National Library Week resolution

1:17:10All right, if you are here for National Library Week. Please come up to the podium.

1:17:21Sean, you come front and center this time.

1:17:30I'll go ahead and read the resolutions as everyone is making their way to the podium. Resolution number 26-195, a resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, proclaiming April 19th through the 25th, 2026 as National Library Week in Pasco County. Whereas National Library Week is a time to highlight the valuable role librarians, libraries, And library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening communities. ANRAS libraries

1:18:01spark creativity, fuel imagination, and inspire lifelong learning, offering a space where individuals of all ages can find joy through exploration and discovery.

1:18:18resources while fostering civic engagement, critical thinking, and cultural rich enrichment. NRAS libraries provide free and equitable access to books, digital tools, and innovative programming, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of background, have the support they need to learn, connect, and thrive.

1:18:44Increase efficiency and expand access to essential services, strengthening the entire community. NRAS Premier Libraries attract and satisfy customers through outstanding and responsive customer service, an excellent selection of materials and resources, and an environment that encourages personal and community betterment. NRAS, the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners, has made a commitment to libraries by opening the new Wesley Chapel Library in February 2026 and beginning in the renovations of the Hudson Library.

1:19:14And RAS, the citizens of Pasco County have repeatedly shown how much they love the library system by consistently ranking Pasco County Libraries as a premier community resource in Pasco County. Now therefore be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that said Board hereby proclaims the week of april nineteenth through the twenty fifth, twenty twenty six, as National Library Week in Pasco County, done and resolved in regular session with a quorum present and voting this twenty first day of april, twenty twenty six. Move approval. Second. All

1:19:44in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Well this is a one of my favorite resolutions as well. Um you know library week is i is important. Libraries are so important. I um you know growing up to read was getting to books was was hard to get. You couldn't couldn't afford to buy 'em, but you go to the library and get them and read it and help you do homework and and and do better. And I know my girls uh benefited tremendously with library from the reading stories in the morning, getting maclimated to books, like who could read the most books every summer. I mean just was

1:20:14such a such a benefit. And with all of everybody in there, I see Ross, Susan, Barbara, uh, from way, way back as far as like how important libraries are for our children, our family. and the great work that it does to make Pasco premier. Your everyone's dedication, I want to say I would say we greatly, greatly appreciated. The new renovations I think are a great testament. I mean, let's face it, when the voters decided to go back libraries with the Go Bonds, That is that that means so

1:20:44much to our community that this is the quality of life people want to see. So I will tell you when we deal with our state issues as far as what they want to cut, cut, and cut. And remember years ago, Parks and Libraries took the biggest cuts of 30%, and we battled to get it all back. And this board was great in making all that happen to get them funded again. We're gonna fight those same battles again coming up because we need quality of life, and libraries are huge part. Yeah. So Would I say a few words?

1:21:09Thank you, Commissioner, for the recognition, especially during National Library ad week and today is National Employee Library Employee Day. I may repeat some of the things that you've already said, but I think it's important because Weekly I'm approached by people who did not know what our libraries do. They still think it's just books. So I'm Elaine Bassinger. I chair the Pasco County Library Advisory Board. 11846

1:21:40Orange Street, San Antonio, Florida 33576. And two thousand I have to put the glasses on. I try not to be vain.

1:21:52In 2025, our libraries welcomed more than 750,000 in-person visitors, along with an additional 440,000 digital visits. That means well over a million touch points, where residents turn to the library for learning connection or support. Over the past year, Pasco County residents checked out nearly 1.2 million items, books, ebooks, audiobooks, digital media, and

1:22:22more. This level of use shows that our libraries remain one of the most trusted and relied upon public services in the county. Our programming continues to grow as well. More than a hundred and nineteen thousand residents participated in at least one of the library's systems. four thousand five hundred and seventy programs and events last year. These programs support early literacy, STEM education, job seeking

1:22:53skills, small business development, technology training, and cultural enrichment for all ages. Libraries also provide a strong return on investment. Studies show that Pasco County Libraries generate $3.09 in economic value for every dollar that is invested. That value comes through workforce development, digital access, educational support, and the many ways libraries strengthen families and neighborhoods. Beyond

1:23:23the numbers, our libraries serve as safe, welcoming community hubs. They provide free Wi Fi, public commuters. printing and scanning services, and access to online services. especially important for residents who may not have reliable Internet at home. They also preserve our local history and offer climate controlled spaces where people can learn study and connect. In short, Pasco County Libraries are

1:23:53not just buildings with books. They are essential community infrastructure, supporting education, economic growth, digital equality, and quality of life for residents across the county. Thank you, thank you for your continued support of our library system and for recognizing the vital role it plays in strengthening our Premier County of Pasco County. Thank you again, Commissioners, and we would like to present you with a gift.

1:24:24Okay. Before we get that Sean, did you want to add anything? Sure. Okay. Thank you, Elaine.

1:24:31Sean McGarvey, Library Director of Pasco County. As mentioned before by Ms. Bassinger, our wonderful Library Advisory Board president, today is Library Week in the nation, but it also National Library Staff Today. And I would be remiss if I did not call attention to the wonderful staff you have enabled in this county to do incredible things. From our marketing team, which turns out viral video hits to our events team, to our staff at all eight of

1:25:01our locations doing programming, helping our citizens. You've created a premier institution, and I know that because over the weekend I did a outreach at an event in Hillsborough County for local regional thing. and to a person, every person that walked up to me, Said. I live in Hillsborough County, but I have one of your library cards. Or I come to your stuff because it's really cool. Um, and that's because of the work

1:25:31that this staff has done, because of the public services staff and the administrative staff and everybody, I can't thank them all enough, as well as all of our volunteers here, which you see behind you. These people give up their time. They give of their effort and they do so much for the library system and this county as a whole. As you said, Commissioner, many of them you have seen in other lights because they continue to give to this county that they love so much. So I thank that.

1:25:59Sean

1:25:59if you

1:25:59could talk briefly about the uh the cultural aspect of like at the Hudson Library you have the

1:26:11I

1:26:11would love to,

1:26:11sir.

1:26:12As well as mentioned that other commissioners have also asked if we could do concerts on their lawns at certain locations and we are working on that as well. I don't want to feel anybody to left that.

1:26:25Um yes. Uh thank you to you, Commissioner, and the rest of this board and county administration and uh administrator Carbala for putting uh love behind Hudson Library, which was our biggest library and still will be. Uh it was built in the 1980s and opened in the early 90s, and it is really a marvel with really beautiful wooden floors. floors and high ceilings. We plan to continue and expand concert series that we've

1:26:55been doing at Starkey Ranch Library. And we plan to expand to Wesley Chapel as well as Hudson because they are so popular. People may not know this, but Hudson is a surprising music mecca. We regularly get three to four hundred people attending concerts at Hudson Library for things as eclectic as Irish folk singers to rock bands. It's really incredible. And I'm really proud because we have something for everyone across this county, whether it be a clay studio

1:27:25or an art studio or woodwork. working or um our children's discovery center or our kitchen in Regency Park. Um it's really amazing what what you have here and it's a gem and um we plan to make Hudson uh we look forward to making Hudson a new sparkling uh gem jewel in that gem. So

1:27:48And we we've been doing our resolutions where just the commissioner's sponsors speak to move it along quicker. It's not working too good today. But uh Nikki wants to add something.

1:27:59Thank you, Mr. Chairman I did. I said, can I say something? I love our libraries. I think it's such um, I don't know, a gem in in Pasco. And thank you to the friends of our libraries. Thank you so much. I appreciate everything you do. So quick storm. Story. Um, my mom uh went to the library in Officollier in Land O' Lakes, and they were offering, you

1:28:18know,

1:28:18how to uh become an author, how do you write, you

1:28:21know,

1:28:21better. And she wanted to write my grandmother's memoirs. So she took the class, and I have to tell you, she's in the process of publishing her book. It'll probably be published at the end of this year. I'm so excited. Can we steal a copy of that, please? Yes. I'm gonna tell her yes. So um it's it's a beautiful book. I actually just did the last reading edits of it last night, she let me, so I was really excited about that. And in that class, um they wrote a poem. That was one of the things you have 10 minutes to write a poem, and then they explained how do you

1:28:51write a poem? And I was like, I've never written a poem in my life. In 10 minutes, she wrote this most amazing, spectacular, beautiful poem that brings chills when I read it. Um And it's beautiful, it's about my grandmother, it's about Cuba. She she melds it all together. Now she's put it in and she created a song out of it. So it's it's like all part of the whole book package. But I just wanted to tell you that is what a program in Pasco County Libraries has done and the impact it has. So I just want to say thank you.

1:29:17I could not have asked for a better advertisement.

1:29:19Here you go.

1:29:20Um I don't want to call her out, but the president of the Land O' Lakes Friends is here and I am sure that just touched her heart.

1:29:27Thank you. No, thank you.

1:29:30Um yes sir, however you want to run it.

1:29:33So uh Mr. Mariano goes down. If you want to know how important libraries are, just close one down to get it remodeled.

1:29:43Sorry.

1:29:46Thank you so much for just

1:29:48discussion on

1:29:50the report

1:29:51except.

1:29:56All right. If you're in my back line, just make sure that you can see me and not the back of someone's head.

1:30:04All right, ready? Three, two.

1:30:29Oh,

1:30:29thank you. Oh, it's it is. It's so good. I'm so proud of her.

1:30:58Yeah.

1:31:05Thank you for the gifts.