Agenda

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17.

City Council Regular Meeting

Meeting Date:

10/27/2020

BACKGROUND

The City of Schertz and Guadalupe County have had an interlocal agreement regarding the provision of library service to County residents since 1981. The Commissioners’ Court has long held the view that library services are beneficial to all County residents and has entered into agreements with each of the three public libraries in the County to provide library service to all its residents for many years.

The proposed Interlocal Agreement is for one fiscal year, from October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021, and renews each successive year. The agreement can be terminated by either party with written notice not less than 30 days prior to the agreement’s end.

It should be noted that the vast majority of Guadalupe County Schertz Library cardholders live within the city limits of the cities of Schertz, Cibolo and Selma and are entitled to use the Schertz Library as a result of Schertz resident status, or as a result of agreements the City of Schertz has with the other cities. A recent look at statistics shows only 3.96% of the library’s cardholders live in other parts of Guadalupe County.

As a reminder, the City of Cibolo has provided funding for the Schertz Library since the late 1990s. The FY 2021 agreement is in the amount of $40,000. The City of Selma has provided funding since 2009 and the FY 2021 interlocal agreement will provide approximately $25,000 in the upcoming fiscal year.

One other item of note—it has been the Schertz Library’s practice to allow residents of the State of Texas to use the library free of charge. Out of state residents pay $15.00 per person per year to have full access to all resources. The Texas State Library has a program called Texshare in which Schertz participates. The program allows Schertz Library cardholders to have access to resources, though often on a limited basis, at other participating libraries, including the San Antonio Public Library System, Seguin Library and the New Braunfels Library System.

GOAL

The goal is to eliminate digital divide and provide educational opportunities for all County residents by providing access to library services without duplication of effort on the County's part. Contracting with existing library service providers is an efficient way to provide service, while at the same time, it helps offset our own operational costs.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT

The Schertz Public Library fills a significant community need by providing quality of life opportunities for area families and individuals. Services include circulation of books and other media, access to digital content, public computers and Internet, educational programs, and reference services. This Interlocal agreement is mutually advantageous to both the County and the City. It allows the County to efficiently and economically provide library service to its residents who would not otherwise have it, and the City receives funds that help offset operating costs for its residents.

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTION

Staff recommends re-authorizing the Public Library Interlocal Agreement with Guadalupe County as it is mutually beneficial.

FISCAL IMPACT

The County will pay the City $203,190.96 in monthly installments of $16,932.58 for Library Services as outlined in the ILA under section III, Consideration. The Schertz Library budget is $1,062,442 for FY21.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends adoption of Resolution 20-R-124 authorizing the Public Library Interlocal Agreement with Guadalupe County to permit all citizens of the County to utilize the City’s library facilities.

Attachments
resolution 20-r-124
Guadalupe Co ILA