Los Alamos County Library Board Meeting - October 5, 2026

The Library Board met on Monday, October 5, 2026 at 5:31 PM in Municipal Building Room 110, with two members present (quorum achieved). The meeting focused on approving the previous meeting's minutes and receiving the annual library report presentation, followed by updates from the library manager on recent operations and projects.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The Board unanimously approved the minutes from the September 14, 2026 Library Board meeting. Motion by Board Member Jones-Gulsby, seconded by Board Member Chappel.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made or received.

Discussion Items

• Library Annual Report Presentation (FY26): Library Manager Gwen Kalavaza presented the annual report data submitted to the New Mexico State Library, covering FY26 (ending June 30, 2026). Key statistics included:

  • Total revenue of $3,919,036, up from $3,643,803 in FY25, with county funding increasing to $3,792,334, Friends of the Library donations rising to $55,020, and Go Bond funding of $56,682.
  • Total expenditures of $3,801,444, with staff salaries ($2,978,446) as the largest category; collections spending rose to $408,673, reflecting efforts to keep pace with inflation.
  • Circulation: physical items declined to 261,125, while digital increased to 114,286; total circulation was 375,411, slightly down from FY25. Per capita checkout: 19 items per person (national average: 4).
  • Library visitors: 238,253 (down from 243,025), partially attributed to parking lot closure in June. Per capita visits: 12.12 (national avg: 2.8).
  • Reference questions increased to 10,032, indicating growing demand for trusted information and technology assistance.
  • Programs: total of 674 programs with 18,405 attendees, similar to FY25. Programs for adults increased dramatically (138 programs, 2,027 attendees), while youth programs (ages 6-11) declined due to school scheduling changes. Staff capacity is at maximum with current resources.
  • Strategic considerations highlighted: funding for digital collections, improving volunteer experiences, leveraging the library as a third space, providing technology skill development, increasing programs for ages 6-11, and need for additional programming resources.
  • Board member discussion noted the quality of adult programming and the complexity of digital collection purchasing (subscription vs. ownership). The American Library Association is active in negotiating with publishers. A concern about sixth graders being excluded from middle school programming was raised.

• Manager's Report (September 2026): Gwen Kalavaza reported:

  • September circulation: 22,914 physical, 9,694 digital (30% of total). 60 programs with 1,281 attendees.
  • Upcoming events: author talk with Nancy Foley (Oct 15), White Rock Discover series (Oct 22).
  • EV charging stations at Mesa Public Library to be operational by October 9, pending installation of a shutoff valve.
  • Software migration to Aspen Discovery and COPA went live successfully; some bugs remain but public response is generally positive.
  • Staffing: Programming Specialist Emma Doidon resigned; position is being posted.
  • Mesa Public Library will serve as a voting location on November 3 (Election Day) due to HVAC renovation at the usual site.
  • Patron feedback: positive comment (“world class”), some dissatisfaction with new catalog display on mobile devices.

Key Outcomes

• The Board approved the September 14, 2026 meeting minutes unanimously.
• The annual report was presented and discussed; the data will inform the upcoming strategic plan update.
• The next regular meeting is scheduled for November 2, 2026 in the Municipal Building. Topics will include the strategic plan schedule, a review of meeting dates for the next year, and election of a vice chair.