COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE - R. ESPINOSA

Presentation of proposed response by Library Systems and Services Incorporated (LSSI) to the Needs Assessment Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by the County of San Benito, CA on behalf of the City of Hollister, City of San Juan Bautista and County of San Benito Joint Intergovernmental Committee and consideration of available options by the Board of Supervisors.

SBC FILE NUMBER: 80

The following background/summary information is taken directly from the Request for Proposal Introductory Information as issued in the original document.

The San Benito County Intergovernmental Committee - a committee comprised of two members of the County Board of Supervisors, two members of each City Council, and the Superintendent of the Office of Education - directed County staff to seek qualified consultants to assist in the development of a needs assessment that focuses on technology, education, and library services in the County of San Benito.

The intent of the proposed project is to create a comprehensive understanding of operational and building needs for the San Benito County Free Library and eventually a Technology, Education, and Library (TEL) Center.

The scope of the project includes facilities and operational needs.

Over the course of several months the Intergovernmental Committee discussed a request for a needs assessment for the existing San Benito County Free Library (Library).

This assessment was contemplated to serve as justification for funding from the City of Hollister.

The Library is currently funded by the County of San Benito with additional grant funding sought out by the Librarian and staff. Current funding information can be found at: http://sbcvote.us/county-auditor/county-budget/.

The City of Hollister provides approximately $15,000 per year; however, a majority of cardholders, approximately 70%, are City residents.

The Committee also discussed “What the future of library services look like in San Benito County and what should they be?”

The conversation of the future focused on the educational needs of students, and the technology needs of the community. As a result of the discussion of future services, the idea of partnering for what would be called a TEL Center was created. The mission of the TEL Center, as discussed by the Committee, would be a partnership of the Cities, County, Schools, and the Library to serve not only students, but the entire community – a center that serves as a hub for the community.

On November 17, 2015, the Board of Supervisors approved the recommendation from the Committee to authorize County staff to work with the City of Hollister to develop and advertise a Request for Proposal for a needs assessment for the San Benito County Free Library and a Technology, Education, and Library Center; while directing staff to keep the Board of Supervisors informed of action taken by the Committee on this item on a monthly basis.

On January 12, 2016 during a special Board meeting, the following vision was given during the State of the County by Supervisor and Chair of the Board, Robert Rivas:

"I propose as a top priority to build a new county library and community center. We should build a place of learning and discussion that will be a model for the rest of the state - a place where our entire community can come to experience the beauty of learning. This should not just be a library with bookshelves, but an interactive place where people will gather to share ideas, to read and borrow books, to reserve conference rooms, to attend classes, to use a computer, to browse the internet. A place where one can experience a sense of community. It should be a beautiful building that will be the epicenter of our County. "

The goal of the needs assessment is twofold: develop a comprehensive analysis of the unmet facility and operational needs in the existing Library; and identify the needs (capital and operational) for a Technology Education and Library Center, a future center that would serve as a hub for the entire community focusing on the following goals:

1.Expand the depth and breadth of library collections including digital resources

2.Raising Literacy and School Standardized Test Scores

3.Provide access to Digital Literacy and Technology for San Benito County Residents: Ages 0-5, school-age, teen, and adult

4.Provide a physical library design and location that accommodates 21st century needs in the areas of technology, education, information, and recreation serving not only library programs, but literacy needs, and other community needs (i.e.conference rooms, and commercial space).

5.Ability to include non-profit, private, and or commercial sector economic stimulus.

6.Ability to incorporate public-private partnerships in order to lower costs, increase services, and remain relevant to users of all ages and demographics.

The existing library facility and service levels are inadequate to accommodate both the present and future needs of the County population.

The Needs Assessment should provide a foundation through sound data analysis and other relevant research to help determine the unmet facility and operational needs of the existing Library and the future TEL Center. Both short-term and long-term community goals and needs for the present library, and TEL Center are dependent on more updated assessments with an emphasis on involvement with local elementary and high schools and business needs.

In regards to previous assessment history there has been a Professional Building Plan (1991), a Library Building Program Plan for San Benito County (2001) and a Strategic Plan (2011).

In addition there have been three library facility needs assessments in March 2007, 2009, and the most recent one was submitted in November 2015. All of these are included as references.

Staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors receive presentation and provide direction to staff.