Los Alamos County Library Board Meeting - March 2, 2026

The Los Alamos County Library Board met on Monday, March 2, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the Municipal Building Room 110. Chair Beth Stelle called the meeting to order with a quorum present: Beth Stelle, Ryan Parker, Jason Chappel, and Michelle Altherr. Also present were Library Manager Gwen Kalavaza, Senior Librarian Veronica, and Council Liaison David Reagor. The meeting adjourned at 6:13 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes – The Board unanimously approved the minutes from the February 2, 2026 meeting. Motion by Ryan Parker, seconded by Michelle Altherr.

Discussion Items

• Library Board Work Plan 2026 Presentation – Chair Stelle will present the Board’s 2026 Work Plan to the County Council on March 17, 2026 at the White Rock Fire Station. She will use a template from the previous year. Councilor Reagor suggested highlighting the outdoor classroom and programming. Members noted that other board members may attend but cautioned about quorum concerns.

• Outdoor Classroom Designs – Gwen Kalavaza presented four layout options from Wayne Lloyd Architects, revised due to utility line constraints. The layouts vary in size (400–560 sq. ft.) and seating configuration. Key features include a concrete stage with canopy, built-in edge seating, a storage shed, ADA-accessible tables, and landscaping as a sound buffer. Board members discussed the impact of gas lines, shade needs, and programming flexibility. There was a strong preference against Layout 4 (smallest, adjacent to the building), and support for Layout 2 (514 sq. ft., minimal sidewalk impact) and Layout 3 (560 sq. ft., with an additional wheelchair-accessible pad). No formal vote was taken; feedback will guide a public input meeting scheduled for late March or early April.

• Chair’s Report – Beth Stelle reported that the Board interviewed a candidate for the vacant seat; the recommendation will go to the council on March 35 (likely a typo for March 25). She will request a permit for a National Library Week banner (week of April 12). The Semiquincentennial art competition was cancelled, and she encouraged collaboration with other boards/commissions.

• Boards and Commission Luncheon Report – No report was given; the next luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, March 5.

• Friends of the Library Liaison Report – Michelle Altherr was not present, but Beth Stelle attended and reported that the Friends of the Library Board voted to award a block grant of $55,000 to the library for this year, exceeding the typical $35,000–$40,000 earnings. The Friends also noted that thrift book sales are beneficial.

• Manager’s Report – Gwen Kalavaza provided February statistics: print circulation 22,120; digital circulation 10,030 (32% of total). The library held 64 programs with 1,395 attendees. Highlights included the All Schools Art Show opening (running through March), tabletop game day, and a cell phone photography class in White Rock (with a waiting list). Upcoming programs include seed library birthday celebration, a talk on Georgia O’Keeffe’s connection to Los Alamos, and lunchtime musical performances. Projects: The library software replacement is expected to go before council on March 3; implementation will run April–September to avoid the busy summer. EV charging stations (grant-funded) will be installed on the west side of the parking lot, likely by summer. Staffing is stable, with only casual positions being filled. Patron feedback was positive regarding the new Craft & Hobbies database.

Key Outcomes

• Approved minutes from February 2, 2026 (unanimous).
• No formal votes were taken on the work plan presentation or outdoor classroom design; board feedback will inform next steps.
• Next meeting scheduled for April 6, 2026, at the White Rock Branch Library, with an option to join via Zoom.