2024/02/14 Council Agenda Packet

Taxpayers would be paying more to receive either the same or less Adding two Everett Public Library locations to Sno-Isle was initially pitched to City Council as an improvement in services for residents, but this is disingenuous. Those who live outside of the Everett tax base, in the greater Sno-Isle service area, will only gain two more locations that will receive the same exact services you already receive at any Sno-Isle location, as their service model is to deliver a uniform product system-wide. Those who live within Everett and formerly paid into the Everett Public Library system will actually be receiving less. They will no longer receive programs, services, and collections specifically designed with your community in mind that your city has benefitted from for the past 130 years. Currently anyone who lives in Snohomish or Island County can have a library card at Everett; the Everett Public Library expanded its service area to non-City people regardless of whether or not they paid for these services years ago because we wanted to be more inclusive. Loss of historic organization The Everett Public Library is one of the oldest departments in the city. Founding mothers, the Everett Woman’s Book Club, thought it was so important that an up and coming cosmopolitan city support a public library, that they banded together to create one 130 years ago (1894- 2024). The funding and governance was written into the city charter to ensure that the library remained a city priority. For generations Everett families have taken pride in the library and used its resources to raise their children and improve their lives. It has continued to grow and change as the city has continued to do the same. Possible loss of historic building and the newly renovated Evergreen Branch Will Sno-Isle want to take on responsibility for either of the Everett Public Library’s current locations? The Main Library does not fit their model of smaller branches, and the Evergreen Branch is located close to Sno-Isle’s relatively new Mariner branch. Sno-Isle already has the large Marysville Service Center so doesn’t need another large building for technical services or their mobile services. Another concern is that Sno-Isle would initially accept the Main Library but then close it and sell it at a later point in time. The City would be unable to prevent that. Vital community support jeopardized The library-based social workers have made a huge impact and have helped numerous unhoused patrons get into housing and treatment. The addition of social workers and security guards trained in compassion and empathy have greatly reduced the strain experienced by library staff needing to respond to incidents and complex needs for which they were never trained. Without this additional support from Sno-Isle, staff would be starting over. The Everett Public Library and its new support staff have finally arrived at a level of community support that feels somewhat effective. This program may have to move or end if Sno-Isle takes over. Both locations of the Everett Public Library also serve as heating and cooling centers during harsh conditions. Residents could lose this vital resource if Sno-Isle followed their model of small branches and did not use the existing buildings. Fundraising abilities The Library just hired a new Fundraising and Marketing Coordinator because the City agreed to try this out in the same way that the Animal Shelter has done successfully. That position would likely not carry over to Sno-Isle. Before rushing into this action, give this person a chance to do their job raising money for the library. Potential loss of the Northwest History Room Sno-Isle does not currently support any sort of local history room or staff; to absorb this resource it would need to create a new department and job classes. If the merger occurs, especially if the Main Library building is not deemed desirable for retention, it would seem unlikely that there would be a suitable location to house the large collection of archival