LIBRARY COMMISSION SPECIAL CALLED MEETING April 18, 2022 – 6 p.m. Manchaca Road Branch 5500 Menchaca Rd. 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. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. In-person General Communication & Communication on Agenda Items: The first 5 speakers signed up for public 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 public 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. Remote Public Communication will be allowed by telephone at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely, members of the public must call or email the board liaison at 512-974-7420 or sharon.herfurth@austintexas.gov no later than noon, Sunday, April 17. Once a request to speak has been made to the board liaison, the information to call on the day of the scheduled meeting will be provided either by email or phone call. 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 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 1. Welcome and Introductions 2. Approval of Minutes from the February 24, 2022 Special Called Meeting 3. Briefings: Library Facility Bond Projects Update, John Daniels, Division Manager, Facility Services FY23 Budget Overview and Forecast, Wendy Harrison, Financial Manager 4. Old Business: none 5. New Business a. Election of Officers b. Report from the Freedom to Read working group c. Discussion and possible action on Freedom to Read resolution and council 6. Discussion of Director’s Report for March covering programming highlights, recommendation 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, …
Library Commission Meeting Minutes 24 February, 2022 SPECIAL CALLED MEETING 24 February, 2022 THE LIBRARY COMMISSION MINUTES The Library Commission convened in a Special Called Hybrid Meeting on Thursday, February, 2022 at the Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room, #1101, 301 W Cesar Chavez, in Austin, Texas. Chair Dabbert called the Board Meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: In-person - Chair Pat Dabbert, Commission Members Courtney Rosenthal and Mark Smith Virtually - Vice Chair Steven Self, Commission Members Julia Aguilar, JC Dwyer, Lynda Infante, Ryan Marquess, and Lily Trieu Board Members Absent: Eric Frierson Citizen Communication: General None 1. Welcome and Introductions Chair Dabbert welcomed the Commission members and took roll call of members present. 2. Approval of Minutes from the January 24, 2022 Regular Meeting The minutes of the regular meeting were approved on a 9-0 vote. Commission Member Frierson absent. 3. Briefings: Recycled Reads Bookstore was given by Hannah Terrell, Division Manager, Branch Services; and Book Selection and Reconsideration Policies was given by Slaven Lee, Customer Access Division Manager 4. Old Business: none 5. New Business a. Presentation and discussion: Discussion of Budget Calendar and Boards and Commissions Recommendations for FY2022-23 Budget, Wendy Harrison, Financial Manager, gave the presentation. b. Discussion and possible action on a “Freedom to Read” working group Library Commission Meeting Minutes 24 February, 2022 The creation of a Freedom to Read working group was approved on Commission Member Rosenthal’s motion and Commission Member Smith’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commission Member Frierson absent. The group will report back to the commission with recommendations for action to support public access to diverse library materials and to resist library censorship efforts. c. Discussion of a possible commission planning retreat in March Chair Dabbert will share two (2) possible dates for a 2-hour planning retreat in March with Commission Members. 6. Discussion of Director’s Monthly Report for December covering programming highlights, facilities, and APL Priorities Director of Libraries, Roosevelt Weeks, gave the report. 7. Future Agenda Items Facilities Update – March 2022 Enhanced Library Cards – March 2022 Civic Engagement – April 2022 Adjournment: Chair Dabbert adjourned the meeting at 7:15 p.m. without objection
Draft "Freedom to Read" Recommendation to Council Recommendation Protect "Freedom to Read" at Austin Public Library. Description of Recommendation Requesting that the Austin City Council adopt a resolution that supports "Freedom to Read" and opposes book banning or undue book challenges at the Austin Public Library. The Library Commission has adopted such a resolution and we offer that as an example. Rationale Background Across the country and in the state of Texas, libraries are confronting aggressive challenges to materials in their collections. School libraries have been the primary target of these incidents.1 While public libraries are a lesser target, these challenges are occurring there too.2 A list of 850 books, released by Texas State Representative Matt Krause, has fueled much of the book challenge activity in Texas.3 Although public complaints often cite pornography as the 1 "Schools nationwide are quietly removing books from their libraries", Washington Post, published Mar 22, 2022, accessed Mar 24, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/03/22/school-librarian-book-bans-challenges/ 2 “How the library wars have played out in one Texas county,” AXIOS Austin, published and accessed Mar 24, 2022, https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2022/03/24/library-books-wars-texas-llano-county-censorship 3 "All 850 Books Texas Lawmaker Matt Krause Wants to Ban: An Analysis", Book Riot, published Nov 5, 2021, accessed Mar 24, 2022, https://bookriot.com/texas-book-ban-list/ justification for challenge4, most of the challenges revolve around issues of race and racism, sex education, and LGBTQ topics.5 We believe it is a core mission of the public library to provide quality information from a diversity of viewpoints, especially on these kinds of topics. We also believe book bans and these undue challenges are attacks on the open access and free inquiry that are essential to our democracy6. The "Freedom to Read" is a constitutional right7 that we should act to protect in the event that such challenges do occur at the Austin Public Library. Library Commission Action Although the Austin Public Library (APL) has not received any such challenges at this time, it is a potential concern. The Austin Library Commission wants to take steps to ensure public access to library materials is not hampered by such challenges, should one arise. At the Jan 24, 2022 regular commission meeting of the Austin Library Commission, APL Director Roosevelt Weeks presented a Statement on Book Banning and Library Censorship. It states the public has a "right to read" at the APL, and highlights the APL Materials Selection Policy to develop "responsive collections."8 4 "Texas governor decries school library books …
Draft "Freedom to Read" Resolution WHEREAS, open access and free inquiry are key components of a democratic society; and WHEREAS, libraries are a trusted source to which the public turns for authoritative, timely, and accurate information; and WHEREAS, the role of libraries is to collect and make available information from a wide diversity of perspectives; and WHEREAS, including materials on a particular topic or expressing a particular opinion does not connote approval or advocacy of that topic or opinion; and WHEREAS, the American Library Association (ALA) has found that the "Freedom to Read" is essential to our democracy and has issued a statement of such [https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/freedomreadstatement]; and WHEREAS, the Austin Public Library follows generally accepted professional practices when selecting materials for inclusion in its collection; and WHEREAS, book challenges have been used to attack the Freedom to Read [https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/aboutbannedbooks]; and WHEREAS, the Austin Public Library has a materials reconsideration process that is fair, deliberative, equitable, and accessible to the public; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE AUSTIN LIBRARY COMMISSION: The Austin Library Commission supports the ALA Freedom to Read statement and opposes book banning. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: The Austin Library Commission supports the Austin Public Library policy for materials selection. The Austin Library Commission supports the Austin Public Library process for reconsideration, and endorses its use for public concern of library materials. Submitted by the Freedom to Read Working Group of the Austin Library Commission.
28-Mar-2022 Status Report Report to the Austin Public Library Commission by the Freedom to Read Working Group WG participants include: ● Commissioner Courtney Rosenthal, chair ● Commissioner Eric Frierson ● Commissioner Lynda Infante ● Commissioner Steven Self ● Commissioner Mark Smith ● Frank Giammarino, APL Collections Department Manager The WG met via video conference on March 9, and via online collaboration. We have identified four goals for the working group: ● Draft a resolution of commission support for Freedom to Read and oppose book bannings incidents ● Draft a recommendation of City Council action for same ● Remain on stand-by to offer rapid response support in the event of local book banning ● Monitor status of local schools and other possible organizations, seeking ways to provide city support in the event of book banning incidents We plan to present the two draft documents listed above for discussion and possible action at the March 28 commission meeting. Next, the working group will continue, to: ● address any further direction from the Commission ● work to advance the Council recommendation, if approved ● monitor events in support of the final two goals listed above
Director’s Report March 2022 TABLE OF CONTENTS HIghlights __________________________________________________________________ 3 Facilities Services ____________________________________________________________ 5 FY2018 Bond Program Summary ___________________________________________________________ 5 FY2012 Bond Program Summary ___________________________________________________________ 8 Austin History Center ________________________________________________________ 12 Library Priorities ____________________________________________________________ 13 Literacy Advancement ___________________________________________________________________ 13 Digital Inclusion & STEM _________________________________________________________________ 13 Equity, Diversity & Inclusion _______________________________________________________________ 14 Civic and Community Engagement _________________________________________________________ 14 Staff Development ______________________________________________________________________ 14 Workforce and Economic Development ______________________________________________________ 14 APL By the Numbers ________________________________________________________ 15 Collections Circulation February ___________________________________________________________ 15 HIGHLIGHTS Austin Public Library Announces Expanded Hours Starting March 28 Austin Public Library will be expanding the open hours for all library locations, starting March 28, 2022. The change comes after two years of reduced hours and capacity at library locations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We know that the community has missed being able to more easily visit their neighborhood libraries over the past two years,” stated Austin Public Library director Roosevelt Weeks. “Your libraries have missed you as well. We are excited to be able to expand access to our locations to ensure that more people in our community are able to safely access information and resources.” Central Library Hours Effective March 28 Monday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Tuesday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Wednesday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Thursday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Saturday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Sunday Closed Branch libraries Hours Effective March 28 Monday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Tuesday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Wednesday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Thursday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Saturday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm* Sunday Closed *St. John Branch closes 4:00 pm on Saturdays Also effective March 28, Austin Public Library’s used bookstore Recycled Reads will be adding Wednesday to its current list of open days, operating 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursdays. Austin History Center will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. April 4. The expansion of hours also marks the return of in-person programming and events at Austin Public Library locations. Library customers will be able to begin reserving space in the Central Library’s Shared Learning Rooms starting March 28. Customers will also be able to reserve space in community meeting rooms starting Additionally, the four library locations currently offering Curbside Hold Pickup …
KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS FY 2022 TRENDS MAR 2022 P.1 Cardholders TOTAL CARDHOLDERS 430,729 433,154 ACTIVE CARDHOLDERS 315,663 314,426 V IRT UA L LIBRA RY E - CA RD S Re si d e nt v N o n Re si d e nt Virtual Resident Virtual NonResident 8,365 4,410 8,413 4,562 8,280 4,294 419,491 295,973 Jan-22 Feb-22 Mar-22 Jan-22 Feb-22 Mar-22 NEW CARDHOLDERS 2,679 2,060 2,174 Jan-22 Feb-22 Mar-22 JA N - 2 2 F E B- 2 2 M A R- 2 2 Contact: Emi Johnson, Business Process Consultant Monthly Activity Report 4/8/2022 9:12 PM KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS FY 2022 TRENDS MAR 2022 P.2 Visitors VISITORS 106,440 97,470 90,944 Jan-22 Feb-22 Mar-22 Central Visitors Branch Visitors 47,621 62,900 34,575 33,342 57,602 58,819 Jan-22 Feb-22 Mar-22 Jan-22 Feb-22 Mar-22 Contact: Emi Johnson, Business Process Consultant Monthly Activity Report 4/8/2022 9:12 PM KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS FY 2022 TRENDS MAR 2022 P.3 Circulation C I RC ULAT I O N PHYSICAL CIRCULATION VIRTUAL CIRCULATION E - BO O K C I RC ULAT I O N BY AUDI E N C E Jan-22 Feb-22 Mar-22 1 3 6 , 0 7 1 3 8 2 , 9 4 1 8 1 4 , 5 3 1 3 0 7 , 1 0 1 7 5 1 , 4 9 0 2 9 , 2 8 1 9 7 , 2 1 5 0 7 , 0 1 2 1 3 , 4 1 367,327 229,686 268,815 334,510 335,472 223,512 J A N - 2 2 F E B - 2 2 M A R - 2 2 TOP E-MATERIALS CIRC_EBOOK CIRC_EAUDIO 89,159 132,462 79,021 114,893 87,876 123,960 Jan-22 Feb-22 Mar-22 T E C H D E V I C E C I R C U L AT I O N Hotspots Laptops 312 143 272 143 425 142 C H I L D R E N B O O K A D U L T B O O K T E E N B O O K Jan-22 Feb-22 Mar-22 Contact: Emi Johnson, Business Process Consultant Monthly Activity Report 4/8/2022 9:12 PM KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS FY 2022 TRENDS MAR 2022 P.4 Desk v Express System Desk v Express Past 3 Months EXPRESS DESK 170,333 128,451 119,493 148,763 140,840 193,554 Jan-22 Feb-22 Mar-22 HIGH CIRC BRANCHES MARCH 2022 CIRC_EXPRESS CIRC_DESK 12,985 9,020 12,622 9,892 15,451 11,091 14,221 12,091 27,037 19,528 25,384 21,364 22,432 …
CIRCULATION HOTSPOTS 2022 MARCH Checkout Library Number of Checkouts, or Renewals Ruiz Central Milwood Ruiz Central Milwood Windsor Park Manchaca Road Spicewood Springs Yarborough Howson North Village Old Quarry Twin Oaks Willie Mae Kirk Little Walnut Creek Pleasant Hill St. John Carver Hampton Oak Hill Southeast Terrazas Total 25 24 21 9 8 7 7 6 5 5 5 5 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 143 hotspots March 2022 hold customers March 2022 active cardholders by council district
LIBRARY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20220418-5c: Freedom to Read Seconded By: Commissioner Dwyer Date: April 18, 2022 Subject: Protect “Freedom to Read” at Austin Public Library Motioned By: Commissioner Rosenthal Recommendation Protect “Freedom to Read” at Austin Public Library. Description of Recommendation to Council Requesting that the Austin City Council adopt a resolution that supports "Freedom to Read" and opposes book banning or undue book challenges at the Austin Public Library. The Library Commission has adopted such a resolution and we offer that as an example. Rationale: Background Across the country and in the state of Texas, libraries are confronting aggressive challenges to materials in their collections. School libraries have been the primary target of these incidents.1 While public libraries are a lesser target, these challenges are occurring there too.2 3 A list of 850 books, released by Texas State Representative Matt Krause, has fueled much of the book challenge activity in Texas.4 Although public complaints often cite pornography as the justification for challenge,5 most of the challenges revolve around issues of race and racism, sex education, and LGBTQ topics.6 We believe it is a core mission of the public library to provide quality information from a diversity of viewpoints, especially on these kinds of topics. We also believe book bans and these undue challenges are attacks on the open access and free inquiry that are essential to our democracy.7 The "Freedom to Read" is a constitutional right8 that we should act to protect in the event that such challenges do occur at the Austin Public Library. Library Commission Action The Austin Library Commission wants to take steps to ensure public access to library materials is not hampered by such challenges, should one arise. At the Jan 24, 2022 regular commission meeting of the Austin Library Commission, APL Director Roosevelt Weeks presented a Statement on Book Banning and Library Censorship. It 1 states the public has a "right to read" at the APL, and highlights the APL Materials Selection Policy to develop "responsive collections."9 At the February 24, 2022 regular commission meeting, we received briefings from APL staff on their Selection10 and Reconsideration11 Policies. At the same meeting, the Commission created a "Freedom to Read" working group to "report back to the Commission with recommendations for action to support public access to diverse library materials and to resist library censorship efforts."12 The working group has met and identified four key actions that …
LIBRARY COMMISSION RESOLUTION FREEDOM TO READ WHEREAS, open access and free inquiry are key components of a democratic society; and WHEREAS, libraries are a trusted source to which the public turns for authoritative, timely, and accurate information; and WHEREAS, the role of libraries is to collect and make available information from a wide diversity of perspectives; and WHEREAS, including materials on a particular topic or expressing a particular opinion does not connote approval or advocacy of that topic or opinion; and WHEREAS, the American Library Association (ALA) has found that the "Freedom to Read" is essential to our democracy and has issued a statement of such [https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/freedomreadstatement]; and WHEREAS, the Austin Public Library follows generally accepted professional practices when selecting materials for inclusion in its collection; and WHEREAS, book challenges have been used to attack the Freedom to Read [https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/aboutbannedbooks]; and WHEREAS, the Austin Public Library has a materials reconsideration process that is fair, deliberative, equitable, and accessible to the public; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE AUSTIN LIBRARY COMMISSION: The Austin Library Commission supports the ALA Freedom to Read statement and opposes book banning. . The Austin Library Commission supports the Austin Public Library policy for materials selection. The Austin Library Commission supports the Austin Public Library process for reconsideration, and endorses its use for public concern of library materials. . BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: Date of Approval: April 18, 2022 Record of the vote: Unanimous on a 7-0 vote Attest:
Library Commission Meeting Minutes 18 April, 2022 SPECIAL CALLED MEETING 18 April, 2022 THE LIBRARY COMMISSION MINUTES The Library Commission convened in a Special Called Meeting on Monday, April 18, 2022 at the Manchaca Road Branch Library, 5500 Menchaca Rd, 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, Commission Members JC Dwyer, Lynda Infante, Courtney Rosenthal, Mark Smith and Lily Trieu Board Members Absent: Commission Members Julia Aguilar, Eric Frierson, and Ryan Marquess Citizen Communication: General None 1. Welcome and Introductions Chair Dabbert welcomed the Commission members and took roll call of members present. 2. Approval of Minutes from the February 24, 2022 Special Called Meeting The minutes of the regular meeting were approved on a 7-0 vote. Commission Members Aguilar, Frierson, and Marquess absent. 3. Briefings: Library Facility Bond Projects Update was given by John Daniels, Division Manager, Facility Services 4. Old Business: none 5. New Business a. Election of Officers Elections for Chair – Chair Dabbert nominated Commission Member Smith. Having no other nominations, Mark Smith was elected Chair on a 7-0 vote. Commission Members Aguilar, Frierson, and Marquess absent. Elections for Vice Chair – Commission Member Dabbert nominated Vice Chair Self who declined the nomination. Chair Smith nominated Commission Member Infante. Having no other nominations, Lynda Infante was elected Vice Chair on a 7-0 vote. Commission Members Aguilar, Frierson, and Marquess absent. b. Report from the Freedom to Read working group Library Commission Meeting Minutes 18 April, 2022 Commission Member Rosenthal gave the report. c. Discussion of a possible commission action on a Freedom to Read resolution and council recommendation. A Freedom to Read Resolution was approved on Commission Member Rosenthal’s motion and Commission Member Dabbert’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commission Members Aguilar, Frierson, and Marquess absent. Recommendation 20220418-5c: Freedom to Read was approved on Commission Member Rosenthal’s motion and Commission Member Dwyer’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commission Members Aguilar, Frierson, and Marquess absent. 6. Discussion of Director’s Monthly Report for April covering programming highlights, facilities, and APL Priorities Director of Libraries, Roosevelt Weeks, gave the report. 7. Future Agenda Items Voter Engagement – May 2022 Enhanced Library Cards – June 2022 Budget Presentation – June 2022 Planning Retreat – May 2022 Adjournment: Chair Smith adjourned the meeting at 7:28 p.m.without objection
