Page 27 - City of Arlington FY19 Adopted Operating Budget

Business Plan

new talent acquisition and learning management software platforms, opening an employee health clinic and finishing a
comprehensive three-year classification study. In addition, the Risk Management Division received the National Safety Council
Texas Employer Traffic Safety Award on behalf of the City.

The Library Department’s mission is to open doors to a world of ideas, information, and
imagination, thereby enhancing the economic, social, and cultural vitality of our diverse
community. The Library strives to meet these goals through collaboration, innovation, passion,
and hard work. Library services are provided through a network of six library branches located
strategically throughout the city and the new George W. Hawkes Downtown Library in the heart
of Downtown Arlington. Each of these locations offers a variety of services and unique spaces
such as new The Maker Space at the new George W. Hawkes Downtown Library with a focus
on exploration and creativity. Arlington Reads Adult Literacy program has reopened in its new
location on the second floor of the Downtown Library. The Arlington Reads programs are
available to improve the quality of life in Arlington and surrounding communities by offering
classes that are catered to student needs, and our students have a wide array of needs and
backgrounds. Also featured at the new Downtown Library is the Genealogy & Local History section
on the third floor. All library locations offer a variety of public meeting and study areas that provide
spaces for collaboration, discussion and gathering spaces for the community.

The Library department is present throughout the City, sending out mobile units to areas in the
community where access to services is challenging for residents. The TechLiNK, a mobile computer lab
containing 12 desktop computers and wireless internet service, travels throughout the city to offer computer classes, literacy
programming, and public computing services. The LiteracyLiNK van continues to help build early literacy skills in young children
by supporting partnerships with other organizations, especially those with the goal of minimizing the effects of growing up in
poverty. Library staff offers programming, books, early literacy kits, and other materials to childcare centers, schools, and other
community locations with the goal to strengthen Arlington neighborhoods.

To further the City’s FY 2018 Council Priorities to support quality education and
champion great neighborhoods, the Library offers a wide array of programs for all
ages, often in partnership with community educational and cultural institutions, to
enhance quality of life and civic involvement, increase appreciation for the arts, and
improve vocational skills for Arlington residents. A wonderful example of how people
connect at the Library is the large group of enthusiastic community volunteers that
support, and supplement services offered by library staff. The move into the new
Downtown Library would not have happened without the help of community
volunteers. Another exciting way that people connect is through the Library’s
innovative and engaging programs throughout the year.
Library staff strives to deliver superior customer service to
all library visitors. In FY 2018, 91% of surveyed library
users rated the overall quality of library services as
excellent.

The new 80,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art George W. Hawkes Downtown Library opened
the doors for the first time on June 16, 2018. On the first day alone 4,478 visitors came
through the doors of the new building. After reaching the great achievement to open a new
Downtown Library, the renovation project to remodel the front entry and façade of the
Woodland West Branch Library will begin in August 2018. Also, the new East Arlington
joint-use Parks & Recreation Center and Library project design phase will be completed in
late FY 2018 and construction will follow. The Library Department and the citizens of

2019 Adopted Budget and Business Plan 12 City of Arlington, Texas