As the director of library and community services for the City of Hayward and again for the City of Menlo Park, I implemented multiple library facility and space needs studies. I organized and involved community stakeholders, professional consultants, library staff, Library Commission, the city manager’s office, and City Council to identify current and future community needs and how to achieve the envisioned library spaces. The resulting studies were invaluable to decision-making and were foundational to the design and construction of the new library facilities.
I have led multiple successful library systems improvement and space renovation projects. For example, as the director of library and community services for the City of Hayward, I implemented a complex conversion of outdated manual library book sorting to an automated materials handling system with radio-frequency identification (RFID) inventory tracking and control, resulting in greatly improved labor efficiency and significantly reduced error rates. I implemented major interior and exterior renovations in Menlo Park’s main library spaces in response to evolving visitor needs and concerns, and to protect public health and safety for visitors and staff during the pandemic and subsequent recovery.
As the director of library services for the City of Menlo Park, I led a comprehensive reevaluation of the City’s membership in a library consortium structured as a Joint Powers Agreement with a shared multi-agency integrated library system (electronic catalog). I secured City Council authorization to solicit proposals for a new integrated library system to evaluate the potential cost savings, efficiency gains and service improvements of withdrawing from the consortium. The process helped the City to gain new leverage in discussions with the consortium about our concerns with the consortium’s service quality and membership fees. It also helped to educate the community about the essential functions of the integrated library system. Importantly, my work helped inform the City Council’s decision-making process, which ultimately resulted in a decision to retain the current system with some changes and a commitment by the consortium to reexamine its systems and improve its services.
Curriculum vitae
Here’s a partial list of executive reports, presentations, and other work products I developed for library spaces, facilities and technology projects.
- Review and approval of the Belle Haven branch library space needs study report and authorization to issue a request for proposals for architectural conceptual design services. Menlo Park City Council, April 16, 2019.
Staff report | Assessment
- Approve the proposed Library System Improvements project scope, planning process, goals and tentative timeline. Menlo Park City Council, January 15, 2019.
Staff report | Presentation
- Authorization for the City Manager to Execute a Service Agreement for the Installation of an Automated Materials Handling System at the Main Library. Hayward City Council, June 10, 2014
Staff report
- Adopt Resolution No. 6573 notifying Peninsula Library System Joint Powers Authority of City of Menlo Park’s intent to withdraw effective July 1, 2021. Menlo Park City Council, July 14, 2020.
Staff report
- Adopt Resolution No. 6612 rescinding withdrawal from Peninsula Library System joint powers agency; and authorize the city manager to execute a five-year agreement in an amount not to exceed $176,695 for a cloud-based enterprise technology platform to enhance public services. Menlo Park City Council, Feb. 9, 2021.
Staff report
This section is under construction. Check back for updates soon. For more information about this project, contact me. Thank you!
Sean S. Reinhart 