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Library board authorizes staff to finalize foundation grant contracts for Council review
Summary
Trustees approved a proposal to accept NPL Foundation grant breakdowns for FY26 and authorized the director to finalize amounts and work with Metro Legal to file grant contracts with Metro Council; the board noted final contracts still require Council approval.
The Nashville Public Library Board voted to approve bringing the foundation’s proposed grant contracts forward and granted the director authority to finalize numbers and submit legislation to Metro Council for approval.
Director described a new process in which the Nashville Public Library Foundation (NPLF) provides a breakdown of intended expenditures for FY26 and the library board approves the package before staff work with Metro Legal to file grant contracts with Council. Staff said some minor calculation discrepancies in the board packet will be corrected before the Council filing.
Board discussion clarified that Council must still approve grant contracts for the library to legally accept foundation funds. A city attorney noted that without Council’s approval there is no mechanism for the library to accept the foundation’s dollars. Trustees asked about an appeals or resubmission process should Council deny a grant; staff said the library could refile legislation or seek to separate grants if Council had objections.
The board voted in favor of approving the grant contracts as a packet and granting staff authority to finalize amounts; the motion passed by voice vote. Staff and foundation representatives said they will coordinate closely with the mayor’s office and council committees before the Council review.
What happens next: staff will correct packet calculations, draft the Council legislation as a single packet, and pursue committee briefings with Council and the mayor’s office.
