June 13, 2005
Mayor Gavin Newsom
San Francisco City Hall
No. 1 Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102

Dear Mayor Newsom:

The Library Citizens Advisory Committee to the Board of Supervisors has made its first major recommendations about the operations of San Francisco Public Library. We recommend that the supervisors defer funding for RFID until the Library presents a plan for implementation of RFID. We also recommend that for the 2005-06 Fiscal Year the Library increase funding for book purchases to 11% of the total budget.

Established in 2004 by a vote of the Board of Supervisors, the Library CAC and its two subcommittees meet monthly to evaluate SFPL plans, programs, operations and services. Our 17 members represent every supervisorial district, as well as such special interests as youth, seniors, technology, English as a second language and the School District.

RFID: After extensive research and briefing by SFPL, RFID experts and RFID opponents, The Library CAC voted at our May 25 meeting to "recommend to the Board of Supervisors that no money should be allocated for RFID until the SFPL satisfies health, privacy, workability of RFID, and cost-benefit analysis concerns."

We recommend the Board defer funding RFID until the Library presents a proposed plan for RFID deployment. It is critical to the health and civil rights of library users to resolve issues of safety and privacy before adopting the program. We also believe the RFID project needs to prove it is cost-effective and workable for the Library.

BOOKS: At our May 25, 2005 meeting, the Library CAC voted "to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that the proposed books and materials [allocation] should reach 11% in the 2005-06 FY Budget and gradually increase thereafter until 15% is attained."

The Library's own goal is that 15% of its annual budget be devoted to purchases of books and other print and audio-visual_ materials. The proposed 2005-06 Library budget for books stands at about 10.4% of the proposed budget.

A modest rise of 0.6% to 11% this year and increases of 1% in the four successive years will attain the long sought 15% goal and will enhance the educational and leisure time possibilities for San Franciscans of all ages and educational backgrounds.

The LCAC has engaged in productive dialog with library administrators and established a working relationship. The Library has taken some innovative steps under the new City Librarian, Luis Herrera, to make more Commission meeting background information available on its website and to establish opportunities for public comment at its Technology and Privacy Committee meetings.

Dan Weaver, Chair Sue Cauthen, Vice-Chair
415.587.4588
DJPWeaver@Yahoo.com