AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Consider approval of Resolution 2014-147R approving a contract between the City and Hays County for the City's provision of Public Library Services to Hays County Residents; authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute the contract on behalf of the City; and declaring an effective date.
Body
Meeting date: October 21, 2014
Department: Community Services
Funds Required:
Account Number:
Funds Available:
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CITY COUNCIL GOAL:
BACKGROUND:
Hays County has appropriated a total of $200,000 for library services in FY 2015. This funding will be distributed among the five public libraries in our county. Our library will receive $80,000, which is 40% of the total appropriation. The libraries in Wimberley, Buda, Kyle, and Dripping Springs will each receive $30,000. These appropriations are the same as last year's funding from the county.
The county is requesting approval of the attached contract prior to our receipt of the funding. The contract calls for the library to provide free library services to Hays County residents and submit quarterly financial reports to the county. If the city does not approve the contract, county residents who live outside the city limits would have to pay a fee in order to borrow materials from the library. Current library card fees are $25.00 for a three-month, full-service card or $50.00 for a year-long card. A limited-service card is also available for $10.
About 34% of our cardholders reside in the county, but outside of our city limits. It is difficult to estimate what percentage of those cardholders would actually purchase a non-resident card. By ordinance, children in our school district are eligible for free library cards which family members can share. The library also participates in a statewide reciprocal borrowing program known as TexShare. These factors limit our ability to raise revenue through individual library card fees. It is also...
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