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Santa Monica Public Library board hears staffing and program updates; poet laureate announced
Summary
Library staff told the board three new librarians will start in April, outlined schedule changes for story times and youth programs, and announced the selection of Baldwin as the city poet laureate; summer reading runs June 13–Aug. 15.
Library staff updated the Santa Monica Public Library Board on staffing shortfalls, new hires and a slate of spring and summer programs.
At the meeting, presenters said recent retirements and short‑term departures left branches thinly staffed but that three new librarians for youth and family services are slated to start around April 20 to bolster coverage. Staff also described programming adjustments made to avoid turning families away: toddler story time was expanded to two back‑to‑back sessions on Tuesdays, baby time moved to midweek, and a monthly “library playdate” for caregivers has been introduced with plans to expand once new hires are onboarded.
The presenters highlighted several youth offerings and outreach efforts, including a monthly Pokémon gaming program supported by ALA branch donations, an expanded bilingual capacity to resume Quentos (Spanish story time), and pop‑up outreach such as a beach pop‑up library and a Pride Month popup on Third Street Promenade. Staff invited board members to a Pajama Story Time with Mayor Terosis on April 29 at the Fair View branch and previewed the summer reading program (June 13–Aug. 15) with a birthday‑party theme and a kickoff event on June 13.
Staff introduced recent personnel moves and new hires: Eningga Chopra was noted for a recent promotion among youth staff; Debbie Glasser was introduced as a librarian with collections and patron services experience; and Thomas Alexander, a recent MLIS graduate, will focus on local‑history archives. Presenters said the new hires and redistributed coverage are intended to reduce cancellations and broaden bilingual and branch coverage.
The board and staff also recapped Santa Monica Reads and an author talk that required an interpreter, and described outreach events tied to the Arts & Literacy Festival and the Fierce Friday preview for young adult authors.
Staff announced the city’s new poet laureate (referred to in the meeting transcript as both “Jay” and “Jade” Baldwin), who will serve a two‑year term and collaborate with library programming. Baldwin — who uses they/them pronouns — wrote in materials shared with staff, “Libraries and poetries are deeply intertwined as sites of activism and community building,” a line staff read aloud to the board.
Board members thanked staff for the programming and for efforts to shore up branch coverage; no formal board action was required for the programming updates. The board moved on after a brief question period about outreach partners and schedules.
