►
Description
Meeting of Council's Committee of the Whole to hear testimony on the following bills/resolutions: Bill Nos. 160170, 160171, and 160172 & Resolution No. 160180 regarding the FY2017 Capital Budget.
Testimony from:
Siobhan Reardon, President and Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia
http://phlcouncil.com/FY17-council-budget-center
A
B
B
From
that
I
want
to
thank
council,
you
have
consistently
been
great
friends
and
supporters
of
the
library,
so
I
know
that
I'm
preaching
to
the
choir
I
also
know
that
you
have
some
Chow
tough
choices
to
make
it
in
terms
of
how
we
spread
our
very
thin
finances,
but
I
think
there
are
a
few
things
I'd
like
to
remind
you
about
with
respect
to
the
library
when
you
make
those
decisions.
First
of
all,
six
million
people
a
year
walk
through
our
doors
are
61
operations
that
are
all
over
the
city.
B
There's
no
other
agency
or
anything
else
that
that
many
people
voluntarily
come
to
every
year
year
after
year,
and
we
have
millions
more
web
hits.
So
there's
that
whole
expanding
area
of
community
engagement
in
contact,
we
have
a
thousand
free
computers
for
people
to
use,
and
we
are.
We
have
internet
free
internet
at
all
of
our
branches.
We
are
the
largest
internet
server
in
the
city,
Siobhan
Riordan,
our
magical
director
of
the
library,
is
going
to
talk
to
you
about
a
number
of
programs,
but
I.
B
Think
one
of
the
most
important
ones
that
you
need
to
know
about
is
that
we're
the
lead
agency
for
the
read
by
fourth
program
and
we've
put
together
a
program
that
will,
within
a
short
number
of
years,
have
our
children
entering
4th
grade
reading
at
the
same
level
that
they
do
in
suburban
schools.
We
are
I
believe
the
most
effective
public
agency
social
change
agency
available,
and
we
continue
to
need
your
help.
We
are
very
careful
about
how
we
spend
your
money
and
our
money.
B
Think
I'm
going
to
stop.
There
certainly
be
glad
to
take
questions,
but
I.
Think
Siobhan
is
really
going
to
give
you
the
the
detail,
but
we
need
your
help.
We
need
to
get
our
kids
reading.
We
need
to
get
jobs
for
our
adults,
we
need
English
for
our
new
Americans
and
we're
the
ones
that
we're
doing
it
and
we
we
desperately
need
your
help.
So
thank
you.
Ok,.
C
C
C
So,
as
Pam
said,
the
library
has
hit
the
ground
running
as
the
backbone
agency
of
the
read
by
4th
campaign.
We
have
brought
on
more
than
80
partner
organizations,
both
public
and
private,
to
make
sure
that
all
Philadelphia
schoolchildren
are
reading
on
grade
level
by
the
time
they
enter
the
fourth
grade,
the
campaign
will
annually
increase
the
number
of
third
graders
reading
on
grade
level,
beginning
with
thousand
students
in
2015-16
academic
year
and
an
additional
200
students
each
successive
year,
separate
from
our
backbone
agency
responsibilities.
The
library
is
one
of
the
80
partner
agencies.
C
We
have
partnered
with
the
Philadelphia
School
District
to
engage
in
building
bridges
with
books
for
the
2015-16
school
year.
We
host
10
priority
schools
at
19,
neighborhood
libraries
for
bi-weekly
visits
and
have
created
a
brand
new
curriculum
for
monthly
family
engagement
programs
to
invite
the
children
and
families
of
our
partnered
school
to
participate
together
in
fun
and
hands-on
delivery.
Skill
building
this
partnership
has
strengthened
our
relationship
with
the
school
district
and
has
provided
a
solid
platform
for
us
to
build
off
more
collaborate,
more
collaborative
efforts
to
improve
economic
opportunities
for
all
Philadelphians.
C
We
are
involved
in
multiple
programs
to
assist
job
seekers.
One
is
in
partnership
with
nine
community
agencies,
where
we
will
develop
a
model
for
how
public
libraries
can
fully
integrate
their
work
with
the
broader
systems
of
workforce
development
and
adult
education.
This
is
a
collective
impact
approach,
emphasizing
mutually
reinforcing
activities,
shared
and
measurement
systems
and
continuous
communication
to
drive
social
change.
We
will
Center
our
attention
in
the
paschal,
the
library
neighborhood
in
South
West
Philadelphia,
which
is
characterized
by
extreme
poverty,
high
unemployment
and
low
levels
of
educational
attainment.
C
The
project
will
have
special
focus
on
serving
the
needs
of
residents
from
immigrant
refugee
communities
or
those
who
have
a
history
of
incarceration.
Building
on
a
prior
planning,
grint,
the
free
library
and
its
partners
will
share
the
model
nationally
with
the
library,
profession
and
so,
and
the
social
service
sector,
in
partnership
with
the
prisons.
We
continue
ongoing
libraries
in
cell
blocks
program
and
have
added
a
new
program
called
stories
alive
stories.
C
Alive
brings
together
incarcerated,
moms
and
dads
with
their
children
and
family
members
for
teleconferencing
story
times
in
neighborhood
libraries
up
to
six
families
gather
at
the
Frankfurt,
Kensington
or
Widener
libraries,
each
Saturday
to
read
stories
and
visit
with
their
parents
via
Skype.
The
families
also
receive
library
cards
and
free
books
to
take
home
once
release.
The
inmates
who
have
participated
will
also
receive
a
resource
guide
and
temporary
library
cards.
Our
plan
is
to
grow
this
program
over
the
next
few
years.
C
In
just
a
month
from
now,
the
South
Philadelphia
branch
will
reopen
at
broad
Morris,
along
with
the
Children's
Hospital
of
Philadelphia
primary
care,
clinic
a
recreation
facility
and
a
city
health
care
center.
This
unique
partnership
is
the
first
of
its
kind
and
we
are
delighted
to
be
part
of
it
and
hope
to
be
integral
in
forming
many
similar
partnerships
in
the
future.
I
hope
you
can
take
the
take
make
the
opening
in
June
for
other
libraries
love
it
Logan,
Lilly,
Marrero
Taccone,
have
closed
and
construction
will
begin
by
the
fall.
C
While
those
libraries
are
closed,
nearby
branches
have
extended
hours
at
Taccone.
We
will
have
a
shared
satellite
location
with
mural
arts
on
torresdale
avenue
and
thanks
to
councilman
henan.
For
making
that
happen.
These
libraries
will
be
modernized
with
new
furniture,
computers
and
plug-in
stations
and
will
be
fully
88
accessible.
This
transformation
will
create
an
innovative
library
environment
that
anticipates
and
accommodates
the
dynamic
nature
of
libraries,
information
transfer
and
the
needs
of
the
public.
This
work
is
on
the
neighborhood
library
should
be
completed
by
October
2017.
C
On
a
final
note,
we
are
in
full
support
of
the
mayor's
rebuild
initiative,
as
we
recognize
the
impact
it
would
have
on
our
libraries.
The
physical
improvements
I
mentioned
above
are
only
representative
of
a
very
small
percentage
of
what
makes
up
the
library
system.
In
total,
we
have
49
neighborhood
libraries
and
three
regionals,
all
of
which
could
use
much-needed
attention.
We
suffer
with
leaking
roofs,
malfunctioning,
air
and
heating
systems,
old
plumbing
and
electrical
systems,
worn
out
furniture
and,
most
importantly,
we
do
have
several
libraries
that
are
not
fully
a
DA
accessible.
C
Last
summer
we
had
eight
libraries
closed
all
summer,
long
due
to
either
roof
leaks
or
damage
to
the
or
hv
HD
failure
rebuild
takes
into
the
account
our
needs
and
the
needs
of
all
Philadelphians
and
will
boost
our
capability
to
serve
the
city.
We
remain
committed
to
working
on
bringing
the
citizens
of
Philadelphia
the
best
service
that
we
possibly
can
and
I
would
take
this
opportunity
to
thank
all
the
members
of
council
for
their
support
of
the
free
library
and
look
forward
to
working
with
you
in
the
future
and
a
happy
to
answer
any
questions.
C
A
A
A
D
C
C
Back
I
don't
know
who
wants
it
more?
Muir
means,
but
yes,
it.
That
is
a
library
that
needs
to
be
reopened,
and
we
and
of
course
the
plan
is
to
turn
it
into
a
digital
resource
center
or,
as
we
say,
an
enormous
hotspot
to
train
the
people
in
the
Lancaster
and
fifty
second
Street
area
on
digital
literacy,
digital
literacy,
skill
sets
and
I'm
going
to
have
Joe
Benford
my
head
of
public
services
and
answer
your
question
on
where
we
are
in
black.
Well.
E
Currently,
public
property
is
working
on
the
Blackwell
project.
It's
getting
a
new
HVAC
system,
it's
a
new
air
conditioning
and
heating
system,
and
after
that
that
it
will
also
get
a
new
roof
and
we're
expecting
the
last
time
I
checked
on
this.
We
were
expecting
them
to
reopen,
probably
in
either
september-october.
F
Good
afternoon,
thank
you
guys
for
coming
in
that
libraries
are
a
big
part
of
Philadelphia
and
something
that
we
cherish.
I
know
that
rebuild
is
on
everybody's
mind.
I
met
with
some
library
advocates
and
making
sure
that
we
have
resources
to
to
fix.
Some
of
our
libraries
obviously
prevent
a
maintenance
is
something
that
hasn't
been
done
a
long
time
and,
and
we
really
need
to
work
at
it
and
get
it
done.
Library
shouldn't
be
closed
for
this.
F
C
C
Part
of
the
rebuild
program
over
the
past
number
of
months
that
we've
been
working
on
this
every
single
library
has
been
surveyed,
and
there
is
a
list
of
what
sort
of
on
the
on
the
primary
level
of
what's
needed,
to
make
the
facility
safe
and
and
accessible,
and
then
there's
the
transformational
piece
of
it.
So,
yes,
every
single
library
has
has
been
assessed.
Everyone.
C
B
Something
just
sure
you
should
be
aware
that
even
if
we
can
get
the
all
the
mechanicals
in
place,
you're
not
going
to
see
your
library's
open
as
much
as
you
want.
If
we
take
a
three
percent
haircut
this
year,
eighty-five
percent
of
our
budget,
like
many
other
agencies,
is
personnel
and
city
contacts
require
any
library.
Personnel
who
work
on
weekends,
get
paid
overtime
and
saturdays
and
sundays
are
when
people
need
their
library.
So
no
no
money,
no
yo.
G
You,
mr.
chairman
hi,
ladies,
how
are
you
I
number
one
I
wanted
to?
Thank
you
all
for
being
here,
and
you
know
like
so
many
others.
Libraries
have
played
such
a
huge
role
in
my
life.
I
grew
up
practically
in
the
Widener
branch
library
on
lehigh
avenue,
and
so
I
just
really
want
to
thank
you
for
all
that.
You've
done,
I
still
remember
going
and
picking
out
books
and
how
excited
I
was
about
them,
and
you
know,
and
even
at
school,
where
you
could
order
books
and
get
them
and
take
him
home.
G
It
was
you
know
it's
like
Christmas.
Every
time
you
were
able
to
get
a
few
books
in
your
hands,
and
so
I
just
really
want
to.
Thank
you
because
I
have
such
a
deep
appreciation
for
books.
I,
don't
get
a
chance
to
do
much
reading
now,
except
for
this,
but
but
I
just
know
that
I
wouldn't
have
the
opportunity
to
be
here
if
it
wasn't
for
the
Philadelphia
Free
Library
System
aight.
I
just
want
to
tell
you
how
about
a
couple
of
questions
really
quickly.
G
C
E
We
had
some
serious
HVAC
problems
in
that
building
over
the
summer
and
it
had
to
do
with
some
the
way
that
original
HVAC
system
was
put
together
by
different
subcontractors
and
they
used
it
the
wrong
with
pipe
from
the
condensers
to
the
whatevers
and
overloaded.
Both
the
units
and
blew
it
out.
That's
been
totally
corrected,
so
we
don't
expect
that
problem.
At
least
all
the
units
have
been
replaced,
so
we're
hoping,
maybe
another
10
years
out
of
those
out
of
that
age
back
system.
My
fingers
are
crossed.
Okay,.
G
C
I
think
I
think
the
location
is
a
terrific
location,
but
yes
that's
one
of
those
and
it's
an
enormous
library,
but
I
don't
know
that
it's
the
best
laid
out
library
as
libraries
go
and
I
do
think
the
children
you
know.
I
do
think
it's
it's
a
look,
but
I
think
the
location
is
perfect.
But
yes,
an
upgrade
in
that
library
is,
is
long
overdue.
Absolutely
okay,
good.
G
G
Open,
okay,
all
right,
very
good
and
also
I,
just
really
wanted
to
commend
you
on
the
work,
that's
being
done
on
Lovett
library,
on
germantown
avenue
in
Mount
Airy,
it's.
It
really
has
taken
on
a
new
vibe
and
a
feeling
in
the
community
right
now
we
do
the
movie
movie
nights
there
every
summer
on
Friday
night
and
you
have
to
get
there
early
or
else
you
just
can't
even
find
a
place
to
stand.
You
know
that
let
alone
sit
down
with
a
chair
and
it's
it's
family
oriented.
G
It's
intergenerational,
it's
at
the
library
right
outside
of
the
library
and
there's
being
extensive
work
done
to
make
it
even
more
comfortable
for
the
families
and
connect
it
to
the
the
inside
and
the
library
space.
So
I
just
really
wanted
to
thank
you
for
the
work
that
you're
doing
there
and
it
really
means
so
much
I
go
I.
Take
my
daughter!
We
thoroughly
enjoy
it,
and
so
I
just
want
really
I
can
one
of
the
safest
you.
C
Yeah,
that's
an
exciting
project
because
that's
a
that's
a
villain,
that's
a
building
and
the
whole
concept
of
place
making,
including
many
are
USA
in
the
rec
center
nearby.
I
do.
I
do
think.
That's
that
whole
concept
of
creating
a
civic,
Commons
and
that'll
be
sort
of
a
leader
will
benchmark
that,
amongst
other
libraries
across
the
country
to
which
is
kind
of
the
genius
of
the
project
in
the
first
place.
Rent
well.
D
D
Oh,
thank
you
so
I
wanted
to
check
on
what
this
statuses.
They
were
telling
me
something
while
I
was
rushing
at
so.
C
That
that's
a
building,
that's
another
building
that
has
complex
problems
and
with
its
heating,
an
H
boiler
and
88
system,
but
that's
a
building.
That's
all!
So,
let's
look
on
the
positive
side,
that's
about
to
celebrate
its
100th
anniversary,
and
so
we
do
hope
that
you
come
by
for
the
very
intense
celebration
that's
being
planned
there,
but.
C
20:
first:
yes,
yes
right,
but
it
is
a
building
that
is,
that
has
been
plagued
with
problems,
particularly
in
its
in
its
systems
and
not
that's
you
know.
That's
one
of
the
biggest
issue
among
all
of
the
city's
assets
is
the
there.
It's
an
aging
infrastructure
that,
as
councilman
school
with
sayings
that
in
maintaining
these
systems
in
the
first
place
is,
is
what
needs
needs
to
be
the
first
order
of
business,
but
really
building
an
infrastructure
that
is
a
modern
21st
century
in
representative
21st
century
city.
C
D
C
A
The
tanks
are
council,
matic
district.
Thank
you.
Well,
a
couple
lights
start
flashing
and
people
aren't
sitting
there,
so
that
was
a
little
scary
but
other
than
that.
No
further
questions
me.
Thank
you
all
very
much.
Thank
you
for
you
too.
Libraries
are
great
assets
as
you
see
that
John
photo.