REGULAR MEETING of the LIBRARY COMMISSION April 29, 2024 – 6 P.M. Windsor Park Branch Library 5833 Westminster Drive 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 Kezia Frayjo Cristina Masters Courtney Rosenthal AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Lynda Infante Huerta, Vice Chair Steve DeRosa Andrea Herrera Moreno Sheila Mehta 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's regular meeting on March 25, 2024. STAFF BRIEFINGS Staff briefing on the April Director’s Report covering public programming highlights, and APL facilities updates, by Roosevelt Weeks, Director of Libraries. 1. 2. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion and approve a recommendation to support Austin Public Library establishing a City Poet Laureate Program and Committee 4. Discussion and conduct elections for the Chair and Vice Chair of the Library Commission. 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 the Austin Public Library Department, at 512-974-9624 for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Library Commission, please contact Laura Polio at 512-974-9624 or laura.polio@austintexas.gov.
Library Commission Meeting Minutes 25, March, 2024 REGULAR MEETING 25, March 2024 THE LIBRARY COMMISSION MINUTES The Library Commission convened in a meeting on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Pleasant Hill Branch Library, 211 E. William Cannon Drive, in Austin, Texas. CALL TO ORDER Chair Smith called the Commission Meeting to order at 6:12 p.m. Commission Members in Attendance: Mark Smith, Chair, Lynda Infante Huerta, Vice-Chair, Christina Masters Commission Members in Attendance Remotely: Steve DeRosa, Magen Davis, Andrea Herrera Moreno Commission Members Absent: Courtney Rosenthal, Kezia Frayjo, Sheila Mehta PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Daniel Ronan, Austin History Center Association Interim Director, gave public comment to the commission regarding the Austin History Center Association's mission and goals. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of minutes from the January 29, 2023, regular meeting The minutes of the February 26, 2024, regular meeting were approved on Commission Member Master’s motion and Vice Chair Infante Huerta's second on a 6-0 vote with Commissioners Rosenthal, Frayjo, Mehta absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Discussion of the March Director’s Report covering public programming highlights, and APL facilities updates, by Roosevelt Weeks, Director of Libraries. The presentation was made by Roosevelt Weeks, Director of Libraries. Library Commission Meeting Minutes DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 25, March, 2024 3. Discussion and approval of a recommendation supporting the Austin Public Library's proposed budget for FY2025 with additional funding for unmet needs around books and materials, social workers, security and custodial positions, feasibility studies, and enhanced library cards. A motion to approve the recommendation supporting the Austin Public Library's proposed budget for FY2025 with additional funding for unmet needs around books and materials, social workers, security and custodial positions, feasibility studies, and enhanced library cards was made by Commissioner Davis and seconded by Vice Chair Infante Huerta on a 7-0 vote with Commissioners Rosenthal, Frayjo, Mehta absent. 4. Discussion and approval for Commission Members to represent the Library Commission at multiple Board and Commission Meetings to advocate for support and funding for Austin Public Library Initiatives. A motion to approve Commission Members to represent the Library Commission at multiple Board and Commission Meetings to advocate for support and funding for Austin Public Library Initiatives was made by Chair Smith and seconded by Vice Chair Infante Huerta on a 6-0 vote with Commissioners Rosenthal, Frayjo, Mehta absent. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Officer Elections Recommendation for Library participation in future City Homelessness Planning and Studies Kids Block …
LIBRARY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20240429-3 Establish an Adult Poet Laureate Program for the City of Austin Date: April 29, 2024 Library Subject: Establishing an adult Poet Laureate program to be managed by the Austin Public Motioned By: Commissioner Mehta Seconded By: Vice Chair Infante Huerta Recommendation Establish an adult Poet Laureate program for the City of Austin to be housed and managed by the Austin Public Library Department. Description of Recommendation to Council Requesting that the Austin City Council use their authority to direct the City Manager to establish an adult Poet Laureate program to be housed in and managed by the Austin Public Library department, and add additional budget funds as needed to create and support this program. Rationale: The City of Austin is known for its love and celebration of the arts. For decades many local organizations have developed Austin’s poetry scene. Additionally, the University of Texas at Austin is a nationally recognized Masters of Fine Arts program that nurtures and produces many wonderful artists and poets. Poet Laureate positions have existed in cities, states and countries since the 1600s, and are designed to be stewards of poetry, art and storytelling. Austin is the only major city in Texas without an adult Poet Laureate program. An adult Poet Laureate can use this role to promote literacy across the city, use poetry to engage with Austin’s history, politics and culture, as well as continue to grow and support Austin’s community of artists, with the potential to amplify Austin poets of all ages. Austin Public Library is a natural home for a program like this. A Poet Laureate has the potential to encourage via performances, teaching and public speaking the importance of reading, writing and literacy. Reading and information literacy are core to the library’s mission and the library is a well known and trusted institution in the city. According to Literacy Texas, Texas ranks 46/50 for adult literacy. The adult literacy rate is 81%, with 19% of adults lacking basic prose literacy skills. Creating this program can help close the gap, and inspire Austin residents to read and write. Austin Public Library has branches strategically located across the city and is accustomed to creating programs and events across all of its branches allowing for maximum impact for this new program. They have also proven to be good stewards of city funds, and have many collection, personnel and budget needs to …
LIBRARY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20240429-3 Subject: Establishing an adult Poet Laureate program to be managed by the Austin Public Library Date: 04/29/2024 Recommendation Establish an adult Poet Laureate program for the City of Austin to be housed and managed by the Austin Public Library Department. Description of Recommendation to Council Requesting that the Austin City Council use their authority to direct the City Manager to establish an adult Poet Laureate program to be housed in and managed by the Austin Public Library department, and add additional budget funds as needed to create and support this program. Rationale: The City of Austin is known for its love and celebration of the arts. For decades many local organizations have developed Austin’s poetry scene. Additionally, the University of Texas at Austin is a nationally recognized Masters of Fine Arts program that nurtures and produces many wonderful artists and poets. Poet Laureate positions have existed in cities, states and countries since the 1600s, and are designed to be stewards of poetry, art and storytelling. Austin is the only major city in Texas without an adult Poet Laureate program. An adult Poet Laureate can use this role to promote literacy across the city, use poetry to engage with Austin’s history, politics and culture, as well as continue to grow and support Austin’s community of artists, with the potential to amplify Austin poets of all ages. Austin Public Library is a natural home for a program like this. A Poet Laureate has the potential to encourage via performances, teaching and public speaking the importance of reading, writing and literacy. Reading and information literacy are core to the library’s mission and the library is a well known and trusted institution in the city. According to Literacy Texas, Texas ranks 46/50 for adult literacy. The adult literacy rate is 81%, with 19% of adults lacking basic prose literacy skills. Creating this program can help close the gap, and inspire Austin residents to read and write. Austin Public Library has branches strategically located across the city and is accustomed to creating programs and events across all of its branches allowing for maximum impact for this new program. They have also proven to be good stewards of city funds, and have many collection, personnel and budget needs to consider. We ask that you also provide financial support to create and sustain this much needed program so this does not impact the …
1 Director’s Report April 2024 TABLE OF CONTENTS Highlights _______________________________________________________________________________ 3 Facilities Update __________________________________________________________________________ 5 Capital Projects Update __________________________________________________________________5 Gallery _______________________________________________________________________________ 6 Active Project Timelines _________________________________________________________________ 7 Project Highlights _______________________________________________________________________ 8 APL by the Numbers _____________________________________________________________________ 9 Programs and Outreach__________________________________________________________________ 9 Cardholder ___________________________________________________________________________ 10 Visitors _____________________________________________________________________________ 11 Circulation and Collections ____________________________________________________________ 112 Express Checkout and Holds ___________________________________________________________113 Technologyy _________________________________________________________________________ 14 Budget, Volunteers and Meeting Rooms ____________________________________________________ 15 3 HIGHLIGHTS Expansion of Eligibility for Free Austin Public Library Cards On Monday, March 11, 2024, all Austin Public Library (APL) locations were able to provide full-access library cards to residents of the city’s Limited Purpose (LTD) and Extraterritorial Jurisdictions (ETJ). Within the first 10 days of the new expansion, 722 new accounts were renewed or created for residents living within the Austin ETJ area alone. ALW is Turning 45! Little Walnut Creek Branch Library will be celebrating its 45th Birthday on Saturday, May 4, 2024 from 11 AM - 2 PM. We guarantee it will be fun for ALL ages, with a petting zoo, face painter, balloon artist, and performers from local high schools. FREE food, games, and prizes as we invite all to come out and celebrate!" Marshalling Yard Outreach and APL tops 4,500 Enhanced Library Cards Austin Public Library, in collaboration with Austin Public Health – Homeless Strategy Division, organized an Art Program for the residents at the Marshalling Yard Temporary Emergency Shelter (MYES) on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. MYES, serves as a temporary shelter for approximately 200 residents. During the event, the outreach team distributed around 15 Enhanced Library Cards to the residents, marking a significant milestone as we surpassed the 4,000 mark! The provision of Enhanced Library Cards through outreach efforts, coupled with the addition of six (6) APL locations issuing cards, has enabled us to meet the high demand for these cards within the community. Presently, a total of nine locations across the city offer Enhanced Library Cards: Little Walnut, St. John, Southeast, Central, Cepeda, Menchaca, Millwood, Ruiz, and Terrazas. As of April 21, 2024, APL has issued over 4,500 Enhanced Library Cards – an achievement worth celebrating! 4 GABFEST Come celebrate literature with us at the first-ever Greater Austin Book Fest at the Central Library! GAB Fest is a fantastic chance for authors, illustrators, and readers from Hays, Williamson, and Travis Counties to connect and engage with their community. Meet over 80 talented local authors, have …
