Sacramento Public Library Authority Board Meeting - October 6, 2025

The Sacramento Public Library Authority Board convened on October 6, 2025, at 9:35 AM with a quorum of eight members. The meeting featured public comment, presentations from the Friends of the Library and the Sacramento County Office of Education, approval of the FY2025-26 final budget, and authorization of supplemental funding for the Isleton Library abatement project.

Consent Calendar

• Item 6.1 Action Summary: Approved unanimously with nine votes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Martin Rosenberg expressed support for library staff and urged the city to expedite the reopening of the Colonial Heights Library, which has been closed for over a year due to repairs. He commended Library Director Peter Coyle and the administrative team.

Presentations

• Friends of the Sacramento Public Library (Devon Graves, Diane Gregory): Reported on September board meeting activities, including an upcoming antiquarian book sale on October 19, efforts on succession planning among affiliates, and a resolution honoring the late Barbara Munro. The Friends presented a check for more than $120,000 raised during the Big Day of Giving campaign to support library programs.
• Summer Reading and Lunch at the Library (Amanda Falk): Celebrated a 12% increase in summer reading participation. Nearly 260,000 books were read, and over 6,000 medals were awarded to readers of all ages. Thousands of meals were served through the Lunch at the Library program.
• Sacramento County Office of Education Reads Literacy Initiative (Becky Selvin): Overview of the Sacramento County Reads initiative, which focuses on teaching and learning, family engagement, and community partnerships. Data showed that 56% of county students are not reading at grade level, with even lower rates among low-income, Black, and Hispanic students. The initiative is grounded in the science of reading and includes a community of practice, professional development, and partnerships with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (2,800 children enrolled). Board members expressed support and discussed ways to collaborate further.

Discussion Items

• Executive Team Report (Deputy Director Keller): Highlighted upcoming 50th anniversary celebrations for Southgate and Rancho Cordova libraries, the October 8 appearance of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jodi Cantor, and voting locations for the November special election. Facility updates included HVAC and ADA repairs at multiple libraries, closures at North Sacramento/Hagginwood and Del Paso Heights, and ongoing work at Colonial Heights. Staff confirmed that closure notifications are sent to library users and posted on the library website. Discussion included the possibility of bookmobile services for long-term closures, though mobile fleet capacity is limited.
• Isleton Library Supplemental Funding (Item 7.1): Deputy Director Keller presented a request for $27,526 from the Isleton supplemental fund to cover cost overruns for the Isleton Library abatement project. The overrun resulted from unexpected dry rot and additional abatement of old materials. The total deficit was $27,739, with River Delta Unified School District covering the remaining $213. The board adopted Resolution 25-49 authorizing the allocation.
• FY2025-26 Final Budget, Position Control, and Fee Structure (Item 7.2, Johnny Ear): The final budget shows total revenues of $63.3 million and total expenditures of $69.9 million, a net increase of $940,000 from the adopted May budget. The deficit is covered by fund balances. Key expenditures include $2.3 million for one-time projects (signage, security cameras, automated material handling systems, IT upgrades), $1.7 million for supplemental fund uses, $2 million for the city of Sacramento’s general fund diversion for MLK and North Sacramento projects, and $600,000 for reopening-day collections at MLK and Elk Grove. Position control increases by 1 FTE to 343.5 FTEs, with reclassifications and one new management associate. Fee structure remains unchanged. The board adopted Resolution 25-50 approving the budget.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted Resolution 25-49: Authorized $27,526 in supplemental funding from the Isleton fund to address costs for the Isleton Library abatement project.
• Adopted Resolution 25-50: Approved the FY2025-26 final budget, position control listing, and fee structure.
• The meeting adjourned at 4:43 PM.