[{"_1":2,"_107":-5,"_108":-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",[32,74,86,96],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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,"_72":71,"_73":71},"mediaId",6153442,"mediaKeyId","5492989-4d8519e818d17f8ce261a1e179a50972","parentId",5492989,"title","Contracts committee approves $1.5 million option year with OverDrive for digital content","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2246000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5492989-4d8519e818d17f8ce261a1e179a50972&start=2246&end=2246","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5492989-4d8519e818d17f8ce261a1e179a50972/thumbnail_2246000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6153442/Contracts-committee-approves-15-million-option-year-with-OverDrive-for-digital-content","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153442-33fbde3603c539dedbb902501f6056da/orig.mp4?Expires=1770486979&Signature=Q2o8vivwxO5fPY5SqsgTfvUv9kgOp3biG9PeObaHuu1v7WkDILUxJkhP3QDT9xGi34wCDFnMoSD0box02k4bmd65wrmKhsG1GCM~LOZsEp0ijA9VH3tPxVH7191bu5RJxG66t6n4cllDjot3yxgIBrxaJDvqB0ypZ5CMMF5dcTunihlAdIax1Z4nJF23y4i64mG3hLbZRMN2oq6~sbSgXnihtbLjkK2Ilw9aRq3rHm0ysgxICs0FhucRlV1B8Ps~EugpFi94sW2BwsjFW2-mTPtJ4U8HVvJ8WjU9QQTBVB7Btrqiww3kYqhD6R785JzbU4IrUqeXTFPJSZKOAIvVCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","DC Public Library","date","2025-07-17T10:54:26Z","article","The library’s Contracts Review Committee voted to approve contract package DCPL2022C0002, the digital content services option year with OverDrive Inc., according to a report to the full board.

Maria (committee report) said the option-year contract is for $1,500,000 to cover Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026. OverDrive provides a digital platform that enables the library to lend audiobooks, ebooks, streaming video, magazines and other digital materials.

Why it matters: the contract keeps the library’s primary digital-content platform in place and funds availability of popular electronic materials.

Ending: the committee report concluded with no additional questions from trustees.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DC Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting [July 16, 2025]","oneSentenceSummary","The contracts review committee approved option year four of the library’s digital content services contract with OverDrive Inc. for $1.5 million, covering Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026.","taxTitle","DC Public Library, Agencies, Organizations, Executive, District of Columbia","taxId",72477,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":71,"_73":71},6153447,"Union and staff press trustees to oversee $2 million in capital fixes after safety incidents",363,399000,762000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5492989-4d8519e818d17f8ce261a1e179a50972&start=399&end=762","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5492989-4d8519e818d17f8ce261a1e179a50972/thumbnail_399000.jpg","/articles/6153447/Union-and-staff-press-trustees-to-oversee-2-million-in-capital-fixes-after-safety-incidents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153447-383e96b4aba6dc36823e1a87d933863b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770486979&Signature=CxQ5GpgcOu8ZfJtI5qXK1SMhE4kbmdqArWx8CD~HBh8jItlNowfgmCETR60BfNKE-Xupy65tOHpFwtqhQO01AvVfVSdrWpgHZ4PTSFfgpFgCauMcFwGVyc3LKxnWejcO2sn0sgZfApnHwGy8cnTzDllmtbRsZx23Mk1l1P9X22V9kitvX0RIMVXEjwnXKxHnujvhyG85J4g4aD-Ux3vE6c2uGog5oa6vkfsaUq60h2LywKy40IMIKTyyJQFEGUrHyppdb0y-3J1AiWneMhb~OW3QdxY6bVljhJKXn3Tgz1HkElJ1XgslM-wrBwyoIl08cnnA8DExS3h9949zDc208g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Union leadership and staff used the public comment period and executive director’s report to press trustees for immediate oversight of capital repairs after chronic facilities problems and recent safety incidents.

Yonah Brumberg Gaber, president of Ask Me Local 18 o 8, said $2,000,000 added to the capital general improvements budget could allow many ADA audit recommendations to be implemented in a single year if the money is spent properly. They asked the board and management for “detailed oversight” given a pattern of projects that have failed to follow through.

William Reed, a library associate at the MLK branch, described a suicide in the stairwell on Dec. 13, 2024, and said evacuation maps and other fire-safety documentation at MLK were out of compliance; he said management only moved after he reported issues to DC Fire and the Office of Risk Management. Reed also described contractors causing a roof fire while patrons were present and said some reopened buildings still had incomplete HVAC work. He said Northeast Library has been operating without an elevator for four months.

Library leadership confirmed $2,000,000 in general improvements in the FY26 budget and said the funds will be used for HVAC, elevators, doors and other repairs. Trustees and staff reiterated that some project money has been swapped between funding sources (general obligation bonds versus ARPA), and that land acquisition would be executed by DGS if needed; the library does not have authority to buy land.

Why it matters: staff safety incidents and persistent accessibility problems were highlighted as reasons to pair enforcement and behavioral policies with concrete, supervised capital work.

Ending: union and staff asked trustees to work with management to compile a comprehensive list of outstanding repairs and to track project completion once funds are available.","Union leaders and a longtime library worker told trustees about repeated HVAC failures, elevator outages and a recent contractor-caused roof fire, and urged the board to ensure the $2 million in general improvements is spent to resolve persistent safety and accessibility problems.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":42,"_43":89,"_45":89,"_46":90,"_48":91,"_50":92,"_52":93,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":94,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":95,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":71,"_73":71},6153453,"FY26 budget would add about 75 library positions and boost collections, board told",994000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5492989-4d8519e818d17f8ce261a1e179a50972&start=994&end=994","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5492989-4d8519e818d17f8ce261a1e179a50972/thumbnail_994000.jpg","/articles/6153453/FY26-budget-would-add-about-75-library-positions-and-boost-collections-board-told","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153453-b65b684d56e895436ffef6eedec807d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770486980&Signature=YcGVqtSczYgywXjozwQOG5TaMghqNTNciqCQDGUBAplv5Yo0yLLXUYOQ2dpXGXWfTpCDzlWQA7AHlflsIeWCmZZCbb~f0Cl-aKWXDVqJScSbDa36alH2wOUBlvgeZpjA6hr7GkVggmapsH994uk~i0XwCL5ltW7Z6uEVZ0QF2ADvuJ7GnLr7r6HWJWDSxlP~~0mbsol11waJF8fLWF~AbIQ5SHj6fLo2Ocbs2LgB9Lo-qJckwcrR1F-kBqzdFAXOmVSIA~v6tdgQ94QcCua7rXqkSTP7JCu5EwW3-Ip-mwNs1boAsxY1sBqvv5bjM6QxicW~mpzf5Wn4mxHjUA-Wjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Library leadership told the Board of Trustees that an initial DC Council vote on the FY26 budget would restore and add staff and increase the collections budget.

Rich, the library’s executive director, said it now “seems very likely that we will gain up to 50 staff members next year” and that the system would also fill 25 positions that had been proposed for elimination, for a total increase of roughly 75 staff. He summarized that as a roughly $6.5 million increase to personnel costs to maintain service hours and branch-level programming.

Rich also said the collections budget would rise from a baseline of $4.7 million to $5.5 million for FY26, including $300,000 appropriated for the new Southeast Library. He cautioned that some increases were one-time and that FY27 planning would begin soon. The board was told there is $2 million for capital general improvements to address long-standing HVAC, elevator and door repairs.

Finance staff reported that approximately $4–4.45 million in non-lapsing account balances (collections, Books from Birth, revenue-generating accounts) had been swept into the city’s supplemental budget; speakers used slightly different figures in discussion. The mayor’s hiring/order requiring waivers for hiring and certain expenditures remains in effect; finance staff said only a small number of positions currently have waivers and hiring remains constrained.

Why it matters: the staffing and collections increases would expand branch service and programming, and the capital improvements funding was cited by union leaders and staff as necessary to fix persistent safety and accessibility problems.

Next steps: the DC Council scheduled a second budget vote at the end of July; library staff said implementation details and hiring timelines will depend on city waivers and final council action.","Library officials told trustees the DC Council's initial FY26 budget vote would restore or add roughly 75 positions, increase collections spending and provide $2 million for general improvements; trustees noted hiring remains constrained by a mayoral waiver process.",{"_33":97,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":98,"_41":99,"_43":100,"_45":79,"_46":101,"_48":102,"_50":103,"_52":104,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":105,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":106,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":71,"_73":71},6153457,"Library board adopts code of conduct after public objections over homelessness enforcement",433,329000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5492989-4d8519e818d17f8ce261a1e179a50972&start=329&end=762","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5492989-4d8519e818d17f8ce261a1e179a50972/thumbnail_329000.jpg","/articles/6153457/Library-board-adopts-code-of-conduct-after-public-objections-over-homelessness-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153457-b4dbdcac792f5044b1cebb47ad8684b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770486980&Signature=ZyUf8WbzCpsy91RPZRQqubo3TUU~LbUHf94uBm8EeiYJuLBIy0xexe0xl7M7ddaf-faDDuEYBrcw6GdDrvO4fqyS9ApztXghemG~leEORczcdBwz3Zb8cZCnyWHeH60KKJ2eqw57Fa6~8wV0OcvyhTOEy2y7djMLuDwl5YsNE-KigUthjj8ceRtNtJ7Yyuyw4dcjhR2w-XOr0IBa7gu-Xpl-a2ufHIEVNr3EsScH-qZLBZhDXVjbbVNlCKWomqqZp20vi0lBaBtBe7m9jWgs6hmLNoM45pIWojF8kEhSP7G5Ke-jtE~SsgWYku-sxRFpZBNCfFxFj8~Xa~jyeaSsLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a July meeting of the District of Columbia Public Library Board of Trustees, the board voted to adopt a new library code of conduct despite public comments that the policy would disproportionately harm people experiencing homelessness.

The vote came after three public speakers urged the board to delay or change the policy. Caster Ide, speaking for Stop the Sweeps, said the group and a petition of 1,462 signers “strongly disagree with the implementation and changed enforcement of library policies that disproportionately impact unhoused people.” Yonah Brumberg Gaber, president of Ask Me Local 18 o 8, acknowledged staffing gains in the FY26 budget but asked the board to provide “detailed oversight” of capital projects tied to accessibility and safety. William Reed, a library associate at MLK branch, recounted responding to a suicide and said the library had not addressed persistent fire-code and evacuation-map issues; he told trustees, “When there aren't enough shelter beds, how can we be throwing people out into the rain at a building named after doctor King? It's outrageous.”

Board discussion distinguished the written policy decision from broader city responsibilities. The presiding trustee acknowledged public concern and said the board could adopt a code of conduct while continuing to advocate for services for people experiencing homelessness.

Formal action: a motion to adopt the code of conduct policy was made and seconded; the motion carried. The chair recorded affirmative votes for Roswell Encina, Maria Peace and Brian Williams and stated the motion passed by the present majority.

Why it matters: trustees approved a governance document that will guide staff enforcement at branches across the city while public commenters and staff say enforcement will fall hardest on people with housing instability and that several buildings still require safety and accessibility repairs.

Background and next steps: trustees said the policy had been through committee and public engagement over about a year. Public commenters and the union asked the board to participate in oversight of capital repairs funded in the FY26 budget.

Ending: The board adopted the policy at the meeting and did not delay action; trustees and staff stated they will continue work on budget and facilities implementation in coming months.","The DC Public Library Board of Trustees voted to adopt a new code of conduct after public comment from union representatives and staff who said the policy would disproportionately affect people experiencing homelessness and came without adequate safety fixes at some branches.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Contracts committee approves $1.5 million option year with OverDrive for digital content

Union and staff press trustees to oversee $2 million in capital fixes after safety incidents

FY26 budget would add about 75 library positions and boost collections, board told

Library board adopts code of conduct after public objections over homelessness enforcement