REGULAR MEETING of the LIBRARY COMMISSION November 18 , 2024 – 6P.M. University Hills Branch Library 4721 Loyola Lane 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: Lynda Infante Huerta, Chair Magen Davis Kezia Frayjo Andrea Herrera Moreno Mark Smith AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Sheila Mehta, Vice Chair Steve DeRosa Melissah Hasdorff Cristina Masters 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 October 28, 2024. STAFF BRIEFINGS Staff briefing on Library Community Engagement by Laura Tadena, Community Engagement Librarian, Austin Public Library 1. 2. Staff briefing on the November Director’s Report covering public programming highlights, and APL facilities updates, by Hannah Terrell, Interim Director of Libraries, Austin Public Library. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Approve a recommendation in support of Austin Public Library’s hotspot circulation program. 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. 3.
LIBRARY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20241118-004 Date: 11/18/2024 Subject: Increase the spending total allowed by Austin Public Library on the existing City of Austin wireless contract. Motion By: Commissioner Davis Seconded By: vice Chair Mehta Recommendation Grant additional authority to increase the spending total allowed by Austin Public Library on the existing City of Austin wireless contract. Description of Recommendation to Council The Austin Library Commission recommends that Austin City Council supports the request for council approval from Austin Public Library and grants additional authority to increase the spending total allowed on the existing City of Austin wireless contract. Rationale: The Austin Library Commission strongly recommends that the Austin City Council approve the request from Austin Public Library (APL) to increase the spending total on the existing wireless contract. This approval would allow APL to order 500 brand-new 5G Wi-Fi hotspots and gain access to an online management portal, enhancing the Library’s ability to serve the community’s digital needs. These new devices would replace the current hotspots, which are reaching the end of their useful life and are no longer able to meet the high demand from Austin residents. APL would cover the monthly service fees for these devices through its existing budget. The demand for Wi-Fi hotspots is significant, with a current waitlist of 234 people for just 29 available devices. Originally, APL had a larger pool of hotspots, but many have been lost, damaged, or are no longer functioning. By increasing the number of available devices, APL will be better positioned to meet the needs of underserved communities, providing equitable access to digital resources for those who may otherwise have limited or no internet access. Their goal is to add at least 300 new devices into circulation by January 2025, if not sooner, and assign additional devices to library branches for outreach services that help serve the community more broadly. This initiative supports Austin's broader digital equity goals, which were recently recognized by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) when the City of Austin was named a 2023 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer. Austin earned this designation for its ongoing efforts to close the digital divide and provide residents with affordable internet access, devices, and digital literacy programs. The City’s commitment to digital inclusion is evident in its support of various programs, such as the Technology Opportunities Program, the Community PC Program, and digital literacy training initiatives through partners like Austin Free-Net. …
N O V E M B E R 1 8 , 2 0 2 4 C O M M U N I T Y E N G A G E M E N T L a u r a T a d e n a C o m m u n i t y E n g a g e m e n t L i b r a r i a n THE POWER OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT B u i l d t r u s t a n d r e l a t i o n s h i p s F o s t e r s i n c l u s i o n a n d a m p l i f i e s v o i c e s R e f l e c t s c o m m u n i t y n e e d s D r i v e s i n n o v a t i o n a n d r e l e v a n c e I m p r o v e s a c c e s s a n d s t r e n g t h e n s o u t c o m e s STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT A P L M I S S I O N & V I S I O N M i s s i o n : I n s p i r e a l l t o d i s c o v e r , l e a r n , a n d c r e a t e . V i s i o n : B e a m o d e l o f e q u i t y , d i v e r s i t y , a c c e s s , a n d i n c l u s i o n . P U R P O S E A N D G O A L A s s e s s a n d e n h a n c e h o w e f f e c t i v e l y A P L e n g a g e s w i t h …
1 Director’s Report November 2024 TABLE OF CONTENTS Highlights ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….1 Facilities Update ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3 Capital Projects Update …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3 Gallery ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..4 APL Data & Numbers ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….5 Programs ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….6 Cardholders & Visitors …………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………….7 Circulation………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………..8 Check Outs & Conference Rooms……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..9 Platforms & Tech ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..10 Volunteers.………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………….………………….11 Budget & Expenditures .………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….11 HIGHLIGHTS APL Hosts Netherlands & Dutch Caribbean APL hosted an International Study Visit for 24 library professionals from the Netherlands and Dutch Caribbean. The four-day event featured collaborative roundtables, in-depth discussions with APL's Executive Leadership Team, and presentations on community engagement, school partnerships, and outreach strategies led by Jennifer Peters, Laura Tadena, Jenny Stirrat, and Melissa Sanchez. The group visited library locations, including the Central Library, St. John Branch, Windsor Park Branch, Terrazas Branch, Austin History Center, and African American Cultural and Heritage Facility. The group also had the opportunity to tour Austin City Hall and view the People's Gallery. The event concluded with a reflection session, which helped to foster cross-cultural insight and innovative approaches to library services. Nature Smart Libraries New Project! Pollinator Garden at Ruiz and Cepeda Branch Libraries Austin Public Library is in the planning and design stage of installing pollinator gardens at both Ruiz and Cepeda. The gardens will serve as a resource for educating the community about the importance of pollinators and connecting people with nature APL and Roots and Wings! APL is participating in the Roots and Wings Festival and is offering a variety of programs that highlight nature, creativity, and environmental stewardship. One highlight is the Urban Forest Explorers Nature Play Kit, which was made possible by a Roots and Wings grant. The kits will circulate with PARD’s Loose Parts Kit and will also be available in the youth areas of Cepeda, Ruiz, and Twin Oak Branch Libraries throughout the festival. APL Branch and Librarian Spotlight - Kayla De La Portilla @ Terrazas Branch Terrazas recently completed its renovation and the children's area now includes elements of nature play in the space. Kayla De La Portilla, Youth Librarian, has helped transform the area by introducing engaging, hands-on activities that connect children with the natural world. African American Cultural and Heritage Facility (AACHF) The AACHF recently played host to the City of Austin's Equity Office for their "Equity 101" workshop, a pivotal event aimed at fostering, understanding and promoting inclusivity within the community. This workshop provided participants with foundational knowledge on equity principles, highlighting the importance of addressing …
Library Commission Meeting Minutes October 28, 2024 THE LIBRARY COMMISSION SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES 28 OCTOBER 2024 The Library Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, October 28, 2024, at the John Gillum Branch Library, in Austin, Texas. CALL TO ORDER Chair Infante Huerta called the Library Commission meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Commission Members in Attendance: Lynda Infante Huerta, Chair, Sheila Mehta, Vice- Chair, Melissah Hasdorff, Andrea Herrera Moreno Commission Members in Attendance Remotely: Magen Davis, Mark Smith Commission Members Absent: Steve DeRosa, Kezia Frayjo, Christina Masters PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Carlos León spoke to the Commission regarding various concerns. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of minutes from the September 23, 2024, special called meeting. The minutes from the special called meeting of September 23, 2024, were approved with amendments on a motion by Commissioner Davis, seconded by Vice Chair Mehta, on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners DeRosa, Frayjo, and Masters absent. The amendments were as follows: 1. Corrections to the spelling of “African” in the first sentence of the minutes. Library Commission Meeting Minutes October 28, 2024 2. Correction of Commissioner Herrera Moreno’s name in the Approval of Minutes and Discussion and Action Items sections’ 3. Capitalization of the word “Commission” in the Public Comment and Staff Briefing Sections 4. Addition of the statement, “Carlos León provided public comment to the Commission regarding approval of minutes concerns” in the Approval of Minutes section. Carlos León provided public comment to the Commission regarding approval of minutes concerns. STAFF BRIEFINGS Librarian III. 2. Staff briefing on Austin Public Library Summer 2024 Programming by Alanna Graves, The presentation was made by Alanna Graves, Librarian III. 3. Staff briefing on Austin Public Library Bond Progress Update by Cody Scott, Facilities Process Manager. The presentation was made by Cody Scott, Facilities Process Manager. 4. Staff briefing on the October Director’s Report covering public programming highlights, and APL facilities updates, by Hannah Terrell, Interim Director of Libraries. The presentation was made by Hannah Terrell, Interim Director of Libraries. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approval of the 2025 Library Commission Meeting Schedule The motion to approve the 2025 Library Commission Meeting Schedule was approved on Commissioner Smith’s motion, Commissioner Herrera Moreno’s second, on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner DeRosa, Frayjo, and Masters absent. WORKING GROUP UPDATE 6. Update from the Strategic Advocacy Working Group. The update was given by Commissioner Herrera Moreno. Carlos León provided public …
