Feb 09, 2026 Library Advisory Board

OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS MEETING. GOOD AFTERNOON.

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:09]

[1. Minutes: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion, and Take Action on Approving the Minutes from the Regular Meeting Held on November 10, 2025.]

ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES AS DISTRIBUTED? IF NONE, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING HELD ON NOVEMBER 10TH, 2025. SO MOVED. I'LL SECOND. OKAY. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IF NONE WERE READY TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAY NAY. THE MOTION CARRIES.

I'LL NOW I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.

[PUBLIC COMMENT]

PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU RESIDE.

FOR THE RECORD. IS THERE ANY? GO AHEAD. SORRY.

JUST ME, TAMMY FOGLE, RESIDENT OF ABILENE. AND I THINK, WELL.

WELL, THAT WAS FAST. OH, SORRY. THAT'S OKAY. NO NO, NO.

MY BAD. THAT'S OKAY. SO I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS A COUPLE THINGS BECAUSE NOT MANY OF YOU KNOW ME, ALTHOUGH I'VE BEEN A FAITHFUL. ONE MINUTE. WAIT A SECOND.

SO SORRY. GOT SOME TECHNOLOGY ISSUES. OKAY. I WAS JUST ROLLING WITH IT.

SO THAT'S THE END. I HAVE NO TIME. SO SORRY. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S MAKING THAT NOISE.

I KNOW, NOT YET. NOT THE OLD FASHIONED WAY, BUT THE.

IT'S NOT WORKING. YOU GOT IT. WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.

I HOPE I WON'T TAKE ALL THE TIME. SO IT'S GOOD.

SO, AM I GOOD? ALL RIGHT. SO THAT'S OKAY. SO I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND, IN 2022, SOME ISSUES WERE BROUGHT TO THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF SOME BOOKS THAT WERE NOT APPROPRIATE AND NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR COMMUNITY VALUES.

AND THERE WAS A LEGAL CASE AND LANO, WHERE SOMEONE HAD IN THE LIBRARY HAD REMOVED BOOKS AND THEY WERE SUED.

THE COUNTY WAS SUED. AND SO IN MAY OF 2025, THIS CASE WAS FINALLY RESOLVED IN THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS.

AND I THOUGHT THERE WERE SOME REALLY INTERESTING FINDS. AND I'LL GIVE YOU A COPY OF THIS SUMMARY OF IT.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL NOTE IS THAT THE TLA PRESENTS THIS AS A NEGATIVE THING.

SO IT'S HARD WITH THE ALA AND THE TLA SEEING THIS AS A NEGATIVE THING WHEN IT'S ACTUALLY A WONDERFUL DECISION THAT WAS PASSED.

IT FOUND THAT THERE IS NO FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY.

SO WE CAN'T USE THAT IN SCHOOLS. WE CAN'T USE THAT HERE IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS THIS DECISION RESOURCES A VITAL CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CANNOT BE FORCED TO PROMOTE MESSAGES OR MATERIALS THAT VIOLATE THE CONSCIENCE OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE WORRIED ABOUT IT. BUT NOW WE KNOW IT'S SAFE. WE CAN REMOVE BOOKS. LIBRARIES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN SPECIFICALLY IN THIS, IN THIS SCENARIO. IT ALSO SAYS THAT THIS PROVIDES CLEAR FOUNDATION FOR SCHOOL BOARDS, LIBRARY COUNCILS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ACT BOLDLY AND LAWFULLY IN DEFENSE OF CHILDREN.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE, IS BECAUSE I WANT TO PROTECT CHILDREN, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A SAFE SPACE FOR OUR CHILDREN.

AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME STEPS TAKEN TO DO THAT.

HOWEVER, THERE I HAVEN'T I CHECK FROM TIME TO TIME AND I'M SORRY, I'M TRYING TO WATCH MY TIME TO SEE IF THERE'S SOME OF THE BOOKS THAT I KNOW ARE PROBLEMATIC IN THE LIBRARY, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY IN A WHILE, BUT AS I WAS EXAMINING BOOKS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARY, I CAME ACROSS ONE THAT WAS ACTUALLY IN THIS LIBRARY, IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

AND SO I WANTED TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION. IT'S CALLED BEFORE THE DEVIL BREAKS YOU. AND I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS DOES NOT REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY VALUES, AND WE CAN REMOVE THEM WITHOUT HAVING TO HAVE A FORMAL DECISION.

YOU ALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY AS A LIBRARY COUNCIL AND THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD TO REMOVE IT. IT'S IN THE YOUNG ADULT SECTION. IT'S ABOUT ADULTS IN SOME ERA, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER. IT'S SOCIAL STUFF. BUT WHAT I WANTED TO READ TO YOU. SO HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE LEFT? 45 SECONDS.

[00:05:04]

OKAY. WHEN ARTHUR SLOWLY, SHE OPENED HER LEGS WHEN ARTHUR TOUCHED BETWEEN HER LEGS WITH HIS WARM, SURE FINGERS, SHE WAS CERTAIN IT WAS THE MOST EXQUISITE FEELING SHE HAD EVER HAD IN HER LIFE. HE KEPT IT BUILDING A HEAT UNTIL THERE SHE THOUGHT SHE MIGHT BURST FROM ECSTASY.

HE SMILED AND REACHED INTO HIS NIGHTSTAND DRAWER AND BROUGHT OUT A SMALL PACKAGE.

A RAINCOAT. RAINCOAT, ARTHUR SAID, TAKING OUT THE RUBBER AND PUTTING IT ON.

MABEL LOOKED AWAY, EMBARRASSED. IT SEEMED SILLY TO BE EMBARRASSED BY THIS, CONSIDERING WHAT HE HAD JUST DONE TO HER THEY WERE ABOUT AND WHAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO DO, BUT SOMEHOW MAKING SEEING THAT MADE IT ALL TOO REAL.

SO THAT IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE MATERIAL IN CONTEXT, OUT OF CONTEXT.

THAT'S ADULT MATERIAL. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING OUR PART TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.

THE LAW NOW SAYS THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO IT.

AND I'LL LEAVE THIS WITH YOU SO YOU CAN EACH HAVE A COPY TO SEE IT.

AND THAT'S MY GOAL IS TO PROTECT CHILDREN. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE MEETING. YEAH. GREAT.

THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? SEEING NONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.

[2. Election of officers for 2026 (discussion and possible action).]

DO I HAVE A NOMINATION AND MOTION TO ELECT A CHAIR FOR 2026? IF I MAY SPEAK JUDITH, WITH GRATITUDE FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, I NOMINATE JUDITH FOR A TERM AS CHAIR OF THE ADVISORY BOARD.

THANK YOU. I'LL SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IF NONE WERE READY TO VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. THE MOTION CARRIES.

DO I HAVE A NOMINATION AND A MOTION TO ELECT THE VICE CHAIR FOR 2026? I NOMINATE KAREN TURNER. THANK YOU. I'LL SECOND THAT AS WELL.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IF NONE WERE READY TO VOTE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY. THE MOTION CARRIES.

[3. Review on-order catalog comments and make a recommendation to the Library Director on pending book orders (discussion and possible action).]

SINCE THE LIBRARY BOARD HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY COMMENTS TO CONSIDER.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE PENDING BOOK ORDERS I SO MOVE.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IF NONE, WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY. THE MOTION CARRIES THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION WILL NOW GO TO THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR, WHO WILL OVERSEE THE COMPLETION OF THE BOOK ORDERS.

THIS IS A STANDING AGENDA ITEM. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES MRS MISS HAMMER FOR A REPORT.

[4. Library Director's Report (discussion)]

I HAVE SOME UPDATES, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE. THE FIRST ITEM OF UPDATE IS RECREATION CENTER BRANCH LIBRARIES.

YOU HAVE PROBABLY DRIVEN BY AND SEEN THE PROGRESS ON THESE BUILDINGS, AND I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A CONSTRUCTION UPDATE AND KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THE LIBRARY ON THAT PROJECT. LIBRARY WISE, I'M CURRENTLY WORKING WITH CITY IT AND A VENDOR ON CONFIGURING LIBRARY LOCKERS AT THOSE LOCATIONS.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE REMOTE LOCKERS, AS IN THE LIBRARY CAN BE CLOSED, BUT THE REC CENTER IS OPEN AND PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO CHECK OUT PICK UP THEIR HOLDS.

KIND OF LIKE AN AMAZON LOCKER SYSTEM. SO THAT'S EXCITING.

WE'RE PILOTING THOSE AT THE NEW REC CENTERS TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH BUSY SCHEDULES, AND ALSO WORKING WITH CITY, IT AND ANOTHER VENDOR ON LAPTOP KIOSKS FOR BOTH LOCATIONS.

THOSE ARE GOING TO BE OUR PUBLIC COMPUTING OPTIONS AT THE REC CENTER LIBRARIES, AND THOSE WILL HAVE 12 LAPTOPS IN EACH KIOSK, AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CHECK THOSE OUT WITH YOUR LIBRARY CARD.

SO WE'RE HOPING THAT GIVES MORE FLEXIBILITY TO THE SPACE.

SO YOU CAN CHECK OUT A LAPTOP AND SIT WHEREVER IS COMFORTABLE FOR YOU INSTEAD OF A A COMPUTER LAB, WHICH IS TRADITIONAL MODEL. AND AS FAR AS CONSTRUCTION, CESAR CHAVEZ, I HAVE QUITE A FEW ITEMS I CAN GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON.

[00:10:09]

THE CURRENT WORK. WELL, THIS ISN'T PRETTY. CURRENT WORK INCLUDES CONCRETE AND BOLLARDS INSTALLED FOR THE DUMPSTER PAD EXTERIOR METAL PANEL INSTALLATION.

INTERIOR PAINTING IS IN PROGRESS AND MILLWORK FOR CABINETS AND BUILT INS IS BEING INSTALLED.

CERAMIC TILE IS BEING PLACED IN THE RESTROOMS, AND CEILING TILES AND HVAC DIFFUSERS ARE BEING INSTALLED, SO THEY'VE GOT HVAC GOING. AND THE GYM FLOOR HAS BEEN FULLY INSTALLED.

MOVING ON TO GV DANIELS SIGNIFICANT PROCESSES.

PROGRESS IS ALSO UNDERWAY AT DANIELS. THE CURRENT UPDATES INCLUDE EXTERIOR METAL PANELS BEING APPLIED TO THE OUTER WALLS.

THE FENCE INSTALLATION IS UNDERWAY. IT MAY BE COMPLETE BY NOW.

AROUND THE EXTERIOR BASKETBALL COURT CARPET HAS BEEN INSTALLED AND IS NOW PROTECTED WITH CARDBOARD FOR PRESERVATION, WHICH WAS A REALLY GOOD IDEA. PLUMBING FIXTURES ARE BEING INSTALLED THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING AND INTERIOR DOORS AND HARDWARE ARE BEING FITTED.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS AT THAT LOCATION BECAUSE NOW THE CONSTRUCTION MEETINGS ARE BEING HELD IN THE LIBRARY SPACE, SO IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THAT COME TOGETHER, THAT IS MOVING TOGETHER, PROBABLY WILL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN APRIL AT SOME POINT. I DON'T HAVE A DATE, BUT IT'S IT'S MOVING, MOVING QUICKLY.

SO WE'RE HAPPY TO BE GETTING THOSE THOSE FACILITIES OPEN AND WORKING WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN AMAZING, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO PARTNER ON THAT PROJECT. THE OTHER MAJOR PROJECT WE'RE WORKING ON IS THE ABILENE HERITAGE SQUARE.

I CAN GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THAT GIGANTIC PROJECT TO AUDITORIUM SEATING IS NOW INSTALLED.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE BUILDING BEFORE. THE AUDITORIUM SEATING IS NOT THE ORIGINAL SEATING.

IT IS SIMILAR TO THE ORIGINAL SEATING, BUT THE SEATS ARE WIDER.

THEY'RE NOT BUILT FOR CHILDREN, SO ADULTS CAN SIT IN THEM AND THEY'RE MORE COMFORTABLE.

BUT THEY DID KEEP THE END PANELS THAT SAY HHS ON THEM.

SO IT'S IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY NEAT ONCE THE FLOORING GETS IN THERE.

AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING PLASTER RESTORATION THERE AS WELL. THAT WAS EXCITING TO SEE.

THE WINDOW MUNTINS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. I HAD TO LOOK UP WHAT A MUNTIN WAS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL KNOW THAT, BUT IT'S THE VERTICAL DIVIDERS THAT SEPARATE GLASS PANES IN A WINDOW.

SO THEY'RE ALL THE THE LITTLE DIVISIONS OF THE WINDOW.

AND CEILING INSTALLATION CONTINUES. THERE'S A LOT OF INTERIOR FINISH WORK.

AND IF YOU DRIVE BY THE SOUTH AND THE SOUTHWEST PARKING LOTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND THEY'VE BEEN STRIPED.

THEY ALSO HAVE HISTORIC LOOKING LAMPPOSTS IN THE PARKING LOTS THAT LOOK REALLY GREAT.

IF YOU HAPPEN TO DRIVE BY THE SITE AND TAKE A LOOK.

STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH MUSEUM ARTS INCORPORATED OUT OF DALLAS FOR THE FABRICATION, DELIVERY AND INSTALLATION EVENTUALLY OF DESIGN ELEMENTS IN THE CHILDREN'S STORYTIME AREA.

THE THEME OF THE AREA IS GOING TO BE A STORYBOOK FOREST.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY FUN AND MAGICAL. AND THEY'RE THEY DO ALL THE EXHIBITS FOR THE SPARK SCIENCE CENTER AT ABILENE HERITAGE SQUARE WHICH INCLUDES A T-REX AND ALL KINDS OF EXHIBITS.

SO THEY'RE VERY, VERY SKILLED AT MAKING CREATIVE SPACES FOR KIDS.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO WORK ON THAT PROJECT. SCHEDULE REMAINS ON SCHEDULE, SO MARCH 12TH SHOULD BE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.

MARCH 13TH. SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION MARCH 16TH.

OWNER MOVE IN BEGINS. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE LIBRARY IS GOING TO CLOSE AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO START MOVING BOOKS ON THAT DAY, BUT WE CAN START MOVING ITEMS IN. IT WILL PROBABLY BE CLOSER TO THE END OF MARCH OR EARLY APRIL BEFORE WE CLOSE THE MAIN LIBRARY, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE IT CLOSED ANY LONGER THAN WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO.

AND SO WE'LL GIVE YOU UPDATES ONCE WE GET A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THAT.

APRIL 10TH IS FINAL COMPLETION AND MAY 18TH. IF YOU WANT TO MARK YOUR CALENDARS AS THE GRAND PUBLIC OPENING.

I DON'T HAVE TIMES ON THAT DAY YET, BUT JUST HOLD THAT DAY.

BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF FUN THINGS AND PROBABLY MULTIPLE RIBBON CUTTINGS FOR THE CAMPUS.

SO IT'S VERY EXCITING PROJECT AND CAN'T WAIT FOR Y'ALL TO SEE IT.

WAIT. DID ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO THANK YOU. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THIS BOARD.

THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.