- Electronic agenda packet viewing is available at: https://ccclib.org/commission/

- Hard copy agenda packets are available for viewing at each Contra Costa County Library

- The Library Commission will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with

disabilities planning to attend Library Commission meetings who contact Library

Administration at least 72 hours before the meeting, at (925) 608-7700. After 72 hours prior,

accommodations will be on a best-efforts basis.

Any disclosable public records related to an open session item on a regular meeting agenda

and distributed by the Contra Costa County Library Commission to a majority of members of

the Library Commission less than 96 hours prior to that meeting are available for public

inspection at Contra Costa County Library Administration, 777 Arnold Drive, Suite 210,

Martinez, CA 94553.

Library Commissioners, please call Library Administration, at (925) 608-7700 by 5 p.m.

Wednesday, March 19th if you will NOT be at the meeting. A quorum must be established

in-person before a meeting can be held. A record is maintained of Commissioner’s attendance.

CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER / ROLL CALL

Chair Nicole Gemmer called the meeting to order at 6:06 pm.

Walter took roll to establish if a quorum was present. With 19 commissioner present a quorum (13)

was established.

Kevin Armonio, Kevin Armonio, Matt DeFraga, Julia Dozier,

Robin Eckert, Arnold Fitzpatrick, Arnold Fitzpatrick, Nicole

Gemmer, Sue Hamill, Susan Hildreth, Mary Ann Hoisington,

Marina Hsieh, John Huh, John Huh, Anne Kingsley, Zelda

LeFrak-Belleci, Heather Lurvey, Dennisha Marsh, Robert

Mason, Richard Means, Amit Prayag, George Pursley, Donna

Rennie, Rachel Rosekind, Robert Sanguedolce, Tommy Smith,

Michael Swernoff, Bryan Thomas, and Bethany Woods

Present

Michael Fischer, Michael Fischer, Amenda Kung, and Linda

Sendig

Excused

Absent

Jim Dexter, Vivian Faye, Shrikant Garde, Stacie Hinton, Lynn

Mackey, Jo Ellen Marcotte, Frederick Page, and Dorothy

Walker

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

Several members of the public who were in attendance for Mary Ann Hoisington's farewell meeting

introduced themselves.

PUBLIC COMMENT

No members of the public came forward to speak.

LC Mar 2025 Minutes - Final

Attachments:

Commissioner Prayag pointed out an error in the minutes. In his reporting on events to

the commission, the Clayton Book sale was to be held in May, not April.

This Consent Item was adopted as amended.

Motion:

Second:

Dozier

Hsieh

Co Librarian Report May 2025

Attachments:

County Librarian Alison McKee referred to several items in her printed report: 4

libraries now have Narcan available for free (Antioch, Orinda, Pleasant Hill and San

Pablo). She also shared that the new Bay Point Library grant has been extended.

COMMISSIONER WORK PLAN ACTION ITEMS (Report Out / Current Events)

Commissioner Rosekind had a meeting with Sup. Gioia about the budget. She also attended various

programs at multiple libraries.

Commissioner DeFraga mentioned that the city of Martinez was interested in extra hours after

receiving their annual letter.

Commissioner Lurvey met with the new WC City Council member to introduce herself and speak

about the libraries.

VC Tommy Smith met with the Concord City Manager and Mayor to advocate for the library.

Chair Gemmer announced that after 35 years as Danville's Town Manager, Joseph Calabrigo would

be retiring.

AGENDA SETTING FOR NEXT MEETING and FUTURE TOPICS

Multiple commissioners expressed a desire to hear more about the Self Service Sundays pilot

program that is about to conclude.

Proposed Budget FY25-26

Attachments:

See the attached PowerPoint presentation.

Budget Presentation

Attachments:

SUMMER READING 2025

See Amy Mockoski and Julia Layne's attached PowerPoint Presentation.

Summer Reading 2025 Presentation

WORKING COMMITTEE REPORTS

Attachments:

Commissioner Dozier shared the following:

Topics related to libraries, at the federal and state level:

Federal

As reported at the March meeting, there was an executive order reducing the functions of the

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and eliminating many of its non-statuary

programs. In response to the order, attorneys general from 21 states sued to prevent the

dismantling of the IMLS. A judge issued an injunction, stating that it violated the

Administrative Procedure Act. Judge McConnell specified: “(In addition to violating the

Administrative Procedure Act)…it also disregards the fundamental constitutional role of each

of the branches of our federal government; specifically, it ignores the unshakable principles

that Congress makes the law and appropriates funds, and the Executive implements the law

Congress enacted and spends the funds Congress appropriated." 1 In addition to the

attorneys general’s suit, the American Library Association and the largest union representing

museum and library workers have filed a separate lawsuit.

President Trump fired the librarian of Congress, and designated Deputy Attorney General

Todd Blanche (Trump’s former defense attorney) as acting head of the library. In a rare

bipartisan effort, Congress is pushing back on this, which “threatens the separation of powers

and the integrity of the legislative branch’s premier research body.” 2 In addition to serving

as a law library for Congress, the Library of Congress is considered a materials repository for

the entire country, and is visited by 1.5 million tourists every year.

State

As you may recall, the California budget process includes the Governor’s May revision

(a.k.a. “May Revise”). The Governor released his May revise yesterday, and it does not

include any proposed cuts to public libraries, including the

California Library Services Act (CLSA) programs, nor the Lunch at the Library program. The

Governor’s budget assigns the same amounts that were approved in the 2024-25 budget to

these programs. Also included in the May Revise is $33 million in library infrastructure

grants for 2024-25, 2025-26, and 2026-27, again consistent with last year’s funding. Credit is

to be given to the California Library Association (CLA) and its many supporters for

advocating against proposed cuts to the programs.

New Members

Please help me welcome Kevin Armonio and Dennisha Marsh, two new members of the Legislative

Working Group!

CORRESPONDENCE

One email came in via the link to the commission from the library's website. It was regarding the

LGBTQ+ collection at the El Cerrito library and how much they were in favor of it. Alison sent a

nice response thanking her for her input and support.

COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Commissioner LeFrak shared that she has restarted the Seniors in the Library program that was a

casualty of the pandemic. This was one of her first orders of business after joining the commission.

Commissioner Hoisington made another plug for the Lafayette Library's LLLCF.org website which

has an extensive calendar of events.

Commissioner Prayag mentioned again the Clayton Book Sale this coming weekend.

Commissioner Pursley shared that the Pinole Friends are also having their semi-annual book sale this

weekend. 10 - 3 on Saturday and 10 - 2 on Sunday. On Sunday you can purchase a packet for $5 and

stuff it as full as you like.

Commissioner Rosekind shared that the Richmond Literacy Festival is this coming Saturday at

Memorial Stadium next to City Hall. On Sunday at the Albany Library (Alameda Co.) is having their

first Comic Con event. There'll be food trucks, author panels, some virtual reality displays and more.

It runs from 10 to 5 and it's free.

ADJOURNMENT to the Thursday, July 17, 2025, LIBRARY COMMISSION

MEETING.

ITEMS TO CALENDAR

●

Thursday, July 17, 2025, 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, September 18, 2025, 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 4, 2025, 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

@ Walnut Creek Library

Thursday, November 20, 2025, 6:00 p.m.