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Library staff report $10,000 Carnegie gift, Baker & Taylor disruption and upcoming RFID contract
Summary
Staff told the South Pasadena Library Board that the Carnegie Corporation plans a $10,000 gift, major vendor Baker & Taylor has abruptly ceased operations causing supply chain problems, and an RFID conversion contract will be brought to City Council in January.
Library staff used the board—s Dec. 16, 2025 special meeting to brief trustees on several operational items that could affect services in 2026.
Carnegie Corporation gift: Staff said the Carnegie Corporation is issuing a one-time $10,000 gift to libraries that identify as Carnegie libraries as part of its anniversary activities and that the city will hold any funds on the library—s behalf. "Carnegie Corporation is giving out $10,000 to the 1,200 or so libraries in the country that still associate themselves with Carnegie," staff said.
Vendor disruption: Staff alerted trustees that national vendor Baker & Taylor "went out of business very abruptly and, almost with no communication," leaving libraries to cancel or reconfigure orders and to find alternate suppliers. The board was told staff are testing orders with Ingram and buying some materials from other sources, including Amazon, while they map a longer-term solution. Staff emphasized the operational burden: Baker & Taylor provided not only materials but processing and cataloging services the library now must replace.
RFID conversion and contracts: Staff said the library will present an award of contracts to the City Council in January for an RFID conversion project that includes new self-check machines, security gates, new checkout machines and retagging of the collection (staff estimated roughly 100,000 items). Jenny Rodriguez, identified in the meeting as the support services librarian, has taken the lead on the effort. Staff said the project will require labor for retagging and will likely use trained volunteers for part of the work.
New library project and bond feasibility: Trustees received an update on the library/senior center site plan and on city work to assess the feasibility of an $80M–$90M bond measure; staff said the council—s consultant is surveying support and that if the council allocates a portion (the transcript used $15,000,000 as an illustrative figure) that would influence fundraising and project scope. Trustees cautioned the board to distinguish educational information from advocacy if the city places a ballot measure.
What happens next: staff said they will take the RFID contract to council in January and continue testing vendor relationships with Ingram; they will also update communications about the Carnegie gift and continue planning for the library project pending council bond decisions.
