Director reports improved turnover, strategic plan timeline and program updates; social worker post is temporary ARPA-funded role

Jeff Collins, the Davenport Public Library director, told trustees at the March 18 meeting that the library’s employee turnover rate for 2024 was 7.7%, “and that’s actually a 64% decrease since 2022.” He said the figure is below commonly cited “healthy” turnover benchmarks and that the library has focused on professional development and job-description reviews to avoid unintentionally excluding applicants.

Collins updated trustees on several operational and program items in his written director’s report and in-person remarks. He said the strategic-planning process produced a strong response to community and stakeholder surveys; consultants returned a first draft and the board should see a refined plan in the April–June cycle, with an anticipated July 1 start date for the new plan.

On facilities, Collins said renovation phase 2 at the Main Library is proceeding, noting a new handicap sign at the front entrance and furniture repositioning on the second floor. He reported staff received positive feedback from a patron who used the ramp.

Collins said the city provides service awards every five years but historically recognized only full-time employees; he said the library worked with city human resources to extend the recognition to part-time library staff (about 40% of the library workforce).

Programs and partnerships Collins described active outreach and partnerships: a memorandum of understanding being finalized with Tapestry Farms to provide proof-of-address for refugees and asylum seekers so they can obtain library cards; story-walk installations slated at Lafayette, Greenacres and Van Buren parks; a seed-library kickoff event; an outreach program visiting first graders to register students for library cards and circulate books; and an expanded deposit collection at Stride Autism Center. He said annual staff development day is April 10 and flagged several public events on the calendar.

Budget and personnel notes Collins reminded trustees of a March 26 city public hearing on the proposed property tax levy at 5 p.m. and the council meeting where the board’s National Library Week proclamation will be presented at 5:30 p.m. He said Quinn O’Brien, the library social worker, has indicated she will leave at the end of March; the social-worker role is ARPA-funded for FY26 and library leadership has asked city leaders to convert the position to a general-funded role, pending city action.

Collins also briefed trustees on state and federal legislation that could affect libraries and on partnerships with the Iowa Library Association and other statewide groups; the board discussed how advocacy differs by role and legal limits for trustees’ direct lobbying activities.

Collins answered trustee questions about partnerships and internships, and staff said they will continue to explore supervised internship arrangements with social-work programs if city supervision requirements can be met.