Hector Chavarria

The meeting agenda included the Chair's Report, the Executive Director's Report featuring an overview of the Strategic Plan, and reports from various Board Committees. Committee discussions covered approved contracts, the FY25/FY26 Operating Budget Report, and updates on the Library Built Environment projects. Reports were also heard from the Federation of Friends and the Foundation. New Business was scheduled, followed by the Nominating Committee Report which included the election of officers. Built Environment updates detailed construction progress for the Southeast Library renovation and the permitting phase for the New Library in Congress Heights, as well as progress on the Petworth Library Renovation and the design team award for the New Library in Deanwood. The Finance Committee report detailed FY2026 budget highlights, including FTE changes and capital project expenditures.

This strategic plan outlines the DC Public Library's 10-year vision for institutional transformation and service delivery, focusing on modernizing its facilities and expanding equitable access across the city. Key pillars include intelligently managing assets, continuously improving interior spaces to meet evolving neighborhood needs, and making strategic, equitable investments. The plan aims to ensure the library remains a responsive community resource, particularly addressing service gaps in underserved areas, with a goal of modernizing 24 out of 26 branches by 2024.

The 'Next Libris' Facility Master Plan 2021-2030 outlines the DC Public Library's commitment to maintaining, adapting, and strategically growing its facilities to meet community needs. The plan is structured around three core objectives: smart asset management, responsible design and construction, and equitable and smart development. It aims to guide service provision for the next decade, ensuring expanded and more equitable access to library resources for all residents across the District of Columbia.

The DC Public Library's Facilities Master Plan for 2020-2030 outlines a strategic approach to assess and optimize library facilities. It establishes guidelines for elements such as facility size, collection, and public access, and details a methodology for identifying and addressing current and future deficiencies based on community needs and usage data gathered through assessments and public surveys.

The agenda for this regular meeting includes the Chair's Report, the Executive Director's Report, and reports from four Board Committees: Contracts Review, Finance, Facilities, and P3. Key discussion items under the committee reports involve the FY25-FY26 Operating Budget Report, updates on the Library Built Environment projects, and the FY25 Q3 Quarterly Performance Report. The Built Environment updates detail construction progress on the Southeast Library renovation and the progress toward the construction documents phase for the New Library in Congress Heights and renovations for the Petworth and Shaw Libraries. The Finance Committee report addresses FY25 year-end operating numbers and FY26 budget highlights, noting anticipated staffing increases and no projected spending pressures for FY26. The P3 Committee report summarizes performance metrics for FY25 Q4, noting increases in Gate Count and Digital Circulation despite system stabilization following the new ILS launch and significant library closures.