[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6306881,"mediaKeyId","2436153-257b347222a6ba39f5cdf7dcfb06e461","parentId",2436153,"title","Laredo Book Festival to return in December with a focus on children’s authors and family programming","audioSeconds",166,"startMs",4474000,"endMs",4640000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2436153-257b347222a6ba39f5cdf7dcfb06e461&start=4474&end=4640","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2436153-257b347222a6ba39f5cdf7dcfb06e461/thumbnail_4474000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6306881/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Laredo-Book-Festival-to-return-in-December-with-a-focus-on-childrens-authors-and-family-programming","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6306881-2fac1b752262fccea9c91d90e27bbafd/orig.mp4?Expires=1775096566&Signature=E1uBOHFCs~Kx4FypDEP-7E7aNMwJ1coWCKF29ZJ2-AZ~y11MTryq1H2MROHBeVB4U8BKn~NCK5MRPwBKHZogLPqhG190KsYaV80lxc1ZRTbLt-OLcysvq-9fMOfmyHlJtf-3EFOtLddwSwz4dTgE5jiWmaniNmnO~qcH2kw0g4OSKpE3w90xE-TLf0Bvkuhtuv1nOvgvYSeNfnsXeZwNgbWAzSzlMp7uCLbMdDZ71tgnqyEDJRI6TltuqCawlepyTyfElEBTMwHv3O2TIxZQHQ1lU3269NbKmmBDc2xqeXjs-6Gx~~o2EX8bKbvwRP0Sc2EZq7UArK6E8B0XEmYAcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Laredo, Texas","date","2025-02-27T15:48:42Z","article","Committee members were told that the Laredo Book Festival — a pre-pandemic event that previously drew large family attendance — will return this December with an emphasis on children’s authors and interactive programming. The revival effort is led by library staff working with community volunteers and organizers who said focusing on children's programming yields the highest turnout for family-focused events.

A committee member credited Jackie Flores with earlier efforts to run the festival and said staff intend to expand outreach to authors across Texas and to writers from communities south of the border. The plan for the immediate revival prioritizes interactive activities for children, family-oriented performances and author booths; the committee discussed auxiliary offerings for teens and adults placed in separate program areas so family activities remain central.

Committee members volunteered to assist with outreach and author recruitment; staff said they will bring further details and volunteer opportunities to future meetings as planning progresses.

The committee asked staff to coordinate PIO support and cross-department assistance as the festival’s planning advances.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Public Library Advisory Committee Meeting, 02/26/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Organizers told the advisory committee the Laredo Book Festival will be revived in December, focusing on children’s authors and interactive family activities to drive attendance and community engagement.","taxTitle","Laredo, Webb County, Texas","taxId",2820,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6306883,"Committee debates branch checklist and director visibility after phone/address and PA problems at branches",291,565000,856000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2436153-257b347222a6ba39f5cdf7dcfb06e461&start=565&end=856","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2436153-257b347222a6ba39f5cdf7dcfb06e461/thumbnail_565000.jpg","/articles/6306883/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Committee-debates-branch-checklist-and-director-visibility-after-phoneaddress-and-PA-problems-at-branches","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6306883-6d7c0b3007b8aa7ea9c0a32c90a01e1e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775096566&Signature=jhoGLIirJMUZ5R5UgDtzh0ORtfTZm7Q9IPA9L4uP7KFFlt935o6oozskf~GX~yBZJ~XBjL7hSUSxFaHBbW7CFq9MzesMTd9LhYauJBH5j9Q5vzq8teKKOdJPwublJ4Ue6w3wh5tJ~7kNyRUxCLNookSnEfgL~slfgU-Iu7OM1DLOww14lwJpdyhvylSfB6cr5XizqUpLOCyxzA0cj1Wm2Wu3gt3NGXzcc2t8K6YAsD74GOZh2A3zuqcx0llHjQvpSbeUd86RQrvUa6KIyCiIgoQSC0itzPxQyHk0t8tSVPyxwQfzHzXDelrAsr4luRFPveieuB11VpWP~EJMxl7YdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Laredo Library Advisory Committee debated how the committee should review branch condition and performance, pressing library leadership for more visible on-site presence and a revised checklist that highlights major problems rather than routine items.

Committee members asked that branch reports focus on facility, safety and staffing items that require advisory help or city action, rather than a long checklist of routine items. An interim library director told the committee she plans to visit library branches for large events, security issues or specific facilities problems and proposed providing a condensed monthly summary that highlights top successes and significant unresolved challenges.

Safety and facilities: Committee members raised a recent incident at Grueney Plaza where 911 call/address routing failed on one occasion; staff said the problem has been resolved but added that branches will verify emergency-address registration on a quarterly basis. Members also described repeated issues with a PA system at one branch; a visiting artist said she would not hold future events at that branch after a recent malfunction. Other facility items mentioned included exterior lighting outages and recurring HVAC problems; staff said those would be escalated to facilities management when repairs do not proceed.

Committee members recommended the director and library leadership maintain regular, visible in-person contact with branch managers, not just virtual check-ins, and to bring a small number of high-priority items to the advisory committee that may require council or interdepartmental assistance. The committee asked staff to pilot a condensed monthly report that would highlight up to three major successes and three major problems per branch, with supporting context and recommended actions.

The committee also discussed whether the library’s administrative alignment under the health department (discussed elsewhere in the meeting) would change operational procedures; staff said the library remains a standalone department with operational autonomy despite reporting administratively to the health department at this time.

Members agreed to review the proposed condensed checklist and sample branch report at the next meeting.","Advisory members asked staff to change the branch-checklist format to emphasize major successes and safety or facility problems, and pressed for greater director visibility after a reported 911/address mishap and recurring sound-system and lighting issues at branches.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6306888,"Laredo Library advisory committee approves annual report and 2022–26 strategic plan; traffic, digital checkouts rise",599,2781000,3380000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2436153-257b347222a6ba39f5cdf7dcfb06e461&start=2781&end=3380","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2436153-257b347222a6ba39f5cdf7dcfb06e461/thumbnail_2781000.jpg","/articles/6306888/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Laredo-Library-advisory-committee-approves-annual-report-and-202226-strategic-plan-traffic-digital-checkouts-rise","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6306888-eb054459d0b06e78747229c643daa032/orig.mp4?Expires=1775096566&Signature=A4gkHYuopzQWpcxvTe0dDXFBRsdwYsFiTQzAepW8LkLpBUfJD32yAWNor4t~PCacRUa2YHMhmaAtB3KLpTIEJahcgGS9Jf0CugVHVEw0X2rEI1D3TdeLZH~UxaB03ShC4z-wZXmtUmoa-zdx4v2SY7gEJCqSVtL0oUrMz0pI5RueGKGMNgFEoAZuzjxDMf1zgURkQ9f8FZY--kbgMja3v02nFpueB6LOUNvEmuGSYoUZfgulWH9SuZkenEKXUkDCTqd2fBygU0Vr4R0MYadMJs018T~5b4~Um2z-pb9ahYvWOrBpDQXetJdhs3edGMA5BcuDgIwsI5Upsn25cqhoyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Laredo Library Advisory Committee voted to approve the library’s annual report for fiscal 2023–24 and to confirm the strategic plan through 2026, the committee chair announced at the close of the March meeting.

The annual report, presented by Danielle Burns, summarizes operations from Oct. 2023 through Sept. 2024 and was described as a required submission to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission that enables TexShare borrowing, eligibility for state grants and E-rate funding, and other accreditation benefits. Danielle Burns, library staff and the annual-report presenter, told the committee the system recorded 302,477 visitor entries in the year covered by the report, up from 239,000 the prior year, and that combined e-book and audiobook circulations rose from about 33,000 to more than 71,000.

Why it matters: Committee members said the statistics will be used in budget discussions and in outreach to council members to argue for continued or increased investment in technology, staff and facilities.

During the meeting the committee also approved minutes from the Jan. 29, 2025 meeting and voted to table consideration of an agenda item about a court decision until a judge or the city attorney can attend. Margaret Rubio, identified in the meeting as the leader of the city attorney’s office, advised members that the judge’s concerns that prompted the item do not presently affect Laredo Library operations and recommended tabling until the judge or counsel can appear.

Burns walked members through highlights that the annual report and accreditation provide: TexShare reciprocal borrowing, expanded database access (including professional training platforms such as Udemy), eligibility for state library grants, and E-rate funding for network equipment. She summarized program and attendance figures: more than 300 early-childhood events (about 8,400 attendees), roughly 14,000 student/young-adult program attendees, more than 4,500 young-adult attendees, about 3,600 adult-event attendees and 22,500 family/general-interest attendees. Burns said the annual report and related data inform requests in the city budget process and support grant applications.

Committee discussion touched on how the data can support long-range capital planning, including where to site new branches. A committee member asked whether usage data could be broken down by ZIP code to demonstrate unmet demand in northern neighborhoods; staff said door counters and cardholder data are collected and that analysis by ZIP code is possible but not presented at this meeting.

The chair moved approval of the annual report and the strategic plan; both motions were seconded and carried (the meeting record shows voice approval: “Aye;” individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript).

Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes (Jan. 29, 2025): motion moved and seconded; outcome — approved (voice vote: ayes). Note: mover/second identified in the meeting but names not recorded in the transcript excerpt provided.
- Tabled item: communication about a court decision (Hatchet Book Group Inc. v. Internet Archive): motion to table made and seconded; outcome — tabled. Note: city attorney advised the matter does not currently affect Laredo libraries and recommended re-tabling until the judge or counsel can attend.
- Annual report (Fiscal 2023–24): motion to approve made and seconded; outcome — approved (voice vote: ayes). Presenter: Danielle Burns.
- Strategic Plan 2022–2026: motion to approve made and seconded; outcome — approved (voice vote: ayes). The committee noted the plan will be revisited when staff begin the next multi-year planning process.

Committee members and staff said the report’s usage metrics — especially the large increase in digital checkouts and the rise in facility visits — will be used to support requests for technology funding, program support, and leadership positions. Burns and other staff said accreditation-related benefits (TexShare, state grants, E-rate) reduce costs for the library and expand services available to patrons.

The meeting record shows no roll-call vote tallies in the transcript excerpt; outcomes were recorded by voice vote. The committee set a follow-up agenda to include revised branch checklists and a proposal for a condensed monthly summary format for advisory review.","The committee voted to approve the library annual report and the strategic plan covering 2022–2026, and approved minutes from the Jan. 29 meeting. Staff reported a rise in building visits and digital circulations that inform future funding priorities.","actionData","errors"]

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Laredo Book Festival to return in December with a focus on children’s authors and family programming

Committee debates branch checklist and director visibility after phone/address and PA problems at branches

Laredo Library advisory committee approves annual report and 2022–26 strategic plan; traffic, digital checkouts rise