Library Commission Community Interest Announcement Reception for Library Commission, Library Foundation and Austin History Center Association December 15, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Central Library Event Center, 710 W Cesar Chavez A quorum of Commission members may be present. No action will be taken, and no Commission business will occur. For more information, please contact: Laura Polio 512-974-9624
REGULAR MEETING OF THE LIBRARY COMMISSION MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2025, AT 6 P.M. CENTRAL LIBRARY EVENT CENTER 710 WEST CESAR CHAVEZ STREET, 1ST FLOOR AUSTIN, TEXAS 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, contact Laura Polio, 512-974-9624, laura.polio@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Lynda Infante Huerta, Chair Pamela Carlile Dr. Suchitra Gururaj Melissah Hasdorff Holly Sabiston CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Sheila Mehta, Vice Chair Magen Davis Sara Gore Andrea Herrera Moreno Edward Selig AGENDA 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. 2. Approve the revised minutes of the Library Commission Special-Called meeting on August 2, 2025. Approve the minutes of the Library Commission regular meeting on November 17, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation by Tim Staley, Executive Director, The Library Foundation, regarding The Library Foundation’s programs and services. 4. Presentation by Adam Powell, Executive Director, Austin History Center Association, regarding Austin History Center Association’s programs and services. STAFF BRIEFINGS 5. Staff briefing on the December 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 Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Laura Polio at Austin Public Library Department, at 512-974-9624 or laura.polio@austintexas.gov to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Library Commission, please contact Laura Polio at 512-974-9624 or laura.polio@austintexas.gov.
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Library Commission Meeting Minutes August 2, 2025 THE LIBRARY COMMISSION SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES SATURDAY, AUGUST 02, 2025 The Library Commission convened a special called meeting on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at the Austin Central Library in Austin, Texas. Due to technical difficulty, there is no audio recording available for this meeting and all action taken will be taken at a future meeting. CALL TO ORDER Chair Infante Huerta called the Library Commission meeting to order at 12:05 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Lynda Infante Huerta, Chair Sheila Mehta, Vice-Chair Pamela Carlile Magen Davis Sara Gore Dr. Suchitra Gururaj Melissah Hasdorff Andrea Herrera Moreno Edward Selig Commissioners Absent: Kezia Frayjo 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 Library Commission Meeting Minutes August 2, 2025 1. Approve the minutes of the Library Commission regular meeting on June 30, 2025. The June 30, 2025, minutes were approved at the August 2, 2025, special called meeting on a motion by Commissioner Gore, seconded by Commissioners Carlile. The motion passed on a 9–0 vote. Commissioner Frayjo was absent. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing: “The Best of Both Worlds: Integrating Digital Content and Print Resources” by Christina Nelson, Customer Access Division Manager. The briefing was presented by Christina Nelson, Customer Access Division Manager. 3. Staff briefing on the Austin Public Library Poet Laureate Program by Zell Miller, III, Poet Laureate. The briefing was presented by Zell Miller, III, Poet Laureate. 4. Staff briefing on the 2026 Austin Public Library Centennial Celebrations by Baylor Johnson, Public Information and Marketing Program Manager. The briefing was presented by Baylor Johnson, Public Information and Marketing Program Manager. 5. Staff Briefing on the Austin Public Library FY2026 Proposed Budget, by John Cabiya, Acting Financial Manager II. The briefing was presented by John Cabiya, Acting Financial Manager II. 6. Staff briefing on the Austin Public Library Facilities Updates and Capital Improvement Projects, by Cody Scott, Facilities Process Manager. The briefing was postponed to the August 25, 2025, meeting without objection. 7. Staff briefing on the July APL Public Programming Highlights and Facilities Updates, by Hannah Terrell, Interim Director of Libraries. Hannah Terrell, Interim Director, yielded their time for the Commission to address other matters on the agenda. Library Commission Meeting Minutes August 2, 2025 DISCUSSION ITEMS 8. Presentation by Kathy Mitchell, …
Library Commission Meeting Minutes November 17, 2025 THE LIBRARY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, November 17, 2025 The Library Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, November 17, 2025, at the Ruiz Branch Library in Austin, Texas. CALL TO ORDER Chair Infante Huerta called the Library Commission meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Sheila Mehta, Vice-Chair Lynda Infante Huerta, Chair Pamela Carlile Dr. Suchitra Gururaj Melissah Hasdorff Edward Selig Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Magen Davis Sara Gore Andrea Herrera Moreno PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL NONE APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Library Commission regular meeting on September 29, 2025. Library Commission Meeting Minutes November 17, 2025 The September 29, 2025, minutes were approved on a motion by Commissioner Selig, seconded by Commissioner Carlile. The motion passed on a 9-0 vote. 2. Approve the minutes of the Library Commission regular meeting on October 27, 2025. The October 27, 2025, minutes were approved on a motion by Vice Chair Mehta, seconded by Commissioner Gururaj. The motion passed on a 9–0 vote. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion on prospective advocacy initiatives to support the Austin Public Library Centennial Celebrations in 2026. The Commission discussed potential advocacy initiatives in support of Austin Public Library’s Centennial Celebrations in 2026. Proposed actions included submitting a formal recommendation to the City Council advocating for additional funding and support, attending centennial events at branch locations within Commissioners’ respective districts, and promoting broader Council and community engagement in centennial-related outreach and activities. 4. Discussion and approval of a Library Commission representative to the Austin Public Library Honorary Centennial Planning Committee. The motion to approve the appointment of Commissioner Hasdorf and Commissioner Gururaj to Austin Public Library’s Honorary Centennial Planning Committee was approved on Commissioner Selig’s motion, seconded by Commissioner Carlisle on a 9-0 vote. 5. Approve the 2026 Annual Meeting Schedule of the Library Commission. The motion to approve the Library Commission 2026 Annual Meeting Schedule was approved on Commissioner Hasdorff’s motion, seconded by Vice Chair Mehta on a 9-0 vote. STAFF BRIEFING 6. Staff briefing on the November APL Public Programming Highlights and Facilities Updates, by Hannah Terrell, Interim Director of Libraries. The briefing was presented by Hannah Terrell, Interim Director. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Austin History Center Association The Library Foundation Centennial Opportunities Library Commission Meeting Minutes November 17, 2025 Budget Volunteerism Capacity Building ADJOURNMENT Chair Infante Huerta adjourned the meeting …
Library Highlights & Updates Report Hannah Terrell, Director Highlights AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY APL Public Programming Highlights & Facilities Updates Highlights The Light That Grows Here The Light That Grows Here showcases new textile works by artist and weaver Robin Kang, honoring the healing spirit of native Texas plants. Blending folklore, plant-based dyes, and digital design, Kang’s Jacquard-loom weavings merge botanical imagery with circuitry-inspired patterns, exploring the connections between nature, technology, and ritual. ATX Passport to the World th APL and Austin Sister Cities International presented the 10 Annual Passport to the World Festival, a celebration of global culture, music, food, and community. Festival highlights included live performances, hands-on activities, and the debut of the ATX Passport Card with exclusive deals at international Austin merchants. Film Strip Club - Howson Branch On November 11th, the Howson branch hosted the Film Strip Club, which is a creative partnership between APL and the Texas Archive of the Moving Image, where participants explore hands-on, analog filmmaking techniques, from painting on transparent film to scratching designs into black emulsion. 3 AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY APL Public Programming Highlights & Facilities Updates Special Events Updates In November 2025, Central Library Special Events hosted 13 events, including 9 rentals, 3 co- sponsorships, and 1 internal event, along with 2 unstaffed photo shoots. Total estimated attendance for the month was 2,011. Co-sponsorship highlights included the Executive & Supervisor Academy Graduation with the LEAD Office (November 5), the State of the Parkway event with the Red Line Parkway Initiative (November 6, pending City Council approval), and the STORIES Gala with the Library Foundation (November 13). The City’s LEAD Office held the Executive & Supervisor Academy Graduation on November 5. Recycled Reads Transition City Council Updates/Legislative Bills There have not been any recent Austin City Council agenda items nor have there been any legislative bills that would have a direct impact on Austin Public Library. Budget and Expenditures 4 A Recycled Reads Transition Workgroup has been formed to plan the shift from a single-locationbookstore to a systemwide materials sales model. The group is developing timelines and operationalplans to ensure a smooth wind-down of the Burnet Rd. location ahead of the lease ending in March2026, while managing inventory and minimizing service disruptions.Key Dates:Effective Nov. 17, 2025 – APL only accepting materials donations in the form of books andfollowing media.Dec. 31, 2025 – Final day for the public to drop off donations at …