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Carmel trustees get Harris Memorial restoration update; unanimously change account signatory
Summary
At a September meeting of the Carmel-by-the-Sea Library Board of Trustees, members received a progress report on the Harris Memorial Library restoration project and unanimously approved removing former director Ashley Wright from the library's Wells Fargo checking account and adding acting director Katie as an authorized user.
At a September meeting of the Carmel-by-the-Sea Library Board of Trustees, members received a progress report on the Harris Memorial Library restoration project and unanimously approved removing former director Ashley Wright from the library's Wells Fargo checking account and adding acting director Katie as an authorized user.
The board heard fundraising and community-engagement updates from the Carmel Public Library Foundation and operational metrics from the library's acting director. Mary Jo Williams, a trustee, described the first restoration community session as successful; foundation representative Alex said the foundation has raised just over $9,000,000 toward an estimated $17.5 million goal for the capital campaign.
Katie, acting library director, presented the August librarian's report and several usage trends. "Our physical circulation is down a little bit about 6% but our electronic checkouts are up considerably, they're up 20% over last year," Katie said. She also reported that patron registration figures looked lower than last year because online registration used in the prior year has been discontinued, that visitor counts are up, youth services attendance is "almost a 12% increase," and that summer reading program attendance rose notably. The trustees thanked Sierra, the teen librarian, for work on teen programming.
Mary Jo Williams and foundation representative Alex outlined the restoration project's next engagement steps. The Carmel Public Library Foundation is finalizing plans for a board retreat on Sept. 30 during which architect principal Buzz Udell and the library consultant Susan Kent will present. The foundation has scheduled a second community workshop for Oct. 1 at Carpenter Hall to gather further public feedback.
Trustees said work to identify a temporary location for library services is ongoing. Williams said the board and staff are evaluating two primary temporary-site options and a third location under renewed consideration; formal proposals are expected in the coming months. The board also noted that Melinda Cervantes is scheduled to begin as interim library director on Oct. 1.
Operational and administrative items: the treasurer's report was deferred because the bookkeeper's August information was not received; the trustees agreed to review it at the next meeting. The board confirmed tentative future meeting dates of Oct. 22 and Dec. 3 but said dates would be double-checked and formally circulated.
Votes at a glance — - Approval of minutes for Aug. 27, 2025: Approved (vote recorded: Marie Claire Gorham — yes; Donna Jett — yes; Mary Jo Williams — yes). Motion and second recorded at the meeting. - Motion to remove Ashley Wright from the library Wells Fargo checking account and add Katie as an authorized user: Approved (vote recorded: Marie Claire Gorham — yes; Donna Jett — yes; Mary Jo Williams — yes). The board cited a new bank requirement that changes to signatories be authorized by a governing-body motion.
What’s next: Foundation and staff will continue community outreach and present additional restoration materials at the Oct. 1 workshop; trustees will follow up with formal temporary-location proposals and the deferred treasurer's report at the next scheduled meeting.
