Library advisory committee approves concise branch-update format, endorses more unscheduled site visits

The Laredo Library Advisory Committee approved the meeting minutes with an added note that the committee will adopt a new, concise format for branch updates and discussed an interim staff member’s approach to making more frequent, unscheduled branch visits.

Committee members said the new format is intended as an “elevator pitch” style summary for each branch to help members and advocates quickly report highlights to council members or partners. A staff presenter explained, “this is for you. It's for committee use. If it doesn't help you do what you need to do or to know what you need to know, then we need to change this.”

Committee members debated how the new format differs from the previous checklist-style reports and agreed to add the format to the minutes so members not present at the earlier meeting could review it. One committee member moved to approve the March minutes with the discussed correction; another seconded the motion and the committee voted to approve the minutes as amended.

Staff described the branch-visit practice that will accompany the new reports. Ms. Pedersen, an interim staff member, said she intends to visit branches more than once a month when possible and to vary the visit schedule so staff and services are observed at different times and events. She said she does not use a fixed schedule, but stops by branches when she is attending other meetings or when issues (for example, an air-conditioning problem) are reported.

Committee members praised the concise format as easier to use and urged that visit counts and other data remain available for future presentations to the city council. One member asked Ms. Pedersen to ensure visit numbers are stored so the committee can use them in future reports.

The committee confirmed there were no public comments on this item during the meeting.