Daly City trustees hear progress on opioid-prevention plan, roof repairs and generator replacement; mission statement drafted

Library staff updated the Daly City Library Board of Trustees on a set of operational items at the April 16 meeting.

Jayla Anderson reported the opioid overdose-prevention effort has received approval to move forward, though final logistics remain to be worked out. Anderson said libraries in other jurisdictions carry Narcan and she researched use of fentanyl test strips, finding a Canadian library program; she cautioned that distribution would require accompanying public-health education and staff capacity to administer any harm-reduction services. "I think it might be beyond what we're able to do," Anderson said of test-strip distribution without additional public-health support.

On facilities, Anderson said roof repairs at the Westlake Library are active and "they should be completed in, in 2 to 3 weeks," after which the city will perform water testing and replace interior finishes damaged by leaks. The Ceremony Library elevator, HVAC and lighting project remains in the plan-review stage while the design firm addresses building-official feedback, which delays bidding and construction; Anderson noted a practical upside — because construction has not started, summer learning programs can still use Ceremony Library space.

Anderson also said state infrastructure funding will replace the end-of-life backup generator at Bayshore Library and Community Center; she said the contract was awarded to SCC Electric and cautioned the generator is a specialty item with a long lead time: "it could be 6 months before it comes in."

Trustees asked practical questions about parking and community use of facilities during concurrent events and expressed support for preserving summer programs. Several trustees suggested the mission statement explicitly note innovative services and the wide range of library offerings — from park passes to checkout backpacks and puzzles — while Anderson said such specifics can be highlighted in accompanying documents if the core mission remains concise. Anderson read a draft mission that emphasized community, lifelong learning and equitable access: "serving our community by bringing people together to foster connection, providing opportunities for lifelong learning and ensuring equitable access to services, information and ideas."

No formal board vote was recorded on these items at the meeting; trustees directed staff to continue planning, research options for test-strip distribution with public-health partners as needed, and return with updates.