Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Library Grant Rfid topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Library grant approved amid sharp public debate over Friends & Foundation and RFID
Summary
The committee approved a resolution permitting the San Francisco Public Library to accept $813,350 from the Friends & Foundation; the meeting included a heated public comment period with allegations that the Friends keep most donations and rebuttals from the foundation and library supporters, and a technical defense of RFID privacy safeguards.
The Budget & Finance Committee recommended approval of a resolution allowing the San Francisco Public Library to accept and expend up to $813,350 in cash and in‑kind contributions from the Friends and Foundation of the San Francisco Public Library.
Acting library staff told the committee they accept the Budget Legislative Analyst's recommended reductions and described the $813,350 as an 8% increase over the prior year's gift that funds neighborhood programs, summer literacy activities and other public services. The acting librarian and library staff defended planned RFID deployment for inventory and circulation efficiency, saying that passive tags will store only item‑barcode numbers and no patron information.
The item prompted extended public comment. Critics, including Ray Hart (San Francisco Open Government) and Peter Warfield (Library Users Association), alleged the Friends and Foundation retain the majority of funds they raise and have in past years failed to disclose certain contributions; Warfield and others cited FPPC findings about prior nondisclosure by a former city librarian. "The friends are keeping some 90% of what they take in, and giving the library 10% or less," one commenter said.
Marie Sapala, executive director of the Friends and Foundation, responded at the hearing: she pointed to audits and annual reports posted on the organization’s website and explained that a large portion of the Friends’ activity involves book sales (a largely self‑supporting program) and management of restricted endowments and special funds. Supporters of the library’s RFID plan — including former library directors and staff — said RFID is an industry standard that improves efficiency and inventory control and poses minimal privacy risk when implemented with stated safeguards.
After public comment the committee took a positive recommendation on the resolution without objection.
Next steps: the item advances to the full board file for final adoption as part of the budget process; BLA and library staff will remain available for follow‑up questions and to provide documentation that was cited in public comment.
