City of Tacoma’s Post

Spread the word.

We're wrapping up #PublicServiceRecognitionWeek with a simple question: Why did you go into public service? Hear from first responders to librarians about why they chose to serve their communities every day!

This is a great read about the value of public libraries to communities, but also of the toll the work takes on library workers. It is a long read, but full of familiar stories: https://lnkd.in/g74J7m77

Help Shape the Future of Transit in Illinois: Your Input Needed! The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is launching an ambitious initiative called Next Move Illinois, and they're seeking valuable input from residents and professionals across the state. 🔍 About Next Move Illinois: This comprehensive, 24-month statewide planning effort aims to establish a forward-thinking vision for transit services throughout Illinois. The project will focus on: Recommending policy updates to align with evolving transit needs Improving performance measures to ensure accountability and efficiency Identifying specific strategies to enhance transit outcomes across the state 🤔 Why Your Participation Matters: Expertise: Your professional insights and experiences can provide invaluable perspective. Community Impact: Your input helps ensure that future transit solutions address real-world needs. Innovation: Your ideas could spark novel approaches to longstanding challenges. 🗳️ Take Action Now: IDOT has launched a brief survey to gather initial input. This is your opportunity to influence the future of Illinois transit directly. Survey Link: https://lnkd.in/g5JfRWzN I encourage all Illinois residents, especially those in transportation, urban planning, and related fields, to participate. Your expertise can make a significant difference in shaping a more efficient, accessible, and sustainable transit system for our state. Let's work together to create a transit network that serves all Illinoisans effectively. Share this post with your network to amplify our collective voice in this crucial planning process. #NextMoveIllinois #TransportationPlanning #UrbanDevelopment #PublicTransit #CommunityEngagement #IDOT #IllinoisInfrastructure

My dear friend and amazing journalist Kimberly Ivany- producer at the CBC, recently published a story analyzing the increased violence and crisis that libraries across the province are witnessing, and trying to solve. What does the data show? And why is this happening? Libraries are free public spaces for all members of a community. It is the library that can be depended on when social services cannot due to funding cuts and overburdened systems. I highly recommend everyone to read this, not just because she's my best friend, but because it sheds light on what is happening within our society right now. As one librarian is quoted "public spaces are a reflection of social problems within a group". The increase in incidents is an apt reflection of the housing issues, the health crisis, and the financial disparities within our communities. We need to pay attention. To me, it sometimes feels like a monumental problem that I cannot solve, but I know I do not have to shoulder these issues alone. I know there are so many others out there that feel rage in knowing that there are people who have the power to solve this, and they choose not to. I know there are so many others who want to see people be safe, to have their needs met with dignity and respect. As a society, we can shoulder these issues together, and demand accountability and change from our leaders. Enough is enough.

At BPS Security, we understand the importance of safety and security in every environment, including public spaces like libraries. It's concerning to hear that librarians in San Francisco are feeling unsupported due to a lack of security presence in their branches. Recent reports indicate that about 100 librarians and their supporters rallied outside San Francisco’s Main Library to demand the city hire security guards for every branch. They expressed frustration over the absence of adequate security measures, leaving them to handle volatile situations without proper support. We recognize that providing security services extends beyond just physical presence—it's about ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for both staff and visitors. As a private security firm, we prioritize the well-being of our clients and understand the importance of proactive security measures. It's essential for public institutions like libraries to have the necessary resources to maintain safety and order. We stand ready to support efforts to enhance security measures and provide peace of mind to those who work and visit these spaces. Read more about this concerning situation:

Want to know more about public administration? Next week, you can drop by the Flint Public Library to get to know more! Take a look at this article to read all about it: https://postly.app/3QyF #publicadministration #flint

Great article on the importance of libraries.

For me, it’s about the best customer service experience I or my staff can provide. Going from a “Do you…?” question to a happy customer leaving, with the intention of returning to get more quality customer service, is one of my highest priorities. A second high priority for me is making a meaningful connection with a community member, so they feel heard, respected, valued, and wanted, to encourage them to return again and again. In fact, I am the last person to complain about a customer, because, as far as I am concerned, I think it’s my duty to get to the heart of the ask, and then meet that ask with not only a minimal amount of response or product, but a highly varied choice of responses or products, so the customer feels a sense of choice and ownership in their decision of which to receive. That recognition of them as a person of worth, who has a chance to make a decision that will satisfy their needs, is what makes customers come back. Because people will remember first how you made them feel, and last, the exact details of their interaction with you. #customerexperience #libraries

🚨 ICYMI: The American Library Association just released numbers on book challenges for 2023. I'll put a link to that down in the comments. But, their year-long tracking shows:  🙁 The total number of book challenges rose by a whopping 65 percent in 2023. 😔 The number of books targeted at public libraries increased by 92 percent in 2023. 😢 School libraries saw an 11 percent increase in challenges in 2023.  😡And there were attempts to censor more than 100 titles in 17 states, including Ohio, where I live.   So I wanted to reshare this episode of The #LibraryMarketing show and remind you that there is something your library must do to combat this existential threat to the future of libraries. The link to the video is also in the comments.