HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-08-22; City Council; ; Presentation and Demonstration on the Library’s Libby appCA Review ___AF___
Meeting Date: Aug. 22, 2023
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Staff Contact: Suzanne Smithson, Library & Cultural Arts Director
suzanne.smithson@carlsbadca.gov or 442-339-2011
Subject: Presentation and Demonstration on the Library’s Libby app
Districts: All
Recommended Action
Receive a report on the library reading app, Libby.
Executive Summary
The City Council presented the Library & Cultural Arts department with a proclamation for
National Library Week at the April 11, 2023, City Council Meeting. Council Member Acosta
commented that she had downloaded and read the Carlsbad Reads Together book selection,
“The Line Becomes a River” by Francisco Cantú from the library’s reading app, Libby. This
prompted the City Manager to request a library staff presentation and demonstration to the
City Council on how to use the Libby app.
Explanation & Analysis
The Carlsbad City Library is a member of the Serra Cooperative Library System, a network of
public libraries from San Diego and Imperial Counties with a goal to work collaboratively to
provide materials and shared services. One of these services is the Serra Digital Download
Library.
Through this consortium, the Carlsbad City Library has made downloadable e-books and e-
audiobooks available online through OverDrive since 2011. Libby is OverDrive’s newer library
reading app. It allows patrons to borrow eBooks, e-audiobooks, e-magazines and more for free
on all their electronic devices.
The Libby app offers library patron online versions of:
•20,414 e-books
•11,855 e-audiobooks
•4,656 e-magazines
Aug. 22, 2023 Item #10 Page 1 of 2
In calendar year 2022, there were 182,227 checkouts of e-books and e-audiobooks in Carlsbad.
This is an increase of:
• 30% prior to the pandemic
• 860% since 2012
Information about how to use OverDrive and the Libby app can also be found the library’s
webpage, at library.carlsbadca.gov/. (Click on e-audiobooks and -e-books.) Patrons can also
contact library staff for help using the app.
Fiscal Analysis
This item has no fiscal impact.
Environmental Evaluation
This action does not require environmental review because it does not constitute a project
within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act under California Public
Resources Code Section 21065 in that it has no potential to cause either a direct physical
change or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
Exhibits
None.
Aug. 22, 2023 Item #10 Page 2 of 2
Tammy Cloud-McMinn
From:
Sent:
To:
Su bject:
Mary Real <anewday4me2020@gmail.com>
Monday, August 21, 2023 2:00 PM
All Receive -Agenda Item # / 0
For the Information of the:
~fjl;_ COUNCIL '.
Date~ CA L CC v
ct1 v--ecM tCQCM (3) <
City Clerk; Council Internet Email; Scott Chadwick; Geoff Patnoe; Kyle Lancaster; Mary
Real
Item #10 Comments 8-22-2023 Carlsbad City Council Meeting
The change was made to close the libraries on Sundays because of various reasons but primarily for staffing shortages
(?) with no input from the general public as to which days would be more convenient for the general public. Once again,
Staff made a decision without consulting the public??? Other cities, Oceanside and San Diego Co. Libraries in Vista and
Encinitas
are open on Sundays. In fact the County Libraries are open 10 to 5 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to serve the public
community when most non city employees are off of work and can utilize the fine libraries and excellent Librarians who
actually assist the general public. These libraries are open 7 days a week. They are open fewer hours on Monday and
Thursday (6 hrs.)
The current City Council has decided that they can do whatever is easiest for Staff but does not serve the· needs of the
community. The reputation of Carlsbad has declined under the current City Council. Why on earth would the City
Council ask the supervisors at the Library to figure out ways to cut costs But they do NOT ask them how to better
improve the experience for their customers? Carlsbad used to be golden and ranked highly in the community for
excellent service to the community. Now they have slipped in the regards of the community as to their vision of service
to the community??? Are they trying to save money?
Carlsbad is known for fiscal money management but they did not pay the bill for the pensions and used 14 million
dollars from the CA. payments from Covid federal money to help make the cities whole from lost revenues during
Covid. Did the City Council think to ask higher salaried employees to contribute more money toward their pens ions?
Please consider opening the libraries 7 days a week to serve the community and regain the regard of the public for
excellent customer service? Yes, I know the budget was approved already but if you can ask to adopt a resolution to
provide .needed services by taking money from the general fund then surely expanding services at the library should be
easy for a City Council that wants to be more active in making decisions beyond putting up flags.
We, the public, would also like to know what the City Council wants to work on as part of their 'leadership' instead of
waiting for people to show up and lead the council to see which way the wind is blowing and what is important? Why is
t he Council not asking the city manager to help them solve or explore what is a priority?
Thank you,
Mary Lucid
CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i
safe.
1