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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Futures Committee - 12/09/2019 -1 MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS FUTURES COMMITTEE MEETING Date: December 09, 2019 Location: CIC Room, City Hall, 300 Laporte Ave. Time: 4:00–5:30pm Committee Members Present: Mayor Wade Troxell Julie Pignataro Emily Gorgol City Staff: Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager Jackie Kozak-Thiel, (Staff Liaison) Presenters: David Slivken, Executive Director, Poudre River Public Library District Stacy Lee Koeckeritz, Owner and Founder of Eco-Thrift Additional Staff Present: Cassie Archuleta, Environmental Services Jason Komes, Environmental Services, Kelly DiMartino, City Manager’s Office Nina Bodenhamer CityGive Dean Klinger, PDT Community Members: Joe Wise, Poudre River Library District Ken Draves, Poudre River Library District Kevin Jones, Fort Collins Chamber Meeting called to order at 4:06 pm Approval of Minutes: Julie moved to approve October 14 minutes. Emily seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 3-0- 0. Chairman Comments: None Summary • Using the lens of libraries, the discussion was connected to many previous topics that the Futures Committee has tackled including: o Artificial Intelligence 2 o Digital Equity; o The changing demography in the region and aging trends. • Libraries have the ability to serve as a third space; it can be a great equalizer among people from all backgrounds. • Libraries are constantly evolving to meet current demands and thinking about how best to serve the community including: o Considering different business models for libraries o Training librarians to meet community needs and connect with various people from different backgrounds • Partnerships, collaboration and co-creation are essential for the Future of Libraries o Sharing economy requires many organizations and people working together o Sharing economy allows for innovative people in the community to be “freed up” o Upcoming Repair Café on December 14th at the Old Town Library is an example of collaboration • Jackie will make connections to the URA, Council priorities such as homelessness initiatives, job/trade priorities and making connections with the sharing economy (through Sonali? at CSU). • The committee also discussed upcoming Futures topics including: o January 13th Josie Plaut, Regenerative Approaches for our Future o Potential Youth Panel—Jackie and Megan will follow-up with the Youth Advisory Board Think Tank Item 6-2019: The Future of Libraries David Slivken • Brief introduction to the Poudre River Library District o Dates back to the late 19th Century and was the 6th public library in the state o 1974 current old town library constructed o 2006 library became special district via voter approval o Cover 1800 Square miles in Library District ▪ Currently have three full -service locations (Harmony—co-located with Front Range Community College, Old Town Library, Council Tree library at the Front Range village) o 3 Mill Levy passed by voters in 2006 ▪ $47.73 per capita support in 2018 lowest mill levy in the Front Range ▪ 2020 revenue about 12 million a year. 90% comes from 3 mill property tax levy o Poudre River District Values ▪ Collaborative ▪ Inclusive ▪ Curious ▪ Innovative ▪ Accountable • Emerging and projected trends o Aging workforce and population mean the profile of users and library professionals is changing ▪ Could shape direction of collection (leisure reading and large print) 3 ▪ Could change services for older populations o Income Inequality is the defining challenge of our time and libraries will need to help with skill development in the community (EX: STEM skills) ▪ Libraries also serve as a space to bring people together from different backgrounds o Connected Learning ▪ Social and digital media available connects students and young people to each other and to formal/informal educators. ▪ Learners achieve best when learning is reinforced in multiple settings ▪ Libraries can engage other organizations as partners—help to level playing field between the have and have nots o Artificial Intelligence ▪ Relies on deep learning ▪ AI could become an invaluable tool for making accessible large collections of information. • Visions for the Future o Align library services in support of community goals which requires flexibility, collaboration and adaptability to redefine the role of the library as community needs change o Provides access to content in all formats —in doing this, need affordable and universal broadband o Cultivate leadership as libraries need to be proactive to build community support • Opportunities for Libraries o Libraries as a third place; a place beside home and work where people spend time. ▪ Shared social space through programs and services allows engagement o Libraries play a vital role in civic engagement by empowering people to be involved in communities. David notes that libraries are often a first connection immigrants make with their communities o Libraries serve as creative spaces that allow for public participation beyond lending • Challenges o Growing mistrust of government o Erosion of faith in objective information o Decline in civility and civic engagement o Disappearing middle class o Aversion to taxes o Decline of reading o Lack of diversity in our profession • Best Practice Examples o Frisco Texas—at home experimental learning kit—access to AI resources to raise awareness and make it approachable for all learners o Cambridge MA—Creative Aging ▪ Creative courses for adults over 55 to develop new skills, and make connections ▪ 8-week courses on a range of topics 4 o San Jose CA Co-branding Library Cards ▪ Partnership between library and NHL San Jose Sharks ▪ Generated many news stories and co-branded library cards o Edmonton Library in Albuquerque NM, Vinyl album collection and partnership with local musicians ▪ Sold out album release concert ▪ Strengthened City’s music scene and showed role library plays in arts/music scene • Triple Bottom Line perspectives o The Triple Bottom Line is a natural framework for libraries of all sizes as libraries seek to be sustainable o Sustainable libraries look to the community and their strategic plan to determine what community might need o Poudre River Library District is a platinum member of ClimateWise and supports the City’s climate action goals to be carbon neutral by 2050 • Potential next steps o District will grow by more than 40% over the next 20 years o Emerging trends and customer expectations will continue to shape how community perceives libraries o Goal is to stay sustainable—Fort Collins will have no more than 4 full-service libraries. The Council Tree library will grow, and a new library is proposed to be built in north Fort Collins o The library will also continue to deliver non-library services o Library will build upon the City of Fort Collins core values of livability, community and sustainability Stacy Koeckeritz • Eco-Thrift tool lending library was born out a need in a community and was the recipient of the Innovate Fort Collins grant in 2018 o Grant funds were fundamental to establishing the lending library and it is a hugely collaborative effort o In establishing the library, Stacy reached out to other tool libraries in the country ▪ This helped to connect to resources needed (i.e. legal documents) ▪ Software for business was provided ▪ Allows for people who believe in the sharing economy to be connected • Elements of the Tool library: o Membership based ($100) per household per year ▪ Also have a working membership on a sliding scale starting at $30. ▪ Since March of 2019, there are 40 members o The tool library is collaborative in nature, working with other partners ▪ Repair it café workshop that will be hosted at the Old Town library on December 14th • Similar to the Poudre River Library District, the tool library is a safe place where people can be brought together from different backgrounds • Stacy touches on some of the environmental impacts of a tool lending library including: o Behavior change—disposable purchase versus other long-term purchases 5 o Reduce consumption o Green tools (electric) o Education o Increased waste diversion • Recognition that cost of real estate can be prohibitive in Fort Collins o Stacy asks the committee to consider how the City can support businesses that promote sharing economy o The tool lending library has had significant amount of community support and would like to continue to grow, and collaborate with other organizations ▪ Example provided of working with schools for events such as Clean up days ▪ Sharing economy allows for innovative people to be “freed-up” to give back to the community Comments/Q&A: • Discussion on how the library system will look and function in the next 10 years. David mentions that they hope to have 4 full-service locations and that the library system is committed to listen to the community and provide services based on community input o Poudre River Library plans to expand outreach department and David highlights that partnerships are part of the libraries ’brand • Discussion about some of the ongoing partnerships in the Community o Music District partnership for a song-writing workshop for veterans o Standing partnerships with the Bohemian foundation and many partnerships across CSU • Discussion on the benefits of co-location as a strategy for meeting people where they are o Harmony location is co-located at Front Range Community college which provides many savings for the library district o Front Range shopping village is also a major anchor for the library district. The placement of the Council Tree library has a huge demand for use and has been a very successful example of reimagining spaces • Committee discussed potential for future partnerships with the City, noting that there could be some opportunity for involvement with the proposed Innovation Center • Question was asked about the changing role of librarians themselves including the stress it puts on the workforce and potential opportunities o David notes that some employees have suffered fatigue in working with more vulnerable populations and that the library district has partnered with the Social Sustainability department, School of Social Work and Summit Stone housing to navigate some of the challenges they are facing o There is recognition that the Library and Thrift stores are on the front lines. • A question was asked on how the library deals with changing in information. David mentions that the library district offers training for staff and classes for the public to keep up with changes • Committee discusses how some of the work that is being done by the library district and the tool lending library is aligned with the City Council priority for non-college options for 6 community members include Trades school and training—there is interest in continued discussion on how to create opportunities for partnerships Additional Discussion: None Meeting adjourned by Wade Troxell at 5:42.