1. West Richland Town Hall Meeting
June 14, 2016

2. Mid-Columbia Libraries has proudly served West Richland for
48 Years

3. Mid-Columbia Libraries worked with the Blue Ribbon Committee
Goals
Provide information
Enable the citizens to make an informed decision
Because
You have to decide how you want to fund West Richland library services
You have to decide if you want Mid-Columbia Libraries to be your library
The information in the following slides is the same information we provided to the Blue Ribbon Committee.

5. $0.45
$0.42
$0.44
$0.44
$0.37
$0.48
$0.46
Lowest levy rate among the comparable and larger library districts
Smallest tax base
Lean staffing – based on innovative staffing models
Forward looking focus on serving customers through automation
Heavy investment into digital services
$0.49

6. Circ: + 21%
Visits: – 12%

7. West Richland Branch

8. Digital Material is Extremely Popular Among West Richland Residents
eBook / eAudiobook checkout ratio per capita
Pasco: 1 to 1
Kennewick: 2 to 1
West Richland: 3 to 1
MCL has the largest digital collection outside of the Seattle Metro area / Biggest collection east of the cascades!

9. New Contract
After many years of contract extensions, MCL and the City of West Richland entered a contract that should guarantee library services for the next six years. Items in the new contract included opening the Mid-Columbia Libraries’ West Richland Branch on Sundays, adding a full time librarian to the staff of the branch, and remodeling the branch in the near future.

10. Library Fund Expenditures
MCL 2015 Budget for West Richland Branch
Direct Expenditures
$256,901.99
Public Services
$176,195.54
Administrative Services
$68,516.66
Total
$601, (100%)
City of West Richland Contract Fee
$393, (65.47%)
Unincorporated Benton
and Franklin Counties
$207, (34.53%)

11. Usage v. Funding WR Resident Usage WR Resident Funding Outside Usage
Outside Funding
81%
65.41%
19%
34.53%

13. West Richland Residents Registered at other Branches
556

14. Expenditure Type City of West Richland Contract Rate Fixed
Indirect Cost Allocated Amount
Variable

15. Customer service leads to high net promoter score

16. Net Promoter Score
MENTION 2015 FINALIST FOR NATIONAL MEDAL FOR MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES

17. Library Funding for Contracted Cities
Taxes
City collects taxes to pay for services, typically out of its general fund
MCL
City contracts with Mid-Columbia Libraries
Contract rate is set at $.37 for $1,000 of assessed property value
Happy Customers
Mid-Columbia Libraries provides library services

18. Library Funding for Annexed Cities
Levy rate
Property Tax: $.37 per $1,000 of assessed property value
MCL
Money goes directly to Mid-Columbia Libraries
Happy Customers
Mid-Columbia Libraries provides library services

19. Annexation Process/Timeline
City Council Ordinance
Library District Board Resolution
State Librarian concurs
Obviously Annexation is the preferred funding option for Mid-Columbia Libraries. It ensures that finances are stable enabling us to plan ahead and to provide services into perpetuity.
Any city or town with a population of 300,000 or less may become a part of any rural county library district ~ RCW
Annexation initiated by the adoption of a city council ordinance.
Library board of trustees would need to issue a resolution consenting to the annexation.
City officials would notify the WA State Librarian of the proposed ordinance and with their concurrence, transmit notification to the Benton County Commissioners.
County Commissioners would by resolution call a special election to be held.
Voter approval of annexation to a library district is by simple majority vote.
County puts on ballot
Due to County no later than 8/2 for November Election

20. Annexation Process/Timeline
If annexation occurs, the city and the library district establish an INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
Mutual Accountability
Service levels established
We have heard concerns about loss of citizen control resulting from annexation.
Annexation DOES NOT mean loss of control.
The city and the library district will establish an interlocal agreement- essentially a CONTRACT- where we would agree on service levels, division of expenses, and what we can expect from each other.
The library board is made up of four representatives from Benton County and three from Franklin County- and we have had trustees from West Richland and could have it again.
We have these with the other annexed cities- KENNEWICK is a great example.

21. West Richland Branch
Remodel

22. Prosser Remodel

23. Knocked down walls for an open layout
Knocked down walls for an open layout. Added balloon theme in the children’s area.

24. Historic photo mural pictured in back.

25. “I cannot live without books.” --Thomas Jefferson
Quote by Thomas Jefferson- author of the declaration of independence, third president of the US, and founder of the library of congress, the world’s largest library. “I cannot live without books.” Based on their use of Mid-Columbia Libraries, neither can your residents. Thank you.

26. Thank you!