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Palestine Public Library board approves joining Carnegie Libraries of Texas coalition; approves planning steps
Summary
The Palestine Public Library Board voted to let the library join a statewide coalition of Carnegie libraries that plans to seek state appropriations; the board also approved minutes, a rescheduled April meeting date and development of a five-year strategic plan.
At a library board meeting, the Palestine Public Library Board voted to allow the Palestine Public Library to join the Carnegie Libraries of Texas coalition, a group that plans to seek a state appropriation to support Carnegie libraries across Texas.
Board members said the coalition aims to submit an appropriations request to the Texas Legislature for $5 million, to be distributed to libraries in the coalition (the proposal discussed at the meeting indicated amounts up to $1 million per library). The board approved the library joining the coalition by voice vote.
A board member who introduced the item said Anne Fittman contacted the board about the coalition and later provided a written letter. "This is very exciting," the board member said during the discussion. The board member described the coalition as a loose partnership of Carnegie libraries across the state that will gather signatures and coordinate submission of a legislative funding request.
In other formal actions, the board approved the minutes of its Feb. 11, 2025 meeting with an amendment to the title at the bottom of the minutes; the motion to approve the minutes was made by Tyler and seconded by David. The board also voted to reschedule its April meeting to April 15, 2025; the motion to move the meeting was made by Mr. David and seconded by Lynn. Finally, the board approved a motion for library board members to develop a strategic five-year plan beginning in 2025 rather than hiring external consultants; the motion was seconded by Morgan.
Votes at a glance
- Approve minutes of 02/11/2025 meeting (motion: approve minutes with amended title). Mover: Tyler. Second: David. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Allow Palestine Public Library to join the Carnegie Libraries of Texas coalition (motion: approve library joining coalition). Mover: not specified in transcript. Second: not specified in transcript. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Reschedule April meeting to 04/15/2025 (motion: change meeting date). Mover: Mr. David. Second: Lynn. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Direct board members to develop a strategic five-year plan beginning in 2025 (motion: develop plan in-house; do not hire consultants). Mover: not specified in transcript. Second: Morgan. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
Board members and staff said coalition organizers will collect signatures and then submit the legislative request; the board did not specify a timeline for any application or how the library would use any potential appropriation. The board did not record a roll-call vote with member-by-member tallies in the meeting record for these items.
