OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees Regular Meeting - March 24, 2026

Other Meetings (I) — Tuesday, March 24, 2026
BodyIndianapolis, Indiana
SessionOther Meetings (I)
DateTuesday, March 24, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 50:13

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Good evening.

0:03

Welcome to the regular Board of Trustees meeting of the Indianapolis Public Library.

0:11

Gilbert, would you please call the role?

0:13

Yes, ma'am.

0:14

Miss Johnson.

0:16

Dr.

0:17

Murtada.

0:18

Present.

0:18

Dr.

0:18

Palacio.

0:19

Present.

0:20

Dr.

0:20

Riolo.

0:21

Present, Dr.

0:22

White.

0:22

Pro.

0:23

And Miss Whitter.

0:24

Present.

0:25

We do have a quorum.

0:26

We have a quorum.

0:27

Good evening, everyone.

0:29

It's my pleasure to welcome you to the monthly meeting of the Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees.

0:34

My name is Kaula Murtada, and I'm vice president of the Indianapolis Public Libraries, Board of Trustees, and I'll be presiding this evening as President Bieterman is away.

0:48

But I'd like to take a moment to introduce someone that I have a great deal of admiration for.

0:53

And this is our new board member.

0:55

I'd like to welcome Ms.

0:57

Elizabeth Johnson to our board.

1:03

Miss Johnson has been appointed by our board to our board by the Marion County Board of Commissioners to replace Mr.

1:09

Davy, who has stepped down.

1:11

Miss Johnson currently works as a business librarian and assistant professor at Butler University.

1:18

She's built a career in academia and librarianship with experience in research support, instruction, and community engagement.

1:27

Some of you may recognize her name.

1:29

Miss Johnson's previous role included assistant librarian at Indiana University, Indianapolis, as well as Martindale Brightwood branch manager of the Indianapolis Public Library.

1:40

In addition to her professional work, Ms.

1:42

Johnson has been active in library leadership and community service.

1:47

She's a member of the American Library Association and currently serves as president of the Indiana Black Librarians Network.

1:55

She's earned her Master of Library Science from Indiana University and her Bachelor of Science in African and African American Studies, as well as political science from Indiana State University.

2:06

Please, once again help me to welcome Ms.

2:08

Johnson back to the service.

2:13

I also must take a moment to thank Mr.

2:16

Davy on behalf of the board for sharing his time and his service with us.

2:22

Before our branch report, I just wanted to take a moment to mention that last Thursday, last Thursday was one of the most wonderful events that the library holds annually.

2:32

And that's the 47th annual Marion McFadden Memorial Lecture.

2:37

It drew at capacity a multi-generational audience reflecting strong community engagement and enthusiasm for reading and of course our library programming.

2:49

But we couldn't do any of this without the staff of our library.

2:52

So we have to give a round of applause just for our staff.

2:58

I was told that more than room capacity, right?

3:04

It's more than room capacity, and that our staff just managed it brilliantly.

3:09

The author, of course, in the conversation with Michael Streets, the event delivered an engaging and inspiring discussion, highlighted the power of books, of course, the joy of reading and the importance, the critical importance of our public libraries.

3:24

Want to thank the foundation, of course, and our problem with all the things that are happening out in the world with censorship.

3:31

The McFadden lecture brings together you cannot stop this powerful work.

3:35

It is so very important.

3:37

And this memorable event makes all the difference for our community as well.

3:43

Next on the agenda, we'll turn our attention to our monthly branch report.

3:47

But each month we usually meet at our branches.

3:50

But this day we're going to talk about what's happening with the info zone, which is located at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis.

3:58

For logistical reasons, instead of hosting there at the Info Zone, we're holding our meeting here in the Library Service Center, just a few blocks from the InfoZone.

4:07

So now let's learn about the incredible work of the InfoZone and invite Miss Stacey Terrell, branch manager, to step forward to share her report.

4:18

Thank you, Miss Darrell.

4:27

Vice President Murtada, members of the Library Board.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████23%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████16%
Fiscal Sustainability████████████12%
Public Engagement███████████11%
Community Engagement█████████9%
Youth Programs████████8%
Parks and Recreation███████7%
Public Health███████7%
Personnel Matters████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees Regular Meeting - March 24, 2026

The Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees held its regular monthly meeting on March 24, 2026, at the Library Service Center. Vice President Kaula Murtada presided in the absence of President Bieterman. The board welcomed new member Elizabeth Johnson, a business librarian and assistant professor at Butler University, appointed by the Marion County Board of Commissioners to replace Mr. Davy. Highlights included a detailed branch report from the InfoZone, public comment on salary structure, approval of a carpet replacement contract, and an update on the temporary closure of Central Library.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Michael Torres addressed the board, welcoming Ms. Johnson and emphasizing the importance of having a professional librarian on the board. He urged the library to honor its written commitment to explore moving to a single flat amount raise instead of a percentage-based raise for 2027, noting that percentage-based raises would widen pay gaps for lower-paid frontline workers. He thanked the board for the previous decision to give everyone the same raise amount two years ago.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of the Executive Session (February 19, 2026): Approved unanimously by roll call.
  • Minutes of the Regular Meeting (February 23, 2026): Approved unanimously by roll call.
  • Confirmatory Resolution 11-2026 (finance, personnel, travel): Approved unanimously by roll call.

Discussion Items

InfoZone Branch Report

Stacey Terrell, branch manager, reported on the InfoZone, located inside the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025. The branch is the only full-service public library inside a museum. Key statistics:

  • 403 programs held in the last year with 9,608 attendees (average 24 per program).
  • Active cardholders increased 16% over the previous year.
  • Strong partnerships with Butler Lab 60 and Herron Preparatory Academy (classes visit monthly for book checkout and tech literacy programs).
  • Unique programming included a fail-abration encouraging creative risk-taking, a PJ story time on Thursday evenings, and outreach via farmers markets and vaccine clinics.
  • Board members praised the report and the branch's community impact.

Finance Committee Update (Dr. White)

Mary Campbell and Lillie Rankin presented the financial report for February 2026:

  • Revenue year-to-date: $566,000 (2% of budget, unfavorable due to property tax timing; majority expected in May/June and November/December).
  • Interest income: $108,000; Hoosier Fund and Trust Indiana returns about 1% lower than last year.
  • Expenditures year-to-date: $7.1 million on personal services, $211,000 on supplies, $1.8 million on other services, $271,000 on capital outlay. Overall spending at 13% of budget (below the 16% expected for this time).
  • Pre-audit is proceeding well; a working group is pursuing bonds for the Urban Ten renovations.
  • Motion to accept the treasurer's report for February 2026 passed unanimously.

Facilities Committee Resolution 10-2026 (Dr. Riolo)

Diana Short presented a resolution to award a construction service contract for carpet replacement at the Franklin Road Branch. The carpet, past its expected 10-year life, has adhesion issues. The library solicited quotes via invitation to quote (IC 36-1-12), received two quotes, and the lowest responsive and responsible bidder was E.F. Marburger (Fishers, IN), a city-certified woman business enterprise, with a quote of $129,000 (below the $150,000 estimate). Funding is from the Facilities Improvements #3 Bond (Fund 485). Motion to approve passed unanimously.

Library Foundation Update (Dr. Riolo)

  • The foundation co-sponsored the 47th annual Marion McFadden Memorial Lecture, which drew a capacity multi-generational audience.
  • Circulate (annual fundraiser) is scheduled for Friday, April 17, 2026; tickets available at indplsfoundation.org.
  • The foundation thanked 220 donors from the past month, including top corporate/foundation donors: Alan Whitehall, Clues Charitable Foundation, Cummins Inc., Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, First Merchants Bank, Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, and Office of Lawrence Township Trustee Steve Tally.
  • The foundation provided more than $90,000 to the library for summer reading, Growing Global Citizens, CBLC Ninth Annual Book Fest, and Juneteenth celebration.

CEO Report (Gregory Hill)

  • Central Library Closure Update: Closed since February 22, 2026, due to a fractured interior glass panel in the six-story atrium. On March 25, scaffolding and a containment wall will be erected to remove the panel; a temporary covering will allow reopening, but replacement glass may take up to six weeks.
  • February 2026 Statistics:
    • 188,062 patrons visited locations (average 6,717 per day).
    • Total circulation increased 6.7% over February 2025; physical circulation decreased 2%.
    • 944 programs (0.5% increase); attendance 17,391 (1.2% increase).
    • Over 30,000 patrons used public PCs; 41,000 unique Wi-Fi users.
  • Programs highlighted: tax prep at East 38th Street (60 attendees) and Fort Bend (218 attendees), Meet the Artists gala (1,353 visitors), 18 bilingual story times (Spanish, ASL, Ukrainian), AI sessions, North Star Digital Literacy, and more.
  • Social services: food pantries, Narcan availability, needle disposal, referrals for housing/employment/mental health.
  • Staff Star Warder award winners recognized.
  • Upcoming events: Half Price Book Sale (April 13), Heart of Every Neighborhood event (April 13), Librarians film screening (April 21).
  • Board members thanked staff and emphasized the library's role in bridging the digital divide.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved minutes of executive session (Feb 19) and regular meeting (Feb 23) unanimously.
  • Approved treasurer's report for February 2026 unanimously.
  • Approved Resolution 10-2026 awarding carpet replacement contract to E.F. Marburger for $129,000 unanimously.
  • Approved Confirmatory Resolution 11-2026 unanimously.
  • Next Meeting: April 27, 2026, at the Decatur Branch.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Welcome to the regular Board of Trustees meeting of the Indianapolis Public Library. Gilbert, would you please call the role? Yes, ma'am. Miss Johnson. Dr. Murtada. Present. Dr. Palacio. Present. Dr. Riolo. Present, Dr. White. Pro. And Miss Whitter. Present. We do have a quorum. We have a quorum. Good evening, everyone. It's my pleasure to welcome you to the monthly meeting of the Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees. My name is Kaula Murtada, and I'm vice president of the Indianapolis Public Libraries, Board of Trustees, and I'll be presiding this evening as President Bieterman is away. But I'd like to take a moment to introduce someone that I have a great deal of admiration for. And this is our new board member. I'd like to welcome Ms. Elizabeth Johnson to our board. Miss Johnson has been appointed by our board to our board by the Marion County Board of Commissioners to replace Mr. Davy, who has stepped down. Miss Johnson currently works as a business librarian and assistant professor at Butler University. She's built a career in academia and librarianship with experience in research support, instruction, and community engagement. Some of you may recognize her name. Miss Johnson's previous role included assistant librarian at Indiana University, Indianapolis, as well as Martindale Brightwood branch manager of the Indianapolis Public Library. In addition to her professional work, Ms. Johnson has been active in library leadership and community service. She's a member of the American Library Association and currently serves as president of the Indiana Black Librarians Network. She's earned her Master of Library Science from Indiana University and her Bachelor of Science in African and African American Studies, as well as political science from Indiana State University. Please, once again help me to welcome Ms. Johnson back to the service. I also must take a moment to thank Mr. Davy on behalf of the board for sharing his time and his service with us. Before our branch report, I just wanted to take a moment to mention that last Thursday, last Thursday was one of the most wonderful events that the library holds annually. And that's the 47th annual Marion McFadden Memorial Lecture. It drew at capacity a multi-generational audience reflecting strong community engagement and enthusiasm for reading and of course our library programming. But we couldn't do any of this without the staff of our library. So we have to give a round of applause just for our staff. I was told that more than room capacity, right? It's more than room capacity, and that our staff just managed it brilliantly. The author, of course, in the conversation with Michael Streets, the event delivered an engaging and inspiring discussion, highlighted the power of books, of course, the joy of reading and the importance, the critical importance of our public libraries. Want to thank the foundation, of course, and our problem with all the things that are happening out in the world with censorship.

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