##VIDEO ID:https://stpaul.granicus.com/player/clip/5054?view_id=37&redirect=true## Johnson. Jalali. And chair tools here. For PRESIDENT 3 absent was council member Johnson Jalali and can be excused. The frst item on the agenda is the approval of minutes. 24 Dash 40 approving OCTOBER second 2024 library minutes. Do you have any discussion on the line 40 minutes? a great. I'll take a motion from Councilmember Yang to approve the minutes on favor. Say Aye. Aye. Anyone posts. 4 in favor 0 pose. Minutes are approved. Te next item on the agenda is staff report. 24 Dash one 86 collection development policy overview. It's great. And I was turned over to Director Kirk and MISS Going to have our collection development policy staff report. And we also have another item that follows on our agenda for the resolution for Thank you, chair. Just I'm going to turn it Just can still hurt our materials management supervisor who presented last month. And she's back here with the second part. That's great. Thank you. So welcome. Is all heart and heavy take it And great interest Thank you for having me back again today. I thank you for setting up this presentation. So with your questions really a nice segue into And before we get to for and just wanted to share some background about wind back. We're gonna be talking about today. So reflections and only policies. Our son of practice for public libraries where they should be our previous policy was approved back in 2014 there were some legislative changes this year that required revision to our poll, cnn adoption of the new policy. Great. And to talk a little bit today about has so that the law that changed is Minnesota statute. One 34.5 one, which is nicknamed the band fans. Requires a policy that establishes procedures for the selection challenges too. And reconsideration of library materials. So that's when a community member other stakeholder library remove something from collection MAY be no change. How it has to find kids to adults or something like that. And then to establish procedures for how we received reports. Those challenges. At big policy pece of this is that this statute does states. That libraries cans band remove or otherwise restrict access to an item based on the views, messages or opinions expressed in that item. Which was aready hw we were and the law and responding to these requests. So that that piece of change fresh, I just wanted to mention it since it is a big part of this law. I'll talk more in depth about the process later. But first wanted to take a step back and just talk about what the collection to vote on policy is and what means. So the questions of on policy really sets out how staff were making decisions about the levers collection, make those decisions, decisions. And then it makes that information available to the public. Lines goals and scope of the collection, the criteria we use for adding and removing items and then asserts libras commitments, intellectual Freedom Collection decision. I did talk about the collection calls last time and wanted to mention it again today, along with principle of intellectual freedom because it is really important to how do the work of building the library's materials collection. So the goal of the levers to support the mission, vision values and strategic direction of the library. So we want libraries, section to be part of helping and people connects to learn speak and to grow. Coming to the library connect to resources that you need or where you can connect to others to stories that you find in the library. We want patients who come to see themselves in the collection. So in the policy we state that the collection reflect the diversity of the community. And providing information in a variety of formats. So that's why we don't just folks, we have dvd's and cd's and evokes so that people can get the resources they need in the format that they need and that they should have different levels of complexity. Books for kids to adults with, you know, very density or length and tat from the press and neighborhood needs are integral to selection process. So really trying to make sure that. Community needs and voices are present in our collection. The principal of intellectual freedom, which I will and always a little bit more definite leader. Also really in front of how we build the collection. Essentially what state is that libraries don't get to exclude or remove items from the collection based the views expressed so. As we work to build a collection that is for the whole community. Will inherently have views in the collection that are in conflict with one another. And our commitment social freedom requires having a diversity of viewpoints in the collection. The policy also says that the scope of the clergy, so what kind of a collection are we trying to build? And in Saint Paul over building a popular materials collection driven by demand and community needs. So we collect a general. Interest items are specific or academic or technical items. That's why we don't quite textbooks. For example, we're not a research library were not archives. We can often help patrons feel those informational needs by referral either to other institutions or through internal every loan service us. The policy also lays out the selection criteria that the selectors you use when they're making their decisions about what items to add to the collection. So this is criteria that they use in addition to sort of that broad overview of what our scope is and then some of the information I talked about last time. So. Awareness of trends in their subject, areas, awareness of what they've heard from patrons of the staff are using the collection collection All of that combined with these criteria and go into deciding what items come into our collection. And you can see the sort they run the gamut from really broad like, you know, we want representation of diverse points of view and cultural experiences. We want to see relevance the community. We want to see how early the existing collection. And then there's like a really pragmatic things like cost like can we have for this will be get our money's worth out of it. If we do buy it and this is not a single set of selection criteria. And I don't think anything that we add to the collection needs every single one of these. But these are some of the guiding criteria we use are making that decision. I think most things didn't exist along a spectrum o a lot of You know something, it really expensive, but it needs a really important mean. So it's worth it for us to add to the collection. It did not talk a little bit about donations that is in our policy. I know the question came up last month so. Can add donations to the collection that are well aligned with our criteria, scope and goals. We have some other The cabbie out in a policy that help us keep tose donations within scope of the questions. So, you know, good condition published in the last 3 years. No magazines are textbooks that if you donate it to us, we keep it I will say that. I think just because of how donations usually are donating something like when you're done with it. So maybe size popular or you've loved a lot. So it's kind where now there is very specific to your interests. We don't add a ton of donations to the library's collection. Yu so really appreciate People think of us when they're trying find a new home for their personal collections and also encourage folks to look, you know, at at other resources, their community to for So little free libraries, buy nothing groups, items that we don't add to the collection. We put on the virus book sale or if it's in poor condition with them, recycle dispose of it. The policy also says how we remove items from the collections on accession beading, it gets cold because the gardening and metaphor is fairly after. In this we want to take things out of the collection that are not serving goal of having a collection. That is relevant and responsive to community in order to help us meet our overall goal with materials that are in the a and this is part of the life cycle of - library material. That's very normal for things to, you know, get worn out at the get out of date. The really popular and they're not as popular anymore as we just don't need as many copies are. They reflect a trend. That's not a trend more. Space is obviously also a consideration. So if you want to get new items into the collection, we need to make room for them by getting by removing things that are no longer serving our goals. And even with without space limitations. There are some things broken dvd doesn't serve anyone materials that are out of date can be harmful if they're inaccurate. So those things we would remove regardless of space considerations we do have the library to be a warehouse for books. We wanted to be like a used usable collection that is relevant and accessible to people is not full of old information or materials that in Because we want to have a question that's responsive to community and because of the state law now requires that we do have a process for residents to by ready to reconsider having something in our collection, requests for something in our collection. We hope the request for reconsideration process. Normally works. Is it? It? Hopefully starts with a conversation between the patrons and staff you know, something comes up to a desk and is surprised or concerned about something they found in the library's collection and then the staff members able to give sort of a high-level overview of this document. So here's the goals of collection. We're trying to build a collection for everyone. Not everything in here is going to be appropriate for everyone. And - then after that needs the patrons informational need it answers a question. If they want to continue and have the library formally. Reviewed the item. We do have a form. They can fill out. That gets reviewed by me and the selectors meet determine whether or not the violates including of the item in the collection violates our collections of element policy. New for the state law is that we need to have to import these to mte. It's it's a very basic reform. But that is Have a question. Thank Thank you for all this information. So if an item does violate the policy, then what happened next? And We would make a decision based the information about the item or in plane. You know. Typically. Spoiler in my next point, which is that it doesn't happen that often case what we do. We would likely remove the clot the item from the collection if it was found not be in compliance with collection development policies. And, you consider as a Christian. Thanks so much. I noticed in the actual in the policy able get the text itself and you just mentioned it on the slide that the materials management supervisor would report information about item subject to a reconsideration request and any resulting action to Minnesota Commissioner Education would there be any report to this body or any public oversight of the of the city or the City Council library board. It seems like it would be good for us to know items so that it's not just the materials management supervisor and the commissioner of education, knowing what conversations are happening in the materials MAY or MAY not be getting removed, but also oversight at the city level. something we have I you would be open to the public. Chair COUNCILMAN Acre. It's a good question. Currently the library board leaves that responsibility to the library director. So if that's something we wanted to talk about in the future, we certainly could. But the way it's set up right now is the library director. That is the one people appealed to and not to the library board itself. And that's that's different in some other library board structures. But in Saint Paul, that's not how we structured the library board. Just to clarify, it looks like the appeals go to the library director, but not the original decisions. So again, I'm just trying to figure out if things like in this case, we might setting up situation which and evil future materials. Management supervisor, not a current The free to make initial decisions complete with their with no oversight. Only if it were killed when it come to the director and then even then not necessarily. But it come to anybody here. I more comfortable if it always comes to the director and then, of course, we can always request a report on that. But it does seem like we're leaving at least any decision that the initial level that doesn't get appealed in the hands of the staff member. Without percent. To just councilmember maker. I would say while it MAY not be written specifically in the policy that I'm well aware of any time that that happens and of delegated that responsibility to somebody at a hi supervisory level in the library with the right credentials to do that. So we can certainly look to clarify the language of that, you know, would be of interest. So to make it clear that the library directors in the loop on that. I would just suggest adding to the last paragraph that talks about letting the commission education know that the Met Materials. Management supervisor also lets library director know sounds like it's happening anyway. And then that's something that can be requested by this body. We are adopting it today, right? You can. Our next Now it is the questions. Okay. We'll continue. I'm just sharing a little bit of background for the request, reconsideration discussion and the amendment where the the new statute has arisen from in 2023, the American Library Association reported that there were. 1247 requests made to asked libraries to reconsider removed to cnsider removing items from their collections that targeted 4,240 unique title. So many of these requests were targeting multiple titles as library to remove as you can see, the 2023 number as part of an escalating trend of more and more titles. Being targeted for removal from the collections a variety of individuals. Like I said, this is not not an increase in Saint We see very few request for reconsideration in Saint Paul. So, you know, really grateful for the staff members were having conversations with community members about this policy. And and you know what that impact of that is. And for a community that seems too understand the need to have a wide range of viewpoints collection. So much and intellectual freedom can suppose bit earlier. So. What how we understand essential freedom to mean in terms of library questions on the policies. Is that? Reading listening and viewing our individual matters is not up to the wire. It to tell you what you you get to read or watch or anything like that. And know that. Everyone is going to have a different set of materials that's appropriate for Extends to children. So in the policy, we do say responsibility for children's use materials rest with their parents or guardians of the wire is not gonna make a decision. For a family about what is an appropriate material for their family. Because it's gonna be different every about is up parents to decide. have briefly about the documents we and our policy referencing documents from the American Library Association. And the leverage elaborates, the Freedom to reinstatement and freedom to view statements. The bill of rights that wineries? Should not exclude materials from the collection because of the background origin views of their creator. The Irish Channel in censorship and that patients have a right to privacy about the materials that they access from the library's collection. The Freedom Street statement notes that it is in the public interest of levers to make available the widest diversity of views. Not having them in the liver is not an endorsement of their contents. So I will sy that there is tension here between ira's commitment to intellectual freedom our institutional goals around making the library a welcoming space because when you have the widest diversity of views possible, there will be views that are welcoming to people in the library. This is sort of a long haul from the freedoms reinstatement, but it it kind of speaks to how I think about this tension. So is the responsibility of publishers librarians to give full meetings and the freedom to read by providing books that enrich the quality and diversity of thought and expression by the exercise of this affirmative responsibility. They can demonstrate that the answer to a bad book is a good one. The answers from bad idea is a good one. So the framework for freedom. And the library does not assert that a new book is actually good or bad The idea is that we don't build. Responsible, responsive collection that serves the public interest by what we keep out of it. But we try to do is include as many voices and viewpoints as we can. So that. People can see themselves reflected and can be exposed oher viewpoints in a way that's that's about what is included in the collection and not what about. We are keeping our school collection. And ready into questions line. So I know that was a lie. Want thank you all for the time today. Hopefully that helps next agenda item, which is maybe if you need a library's, actually developing policy. Happy answer any questions. For record. Cajuns. And you have any questions. I don't see Thank you so much. Years and Titian. Really appreciate it. The next item up for discussion is resolution 24 dash, 1, 5, 9, 8, approval of Tuesday approval of the collection development policy. So before says the resolution that we were basically just discussing presentation of. So there's the written version of it that is attached year agenda that we will be discussing today essentially the process for this is that, you know, we will discuss and potentially approve this today and then it would come before the city council. It sent agenda at, you know, a later date after that. So that those are the steps that we have moving forward. Is there any discussion on this item? When thanks. You're just I'd like to propose an amendment to page 3 of policy that would just say the materials management supervisor will respond to the request in writing and in farm. The library director and live report. So come summer knickers brought forth amendment. Is there any discussion on that item? You're on the hunt, her amendment. Okay. Discussion. So just for pro procedure standpoint, what I move an amended to be moving an amended version. We would vote on that or do we need to do the amendment and then te resolution separately, but on the amendment and then the entire policy and policy. Okay. Okay. Thank you for that clarification. All right. I don't have any further discussion. Is motion from councilmember maker to move her amendment motion from councilmember maker to move amendment all in favor say Aye. Aye. Foreign favors or oppose. The amendment has been adopted. Okay. So with that, then we would have resolution. The amended version of the resolution is now up for discussion again. Yes, in the discussion and I ask questions, can I can I ask the questions that use up there. But I just going through policy. On here, I see there's not really much context, particularly our ow. And like dates and times of how free credit. The will was a con leading process happens. And also it's there a calendar on and you know how often you're looking to re-evaluate the materials. How often you're you know what the goals are in terms of rain, more collections into the light. Very. And if there just a entryway this 4 people say they are. Publisher, People who want to have Ontario. Inside the library and not in the see, I'm seeing like overall value statement and principles that not seen a tangible terms of. Date and time. Those processes happening. Yeah. Bring back and still hard Can yet? council thank you for that question. The work that we do on the collection happens every day throughout the whole year. So materials are being added to the collection every day and also being removed. My response to where the sort of like timeline or more specifics. My experience has been that doesn't usually live in the policy document. Put more on the procedures and the directions that we're providing to our staff. I just do want to add anything to that. Yeah, is the most of that is operational best practices but doesn't usually rise the level of policy document and And the specific question I asked about new out there others want to submit in the or to ivory. We do a form on the website that folks can use and it has ppl dot org slash and just make a noise starts a library staff to or cntact me. Okay. And then another pair fact clarifying question around ground operations. So what it's like that. Turn around. 8 of someone wants get their materials submitted to the value it to bsa collection. And what is that timeline terms they we have it on the Web site. I want to say it's a month just because often independence independently published materials require a little bit more digging around. You know, who is author? What does this work? Doesn't meet our selection criteria, but we try to make that decision within a month. And then sometimes it takes bit longer because the process for adding an item can be a little bit longer if nobody else has ever added it to a library collection to do some original working with him. Okay. So it's there a Category of a new versus someone who maybe you're making the material from like a publishing company that you're mre. If you know your Yeah, I mean, we do a few things. So we have at downtown library, a local author collection, which you know, try to focus on Saint Paul authors for not like getting published by Penguin Random House leak local voices a way to it certain to amplify those and make them a little bit more visible and then we do. Title is of new But those are a mix of publishing sources. It is. So you mentioned like operations in the policy. Is that? Just internal documents are said just kind of like the. Based on the direction of the director wondering writing in the where. Chair, just that's when we can. You say more about what you're looking for from like operations specifically? Well, I was just saying in terms of like the procedures in these operations are in the policy. So I'm wondering. How's that govern? Our that's based off of like that. The staff. Yet we do have written documentation for our meeting or removal process needs to be the updated its something Robinson update in the next few months. But we do have, you know, guidelines for to use. I think scheduling often comes down to staff capacity around what else they have going on in the library. Does that in terms of purchasing new materials like as Marines? And we we buy new materials every day. So that tends to ebb and flow with the publishing seasons. So fall is a big publishing seasons. We've got a lot of items coming in and you know, summer tends to be a little bit sore. Since you are items coming in. Thank you. Appreciate over. Know every for every week. Looking at budget so that inmates just think in terms of how the libraries planning on, you know, those everyday purchases, What season, what this? The heavy flows how we are adding to the collection. When is the timeline of when that leading is in you know, understand it, that could be in flux. So I just was trying to get more clarity on that. But shape just over Create any other questions or discussion on this resolution. All right. I guess take a motion again from Councilmember with the amended version of this resolution for the collection development policy on favor say Aye. Aye. Also posts. Warren, things are opposed. The resolution has been adopted. The final item on the agenda is staff report. 24 Dash one 84 upcoming library events. Great. Get director Hurckman again. Thank you, chair. Just I what I did want to MISS An opportunity to tell you about a couple of events that we have coming up as well my colleagues at. And it's going to tell you something important that's happening in the library starting next week. But I want to make sure that you understand what the library is real. And that is we are celebrating Native American Heritage Month this this month. I want highlight for you that there's chalk testing workshop with Mark Billy coming up at 7, a and then an arts and culture Bears concert and panel discussion Arlington We are always welcome and I will send invitation that specifically when those programs are happening. In your words. I want a little learners us that little learners as a series of programs for caregivers and their little ones. And it brings other performers to move your body celebrate together. So. dance and young dance and then Terminal b. a couple of different libraries over the next 6 weeks. Welcome. You highlighting that live here, constituents and with your own family. And I want I want to reintroduce Hernandez Sorry, can could you define young children home friend asking for a asking for a friend. In the age of school So it's mostly for preschool kids and younger, but it's an enjoyable day. Many agents thank you. Thank I want to reintroduce Hernandez and Jose Public services manager in the library. give you an update on the library's role when Section 8 waiting list for housing opens up next week. Thank you so much. And welcome. Thank you. Maureen counts children's. And so I'm actually stepping in for our new economic opportunity John, she had actually head upstairs to lead a session on the Section 8 housing way to So the Section housing waiting list opens next week and we've had a history that same public library of supporting community members that are interested in applying by making your computers available, having staff available to answer questions, getting them on a computer, helping them set up emails, figure out the application. However, our staff did not provide legal advice. That's just the general for all of things we do. Pride, legal tax for medical advice. And so what we are hosting today is in partnership with the housing Choice Voucher program. Director is a session for staff to go through the entire application process. What they are familiar with it and when it opens up, they're ready to support community members. So on the day that it opens and w will have a representative from the housing voucher program at the Roanoke Community Library and George Latimer Central Library from 10:00am to 04:30pm, and they will be there also helping people with navigation they can't necessarily make specific recommendations on which housing or how they report their own information. But they can prevent provide some guidance. And this year, the waiting list will has been lowered from 2000 to 1200. So we expect that there will be just higher demand. It also does not matter community members applied during that opening period. It is a lottery system so they won't be if you're there on the first there the last day, your chances don't improve its just part of a lottery system. So part of that training and conversations that our staff, half with community members is explaining that. So don't have to feel rushed a. They know that they have an equal chance at any point during application period. And our staff are getting training right now as we speak Hopefully we'll have lots of folks answering questions committee members. That's questions. The questions. Guess that's questions. But I just want to say that partnership, Israeli creates. I want to say thank you to you all for for providing such a an important service, especially 2 households in committees that are Lewis income. Thank you. Just want to make sure that everybody can see the connection between the importance of the library the library technology, and help. That folks when they're trying to get their tasks of daily live in that. And so that's the work that we do every day when we opened our doors in the morning. One last lied about upcoming library news. I want to let you know that next week, the American Library Association's court division. We'll be having their annual conference in the Twin Cities and they'll be touring our new mobile library, as well as the George Latimer Central Library. And then I'll be giving a welcome to conference attendees at Saturday morning. And then also we're going to be closed on NOVEMBER. 28 for Thanksgiving, but little known fact, we're open the day after Thanksgiving so it is a nice antidote food or shopping anything else. And so it's a great day to come in and use the library. Got something to Get a movie to watch their family and be in community with each other's. That's my final update. Any other questions or comments Councilmember? Thanks just was just reminded by that slide Director. Typing this this, but did we come up with a name for mobile? Anything? It's actually yes. Share councilmember naked never tell you. Maybe you did. I it. I think she did. I was wondering why the name wasn't in their right to send Mobile library. It's Moby. Inside I'm horrified that I MAY not have told you personally it be and thanks for your organizing work that's great. Yeah, I'm really excited about this upcoming events. I went to the library on Sunday. It was a rainy day and it was the busiest that I've ever seen the library before. And so that was really great. And my son was really excited about quite how many movies that there were choose from. So look forward to that on the day after Thanksgiving well, with nothing else to come before us today, eye We don't apologize. We don't have any public hearings on the agenda today. So there isn't any ability make all the So unfortunately, we don't have any a public hearing item. So want make a public comment will be around Will be or will be around after Okay. Great. Thank you If there. If there is a if there is an item on the agenda that has a public hearing, you can make a public comment. But you can also submit public comment but has to pertain to the item on the agenda. With no other items before us today, we are adjourned.