HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9973 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9973
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 13, 2016
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*a SUBJECT: PROPOSED PLAN OF SERVICES FOR THE EASTSIDE BRANCH
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The purpose of this Informal Report is to notify the Fort Worth City Council that the Library Department
intends to design an approximately 8,000-square-foot branch library that focuses its services, educational
classes, programs, and collections on children ages birth through 18. The facility will be located at 3851 E.
Lancaster Avenue, in Council District 8, on land acquired in FY2015.
During the 2014 Bond Election public input process, the public expressed its desire for a library that
supported the needs of children. Additionally, the facility's trade area includes 27,000 children. The
potential number of children to be served and the opportunity to augment formal education with out-of-
school education provides Fort Worth a unique opportunity to establish its branch library as a community
hub and to serve as a model for other cities. Furthermore, the inclusion of an educational curriculum with
an emphasis on early education would position the City as a partner with the citywide Fort Worth Literacy
Partnership, supporting its two expressed goals: school readiness and grade level reading. There are 18
public schools (11 elementary, four middle, three senior) and two private schools in the area. There are
also four community/recreation centers in the target area. Additionally there are three Fort Worth libraries
within three miles of the Eastside Branch which provides services to adult users.
The concept of a children's library was presented at two public meetings hosted by Councilmember Kelly
Allen Gray. The purpose of these meetings was to solicit public input prior to submitting a staff-developed
plan of service. The audiences at both meetings were receptive to the idea.
At its December 1, 2016, meeting, the Library Advisory Board endorsed the concept. Next steps will
include issuing a Request for Qualifications in January 2017 and selecting a design/architectural firm.
Subsequently, the public will have additional opportunities to provide input when presented with
conceptual designs based on the plan of service. The opening is planned for fall 2019.
Other cities with designated children's libraries are Gallup, New Mexico; Alexander City, Alabama; Dallas,
Texas; Kensington, Maryland; New Rochelle, New York; Biloxi, Mississippi; Westbury, New York; and New
Orleans, Louisiana.
Funding
FY2014 Bond Election...............................................$3,252,000.00
General Unrestricted Gas Well Revenues.................$1,400,000.00
General Capital..........................................................$ 845,725.00
Total...............................................................$ 5,497,725.00
Public Art....................................................................$ 65,000.00
If you should have questions, please contact Gleniece Robinson, Library Director, at 817-392-7706.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS