Item 6: April Director's Report — original pdf

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Director’s Report April 2021  2 TABLE OF CONTENTS HIghlights ____________________________________________________________________ 3 Facilities Services _____________________________________________________________ 5 FY2018 Bond Program Summary ____________________________________________________________ 5 FY2012 Bond Program Summary ____________________________________________________________ 7 Cepeda Branch / Hampton Branch (Site/Civil) Report ___________________________________________ 13 Faulk Building / Austin History Center Monthly Report ___________________________________________ 15 Interior Renovations Monthly Report _________________________________________________________ 18 Roof Replacements & Systems Upgrades Monthly Report________________________________________ 21 Austin History Center _________________________________________________________ 24 Library Priorities _____________________________________________________________ 25 Literacy Advancement ____________________________________________________________________ 25 Digital Inclusion & STEM __________________________________________________________________ 25 Equity, Diversity & Inclusion ________________________________________________________________ 25 Civic and Community Engagement __________________________________________________________ 25 Staff Development _______________________________________________________________________ 25 Workforce and Economic Development _______________________________________________________ 26 APL By the Numbers __________________________________________________________ 27 Virtual Collections Usage March ____________________________________________________________ 27  3 HIGHLIGHTS Austin Public Libraries Reopening to the Public May 10 Austin Public Library's (APL) timeline for reopening to the public for limited capacity in-person Express Services will begin on Monday, May 10 at 12 libraries. The libraries opening next month for Express in-person services are Central, Carver, Hampton Branch at Oak Hill, Manchaca, Milwood, North Village, Old Quarry, Ruiz, Spicewood Springs, St. John, Windsor Park, and Yarborough. Digital services, along with curbside pickup, will continue. The following services will be added inside the libraries: Book and material browsing and checkout, Printing and copying, Public computers, Wi -Fi, New Library cards, Holds pickup and checkout, and Technology and reference help. The Austin History Center will continue remote reference and add limited capacity in-person service on Thursdays and Fridays beginning May 13. Starting Monday, June 28, in-person service will expand to all Austin Public Library branches (except those under renovation). APL has been running curbside collection since June 2020. APL provides crucial computer access to residents so they can take advantage of vaccination sign-ups and other social services offered by the City, State, and Federal governments. All APL libraries have implemented necessary precautions to keep customers and staff safe, such as the measures included below: • Plexiglass is installed at all circulation desks • All customers and staff are required to wear masks • APL has installed bipolar ionization equipment in the HVAC Systems system wide at all APL locations. The equipment is designed to neutralize contaminates (allergens, mold, bacteria, viruses, and volatile organic compounds) to ensure that conditioned purified air is recycled through the HVAC Systems • Furniture and computers are spaced a minimum of six feet apart • Libraries will close for the last 15 minutes of each hour to sanitize surfaces. All customers will be required to exit the building during that time. Recycled Reads Lease Update Austin Public Library is working to renew the lease for APL’s Recycled Reads bookstore at 5335 Burnet Rd. The existing lease has 12 months remaining. We are asking for an additional 12-month lease with a 12-month option. Combined the lease totals two years with a one-year option. APL anticipates reopening Recycled Reads to the public in August in Phase 5 (Full Access) of the Library’s Reopening Plan.  4 Roosevelt Weeks Elected to Texas Library Association Executive Board Austin Public Library is delighted to announce that Roosevelt Weeks, Director of the Austin Public Library has been elected to The Texas Library Association's 2021-2022 executive board. Director Weeks is Representative-at-Large for Public Libraries. “Libraries are faced with many challenges in the coming years. Funding, navigating in a post COVID-19 environment, racial and social unrest, and changing perception of libraries are just a few of the challenges that we must overcome. As we face these external and internal forces, we must be flexible, innovative, and nimble in order to survive and flourish. We can no longer do business as usual, as we provide services and programs to our customers. We must address the inequities and social justice issues that are inside and outside of our libraries,” Weeks said. “The library can play an important role in making sure all voices are heard and programs/services are provided in an equitable fashion. We can do this when we work together as one.” The Texas Library Association (TLA) is the largest state library association in the U.S. It’s 6,000+ members represent all library types: academic, public, school and special. Jerry Craft and Raúl the Third are the featured authors for this year’s Kids Block Party. APL will distribute 2000 bags with a book and activities. Kids Block Party 2021 Edition Austin Public Library’s annual celebration of literacy and learning through play will have three parts this year – a website, book bags (with activities and books!) and a Skype author visit. All for free, for kids age 0-12. Our new website goes live on Monday, May 10, featuring fun activities and lots of APL resources. Families can pick up a free book bag, while supplies last, at every APL Express starting May 10. We will distribute 2000 bags with hands-on learning, a free book, plus materials from APL and partner agencies. Children’s bags will have activities plus a copy of ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market. Tween bags will have more challenging STEM activities and a copy of Jerry Craft’s graphic novel, New Kid. Both books are available from APL’s virtual library on Hoopla. The bags are made to be stand-alone and don’t require access to technology. APL’s Bookmobile/Outreach team is partnering with the Ghisallo Foundation to distribute book bags to families in underserved communities. funding. On Sunday, May 16, kids from all over Austin are invited to hear award-winning author/illustrator, Raúl the Third, via Skype. Kids Block Party is sponsored by The Library Foundation and made possible through their generous  5 FACILITIES SERVICES FY2018 Bond Program Summary Description The 2018 Bond Program for the Library Department consists of fifteen improvement projects located across the City of Austin. The projects are grouped into the following categories: • CLMP180 2016 Site/Civil Engineering Projects Hampton at Oak Hill Parking Lot Expansion; Cepeda Branch Trail • CLMP282 Faulk /Austin History Campus - Faulk Library Archival Repository Upgrade; Austin History Center • CLMP286 Interior Renovation Projects – Old Quarry Branch Renovation; Little Walnut Creek Branch Renovation; Willie Mae Kirk Branch Renovation; Manchaca Road Branch Roof Replacement & Renovation; Interior & Exterior improvements St. John Branch Renovation • CLMP287 Roof Replacement & System Upgrades – Ruiz Branch; Carver Branch; University Hills Branch; Howson Branch; Spicewood Springs Branch; Yarborough Branch • CLMP180 2016 Site/Civil: Cepeda Branch Trail Project is temporarily delayed while the new consultant is brought on board. New consultant is developing scope for trail construction. Hampton at Oak Hill Parking Lot Expansion Project Consultant is working with Watershed to determine project scope. A preliminary meeting indicated that site plan requirements could trigger a pond retrofit. • CLMP282 Faulk Building & History Center Renovation: Design Kickoff and subsequent initial project definition with APL has started. A committee of APL employees and 2-3 outside archivists has been formed for the scoping phase or next 4-5 weeks. We will meet weekly to confirm the History Center requirements, SF, and adjacencies that make sense. We will then move forward with Schematic Design. • CLMP286 Interior Renovations: The Consultant submitted draft APDN on February 14, 2021. Cost estimates will be submitted mid-March and then a meeting will be held with APL, consultant and Public Works PM to discuss. Status  6 • CLMP 287 Roof Replacement & System Upgrades: Consultant continues to work on preliminary phase report. Bad weather continues to affect the necessary work on the last branch which is necessary to complete the PER report. Schedule The design and construction program’s deliverables are revised to a 36-month timeline. All timelines are estimates and subject to change without notice. Program construction starts will be staggered to minimize impacts to existing levels of branch services. The 2018 Bond Program for the Library Department consists of fifteen improvement projects located across the City of Austin.  7 FY2012 Bond Program Summary Description • Proposition 18: Library, Museums and Cultural Facilities $13.4 Million 6014.041 Cepeda Branch Scope of Work Site Drainage Remediation and Interior Renovation of 8,110 SF Facility Status A Request for Council Action (RCA) to award the construction contract to Balfour Beatty Construction Group will go before the City Council on March 25 in the amount of $505,505.00 plus a $50,550.50 contingency, for a total contract amount not to exceed $556,055.50 Appropriation $1,311,839; Obligated $581,789.95; Balance Budget / Cost $730,049.05 Schedule • Construction Start March 25, 2021 • Substantial Completion September 25, 2021 6014.015 Zaragosa Warehouse Fire Sprinkler Upgrade Scope of Work Replacement of Sprinkler System (life safety) in 20,000 SF Facility Status Notice to Proceed was delayed to February 22, due to the extreme weather conditions present on February 15 (and indeed the entire week). But construction on the site officially kicked off on February 22, 2021 with Balfour Beatty Construction Group accepting keys to the Warehouse and instructions on how to disarm/rearm the alarm system every day. Budget / Cost Appropriation $1,044,965; Obligated $1,032,324.67; Balance $12,640.33  8 Schedule Scope of Work Status • Construction Start February 22, 2021 • Substantial Completion August 22, 2021 6014.037 University Hills Branch Parking Lot Expansion The work of this project comprises the construction of a new asphalt 29 parking space parking lot expansion at the existing University Hills Branch Library. The Rebid process has begun, with a new Solicitation released with advertisement dates of February 8, February 15, and February 22. A project Pre-Bid Conference (online) was held on Tuesday, February 23; and a potential bidder’s Site Visit was held on Thursday, February 25 (with 3 interested prime | general contractors in attendance). The Bid Opening will be March 11 at 3 PM. Budget / Cost Appropriation $1,532,458.00; Obligated $761,327.75; Balance $771,130.25 Schedule • Estimated Construction Start March 2021 • Estimated Substantial Completion September 2021 Phase I Roof replacement and HVAC system overhaul for 8,851 SF facility. Phase II consists of interior improvements and maintenance repairs and upgrades to the exterior. Phase II (Interior Improvements) is pending finalizing the JOC Contract. The maintenance repairs and upgrades Pleasant Hill Scope of Work Status are currently underway. Budget / Cost Appropriation $1,206,627; Obligated $1,088.080.12; Balance $118,080.12  9 Schedule • Interior Construction Start TBD • Exterior Maintenance Repairs and upgrades are underway.  10 Cepeda Branch Renovations  Zaragosa Warehouse 11  12 University Hills Branch  Cepeda Branch / Hampton Branch (Site/Civil) Report Project Description The Cepeda Branch Library Trail Project was initiated to provide a safe, well-lighted pedestrian pathway from Status Schedule See Gantt Chart Budget Other Issues Unknown until scope is determined. the Cepeda Branch Library property at 651 N Pleasant Valley Road through to Gonzalez Street under the adjacent East Seventh Street overpass. The Will Hampton Branch Library at 5125 Convict Hill Road has experienced heavy use by the community since the facility first opened its doors in 1997. The community facility is public-facing and adjacent to the equally popular Dick Nichols District Park. The project consists of adding 22 parking spaces to the existing parking lot. • Cepeda Branch Trail Project is temporarily delayed while the new consultant is brought on board. New consultant is developing scope for trail construction, • Hampton at Oak Hill Parking Lot Expansion Project Consultant is working with Watershed to determine project scope. A preliminary meeting indicated that site plan requirements could trigger a pond retrofit. • Hampton Parking Lot Expansion: Appropriation $751,000; Obligated $84,082.72; Balance $666,917.28 • Cepeda Branch Trail: Appropriation $307,000; Obligated $48,693.48; Balance $258,306.52  14 Cepeda Branch / Hampton Branch Monthly Schedule  15 Faulk Building / Austin History Center Monthly Report Facility Improvements & Archival Repository Expansion Project Description The Faulk Library and Austin History Center are grouped together to meet the growth demands of the City’s burgeoning population by adding much needed archival storage space, security for collections, and upgrading environmental controls. The campus will be reinforced as a single destination that will facilitate seamless interchanges between the Faulk Building, the Austin History Center, adjacent Wooldridge Square and many nearby historical sites. structural and aesthetic improvements. Status Design Kickoff and subsequent initial project definition with APL has started. A committee of APL employees and 2-3 outside archivists has been formed for the scoping phase or next 4-5 weeks. We will meet weekly to confirm History Center requirements, SF, and adjacencies that make sense. Then we will move forward with Schematic Design. (All while engaging the public and other private groups for input and updates). With sustainability as a project goal the work to the Faulk Building includes but is not limited to modifying the 2nd and 3rd floors of JHF to meet minimal archival storage standards. Removing existing carpet and providing a sealed, epoxy-coated concrete flooring finish. Additional work includes upgrading the building M/E/P and Elevator Retrofit. Infrastructure upgrades at the Austin History Center include wheelchair lift replacements, lead- based paint abatement, renovation of worn finishes, lighting retrofit, and renovation of exteriors to redress Surveying is in progress and a Commissioning agent will be onboarded this month. Lead and Asbestos is also a concern, and we will need to review existing reports from the ALMAGG BSD team while in design.  Schedule 16 The winter storm coupled with an additional scoping meeting has added approximately 3 weeks to the schedule. APL requested this work be done in a 36-42 month range which we will still be holding at 37 months depending on construction. We will still try to recoup this in the design phase. (See Gannt Chart) Budget Estimates Appropriation $19,382,247; Obligated $249,449.63; Balance $19,132,797.37  17 Faulk Library Building / Austin History Center Schedule  18 Interior Renovations Monthly Report Project Description Austin Public Library 2018 Bond Program Package CLMP286 Interior Renovations, combines five library branch projects with similar modernization and refurbishment scopes of work. The work requires project designs that are reflective of the emerging architectural styles of our region and sympathetic to the City of Austin initiatives including citizen participation in the design processes, Art in Public Places, and project team participation by minority and women- owned businesses. The scope of Package “C” consists of selective demolition of the finishes of the existing building and renovations to the same that include interior finishes, floor finishes and base, new suspended ceilings and electrical service, lighting and plumbing, new gypsum drywall assemblies, storefront window systems and new furnishings. The project includes miscellaneous asbestos abatement. Compliance with current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and the City of Austin Sustainability objectives are project goals. Projects which comprise Pkg. C are as follows; • The Old Quarry Branch • Little Walnut Creek Branch • Manchaca Road Branch • Willie Mae Kirk Branch. • St. John Branch Status Schedule The Consultant submitted draft APDN of February 14, 2021. Cost estimates will be submitted mid-March and then a meeting will be held with APL, Consultant and Public Works PM to discuss. • Phase A Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) – 4 months • Phase B Design Phase – 10 months • Bid / Award / Execution – 8 Months (CSP/W Council approval of methodology) • Phase D Construction 18 months  19 • Phase E Post Construction / Warranty – 12 months Note: The design and construction program’s deliverables are programmed for a 36-month timeline. All timelines are estimates and subject to change without notice. Program Construction starts will be staggered to minimize impacts to existing levels of branch services. Cost Other Issues None to date Design Budget $685,261; Construction Budget $5,692,306  20 Interior Renovations Schedule  21 Roof Replacements & Systems Upgrades Monthly Report Project Description Austin Public Library 2018 Bond Program Roof Replacements & Systems Upgrades, combines six library branch projects with similar scopes of work for roofing system rehabilitation to extend the life-cycle and or HVAC Systems and controls upgrades. Warranty requirements for roofing systems shall be 20 years for leakage and weather and 10 years for HVAC Systems. The HVAC Systems shall be upgraded to contribute to overall building energy goals, shall have low life cycle costs and capable of providing excellent indoor environmental quality while minimizing maintenance requirements. A Commissioning Agent (Cx) will assist APL Facilities Services with refining the HVAC functional requirements and roofing system rehabilitation requirements. Systems to be commissioned are Roof, Air Conditioning, Heating Systems, Security / CCTV, PV Array and Sub-Metering devices. Work by related trades may include but is not limited to, asbestos abatement, steel, building automation, electrical and plumbing. Project will also feature upgrading of the roof drainage system including scupper’s, repair and upgrade of lightning protection system. Projects which comprise CLMP287 are further described as follows; • Ruiz Branch Roofing System • Carver Branch Roofing System & HVAC Upgrade. • University Hills Roofing System • Howson Branch HVAC and Controls Upgrade • Spicewood Springs Roofing System • Yarbrough Branch Roofing System, replacement of clerestories, and upgrade of lightning protection system. Consultant continues to work on preliminary phase report. Bad weather continues to affect the necessary work on the last branch which is necessary to complete the PER report. Minh Bruce no longer the point of contact from APL. New point of contact to be assigned by APL at a later date. The Preliminary Project Schedule details as follows: • Phase A Preliminary Phase – 2 months • Phase B Design Phase – 10 months • Bid / Award / Execution – 8 months (CSP/W Council approval of methodology) • Phase D Construction - 18 Months • Phase E Post Construction / Warranty – 12 months Status Schedule  22 Note: The design and construction program’s deliverables are programmed for a 36-month timeline. All timelines are estimates and subject to change without notice. Program Construction starts will be staggered to minimize impacts to existing levels of branch services. Design Budget TBD; Construction Budget TBD Cost Other Issues None to date  Roof Replacements & Systems Upgrades Schedule 23  24 AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER Programming & Outreach • Latinx Community Archivist Marina Islas and Asian Pacific American Community Archivist Ayshea Khan spoke to a graduate level class at NC Central University on March 8. • Curator Molly Hults and Audiovisual Archivist Afsheen Nomai gave a presentation, on March 22, to a UT History class on researching the history of their oral history interviewees. • Ayshea Khan was a speaker at Community Check-In and Vigil for the Lives Lost in Georgia virtual event, hosted by Asian Family Support Services of Austin and AARC • African American Community Archivist kYmberly Keeton participated in a panel in the Garza Independence High School African American Celebration on March 24. • Ayshea Khan served as a discussion facilitator at ConversAsian: An Asian American Town Hall, hosted by • Reference Archivist Jennifer Hecker was interviewed by CBS Austin regarding the Austin History Center’s UT-Austin on March 25. Covid-19 Files. • 645 files and 322 original files were ingested into Preservica, AHC’s Digital Collections platform. • The AHC’s expanded reference and e-document delivery service received 201 requests this month, delivering 3,583 scanned items to researchers. While research topics vary, some of our efforts can have a profound personal affect, as evidenced by this example of feedback that the staff received: “I really appreciate your prompt reply and help. You have confirmed, once again, my high regard for • This month, writings, clippings, administrative records, and subject files documenting local poet, environmentalist, publisher, and lawyer Robin Cravey were donated to AHC, as well as administrative records, audiovisual materials, and photographs documenting the A.I.S.D. Visiting Teachers Program from Collections Reference librarians!” 1931 to 2010.  25 LIBRARY PRIORITIES Literacy Advancement multiple live virtual programs each week. APL youth librarians are providing virtual programs to schools and day care centers across the city, as well as When Cowboy’s Sing in Texas is a new show by APL’s Literature Live! puppet troupe. The show will go live on APL’s Vimeo and will be sent to Austin Film Society. Digital Inclusion & STEM Teens at APL are learning the design platform Canva. They are using their new skills to create ATXyz: The Austin Texas Youth Zine. This month they learned how to use templates, lock layers, adjust colors and transparencies, and accessibility design fundamentals. Equity, Diversity & Inclusion APL’s virtual Read the World book club meets monthly to discuss international and intercultural fiction, including popular and literary novels by diverse authors. At the March meeting, one attendee shared his personal history as an immigrant in Australia. Another attendee who grew up on the Texas/Mexico border and teaches high school students, many of whom are immigrants, had much to say about the month’s book and how it relates to their lives and experiences. Civic and Community Engagement Voices food distribution sites. Staff Development The Library Bookmobile made several stops at the City’s ProLodge locations and in partnership with Austin APL’s Organizational Development staff are busy planning the annual APL Staff Appreciation Day. Employees will be nominating colleagues to recognize their outstanding work and contributions. We have modified our award categories this year to reflect the times and changes we experienced in the past year. This years  26 categories are: Unprecedented Times Award: Innovate & Create; Turn on Your Camera Award: Think Positive, Be Positive; I Love Your Background Award: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work; The New Normal Award: Making the Vision Real; The Snovid Award: Champion of Customer Experience; and Social Distancing Award: Community Hero. Award recipients will be announced May 21. Workforce and Economic Development Staff at the University Hills Branch provided virtual workshops for Travis County Youth Employment to prepare young people for summer employment.  27 APL BY THE NUMBERS Virtual Collections Usage March • eBooks 126,525 • eAudio 77,704 • eVideo 6,576 • eMusic 2,449 • ePeriodicals 5,721 • Total 218,975 Programs • 55 live virtual programs, 763 attendance • 129 recorded programs, 1,099 attendance Social Media Engagements • Instagram 2,206 • Facebook 476 • Twitter 131 Website Page Views • Library website 1,446,860 Curbside Service • Circulation 145,116 Roosevelt Weeks Director of Libraries