Library Board Meeting – February 2, 2026
Library Board Meeting – February 2, 2026
The Los Alamos County Library Board met on February 2, 2026 at 5:30 PM in Municipal Building Room 110 and via Zoom. The board approved the December 2025 minutes, adopted the 2026 Work Plan with amendments, received a Strategic Plan update, discussed a semi‑quincentennial art contest with the Art in Public Places Board, and heard the manager’s report on operations, budget, and patron feedback.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes from December 1, 2025: Motion by Member Altherr, seconded by Member Parker, passed with 4 votes in favor (Member Reardon absent). The minutes were approved.
Discussion Items
- 2026 Library Board Work Plan: Chair Stelle presented the draft. After discussion, the board agreed to three amendments: (1) update the Council Liaison to Councillor Reger, (2) add an item in section 2.2 to provide feedback on sound study next steps if needed, and (3) add in section 3.3 an interface with the Friends of the Los Alamos County Library. The board voted to approve the work plan as amended. Motion by Member Altherr, seconded by Member Parker; passed unanimously.
- Strategic Plan Update (presented by Library Manager Gwen Kalavaza): Kalavaza reviewed progress on the 2024‑2026 plan, which is aligned with the Community Services Integrated Master Plan. Highlights included a new website, videos for the Community Resources section (focus on business/entrepreneurship, social services, tourism), partnerships with Social Services, Courts, JJAB, and Seed Stewards, and expansion of the Library of Things (including meeting owls for checkout). Statistics for FY25: 58 programs in December with attendance of 11,000 (some annual figures: 20,640 print circulation for January; digital 9,897; total circulation for December 32,386, with 9,833 digital; reference questions increased despite a dip in FY24 due to new staff training). Revenue is primarily from the county; expenditures are dominated by staff salaries. The library is working on WCAG 2.2 accessibility compliance (deadline April 2027), a community assessment (draft survey for next meeting), a teen summit on March 6, a hold locker for White Rock, and implementing sound study recommendations. A new adult program series “Discover DIY” starting in February at White Rock (first: cell phone photography with Leslie Bucklin). Marketing challenges were acknowledged.
- Semi‑Quincentennial Art Contest (presented by Andy of the Art in Public Places Board): The contest commemorates the 250th anniversary of the U.S. and will be an open call for art displayed in the Step Up Gallery. Call for entries is about to be released (delayed for legal review). The board discussed ways to support: signal‑boost the call, possibly help with judging artwork that fits gallery dimensions, and consider a complementary display in the library lobby. A reception is planned for June 20, 2026. The library board expressed willingness to collaborate.
- Chair’s Report: Chair Stelle noted that Board Member Brian Reardon has ended his term early; the county will list a vacancy. She encouraged members to share the vacancy. She also reminded members about opportunities to engage with patrons at the library (lobby outreach, tabletop game days) and suggested using name badges. Members will notify staff when attending events for a proper introduction.
- Friends of the Library Liaison Report (Member Altherr): Friends are working on a 50th anniversary video; 2024 sales increased, so they may increase the block grant to the library next spring. They continue to fund four $2,500 scholarships.
- Manager’s Report (Gwen Kalavaza): January print circulation: 20,640; digital: 9,897 (32% of total). December programming: 58 programs, attendance 11,000. Most popular: Winterfest Crafternoon and New Year’s Eve event. Projects: outdoor classroom design still delayed due to utility lines; amended design expected by end of week. FY27 budget preparation has started, requiring a 10% reduction in operational expenses (staffing unaffected; hopes to maintain collection budget). Hiring casual substitute librarians. Patron comments included thanks for diverse book selection, welcoming space, and New Year’s Eve event. One comment suggested purchasing Blu‑rays instead of DVDs; board discussed market viability and cost. A request to circulate puzzles was denied due to resource intensity.
- Council Liaison Q&A (Councillor Reger): Asked about the outdoor classroom space between the library and senior center; Kalavaza clarified it will be managed by the library but shared with the senior center, pending redesign for utility clearances. Also asked about adult programming; examples given (author talks, workshops, Chautauqua performances).
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous approval of December 1, 2025 minutes.
- Unanimous approval of the 2026 Library Board Work Plan with three amendments.
- Board agreed to support the semi‑quincentennial art contest through promotion and potential volunteer assistance.
- Board noted the vacancy left by Brian Reardon and will seek new member.
- Next regular meeting: March 2, 2026 at 5:30 PM, Municipal Building Room 110 and Zoom.
Meeting Transcript
So we'll call the meeting to order at 5 32. We have a quorum with myself, Beth Cell, and Ryan Parker in the room, and Michelle Altaire online. First item is public comment. I don't think we have anyone online. Nobody online. And Andy's gonna chat with us a bit later on. So the first item is our minutes from the December 1st library board meeting. Do we have a motion to approve the minutes? Sure person. I make a motion to approve the minutes. And do we have someone to second that? I'll second. All in second. Thank you, Michelle. All in favor? Aye. Great. Thank you. Next item is the library board work plan. So the work plan that was attached with the agenda. Thank you to Gwen for helping to overcome some of the formatting challenges with the with the particular file that we received. So this is in the 2026 format. And one of the things that we do need to update is our council liaison since we have a new uh council of Riga is our new liaison. So we will update that. But does anyone have any questions or comments about the work plan? Any discussion that needs to take place, or would anyone like to make a motion on that? Um well the only thing I noticed when I was reading it. Um I don't know how appropriate these are, but one of the collaborations is with the the friends of Los Alamos County Library. And um so I just thought that that might be something that could be added to collaboration. Um giving input on the sound study, and I don't know much about the bike station. Is it a bike station repair? Is it a repair station then correct? I'm sort of in flag staff, and I noticed one of them here, and so I um I thought about the library. Where is it located exactly? So uh Mesa Public Library, it's under the portal, so kind of across from the book drop, the updoor book drop. And in White Rock, it's located to the left of their entrance. And so, Michelle, Ruby Yeah, so for the friends of the library. Sorry, we were trying to keep it broad. So yeah, I just thought I'd throw that out there. I don't really have any strong opinions. Yeah, I've I think it it could make sense to include the friends of the library liaison position since that's something that we regularly have someone go to. Um and so in the collaboration section. Um the section on collaborations interfaces with county departments. So it's it's not a county department or a a board or commission. Is it still appropriate to include something like this here? Okay, so I can add that in as item 3.3. Um the role of liaison to Friends of the Library. Is it 3.3? Yeah. Looking for it.
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