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<br />88 <br />Page 9 <br /> <br />1. How did it come about that the Library Director is selected by the Library Board <br />and not the city manager? Would the library benefit from a charter amendment <br />having the Director chosen by the city manager? <br /> <br />Ordinance #30 in 1900 established the public library, the role of the library board <br />and a special dedicated funding source. Proposition 13 did away with the special <br />library fund when it was absorbed into the city's general fund, but the oversight of <br />the library board, chosen by city council, continued. <br /> <br />Today, the. city manager and human resources department, as with all other <br />department head hiring, lead the process in recruiting and choosing a qualified <br />candidate pool with recommendations. The final decision then rests with the <br />library board. <br /> <br />Because the library board has policy, fiduciary and authority over the library <br />director, the board takes their responsibility and involvement more seriously than <br />if it was only an advisory committee. This results, whether it's choosing a library <br />director, or providing direction for library services, in more balanced, thoughtful <br />input from the city manager, city council, and library board. <br /> <br />Another historical consideration, that mayor may not be applicable today, is that <br />by creating a separate library department, politics could not influence the free <br />dissemination of ideas. <br /> <br />2. Does the library have a mission statement and if so, what is it? Should the city <br />council have a role in setting the mission statement? <br /> <br />The library has an updated statement that reflects the city's: libraries help build <br />healthy communities. The formal statement that was adopted 8 years ago is: The <br />Redwood City Public Library is the learning center of our community and the <br />place people turn to for the discovery of ideas, the joy of reading and the power of <br />information. Community needs drive our services and we take a personal interest <br />in ensuring that they are delivered ina welcoming, convenient and responsive <br />manner. <br /> <br />3. What are the library's long term goals? Should these goals be made in <br />conjunction with the city's general plan so they work together? Should there be <br />an integration of library and city goals, priorities and consideration of fiscal <br />impacts? <br /> <br />Goals are set like most other city departments: 1) goals that are aligned to city <br />council priorities 2) a strategic plan developed with community and staff input, <br />including the incorporation of industry trends. Attached are these documents. <br />