LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING January 24, 2022 – 6 p.m. Central Library Special Event Center 710 W Cesar Chavez St. AUSTIN, TEXAS The Library Commission shall make recommendations to the city council on matters relating to the establishment, maintenance, and operation of the public libraries. Section 2-1-150 of the City Code. General Communication & Communication on Agenda Items: The first 5 speakers signed up for citizen communication prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda during the time set aside for general citizen communication. Those who wish to speak on agenda items must be signed up prior to the meeting being called to order and will be allowed three minutes to speak when the agenda item comes up. CURRENT COMMISSION MEMBERS: Julia Aguilar; Patricia Dabbert, Chair; JC Dwyer; Eric Frierson; Lynda Infante; Ryan Marquess; Courtney Rosenthal; Steven Self, Vice-Chair; Mark Smith and Lily Trieu AGENDA CALL TO ORDER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 1. Welcome and Introductions 2. Approval of Minutes from the December 13, 2021 Regular Meeting 3. Briefings: Town hall meetings on Digital Inclusion in partnership with the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission, Emi Johnson, APL Innovation & Improvement and Jesse Rodriguez, TARA Austin Public Library Volunteer Services, Paul Lopez, Volunteer Services & Internship Program Coordinator 4. Old Business a. None 5. New Business a. Discussion and possible action on Fine Free Libraries working group draft Recommendation20220124-5a: Eliminate Late Fees at Austin Public Library 6. Discussion of Director’s Report for January covering programming highlights, facilities, and APL Priorities 7. Future Agenda Items ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Sharon Herfurth at the Library Department, at 512- 974-7420 for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Library Commission, please contact Sharon Herfurth at 512- 974-7420 or sharon.herfurth@austintexas.gov
Library Commission Meeting Minutes 13 December, 2021 REGULAR MEETING 13 December, 2021 THE LIBRARY COMMISSION MINUTES The Library Commission convened in a Regular Meeting on Monday, December 13, 2021 at the Central Library, 710 W Cesar Chavez, in Austin, Texas. Chair Dabbert called the Board Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Chair Pat Dabbert, Vice Chair Steven Self and Commission Members JC Dwyer, Ryan Marquess, Courtney Rosenthal, Mark Smith and Lily Trieu Board Members Absent: Commission Member Julia Aguilar, Eric Frierson, and Lynda Infante Citizen Communication: General Amy Praskac spoke about placement of mysteries / shelving arrangement at the North Village Branch library. 1. Welcome and Introductions Chair Dabbert welcomed the Commission members 2. Approval of Minutes from the November 15, 2021 Regular Meeting The minutes of the regular meeting were approved on a 7-0 vote. Commission Members Aguilar, Frierson, and Infante absent. 3. Briefings: Library Foundation Update was given by Tim Staley, Executive Director, Library Foundation; and Austin History Center Association Update was given by Jeff Cohen, Executive Director, AHCA 4. Old Business: none 5. New Business a. Presentation and discussion: Transportation options for getting to the Central Library. Jo Anne Ortiz, Community Engagement, Cap Metro, gave the presentation. 6. Discussion of Director’s Monthly Report for December covering programming highlights, facilities, and APL Priorities Assistant Director for Public Services, Dana Conners, gave the report. Library Commission Meeting Minutes 13 December, 2021 7. Future Agenda Items Briefing on Volunteer Services at Austin Public Library Report from the Fine Free Libraries Working Group Adjournment: Chair Dabbert adjourned the meeting at 7:07 p.m. without objection.
LIBRARY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20220124-5a: Eliminate Late Fees at Austin Public Library Seconded By: Date: January 24, 2022 Subject: Eliminate Late Fees at Austin Public Library Motioned By: Recommendation Eliminate Late Fees at Austin Public Library Description of Recommendation to Council Requesting that the Austin City Council use their budgetary authority to eliminate the collection of fees for Austin Public Library materials that are returned late. Rationale: The Austin Public Library vision statement assures that “all members of the Austin community have equal access to Library services and programs.” But the practice of assessing fines for overdue materials presents a barrier to that vision. Overdue fines are a regressive and unnecessary policy that most negatively impacts the Austinites in each Council District who are least able to pay. Accumulated overdue fines lead to blocked library accounts, further restricting access to libraries over what are often small amounts of money. Once users accrue just $25 in fines, they are referred to outside collection agencies, enriching these private entities at taxpayer expense and further damaging the credit standing of our city’s residents in pursuit of an unnecessary fee. Recognizing that late fees disproportionately affect low-income patrons, the American Library Association passed a resolution in 20191 urging libraries nationwide to actively move towards eliminating these fees. Studies have consistently shown that discontinuing the assessment of fines for overdue materials does not decrease return rates, and in fact may increase library card adoption and library usage. In 2019, APL eliminated overdue fines for children’s materials with no negative effects. 386 U.S. city library systems have now taken this simple and practical step to serve their populations more equitably. Among some of the larger metropolitan libraries eliminating late fees include systems in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle. Here in Texas, the public library systems in Users w Overdue Fees, 2018-21 COA District APL Users with Overdue Fees 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1,409 1,127 1,811 939 1,852 1,312 1,705 1,455 2,526 1,443 1 of 2 San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth and New Braunfels have stopped assessing late fees. In light of the City’s goals to increase equity and access to services, it is also time for Austin to make this change. Libraries are one of the last free public spaces open to all Austinites. Limiting their use by lower-income Austinites to maintain an outdated and unnecessary policy …
Director’s Report January 2022 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS HIghlights __________________________________________________________________ 3 Facilities Services ____________________________________________________________ 5 FY2018 Bond Program Summary ___________________________________________________________ 5 FY2012 Bond Program Summary ___________________________________________________________ 7 Austin History Center ________________________________________________________ 10 Library Priorities ____________________________________________________________ 11 Literacy Advancement ___________________________________________________________________ 11 Digital Inclusion & STEM _________________________________________________________________ 11 Equity, Diversity & Inclusion _______________________________________________________________ 11 Civic and Community Engagement _________________________________________________________ 12 Staff Development ______________________________________________________________________ 12 Workforce and Economic Development ______________________________________________________ 12 APL By the Numbers ________________________________________________________ 13 Collections Circulation December __________________________________________________________ 13 HIGHLIGHTS 3 Austin Public Library Statement on Book Banning and Library Censorship The Austin Public Library stands with the entire library community in defense of the freedom to speak and the freedom to read, and opposed to censorship of any library materials. We remain committed to providing the entire Austin community with access to books, ideas, and knowledge, and to fostering a Library for All. “Freedom to read is a right that must be protected in our schools and public libraries, and we must not give in to the vocal few that want to speak for the many,” stated Austin Public Library Director Roosevelt Weeks. In October 2021, the Texas Library Association (TLA) noted a “substantial increase in censorship activity” in Texas libraries. In a statement from October 26, the TLA stated: “The Texas Library Association (TLA) holds that the freedom to read is a human right, protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. TLA believes that individuals have the right to free inquiry and the equally important right to form their own opinions. Freedom in selecting materials is a necessary safeguard to the freedom to read and shall be protected against irresponsible attempts by self-appointed censors to abridge it. Therefore, TLA opposes efforts that restrict the freedom to read through banning, removing, or other forms of restricting access to books or other materials.” In November 2021, the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) reported an “unprecedented volume” in challenges to books in the Fall of 2021. In a joint statement from the ALA’s Executive Board and the Boards of Directors for all of ALA’s eight divisions, the ALA said: “In recent months, a few organizations have advanced the proposition that the voices of the marginalized have no place on library shelves. To this end, they have launched campaigns demanding the censorship of books and resources that mirror the lives of those who are gay, …
LIBRARY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20220124-5a: Eliminate Late Fees at Austin Public Library Seconded By: Commissioner Infante Date: January 24, 2022 Subject: Eliminate Late Fees at Austin Public Library Motioned By: Commissioner Smith Recommendation Eliminate Late Fees at Austin Public Library Description of Recommendation to Council Requesting that the Austin City Council use their budgetary authority to eliminate the collection of fees for Austin Public Library materials that are returned late. Rationale: The Austin Public Library vision statement assures that “all members of the Austin community have equal access to Library services and programs.” But the practice of assessing fines for overdue materials presents a barrier to that vision. Overdue fines are a regressive and unnecessary policy that most negatively impacts the Austinites in each Council District who are least able to pay. Accumulated overdue fines lead to blocked library accounts, further restricting access to libraries over what are often small amounts of money. Once users accrue just $25 in fines, they are referred to outside collection agencies, enriching these private entities at taxpayer expense and further damaging the credit standing of our city’s residents in pursuit of an unnecessary fee. Recognizing that late fees disproportionately affect low-income patrons, the American Library Association passed a resolution in 20191 urging libraries nationwide to actively move towards eliminating these fees. Studies have consistently shown that discontinuing the assessment of fines for overdue materials does not decrease return rates, and in fact may increase library card adoption and library usage. In 2019, APL eliminated overdue fines for children’s materials with no negative effects. 386 U.S. city library systems have now taken this simple and practical step to serve their populations more equitably. Among some of the larger metropolitan libraries eliminating late fees include systems in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle. Here in Texas, the public library systems in San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth and New Braunfels have stopped assessing late fees. 1 of 2 Users w Overdue Fees, 2018-21 COA District APL Users with Overdue Fees 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1,409 1,127 1,811 939 1,852 1,312 1,705 1,455 2,526 1,443 In light of the City’s goals to increase equity and access to services, it is also time for Austin to make this change. Libraries are one of the last free public spaces open to all Austinites. Limiting their use by lower-income Austinites to maintain an …
Library Commission Meeting Minutes 24 January, 2022 REGULAR MEETING 24 January, 2022 THE LIBRARY COMMISSION MINUTES The Library Commission convened in a Regular Meeting on Monday, January 24, 2022 at the Central Library, 710 W Cesar Chavez, in Austin, Texas. Chair Dabbert called the Board Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Chair Pat Dabbert, Vice Chair Steven Self and Commission Members Julia Aguilar, JC Dwyer, Eric Frierson, Lynda Infante, Ryan Marquess, Courtney Rosenthal, and Mark Smith Board Members Absent: Commission Member Lily Trieu Citizen Communication: General none 1. Welcome and Introductions Chair Dabbert welcomed the Commission members 2. Approval of Minutes from the December 13, 2021 Regular Meeting The minutes of the regular meeting were approved on a 9-0 vote. Commission Member Trieu absent. 3. Briefings: Town hall meetings on Digital Inclusion in partnership with the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission was given by Nehemiah Pitts, Chair, Community Technology & Telecommunications Commission and Khotan Harmon, Consultant, Telecommunications & Regulatory Affairs, Financial Services Dept. Austin History Center Volunteer Services was given by Paul Lopez, Volunteer Services & Internship Program Coordinator 4. Old Business: none 5. New Business a. Discussion and possible action on Fine Free Libraries working group draft Recommendation20220124-5a: Eliminate Late Fees at Austin Public Library. Recommendation 20220124-5a: Eliminate Late Fees at Austin Public Library was approved on Commission Member Smith’s motion and Commission Member Infante’s second on a 9- 0 vote. Commission Member Trieu absent. Library Commission Meeting Minutes 24 January, 2022 6. Discussion of Director’s Monthly Report for January covering programming highlights, facilities, and APL Priorities Director Weeks gave the report. 7. Future Agenda Items Facilities Update Recycled Reads Update Freedom to Read | book challenges Planning Retreat Use of Central Rental Spaces Adjournment: Chair Dabbert adjourned the meeting at 6:52 p.m. without objection.
