Restore a Library to the Hilltop
Tacoma Hilltop Library Project
Restore Library Services to Tacoma Hilltop and Eastside Communities
In this tumultuous time, library services are more important than ever. The time has come to restore library services to the Hilltop and Eastside Communities.
Public libraries are critical to democracy. They nurture an informed constituency and encourage civic activism, convening meetings and providing meeting rooms. Libraries offer free, unfettered information in an era of misinformation. Libraries provide equal access to public policy and media.
Libraries supply the local community voter registration forms, voter pamphlets, and often host ballot drop boxes. In partnership with the Pierce County Auditor’s Office, public libraries provide election-day registration, ballots, and replacement ballot services.
Monthly Information/progress Meeting:
Hilltop Library Planning Committee meets on the 3rd Thursday of every month
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM via Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81960342310
Meeting ID 819 6034 2310
TOPIC: HILLTOP LIBRARY PLANNING COMMITTEE
CURRENTLY EXPLORING WAYS TO KEEP THE EFFORTS GOING
Hilltop Library Planning Committee meets on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Every month on the Third Thu,
Zoom at To Join Zoom Meeting please click below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81960342310 with Meeting ID 819 6034 2310.
SUMMARY OF HILLTOP LIBRARY PLANNING COMMITTEE HISTORY
2013 TO PRESENT
2013
2013 Bil Moss and Al Nurse began discussions on how to Restore Library Services to the Hilltop.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch had been dedicated in January 1989 and closed in 2011.
2014
February 16, 2014 - letter addressed to Concerned Citizens of Hilltop announcing upcoming community cafes to engage in conversations regarding replacing the loss of library services in the Hilltop Community.
February 27, 2014, @ Peace Community Center – 74 participants
March 6, 2014, @ Hilltop Regional Health Center – 63 participants
March 2014 – December 2014 there were over 45 presentations and planning meetings of the committee. (See document entitled Hilltop Library Planning Committee 2014 Activities in Review)
2015
January through December - Recruited new members of the committee
Reached out to candidates for City Council to seek support
Applied for funding to secure a place in remodeled McCarver Elementary School
Child Care Aware Grant awarded to set up Ready- Set-Read room at People’s Center for Early Literacy Reading Program (ELRP)
The program moved from People’s Center to Centro-Latino because of the construction of a pool at People’s Center.
Reached out to 800 community members who showed interest during a meeting in 2014.
The leadership of the Hilltop Library Planning Committee (HLPC) attended over ten (10) community meetings seeking support.
Attempted to appear on City video services.
Met with Tacoma School Board and City Council members.
Received support from over (fifty) 50 community groups, i.e. TSD, City Council, NAACP, Black Collective, HAC, Hilltop Business Group, Pastors of Churches in the Hilltop Community
Many hours were spent participating in meetings regarding the potential for library services in the McCarver remodeling program.
Participated in summer festivals.
Invited School Board and City Council Candidates to meet with HLPC. Logic Model presented to Deputy Superintendent Garcia by Amanda Scott Thomas
Planned for Community Meeting next year during Black History Month at Main Library.
Logic Proposal presented to School Board by Amanda Scott Thomas on December 10, 2015.
Funding for the Early Literacy Reading Program ended December 31, 2015.
2016
January – Negotiating continues for funding of Early Literacy Reading Program between City of Tacoma, Library Board of Trustees, Tacoma School Board.
February - Planning continued throughout the month for the Community Meeting entitled Literacy on the Hilltop scheduled February 27, 2016, from 11:00 AM to 1 PM at the Main Library.
March – Presentation for funding of Literacy Program to Library Board of Trustees on March 16, 2016, @ 5:30 PM
Thank you letters to participants and contributors to the Literacy on the Hilltop Event last month
April – Next presentation is to the City Council’s Community Vitality and Safety Committee for approval of funding for a Literacy program.
Field Trip to Fern Hill and Swasey Libraries for size comparison for proposed Library in the Hilltop.
Continued to reach out for support from community members such as former Library Trustee Tony Hudson, Council Member Keith Blocker, and Jordan Rush of Forterra Company.
May – Received support from Tacoma Community House
Continued reaching out to Community for support
Registered to participate in summer festivals
Received footage information for Fern Hill, Swasey, and S. Tacoma Libraries..
June –Proposal by Committee Member B. Johnstone to send a Fundraiser letter to friends and supporters in order to raise funds to help pay for HLPC activities– TCH became the fiscal sponsor
The subcommittee met with Councilmember Blocker and Jordan Rush, Conservation Director for Forterra’s Hilltop Redevelopment project.
July – HLPC retreat scheduled for July 14, 2016, and will be facilitated by Patricia Talton from Northwest Leadership Foundation
Summer Festivals
August – Donations arrived and thank you letters with TCH’s Tax number sent to donors
KLAY presented an advertising proposal for a fee
Volunteer Rosalyn Townsend helped update social media and began work on a strategic plan
New Co-Principals and Librarian assigned to McCarver for 2016/17 School Year.
September - Evening Community Meeting scheduled for Shiloh Baptist Church 0n September 8, 2016
Powerpoint presentation by Co-Chairs to 20 community members
Meeting at McCarver Elementary School on September 29, 2016, and was facilitated by Amanda
Scott Thomas to plan for McCarver Program.
October – Several meetings were conducted to continue planning on McCarver Program.
November - Guest from City Manager’s Office David Nash-Mendez sent to help HLPC plan.
$50,00 was added to the City budget to support Literacy Enhancement at McCarver Elementary School commencing January 17, 2017, for 2 years.
December – MOU for TCH to be completed for Fiscal Sponsorship.
Planning for more visibility in Community
Work continues on the McCarver program which begins in January 2017.
2017
January – City Manager leaving at the end of the month.
Co-Chair Al Nurse resigned effective March 23, 2017.
Community members invited to speak to Committee during February, March, and April
Field trip made to King County Libraries by the subcommittee.
Strategic Plan submitted and discussed.
February – McCarver program updated - New administrators and librarian appointed
Speakers’ invitations adjusted
March – Invited religious and political guests to continue to speak during the month and offer their support.
April – Previous Chairperson Bil Moss returned as Chairperson this month.
She has contacted community members for support
Meeting schedule changed to 2 times per month – 2nd Thursdays at 10 AM and 4th Thursdays at 5:30 PM.
May – Little Library project proposed and began
Technology and Social Media updated
June – Partnership established between TPS, City of Tacoma, Tacoma Public Library, HLPC, and Peace Community Center to provide a Literacy Program for primary school children.
A meeting was set up to clarify
Signed up to participate in Summer Festivals
Participated in Candidates’ Forum for City Council Elections
July – Political candidates support Library in the Hilltop
McCarver summer program conducted
August - Attended Summer festivals
1448 signatures of support from Ethnic Fest and Hilltop Street Fair attendees
September – Thank you Letters to Councilmember Blocker and City Manager Pauli for meeting with Chairperson Moss.
Chairperson continues to meet with community members seeking support
The question is will the $50,000 that was allocated by the City for the McCarver Project be spent in the 2018 Biennium? (See email from Librarian S. Odencrantz to Chairperson B. Moss dated August 16, 2017, with explanation contained in Planning Committee Meeting September 1, 2017).
October – Began work on updated Vision and Mission Statement with facilitator Dr. Linda Ishem, Professor of Urban Studies at UWT. She is also a former member of the Pierce County Library Board.
Survey of High School Students’ library usage who are enrolled in a program at Peace Community Center completed.
November - Early Literacy Strategic Plan for Hilltop from March 31 – December 31, 2014, placed on the website.
December – Visit from Mayor Woodards - offered her support for HLPC’s efforts to restore library resources to the Hilltop Community
Visit from Indivisible Tacoma who offered support
2018
January
Vision statement adopted as follows:
Hilltop Library is a 21at Century learning environment where community members are encouraged to explore ideas and seek information by asking questions, reading, researching, thinking critically, and demonstrating creativity
Mission statement to follow.
New Library Director, Kate Larsen, from Everett, took office on January 2, 2018.
The question still remains regarding the $50,000 grant from City that was issued last year.
Support letter from Attorney Diane Clarkson received.
Committee Member Al Nurse resigned from HLPC.
New Mayor and City Council members were sworn in.
February
Reception for Library Director Kate Larsen
Support from Council Members
HLPC Marketing plan introduced by Committee Member M. Anderson
March
Website set up by Committee Member M. Betor – tacomahilltoplibrary.org or com
Letter to City Manager for inclusion for a library in the City budget
Support from Tacoma Housing Authority
TNT Article regarding use of Rite Aid Building shared by Chairperson.
Business Cards designed and introduced.
Essay Contest for Elementary School Students on the importance of a Library in the Hilltop was introduced.
April
Website up and running
The essay subcommittee met to plan contest
Support requested from Tacoma School District to advertise to students
Chairperson continues to meet with community groups seeking support
May
Essay flyers were completed and distributed to 4-6 grader students in the Hilltop Community
T-Shirts completed with Libraries Change Lives on the back. meetings
Committee Members attended Friends of Library group and Library Board of Trustees meetings.
June
Committee Members attended Library Transforms Communities Meetings
Essay Contest publicized
Received support from Black Collective
July
Continued reaching out to the community via fairs and fests.
Seeking support from council members through meetings and discussions
Visit from Library Director and Trustees Donna LaFrance and Wayne Williams
August
Essay contest continues
The plan is to announce winners at a City Council meeting with support from Council Member Blocker.
Council Member Blocker supports HLPC efforts to restore Library resources to the Hilltop
Article by Chairperson appears in July/August Hilltop Action Journal
HLPC appears in Hilltop Street Fair Parade
September
Request sent in for Recognition by City Council for Essay winners.
Winners received computers, others received gift certificates
News release presented on September 27, 2018.
October
Essay winners were recognized by City Council on October 16, 2018, at a regular Council meeting.
City Council included a line item of $50,000 in the 2017-2018 budget to staff a library at McCarver.
Powerpoint presentation by Library Director of the budget proposal
Proposal to purchase two remote devices to provide resources to the Hilltop and Eastside communities
Chairperson B. Moss resigned this month.
November
Vice-Chair K. Giraldan accepted the chairperson’s position and Committee Member L. Oliver accepted the position of Vice-chairperson.
A feasibility study at the request of HLPC from Council member Lillian Hunter was granted.
HLPC requested to be part of the process and was granted.
Several articles regarding HLPC were published in Hilltop Action Journal and Tacoma Weekly.
December
Wrap up of Essay Contest with thank you letters to everyone who participated
Looking for new meeting facility
2019
January