OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Alameda Library Board Regular Meeting – September 9, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, September 9, 2026
BodyAlameda, California
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, September 9, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 20:22

Transcript — Verbatim
0:12

So this part I'm not sure this is the part that Lori does, but I guess there's a special um library board meeting closed session beginning now.

0:22

Yeah.

0:23

So I don't know if you want to so here we can do it.

0:26

I'll do what I do.

0:27

I'll do I'll be all the way through that.

0:29

Okay, so first of all, the roll call.

0:32

I'm just gonna go in, yeah.

0:34

Uh board member battle.

0:36

Yes.

0:37

Conji, your strip clerk here.

0:40

And you're gonna be president today because there's no okay.

0:43

So we don't need friends are given.

0:45

Okay.

0:46

Except for present.

0:47

And then um there is oops.

0:51

Let me make sure I should have the no participants, so we don't have any remote public comment.

0:59

Um, and so the board will adjourn into closed session to consider public employee appointment hiring, the title description, a position to be filled, is library director.

1:08

So we will hit pause on this, and then Amy, we decided that you guys could go into this.

1:18

Okay.

1:22

Okay, so the library board members have returned home photos session, and they discussed uh library director candidates and gave direction to staff.

1:30

So this meeting will be adjourned, right?

1:33

And then we'll go to your regular meeting, and roll call has been noted for present.

1:40

And then we don't have any attendees anywhere, so there's no oral communication or agenda.

1:46

So we're on to the consent calendar already.

1:48

Look at that.

1:49

All right, you guys usually do one motion on the consent calendar?

1:52

We do.

1:53

Okay.

1:54

Thank you all, notice about it.

1:55

Thank you so much, Amy.

1:57

Oh, okay.

2:00

I'm fine.

2:01

Okay.

2:02

Okay, okay.

2:03

Okay.

2:04

Okay, so yeah, and is there a motion on the consent calendar or any discussion?

2:09

I don't know.

2:11

Motion, no?

2:14

Any evidence to the draft minutes?

2:15

Yeah, any draft minutes or move.

2:20

Okay, approved.

2:22

Okay.

2:23

And then all those in favor?

2:25

I uh she knows that the initials when I do.

2:31

Yeah, yeah, she will.

2:32

Thank you.

2:35

Okay.

2:36

So now you're under your regular item.

2:38

Uh 4A is re receiver report from the library director.

2:41

Okay, thanks.

2:42

And I think I'm gonna leave you guys.

2:43

All right, so you don't need me anymore.

2:44

And Maryland, just at the end.

2:46

Yeah, you got it.

2:47

Oops.

2:48

Okay.

2:51

Okay.

2:53

Okay.

2:54

Thank you, Laura.

2:55

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Libraries█████████████████████████████████████████████57%
Procedural██████████████████████28%
Personnel Matters██████7%
LGBTQ Inclusion████5%
Technology and Innovation██3%
Summary of Proceedings

Alameda Library Board Regular Meeting – September 9, 2026

The Alameda Library Board held a regular meeting on September 9, 2026, following a closed session to discuss library director candidates. The board approved the consent calendar, received a director’s report on summer programs and upcoming initiatives, held elections for officers, and discussed staff vacancies.

Consent Calendar

  • The board approved the draft minutes from the previous meeting by a motion and unanimous vote. No other consent items were listed.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made. The meeting had no in-person or remote attendees for oral communication.

Discussion Items

  • Library Director’s Report (Item 4A): The interim library director provided updates:
    • Summer programs saw about a 5% increase in attendance over the previous year. Notable programs included a Baby Raid program with 40 attendees and a first annual Pride event at Bay Farm, featuring drag story time and arts and crafts. The director proactively contacted the police chief due to potential agitators, but the event proceeded without incident. No adverse comments were received.
    • Upcoming: The Alameda Book Convention on Saturday (date not specified) from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM, featuring about 40 authors and content creators, with support from the Friends of the Library.
    • Several initiatives are on hold pending the arrival of a new library director in August: the strategic plan, space redesign (RFP ready), poet laureate program (awaiting input from the mayor), and tool lending relocation (exploring locations).
    • Ongoing projects: Vega Promote (newsletter and catalog app, expected December), Vega program (study room reservation launching in September), and a redesigned library website (mega map layout, also launching in September). A board member offered to assist with the website and app.
  • Friends of the Library Update: Executive Director Marcy resigned (last day mid-July). The Friends participated in a parade and will table at the ABC event. No further update was provided.
  • Election of Officers: The board elected officers for the upcoming year:
    • President: Sean (Mr. Sierra Wardena) nominated and seconded, elected unanimously.
    • Vice President: [board member name not clearly given] nominated and seconded, elected unanimously.
    • The slate was voted on as a whole. Incumbent Tushon was reappointed to his board seat.
  • Staff Communications: The library assistant job posting received 100 applicants within a day and a half and closed. The cap was lifted, and the deadline extended to July 15. A librarian opening is expected in September with no cap.

Key Outcomes

  • The board approved the consent calendar (draft minutes) unanimously.
  • The board elected Sean as President and another member as Vice President for the upcoming year.
  • The interim director will pause strategic initiatives until the new library director arrives in August.
  • The library assistant job posting was extended with no cap due to high applicant demand.

Meeting Transcript

So this part I'm not sure this is the part that Lori does, but I guess there's a special um library board meeting closed session beginning now. Yeah. So I don't know if you want to so here we can do it. I'll do what I do. I'll do I'll be all the way through that. Okay, so first of all, the roll call. I'm just gonna go in, yeah. Uh board member battle. Yes. Conji, your strip clerk here. And you're gonna be president today because there's no okay. So we don't need friends are given. Okay. Except for present. And then um there is oops. Let me make sure I should have the no participants, so we don't have any remote public comment. Um, and so the board will adjourn into closed session to consider public employee appointment hiring, the title description, a position to be filled, is library director. So we will hit pause on this, and then Amy, we decided that you guys could go into this. Okay. Okay, so the library board members have returned home photos session, and they discussed uh library director candidates and gave direction to staff. So this meeting will be adjourned, right? And then we'll go to your regular meeting, and roll call has been noted for present. And then we don't have any attendees anywhere, so there's no oral communication or agenda. So we're on to the consent calendar already. Look at that. All right, you guys usually do one motion on the consent calendar? We do. Okay. Thank you all, notice about it. Thank you so much, Amy. Oh, okay. I'm fine. Okay. Okay, okay. Okay. Okay, so yeah, and is there a motion on the consent calendar or any discussion? I don't know. Motion, no? Any evidence to the draft minutes? Yeah, any draft minutes or move. Okay, approved. Okay. And then all those in favor? I uh she knows that the initials when I do. Yeah, yeah, she will. Thank you. Okay. So now you're under your regular item. Uh 4A is re receiver report from the library director. Okay, thanks.

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