SunnyvaleRTC

September 14, 2004

SUBJECT: APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE TO SILICON VALLEY LIBRARY SYSTEM ADVISORY BOARD

Under the California Library Services Act (CLSA) of 1977, the City Council must appoint a local resident to serve on the Silicon Valley Library System Advisory Board whenever a vacancy arises. Although this act was to have been superceded by the Library of California Act of 1998, implementation of this act has ceased due to lack of funding. The CLSA therefore, remains in effect. This report recommends the appointment of Thomas Flaherty to this position for a two-year tem (2004-2006).

BACKGROUND

In accordance with the California Library Services Act, Education Code Sections 18747-18750, each Cooperative Library System shall establish an advisory board consisting of as many members as there are member jurisdictions of the system. The governing body of each member jurisdiction shall appoint one member to the advisory board from among its residents.

The term of any member of a system advisory board shall be for two years, and each member shall serve no more than two consecutive terms.

The appointing jurisdiction shall ensure that members of a system advisory board are representative of the public at large and of the underserved residents in the system service area. The duties of each system advisory board shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

Assisting the Administrative Council in the development of the System Plan of Service. The Administrative Council is comprised of the Directors of each participating library.
Advising the Administrative Council on the need for services and programs.
Assisting in the evaluation of the services provided by the system.
Keeping the Sunnyvale Board of Library Trustees up-to-date on System Advisory Board activities.

Sunnyvale has had excellent representation on the System Advisory Board in the past although no representative has served in the last 18 months. Both of the last two representatives had prior library experience as members of the Board of Library Trustees. Effective participation on the System Advisory Board requires an awareness of current library issues. Therefore, it can also be desirable for a current Trustee to assume this position. After discussion of this topic, Library Trustee Thomas Flaherty volunteered for this position. He was nominated by Trustee James Griffith. The Board voted unanimously to recommend Thomas Flaherty to the City Council to serve as the Sunnyvale representative to the System Advisory Board of the Silicon Valley Library System.

EXISTING POLICY

Policy 6.2F.1c

Participate in regional and statewide library cooperative activities to strengthen library services for Sunnyvale residents.

Policy 6.2F.1e

Support activities of the Sunnyvale Board of Library Trustees in its advisory role to the City Council including library policy review, receiving input for library users, and advocacy of the library.

DISCUSSION

Each member library of the Silicon Valley Library System (San Jose, Santa Clara City, Santa Clara County, Los Gatos, Mountain View, Palo Alto and Sunnyvale) is required to select a member of the community to serve on the System Advisory Board. System Advisory board members meet regularly in member libraries to provide a citizen perspective to the System’s Administrative Council. The SVLS System Advisory Board also works in cooperation with the Boards of PLS (San Mateo County) and BALIS (East Bay) to provide training, to participate in advocacy activities, and to contribute to greater community awareness of libraries’ resources and services. The System Advisory board member regularly attends the meetings of the Board of Library Trustees, presents updates on activities and keeps up with library issues considered by the Board.

FISCAL IMPACT

None.

PUBLIC CONTACT

Public contact was made through posting of the Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, posting of the agenda and report on the City’s web page, and the availability of the report in the Library and City Clerk’s Office. Thomas Flaherty was nominated by the Board of Library Trustees at their regular meeting on August 2, 2004. The Board voted unanimously to recommend to the City Council the appointment of Thomas Flaherty to the Silicon Valley Library System’s Advisory Board.

ALTERNATIVES

1. Appoint the candidate Thomas Flaherty as nominated by the Board of Library Trustees.

2. Select another appointee from the community to serve on the System Advisory Board to the Silicon Valley Library System for the term specified.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends Alternative #1.

Prepared by:

Steve Sloan

Supervising Librarian

Reviewed by:

Victoria L. Johnson

Director, Libraries

Approved by:

Amy Chan

City Manager

Attachments

A. Draft Board of Library Trustees Meeting Minutes of 8/2/04.