Denton's public libraries and the city's animal services were awarded funds to improve online systems as part of the first-ever Innovation Grant Program.
About the program
As part of the city’s “business not as usual” initiative for fiscal year 2025-26, the city accepted applications for ideas that would improve city services, save time, make money and improve customer experience, Interim City Manager Cassey Ogden said at Denton City Council's regular meeting Oct. 13.
Five applications went through a “Shark Tank-style pitch with the city manager’s office,” Ogden said. The library and animal services were both selected for city funding up to $25,000 each.
The city awarded $30,000 in total for both projects to be fully implemented with the funding allocated from limited discretionary dollars available for new initiatives, said Kimberly Barroteran from the city’s marketing and communications team.
Dollars at work
Denton's public libraries will implement a new online payment and point-of-sale system, which would be available to customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“That means an issue with an account could be resolved in the middle of the night, allowing you to immediately download a much-anticipated audiobook,” said Kimberly Wells, Emily Fowler Library's manager.
The system, expected to be implemented by April 2027, will also save staff time and increase efficiency, Wells said.
Denton's animal services will digitize customer intake, which is currently done with pen and paper for all visits.
Administration manager Mark Jackson said the system is expected to be implemented by June 2027. It will also create a queuing system that will allow staff to better address specific needs and track customers throughout their service.
“This will create an improved customer experience, resulting in better outcomes for the animals in our care,” Jackson said.
Animal services broke ground on new construction for the first phase of renovating and expanding the Linda McNatt Animal Care & Adoption Center in August.
