A STATE-OF-THE-ART ARCHIVAL HISTORY CENTER FOR AUSTIN! Progress and planning update, April 2021 Conceptual rendering by Evan Taniguchi, Taniguchi Architects, Board of Directors & Past President of AHCA The Austin History Center (AHC), part of the Austin Public Library (APL) system, is a rapidly growing asset for Austin’s future. For 41 years, the Austin History Center Association (AHCA) has advocated to develop this destination-venue for ALL of Austin. The visionary passage of bonds by Austin voters in 2012 and 2018 is enabling critical infrastructure updates and repairs to the Faulk Library and the Austin History Center. AHCA shares an update about our aggressive pursuit of a critical path of planning activities: 1. In 2018, AHCA leaders and staff partnered with AHC staff and community stakeholders in a dynamic visioning process commissioned by APL and led by Gensler. Gensler’s report, Re- imagining the Faulk; Vision Project; Report on the Future of the Faulk Library Building - January 2019, strongly re-affirmed that archival use was the most desired outcome for the Faulk Building. 2. In 2019, AHCA committed to raise funds for a Master Plan to guide redeveloping and repurposing the 1978 Faulk Library building, the adjacent 1933 Library building, and the flex- space in between. To date, AHCA has raised $53,050 toward this goal. A Master Plan will support and facilitate our visioning process for programming and civic use that is compelling, engaging, attractive, accessible, and pertinent to the diverse history of ALL of Austin and its visitors. 3. In 2019, AHCA received a $12,000 donor grant to hire three graduate students at Texas State University’s School of Public History for Fall 2020-Spring 2021. These outstanding interns are tasked with researching master planning and programming at similar large American history centers, including the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Atlanta History Center and San Diego History Center. They have also focused on the use of emergent technologies for history centers and archives to engage the public and provide dynamic and appealing exhibit ideas for the AHC Master Plan. Following the interns’ research, incoming AHCA President Kent Collins toured/ visited with Executive Staff of the Atlanta History Center this April! AHCA Executive Director Jeff Cohen also plans a July 2021 visit to the Atlanta History Center. 4. Ongoing tireless efforts to grow the profile and footprint of the AHCA in the Austin community have resulted in nearly 700 annual members for our organization. Our …
LIBRARY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20210426-5b: Support for Austin Public Library Proposed Budget for FY22 Seconded By: Chair Dabbert Date: April 26, 2021 Subject: Support for Austin Public Library Proposed Budget for FY22 Motioned By: Commissioner Hanna Recommendation Support for Austin Public Library Proposed Budget for FY22 Description of Recommendation to Council Requesting that the Austin City Council approve the proposed Austin Public Library budget of $60,190,266 for FY2022, an increase of 2.25% or $1,321,890 from FY21, including an increase to the materials budget by 3.5% or $206,368. Rationale: “Libraries are a cornerstone of democracy—where information is free and equally available to everyone. People tend to take that for granted, and they don’t realize what is at stake when that is put at risk.” ― Carla Hayden, 14th Librarian of Congress During an unprecedented year, including COVID-19 pandemic related shutdowns and a city-wide weeklong freeze, APL continued to serve the citizens of Austin by providing online access to digital materials and by providing access to conventional format books and materials by providing curbside service at 11 of its 20 branches. APL also continues to provide innovative programming. In the past year, April 2020 – March 2021, APL hosted 1325 virtual programs with 37,430 attendees. 2020’s APL Virtual Summer Reading Program saw a 39% increase in APL Summer Reading site views with nearly 10,000 individual views between June – August. Recently, in an effort to address the ongoing digital divide, the APL coordinated a widespread device loan program in partnership with community organizations and area school districts. Through individual donations, funding from commissions and boards, the CARES Act and operational funds, APL loaned laptops and hotspots to the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA), Foundation Communities, South Asian’s International Volunteer Association of Austin (SAIVA), and City Departments to support families, individuals, and especially older adults who are isolated and lack access to online information and resources. This effort was driven by a clear need observed in the community, further amplified by COVID-19. In addition, APL staff recently made 209 calls to customers over the age of 65 who haven’t visited the library since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. APL wanted to let customers 1 of 2 know that the library is open for curbside and answer questions about connecting to the virtual collection. APL also continues to provide staff development training to support the ability of all employees …
Library Commission Meeting Minutes 26 April, 2021 SPECIAL CALLED MEETING 26 April, 2021 THE LIBRARY COMMISSION MINUTES The Library Commission convened in a Regular Meeting on Monday, April 26, 2021 via videoconferencing. Chair Hanna called the Board Meeting to order at 3:03 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Chair, Catherine Hanna; Vice Chair, Steven Self; Commission Members Julia Aguilar, Patricia Dabbert, JC Dwyer, Lynda Infante, Courtney Rosenthal, and Lily Trieu Board Members Absent: Commission Member Daniella Ramos Citizen Communication: None 1. Welcome and introduction of new Library Commission Member Lynda Infante Commission Member Infante introduced herself to the commission. 2. Approval of Minutes from the March 22, 2021 Regular Meeting via Videoconferencing The minutes of the regular meeting were approved on Commission Member Dwyer’s motion and Commission Member Dabbert’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commission Member Ramos absent. a. Austin History Center Association Update, Chad Williams, AHCA Board Member Chad Williams gave an update on AHCA plans to support the Austin History Center 3. Presentations: 4. Old Business None 5. New Business: a. Election of officers Elections for Chair – Vice Chair Self nominated Commission Member Dwyer who declined the nomination. Commission Member Dabbert nominated Commission Member Aguilar who declined the nomination. Chair Hanna nominated Commission Member Trieu who declined the nomination. Chair Hanna nominated Commission Member Dabbert with a second by Vice Chair Library Commission Meeting Minutes 26 April, 2021 Self. Having no other nominations, Patricia Dabbert was elected Chair on an 8-0 vote. Commission Member Ramos absent. Elections for Vice Chair – Vice Chair Self nominated himself for Vice Chair with a second by Chair Dabbert. Having no other nominations, Vice Chair Self was elected Vice Chair on an 8-0 vote. Commission member Ramos absent. b. Discussion and possible action on an FY22 Library Budget Recommendation Library Commission Recommendation 20210426-5b: Support for Austin Public Library Proposed Budget for FY22 was approved on Commission Member Hanna’s motion and Chair Dabbert’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commission Member Ramos absent. c. Discussion and possible action on Library Commission support for the adoption of The George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural & Genealogy Center Facility Expansion Plan Gregory Montes, Program Manager, PARD Planning, City of Austin Parks and Recreation Dept and Terry Smith, Architect, presented the plan. A motion that the Library Commission recommend adoption of the plan was approved on Commission Member Hanna’s motion and Commission Member Rosenthal’s second on an 8-0 …
Versión en español a continuación. Library Commission Meeting MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021, 3-4:30 PM Library Commission meeting to be held March 22, 2021 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance no later than Sunday, March 21 by Noon. All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the March 22, 2021 Library Commission Meeting, members of the public must: •Call or email the board liaison at 512-974-7420 or sharon.herfurth@austintexas.gov no later than noon, Sunday, March 21. The following information is required: speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, email address and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting). •Once a request to speak has been made to the board liaison, the information to call on the day of the scheduled meeting will be provided either by email or phone call. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start time in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to sharon.herfurth@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If the meeting is broadcast live, it may be viewed here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Reunión del Library Commission FECHA de la reunion Monday, March 22, 2021, 3-4:30 PM La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación Sunday, March 21 antes del mediodía. Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los miembros del público deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta en 512-974-7420 or sharon.herfurth@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). Se requiere la siguiente información: nombre del orador, número (s) de artículo sobre el que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutral, dirección de correo electrónico (opcional) y un número de teléfono (debe ser el número que se utilizará para llamar ). • …
Library Commission Meeting Minutes 17 December, 2020 SPECIAL CALLED MEETING 17 December, 2020 THE LIBRARY COMMISSION MINUTES The Library Commission convened in a Special Called Meeting on Thursday, December 17, 2020 via videoconferencing. Chair Hanna called the Board Meeting to order at 3:08 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Chair, Catherine Hanna; Vice Chair, Steven Self; Commission Members Julia Aguilar, Patricia Dabbert, JC Dwyer; and Lily Trieu Board Members Absent: Commission Members Deborah Pardo-Kaplan and Daniella Ramos Citizen Communication: None 1. Approval of Minutes from the October 28, Special Called Meeting The minutes of the regular meeting were approved on Commission Member Dabbert’s motion and Vice Chair Self’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commission Members Pardo-Kaplan and Ramos absent. 2. Staff Briefing: Update on Student Library Card Initiative, Emi Johnson, Business Process Consultant, Sr. Emi Johnson, Business Process Consultant, Sr., presented the Student Library Card Initiative update. 3. Old Business a. Discussion and possible action on eliminating non-resident fees. Recommendation 20201217-3a: Support for Equitable Access to Austin Public Library Resources for Students was approved a 6-0 vote. Commission Members Pardo-Kaplan and Ramos absent. 4. New Business: None 5. Discussion of Director’s Monthly Report for September 2020 covering programming highlights, facilities, and APL priorities Questions were asked about increasing holds for youth and adding more curbside locations and/or hours. Library Commission Meeting Minutes 17 December, 2020 6. Future Agenda Items None Adjournment: Chair Hanna adjourned the meeting at 3:59 p.m. without objection.
Director’s Report March 2021 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS HIghlights ____________________________________________________________________ 3 Facilities Services _____________________________________________________________ 7 FY2018 Bond Program Summary ____________________________________________________________ 7 FY2012 Bond Program Summary ____________________________________________________________ 9 Cepeda Branch / Hampton Branch (Site/Civil) Report ___________________________________________ 15 Faulk Building / Austin History Center Monthly Report ___________________________________________ 17 Interior Renovations Monthly Report _________________________________________________________ 20 Roof Replacements & Systems Upgrades Monthly Report________________________________________ 23 Austin History Center _________________________________________________________ 26 Library Priorities _____________________________________________________________ 27 Literacy Advancement ____________________________________________________________________ 27 Digital Inclusion & STEM __________________________________________________________________ 27 Equity, Diversity & Inclusion ________________________________________________________________ 27 Civic and Community Engagement __________________________________________________________ 27 Staff Development _______________________________________________________________________ 28 Workforce and Economic Development _______________________________________________________ 28 APL By the Numbers __________________________________________________________ 29 Virtual Collections Usage February __________________________________________________________ 29 HIGHLIGHTS 3 Bridging the Digital Divide: Austin Public Library Donates Devices to Community Partners In an effort to address the ongoing digital divide, the Austin Public Library (APL) coordinated a widespread device loan program in partnership with community organizations and area school districts. Through individual donations, funding from commissions and boards, the CARES Art, and operational funds, APL loaned laptops and hotspots to the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA), Foundation Communities, South Asian’s International Volunteer Association of Austin (SAIVA), and City Departments to support families, individuals, and especially older adults who are isolated and lack access to online information and resources. This effort was driven by a clear need observed in the community, further amplified by COVID-19. Emi Johnson, Director of Innovation and Improvement at APL, described the digital access needs of Austin’s vulnerable populations, which became more critical under the pandemic. The Library found ways to leverage existing funding to provide the access to those in need through technology devices and services. To Catherine Crago, Head of Strategic Initiatives and Resource Development at HACA, this loan represents an innovative means of helping HACA residents gradually develop digital literacy skills. As the loans are long-term, recipients of devices will have the opportunity to take digital literacy courses and eventually adopt those digital tools at their own pace. Beyond the devices themselves, APL also offers support to assist and introduce recipients to virtual materials and resources, The Library’s effort is to remove barriers in as many ways possible. Through community outreach, individuals may Book a Librarian and receive 1:1 assistance and instruction, or receive assistance by phone or live chat. Crago said, “This program liberates library resources so that they can be accessed by residents …
Library Commission Meeting Minutes 22 March, 2021 SPECIAL CALLED MEETING 22 March, 2021 THE LIBRARY COMMISSION MINUTES The Library Commission convened in a Regular Meeting on Monday, March 22, 2021 via videoconferencing. Chair Hanna called the Board Meeting to order at 3:09 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Chair, Catherine Hanna; Vice Chair, Steven Self; Commission Members Julia Aguilar, Patricia Dabbert, JC Dwyer, Daniella Ramos, Courtney Rosenthal, and Lily Trieu Board Members Absent: none Citizen Communication: None 1. Welcome and introduction of new Library Commission Member Courtney Rosenthal Commission Member Rosenthal introduced herself to the commission. 2. Approval of Minutes from the December 17, 2020 Special Called Meeting via Videoconferencing The minutes of the special called meeting were approved on Vice Chair Self’s motion and Commission Member Dabbert’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commission Member Rosenthal abstained. 3. Staff Briefings: a. FY22 Budget Process, Roosevelt Weeks, Director of Libraries Director Weeks went over the timeline for the FY22 budget and the deadline for budget recommendations from the Commission b. COVID-19 Operations Year in Review, Dana McBee, Assistant Director Support Services Dana McBee described how Library operations changed to meet the COVID-19 related challenges of the past year. c. Student Card Initiative Update, Emi Johnson, Business Process Consultant, Sr. Emi Johnson outlined the ISDs and Charter Schools that are participating in the APL Student Card initiative Library Commission Meeting Minutes 22 March, 2021 4. Old Business None 5. New Business: a. Discussion and possible action on scheduling a Library Commission Planning Retreat The Commission will schedule a planning retreat possibly in May or June, depending on City health regulations for gatherings. 6. Discussion of Director’s Monthly Report for March 2021 covering programming highlights, facilities, and APL priorities Director Weeks gave the update. 7. Future Agenda Items Officer Elections Recommendation in Support of the FY22 Proposed Library Budget Adjournment: Chair Hanna adjourned the meeting at 4:06 p.m. without objection.
Versión en español a continuación. Library Commission Special Called Meeting THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2020, 3-4:30 PM Library Commission meeting to be held December 17, 2020 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance no later than Wednesday, December 16 by Noon. All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the December 17, 2020 Library Commission Meeting, members of the public must: •Call or email the board liaison at 512-974-7420 or sharon.herfurth@austintexas.gov no later than noon, Wednesday, December 16. The following information is required: speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, email address and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting). •Once a request to speak has been made to the board liaison, the information to call on the day of the scheduled meeting will be provided either by email or phone call. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start time in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to sharon.herfurth@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If the meeting is broadcast live, it may be viewed here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Reunión del Library Commission FECHA de la reunion Thursday, December 17, 2020, 3-4:30 PM La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación Wednesday, December 16 antes del mediodía. Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los miembros del público deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta en 512-974-7420 or sharon.herfurth@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). Se requiere la siguiente información: nombre del orador, número (s) de artículo sobre el que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutral, dirección de correo electrónico (opcional) y un número de teléfono (debe ser el número que se utilizará para llamar …
Director’s Report November 2020 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS HIghlights ____________________________________________________________________ 3 Facilities Services _____________________________________________________________ 6 FY2018 Bond Program Summary ____________________________________________________________ 6 FY2012 Bond Program Summary ____________________________________________________________ 8 Cepeda Branch / Hampton Branch (Site/Civil) Report ___________________________________________ 13 Faulk Building / Austin History Center Monthly Report ___________________________________________ 15 Interior Renovations Monthly Report _________________________________________________________ 17 Roof Replacements & Systems Upgrades Monthly Report________________________________________ 19 Austin History Center _________________________________________________________ 22 Library Priorities _____________________________________________________________ 23 Literacy Advancement ____________________________________________________________________ 23 Digital Inclusion & STEM __________________________________________________________________ 23 Equity, Diversity & Inclusion ________________________________________________________________ 24 Civic and Community Engagement __________________________________________________________ 24 Staff Development _______________________________________________________________________ 24 Workforce and Economic Development _______________________________________________________ 24 APL By the Numbers __________________________________________________________ 25 Virtual Collections Usage October ___________________________________________________________ 25 HIGHLIGHTS Digital Inclusion 3 One of the many things that has become apparent during the pandemic is the still large digital divide that exists in communities across the country – and Austin is no different. The digital divide is the gap between those who have reliable access to the internet, devices to access the internet, and the knowledge to use the devices and information on the internet – and those who don’t. The Austin Public Library has an important role to play in closing the digital divide and staff around the organization have been working diligently to affect change in Austin. Some of those projects include: • Hotspots and laptops/Chromebooks for Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) and Foundation Communities are being deployed to five different sites in early December so that residents can access the internet for school, job opportunities and more. • A CARES Act Grant is providing funding for hotspots for students. The Outreach team is working with Del Valle ISD and charter schools to distribute these hotspots in the coming weeks to students who • A team of staff are developing a digital inclusion strategy for the Library which includes a flexible curriculum for digital literacy training for customers, a bank of resources for instructors, and an need reliable internet access. evaluation plan. • And, hotspots are still available for checkout to APL card holders through our curbside service. COVID-19 Update – Library Book Drops Open & Curbside Service Enhancements Austin Public Library is providing a roadmap for future service changes as they relate to operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The multi-phase approach outlines several possible reopening scenarios, each dependent on factors such as recommendations from county, state and federal health …
Library Commission Meeting Minutes 28 October, 2020 SPECIAL CALLED MEETING 28 October, 2020 THE LIBRARY COMMISSION MINUTES The Library Commission convened in a Special Called Meeting on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 via videoconferencing. Chair Hanna called the Board Meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Chair, Catherine Hanna; Vice Chair, Steven Self; Commission Members Julia Aguilar, Patricia Dabbert, JC Dwyer, Deborah Pardo-Kaplan, Daniella Ramos, and Lily Trieu Board Members Absent: Commission Member Chad Williams Citizen Communication: None 1. Approval of Minutes from the September 30, 2020 Regular Meeting: The minutes of the regular meeting were approved on Commission Member Dabbert’s motion and Vice Chair Self’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commission Member Williams absent. 2. Staff Briefing: Austin Public Library Investigative Audit Report Roosevelt, Weeks, Director of Libraries, gave the briefing. 3. Old Business None 4. New Business: a. Discussion and possible action on meeting schedule for 2021 The 2021 schedule was approved on Commission Member Dabbert’s motion and Commission Member Dwyer’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commission Member Williams absent. b. Discussion and possible action on eliminating non-resident fees for student library cards. A geographic area to be included will be determined, and a draft recommendation from the existing working group will be presented at a future meeting. c. Discussion and possible action on canceling the November 16, 2020 meeting. No action taken. 5. Discussion of Director’s Monthly Report for October 2020 covering programming highlights, facilities, and APL priorities Library Commission Meeting Minutes 28 October, 2020 Director Weeks went over the Library’s phased re-opening plans and talked about APL locations that will be voting sites for the November 2020 election. 6. Future Agenda Items Continuation of discussion on eliminating non-resident fees for student cards Adjournment: Chair Hanna adjourned the meeting at 6:52 p.m. without objection.
LIBRARY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20201217-3a: Support for Equitable Access to Austin Public Library Resources for Students Seconded By: Date: December 17, 2020 Subject: Support for Equitable Access to Austin Public Library Resources for Students Motioned By: Recommendation Give student library cards to every student in districts with Austin addresses. Description of Recommendation to Council Requesting that the Austin City Council do away with non-resident library card fees for students who do not reside in the City of Austin, but who are enrolled in school districts that have some part of their district in the City of Austin. This would include students who live in Lago Vista Independent School District, Lake Travis Independent School District, Manor Independent School District, Pflugerville Independent School District, and Round Rock Independent School District, as well as Harmony Charter Schools. The number of students affected is approximately 52,883. Rationale: The Austin Public Library has a commitment to equity, to assure that all members of the Austin community have equal access to Library services and programs. However, the American Library Association and numerous public library systems around the country have recognized the challenge that economic barriers to access of library materials and services pose. This barrier is especially true for students. In a Resolution passed on January 27, 2019, the American Library Association urged libraries to scrutinize their practices of imposing fines on library patrons and actively move towards eliminating them. On June 22, 2020, this Commission unanimously passed a recommendation that City Council eliminate these late fees. Since October 1, 2018, the Austin Public Library has not charged fees for late returns of children’s materials. While the elimination of late fees on children’s materials is a good step in the right direction, many students in Austin and surrounding areas face another economic barrier to access in the form of the non- resident card fee of $120 annually. Currently, only Austinites living in Austin’s “full purpose” jurisdiction are entitled to receive a library card free of charge. This non-resident fee affects students of families who live in Austin’s extra-territorial jurisdiction as well as those who work in Austin but live in the surrounding areas. The revenue the non-resident cards provides is relatively insignificant. In FY ‘17, the revenue was $101,002 and in FY ’18, it was $135,681. As of September 30, 2020, the Library has 7,099 Non-Resident Youth Cardholders. 1 of 2 Currently, the Austin Public Library provides …
School Partnerships Student Cards December 2020 Library Commission SCHOOL YEAR 2018 2019 2020 CARDS 80,000 10,000 2,000 2021 Efforts Travis County 4 school districts within Travis County are outside of COA’s legal service area Staffed Public Library 1. Pflugerville ISD (26,000) 2. Lake Travis ISD (11,000) 3. Lago Vista ISD (1,500) Council Action ≈ 48,000 students (x $120 NR fee) Manor ISD $1.14M revenue ≈ $5.76M revenue Volunteer-run Library 4. Manor ISD (9,500) Amend fee schedule to allow students enrolled in a school district within Travis County to be exempt from the Non-Resident User Fee.
LIBRARY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20201217-3a: Support for Equitable Access to Austin Public Library Resources for Students Seconded By: Commissioner Trieu Date: December 17, 2020 Subject: Support for Equitable Access to Austin Public Library Resources for Students Motioned By: Commissioner Dabbert Recommendation Give student library cards at no cost to every student in Travis County enrolled in a K-12 educational institution or home school. Description of Recommendation to Council Requesting that the Austin City Council do away with non-resident library card fees for students who do not reside in the City of Austin, but who do reside in Travis County and are enrolled in a K-12 educational institution including home schools. Rationale: The Austin Public Library has a commitment to equity, to assure that all members of the Austin community have equal access to Library services and programs. However, the American Library Association and numerous public library systems around the country have recognized the challenge that economic barriers to access of library materials and services pose. This barrier is especially true for students. In a Resolution passed on January 27, 2019, the American Library Association urged libraries to scrutinize their practices of imposing fines on library patrons and actively move towards eliminating them. On June 22, 2020, this Commission unanimously passed a recommendation that City Council eliminate these late fees. Since October 1, 2018, the Austin Public Library has not charged fees for late returns of children’s materials. While the elimination of late fees on children’s materials is a good step in the right direction, many students in Austin and surrounding areas face another economic barrier to access in the form of the non- resident card fee of $120 annually. Currently, only Austinites living in Austin’s “full purpose” jurisdiction are entitled to receive a library card free of charge. This non-resident fee affects students of families who live in Austin’s extra-territorial jurisdiction as well as those who work in Austin but live in the surrounding areas. Benefits that will be achieved by offering greater access to students far outweigh the potential loss of revenue. The revenue from non-resident youth cards, inclusive of these students was $101,002 in FY ‘17 and $135,681 in FY ’18. Currently, the Austin Public Library provides full-access library cards to all students enrolled in the Austin Independent School District and the Del Valle Independent School District regardless of their home address. As Director of Libraries Roosevelt Weeks said …
Special Meeting of the Library Commission WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2020, 5:30 – 7 PM Library Commission meeting to be held October 28, 2020 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance no later than Tuesday, October 27 by Noon. All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the October 28, 2020 Library Commission Meeting, residents must: •Call or email the board liaison at 512-974-7420 or sharon.herfurth@austintexas.gov no later than noon, Tuesday, October 27. The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to sharon.herfurth@austintexas.gov by Noon on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. This information will be provided to Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Reunión del Library Commission FECHA de la reunion WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2020, 5:30 – 7 PM La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación Tuesday, October 27 antes del mediodía. Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los residentes deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta en 512-974-7420 or sharon.herfurth@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). La información requerida es el nombre del orador, los números de artículo sobre los que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutrales, y un número de teléfono o dirección de correo electrónico. • Una vez que se haya llamado o enviado por correo electrónico una solicitud para hablar al enlace de la junta, los residentes recibirán …
MEETING DATES & TIMES LOCATION 2021 Meeting Schedule for the Library Commission The Library Commission meets monthly 6-:30-8:30 PM Terrazas Branch | 1105 E Cesar Chavez St (3) 6:30-8:30 PM Yarborough Branch | 2200 Hancock Dr (7) 6:30-8:30 PM Old Quarry Branch | 7051 Village Center Dr (10) Monday, January 25 Monday, February 22 Monday, March 22 Monday, April 26 Monday, May 17 Monday, June 28 Monday, July 26 Monday, August 23 Monday, September 27 Monday, October 25 Monday, November 15 Monday, December 14 6:30-8:30 PM Central Library | 710 W Cesar Chavez St 6:30-8:30 PM Little Walnut Branch | 835 W Rundberg Ln (4) 6:30-8:30 PM Twin Oaks Branch | 1800 S 5th St (9) 6:30-8:30 PM Hampton Branch | 5125 Convict Hill Rd (8) 6:30-8:30 PM Central Library | 710 W Cesar Chavez St 6:30-8:30 PM Manchaca Road Branch | 5500 Manchaca Rd (5) 6:30-8:30 PM Southeast Branch | 5803 Nuckols Crossing Rd (2) 6:30-8:30 PM Windsor Park Branch | 5833 Westminster Dr (1) 6:30-8:30 PM Central Library | 710 W Cesar Chavez St _______________________________________ The purpose of the board is make recommendations to the City Council on matters relating to the establishment, maintenance, and operation of the public libraries. § 2-1-150
Library Commission Meeting Minutes 30 September, 2020 REGULAR MEETING 30 September, 2020 THE LIBRARY COMMISSION MINUTES The Library Commission convened in a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 via videoconferencing. Chair Hanna called the Board Meeting to order at 3:06 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Chair, Catherine Hanna; Vice Chair, Steven Self; Commission Members Julia Aguilar, Patricia Dabbert, JC Dwyer, Deborah Pardo-Kaplan, Daniella Ramos; and Lily Trieu Board Members Absent: Commission Member Chad Williams Citizen Communication: None 1. Approval of Minutes from the June 22, 2020 Regular Meeting: The minutes of the regular meeting were approved on Vice Chair Self’s motion and Commission Member Pardo-Kaplan’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commission Member Williams absent. 2. Staff Briefing: Austin Public Library FY21 Budget Update Wendy Harrison, Financial Manager II, presented the Austin Public Library FY21 approved budget update. Staff Briefing: Curbside Services Patti Fowler, Division Manager, Central Library, gave the briefing. 3. Old Business None 4. New Business: None 5. Discussion of Director’s Monthly Report for September 2020 covering programming highlights, facilities, and APL priorities Director Weeks went over the Library’s phased re-opening plans, APL staff helping with emergency operations, and voting at APL locations; and he introduced APL’s new Assistant Director for Public Services, Dana Eure. Library Commission Meeting Minutes 30 September, 2020 6. Future Agenda Items Non-Resident Library Cards for Students – possible fee elimination Adjournment: Chair Hanna adjourned the meeting at 4:06, p.m. without objection.
Thursday, October 22, 2020 As September 30, 2020, the Library has 7,099 Non-Resident Youth Cardholders. 5-Year Trend New NR Youth Cards Created Annually FY 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 11 42 84 52 62 Thursday, October 22, 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020
