REGULAR MEETING OF THE LIBRARY COMMISSION May 19, 2025 – 6 P.M. Southeast Branch Library 5803 Nuckols Crossing Road 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 via video conference. 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 COMMISSIONERS: Lynda Infante Huerta, Chair Pamela Carlile Kezia Frayjo Sara Gore Andrea Herrera Moreno CALL TO ORDER AGENDA Sheila Mehta, Vice Chair Magen Davis Suchitra Gururaj Melissah Hasdorff Edward Selig PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 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 1. Approve the minutes of the Library Commission regular meeting on April 28, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation by Wendy Woodland, Director of Advocacy & Communications for the Texas Library Association, on legislative issues impacting libraries and TLA’s work in this area. STAFF BRIEFINGS 3. 4. 5. Staff briefing on Summer at Austin Public Library and Kids Block Party, by Alanna Graves, Librarian III, Austin Public Library. Staff briefing on Austin Public Library Language Access, by Baylor Johnson, Public Information & Marketing Program Manager, Austin Public Library. Staff briefing on APL Public Programming Highlights and Facilities Updates, by Hannah Terrell, Interim Director of Libraries. 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 you require 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 Library Department, at 512-974-9624 or laura.polio@austintexas.gov 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 April 28, 2025 THE LIBRARY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2025 The Library Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, April 28, 2025, at the John Henry Faulk Building in Austin, Texas. CALL TO ORDER Chair Infante Huerta called the Library Commission meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Lynda Infante Huerta, Chair Pamela Carlile Sara Gore Suchitra Gururaj Melissah Hasdorff Andrea Herrera Moreno Edward Selig Board Members/Commissioners Absent: Sheila Mehta, Vice-Chair Magen Davis Kezia Frayjo PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Carlos León provided public comment to the Commission regarding various concerns. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Library Commission regular meeting on March 31, 2025. Library Commission Meeting Minutes April 28, 2025 The minutes of the regular meeting held on March 31, 2025, were approved with amendments at the regular meeting of April 28, 2025, on a motion by Commissioner Herrera Moreno, seconded by Commissioner Selig. The motion passed on a 7–0 vote. Vice Chair Mehta and Commissioners Frayjo and Davis were absent. The approved amendments were as follows: • On page 1, under "Call to Order," the word Commissions was replaced with Commissioners on lines 2, 4, and 5. • On page 1, under "Approval of Minutes," line 3, the name Segil was corrected to Selig. Carlos León provided public comment to the Commission regarding various concerns. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing on Austin Public Library School Partnerships by Jenny Stirrat, School Partnerships Librarian, Austin Public Library. The briefing was presented by Jenny Stirrat, School Partnerships Librarian, Austin Public Library. Carlos León provided public comment to the Commission regarding various concerns. 3. Staff briefing on Austin Public Library Nature Smart Libraries Initiative by Laura Tadena, Community Engagement Librarian, Austin Public Library. The briefing was presented by Laura Tadena, Community Engagement Librarian, Austin Public Library. Carlos León provided public comment to the Commission regarding various concerns. 4. Staff briefing on the April APL Public Programming Highlights and Facilities Updates, by Hannah Terrell, Interim Director of Libraries. The briefing was presented by Hannah Terrell, Interim Director of Libraries. Carlos León provided public comment to the Commission regarding various concerns. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Discussion and conduct officer elections for the Chair and Vice Chair of the Library Commission. A motion to elect Lynda Infante Huerta as Chair and Sheila Mehta as Vice Chair was approved on Commissioner …
Language Access at Austin Public Library Baylor Johnson, Public Information & Marketing Program Manager Presentation to Austin Library Commission, May 2025 Contains slides by Diania Miranda-Murillo, World Languages Selector Overview: • Language Access requirements and processes for City of Austin Departments • Unique situations and challenges for Austin Public Library • Programming in languages other than English. Language Access at City of Austin Language Access policy set forth in Administrative Bulletin Number 22-02 The City of Austin Communication and Public Information Office (CPIO), through its Language Access Program, oversees and coordinates all language access services for City departments. The program provides support, guidance, and assistance, staff training, as well as a wide range of resources. Services & Resources through CPIO • Supports all city departments in development and implementation of Department-specific Language Access Plans, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and policies, incl. CoA Language Access Policy and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 • Negotiates and contracts with vendors for interpretation and translation services. • Coordinates and leads quarterly meeting with department Language Access SPOCs. • Administers the “iSpeak Austin” live remote interpretation service • Collects and reports language access data iSpeak Austin Austin Public Library Language Access Plan • Last updated January 2023 (due for revision this year) • Sets forth Library’s goal and strategies around language access “The Library’s Goal is to provide meaningful access for customers to successfully use and benefit from Library information, programs, services, and materials.” Austin Public Library Language Access SPOC: Baylor Johnson, Public Info. & Mktg. Pgm. Mgr. Language Access at APL Language Service Interactions, By the Numbers: In the first 3 months of 2025, APL Staff reported: •2,061 Direct Service language interactions (communicating directly with a customer in a language other than English) •17 in-person interpretation interactions (staff or a contractor interpreting between an English and non-English speaker) •13 phone interpretation interactions (an interpreter over the phone, interpreting between an English-speaking employee and a non-English speaking customer, such as through the iSpeak Austin service) •1 video-based ASL interpretation The overwhelming majority of these interactions took place in Spanish, but other languages represented include ASL, Japanese, French, Portuguese, and Tamil The primary objective of the World Language Collection is to support and serve the informational needs of migrant groups, refugee communities, international students, second and subsequent generations to preserve the language, culture and identity of these communities. APL’s World Languages …
Alanna Graves Librarian III: Summer Experience Coordinator alanna.graves@austintexas.gov | 512-974-7311 Program features a summer learning challenge, prizes, and over 350 free events from June 7th - August 10th 2025 Summer Reading & Badge Challenge THIS SUMMER, WE CHALLENGE YOU TO READ, LEARN, AND EARN FREE PRIZES READ COMPLETE EARN 600 Minutes Learning Badges Free Prizes Learning badges are scaled for each age group: babies & toddlers, kids & tweens, teens, and adults HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE Online Paper Logs Available at APL Locations or PDF download at library.austintexas.gov/summer FREE PRIZES! FREE PRIZES! FREE PRIZES! QUESTIONS? OVER 350 SUMMER EVENTS Animal Visits Dance & Fitness Workshops Musical & Theatre Performances STEM & Coding Workshops Arts & Crafts Environmental Workshops Storytime s Trivia Nights library.austintexas.gov/events ...and more! Special thanks to our partners & presenters! T E R R E N C E T A P S
