Library staff presented metrics from September outreach and several operational updates, including vendor supply disruptions and progress on public-art and Measure P milestones.

Shani Boyd reported on the "Love Your Library" campaign and summarized outreach events. Staff served about 300 patrons at a senior fair, 84 attendees at a Seeds of Hope event at B Street community center, 313 visits at Porch Fest, 150 attendees at a ribbon-cutting at a park, 180 at another park event, 112 at a drum event, and a reported gate count of about 1,300 for the grand celebration. "We attended the senior fair and served 300 patrons there," Boyd said. Staff also described activities such as a read-to-dog meet-and-greet, tattoos and face painting; a face painter completed about 43 children and a henna artist served about 21 people.

On vendor operations, staff reported that Baker and Taylor — a major library vendor — is winding down operations and may be out of business by January. That has led to canceled and unfulfilled standing orders and laid-off staff; the library is moving to set up accounts with other vendors, including Ingram and a vendor identified in the meeting as "Bridal," to reduce public impact. "The impact is in availability of titles. A lot of orders are being canceled," staff said, adding the California State Library and the county consortium are providing guidance and that staff will meet vendors at the California Library Association conference to explore alternatives.

Staff also gave updates on the Pickleweed children's-room mural: the mural design was approved by the Pickleweed Advisory Committee and will go next to the public art review board and, if approved there, to city council.

On Measure P, staff said the City Council on Oct. 6 authorized the city manager to sign a contract with Griffin Structures to serve as project manager for the Pickleweed project; Griffin will help select a design team and run community engagement. Staff said the city will return to the library board to select a representative for a seven-member stakeholder group that will provide a consistent community voice during design and construction.

Personnel and appointments noted included recognition for Jamie for eight years of library service and a forthcoming city-council proclamation in November; Trustee Vedat was reappointed to another four-year term and a new trustee, Michael Polk, is expected to join the board at the next meeting.