Backup — original pdf

Backup

1 APL Public Programming Highlights & Facilities Updates Hannah Terrell, Interim Director May 2025 HIGHLIGHTS Greater Austin Book (GAB) Fest 2025 Brings Authors and Community Together The second annual Greater Austin Book (GAB) Fest was held at the Central Library on April 26, bringing together more than 85 authors for a two-day celebration of literature, creativity, and community. The event kicked off on Friday evening with a welcome reception, offering authors a relaxed space to connect, network, and settle in after setting up their tables. Saturday was lively and energetic, with hundreds of attendees exploring every floor of the library, visiting author tables, participating in panel discussions, purchasing books, and engaging in a wide range of literary activities. The event underscored APL’s ongoing commitment to supporting writers and fostering a love of reading across the community. John Gillum Branch Renaming Ceremony The John Gillum Branch renaming ceremony was held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. Formerly known as the North Village Branch, the event honored Mr. John Gillum, former Facilities Manager of Austin Public Library. Gillum Branch staff organized an afternoon of activities and festivities to commemorate the occasion. Mr. Gillum was joined by family, friends, former and current council members, Library Administration, and staff in a formal celebration recognizing his lasting contributions to the library system. June 7th: Kids Block Party Austin Public Library will host its annual Kids Block Party on Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Central Library. This free, family-friendly event is geared toward children ages 0–12 and their caregivers and will serve as the official launch of the 2025 Summer at Austin Public Library. The event will feature six themed activity blocks, including storytimes, puppet-making, a laser light show, hands-on science, nature-based fun, and a family resource fair. APL Strategic Plan We are continuing the implementation phase of our strategic plan. Currently, we are customizing the tool provided by UT to ensure it aligns with our departmental needs and priorities. As part of this process, we are beginning to populate the tool with feasible, relevant data points. In parallel, we are also collecting qualitative stories from across the department to highlight progress and successes that may not be fully reflected through quantitative metrics alone. These efforts aim to create a more comprehensive and meaningful picture of our advancement toward strategic goals. Special Events Updates In April 2025, Central Library Event Services hosted 23 events, including 19 rentals and 4 co- sponsorships, along with 5 photography sessions. Estimated total attendance for the month was 3,283. Co-sponsorship partners included the Library Foundation, which hosted the Library Giving Day Social on April 1 and a private reception on April 30 in conjunction with the Mayor’s Book Club. Headwaters School also partnered on two events: the Upper School Prom on April 4 and the Spring Concert on April 29. 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 days, with a number of legislative deadlines having already passed. House committees can no longer report House bills – meaning bills that start with “HB” that have not yet been voted out of committee are already dead for the session. Further deadlines will continue to winnow down the number of active bills. APL staff continue to coordinate with the City of Austin Intergovernmental Relations Office (IGRO) to track and analyze the potential impact of proposed legislation on APL staff and operations. Tracked bills: In addition to the 24 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, HB 4496) mentioned in previous reports, APL staff have provided analysis to IGRO for two additional bills as of May 14: • HB 3160 - Relating to Internet safety and technology protection policies in public schools and libraries. Potential APL impact: Negative. • SB 2101 - Relating to the prohibition of access by minors to sexually explicit materials in municipal public library collections. Potential APL Impact: Negative Committee hearings and floor votes in originating chambers: Among the bills that have been analyzed by Austin Public Library staff, none have received committee hearings or had them scheduled, nor received floor votes, in their originating chambers since the last report and as of May 14, that have not also already had committee hearings in their second chambers. Committee hearings and votes in second chamber: The following bills have received or had scheduled committee hearings in their second chamber, having already passed their originating chamber, since the last report and as of May 14, but have not yet received floor votes: • SB 18 - Relating to prohibiting municipal libraries that host certain events from receiving state or other public funding. Passed the House State Affairs Committee on 05/07/2025 (having already passed the Senate) • SB 689 - Relating to employment practices regarding diversity and prohibiting the implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives by certain governmental entities. Passed the House State Affairs Committee on 05/12/2025 (having already passed the full Senate). Passage through both chambers: The following bills have already received floor votes by both chambers, and are pending the governor’s signature, as of May 14: • SB 412 - Relating to defenses to prosecution for certain offenses involving material or conduct that is obscene or otherwise harmful to children. Passed the House on 05/01/2025 and passed the Senate on 05/07/2025 Budget & Expenditures Year to Date Revenues, as of 4/30/25 Non-Resident Library Card Fee $ 113,924.00 Passport Services Parking Gift Shop Facility Rentals TOTAL $ 394,840.00 $ 256,864.00 $ 228,386.78 $ 350,529.50 $1,344,544.28 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 April 30) 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Programs by Audience 297 215 35 April Program Type 66 8 547 Adult/Fam Teen Children In-Person Virtual Outreach PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS VISITORS ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS 19,656 246,922 174 APL Data & Numbers (as of April 30) Circulation Type Digital 335,209 Physical 303,929 150,000 100,000 50,000 0 Digital Circulation 140,756 139,052 45,784 677 8,940 April EBOOK EAUDIO EVIDEO EMUSIC PERIODICAL 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 0 Circulation Audience 309,343 184,968 118,961 25,866 April Adult Physical Youth Physical Adult Digital Youth Digital CARDHOLDERS 365,915 (Active) 7,667 (New) DIGITAL ACCESS 43,027 (Wi-Fi Connections) 27,979 (Computer Sessions)