Sacramento Public Library Authority Board Meeting - February 17, 2026

Note on date: The provided transcript references a meeting held on Thursday, January 22nd, but the instruction specifies the meeting date as February 17, 2026. This summary uses the instructed date and notes the discrepancy. The board proceeded with the following items:

The meeting was called to order with a quorum of nine members present (later increasing). The clerk read the meeting statement, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Public comment on non-agenda items was none.

Presentations

• Friends of the Sacramento Public Library: Devon Graves (Vice President) reported on the Friends' board meeting (January 13), highlighting a Friends Supporting Friends grant ($50,000 budgeted for affiliate programming), total membership of 4,100 (as of December 2025), and Book Den volunteer hours (over 2,000 logged in December). The all-friends board meeting is scheduled for February 1 at 1 p.m. at Bell Coolidge Library, with food offered. Director Lefkowitz requested extra copies of the annual report for her board. The Friends' Anita Scurry (President of Art and Dinner Library Friends) inquired about the planned closure of that library from February to April 2026, as she had a book sale scheduled for March 12–14; staff agreed to address the communication gap offline.

Executive Team Report

• Director Coyle presented a video highlighting the library's annual achievements. Circulation reached nearly 9 million items, with a 60/40 split favoring digital materials. Challenges from the Baker & Taylor closure are being managed through new vendors, though some delays persist. Facilities updates: Colonial Heights Library reopened (community room awaiting AV equipment), Del Paso Heights Library reopened, and major construction at Elk Grove, Martin Luther King, and North Sacramento Hageman libraries remain on track. In response to Director Lefkowitz's concern about declining youth reading, Coyle noted a UK study on reduced parent-child reading and emphasized shifting toward family-focused programs to attract all ages. Chair Brewer praised the team's leadership and progress.

Consent Calendar

• Nine items were approved unanimously via roll call (10 votes in favor, none opposed). The consent calendar covered routine approvals and actions.

Action Items

• 7.1 Audit Annual Report (FY ending June 30, 2025): CFO Johnny presented the audit. The library had a clean audit with no findings. Financial software upgrades caused delays but internal controls are compliant with GAAP and GASB. Fund balances: General Fund $10.7M, County Sacramento Fund $34.1M, City of Sacramento General Fund/Measure U $14.8M, Parcel Taxes X&B $10.3M, Moore Trust $0.365M; total $70.2M under modified accrual. Under full accrual, net position was $57.1M after accounting for pension liabilities ($25M), OPEB ($6.9M), leases, subscriptions, and compensated absences (GASB 101 adjustment of $364,000). The audit was approved unanimously (10 votes).
• 7.2 Election of Board Chair and Vice Chair for 2026: Chair Brewer nominated Vice Chair Katie Maple for Chair and Director Mary Jane Lopez Taff for Vice Chair. Both accepted. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously (10 votes). Congratulations were extended.
• 7.3 Appointment of Budget Audit Committee for 2026: Following discussion on composition (3–5 members plus 2 alternates), Chair Brewer appointed the following: Chair Katie Maple, Vice Chair Mary Jane Lopez Taff, Director Rod Brewer, Director Linda Budge as members, and Director Karina Talamantes as alternate. Additional members may be appointed later. No formal vote was needed.

Reports, Ideas, Questions from Board Members

• Director Budge raised a concern about the rotation schedule nomenclature, which refers to members as “county” or “city” rather than by specific city names. She noted the JPA was designed to give jurisdictions equal standing. Director Coyle acknowledged the point and offered to adjust the document. The board agreed to discuss the matter further in the coming year.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous approvals: Consent calendar, audit report, and election of new Chair and Vice Chair (each with 10 votes in favor).
• Budget Audit Committee appointed: Four members and one alternate as listed above.
• Direction given: Staff will address the Art and Dinner Library closure communication with Friends; Director Coyle will follow up with Director Budge on the rotation nomenclature update.
• No closed session: The meeting adjourned at 4:01 p.m.