's no management in that group. That's a >> that's a submanagement. Okay. Um that's helpful to know. Thank you. Um and I'm sorry, would you just list the locals
one more time? the the locals of >> 2265 is for non master non-master degree uh librarians and 3612 are for the librarians who have master's degrees. >> Thank you. Um could you just uh speak to
the payroll taxes uh a bit? Um there's based on the 2025 expended um it looks like there's over a 100,000 extra that was budgeted for the payroll tax section that is again being budgeted. So there's 600,000.
>> We budget that extra amount of money for unemployment experience. We've been good over the last five years with low unemployment. Now we're basically beginning to realize that some of the members uh who don't really make the grade will apply for unemployment after they've
worked a little while. So that so that is basically where our surplus is in uh that line. Generally the uh Medicare and FICA is paid on the uh out of that number as
well. We keep a small amount for that. And so do you anticipate that you'll get much closer to that 600,000 number this year? >> Perhaps perhaps not. Um again, we we'll see as the uh the year
continues and our experience to get more maintenance workers in things like that will help us determine how close we will be on that surplus on that line. >> Okay. And um lastly for myself right now um just the the benefits section outside
of that 600,000 for payroll taxes um just comes out to $130,000 if I'm not mistaken for the entire budget for 2026. Um is is that accurate that the entire benefits package of uh employees at the
library comes out to a cost of just $130,000? We do uh we do eyeglasses. We do uh certain kinds of reimbursements for health incentives and our employees do pay something back to the city for the healthcare that they provide us. It's
one of our shared services. >> I see. So, library staff are on Jersey City's public employees health benefits >> and and the pension as well. >> And pension and pension. >> And then all there are some additional benefits that come through to what
you're saying dental, life insurance, optical. >> Yes. >> And there's also medical examination. So, I'm sorry. Could you just speak to the what these kind of additional benefits are? When the uh employees come in, we do uh health examinations and if
there's any injuries or things like that during the course of the employment year, we basically go to the uh the city doctor or our own health provider to make sure that our employees are healthy and ready to return to work. >> Sure. Okay. I see. But then the majority of the health care costs of the
employees are are borne by the city directly. >> Yes. >> All right. Thank you. I'll I'll yield. >> Okay. Uh, under revenue, we have a board of elections. Is that I guess I'm
assuming that is money paid to the library for their use during um during municipal elections for use of the space for voting. >> Yes, that's correct. >> Okay. >> Hasn't been allowed for every that hasn't been allowed for every election because some of our branches
>> say that move a little closer. >> Yes. this the county of Hudson reimbures us for the use of our locations as voting locations. >> Okay. And then can you explain uh what's entailed in the other line for revenue
because it looks like we budgeted for 5,000 and other revenue but we're about 20 over. So what would be some of the other things >> over the last couple of years? We've given uh fine free holidays to overdue books, but then we have again begun to
ch charge for copies. We used to do a pretty good revenue for copers, but then we discounted it to 10 to 10% 10 cent a copy for black and white and 25 for color because we do pay a certain amount of um maintenance fees for our copy
machines for ink and paper. So we've adjusted that price for the benefit of uh school children who use the copy machines or print from our our computer reference and do we do we do have 3D printing at the uh commun branch which has been a
new exploration down under community engagement and programs. You spoke about the learning center in your presentation. Where is the learning center located or is that like a general citywide thing?
>> It's Yeah. Uh yeah, learning centers under the Yeah, the community engagement. So that right I done it's about midway under
community engagement and programs >> right where is it where is it physically located >> oh where where are the people located the headquarters is uh at the gardener main >> yeah okay >> and it looks >> and then we have um I believe about 17
locations we offer classes AC across the city >> okay and it looks like we're about 21,000 over on that budget, but we also look like we generated about
20,000 more in revenue. So, I guess that kind of balances that line item out. Am I reading that correctly? >> Yes. Well, the library in the library matches the learning centers grant from
the state of New Jersey. So we basically try to apply those funds. There used to be collections for books from the students and this we no longer uh charge the students for books. That's why we have this um deficit at this point.
>> Okay. And then under administrative under fundraising, does the library have a um foundation or a nonprofit arm that does fundraising or
are they allowed to uh create one for something like that legally? Yeah, >> sure. >> In the past, we created a foundation because the IRS code didn't allow nonrevenue collecting agencies to do not forprofit. But now the library can
accept contributions as an entity that doesn't collect taxes. So we have hybrid fundraising. So people will come in like a program, give the library a check as a contribution, and then we have the the foundation actually going out actively
raising and creating uh relationships to help with uh fundraising and other projects that the library needs. >> All right. >> So So are you just help me understand it, please? So are we renting uh the
community space and library to nonprofits or for event space? >> Generally we don't but we may have a a small fee for cleaning up but generally if you uh ask for the uh
space which there's a booking process we use any any uh community organization that doesn't charge a fee will take the library. And actually, we're not allowed to charge for library space. The only time we do is if there's uh a company
wanting to come and film. Uh they we ask them to make a donation to the foundation, but just for community members or groups to come in and meet, we don't charge for that. >> Can I ask are those spaces available um only during regular library hours? Or
for example, if a group wanted to have an a like if a nonprofit wanted to have an event on a Sunday or something, could they could they reserve the space? >> Yeah, with planning because we would we would have to have staff there and that would be overtime, but uh we have had
situations where there's events after hours. >> Thank you. I just have a uh one of my questions was asked earlier in terms of the um amendment process for the library budget and I I will to hear back from the BA and the law department. Um thank
you directors for the presentation. Thanks for for coming today. Um and was very happy to celebrate the opening uh the reopening of the West Bergen branch. Um it's a much needed
rest bit in on the west side. Um it's highly utilized as I'm sure you know. Um so we're very grateful that it was um renovated and reopened. Um, one question, not quite budget related, but um, just wanted to see if we could
partner um, and maybe Councilman Gilmore as well because the other side of uh, Bergen um, from the Miller branch. Uh, the staff has reached out. We've had a couple of community meetings um, at the library. We're very grateful uh, to have
use of the space. And um one thing we've noticed is uh crossing Bergen at Clinton is quite dangerous. Um so just you know offline we can reach out to set up we would like to work with um
infrastructure and and potentially DPW to get um some trafficcoming uh measures there. So I don't know if you have any thoughts on that. >> Yeah, absolutely. That's something my staff there uh struggle with because with the parking lot across the street,
they're back and forth quite a bit. So, I would be glad to talk about that. >> Okay. And then lastly, for the public that's watching, um the uh what is the identity of JC Bigfoot? What what is that secret identity?
>> Um love. >> That's that's probably the most interesting question. the the identity. Um, in what what in what capacity do you mean? >> Joel, I've met JC Bigfoot. >> I I'll tell you offline.
>> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Well, [laughter] I just thought, you know, the public's watching, give you an opportunity. >> Yeah. >> There's been a lot of, you know, mystery questions around that individual's identity. So, >> yeah. >> Can't reveal that on the record.
>> Okay. Well, Bigfoot does reside um I I'll say that. But um [laughter] just when when the staff came forward about the idea for a a mascot, which was interested in my previous library back in Durham, North Carolina, which is known as the Bull City, our um mascot
was a bull, which it made sense. And I was like, what is Jersey? What's the Jersey City equivalent? And what was presented to me was Bigfoot. I was like, that has nothing [laughter] with Jersey City. And I think plus that's a scary uh monster like that's
going to scare the little kids and they're like no it's going to be a happy thing. I was like okay just let's let's do it. And yeah Bigfoot has a following now you know and the kids >> don't don't ruin the allure. You don't have to identify the person. These are not the McCarthy hearings.
>> Right. Right. >> I just wanted to give them the opportunity but if they'd rather keep it under wraps I understand. I would like to invite the Bigfoot maybe, you know, to help with traffic calming. >> Oh, yeah. >> And Bergen and Clinton. >> Well, you know, it's not me, Council
President and Council cuz I'm too short to be Bigfoot. I was say, don't sell yourself short. >> All right, that's all I have. Thank you. >> Or excellent. Um, Mr. Hill and uh, nice to see you. Great to see you. I think this might be our first time meeting.
I'm not sure, but um, >> Charles Hatchet. Yeah. >> I know you're a reg I know you're a regular at the library. >> Yes. Yes. Go there with my daughter, my f my family. Um so um f first I I just want to start by I I heard reference
earlier in the meeting and I apologize for being late um to to the main library. I know Mr. Hills referred to it as the gardener main library which is the appropriate name. Um, it is named the Priscilla Gardener Main Library and I just want to give respect to the former uh director and her 50 years of
service and make ask my colleagues to refer to it as the Priscilla Gardner main library. We also [snorts] have the Glen D. Cunningham Library as well as the Earl Morgan Library. Right. I think those are the only three named, right? Is that okay? Um
so so that being said um I I did want to talk about the closure for the um five corners. Um and so so it's going to be permanently closed. It's already permanently closed. Yes. Um until some another alternative
or option makes itself available. And in terms of exploring those options, I just want to throw some ideas out there. Uh and I think some of them might have been discussed already. in terms of but possibly working with a developer. Um I assume that the library owns the
property. Is that no? Who who owns a lot? Who owns the property? >> The city of Georgia City. So I will encourage the administration to uh to discuss with uh potentially a developer or something like that to um you know
look at the building a library there. And I mean, it's a one of the most prized neighborhoods and properties in the city of Jersey City, frankly. Um, and uh, but but let's not sell ourselves on the cheap and make sure if we're going to do
something like that that we explore that. Um, I I just want to go back to uh some some other models that have worked, I guess, in uh in in downtown Jersey City with regard to uh um art house
productions. Um if folks are familiar with them, they have a home on um is it Mar Boulevard um around First Street or so or something like that. Uh um and they have a beautiful facility themselves. Uh but prior to that they did not have a home and they bounced
around and and developers were um were willing and I think one of them might be on your board, Mr. Silverman, right? Does he stand on the board? he was willing to uh house them in other locations I believe at the time or other developers were willing to do that. Um I
might be wrong about whether it was his site that held them but they currently are housed in I think some development that he he ultimately built. Right. Yeah. Um so so so those are some options and I don't know if we've if you've looked at or explored uh the Georgia City Public Schools um and whether they
have um space needs um as well. um I mean open space, available space. Um and they're also looking for um and certainly not looking to um looking for some sort of shared services maybe or some sort of shared arrangement there where you could get some affordable
space on a short-term basis. I'm not familiar with what spaces are underutilized. Uh I think that's probably more on the south side than in in uh the Journal Square area, but I don't know, frankly speaking. So something to look at there. Um and then
uh so so that that that just kind of some ideas off the top of my head as we were talking about this as I was listening to the conversation around u the five corners library um and I and I'll just talk about the budget itself and um
I I'll wait to hear back from the law department but I'm from my previous time on the council I don't recall ever amending your budget then any time shape or form or that we had the authority to do that. Um, and maybe that was just something I wasn't aware of at the time,
but certainly we'll wait for uh that uh information to come back. Um, but that being said, um, I I do want to ask you some questions. You know, we we are in a our own crisis here, budget crisis here in Jersey City. And um, we can use all
the help we can get, frankly, right? And all the partners we can get. And I think that the previous administration um in particular was not kind to uh Jersey Public Library. You don't have to comment on that. That's just my comment. And um and uh um and didn't build the
bridges and the relationships with the library or the Jersey City public schools. And and frankly, all three of us need to be working together um to be able to serve the families and and children of Jersey City, right? And so is there a way, and I don't have an idea right now, but um for us to be able to
work together um and to be able to find ways to help us offset over here, you talked about uh capital dollars. Certainly, we're not at the at the point now because of our credit downgrades and things of that nature to be able to be start floating bonds um for capital
improvements for you. And uh and that's why you've had to use your operating dollars essentially to to do that um that work. Uh but um looking down the line and planning into the future um because we will get out of this here in Jersey City and um we will have the
revenues and the ratables continue to grow which is why your your number just keeps growing as well um your allocation. Is there ways that we can be more imaginative and creative and coming up with a partnership and working together um that will help us offset? And when I look at your budget for the
first time in in four years for me, I I I ask myself if there's shared services around maintenance and repairs. I mean, we do maintenance repairs of our own building and have our own team and staff around that. um the uh safety and
security uh security guards. I assume that's payment for in some way. Um the the vehicle expenses, things of that nature. We we we have our own gas pump. [laughter] >> Um right. So, and I think we did that with the Jersey public schools at one time. Um so, I can just think of a
number of different ways that uh um off the top of my head in terms of looking at that, but other ways that uh we might begin to explore um that. The one last question I'll just have is um and this is a question is is the rents line um which facilities are being
rented at this point uh around Georgia City for your libraries? Lafayette, um, Marian, West Bergen Creative Arts Center, and
we pay the condo association at Pavonia. And these are all owned by private um, for-profit organiz businesses of some sort that you're you're renting from? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Um, and you feel those are pretty good. got
some pretty good terms on that uh those leases. >> Yeah, we do. >> Okay. Yeah. >> All right. Wanted to explore that if there's some way maybe the city can help around that as well in that way. All right. Um I I don't have any other
comments or questions. Um open up looking forward to opening up a dialogue around that as I said around kind of better partnership and collaboration to look at shared services and be able to address both of our budget challenges moving forward. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. and and the admin the current administration the new administration
has uh just recently approached us about us starting to start conversations about shared services and and uh what efficiencies that we could uh realize. uh you mentioned security um that is there's one thing that I I will share
because uh oftentimes we have the perception that the libraries are quiet safe places and and for the most part they are but the important thing to remember it is the public library. So everyone walks into the library. Anything that happens in our society
happens inside the library and our staff not only deal with the basic you know the the library services that we provide. They a lot of times are also mental health workers because they're dealing with those those situations. uh
as as you mentioned about the social workers uh you know we're bringing on more social workers but one thing that I uh am having a meeting about in August with health and human services is about getting the city's social workers like we have that whole department of social workers to get them doing uh office
hours in our branches so that there's more coverage across across the city. So there are a number of things like that that you know have been trying to get going for a couple years but I think we're at a place now that we can move forward together. Uh but just the d the
day-to-day dynamics uh of library services is much different than than it used to be even a year ago definitely 10 years ago. uh the um I will say at times abuse that my staff uh have to endure.
Uh it's it's can be scary and and so uh you know security is one thing that we are really really really concerned about. Uh there are libraries across the country that have had some uh fatal incidents in libraries. Uh again it's a
public place and you know we want to keep our staff safe. We want to keep the public safe, but we we can't turn a blind eye to to that situation. >> So, >> Councilman, >> I yield my time. >> We say we have about half an hour left, but anyone else's followup? Y
>> question. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, director Hill, uh, what what is happening uh to the staff of Five Corner Library? Are you placing them in other libraries? Yeah, the the staff are at other branches right now.
>> Okay. >> And then your question about uh the security, how about the buzzer system where people can buzz and then staff can let them in. That has >> Yeah, we we have that at some places. Um
but that also is something that people can not feel comfortable with the public because they feel like they're being held out. We have installed buzzers under the desk that connect to emergency services. So, we have that.
Um, we have security staff, you know, but they have the Soro uh certification. Um, we've had some conversations with Jersey City Police about offduty officers and actually the off their the officers now do patrol our branches, so
they may stop in once or twice a shift just to, you know, see how things are going. Um, so the staff have appreciated that and felt a little more support. Um, but you know at the same time like it's you never know when something's going to happen, right? And and even having
security there like really trained security doesn't prevent something but I think it would put us in a better place. >> That is true. But public schools, private schools, daycarees, this is what they are doing. They are, you know, people can buzz in and then security
personnel can let them come in. I think this is this is what we have been doing. It is unfortunate but this is it's a better idea to keep ourselves safe. I appreciate your answers. Thank you Dr. Director Hill.
>> Thank you. Um I I did have an additional question that I hadn't thought of earlier. Um >> and thank you again for coming before us and presenting and thank you for all the work the Jersey City Free Public Library does for the community. Um, I always see you guys out there at events and doing
outreach. And I know, um, you know, a library being a place of books is is something from 50 years ago, right? There's so much more these days. Um, it's a community center. It um, it provides all sorts of programming. And so, I really appreciate that um, all the
work you and your staff have been doing to give us this, you know, excellent 21st century library. Um my question was about the um Jersey Safrey Public Library Foundation um and
how like what is like I'm curious what the net revenue they raise each year is you know not because obviously they they incur expenses for their events and fundraisers and things like that but like the net revenue that they raise each year because I'm looking at last
year's budget and um it shows code that you were and and I don't know if this is if this is the correct line item, but it's it's saying um JCPL Foundation grants um
last year um was was 5,000 and this year it's listed as 5,000 for the year but year to date has been zero. So, does that mean you're expecting they will raise net
5,000 for the library this year, but they haven't had their fundraiser yet? No. Um, so when the when the foundation raises funds, it's they they're raising it to support the library, but they make the determination as to what they
support. So we may go to them if there's a special program we want to do and say you know would you fund this event or or program for us and then they may just pay for that event directly out of their account. Uh so we as as the library we
don't have like a specific amounts that we are looking for them to raise uh necessarily but they to answer your question about the amount I believe in 25 they they brought in about 150,000 or so uh but out of
>> that >> yeah okay >> yeah but out of that they they decide >> um you know what things they they support us with >> and a lot of times when they do sponsor an event, they pay directly. So, a lot of times the money doesn't it never
comes to us directly. >> Okay. So, that's why it's only showing up as 5,000 in your budget because that seemed low. So, it's it's not in the budget. It's separate. All right. Thank you for clarifying. >> Anyone else follow?
>> All right. Director sir, thank you for joining. >> I'm sorry. I hate to do it. I did. Yeah, I just had a question from a resident. Um, in terms of weekend hours, um, do you rotate staff or is that something you you could look at to expand weekend hours? >> Yeah, they work every other Saturday and
then they take a day off during the week. >> Okay. >> For that. >> All right. Director, thank you for joining us. I have one question for for everyone if I may before we >> uh if if you could all share >> one thing that you uh enjoy or
appreciate about the services of the library know some of you have in in your questions and comments but I I think that would be good to sub I'll start since I asked the first questions um it's a place of community and family and uh many years ago I uh talked to your
predecessor about doing a a friends of five corners uh group, then the pandemic happened, kind of ruined us. So, um, if if I'm passionate about Five Corners, it's because it's the building deserves it, that the facility deserved it, and we need it in W C. But I do appreciate
uh how it's a place for for all community to come together. >> I'm happy to go. Um, I appreciate your SAT preparation, which my 16-year-old daughter will be taking advantage of uh this year hopefully if she can make her
schedule work out. So, thanks so much. >> Maybe this is a little old school of me, but I like the books. [laughter] Um, I I love being able to check out a free book. So >> my So I love JC Bigfoot as I said
earlier. Um just it's just so fun. Um my most recent interaction with the library was checking out a book. Uh but other events that I've gone to at the library in the past year include yoga and a rave. So [laughter] you really do everything.
So as a new mom, I was new in the country and when I had my child, that's when I started connecting with other moms. So for us, we used to do play groups there and reading books. So I created my community in the library. So
thank you. And one thing I have to say that whenever we share about libraries, the events you guys are doing, a lot of people do not know about it. The regular programming it when you get to know there are so much to do. If you do not want to register your child to a summer
camp pair summer camp sorry summer camp or any summer programming library has good programming. So that's what we are doing. We are telling community about this spreading the word about the programming you're doing. So thank you so much for all the work.
I'll go uh the CAS uh program. Sam and his folks are awesome and um bilingual story hour brought uh our daughter to some of those uh downtown. So, thank you.
>> I uh appreciate the libraryies ability to change with time while still keeping true to, you know, the purpose and the initial mission of a library. is of course everyone knows there's books there but uh our library has been able
to weather the storm through different challenges through co through you know now we have so many different things available at the library is more than just books now so you know the world has evolved and everything is at our fingertips but you still have a reason
to walk into our libraries because they were able to adjust with that change so I think that that's a huge deal and you've all done a wonderful job at that. And then the second thing that I would say is the ability of the library to
engage with the community and also keep the diversity of Jersey City's community in mind. Um, when we opened the new or the renovated branch of the library, the Lafayette branch, when we opened that
branch, one of the first things I noticed when I walked in was the diversity of books. So, you had um you can just tell by the covers and the titles of the books that it was geared towards the people in that community. Uh, which was a very might might have seemed minor detail or maybe something
that most people didn't notice, but that was very important to me. And also just the way you all come out for community events. You're always at my community events. The uh you know the bookmobile is there. Um I do a big trunk or treat every year. Last year at the trunk or
treat bookmobile was there and they turned the bookmobile into a haunted house. A very very scary haunted house that even I was scared to go into. So I appreciate all the work that you all are doing over there at the library. And uh we definitely we know it and we see it
and we appreciate it. >> Director Hill, you are the first one ask asking us question for last seven uh hearing we have been asking all the questions. So I actually like that. >> Oh thank you. Thank you. Well actually that um was really for the library staff
because they are the ones on the front lines doing the work every day. So thank you. >> All right. Now tell us one thing you like about the council. [laughter] >> One just one. I'm I'm kidding. I'm kidding. Uh now, let me say thank you for your time today. I appreciate it, gentlemen. Uh
turn it back my chair duties back over to our council president. >> Okay. If no one has anything else, then uh we'll call for a motion to adjurnn. >> And may I have a motion to adjourn at 4, excuse me, 2:41 p.m.
Council >> Singh. >> Council person Singh made the motion. May I have a second? one wants to adjurnn. Second from >> Thank you. I was about to make it on the motion to adjourn at 2:41 p.m. All council members
present by acclamation, please say I. >> I. We are out of here at 2:41 p.m.