SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE LIBRARY COMMISSION August 2, 2025 – 12 P.M. Central Library, 4th Floor Director’s Conference Room 710 W. Cesar Chavez 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 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 Dr. 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 June 30, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing: “The Best of Both Worlds: Integrating Digital Content and Print Resources” by Christina Nelson, Customer Access Division Manager. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Staff briefing on the Austin Public Library Poet Laureate Program by Zell Miller, III, Poet Laureate. Staff briefing on the 2026 Austin Public Library Centennial Celebrations by Baylor Johnson, Public Information and Marketing Program Manager. Staff Briefing on the Austin Public Library FY2026 Proposed Budget, by John Cabiya, Acting Financial Manager II. Staff briefing on the Austin Public Library Facilities Updates and Capital Improvement Projects, by Cody Scott, Facilities Process Manager. Staff briefing on the July APL Public Programming Highlights and Facilities Updates, by Hannah Terrell, Interim Director of Libraries. DISCUSSION ITEMS 8. 9. Presentation by Kathy Mitchell, Senior Advisor, Equity Action: “Waiting for Library Books: Can We Reduce Wait Times to Improve This Core Service?” Discussion on Recent Library Article by Zac Bissonnette in The Free Press. 10. Discussion of the Library Commission 2024 Annual Internal Review and Report. 11. Discussion on Long-Range Objectives and Advocacy Strategies to Support Austin Public Library Priorities for the Next Year. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to …
AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY PROPOSED 2025-26 BUDGET John Cabiya, Acting Financial Manager II FY 2026 BUDGET TIMELINE DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW AND PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS . Austin Public Library (APL) provides access to books, technology, and information across a network of library locations serving the Austin community. Through dedicated staff and engaging programs, the Library supports learning, creativity, and connection in a welcoming and inclusive environment. APL is committed to equity, inclusion, and service for all residents. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR Circulation Per Capita is a key performance measure that compares the total number of items circulated at all library locations to the City's full-purpose population for a given period. OPERATING PROGRAM BUDGET – MATERIALS MANAGEMENT SERVICES OPERATING PROGRAM BUDGET – PUBLIC SERVICES OPERATING PROGRAM BUDGET – SUPPORT SERVICES OPERATING PROGRAM BUDGET – TRANSFERS, DEBT SERVICE, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS SIGNIFICANT CHANGES SIGNIFICANT CHANGES CAPITAL BUDGET BY PROGRAM Thank you! Questions?? John Cabiya Acting Financial Manager II John.Cabiya@austintexas.gov
August 2, 2025 Library Commission/Title VI Testimony Zenobia C. Joseph FY 2025-26 COA Budget: “Blacks are over 6 times more likely to be homeless” (ECHO, 2023) $ave Recycled Reads ($107K): Against Decentralization Against: $11.5M (Cut 12 New FTEs = Encampment Management) Item 5: FY 2026 Proposed Budget (p. 35) S.M.A.R.T. vs. Permanent Segregated Housing Joint Audit and Public Health Committee Meeting July 31, 2025 Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Zenobia C. Joseph FY 2025-26 COA Budget: “Blacks are over 6 times more likely to be homeless” (ECHO, 2023) Against: $11.5M Mayor Watson’s Marshalling Yard/8th St. shelter; 12 FTEs (p. 34) APL/PARD: Industrial microwaves YMCA: $8.9M 2006 Bond PARD ILA vs. $10 Showers; Chargers APL: Phone Booths; Recycled Reads $4.7M Samsung-Apple Transit $avings: Use Pickup = job access 392-Braker Urbana I, II 558 Units Ghetto Graham ES Bus 45 min 6-8 UT August 2, 2025 Library Commission/Title VI Testimony Zenobia C. Joseph FY 2025-26 COA Budget: “Blacks are over 6 times more likely to be homeless” (ECHO, 2023) Goodwill-Norwood Encampment: 13 baskets $ave Recycled Reads ($107K): Against Decentralization Against: $11.5M (Cut 12 New FTEs = Encampment Management) June 30, 2025 Library Commission #2. Against Welcoming City Designation Zenobia C. Joseph Title VI (Item 2 Backup, p. 5 of 18) August 2, 2025 Library Commission/Title VI Testimony Zenobia C. Joseph FY25-26 COA Budget: Prioritize N. Lamar equitable safety (PHBs, red sidewalks, new signals) July 27, 2025 Imam Islam Mossaad Killed Sunday 11900 North Lamar August 2, 2025 Zenobia C. Joseph Library Commission Special-Called Meeting March 4, 2025 FY 25-26 Budget Title VI: $1.5M Black Literature African-American Resource Advisory Joint Inclusion Commission Recommendation Carver Museum: $650K ($7M PARD Bond: 2018)
Library Commission Meeting Minutes June 30, 2025 THE LIBRARY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2025 The Library Commission convened a regular meeting on Monday, June 30, 2025, at the Yarborough Branch Library in Austin, Texas. CALL TO ORDER Chair Infante Huerta called the Library Commission meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Lynda Infante Huerta, Chair Sheila Mehta, Vice-Chair Pamela Carlile Magen Davis Sara Gore Melissah Hasdorff Edward Selig Commissioners Absent: Kezia Frayjo Dr. Suchitra Gururaj Andrea Herrera Moreno PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Carlos León provided public comment to the Commission regarding various concerns. Zenobia Joseph provided public comment to the Commission regarding various concerns. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Library Commission regular meeting on May 19, 2025. Library Commission Meeting Minutes June 30, 2025 The May 19, 2025, minutes were approved at the June 30, 2025, regular meeting on a motion by Commissioner Selig, seconded by Commissioners Gore and Hasdorff. The motion passed on a 7–0 vote. Commissioners Frayjo, Gururaj and Herrera Moreno absent. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing on Austin Public Library Immigrant Services, provided by Laura Tadena, Community Engagement Librarian III, Austin Public Library. The briefing was presented by Laura Tadena, Community Engagement Librarian III. Zenobia Joseph provided public comment to the Commission regarding various concerns. 3. Staff briefing on the June 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. Zenobia Joseph provided public comment to the Commission regarding various concerns. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Discussion and Approval of the Date, Time and Agenda for a Special Called Library Commission Retreat. The Commission unanimously approved to hold a special-called retreat on a Saturday afternoon in July or August 2025. The final date will be based on availability. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Poet Laureate Budget Library Commission Annual Report Bond and Advocacy Strategic Plan I.D.E.A.L ADJOURNMENT Chair Infante Huerta adjourned the meeting at 7:19 p.m. without objection.
1 APL Public Programming Highlights & Facilities Updates Hannah Terrell, Interim Director July 2025 HIGHLIGHTS Carver Library Hosts Austin African American Book Festival The Austin African American Book Festival (AAABF) returned to the Carver Library and Museum on Saturday, June 28, celebrating Black literature, history, and culture. This year’s theme, “Our Stories, Our Voices,” emphasized the importance of honoring and amplifying African American narratives. Festival highlights included a conversation between best- selling author Walter Mosley and Paul Coates, as well as a presentation by historian Peniel Joseph on his upcoming book, Freedom Season. Austin’s Poet Laureate, Zell Miller III, performed original work, and the Carver Library hosted an engaging children’s program featuring story time, crafts, and readings led by author Alice Faye Duncan. Nature Smart Libraries Initiative Earns Grant and National Spotlight Austin Public Library’s Nature Smart Libraries initiative continues to serve as a model for integrating literacy, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. In June 2025, APL received a $75,000 Special Projects Grant from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to support new StoryWalk® installations, multilingual and sensory-inclusive programming kits, staff training, and systemwide nature programming. The initiative was also featured as a national case study in Nature-Smart Libraries: A Toolkit by the Children & Nature Network and highlighted in Library Journal’s July 2025 article on innovative partnerships between libraries and parks. Literature Live! Presents: Wild and Wacky Weather This summer, Literature Live launched Wild and Wacky Weather, a playful puppet show exploring Texas’s famously unpredictable climate. Through three imaginative stories, each told in a different puppetry style, audiences are taken on a journey filled with sunny songs, windy whimsy, and frigid folly. Recommended for ages 3 and up, the show began its run on June 9 and continues through July 24, traveling to library branches across the city. APL Awarded $15K from Austin Community Foundation’s Forever Austin Fund The Forever Austin Fund is a permanent community resource that enables investment in Austin’s most pressing needs and greatest opportunities. The Forever Austin Fund supports the giving of a collection of field-of-interest funds, unrestricted funds, and donor advised funds. Austin Public Library, specifically Austin History Center, was recently awarded $15,000. This grant will fund a project in partnership with Austin History Center Association for “Creating Community: A Digital Twin of Historic Austin,” which aims to develop 3D historical models and related technologies. Special Events Updates In June 2025, Central Library …
Annual Internal Review This report covers the time period of 7/1/2024 to 6/30/2025 _______________Library Commission__________ (Official Name of Board or Commission) Mission Statement: The Library Commission shall make recommendations to the city council on matters relating to the establishment, maintenance, and operation of the public libraries. City Code Section 2-1-150 1. Describe the board’s actions supporting their mission during the previous calendar year. Address all elements of the board’s mission statement as provided in the relevant sections of the City Code. a. Commissioners were briefed about the library operations so as to be able to answer questions from the City Council members and their constituents. i. Staff briefing on the Austin Public Library FY25 APL Proposed Budget by Wendy Harrison, Financial Manager II Annual Review and Work Plan 2024/2025 Page | 2 ii. Staff briefing on the Austin Public Library Bond Projects and Advocacy Timelines by Cody Scott, Facilities Process Manager, and Baylor Johnson, Public Information & Marketing Program Manager iii. Staff briefing on Austin Public Library Security by St. John Requejo, Facilities Services Manager, Ida Garza, Central Security Supervisor, and Lloyd Black, Branch Security Supervisor. iv. Staff briefing on Austin Public Library Partnerships by Jennifer Peters, Division Manager, Programs & Partnerships and Laura Tadena, Community Engagement Librarian. v. Staff briefing on Austin Public Library Summer 2024 Programming by Alanna Graves, Librarian III. vi. Staff briefing on Austin Public Library Bond Progress Update by Cody Scott, Facilities Process Manager. vii. Staff briefing on Library Community Engagement by Laura Tadena, Community Engagement Librarian, Austin Public Library viii. Presentation by Tim Staley, Executive Director, The Library Foundation, regarding The Library Foundation programs and services. ix. Presentation by Charles Peveto, President, Austin History Center Association, regarding Austin History Center Association programs and services. x. Staff briefing on City of Austin Bond Update by Cody Scott, Facilities Process Manager, and Baylor Johnson, Public Information & Marketing Program Manager, Austin Public Library. xi. Staff briefing on Austin Public Library School Partnerships by Jenny Stirrat, School Partnerships Librarian, Austin Public Library. Annual Review and Work Plan 2024/2025 Page | 3 xii. Staff briefing on Austin Public Library Nature Smart Libraries Initiative by Laura Tadena, Community Engagement Librarian, Austin Public Library. xiii. 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. xiv. Staff briefing on Summer at Austin Public Library and …
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: INTEGRATING DIGITAL CONTENT & PRINT RESOURCES August 2, 2025 WELCOME Christina Nelson, MSIS Customer Access Division Manager christina.nelson@austintexas.gov TODAY'S AGENDA Selection Process Factors to Consider Licensing Models Borrowing Privileges Circulation Trends User Hold Analysis Director’s Dashboard SELECTION PROCESS Materials Selection Policy Submit a Suggestion Availability of highly anticipated releases Community needs & trends Support for programming & events Multiple formats Contracted vendor inventory Budgetary allocations FACTORS TO CONSIDER Cultural & Local Trends Fluidity of Target Purchasing Models Pay-per-Unit Pay-per-Use Average Cost of Materials $20.75 / print book t $60.00 / digital content Holds Ratio Goals Licensing Models LICENSING MODELS: PAY-PER-UNIT Overdrive (Libby) LICENSING MODELS: PAY-PER-USE Hoopla Kanopy Check out 4 items per month Movies & TV shows check out for 3 days Music CDs check out for 7 days Audiobooks, eBooks and comics / graphic novels check out for 21 days BingePasses check out for 7 days Videos use different ticket amounts depending on running time Videos have different viewing gg periods depending on running time Each video is labeled with ticket amount, viewing period and running time hh Tickets reset on the 1st of each month tto Unused tickets don't roll over to the next month COLLECTION 411 Check out limits Print – 50 / Digital –10 Holds limits & Pick-up Time Frames Print – 15 / Digital – 7 Print – 10 days / Digital – 72 hours Average wait time Print – 15 days / Digital – 33 days Renewals Assistive tech tools CIRCULATION TRENDS FY23 (10/01/2022 - 09/30/2023) Print Circulation-- 4,271,321 Digital Circulation --3,108,163 FY24 (10/01/2023 - 09/30/2024) Print Circulation -- 3,898,850 Digital Circulation --3,859,682 FY25 so far (10/01/2024 - 06/30/2025) Print Circulation -- 2,744,463 Digital Circulation -- 2,981,925 USER HOLD ANALYSIS DIRECTOR’S DASHBOARD T HANK T YOU Austin Public Library
