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

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.