REGULAR MEETING OF THE LIBRARY COMMISSION MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2026, AT 6 P.M. PLEASANT HILL BRANCH LIBRARY 211 EAST WILLIAM CANNON DRIVE 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. Sheila Mehta, Vice Chair Dr. Suchitra Gururaj Elizabeth Hansen Andrea Herrera Moreno Holly Sabiston CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Lynda Infante Huerta, Chair Pamela Carlile Sara Gore Melissah Hasdorff Lorrie Ann Mitchel Edward Selig AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 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 March 23, 2026. DISCUSSION 2. Presentation by Authors Against Book Bans and The Library Foundation regarding Austin becoming a Book Safe Harbor. Presentation by Liz Garton Scanion, Children’s Author and leadership member of Authors Against Book Bans, and Tim Staley, Executive Director, The Library Foundation. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Conduct officer elections for the Chair and Vice Chair. STAFF BRIEFINGS 4. Staff briefing on April 2026 Austin Public Library Public Programming Highlights and Facilities Updates, by Hannah Terrell, 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.
Library Commission Meeting Minutes March 23, 2026 THE LIBRARY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, March 23, 2026 The Library Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, February 23, 2026, at the Central Library in Austin, Texas. CALL TO ORDER Chair Infante Huerta called the Library Commission meeting to order at 6:08 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Lynda Infante Huerta, Chair Dr. Suchitra Gururaj Andrea Herrera Moreno Holly Sabiston Edward Selig Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Sara Gore Sheila Mehta, Vice-Chair Pamela Carlile Melissah Hasdorff Lorrie Mitchell Commissioners Absent: None PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None Library Commission Meeting Minutes March 23, 2026 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Library Commission regular meeting on February 23, 2026. The February 23, 2026, minutes were approved on a motion by Commissioner Gururaj, seconded by Commissioners Selig, Sabiston and Vice Chair Mehta. The motion passed on a 10-0 vote. DISCUSSION 2. Discussion on the updates to the Library Commission Bylaws. The Commission discussed the updates to the Library Commission Bylaws. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEM 3. Approval of a recommendation supporting Austin Public Library’s FY27 budget. A motion to approve the recommendation to council to support Austin Public Library's FY27 budget with continued and sufficient funding to ensure equity across all branches and support service enhancements was approved on Commissioner Selig’s motion, Commissioner Sabiston’s second on a 10-0 vote. STAFF BRIEFING 4. Staff briefing on the February APL Public Programming Highlights and Facilities Updates, by Hannah Terrell, Director of Libraries. The briefing was presented by Hannah Terrell, Director of Libraries. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Elections Book Safe Harbor Collaborations ADJOURNMENT Chair Infante Huerta adjourned the meeting at 7:44 p.m. without objection.
Austin as a Book Safe Harbor: Honoring Where We’ve Come From, Where We’re Going and What We Stand For L I B R A R Y C O M M I S S I O N M E E T I N G – A P R I L 2 7 , 2 0 2 6 Tonight’s Proposal 1 Introducing the Team 2 Introducing the Concept 3 Why This Matters! 4 Why Now? 5 What’s Next? Book sanctuaries (or “safe harbors”) are a proactive way to demonstrateour values as a community! Book Safe Harbors: Offer proactive protections for books and readers Reaffirm existing principles & policies of the library by enshrining them in local ordinances Protect collections, budgets and staff time Counter book bans and censorship Why This Matters! Current legislation threatens access to books Book banning has been normalized Kids aren’t seeing themselves or each other in books Literacy rates are declining Librarians need our support! Intellectual freedoms are worth standing up for Why Now? (Why Not?!) Letʼs ask the City of Austin to join us in celebrating APLʼs century-long tradition of serving readers and protecting the right to read! 1 Work with City of Austin stakeholders to create a Book Safe Harbor that’s rooted in APL’s policies and traditions 2 Aim toward October’s APL Centennial Celebration 3 Publicize and celebrate well beyond October! What’s Next? The 1st Amendment isnʼt the only way to keep books accessible to all who need them. We can continue the good work of APL into the next century by making Austin a Book Safe Harbor. Thoughts & Questions? Thank You!
Highlights & Updates Report Hannah Terrell, Director of Libraries April 2026 Public Services Highlights AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY APL Public Programming Highlights Highlights Wikicurious: The History of Austin Wikicurious – The History of Austin, Texas took place on Monday, March 9, from 1–5 p.m., hosted by Wikimedia NYC and the Austin Public Library’s Central Library during SXSW EDU. The community editing event welcomed both new and experienced Wikipedia editors to collaborate on improving articles related to Austin’s history. Experts from the Austin History Center shared insights on archiving, research methods, and local artifacts, while Austin Typewriters Ink. provided vintage typewriters and historical context. The program aligned with Wikipedia’s 25th anniversary and APL’s Centennial Celebrations. Central Texas Learning Festival at Milwood Branch Austin Public Library partnered with the Austin Japan Community (AJC) to host a cultural program at Milwood Branch on Saturday, March 14 as part of the Central Texas Learning Festival, welcoming 232 community participants. The event provided hands-on opportunities for families and visitors to explore elements of Japanese culture, including traditional toys, calligraphy, origami, and Yukata dressing in collaboration with Kimono Mosaique. The program highlighted the Library’s ongoing commitment to cultural learning and community partnerships that bring diverse educational experiences to Austin residents. 3 AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY APL Public Programming Highlights Centennial Planning Updates During the weekend of April 4–5, the Austin Public Library participated in the third annual Austin Book Trail. The event aligned with the launch of the Centennial Library Card Art Contest, which invited current APL cardholders within our service area to submit original designs in three categories: Child (ages 0–12): “The Library’s 100th Birthday Party”; Teen (ages 13–17): “Austin Public Library’s Next Century”; and Adult (18+): “Inspiring All to Discover, Learn, and Create.” One winning design will be selected per age group. This was APL Shop’s first year taking part in the Book Trail. The shop was open on Saturday only and closed Sunday. To mark the occasion, staff distributed free limited‑edition stickers to anyone who requested one, no purchase necessary, limited to one per person. Trail maps were also available for visitors throughout the day, as well as the APL Adventure Book. Special Events Updates The Central Library Special Events hosted 12 events in March 2026, with an estimated total attendance of 2,199. Event types included 9 rentals (one spanning four days), 2 co‑sponsorships, 1 internal event, and 1 film/photo request. • Co‑sponsorships: – Texas …
Book Safe Harbor Presenta(cid:415)on and FAQs Library Commission Mee(cid:415)ng, 4/27/2026 What IS a Book Safe Harbor (or Book Sanctuary City)? A municipal, physical and/or digital space that ac(cid:415)vely protects the right to read and ensures access to banned or challenged books. • The movement started in Chicago. • Harris County established the first Book Sanctuary in Texas! • The Book Sanctuary movement is on fire in New Jersey. What are the goals of a Book Safe Harbor? • Reaffirming the policies and principles of the library • Protec(cid:415)ng “endangered” books and keeping them accessible • Providing community educa(cid:415)on around book banning and intellectual freedoms • Suppor(cid:415)ng library collec(cid:415)ons, staff and budgets What Steps Do We Need to Take to Make Aus(cid:415)n a Book Safe Harbor? • Connect with City stakeholders (such as Council members or representa(cid:415)ves and the Human Rights Commission) • Dra(cid:332) an ordinance to explicitly include the principles of the library, including protec(cid:415)ng intellectual freedom, open access and a collec(cid:415)on that serves every reader • Create ac(cid:415)on items and (cid:415)meline with an October 2026 goal to coincide with APL’s centennial celebra(cid:415)on • Work with the Library Founda(cid:415)on around displays, presenta(cid:415)ons, promo materials, and more.
