West Richland Town Hall Meeting June 14, 2016

Mid-Columbia Libraries has proudly served West Richland for 48 Years

Mid-Columbia Libraries worked with the Blue Ribbon Committee Goals Provide information Enable the citizens to make an informed decision Because You have to decide how you want to fund West Richland library services You have to decide if you want Mid-Columbia Libraries to be your library The information in the following slides is the same information we provided to the Blue Ribbon Committee.

$0.45 $0.42 $0.44 $0.44 $0.37 $0.48 $0.46 Lowest levy rate among the comparable and larger library districts Smallest tax base Lean staffing – based on innovative staffing models Forward looking focus on serving customers through automation Heavy investment into digital services $0.49

Circ: + 21% Visits: – 12%

West Richland Branch

Digital Material is Extremely Popular Among West Richland Residents eBook / eAudiobook checkout ratio per capita Pasco: 1 to 1 Kennewick: 2 to 1 West Richland: 3 to 1 MCL has the largest digital collection outside of the Seattle Metro area / Biggest collection east of the cascades!

New Contract After many years of contract extensions, MCL and the City of West Richland entered a contract that should guarantee library services for the next six years. Items in the new contract included opening the Mid-Columbia Libraries’ West Richland Branch on Sundays, adding a full time librarian to the staff of the branch, and remodeling the branch in the near future.

Library Fund Expenditures MCL 2015 Budget for West Richland Branch Direct Expenditures $256,901.99 Public Services $176,195.54 Administrative Services $68,516.66 Total $601,611.20 (100%) City of West Richland Contract Fee $393,860.12 (65.47%) Unincorporated Benton and Franklin Counties $207,751.08 (34.53%)

Usage v. Funding WR Resident Usage WR Resident Funding Outside Usage Outside Funding 81% 65.41% 19% 34.53%

West Richland Residents Registered at other Branches 556

Expenditure Type City of West Richland Contract Rate Fixed Indirect Cost Allocated Amount Variable

Customer service leads to high net promoter score

Net Promoter Score MENTION 2015 FINALIST FOR NATIONAL MEDAL FOR MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES

Library Funding for Contracted Cities Taxes City collects taxes to pay for services, typically out of its general fund MCL City contracts with Mid-Columbia Libraries Contract rate is set at $.37 for $1,000 of assessed property value Happy Customers Mid-Columbia Libraries provides library services

Library Funding for Annexed Cities Levy rate Property Tax: $.37 per $1,000 of assessed property value MCL Money goes directly to Mid-Columbia Libraries Happy Customers Mid-Columbia Libraries provides library services

Annexation Process/Timeline City Council Ordinance Library District Board Resolution State Librarian concurs Obviously Annexation is the preferred funding option for Mid-Columbia Libraries. It ensures that finances are stable enabling us to plan ahead and to provide services into perpetuity. Any city or town with a population of 300,000 or less may become a part of any rural county library district ~ RCW 27.12.360. Annexation initiated by the adoption of a city council ordinance. Library board of trustees would need to issue a resolution consenting to the annexation. City officials would notify the WA State Librarian of the proposed ordinance and with their concurrence, transmit notification to the Benton County Commissioners. County Commissioners would by resolution call a special election to be held. Voter approval of annexation to a library district is by simple majority vote. County puts on ballot Due to County no later than 8/2 for November Election

Annexation Process/Timeline If annexation occurs, the city and the library district establish an INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT Mutual Accountability Service levels established We have heard concerns about loss of citizen control resulting from annexation. Annexation DOES NOT mean loss of control. The city and the library district will establish an interlocal agreement- essentially a CONTRACT- where we would agree on service levels, division of expenses, and what we can expect from each other. The library board is made up of four representatives from Benton County and three from Franklin County- and we have had trustees from West Richland and could have it again. We have these with the other annexed cities- KENNEWICK is a great example.

West Richland Branch Remodel

Prosser Remodel

Knocked down walls for an open layout Knocked down walls for an open layout. Added balloon theme in the children’s area.

Historic photo mural pictured in back.

“I cannot live without books.” --Thomas Jefferson Quote by Thomas Jefferson- author of the declaration of independence, third president of the US, and founder of the library of congress, the world’s largest library. “I cannot live without books.” Based on their use of Mid-Columbia Libraries, neither can your residents. Thank you.

Thank you!