1. REGULAR MEETING of the LIBRARY COMMISSION NOVEMBER 27, 2023 – 6 P.M. CARVER BRANCH LIBRARY 1161 ANGELINA STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS This meeting is being held in a hybrid format, with both in-person and online virtual participation. Some members of the Commission may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Laura Polio, 512-974-9624, laura.polio@austintexas.gov . CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Mark Smith, Chair Magen Davis Melanie Haupt Cristina Masters Courtney Rosenthal AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Lynda Infante Huerta, Vice Chair Kezia Frayjo Andrea Herrera Moreno Sheila Mehta Victoria Vogel The first five speakers signed up 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the library commission regular meeting on October 23, 2023. 2. 3. 5. 6. 7. 8. STAFF BRIEFINGS Staff briefing regarding Austin Public Library Digital Services, by Amy Mullin, Electronic Resources Librarian. Staff briefing on updated reconsideration procedures for Austin Public Library team staff and upcoming reconsideration committee, by Christina Nelson, Customer Access Division Manager. WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATION 4. Report of recommendations by the Unmet Needs Working Group. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Approve a recommendation from the Unmet Needs Working Group regarding expanding library access and eliminating the non-resident fee for those who live in limited-purpose and extra-territorial jurisdictions. Discussion and possible action on the Library Commission’s appointment of a library commission representative to the Austin Public Library reconsideration committee. Discussion regarding Library Commission outreach and community engagement opportunities. Discussion of the November Director’s Report covering public programming highlights, and APL facilities updates, by Roosevelt Weeks, Director of Libraries. DISCUSSION ITEMS FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American 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 Laura Polio at …
Library Commission Meeting Minutes 27, November, 2023 REGULAR MEETING 27, November 2023 THE LIBRARY COMMISSION MINUTES The Library Commission convened in a meeting on Monday, November 27, 2023, at the Carver Branch Library, 1161 Angelina Street, in Austin, Texas. Chair Smith called the Board Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Commission Members in Attendance: Mark Smith, Chair, Lynda Infante Huerta, Vice-Chair, Courtney Rosenthal, Kezia Frayjo, Sheila Mehta, Victoria Vogel, Magen Davis, Andrea Herrera Moreno Commission Members Absent: Melanie Haupt, Christina Masters Public Communication: General None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of minutes from the October 23, 2023, regular meeting The minutes of the October 23, 2023, regular meeting were called for approval on Vice Chair Infante Huerta’s motion and Commission Member Herrera Mehta’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commission Member Haupt and Masters absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS Resources Librarian. 2. Staff briefing regarding Austin Public Library Digital Services, by Amy Mullin, Electronic The presentation was made by Amy Mullin, Electronic Resources Librarian. 3. Staff briefing on updated reconsideration procedures for Austin Public Library team staff and upcoming reconsideration committee, by Christina Nelson, Customer Access Division Manager. Library Commission Meeting Minutes 27, November, 2023 The presentation was made by Christina Nelson, Customer Access Division Manager. WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATION 4. Report of recommendations by the Unmet Needs Working Group. The report of the Unmet Needs Working Groups was given by Vice-Chair Infante Huerta, including a recommendation to expand library access by eliminating the non-resident fee for those who live in limited-purpose and extra-territorial jurisdictions. Chair Smith appointed the working group to work on additional issues of unmet needs and bring updates and recommendations to future meetings. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve a recommendation from the Unmet Needs Working Group regarding expanding library access and eliminating the non-resident fee for those who live in limited-purpose and extra- territorial jurisdictions. The motion to approve expanding library access and eliminating the non-resident fee for those who live in limited-purpose and extra-territorial jurisdictions was approved on a motion by Vice Chair Infante Huerta and seconded by Commission Member Davis on a 6-1 vote, with Commission Member Courtney Rosenthal voting against, Commission Members Melanie Haupt and Christina Masters absent and Commission Member Kezia Freyjo off the dais. DISCUSSION ITEMS 6. Discussion regarding Library Commission outreach and community engagement opportunities. Discussion was held regarding recent outreach and community engagement opportunities by Library Commission Members. 7. Staff briefing on …
LIBRARY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20231127-05 Date: 11/27/2023 Subject: Expanding library access and eliminating the non-resident fee for those who live in limited purpose and extra-territorial jurisdictions. Motioned By: Vice Chair Infante Huerta Seconded By: Commission Member Davis Recommendation Expand library access by eliminating the non-resident fee for those who live in limited purpose and extra- territorial jurisdictions. Description of Recommendation to Council Requesting that the Austin City Council use their authority to amend the fee and fine ordinance (Ordinance No. 20230816-007) to remove the non-resident library card fee for residents of the Austin LTD and Austin ETJ from the fee schedule. Rationale: Austin Public Library (APL) has had a longstanding commitment to equity which includes examining where barriers exist that prevent community members from obtaining equal access to important resources and services. As Austin has become increasingly unaffordable, many people who work in Austin and contribute to its thriving culture and economy have been forced to relocate to surrounding areas and commute to the city to work12. Ongoing gentrification and increased costs of housing, as well as the continued influx of new residents will only exacerbate this trend and have a more significant effect on traditionally marginalized and underserved communities3. 1 Egan, J. (2022, September 14). Austin ranks among 20 U.S. cities where middle class can’t afford housing anymore. CultureMap Austin. https://austin.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/03-01-22-austin- middle-class-cannot-afford-housing-study/ 2 Charpentier, M., & McGlinchy, A. (2023, June 28). Two paragraphs forced black residents to East Austin. exploding real estate prices forced them out. KUT Radio, Austin’s NPR Station. https://www.kut.org/austin/2023-06-22/two-paragraphs-forced-black-residents-to-east-austin-exploding- real-estate-prices-forced-them-out 3 Charpentier, M., & McGlinchy, A. (2023, June 28). Two paragraphs forced black residents to East Austin. exploding real estate prices forced them out. KUT Radio, Austin’s NPR Station. Currently only Austinites living in Austin’s full purpose jurisdiction are entitled to receive a library card free of charge. Surrounding areas, including Austinites who live in the limited purpose jurisdiction (LTD) and extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) must pay a non-resident card fee of $120 annually. This non- resident fee creates an economic barrier to all individuals who may work in Austin and have been forced to relocate to surrounding areas due to gentrification and increased costs of housing that commute into Austin for work4. Some constituents of Districts 6, 2 and 8 also fall outside of the full purpose jurisdiction areas and are negatively affected by this fee. Austin Public Library access supports workforce and economic development, digital inclusion, …
