W Tali Hairston: Speaker off on my phone.
W Tali Hairston: OK.
W Tali Hairston: Amy, you can be begin recording.
It's recording.
W Tali Hairston: Thank you. It is now at 11:00 AM. We have a quorum and I'd like to call the
W Tali Hairston: regular meeting of the Seattle Public Library Board of Trustees to order.
W Tali Hairston: Our first order of business is to approve our agenda.
W Tali Hairston: If there are no changes, may I hear a motion to approve the agenda
Yazmin Mehdi: So moved.
Faith Pettis: 2nd.
W Tali Hairston: All in favor.
W Tali Hairston: Post.
Yazmin Mehdi: Hi.
W Tali Hairston: All right, next we do have, as noted and in our agenda at the top of
W Tali Hairston: the agenda, the library board does accept public
W Tali Hairston: comments by e-mail in person at the Central Library and in this remote
W Tali Hairston: meeting. Do we have any public comments so far?
There is no one present at the Central Library.
No one has signed up in Q& A and you did not receive public comment
by e-mail this month.
W Tali Hairston: Awesome. Thank you, Amy. We have a consent agenda with minutes
W Tali Hairston: from our September meeting and the August and September finance reports.
W Tali Hairston: We've went over those in our last meeting, if you recall. If there are no changes,
W Tali Hairston: may I hear a motion to approve these?
W Tali Hairston: The consent agenda has published, which includes, as I said,
W Tali Hairston: the regular library board meeting notes, but also the August and September 2025
W Tali Hairston: finance report. They have them.
Faith Pettis: So moved.
Faith Pettis: OK.
W Tali Hairston: moved and seconded all in favor.
W Tali Hairston: Raise your hand, I...
Yazmin Mehdi: I will abstain from approving the minutes of the last meeting since I wasn't there,
Yazmin Mehdi: but I so.
W Tali Hairston: We got you.
W Tali Hairston: Thank you very much, Jasmine. Oh, ohh any opposed? And one abstention.
W Tali Hairston: Okay, thank you. Tom, we are ready for you,
W Tali Hairston: our Chief Librarian report.
Tom Fay: Great. Thank you all and welcome to the end of
Tom Fay: October as we move into November and voting season. So a lot in front of us.
Tom Fay: Past several weeks have been busy, quite a few speaking engagements in
Tom Fay: October, especially around banned books.
Tom Fay: Week on the 27th I was participating in King County Library Systems Friends and
Tom Fay: Volunteer Appreciation event out in Issaquah.
Tom Fay: I joined Executive Director Heidi Daniel and.
Tom Fay: Their Executive Director of their foundation, Lisa Yamasaki,
Tom Fay: on a keynote panel about the importance of advocacy in libraries and the
Tom Fay: important role that friends groups can play in that.
Tom Fay: On the 3rd, I spoke at the Foundation Stewardship
Tom Fay: event, History Unveiled at Central Library.
Tom Fay: The event partnered with SPL Special Collections to showcase the collections
Tom Fay: for more than 200 guests, including a discussion on why Special
Tom Fay: Collections matter to SPL.
Tom Fay: And how SPL reveals, promotes and preserves local history that
Tom Fay: Sean's Excuse me, Representative Sean Scott.
Tom Fay: Was present as well on the panel and commute Berger.
Tom Fay: We also had our own Sean Lanksbury present the information on a lot of the
Tom Fay: work that the Special Collection does to pull out all the details and information
Tom Fay: on something just like a photo and how much.
Tom Fay: Work goes into that, but it was very interesting presentation
Tom Fay: and on the 6th I spoke at Banned Books Week program at the Folio.
Tom Fay: This it was the Seattle Anthonyum entitled Operating the Supporting
Tom Fay: Libraries during Turbulent Times.
Tom Fay: At that event, we also had my colleague from Seattle
Tom Fay: Public Schools, Library Services and Instructional
Tom Fay: Materials, Darcy Brixey.
Tom Fay: We also had Seattle Anthony Ams Librarian Lillian Dabney moderating the discussion
Tom Fay: and really talked about all the discussion,
Tom Fay: the challenges that are out there right now and the opportunities that both
Tom Fay: public libraries and school libraries face,
Tom Fay: especially with some of the political.
Tom Fay: Discord going on at this time, and on the 12th I again collaborated with
Tom Fay: the Folio for another banned Books Week program at the Central Library.
Tom Fay: In this particular case, I joined Seattle's Anthonyum Librarian,
Tom Fay: Bully and Dabney.
Tom Fay: And the director of the National Library of Ireland, Doctor Audrey Witty,
Tom Fay: and a panel on the future of libraries, where really the discussion centered on
Tom Fay: providing equitable access to information and fostering informed citizenry.
Tom Fay: Great chance to meet a colleague from Ireland and on the 14th I participated in
Tom Fay: an open opening panel for the Digital Public Libraries of America Forum on A I
Tom Fay: in Libraries and Archives. This was held at the University of
Tom Fay: Washington.
Tom Fay: Cleveland Public Library Director Felton Thomas,
Tom Fay: the Coalition for Networked Information Executive Director Kate Sward and I
Tom Fay: opened the session with the panel on A I and Libraries and it was moderated by the
Tom Fay: UW I School Assistant Professor Ben Lee, who has been a.
Tom Fay: Vocal proponent of AI, but also also the ethical use of AI in
Tom Fay: our society. So we had a great discussion. We had several staff members and team
Tom Fay: members there as well. So I thought we SPL.
Tom Fay: Had good representation in starting to lead topics about how public libraries
Tom Fay: can be involved in AI and how it's ethically used as we continue to develop
Tom Fay: those technologies.
Tom Fay: And then on the 17th, following up on another presentation,
Tom Fay: Rick Sheraton, who is our Director of Institutional and
Tom Fay: Strategic Advancement and Rob Gannon, our Administrative Services Director,
Tom Fay: provided a library levy briefing to Mayor Harrell.
Tom Fay: To share a high-level overview of proposed 2026 library levy planning and
Tom Fay: we laying out laying out the needs and challenges and opportunities for SPL
Tom Fay: around operations and capital investments.
Tom Fay: And finally, on October 20th, Community Partnerships and Government
Tom Fay: Relations Manager Kiersten Nelson and I joined Washington State Senator Emily
Tom Fay: Alvarado and Washington State Representative Julie Reed.
Tom Fay: Meeting at the Central Library to discuss legislation mirroring Connecticut Senate
Tom Fay: Bill 1234, first in the nation law aimed at
Tom Fay: reshaping how public and school library libraries license e-books and digital
Tom Fay: audio books. So some really good discussions there.
Tom Fay: About the possibilities of entertaining that at the legislature in 2026,
Tom Fay: or at least introducing the concept. So more on that as we progress into
Tom Fay: January and we'll keep you up to date on that.
Tom Fay: And that is the report for October, a busy month.
W Tali Hairston: Any questions for Tom?
W Tali Hairston: Go for it.
Yazmin Mehdi: Not a question, but just a note that the presentation
W Tali Hairston: Mhm.
Yazmin Mehdi: that Tom that you all made to the City Council on sorry it was to the mayor on
Yazmin Mehdi: the levy was so well received based on what we heard from from the mayor so.
W Tali Hairston: It.
Yazmin Mehdi: Great job to you and your team for that.
Tom Fay: Thanks. There's a lot of people behind the two
Tom Fay: gentlemen I mentioned supporting us and providing and developing all of that.
Tom Fay: So it's been a a very big team effort to get there.
W Tali Hairston: And that might be a a good place to insert that Yasmin and I did meet with
W Tali Hairston: with Mayor Harrell on the 21st of October for for just 30 minutes.
W Tali Hairston: And if you'd like to know kind of well, I'll I'll send out an e-mail to
W Tali Hairston: individually each board member just to kind of give you a quick synopsis.
W Tali Hairston: Of that conversation, but we hope that it is.
W Tali Hairston: It becomes a norm for us as a board to greet the mayor,
W Tali Hairston: have some conversation and continue to build that relationship given our unique
W Tali Hairston: position within.
W Tali Hairston: The system within the city and its systems.
W Tali Hairston: Anything else for Tom?
W Tali Hairston: All right, let's jump to the systems report then.
Tom Fay: So this is the the time of year that we ask for updates from our Friends of the
Tom Fay: Library and our Foundation Library Foundation. And today, first up,
Tom Fay: we have President Angel Sauls of the Friends of the Seattle Public Library.
Tom Fay: Angel, welcome.
Angel Sauls: Hello everyone. It's great to be with you. Yay, Library in the morning. Love it.
W Tali Hairston: Yes.
Angel Sauls: So the Friends of the Seattle Public Library's mission is to elevate the
W Tali Hairston: Yeah.
Angel Sauls: library and inspire the love of reading in our communities.
Angel Sauls: We love this mission and the work we do, and it keeps us very busy, so.
Angel Sauls: Hold on to your hats. I'm about to give you a report of
Angel Sauls: busyness. Of course, it's no comparison to to Tom's. So first,
Angel Sauls: I have so much gratitude for Chief Librarian Tom Fay, his team,
Angel Sauls: and SPL staff. It's our honor to support them and see
Angel Sauls: the library flourish under Tom's invaluable leadership.
Angel Sauls: Every one of you is valuable. Equally important,
Angel Sauls: I am so grateful for friends, staff, our contract workers,
Angel Sauls: board members and volunteers who are truly exceptional and allow us to
Angel Sauls: advocate with reverence and with joy.
Angel Sauls: It's my honor to advocate with such amazing colleagues. This includes,
Angel Sauls: of course, our friends on the SPL Library Board of
Angel Sauls: Trustees, Tali, Yasmin, Carmen, Ron, Faith, and at the Foundation,
Angel Sauls: especially CEO Brian, Board President Sarah and Senior Director
Angel Sauls: of Communications and Advocacy.
Angel Sauls: see Will Lively O'Neill. The generous support of the foundation
Angel Sauls: and their annual grant allows us to achieve our programming objectives.
Angel Sauls: Thank you so much. Some of our 2025 accomplishments include
Angel Sauls: under advocacy and direct support of the library. This year, the Friends supported
Angel Sauls: Direct outreach to voters and local and regional government through involvement
Angel Sauls: in last year's winter capital visit, being a proud member of the Joint
Angel Sauls: Advocacy Board through the provision of letters to council members,
Angel Sauls: attending meetings at town halls and participation.
Angel Sauls: And the Public Library Action Network. It's our annual pleasure, of course,
Angel Sauls: to make a small grant in support to the library's popular Summer Book Bingo
Angel Sauls: program, which we love, and provide funding to support the
Angel Sauls: library in purchasing and dispersing service items, including USB drives.
Angel Sauls: As needed. Additionally, we have had fun providing gifts to the
Angel Sauls: various departments of the Munchie variety,
Angel Sauls: this year's recipients being Security, HR, Janitorial Services, Mobile Services,
Angel Sauls: IT and the Georgetown MOC.
Angel Sauls: So under our community book donations, our book donation program continues to be
Angel Sauls: a tender example of our collective community and joint love of reading.
Angel Sauls: Please note that our Georgetown location receives an unverifiable and overwhelming
Angel Sauls: number of donated books.
Angel Sauls: Last year and of course this year, if you ever go in and you see Lisa,
Angel Sauls: she has those towers and books surrounding her. It's very scary.
Angel Sauls: They never land on her. Thank God. We received 26,
Angel Sauls: 938 books at our friend shop and with these combined locations and at events we
Angel Sauls: sold 29.
Angel Sauls: 3307 books. In turn, we recirculated 33066 books back to
Angel Sauls: community members through many organizations.
Angel Sauls: So far this year, because that was last year,
Angel Sauls: their friends have accepted over 19, 656 donated books. In turn,
Angel Sauls: with a nod to our large supply of books due to the untracked donations at our
Angel Sauls: Georgetown location, we have recirculated 47,265.
Angel Sauls: Books back into the community through organizations like Ballard Food Bank,
Angel Sauls: Book to Prisoners, Little Free Libraries in general and
Angel Sauls: focused on classic and grief literature, Senior Center's Westside Baby,
Angel Sauls: The Book Project, the Seattle King County Health Clinic and
Angel Sauls: the Seattle VA.
Angel Sauls: Medical Center as well. New this year are two little free
Angel Sauls: libraries at Seatac, soon to be 4. Look for them when you're flying out or
Angel Sauls: in town. Georgetown STEAM Plant, Town Hall,
Angel Sauls: other friends groups in King County and a love note.
Angel Sauls: Special love note to our senior centers who have we've noticed.
Angel Sauls: An increased interest in romance.
Angel Sauls: We've sold an additional 29, 189 books through the Friendshop and our
Angel Sauls: Georgetown Bookshop. If you are doing your math,
Angel Sauls: which I don't do, we sell more books than we receive
Angel Sauls: because it's noted we have such a supply coming into our Georgetown location.
Angel Sauls: So if you have books, please let us know.
Angel Sauls: Under our Books for Teachers program, coming up on our 17th year of
Angel Sauls: participating in the Renee B Fisher Books for Teachers grant,
Angel Sauls: we conduct events throughout the year to connect Title One school teachers with
Angel Sauls: free books for their classrooms.
Angel Sauls: This program was expanded this year to include multilingual learner or special
Angel Sauls: education classrooms. So far in 2025, we have provided 130 teachers with 50
Angel Sauls: sorry at 51 schools who have been able to take 8646 books back to their.
Angel Sauls: Classrooms. This is on top of the 47, 265 books put back into the community.
Angel Sauls: And since 2009, we've connected over 2000 teachers with
Angel Sauls: more than 152,863 books.
Angel Sauls: All right, we're getting there. We're getting there. Altotes.
Angel Sauls: One of our most successful ongoing community programs is our first library
Angel Sauls: card Altotes. So readers 6 and under getting their
Angel Sauls: first library cards receive cloth bags to leg home their first stash of library
Angel Sauls: books. Over the past year, we have provided.
Angel Sauls: 3075 totes to new library card holders, and we've done so for more than 34,
Angel Sauls: 933 little readers since 2015.
Angel Sauls: Under Board and governance updates, this year we delved deeply into strategic
Angel Sauls: planning work to put us in alignment with the library's plan,
Angel Sauls: our goal being to identify our organization's strategic capabilities
Angel Sauls: while embracing our mission-driven work.
Angel Sauls: We received useful feedback from partners and are happy to share our six focus
Angel Sauls: areas with you today. For now, through 2028,
Angel Sauls: we want to focus on strengthening advocacy and partnerships,
Angel Sauls: expand community engagement through signature offerings and events.
Angel Sauls: Deepen literacy and school support, strengthen member and communication
Angel Sauls: infrastructure, cultivate a strong, inclusive board and volunteer culture,
Angel Sauls: and finally grow our brand visibility and clarify our identity.
Angel Sauls: Our strategic plan document will be shared on our website soon and
Angel Sauls: additionally we are updating our.
Angel Sauls: Board and staff manuals and have created a friend's historical video which will be
Angel Sauls: available shortly.
Angel Sauls: For our business updates, a massive thanks to our favorite staff.
Angel Sauls: Of course you all know Lisa, Nancy, Sue, may not know Emily,
Angel Sauls: very valuable Julia and Yasmine, Jasmine rather,
Angel Sauls: who is our newest member and our many Friendshop volunteers.
Angel Sauls: Due to their efforts and our offerings at our locations,
Angel Sauls: our sales continue to thrive and exceed our projections.
Angel Sauls: Our product selections are expanding both in store and online.
Angel Sauls: This summer we introduced a selection of print on demand apparel. I'm wearing one.
Angel Sauls: Very good. Love it. Otherwise I wouldn't be wearing a hoodie
Angel Sauls: for this event and you can visit our website for friends and library items.
Angel Sauls: A special shout out to Helen Tapping of SPL,
Angel Sauls: the Marketing and Online Services Director for their assistance.
Angel Sauls: The bigger Georgetown space, some of you have been there as intended,
Angel Sauls: has provided room for social events, more space for books for teachers,
Angel Sauls: launchpad for Georgetown artist displays and continued sales.
Angel Sauls: We maintain our excellent partnerships with Collin Books and Freeway Park Book
Angel Sauls: Carts.
Angel Sauls: Though we focused more on community connections,
Angel Sauls: we had a few pop-up book sale events in library branches this year,
Angel Sauls: and in December we will once again have a booth at the Gates Foundation Discovery
Angel Sauls: Center Holiday Marketplace on December 5th and 6th.
Angel Sauls: We are excited to continue expanding our offerings and outreach and we'll announce
Angel Sauls: future pop-ups, events, community collaborations as well through
Angel Sauls: our newsletters and social media.
Angel Sauls: All right, under volunteers since 20 Nope. Since 1941,
Angel Sauls: our community has stalwartly volunteered to support our beloved library.
Tom Fay: Yes.
Angel Sauls: More than 60 volunteers contributed 3900 hours this year,
Angel Sauls: allowing us to surpass many of our goals.
Angel Sauls: Volunteers who sold gifts and over 30, 000 books to volunteers and local
Angel Sauls: customers accepted and sorted over 19, 000 book donations at our friend shops,
Angel Sauls: not Georgetown. Prepared over 47, 000 books to share with the community.
Angel Sauls: Stuffed more than 5000 owl totes for new.
Angel Sauls: Little cardholders and organized over 8600 books for books for teachers and
Angel Sauls: completed of course a myriad of retail related tasks that have helped us with
Angel Sauls: our success. We would be lost without our volunteers
Angel Sauls: and we're so grateful for them.
Angel Sauls: We'll recognize 2 special volunteers at our annual meeting with the designation
Angel Sauls: of Volunteer of the Year Award.
Angel Sauls: Community Outreach This year, the Friends participated in a number of
Angel Sauls: community events, some in collaboration with our Friends
Angel Sauls: from the Foundation. To name a few, we were proud to donate books at Town
Angel Sauls: Hall as a part of their lecture series for Armoire Clothing Rental Company for
Angel Sauls: their teacher appreciation gathering.
Angel Sauls: At the Finney Wood Garage Sale with Rainbow City Performing Arts Group at
Angel Sauls: their Benaroya Hall and Central Library performances at the North African
Angel Sauls: American Museum for the Juneteenth Celebration at the Lively Capitol Hill
Angel Sauls: Pride Festival.
Angel Sauls: At Columbia City and Lake City Farmers Markets in Rainier Valley Food Bank at
Angel Sauls: their Community Center. It was wonderful to give away dozens of
Angel Sauls: boxes of books and to see our friends and community members stop by.
Angel Sauls: We made further connections with SPL and Book Lovers at the Friends of the
Angel Sauls: Waterfront Park opening and our usual library.
Angel Sauls: Pop-ups handing out many, many tri-branded totes along the way.
Angel Sauls: Our November 2025 Annual Meeting webinar will mark both the start of the New Year
Angel Sauls: for the Friends of the Seattle Public Library as well as the beginning of steps
Angel Sauls: of bringing 2025 to a close. We are pleased to host author Emma Patty
Angel Sauls: as our guest speaker.
Angel Sauls: And invite you all to come and join us to review 2024 and get some highlights of
Angel Sauls: 2025, although you've gotten many of them today.
Angel Sauls: That is going to be on November 1st, 9:30 AM to 11 and you can RSVP on our
Angel Sauls: website if you are open to joining us.
Angel Sauls: I am humbled to have been in the role of the Friends Board President for the last
Angel Sauls: two years, and it's been my pleasure to advocate
Angel Sauls: alongside many amazing friends for the Seattle Public Library and our community.
Angel Sauls: I am honored to pass the reins of the Board President to Jennifer Lowe for the
Angel Sauls: coming year. Jennifer is an absolute force with.
Angel Sauls: With boundless energy and an analytical mindset,
Angel Sauls: who I know will further our mission in support of the library in the most
Angel Sauls: brilliant ways. She is an amazing resource,
Angel Sauls: a stalwart advocate, and a true friend of the library.
Angel Sauls: Thanks in advance for your work, Jennifer.
Angel Sauls: Thanks again for listening to this full and robust report.
Angel Sauls: I'm happy to take any questions either now or offline. Thank you so much.
Angel Sauls: Yazmin.
Yazmin Mehdi: Angel, I as the Board's liaison to the Friends,
Yazmin Mehdi: I would just like to thank you profusely for your leadership.
Tom Fay: OK.
Yazmin Mehdi: The last you've been president two years, I believe,
Yazmin Mehdi: and you've done a remarkable job with.
Yazmin Mehdi: Such a beautiful sort of viewpoint. Such a happy you lead from such a happy
Yazmin Mehdi: place and attending your meetings has always been a joy for me.
Yazmin Mehdi: I think it goes without saying.
Yazmin Mehdi: That the Friends have done a remarkable job of, you know,
Yazmin Mehdi: promoting reading and literacy and the importance of libraries in our community
Yazmin Mehdi: in so many ways and at so many events. Just the fact that you've recirculated 47,
Yazmin Mehdi: 000 books.
Yazmin Mehdi: Is remarkable. It's recycling. It's getting people to read.
Yazmin Mehdi: It's connecting people with books that they might not otherwise find. Because,
Yazmin Mehdi: as all librarians know, you know, presenting a set of books for people to
Yazmin Mehdi: look at involves curation.
Yazmin Mehdi: It involves thought and the friends do a really wonderful job.
Yazmin Mehdi: Lisa does a great job of of helping people find books.
Yazmin Mehdi: So I'm really happy to have Jennifer be the new president,
Yazmin Mehdi: but I will miss working with you as president, although I.
Yazmin Mehdi: We'll look forward to seeing you at the meetings in the future.
Yazmin Mehdi: Thank you for everything you've done.
Angel Sauls: you so much. Thank you.
W Tali Hairston: Angel Yazmin, what she said. That's what I was going to say.
W Tali Hairston: So thank you. You've you're just a tremendous leader
Angel Sauls: Mhm.
W Tali Hairston: and it's been a great time. It's been great working with you.
W Tali Hairston: You've had a great time. Yeah. Thank you so much.
Angel Sauls: Thank you.
Tom Fay: Yeah, I oh, face.
Faith Pettis: I was just going to say we'll miss your smiling face and the reports that you
Faith Pettis: give and Yasmine said it so well. You you bring it with a you come from a
Faith Pettis: place of happiness and it really shows. So thank you for that and I just love.
Faith Pettis: The anecdotes you were telling about the different things you were doing,
Faith Pettis: the tote bags for the new library card holders and munchies for the staff.
Faith Pettis: It is all just so wonderful. Really appreciate all that you've done
Faith Pettis: and thank you.
Angel Sauls: Thank you.
Tom Fay: I will say that I hope to one day in my life have the same passionate,
W Tali Hairston: This is.
Tom Fay: positive leadership skills that Angel has. She truly is a joy to work with as a
Tom Fay: partner in leadership, and I know I'll see her.
Tom Fay: As we meet over the next years, I don't think she's abandoning us.
Tom Fay: She's committed to this and I do look forward to Jennifer coming on his on
Tom Fay: board as well. I think Angel and Jennifer really have
Tom Fay: done a lot of good work, transition work.
Tom Fay: And I think that we're going to see the same positive energy from Jennifer.
Tom Fay: So I'm, I'm excited that Angel can take a little
Tom Fay: bit maybe of a breath as she steps away. She puts everything into it,
Tom Fay: I think as you can see and I know Jennifer will as well.
Tom Fay: So looking forward to Jennifer's time coming up.
Tom Fay: here. Thank you, Angel.
Angel Sauls: Thank you so much. It's been a pleasure to be with all of
Angel Sauls: you. Thank you so much.
Tom Fay: All right. Next we have our Library Foundation
Tom Fay: update. Sarah Stanley, the president of the Seattle Public
Tom Fay: Library Foundation Board, is joining us today. Sarah, welcome.
Tom Fay: Are you there, Sarah?
Yazmin Mehdi: She's she's definitely there. Does she need to be promoted?
Tom Fay: See.
Tom Fay: She, I think she has been promoted. Sarah, are you? Can you hear us?
Sarah Stanley: I can hear you, but I can't see you. Can you hear me? Can you see me?
Tom Fay: We can't hear you. We can hear you, but we cannot see you.
Sarah Stanley: OK, let me see. Can you see me now?
Tom Fay: Yes.
W Tali Hairston: Air.
Sarah Stanley: Yay. OK. Sorry about that. It took a little while. OK,
Sarah Stanley: so in case you can't read this, this is the Seattle Public Library on it.
Sarah Stanley: This cap. Welcome, everybody. Thank you. Thank you for inviting me to join you
Sarah Stanley: today. As you know, my name's Sarah Stanley, President.
Sarah Stanley: of the Seattle Public Library Foundation Board.
Sarah Stanley: 2025 is my second and final year as president.
Sarah Stanley: And umm I support the library because it makes an impact on people's lives and I
Sarah Stanley: can illustrate that. So this hat, I kind of started wearing regular
Sarah Stanley: This year, going about Seattle, north-south, east, West,
Sarah Stanley: everywhere I went and I I kind of didn't make any connection,
Sarah Stanley: but I noticed that people were smiling at me and just getting a lot of positive
Sarah Stanley: feelings from people as I walked about town.
Sarah Stanley: And I actually even remarked to my husband.
Sarah Stanley: Wow. You know, like everybody just seems so friendly.
Sarah Stanley: And then I finally realized it's the hat. Um, it's.
Sarah Stanley: Everyone had such a great and positive response to the hat, and to me,
Sarah Stanley: that's such a wonderful illustration of the impact that the library has in our
Sarah Stanley: community, and I feel so proud to be part of an
Sarah Stanley: institution that can have that impact.
Sarah Stanley: And its community. So that's why I support the library.
Sarah Stanley: So our mission is to inspire the community's philanthropic support of
Sarah Stanley: advocacy for and pride in the library. And our goal is to help advance the
Sarah Stanley: library's vision where knowledge flourishes people.
Sarah Stanley: Inspiration and together we create a sense of belonging. So how do we do this?
Sarah Stanley: Well, we invest. So the monies we raise support 50 library
Sarah Stanley: programs that are focused on literacy, enrichment and empowerment,
Sarah Stanley: which are patrons we know love dearly, and our support goes.
Sarah Stanley: Above and beyond what public funding provides,
Sarah Stanley: we cultivate relationships to bring the funding, the resources,
Sarah Stanley: and the opportunities to SPL. We advocate as an external voice for SPL
Sarah Stanley: to let our policymakers know that we vote, we do, and we love our library.
Sarah Stanley: We also build pride around our library through the events and outreach that we
Sarah Stanley: do in every neighborhood. So my goals as president for 2024 and
Sarah Stanley: 2025 were to execute and capitalize on a successful transition and I think we can.
Sarah Stanley: Confidently say that's been done. Brian Lawrence's leadership and
Sarah Stanley: foundation's community ambassador is respected by boards, staff,
Sarah Stanley: community leaders, donors, as well as library patrons.
Sarah Stanley: Another goal was to build our advocacy arm to prepare for the potential 2026
Sarah Stanley: levy and we are on target for that. We have planned for and work to ensure
Sarah Stanley: that we have the right partnerships in place to help spread the word.
Sarah Stanley: We've made sure that our board is clear on what their role is.
Sarah Stanley: We've had information sessions at our board meetings to do that and I am very
Sarah Stanley: confident that we are ready to begin the work next year.
Sarah Stanley: Next was planning for and developing A strategic plan.
Sarah Stanley: So we anticipate approval for.
Sarah Stanley: Our strategic plan in January 2026. It's been a busy year.
Sarah Stanley: Um We have been working in partnership with the Board and the CEO to implement
Sarah Stanley: the vision and ambition that can fulfill this mission for five years.
Sarah Stanley: So we started with our own February retreat for the Board to get clarity.
Sarah Stanley: Clarity on possible priorities. We began work in May with our consultant,
Sarah Stanley: Laura Pierce, and we formed a committee to create and
Sarah Stanley: focus on this work. We had constituent listening sessions
Sarah Stanley: with SPL leadership and management teams, SPL.
Sarah Stanley: SDs, friends, emeritus board, foundation staff, donors,
Sarah Stanley: corporate partners, and then we really did an outreach with
Sarah Stanley: patrons of SPL. We've had full board participation in our
Sarah Stanley: strategic planning and we just actually had another half day Saturday retreat.
Sarah Stanley: Treat with excellent attendance and outcomes.
Sarah Stanley: The other goal was to grow the financial health of a foundation and this goal
Sarah Stanley: along with the next one are ongoing. We continue to see strong fundraising.
Sarah Stanley: I'll talk more about that. We're investing responsibly through our
Sarah Stanley: endowment.
Sarah Stanley: And we're carefully managing funds to make sure the long-term vitality of the
Sarah Stanley: library is secure. The last goal was the building board
Sarah Stanley: capacity. We had five new members join in May.
Sarah Stanley: Everyone we're making sure is in the right place and has a pathway to advance.
Sarah Stanley: We just recently completed.
Sarah Stanley: Our two surveys we do every year, our board survey,
Sarah Stanley: which we use to set goals, as well as a self-assessment survey to
Sarah Stanley: help identify our future leaders and make sure everyone really does feel like
Sarah Stanley: they're in the right place. We also have really intentionally tried
Sarah Stanley: to make sure that the board has the information that it needs.
Sarah Stanley: Needs to make its decisions. And then lastly,
Sarah Stanley: a goal was to make sure that serving on the board was a fun,
Sarah Stanley: rewarding and desirable experience. And I'm happy to say that after reading
Sarah Stanley: some of those self-assessment surveys, we have lots of members who want to step
Sarah Stanley: up into leadership position, which I think is a really good sign.
Sarah Stanley: So a little details on our fundraising always and I love to say this is great
Sarah Stanley: news. So I'm pleased to share that through
Sarah Stanley: September we've raised $3. 15 million compared to $2.
Sarah Stanley: 6 million is where we were at this point last year. So we're at already 95.
Sarah Stanley: 4% of our fundraising goal, which means that $3.
Sarah Stanley: 15 million in funds have been raised for our library.
Sarah Stanley: It's come from core fundraising, from individuals, organizations,
Sarah Stanley: as well as board fundraising. And I'm proud to say that our board
Sarah Stanley: fundraising has exceeded their goal of 70.
Sarah Stanley: $5000 going above that by over $39,000. We continue to receive transformational
Sarah Stanley: estate gifts that come in and I can confidently say we will exceed our
Sarah Stanley: fundraising goals and in our strong financial position.
Sarah Stanley: Our board engagement and fundraising. We had board members sign more than 400
Sarah Stanley: appeal letters this year. That's our record and we exceeded the
Sarah Stanley: record. I believe last year we had 270 last year,
Sarah Stanley: but now this year we had 400. Our board members helped and attended
Sarah Stanley: events and particularly the history review.
Sarah Stanley: Field event had strong board attendance and then they did other things such as
Sarah Stanley: stickering for the Global Reading Challenge program.
Sarah Stanley: So lots of engagement in our fundraising. As far as the development,
Sarah Stanley: I mentioned we had the five new board members elected in May and you might be
Sarah Stanley: interested in knowing that they received training.
Sarah Stanley: from our illustrious staff in all aspects of the foundation, the library,
Sarah Stanley: and board governance and how to be a good board member. On the advocacy front,
Sarah Stanley: I think I remember, and you all probably do too,
Sarah Stanley: when plan was sort of a twinkle in the eye, so to speak, and we now have
Sarah Stanley: Have and that have exceeded our goal this year, 1300 plan members.
Sarah Stanley: Plan stands for Public Library Action Network. As a reminder,
Sarah Stanley: it's a platform and tool that gives us a way to alert our advocate supporters on
Sarah Stanley: how they can act up, stand up and voice their support for the
Sarah Stanley: library. I can.
Sarah Stanley: Say with confidence that the plan has been utilized successfully to support SBL
Sarah Stanley: this year in it in a number of avenues donor engagement.
Sarah Stanley: So we are on target to host 22 donor events and activities in 2025.
Sarah Stanley: These include branch fundraising events that we've held,
Sarah Stanley: meet and greets with donors, author and book programs,
Sarah Stanley: free webinars like our planned giving seminars and a new webinar that we did
Sarah Stanley: this year called Advocacy 101, which aimed to educate people about how
Sarah Stanley: the library is funded.
Sarah Stanley: And that was quite well attended. We also had the Histories Revealed event,
Sarah Stanley: which was an in-depth presentation, as Tom spoke about with the Special
Sarah Stanley: Collections team, updates on the foundation activities and
Sarah Stanley: also ways that donors can support the library. And we had more than 200 people.
Sarah Stanley: Learn about this great program and I just want to give a huge shout out to the
Sarah Stanley: staff at SPLF as well as SPL who collaborated so successfully to make this
Sarah Stanley: this event just one that's been talked about afterwards quite a bit.
Sarah Stanley: On our DEI front, we continue to do our outreach to engage
Sarah Stanley: communities that are underrepresented on the board.
Sarah Stanley: We said it said time at a board meeting to look at our recruitment and best
Sarah Stanley: practices. We had board led DEI bias training
Sarah Stanley: discussions and we continued.
Sarah Stanley: Continue to do our annual review of our DEI statement in library funding.
Sarah Stanley: We've been working closely with SPL to provide flexible funding to fully
Sarah Stanley: leverage foundation dollars and that of course is part of our trust based
Sarah Stanley: philanthropy.
Sarah Stanley: Looking ahead, we anticipate increasing our fundraising
Sarah Stanley: commitment to $5.6 million next year. That's an 8% increase from 2025's funding.
Sarah Stanley: So collaboration is so important, right? So we strive to be partners with Tom,
Sarah Stanley: with the trustees, you and the entire staff.
Sarah Stanley: And this has been another great collaboration with Tom and his staff to,
Sarah Stanley: as you have heard, many worthwhile ends.
Sarah Stanley: We are very grateful to partner with the Friends of SPL.
Sarah Stanley: I believe we've deepened that relationship.
Sarah Stanley: The Joint Advocacy Committee has accomplished so much and couldn't have
Sarah Stanley: happened without that partnership with Friends in the Library.
Sarah Stanley: Looking ahead, so there will be new board leadership
Sarah Stanley: approved that will happen in January 2026. And then of course that strategic plan
Sarah Stanley: will be unveiled in January and Brian are.
Sarah Stanley: CEO will begin the process of the implementation of that plan.
Sarah Stanley: So in summary, we have a strong organizational
Sarah Stanley: foundation going into 2026. We are absolutely ready for what's in
Sarah Stanley: what's ahead.
Sarah Stanley: We have a strong staff with Ellie, Will, Katie, Elizabeth, Kay,
Sarah Stanley: Jill and Brian as our CEO. And we are very excited with the board,
Sarah Stanley: the library and the community and the support they're going to be offering.
Sarah Stanley: And we're grateful. We're grateful for the library's
Sarah Stanley: leadership within the city, throughout our community.
Sarah Stanley: We're ready to support the library's levy efforts once it's announced.
Sarah Stanley: And as one trustee to another, I want to express my thanks for your
Sarah Stanley: volunteer commitment and service to the library.
Sarah Stanley: Library. And last but not least, I want to say this has been a fantastic
Sarah Stanley: two years. We've all been through a lot, but I think it's been.
Sarah Stanley: Impactful and I'm very proud to and honored to have been able to report to
Sarah Stanley: you today and again last year. And thank you so much and remember to
Sarah Stanley: wear your hat so that you can get all those good.
Sarah Stanley: You know, positive feelings coming from our
Sarah Stanley: community.
Sarah Stanley: And that's it.
Ron Chew: Sarah, can I ask because I can't actually see
W Tali Hairston: Yeah, man.
Ron Chew: what the hat is. What does it?
Sarah Stanley: Oh, it says the Seattle Public Library.
Ron Chew: Oh wow, very cool. OK, we had to get one of those to cover my
W Tali Hairston: Mm.
Ron Chew: because I don't have any covers right there.
Ron Chew: So I did want to just mention and and ask, you know, I've seen the evolution.
Sarah Stanley: They're great for that.
Ron Chew: Of the foundation from Libraries for All campaign like 2 decades ago and it's been
Ron Chew: amazing the transformation, the growth and evolution.
Ron Chew: So really congratulations to you and the leadership and then Brian for.
Ron Chew: Bringing the foundation into maturity, I recently started working with the
Ron Chew: Washington State History Museum in a limited capacity to try to help them with.
Ron Chew: Organizational capacity building, but I want to mention that specifically
Ron Chew: because I as far as best practices and so forth.
Ron Chew: You know I cite you guys SBL Foundation as a model and maybe you know we can set
Ron Chew: up a time you and Brian to meet with some leadership cause there where the library
Ron Chew: foundation was 20 years ago and I think you have a lot to share and offer so just.
Ron Chew: Again, congratulations.
Sarah Stanley: Thank you. Appreciate that. That sounds like an opportunity to help.
Sarah Stanley: Yeah, I'm very interested.
Yazmin Mehdi: I'll just quick jump in and say I'm like it has been a pleasure to work with you,
Yazmin Mehdi: Sarah, and the foundation. Particularly for me,
Yazmin Mehdi: it's been in the context of the advocacy committee and the foundation and the
Yazmin Mehdi: staff of the foundation and your leadership around that work is really,
Yazmin Mehdi: really phenomenal.
Yazmin Mehdi: And I I personally thank you for that and and Brittany for being the head of that
Yazmin Mehdi: committee these days. It's been, it's been great.
Yazmin Mehdi: Really appreciate you guys.
Sarah Stanley: Thank you.
Faith Pettis: Can I just say thank you, Sarah. Two years of your life given to this is
Faith Pettis: not a small contribution and it takes time to accomplish what you've done.
Faith Pettis: I just want to say the 8% increase in fundraising is huge. That is not.
Faith Pettis: Unnoticed that that's a big commitment, a big step up.
Faith Pettis: It's asking a lot of the foundation board members and you know,
Faith Pettis: really thank you from the bottom of our heart. I mean,
Faith Pettis: I you guys have been there for us. Whenever we have gaps and needs,
Faith Pettis: the foundation is such a great partner. So thank you for all that you do.
Sarah Stanley: Thank you.
Bendixen, Carmen: Yeah. And I'll just Ditto what has been said
Bendixen, Carmen: already. I've been the foundation liaison for the
Bendixen, Carmen: board this year and it's been an absolute pleasure,
Bendixen, Carmen: especially having a little peek into your strategic planning process and how
Bendixen, Carmen: everyone on the board is contributing to that and.
Bendixen, Carmen: Asking themselves some tough questions. So thank you for your leadership on that
Bendixen, Carmen: too, and I look forward to seeing what comes
Bendixen, Carmen: out of that.
W Tali Hairston: Yeah, in a time where funding from public funds
W Tali Hairston: are are decreasing all over the country, not just here locally for philanthropy to
W Tali Hairston: step in in the way that you just shared with us is just an amazing gift.
W Tali Hairston: To the community where it really matters because the impact that those dollars
W Tali Hairston: increasing have is just as you all know, makes a big deal at at a at a very real
W Tali Hairston: way in folks lives.
W Tali Hairston: So thank you, Sarah, and thanks to all of your team and
W Tali Hairston: everybody who's been a part of this. It's just been a a great two years
W Tali Hairston: journey. Not not in easy times, right? This is there have been better times to
Sarah Stanley: Yeah, absolutely.
W Tali Hairston: lead a foundation.
Tom Fay: Yeah, and I I'd like to thank Sarah too. I think the one thing folks may not
Tom Fay: always think of because the transition was very smooth with the CEO from a long
Tom Fay: time CEO that doesn't happen with our good leadership and consensus building
Tom Fay: with a board of directors that.
Tom Fay: Ultimately is about 25 people or so, depending on how it flexes up and down.
Tom Fay: So I think that's a key milestone. And Sarah took that on really pretty
Tom Fay: early in the presidency. It's not an easy one to step up and say,
Tom Fay: yes, I'm going to do that also knowingly at
Tom Fay: the time.
Tom Fay: We're also going to have to do a strategic plan, dive into a levy,
Tom Fay: double down on advocacy, pretty major accomplishments in a very
Tom Fay: short period of time. So Sarah, I do appreciate your leadership and I
Tom Fay: know I'll see you at those board meetings still.
Tom Fay: So I know you're not going going away.
Sarah Stanley: OK.
Tom Fay: Are going far and really appreciate all that you've done to support the library
Sarah Stanley: Mhm.
Tom Fay: and all of its efforts. So thank you.
Sarah Stanley: Thank you.
W Tali Hairston: Thank you, Sarah. We'll jump to we don't have any old
W Tali Hairston: business, but let's jump into new business then
W Tali Hairston: 2026 operations plan framework. Are we calling someone to the microphone?
Tom Fay: We we are. I'm going to ask Rob Gannon and I believe
Tom Fay: Nick Merkner to join us on this one and Amy will promote both of that and I
Tom Fay: believe Rob will at least introduce it.
Rob Gannon: Good morning, everyone. I hope you can hear me.
W Tali Hairston: We can.
Tom Fay: Yes.
Rob Gannon: Excellent. Good morning, members of the board. Rob Gannon,
Rob Gannon: Director of Administrative Services and I believe my colleague Nick Merkner is also
Rob Gannon: available. I don't see him on camera, but he is available as well.
Rob Gannon: So I'll just say that it is.
Rob Gannon: A pleasure to present this morning under the new business banner. However,
Rob Gannon: it is very difficult to follow the very encouraging and enthusiastic performances
Rob Gannon: of Angel and Sarah. So I'm going to suffer by comparison,
Rob Gannon: but I'm.
Rob Gannon: Also grateful for both of their work on behalf of the library.
Rob Gannon: Our purpose here this morning is not to go into detail on the 2026 operations
Rob Gannon: plan, but it is to present to the Board the
Rob Gannon: outline or framework of how we will bring forward the actual.
Rob Gannon: Detail to you in upcoming meetings. So as I think most all of you are deeply
Rob Gannon: aware, the budgeting process for the library has
Rob Gannon: been the development of the budget and that process has been going on for much
Rob Gannon: of the year.
Rob Gannon: We've been in close coordination and working with colleagues at the city level
Rob Gannon: and the city's budget or the mayor's budget is now proposed and before the
Rob Gannon: City Council. So as we watch that process, we are now deep in the our own process of
Rob Gannon: developing the final presentation of our operations.
Rob Gannon: Plan effectively our budget that will bring forward to the Board in a draft
Rob Gannon: form at your November meeting and looking for final review and approval and action
Rob Gannon: in your December meeting. So I want to say that we have been
Rob Gannon: working very diligently these past several months in getting us to.
Rob Gannon: To this stage and we look forward to bringing forward that detail to you at
Rob Gannon: our at your next meeting. The document that you have in your
Rob Gannon: packets is the framework of what the operations plan will look like.
Rob Gannon: It doesn't presently include any of that detail.
Rob Gannon: But it is a readable document and shows you how we intend to present this year,
Rob Gannon: but also it is readable in a sense that is consistent with past years.
Rob Gannon: So we're bringing this forward one for your awareness and understanding,
Rob Gannon: but two also to offer each of you or all of you collectively the opportunity to
Rob Gannon: provide us feedback.
Rob Gannon: Or additional direction. I do want to highlight that as we develop
Rob Gannon: this year's operations framework, we will of course be working to
Rob Gannon: incorporate as much reference to our strategic plan as we possibly can.
Rob Gannon: Showing especially how our efforts in the upcoming year are guided by that document
Rob Gannon: and all of its important elements. Another important feature of this year's
Rob Gannon: operations plan will be our first report on some of the accomplishments of.
Rob Gannon: Our current year's activity around the strategic plan.
Rob Gannon: So this will be a a deviation from prior operations plans,
Rob Gannon: but this is what the Board directed the library to do when it approved the
Rob Gannon: strategic plan. Overall, it asked that we incorporate.
Rob Gannon: A list of or a report of our accomplishments in the operations plan
Rob Gannon: form framework. So you will be seeing that in the in the
Rob Gannon: upcoming draft and we'll look forward to your feedback and comments on that and
Rob Gannon: we'll also hopefully.
Rob Gannon: Demonstrate how accomplishments are leading to additional work and focus for
Rob Gannon: the coming year.
Rob Gannon: As always, our operations framework will show you
Rob Gannon: the balance of how we have spent our funds in the past years,
Rob Gannon: but also what the balance of funds looks like for the coming year.
Rob Gannon: So that will be approved obviously, at least on the general fund side with
Rob Gannon: the culmination of the city's budget process.
Rob Gannon: Sarah referenced the the likely allocation coming from the foundation
Rob Gannon: into our operating budget and so we will have hopefully final confirmation on that
Rob Gannon: as we build the final document and that will also be part of what we bring
Rob Gannon: forward to the Board for approval.
Rob Gannon: And then as we're also aware, we're dealing with a budget challenge
Rob Gannon: citywide and the manifestation of that will also be represented in the
Rob Gannon: operations plan work or operations framework about how we plan to
Rob Gannon: accommodate that reduction in general fund in the coming year.
Rob Gannon: I'll make note finally and then I'll either I'll rest or leave it to you to
Rob Gannon: ask questions. One thing that will not be directly noted
Rob Gannon: in this year's operations plan is how we are developing a levy renewal package.
Rob Gannon: Instead, we'll be focusing as we do and how we're
Rob Gannon: spending the levy funding that we do have. That, of course,
Rob Gannon: is not to indicate in any way that we're not very conscientious about what a levy
Rob Gannon: renewal package could mean for the library,
Rob Gannon: but we will be developing that work separately and it will not be explicitly
Rob Gannon: referenced.
Rob Gannon: Referenced in the operations framework, but of course we'll be working on that
Rob Gannon: with great fervor as it's an important resource to the library and we'll be
Rob Gannon: working to keep you all informed of that. But I just wanted to note that it's not
Rob Gannon: going to be part of the operations framework.
Rob Gannon: Framework per SE. So again, we'll bring forward a draft for your
Rob Gannon: review in the November meeting and we'll look to your final review and
Rob Gannon: consideration in the December meeting. But with that,
Rob Gannon: I will either pause and turn to Tom to see if he has any additional.
Rob Gannon: Information that he wants to resent or if any of you have questions or comments for
Rob Gannon: us at this point, I'm hay to receive them.
Tom Fay: Nothing else in my part, Rob.
W Tali Hairston: Yes.
Yazmin Mehdi: Thank you, Rob. I have a request for for the operations
Yazmin Mehdi: plan and and the way that we're meshing it with the strategic plan.
Yazmin Mehdi: The one thing that caught me in reading through this.
Yazmin Mehdi: Was the buildings piece where we have for a number of years harken back to the fact
Yazmin Mehdi: that the last time we did a major building touch was the 98 bond levy.
Yazmin Mehdi: And so we often talk about how our buildings are 20 plus years old and I'd
Yazmin Mehdi: like to suggest that we start using forward-looking language in our
Yazmin Mehdi: operations plan and and.
Yazmin Mehdi: Pull it from the strap plan. So for example on buildings,
Yazmin Mehdi: our goal in the strategic plan is implement sustainable maintenance and
Yazmin Mehdi: upgrade practices for our buildings and technologies and so like to be really
Yazmin Mehdi: thinking about.
Yazmin Mehdi: We're not just trying to update old buildings,
Yazmin Mehdi: we're actually trying to create spaces for the future. And you know,
Yazmin Mehdi: I recognize that our ability to make major changes is is limited because we're
Yazmin Mehdi: talking about public funding, but.
Yazmin Mehdi: I just really want us to start using our strategic plan language in in in all of
Yazmin Mehdi: our documents as forward-looking, so that what we're talking to our public
Yazmin Mehdi: about is what we're going to be delivering to them.
Yazmin Mehdi: So anyway, it's it's actually not a major point if
Yazmin Mehdi: you will, but I just again in the vein and in the
Yazmin Mehdi: hope of really internalizing all the great work that has already been done in
Yazmin Mehdi: the strategic plan effort.
Yazmin Mehdi: Into these sort of important foundational day-to-day documents that we use,
Yazmin Mehdi: I think it would be useful for all of us.
Rob Gannon: Thank you. That feedback is well received and we
Rob Gannon: will certainly work to incorporate as much as we can not only in this
Rob Gannon: operations plan, but moving forward to continue to have
Rob Gannon: that be a year to year focus. It's no secret I think that we will be
Rob Gannon: bringing forward a levy proposal.
Rob Gannon: And a significant component of that will be how do we maintain and continue to
Rob Gannon: enhance our building portfolio. So I think that your counsel there is is
Rob Gannon: well timed and is something that we will definitely want to do for not just the
Rob Gannon: coming year, but for many years going forward.
Rob Gannon: Yeah.
Ron Chew: Rob, I I have a a thought here. You know, the while SBL may not be deeply affected
Ron Chew: by what's happening on a federal level.
Ron Chew: It may be good to address that issue because maybe there's some doors closed
Ron Chew: for grant opportunities that might have been pursued otherwise. Again,
Ron Chew: given what's happening on a national level, I guess might be good to at least.
Ron Chew: Talk about that a little bit because we don't operate in a vacuum.
Ron Chew: I think all of the libraries across the country are grappling with repositioning
Ron Chew: and so forth. So that would be my one suggestion.
Rob Gannon: Thank you. I think we can definitely acknowledge
Rob Gannon: that set of concerns. In past years, we have at times included a section of
Rob Gannon: our operations plan that referenced anticipated or future risk.
Rob Gannon: And I think that is a is one that we could certainly highlight in this year's
Rob Gannon: plan or at least acknowledge it among others. So yes, we can certainly do that.
Ron Chew: Thank you.
W Tali Hairston: I just want to double click what Yasmine said.
W Tali Hairston: I think that was overall my comment was has related to is related to the ways in
W Tali Hairston: which the operations plan can can continue to point the way towards the
W Tali Hairston: strategic plan, but also to speak to ways that you.
W Tali Hairston: In this operations plan are helping folks like us make the case for the future of
W Tali Hairston: the library. And so an operations plan that doesn't do
W Tali Hairston: that kind of gets us talking about what was as opposed to what could be and and
W Tali Hairston: that's a little bit about what.
W Tali Hairston: I've learned over the last few weeks and talking about the levy as well.
W Tali Hairston: So thank you Yasmin for the comment and just wanted to add that to that as well.
W Tali Hairston: Anyone else comments for Rob?
W Tali Hairston: OK. Thank you, Rob. We have.
Rob Gannon: Thank you all.
W Tali Hairston: Our next point is for will require the next two items require a vote and so you
W Tali Hairston: have those.
W Tali Hairston: Tom, I don't know if you have, if you want to speak to both of those
W Tali Hairston: together and then we vote together or you want to do them separate.
Tom Fay: No, these these are separate. So the first one will bring Brian Sharkey
Tom Fay: to the table.
Tom Fay: Lee Brian is here. He just needs to be promoted. There he is.
Brian Sharkey: Can you see and hear me OK?
Tom Fay: Yes.
W Tali Hairston: We can.
Brian Sharkey: All right, excellent. Good morning. Thank you for all. Two more minutes.
Brian Sharkey: Good morning and seem to be good afternoon.
Brian Sharkey: Thank you for your time this morning. So the matter that we are bringing
Brian Sharkey: forward today is a change in the implementation for the annual wage
Brian Sharkey: increase under the collective bargaining agreement. So as a reminder,
Brian Sharkey: the Board approved the contract language.
Brian Sharkey: For the CBA collective bargaining agreement that runs from 2023 through
Brian Sharkey: 2026. So we're about to enter the final year of
Brian Sharkey: that contract. As part of that contract, there is a 3.
Brian Sharkey: 6% annual wage increase that will be applied to all represented staff and that
Brian Sharkey: will also be applied to non represented staff.
Brian Sharkey: With the exception of the discretionary pay program that falls under Tom's
Brian Sharkey: purview as Chief Librarian and Tom's compensation as Chief Librarian,
Brian Sharkey: which is set by the Board. So as mentioned in the memo,
Brian Sharkey: the date written into the contract was an implementation of.
Brian Sharkey: Saturday, January 10th, which the city took a look at and decided
Brian Sharkey: was not the appropriate date to implement. They typically do this on a Wednesday,
Brian Sharkey: first day of the pay period, so there was a clerical error when that
Brian Sharkey: was written into the initial contracts, so the rest of the city has moved.
Brian Sharkey: To December 31st, which is the Wednesday start of a pay
Brian Sharkey: period as would traditionally follow. SPL would like to do the same for our
Brian Sharkey: folks so that they are not sort of behind the rest of the city in receiving that
Brian Sharkey: wage increase. And of course we wanted to make sure that
Brian Sharkey: we followed the appropriate channels and brought that back in front of the board
Brian Sharkey: for consideration.
Brian Sharkey: As noted, we did pass this through Rob and Nick and
Brian Sharkey: the finance team to ensure that the financial impact would be possible to
Brian Sharkey: cover. So as noted, it's approximately a $60,
Brian Sharkey: 000 difference for SPL and we've confirmed there are funds available to
Brian Sharkey: cover this. So that is their request in front of the
Brian Sharkey: board today. Tom, I'll let you.
Brian Sharkey: Way in if there's any additional information that you'd like to share.
Tom Fay: No additional information. You covered it well, Brian. Thank you.
W Tali Hairston: I I just have one question. The SPL management and Local 22083
W Tali Hairston: leadership agreed to move the implementation date from January 1026 to
W Tali Hairston: a pay period starting. When did that happen and was that is that
W Tali Hairston: a part of our board meeting notes that we were informed of that or does that need
W Tali Hairston: to be?
W Tali Hairston: E.
W Tali Hairston: Made it. I mean, it's in the it's in our papers now,
W Tali Hairston: but when did that happen?
Brian Sharkey: Right. So we brought that forward at the last
Brian Sharkey: Labor Management Committee meeting. So we meet monthly with the executive
Brian Sharkey: team of the union. And so this is management's request to
Brian Sharkey: the board for approval. We wanted to make sure that the union was
Brian Sharkey: in support as well. So that's.
Tom Fay: Thanks.
Brian Sharkey: Why we fight that piece so?
W Tali Hairston: Yes.
Yazmin Mehdi: Thank you, Tali. My question Brian is was the the date
Yazmin Mehdi: incorrect in the the coalition of city union contracts or just in our contract?
Brian Sharkey: In the coalition of city union contracts, it was also listed as January 10th,
Brian Sharkey: which is a Saturday, which again has never,
Brian Sharkey: it's never been the the pattern or the case to implement on a Saturday. So yeah,
Brian Sharkey: it was an error in the coalition contract that we essentially copied over on our
Brian Sharkey: side.
Yazmin Mehdi: Got it. OK. Thank you for clarifying for me.
Yazmin Mehdi: To me this like this is a no-brainer. We need to do this and it makes sense.
Yazmin Mehdi: It's a bummer. It's a it's a budget impact,
Yazmin Mehdi: but you know we're responsible to appropriately pay our staff. So I just.
Yazmin Mehdi: If we need to vote, let's vote.
W Tali Hairston: And does everyone have the action before them? It's in in your papers.
W Tali Hairston: Maybe we should read it just for posterity and for those who don't have it,
W Tali Hairston: but it reads for consideration of new AWI implementation date of December 31st,
W Tali Hairston: 2025 for represented employees of Washington State Council of County and
W Tali Hairston: City employees AF.
W Tali Hairston: SCME AFLCIO Local 2083 bargaining units and for non represented library employees
W Tali Hairston: outside of the DPP Apex program for approval at October 2025 board meeting.
W Tali Hairston: Do I have a motion?
Yazmin Mehdi: So moved.
Faith Pettis: I'll second.
W Tali Hairston: All in favor?
W Tali Hairston: Any opposed? Any abstentions?
W Tali Hairston: Thank you. This is approved.
Tom Fay: Thank you all for the support of staff in this.
Yazmin Mehdi: Thank you.
W Tali Hairston: Board meeting dates 2026.
Tom Fay: Right. I think you have those dates before you
Tom Fay: and Amy is available. If there's any additional questions on
Tom Fay: these meeting dates or any concerns with these meeting dates,
Tom Fay: this would be the time to.
Tom Fay: To note those and or change them if necessary.
Faith Pettis: But I just raised one thing, Tully.
W Tali Hairston: Please.
Faith Pettis: That is the June 25th date. I don't know if folks are planning to go
Faith Pettis: to ALA again this year, but I know many of our senior staff do go
Faith Pettis: and Tom, you go. I I wasn't planning to go this year,
Faith Pettis: but it does conflict with the board meeting date and I think it might make it.
Faith Pettis: Does it make it hard for staff to do it?
Faith Pettis: A board meeting if everyone's at ALA.
Tom Fay: It can make it challenging at times, but I think we've all had to take a few
Tom Fay: of these meetings remotely, so we can manage it. Thank you though.
Faith Pettis: OK, OK, just if you can manage it, that's fine. I just wanted to flag it.
W Tali Hairston: Thank you, Faye. Just a quick question for the board.
W Tali Hairston: Is 11:00 AM still work for everyone?
W Tali Hairston: We moved it from 12:00 to 11:00 and it's it's.
Faith Pettis: And and you did that for me and I very much appreciate it.
Bendixen, Carmen: Hello.
Faith Pettis: It actually helps most of the we make most of the board meetings and I I
Faith Pettis: checked my calendar. They all work with the exception of
Faith Pettis: September and no, don't worry about moving that.
Faith Pettis: I'll I'll take a pass on that one meeting.
Faith Pettis: But appreciate it.
Ron Chew: And just to add my voice that 11:00 works way better for me as well.
Faith Pettis: Good. Glad it wasn't just me.
Bendixen, Carmen: It doesn't for me, but that's OK. I'll manage.
Faith Pettis: Oh, suck.
Bendixen, Carmen: It's it's just a conflict with my team meeting and I it just means I have to
Bendixen, Carmen: leave that meeting early and I look like not the team player,
Bendixen, Carmen: but they know that I am so.
Faith Pettis: Thank you, Carmen.
Bendixen, Carmen: It's like.
W Tali Hairston: Well, if you need Tom to write you a note.
Tom Fay: Yeah.
Bendixen, Carmen: We'll talk.
W Tali Hairston: I know I will be out of the country on the 26th and several of those days I will
W Tali Hairston: be taking those meetings from out of the country, but if it works for everyone,
W Tali Hairston: we can make some adjustments if we need to. The recommendation is that we.
W Tali Hairston: Confirmed this these dates today.
W Tali Hairston: Do I have a motion to approve the schedule?
Faith Pettis: I'll move that.
Bendixen, Carmen: 2nd.
W Tali Hairston: Is it moved and seconded? All in favor? Raise your hand.
W Tali Hairston: That's everyone. Thank you. We do have the dates for 2026.
W Tali Hairston: Union report and an update from library board members.
Tom Fay: Yes, I believe. I think I saw Catherine Hernandez here
Tom Fay: and we'll promote Cat to the table.
Tom Fay: Yes.
Katherine Hernandez: Hi, all. Can you hear me? Perfect. Good to see you all again.
W Tali Hairston: We can hear you.
Katherine Hernandez: I'm Catherine Hernandez. I'm the vice president of classified
Katherine Hernandez: staff with the union. This month's union report was about.
Katherine Hernandez: Some issues that we had had with safety in our branches,
Katherine Hernandez: particularly with a fiberglass installation at the mock over the summer
Katherine Hernandez: and also at the Greenwood branch with their roof replacement.
Katherine Hernandez: That happened in September and October. I am a library associate for at the
Katherine Hernandez: Greenwood branch and I would like to speak a little bit about what my
Katherine Hernandez: experience was with this whole.
Katherine Hernandez: Thing. So I'm just going to sort of give my
Katherine Hernandez: perspective and I wrote a few things that I'm going to say.
Katherine Hernandez: So I want to start by saying that I've been with SPL for almost 13 years and
Katherine Hernandez: never once have I felt that the library didn't have my best interest in mind when
Katherine Hernandez: it came to my health and safety.
Katherine Hernandez: Until the roofing project began, I realize that the library can plan for
Katherine Hernandez: many scenarios, and sometimes things just happen.
Katherine Hernandez: But how you react when those unexpected things happen says a lot about an
Katherine Hernandez: organization.
Katherine Hernandez: And I'm very disappointed and upset by the way that SPL responded. In this case,
Katherine Hernandez: when library staff at Greenwood first reported fumes making us ill on September
Katherine Hernandez: 17th, we assumed it was a one-off occurrence.
Katherine Hernandez: But the entire next week, these issues with fumes persisted and our
Katherine Hernandez: pleased to close the branch were largely ignored. Staff suffered from headaches,
Katherine Hernandez: burning eyes, scratchy throats, nausea, dizziness.
Katherine Hernandez: And lightheadedness for multiple days before work was halted.
Katherine Hernandez: We reported these incidents up the chain of command, but were met with silence.
Katherine Hernandez: As this went on for days, the silence felt like SPL did not care
Katherine Hernandez: about us. Walking into an unsafe environment every
Katherine Hernandez: single day takes a mental toll as well as a physical toll.
Katherine Hernandez: It's unknown whether we will have any long-term effects to our health from
Katherine Hernandez: these fumes. Patrons were also in our buildings every
Katherine Hernandez: day, breathing in these toxic chemicals, thinking it was safe to be inside because
Katherine Hernandez: staff were, and their experience in our branch
Katherine Hernandez: suffered because staff were working well ill.
Katherine Hernandez: It is truly distressing and upsetting to walk into work feeling like your employer
Katherine Hernandez: does not care about your life. But that's exactly how it felt during
Katherine Hernandez: these days where we had to work with these fumes in the branch.
Katherine Hernandez: I've never felt lower and less respected as an employee than I did in those
Katherine Hernandez: moments.
Katherine Hernandez: I want to believe that SPL is a better organization than this,
Katherine Hernandez: that they do in fact care about their staff,
Katherine Hernandez: but I can't say in this moment that they do.
Katherine Hernandez: While the closure in October to finish the construction was welcome,
Katherine Hernandez: it was too little, too late.
Katherine Hernandez: The damage with staff has been done. The trust has been broken,
Katherine Hernandez: and not just with Greenwood staff, but with staff all around the system who
Katherine Hernandez: heard their colleagues crying out about their workplace,
Katherine Hernandez: making them sick and begging for solutions, only to be met with silence.
Katherine Hernandez: As a member of union leadership, I have the privilege of getting to know
Katherine Hernandez: our administration in ways that other staff don't.
Katherine Hernandez: I know that they care about staff, but I did not experience that here and it
Katherine Hernandez: was incredibly disheartening. It will take time to repair the trust and
Katherine Hernandez: hurt.
Katherine Hernandez: What happened this summer at the Mock with the fiberglass installation should
Katherine Hernandez: have been a one-off and should never have happened again. Yet it did,
Katherine Hernandez: and instead of remedying it quickly, staff had to work in an unsafe
Katherine Hernandez: environment for days. In the nearly 13 years I've been at SPL,
Katherine Hernandez: this organization has always looked for ways to become.
Katherine Hernandez: I'm an employer of choice. Yet the choices made in these moments in
Katherine Hernandez: regards to health and safety of our staff prove that we have a long way to go to
Katherine Hernandez: reach that goal. There will be next steps and lessons
Katherine Hernandez: learned, and union leadership looks forward to
Katherine Hernandez: working together with library administration.
Katherine Hernandez: To prevent incidents like this from happening in the future. Thank you.
W Tali Hairston: Thank you, Kat, for sharing at such a heartfelt level
W Tali Hairston: what the experience of employees have been and I think.
W Tali Hairston: The board is is serious about hearing and listening and paying attention to these
W Tali Hairston: issues and so thank you for sharing.
W Tali Hairston: Yes.
Yazmin Mehdi: Catherine, it's nice to meet you. I don't think I've met you before.
Yazmin Mehdi: I'm curious. Obviously this is distressing and I'm,
Yazmin Mehdi: I know it's distressing for Tom as well and it from the report that Jesse
Yazmin Mehdi: submitted.
Yazmin Mehdi: It looks like even you all acknowledge that library leadership was caught by
Yazmin Mehdi: surprise by this. So my my question for you is, you know,
Yazmin Mehdi: it's really disconcerting to hear that you feel as though trust has been broken
Yazmin Mehdi: like.
Yazmin Mehdi: In your view, what what can be done to repair that?
Katherine Hernandez: You know, library leadership at the beginning was
Katherine Hernandez: definitely caught off guard and I do appreciate that,
Katherine Hernandez: but we continued for days to mention symptoms and say that we were being made
Katherine Hernandez: ill.
Katherine Hernandez: And you know, we would report that and then to a
Katherine Hernandez: certain point in the chain of command, we wouldn't hear anything more or we
Katherine Hernandez: would be allowed to close early. But we had already been in the branch for
Katherine Hernandez: like 6 hours that day. It's hard for me to say how trust can be
Katherine Hernandez: repaired because.
Katherine Hernandez: For me and my colleagues, this was a major breach of trust because
Katherine Hernandez: this is our health and I've never seen SPL act this way until this year with the
Katherine Hernandez: incident at the mock in here.
Katherine Hernandez: So I, you know, I think some of it will be looking at
Katherine Hernandez: what happens with future capital projects and how staff are treated and believed
Katherine Hernandez: with their health and safety concerns. But also I think there needs to be a real
Katherine Hernandez: even an apology of some sort from library administration to these.
Katherine Hernandez: Staff about about what happened.
Tom Fay: So I will jump in here too and say that absolutely we do apologize to staff or
Tom Fay: the patrons that experience this. This is not the way that these projects
Tom Fay: should go by any stretch we have pardon me have identified.
Tom Fay: Areas of improvement, areas of improvement around the process
Tom Fay: by which these are done, the communication between capital
Tom Fay: projects as well as the staff out in the field and then also the better
Tom Fay: integration of our safety manager into these projects.
Tom Fay: Projects as well. So those are some of the things that we
Tom Fay: are working on as we go about making sure that these do not happen again in this
Tom Fay: manner. There is always things in a construction
Tom Fay: project that can surprise you, but.
Tom Fay: Some things are foreseeable knowing the types of projects,
Tom Fay: and that's where we need to have better communication,
Tom Fay: better integration of safety management protocols,
Tom Fay: and better responsiveness in the moment if something goes awry.
Tom Fay: Having been a project manager of building projects,
Tom Fay: that is a significant part of the job, but it's not one that can be done alone.
Tom Fay: It had does have to have the integration of multiple people to make sure that
Tom Fay: those projects go.
Tom Fay: Um.
Tom Fay: Well and are not causing any safety concerns not only to staff who may be in
Tom Fay: building or patrons, but to construction staff on site.
Tom Fay: So those are all important pieces to make sure that we manage.
Tom Fay: It is our responsibility to manage those.
Tom Fay: Not only the contractors, but the library's responsibility as well.
W Tali Hairston: Thank you, Tom. Yes, Brian, go ahead.
Ron Chew: Catherine, can I ask, I'm just curious while this was going on
Mhm.
Ron Chew: and you know people are suffering the effects of, you know,
Ron Chew: the fumes and so forth, were there conversations with the
Ron Chew: construction workers, the staff about, well, hey, this is going on and.
Ron Chew: Can you do something else or I'm just curious about whether anything was
Ron Chew: happening as it was happening?
Katherine Hernandez: There to my knowledge, there were attempted solutions.
Katherine Hernandez: Our manager on site here, our Greenwood branch manager did a great
Katherine Hernandez: job of communicating with the project manager for SPL.
Katherine Hernandez: And with the contractor directly and there were attempts to find solutions to
Katherine Hernandez: these, but unfortunately every attempted
W Tali Hairston: Um.
Katherine Hernandez: solution did not fix the problem.
Ron Chew: Yeah, I mean the reason I ask just basically
Ron Chew: what been doing some house remodel and when there's something awry,
Ron Chew: they stop and then they say, OK, this is, this is the problem solved, you know,
Ron Chew: can we? And they don't keep moving forward.
Ron Chew: You know, until there's a solution found. I mean,
Ron Chew: that's may not be apples and oranges, but you know, I was just curious.
Katherine Hernandez: Yeah, there were definitely attempts to remedy
Katherine Hernandez: it, which was appreciated. But unfortunately those attempts,
Katherine Hernandez: you know, like I said, didn't work and we would, you know,
Katherine Hernandez: come into a branch later, they would, you know,
Katherine Hernandez: say that they had sealed things up and then.
Katherine Hernandez: We'd still be smelling things and still, you know, getting these ill effects.
Ron Chew: All right. Thank you.
W Tali Hairston: Thank you for sharing and appreciate it. All right,
W Tali Hairston: if there be no more for Katherine.
W Tali Hairston: All right. Thank you.
Katherine Hernandez: Thank you all for having me.
W Tali Hairston: Update from board members.
W Tali Hairston: Any updates?
W Tali Hairston: Life is lifeing.
W Tali Hairston: Is that OK? All right.
Yazmin Mehdi: Tali, one quick thing I I wanted to call out in
W Tali Hairston: Mhm.
Yazmin Mehdi: the system reports, the Technical and Collection Services
Yazmin Mehdi: report. I just wanted to say I thought that was
Yazmin Mehdi: really fascinating to hear about SPL staff themselves coming together and
Yazmin Mehdi: figuring out how to properly.
Yazmin Mehdi: Instead of using the Dewey Decimal System that has one number for comics and manga,
Yazmin Mehdi: they came up with a really interesting and useful solution and that's that was
Yazmin Mehdi: my experience in working at the library.
Yazmin Mehdi: Was just lots of really interesting personalities coming together and trying
Yazmin Mehdi: to solve a problem for patrons and it was elegant.
Yazmin Mehdi: I just want to commend the staff for that.
Tom Fay: Thank you for that.
W Tali Hairston: All right. Well, we do not have executive session.
Tom Fay: OK.
W Tali Hairston: Our next board meeting is November 20th and we are dismissed at 12:17.
Tom Fay: Thank you all.
Faith Pettis: Thanks all. Happy Halloween.
Bendixen, Carmen: Happy Halloween!
Tom Fay: Um.
W Tali Hairston: Thank you for all those behind the scenes making this work. Appreciate you.