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1 APL Public Programming Highlights & Facilities Updates Hannah Terrell, Interim Director April 2025 HIGHLIGHTS APL Welcomes Zell Miller III Zell Miller III is a poet, theater artist, creative force, and now the City of Austin’s first ever Poet Laureate. He is known for his thought-provoking works that explore identity, culture, and the human experience. With a passion for storytelling and performance, Miller has made significant contributions to the arts, particularly in the realms of poetry and theater. In 2004, he was voted the best/poet writer in the Austin Chronicle. In 2017, he was inducted into the Austin Arts Hall of Fame. Through his work, Zell Miller III continues to inspire others to explore their own creativity and question the world around them. His dedication to using art as a platform for dialogue and change has made him a distinctive and influential voice in the contemporary arts scene. On April 14, APL hosted Zell’s welcome reception at the Special Events Center. It was a night of poetry, connection, celebration, and fun. He is an excellent and exciting addition to Austin Public Library! April 26: Greater Austin Book (GAB) Fest The Greater Austin Book (GAB) Fest invites our community of readers, writers and illustrators from Travis, Williamson, and Hays Counties to come together for a full day celebration of books. At GAB Fest you can meet participating authors, buy books and get them signed, explore the Central Library, and enjoy a full day of panels, workshops, and programs. This event fosters an environment of inclusivity, encouraging individuals to come together, and celebrate their appreciation for literature. This year’s GAB Fest will be held at the Central Library on Saturday, April 26. APL Celebrates National Library Week National Library Week, which this year took place from April 6-April 12, is an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities. Austin Public Library Staff prepared activities in all of our locations tied to this year’s theme of “Drawn to the Library.” Each location was given a board to display in a common area where members of the public could post sticky notes answering the question: “Why are you drawn to your library?” Additionally, the marketing team tagged along to an outreach event with the Mobile Library to create a video to celebrate National Library Outreach Day. National Library Week also includes National Library Workers Day, dedicated to recognizing the valuable contributions made by all library workers. Staff received an appreciation gift of an engraved steel water bottle with the “retro” APL logo and visits from APL leaders to all APL branches to show their gratitude to our wonderful staff. APL Strategic Plan APL has partnered with a student group from University of Texas. This semester, students have been working on creating a reporting tool we can use to track the progress of our Strategic Plan metrics. This tool is currently under a review and testing phase. It should be ready for use in the coming months. Special Events Updates In March 2025, Central Library Event Services hosted a total of 17 events, including 14 rentals, 2 co-sponsorships, 2 film/photography sessions, and 1 internal event, with a total attendance of 2,862 (excluding the internal event). Co-sponsorship partners included Austin Y.M.B.L. Sunshine Camps (Austin Under 40 Meet & Greet) and Texas Black Legacy Foundation (Texas Honoree & Scholarship Reception). City Council Action There are no items scheduled for the upcoming Austin City Council meeting that would have a direct impact on Austin Public Library's operations. Legislative Bills The 89th Texas Legislature is entering its final weeks. With bills moving through committees in both chambers of the legislature, APL staff continue to coordinate with the City of Austin Intergovernmental Relations Office (IGRO) to analyze the potential impact of proposed legislation on APL staff and operations. Tracked bills: In addition to the 23 bills (SB 18, SB 88, SB 89, SB 242, SB 412, SB 422, SB 511, SB 689, SB 2862, HB 267, HB 938, HB 947, HB 995, HB 1012, HB 1075, HB 1138, HB 1434, HB 1480, HB 1489, HB 1521, HB 2572, HB 2821, HB 3427) mentioned in previous Director’s Reports, APL staff have provided analysis to IGRO for one additional bill as of April 23: • HB 4496 - Relating to municipal diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Potential APL impact: Negative. Committee hearings and votes: Among the bills that have been analyzed by Austin Public Library staff, the following have received or committee hearings or had them scheduled since the last report and as of April 23: • SB 511 - Relating to prohibiting an officer or employee of this state or of a political subdivision of this state from distributing certain voter registration application forms; creating a criminal offense. Passed the Senate State Affairs Committee on 04/07/2025. • HB 267 - Relating to affirmative defenses to prosecution for certain offenses involving material or conduct that is obscene or otherwise harmful to children. Passed the House State Affairs Committee on 04/10/2025 • HB 1480 - Relating to the award of library construction grants by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Left pending in the House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism on 03/27/2025 • HB 1489 - Relating to prohibiting an officer or employee of this state or of a political subdivision of this state from distributing certain voter registration application forms. Passed the House Elections Committee on 04/14/2025 Floor votes: Among the bills analyzed by APL staff, the following have already passed their committees and received floor votes in their respective chambers scheduled since the last Director’s Report and as of April 23. • SB 689 - Relating to employment practices regarding diversity and prohibiting the implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives by certain governmental entities. Passed the Senate on 04/03/2025 Budget & Expenditures Facilities Services 2026 Bond The Austin Public Library 2026 Bond Development aims to enhance communities by positioning libraries as key hubs for education and resources. The initiative will focus on expanding access, improving facilities, and integrating sustainable practices to support the city's growth, ensuring equitable opportunities for learning, health, and cultural engagement. As part of this process, city departments will present the guiding principles, technical criteria, and scoring matrix used to determine departmental needs. Austin Public Library (APL) will share this information during the March Library Commission meeting. Austin Public Library presented to the Bond Election Advisory Task Force (BEATF) on April 28th at 2 PM, and the presentation is available on ATXN. APL Data & Numbers (as of March 31) 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Programs by Audience 243 294 40 March Program Type 45 10 577 Adult/Fam Teen Children In-Person Virtual Outreach PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS VISITORS ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS 42,508 26K from NASA House! 269,209 193 APL Data & Numbers (as of March 31) Circulation Type Digital 3,859,682 Physical 3,898,850 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0 Digital Circulation 147,779 142,275 46,323 9,506 800 March EBOOK EAUDIO EVIDEO EMUSIC PERIODICAL 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 0 Circulation Audience 318,775 188,970 122,530 27,908 March Adult Physical Youth Physical Adult Digital Youth Digital CARDHOLDERS 354,084 (Active) 4,419 (New) DIGITAL ACCESS 43,350 (Wi-Fi Connections) 29,334 (Computer Sessions)