Houston Public Library (HPL) Director Sandy Gall presented the proposed FY2027 budget to the City Council, highlighting continued growth in usage, planned reductions to close a budget gap, and alignment with the mayor's priorities. The presentation was followed by public testimony and council member questions. No formal votes were taken.
To the good people of the library who have been sitting here. Hopefully, you learned a lot about the trends of the city. Um, okay, I would like to welcome the Houston Public Libraries Director Sandy Gaw and Laurie Covington to present Houston Library's proposed FY 2027 budget. I also have um neglected to recognize Councilmember Tarsha Jackson, has been with us and staff from Councilmember Twilight Carter's office. Um, so welcome all. And with that, um Director Ga, you may begin. Thank you. Good morning, everyone. I am Sandy Gall, Houston Public Library Director, and I thank you for the opportunity to present Houston Public Libraries proposed budget for fiscal year 27. Next slide, please. I would like to acknowledge the exec the HPL's executive leadership team, along, again alongside me is uh Lori Covington, and also behind me uh there's Patrick Atkins, Stephen Chamberlain, Yolanda Fernandez, and we also have Ladonna Weens. Also with us today is Nicholas Sawiki, Executive Director of Houston Public Library Foundation, and along with some of the Houston Public Library Foundation board members, Dr. Margot Melcher Hernandez, Diane Shepard, and Ada Wing. The key trend noted in 2026 is using libraries as a free community resource. As a national trend, residents are turning to libraries for affordable access to books, technology, learning, entertainment, and lifelong enrichment. At HPL, our one card in this possibilities message reflects that reality. A single library card unlocks access to far more than books, connecting residents to digital resources, job support, educational tools, cultural experiences, technology, research basis, and programs for every stage of life. Our mission, linking you to the world reinforces our commitment to equity, lifelong learning, and opportunity by ensuring that every Houstonian has free access to resources. So far this fiscal year, HPL has welcomed 1.75 million in-person visitors, a 6% increase over last year, demonstrating the continued importance of physical library spaces. I'm sorry, importance of physical library spaces in people's daily lives. We saw a 30% increase in e-material checkouts with 5.1 million items borrowed, and physical circulation remains strong with over 3 million items borrowed, reflecting the strong and growing demand for books, media, and other resources that inform, entertain, and inspire. Library programs remain at the heart of HPL's community impact. More than 144,000 people participated in library programs this year, a 13% increase highlighting the library as an essential public resource. HPL is a beacon of civic life and community connection. This year, meeting room bookings increase by 49%, with over 17,500 17,585 reservations, and more than 67,000 attendees, a 27% rise. Using library spaces for neighborhood library meetings, nonprofit gatherings, and public forums. HPL has been a data-driven organization for years, and working with the city of Houston, we have incorporated additional key performance indicators to track trends, look for innovation, and tell the library's story. The continued growth across visits, circulation programs, and community engagement demonstrates that libraries are not only relevant, they are essential infrastructure for strong and connected communities. Next slide, please. Here's an overview of today's presentation. Each section outlines how we are streamlining operations and aligning with the mayor's priorities. Next slide, please. Our core services reflect our belief that equitable access to information, technology, and education is foundational to a thriving society. We continue to provide high quality services citywide. TechLink is aligned to our core values of innovation. Our technology centers feature cutting-edge technology, including laser cutters, embroidery machines, podcasting equipment, and tools for video and music production. Our dedicated team members in our neighborhood libraries and the central library are focused on innovation, connecting to the community, and operational excellence through 34 locations across the city. At the History Research Centers, our archivists safeguard Houston's history, assist customers to utilize the resources, and ensure this important cultural heritage remains accessible, accurate, and available through our three history research centers. Our diverse library collections go beyond books to include ebooks and audiobooks, online learning platforms, research databases, and the library of things with items such as bakeware, musical instruments, gardening supplies, and tools. Houston Public Library spaces offer welcoming areas for community meetings and maintain historic properties available for special events and serve as cooling and warming centers during extreme weather. HPL offers lifelong learning opportunities in literacy and education for all ages, including programs such as story times, art clubs, ELL classes, and citizenship preparation. Next slide, please. HPL aligns strongly with the mayor's quality of life initiative. 78% of our programs directly support this vision. Our administrative services are aligned to a government that works, with 22% of our programs supporting efficient government, efficient governance. Next slide, please. This slide outlines how the library plans to eliminate the gap of 1,174,728 while safeguarding our state accreditation, which is critical to the library's operations and long-term sustainability. Maintaining accreditation ensures the library meets established standards of service, staffing, resources, and facilities. By maintaining this commitment to serving the public effectively, accreditation allows us to receive significant discounts on databases, qualify for competitive grants, and participate in the statewide interlibrary loan system. These benefits are vital to delivering high quality, cost-effective services to our community.