Second Commentary - November 20, 2025 Library Commission Meeting

Jason Gibbs Public Comment

I too would like to highlight page 19, staff assistance. And when you're speaking of staff's assistance, you're talking about frontline staff, librarians, technicians, assistants, pages, custodians, security, people who are serving the public every day. And that's where the greatest satisfaction comes from. and and I feel like it would be worth your time to make a commendation to frontline staff of the San Francisco Public Library. The library has something called staff appreciation, but this past year it was relegated to people who were meeting with the city librarian strategic priorities as opposed to providing the everyday fine service that the public sees and appreciates. Um, I thought it was an apt metaphor to call the staff a symphony, but uh the problem is that I it feels like the library administration doesn't really know the musicians and the parts they play. Um, so that that's I so I again I want to be very happy about that. And when we look at circulation statistics and traffic, we also have to keep in mind that the population of the city of San Francisco has actually shrunk some. So the fact that we're holding our own is showing in a way that we're act growing and doing very well. Thank you.

Commissioner Shawn Calhoun

Thank you. I really just want to echo what Pete said. This is very difficult work. The statistical work in particular is impressive. To have the level of confidence that we need to be able to sit here and and truly trust these data is no small feat. So to all the folks who made this happen, uh one small just fact, the city population actually has been increasing the last 3 years. And so to actually um continue to do this when we are serving net new people is pretty remarkable as well. I just wanted to make sure that that was out there as well. But thank you to everyone who uh created this report. 

Email from Jason Gibbs to the Library Commission on December 7, 2025

During public comment at the November 20, 2025, I made a statement regarding to numbers of library visits remaining strong and steady. I remarked that this is outstanding because the population of San Francisco is actually decreasing. 

Later in the meeting Commissioner Calhoun contracted my statement asserting that San Francisco population is on the rise. The format of Library Commission meetings does not allow members of the public to comment on statements made by the commissioners, so I am I’ trying to contact the commission by correspondence. 

I am writing to provide evidence showing that my remarks were factual and accurate. Unlike the rest of California, San Francisco continues to lose population. This information comes from the state’s Department of Finance. 

https://www.kqed.org/news/12038968/californias-population-rebounding-san-francisco-different-story 

San Francisco's population has dropped 3,300 since last year and over 30,000 since 2000. 

I might also add that the Main Library used to get a great deal more foot traffic before the year 2000 before government workers in the Civic Center were permitted to work all or or parts of the schedule from home. 

In light of this the library’s public service numbers are quite robust and worthy of celebration.