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Fort Worth Library Advisory Board reports higher circulation, backs downtown branch and 2026 bond
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Summary
Melissa Scott, chair of the Fort Worth Library Advisory Board, told the Community Development Committee on Oct. 21 that the now fully seated board has increased outreach, highlighted popular branch programs and said it will support planning for a new downtown library and 2026 bond initiatives.
The Community Development Committee heard the Fort Worth Library Advisory Board annual report on Oct. 21. Melissa Scott, who identified herself as chair of the board, told the committee the board is fully seated and is focusing on advocacy, branch engagement and strategic planning.
Scott said the board’s formal charge is to advise library staff on budget and mission issues and to act as advocates and sounding boards. "My name is Melissa Scott, I'm the chair of the library advisory board," she said, and thanked council members for appointing board members, which helped the board meet quorum goals.
Scott outlined three annual priorities: honor the board’s charge and assist on budget and mission questions; maintain a healthy and proactive board through regular attendance and outreach; and enhance understanding of library services so members can better advocate for branches and programs. She described rotating the board’s bimonthly meetings through different branches to observe programs and operations firsthand and to learn about collection management and staffing allocation.
Scott gave examples of programs the board has supported or attended, including Clyburn piano concerts and a musical story time featuring a Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra member; robotics and taiko drumming programs; adult painting workshops; Neighborhood Night Out at Reebie Carey Library; a groundbreaking at Sundara Springs branch; and a family SpongeBob program at Northwest Regional Library. She said such events help the board understand community needs and amplify library initiatives.
On future plans, Scott said the board will engage in a five-year strategic planning process, participate in planning for a new downtown library branch and support the 2026 bond initiatives that she said would enable expansion and innovation across the system. "We stand ready and willing to support the 2026 bond initiatives," she said.
During follow-up, committee members commended the library’s work and noted preliminary numbers indicating growth. Scott said materials checked out across the system amount to roughly "5 items per resident of the city of Fort Worth," and members described attendance at library programs as "robust." When asked how to obtain a library card, Scott explained patrons can request one at the circulation desk and receive a card within minutes.
The presentation closed with Scott encouraging residents to sign up for library cards and with the committee thanking the board for its report. The board’s next steps include continued branch engagement, participation in strategic planning and support for bond-related work that will go through the council’s future processes.
