Santa Fe Public Library Board

LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES September 16, 2025 5:45 PM IN-PERSON MEETING 1. CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to Order at 5:52 PM 2. ROLL CALL Members Present: Member Meghan McGarrity Member William Karnoscak Member Tamina Painter Member Rose Cowan Member Aurora Hvidsten Library Director Margaret Neill 3. Members Excused: Member Mark Lupinetti Member Adele Oliveira 4. Others Attending: Therese Martinez, Project Administrator, Clerk 5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA a. Tuesday, September 16, 2025. Meghan McGarrity wanted to modify the Agenda, adding one point (Old Business, 9.f.) the County contribution (County MOU) and its current status. William Karnoscak made a motion to approve the Agenda as amended. Tamina Painter seconded the motion. Unanimous approval. 6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Approval of August 19, 2025, Minutes. Tamina Painter made the motion to approve the Minutes. Rose Cowan seconded the motion. Unanimous approval. b. PUBLIC COMMENT None. 7. DIRECTOR'S REPORT LIBRARY BOARD MEETING September 16, 2025 Page 1 of 4  LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES September 16, 2025 5:45 PM IN-PERSON MEETING a. Margaret Neill, Library Director, mmneill@santafenm.gov 505-955-6788. Margaret Neill stated that the Libraries had one resignation at the Southside Branch. The LOE (List of Eligible applicants) is still active so the list can be used to hire a replacement. Discussion of possible internal candidates for the full-time Library Technician position. There are no budget updates. She is awaiting quotes for security cameras for Main and Southside. She is hoping to get these installed this Fall or in the Spring. They have received concerns on the overgrowth of weeds at the three branches. Discussion on the responsibility of the maintenance of the grounds of the libraries and the exterior appearance. Discussion of Friends funding and insured contractors provided by the City. Discussion of using youth for weeding and possible liability. ADA improvements and parking lot repairs for La Farge and Southside are in the planning phase. Programming for August was excellent. It included a program with a local author who did a children's book on Zozobra. Teens did murals on the bookdrops at La Farge. They have been having really good programming at the State Penitentiary. The residents participated in the Summer Reading. They provided great feedback on the books they were reading. There was also a David Policansky event on the Historic Catholic Churches of New Mexico. In terms of policy, and what the Library Advisory Board can do, the mandate states: "The board is charged with recommending, in consultation with the head librarian and staff, policies on the use of the library, book selection, acceptance of gifts and bequests, and such other matters as a public library board may properly recommend policy on." The Board can start reviewing and revising policies in draft form to be submitted later. Discussion on the mandate. Circulation was pretty steady in August. Discussion on anticipated increase in circulation, reference transaction tracking, foot traffic entering the libraries, the goal of Technical Services to balance weeding with new materials. New copiers are now in use and the new website is being developed. Discussion on Google usage and the new Library website being ready by the end of the year. 7. PRESIDENT'S REPORT a. Mark Lupinetti, President of the Library Advisory Board, fmlupinetti@hotmail.com None 8. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion of the Results of the Mission, Vision, and Values survey-Meghan McGarrity. Meghan McGarrity stated they received 27 responses. The results in the diagrams and spreadsheet are the favorites. There was very good support for the Mission Statement: “Promoting Equity and Community through Information, Resources, and Programs.”. The Vision Statement that was most popular was the very first one: “Santa LIBRARY BOARD MEETING September 16, 2025 Page 2 of 4  LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES September 16, 2025 5:45 PM IN-PERSON MEETING Fe Public Library is the welcoming heart of our community, where all come to learn, discover, create, and connect.” The Equity Value Statement is: “We are committed to providing access to information, to any person, with the highest degree of professionalism, no matter who it is they are or what they seek.” The Values should be Equity, Access, and Intellectual Freedom. For Access she received two statements that got the same number of votes but she believes the average score was higher for one of them. Discussion on the votes and percentages and wording. Agreement on Access statement: “Everyone is welcome and safe at the Library.” Intellectual Freedom Value Statement: “All patrons have the right to privacy, confidentiality, and intellectual freedom without fear of censorship. or reprisal.” Discussion on the wording of Intellectual Freedom and Equity statements. Request for voting on the statements. William Karnoscak made the motion to accept the Statements with the revisions in the wording. Tamina Painter seconded the motion. Unanimous approval. Note: Community was not included as a value. E%RDUG0HPEHU8SGDWH Rose Cowan is leaving the Library Advisory Board; she is moving away. Refreshments were served for her departure. Discussion of her future plans. Presentation of a thank you card. Discussion on advertisement for a new member. Margaret Neill stated that the City Clerk has been contacted and the process will be started, then made a request for an email resignation for the record. Rose’s position is a City position and will have to be filled by a City resident. c. Friends of the Library Report-Tamina Painter Tamina Painter stated that the Friends have a continuing commitment to the Library being provided for. Volunteers are very important. There are no major new changes. The event (storytelling) that the Friends had at Collected Works was fantastic. The presenters were amazing. It brought a lot of attention to the Friends and was very well attended. 9. OLD BUSINESS a. Update on the Library’s Website-Library Advisory Board Page Contents Margaret Neill stated that she believed they had received everyone’s bios in response to the prompts. They do not have everyone’s pictures yet. There will be direct links to the Library Advisory Board. The meeting calendar and the Board Member terms will also be on the website. b. Follow up on library events’ (poetry event) censorship of political content – Library Rules Discussion on the lack of specifics. There are multiple poetry programs offered by the three library branches. Staff is not sure which event this occurred LIBRARY BOARD MEETING September 16, 2025 Page 3 of 4  LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES September 16, 2025 5:45 PM IN-PERSON MEETING at. A possibility is a program that was scheduled at La Farge. There were very specific writing prompts that were given for everyone that registered. There was one individual that submitted something that was off topic and politically sensitive. The facilitator of the program, who was not a staff person, requested that the Library Staff step in and say something. Margaret Neill has had a conversation with the Managers that if a presenter has an issue with his/her program or participants, they are the ones who have to talk to the individual, and not involve library staff. It was not censorship but specific writing prompts that were not followed. The program was later canceled by the facilitator. c. Update on Board Members’ reappointment for another term. (Mark Lupinetti and Adele Oliveira) Margaret Neill stated that both Board Member have been officially approved and they have gotten their letter for the City Clerk. d. Update on the status of the Friends’ MOU/GOA (Memorandum of Understanding/General Operating Agreement). Margaret Neill stated that the (City) attorney is reviewing the Agreement. Discussion on the disposal/discard of materials, and when the Agreement will be completed. e. Update on the Library Collection Development Policy revisions. Margaret stated she and Raquel Martinez (Collection Development Manager) are cleaning it up and making it clear. The revised Policy will presented for review at next month's meeting. f. (Added) County MOU update. Margaret Neill said she was asked to relay to the Board that nothing has been determined. If the Members have questions, they can contact Maria Sanchez- Tucker or Henri Hammond-Paul. They are also asked not to do any advocacy without working with Maria and Henri and City Staff. Discussion on advocacy, the Board Charter, policies, the County MOU, legislation, and the Friends being a non-profit. Discussion on inviting Maria and Henri on discussion of various subjects/topics. 10. NEXT MEETING: a. Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at the Main Library at 5:45 PM. 11. ADJOURN: Tamina Painter made the motion to Adjourn. Aurora Hvidsten seconded the Motion. Unanimous approval. Meeting adjourned at 6:58 PM. ________________________________ ________________________________ Liaison/Clerk Chair LIBRARY BOARD MEETING September 16, 2025 Page 4 of 4