Contents. Section I Budget Overview Budget Priorities Budget Outcomes Services Collections...

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Contents Section I 2012 Budget Overview....................... 2 2012 Budget Priorities....................... 3 2012 Budget Outcomes...................... 4 Services.................................... 5 Collections.

2 Contents Section I 2012 Budget Overview Budget Priorities Budget Outcomes Services Collections Technology Staff Facilities Stewardship

3 2012 PRELIMINARY BUDGET: OVERVIEW The King County Library System (KCLS) has focused efforts on the Future Services Strategy (FSS) for the past several years, expanding library services beyond the building, into the community and online. In 2011, the FSS was piloted and evaluated at six libraries across two clusters, informing KCLS how to best optimize staffing to achieve and deliver the goals of the Strategy. Beginning in 2012, all KCLS libraries will gradually transition toward the FSS model, although it will take years to fully implement the staffing models that were developed and tested in the Pilots. The services embodied in the Strategy have already begun surfacing throughout the System and the Future Services Strategy is now simply referred to as the KCLS Services Strategy. The 2012 Budget is the action plan that will make the Strategy come alive in the next year as KCLS aligns its budget and services with the interests and needs of patrons. The ways in which people use libraries is rapidly evolving. The explosion of ebooks and ebook Readers has increased the demand for digital content and more patrons than ever before are using mobile devices to connect directly to the library online. With people able to access the information and materials they need online, libraries are gradually becoming content providers as opposed to just reference providers. And rather than being thought of as repositories for books, library buildings are increasingly known as community gathering places, with space set aside specifically for meetings and programs. Even the way in which people learn about library services continues to evolve, with social networking becoming a vital way for people to not only keep in touch with friends and family, but learn about what is happening at their local library. Public libraries continue to play a significant role in the community. Residents in King County continue to feel the effects of a struggling economy and many KCLS programs and services are utilized by those who need help finding work, families that need information about financial assistance programs and students who need to access library resources that are no longer offered by financially strapped school districts. Yet at the same time that KCLS is trying to fill an increased demand for services, property values throughout the County are declining, resulting in a 5% decrease in assessed values. Since most of KCLS funding comes from property taxes, KCLS is forecasting a commensurate 4% decline in overall revenues in This is the first time in decades that KCLS has prepared a budget in the face of declining revenues, which will not only affect library operations in 2012, but will challenge KCLS efforts to extend revenues generated from the 2010 Levy Lid Lift over the next eight years. Facing these challenges, KCLS will align the 2012 Budget with Priorities (shown on page 3) that support the gradual implementation of KCLS Services Strategy. Budget Priorities give KCLS a tool for weighing competing interests. They reflect the level of attention each operational category will receive in the coming year, but do not reflect the total funds allocated to each budget category. For the second year in a row, the budget process will include a year-end analysis to ensure that programs and services achieve the intended outcomes for KCLS patrons and the community (shown on page 4). 2

12 STAFF: STAFFING, DEVELOPMENT AND COMPENSATION KCLS was named Library of the Year in 2011 by Library Journal/Cengage. The prestigious national award is, first and foremost, recognition of the community s support for libraries. It is also a resounding acknowledgment of KCLS staff, whose commitment to providing high quality service to patrons is unparalleled. In 2012, KCLS will continue to focus on providing equitable compensation and training and development programs for staff. The 2012 Budget includes a 1% general wage increase for staff. After not having a general wage increase the past two years, the modest increase reflects KCLS best estimate of overall wage adjustments that will made by other public agencies in the State of Washington. Employment benefits will remain unchanged, but total costs will increase by $1.2 million, or 8.8%, in order to maintain the same level of coverage. The cost of medical benefits will increase 8.5% and retirement system contributions are projected to increase by 15%. To keep staff up-to-date on the latest technologies, KCLS will include $210 thousand for Systemwide training programs and to support staff attendance at local and national library conferences. KCLS will allocate $540 thousand to maintain the Tuition Assistance program and to support department training budgets and staff participation in job-related programs and conferences. Library Staff (MLIS) Library Staff (Non-MLIS) Support Staff (System-wide) Total Headcount ,255 Full Time Equivalent With 1,255 staff members, KCLS continues to enjoy a relatively low turnover rate. After a year-long evaluation of the Future Services Strategy (FSS), which was piloted in two clusters in 2011, KCLS has finetuned a staffing model that is ready to be implemented at libraries. However, given current staffing levels, it would cost more than $4.5 million to implement the Strategy System-wide in 2012, which the budget is unable to support. It would take 4-10 years through attrition alone to fully implement the model as designed. Moving forward, the plan is to gradually implement the new Strategy through attrition and by filling vacancies in alignment with the new model. The opening of the Newcastle Library in 2012 will provide the first opportunity to align the Mercer Island/Newport/Newcastle cluster with the new service model, while continuing to support current service delivery initiatives throughout the rest of the System. BUDGET OUTCOMES: STAFF STAFF KCLS will which will result in so that patrons as measured by KCLS New Staffing Strategy provide training tailored to each position based on KCLS Services Strategy staff with the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their new roles will benefit from consistent high quality service in libraries, online and in the community staff surveys and selfassessments; mentor and supervisor assessments of staff Page Fellowship Program recruit, hire and train participants who reflect a diverse community an increased number of employees with connections to diverse populations will see themselves reflected in KCLS staff number from the program hired into new positions 11

2018 BUDGET Overview. Stephen A. Smith Interim Library Director

2018 BUDGET Overview. Stephen A. Smith Interim Library Director 2018 BUDGET Overview King County voters have supported the King County Library System since its inception in 1942, helping to make it one of the busiest and most beautiful library systems in the country.