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Home My WebLink AboutIR 10490 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 20-10490 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council October 20, 2020 Page 1 of 6 i i7 Y SUBJECT: FORT WORTH PUBLIC LIBRARY COVID-19 OPERATIONS r6 rn Yg7'3 The purpose of this Informal Report is to give an update on the Library's operations and services since COVID-19 related closures occurred on March 13, 2020. Library staff were prepared to anticipate new customer needs and adapt quickly because of an increased focus on customer- centered services that began in 2019 with the implementation of a new Strategic Services Plan. Staff were encouraged to be nimble and flexible as library buildings closed and customer needs evolved. The Library amplified existing digital services, accelerated implementation of planned initiatives, and innovated in ways not previously considered: March - April • Expanded the digital collection with more e-book and e-audiobook options • Shifted traditional programs, such as storytime, to social medial platforms • Began new interactive reading initiatives such as the Stay at Home Bookclub May • Began offering curbside service at five libraries so customers could pick up and return materials • Established new community partnerships for online programming June . Expanded curbside service to all libraries (except Cambridge Court) • Reopened seven libraries for limited service, including browsing, material checkout and computer use August . Opened new Golden Triangle Branch Library for limited service It is clear that Fort Worth residents need and want their libraries during this difficult time. The demand for services that inform, engage, inspire and empower continues to grow. Since March, customers: • Checked out 33% more e-books and e-audiobooks than last year • Opened 7,000 new library cards • Checked out 1 .2 million items • Visited libraries 60,000 times since they reopened in June • Made 36,000 curbside transactions to pick up materials • Participated in online programs and classes for all ages (5,600 participants) Fort Worth Public Library is the only large library system in Texas open for regular service. San Antonio Public Library is allowing residents inside by appointment for computer use only. Dallas, Austin, Houston, Harris County, and El Paso only offer curbside service. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 20-10490 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council October 20, 2020 Page 2 of 6 i i7 Y SUBJECT: FORT WORTH PUBLIC LIBRARY COVID-19 OPERATIONS r6 IV JAL Yg7'3 Library Customers Shift to Online Services E-cards New Cards Issued The Library issued 4,450 e-cards from March-September. In Branch 1054 e-card This contactless service allows residents to register for and receive a library card FEW online. . 450 463 774 270 307 766 617 596 1574 526 59 I .... ....... March April May = !u1y August September Digital Users New Digital Users 1500 New digital users spiked in the first few 150% in March months of the pandemic. 100o 500 0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept FY20 FY19 Digital Books & Audiobooks Digita I Checkouts Digital usage did not decline, even after branches began reopening for curbside and limited service. By June, the number of digital checkouts FY 19: 644k had already exceeded FY19 numbers. We ended the year with 33% more digital FY 20: 858K 4' 33% checkouts. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 20-10490 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council October 20, 2020 Page 3 of 6 i i7 Y SUBJECT: FORT WORTH PUBLIC LIBRARY COVID-19 OPERATIONS r6 IV JAL Yg7'3 Library Visits and Curbside Transactions Maximizing Access Branch Visits and Curbside Transactions For a period of 66 days, libraries were June-September 2020 closed and customers were without access to physical materials. 9474 13252 On May 19, five locations began offering 12641 curbside pickup. In June, seven locations 6642 reopened for limited service. 0 17684 9004 With the addition of Golden Triangle, eight E ' 20966 locations provide limited service and the 7229 remaining seven offer curbside service. Residents continue to tell us that they �`5`ts °�5`deT�a°� '°°5 want their libraries open. Virtual Programming on Social Media Library programming has changed but not New Videos Posted slowed since March. Under the umbrella b0 of the Library's strategic goal of "building 40 a community of learners, dreamers, and doers", staff began working from home to 20 offer live or recorded programs on social 0 media platforms. March April May June July Aug Sept Since mid-March, 207 videos have been Number of Views viewed 67,950 times for a total of 1 ,521 hours. 4500 4000 This approach allows participants 3500 flexibility to view at their convenience 3000 rather than set schedules. The success 2500 of this seamless engagement with our 2000 audience suggests online programming 1500 has staying power to continue as a loco service into the future even after all 500 libraries reopen. o March April .ilv Aug Sept ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 20-10490 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council October 20, 2020 Page 4 of 6 i i7 Y SUBJECT: FORT WORTH PUBLIC LIBRARY COVID-19 OPERATIONS r6 IV JAL Yg7'3 Adult Programming Expansion of Adult Programming Participation by Program Category Since March 14, 447 hours of virtual programming has been provided for adults, most being live and interactive. gooks and Reading 944 Many were collaborations with existing and new community partnerships. Arts and Culture 594 Community Vitality 1,012 Program Highlights Education and Growth 1,422 Stay At Home Bookclub: 437 members and 21+ books read since March Juneteenth & Hispanic Heritage: Program Partners Partnership with the CFW Diversity & Inclusion department to develop Google* meaningful cultural programming. Hear Fort worth* James L. West Center for Dementia Care* Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas* Dementia Care: Partnership with James SCORE Fort Worth L. West Center for Dementia Care Texas A&M University School of Law brought nationally recognized Teepa Texas Parks and Wildlife* Snow to discuss memory loss, dementia, Code Compliance Department and COVID, and 497 people attended five Diversity and Inclusion Department* lectures. Economic Development Department* Human Resources Department* Spanish High School Equivalency Log Cabin Village (PARD) Classes: the only Spanish-language HSE or GED class in Tarrant County. This *New partner since March 2020 class was featured in a CBS-11 article. "Once I get my equivalency diploma, I can say that I fulfilled my goal. In this I will have doubled my potential to move forward. It provides access to open doors and can represent the beginning of a new career." --High School Equivalency student ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 20-10490 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council October 20, 2020 Page 5 of 6 i i1 Y SUBJECT: FORT WORTH PUBLIC LIBRARY COVID-19 OPERATIONS rF un Yg7'3 Youth Programming Transitioning to Virtual Upcoming Live Videos As soon as library locations closed in March, the youth programming team began working to transition popular youth , programs such as story time and children's crafts to an online format. The team posted 12 programs on social � 11 media in May. By July and August, they were posting between 30 and 37 online 10ICT S.I nlr Showcase for October Gel Reminder p g �o SaWrday al,2 bU PM programs per month. Attendance grew to oCT Let's Create:Pri Story Time for... QGel Reminder 375 families. Since May the team has 12 Oe'nber 12 at 8 Uh AM UT The Leam Dream Do Show Ep.7 c -... provided 137 programs with 1,422 total 1 3 o�obeE,3 at g.do ANI { Get Reminder participants. Fort worth Public Library Toddler and Preschool Storytime 9epteni a It's all about letters on this week's story time' Programs: When the Library began Join Ms.Kim as she Lakes us on a journey through the alphabet and makes offering curbside service, families were learning about letters fun' able to pick up a craft sack filled with materials to make the crafts that accompanied that month's weekly storytime program. Early Learning (Resources for Parents): Help me Grow, Teach my Child Math, Teach My Child to Read 00 17 7 Comments 9 Shares 538 Views Spanish Language Programming: [bLike QComment Share Storytime, Kinder 101, Book talks, Library Program Partners Tutorials Pre-teen, Teen Programs: Dungeons & Amon Carter MuseumBRIT Dragons online game Carlos Saenz* Cinco Books FW Nature Center* Help Me Grow Johnson Space Center* Leadership ISD* Log Cabin Village Perot Museum *New partner since March 2020 ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 20-10490 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council October 20, 2020 Page 6 of 6 i i7 Y SUBJECT: FORT WORTH PUBLIC LIBRARY COVID-19 OPERATIONS r6 rn Yg7'3 This winter, the library will reopen the remaining seven locations for limited service. The Library is making plans to return to full hours & days, in-house programming, and facility rental in the first half of 2021. Library services will resume according to the following plan: Milestone 1 : Expand limited service at all regional and branch locations Milestone 2: Begin offering limited service at the Central Library (first floor only) Milestone 3: Increase community engagement, both virtually and in person Milestone 4: Expand service to regular hours and days Milestone 5: Resume in-building programming Milestone 6: Resume facility rentals I am extremely proud of the work and services the Fort Worth Public Library has delivered since mid-March. They have shown a commitment to the community by adapting quickly, innovating with staying power, being responsive to the needs of the community; always with the library's vision as the guiding force, "Your community gathering place for learning, self-discovery, shared experiences, and personal growth." If you have any questions on this report please contact Manya Shorr, Director, Fort Worth Public Library, at 817-392-7706 or manya.shorr@fortworthtexas.gov. David Cooke City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS