TEXAS CITY LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
MINUTES
Monday, October 27, 2025, 4:00 PM
Library Meeting Room
MINUTES
Monday, October 27, 2025, 4:00 PM
Library Meeting Room
The Library Board of Directors met at 4:00 PM on Monday, October 27, 2025, in the Library meeting room, in Texas City, Texas, with the following in attendance:
Christina Bergvall, Chair
Lynn Ellison, Vice Chair
Stephanie Doyle
Bettie Rac
Angela Moreno
Rita Waldrop
Shirley Mapps
Cheryl Loewen, Library Director
Christina Bergvall, Chair
Lynn Ellison, Vice Chair
Stephanie Doyle
Bettie Rac
Angela Moreno
Rita Waldrop
Shirley Mapps
Cheryl Loewen, Library Director
Board Chair Christina Bergvall declared that a quorum was present and called the meeting of the Library Board to order at 4:02 PM.
(1)
A motion was made to approve the minutes from August 25, 2025 by Lynn Ellison, and seconded by Rita Waldrop. The vote to approve was unanimous.
(2)
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
(a)
Digital Lab:
The Digital Lab is now open to the public. The first 3D printer orientation and training was held on October 21. There have been no appointments scheduled to date and the library is working on promotions for the space.
The Digital Lab is now open to the public. The first 3D printer orientation and training was held on October 21. There have been no appointments scheduled to date and the library is working on promotions for the space.
(b)
Winter Open House:
The second annual Winter Open House will take place on Saturday, December 6, from 1-3 PM. The theme is "gingerbread". The Friends of the Library will sponsor crafts in the Holland Meeting Room, there will be games and activities for young children, and cookies and hot chocolate will be served. Volunteers are needed. Stephanie Doyle suggested that the library director contact the councilor at the Texas City High School to get contact information for the teachers who sponsor clubs that need volunteer hours.
The second annual Winter Open House will take place on Saturday, December 6, from 1-3 PM. The theme is "gingerbread". The Friends of the Library will sponsor crafts in the Holland Meeting Room, there will be games and activities for young children, and cookies and hot chocolate will be served. Volunteers are needed. Stephanie Doyle suggested that the library director contact the councilor at the Texas City High School to get contact information for the teachers who sponsor clubs that need volunteer hours.
(c)
Fall Programming Update:
Regular programs are ongoing: book club, computer classes, adult board games, etc. The henna program for adults was very successful. The October series of Play&Learn workshops is going well and will conclude this Friday.
Regular programs are ongoing: book club, computer classes, adult board games, etc. The henna program for adults was very successful. The October series of Play&Learn workshops is going well and will conclude this Friday.
(d)
Outreach:
In October, library staff participated in Fiesta Communidad at College of the Mainland, Touch a Truck, and the Halloween Festival. At Touch A Truck, the library was responsible for the pumpkin decorating activities. There were 500 pumpkins and supplies ran out shortly after 11:30 am. The library and the Friends of the Library had some additional crafts available, and they also ran out.
On November 15, the Children's librarian will be attending the Fall Festival & Resource Fair sponsored by Communities in Schools.
In October, library staff participated in Fiesta Communidad at College of the Mainland, Touch a Truck, and the Halloween Festival. At Touch A Truck, the library was responsible for the pumpkin decorating activities. There were 500 pumpkins and supplies ran out shortly after 11:30 am. The library and the Friends of the Library had some additional crafts available, and they also ran out.
On November 15, the Children's librarian will be attending the Fall Festival & Resource Fair sponsored by Communities in Schools.
(e)
Local History Update:
Theresa Mayfield has been working on a Local History Roundup, a county-wide event to be held on November 8 at the Texas City Museum. Residents will be able to bring their important photos and documents to be digitized and preserved. There will also be an opportunity to record a brief family history.
The first quarterly report for the second TexTreasures grant is due on Friday, October 31, and will be submitted by the library director.
Theresa Mayfield has been working on a Local History Roundup, a county-wide event to be held on November 8 at the Texas City Museum. Residents will be able to bring their important photos and documents to be digitized and preserved. There will also be an opportunity to record a brief family history.
The first quarterly report for the second TexTreasures grant is due on Friday, October 31, and will be submitted by the library director.
(f)
Wonderbooks:
Wonderbooks are picture books with audio that children can listen to. The library has purchased some for the first time, and they are being catalogued and made available for checkout. The checkout limit is 2 per person since they are expensive and the collection is small. They will be located on a separate shelf in the Children's Department.
Wonderbooks are picture books with audio that children can listen to. The library has purchased some for the first time, and they are being catalogued and made available for checkout. The checkout limit is 2 per person since they are expensive and the collection is small. They will be located on a separate shelf in the Children's Department.
(g)
Vacant Adult Services/Reference Librarian position:
The library director is receiving applications for this position. Four preliminary interviews have been held and three follow-up in-person interviews have been scheduled over the next two weeks. There is a good pool of candidates for this position.
The library director is receiving applications for this position. Four preliminary interviews have been held and three follow-up in-person interviews have been scheduled over the next two weeks. There is a good pool of candidates for this position.
(h)
Book vendors and ordering:
The library's contracted book vendor, Baker & Taylor, went out of business without warning. There are two other primary vendors of books for libraries, and the library director is in the process of setting up new accounts with both of them. Some books are currently being ordered on Amazon. There may be a delay in the ordering of some materials. An item has been placed on the agenda for the City Commission meeting on November 5th, requesting approval of these two companies, Ingram Library Services and Brodart Co., as vendors.
The library's contracted book vendor, Baker & Taylor, went out of business without warning. There are two other primary vendors of books for libraries, and the library director is in the process of setting up new accounts with both of them. Some books are currently being ordered on Amazon. There may be a delay in the ordering of some materials. An item has been placed on the agenda for the City Commission meeting on November 5th, requesting approval of these two companies, Ingram Library Services and Brodart Co., as vendors.
(3)
OLD BUSINESS
(a)
Budget FY 2026 - City of Texas City:
The budget for FY 2026 was approved by the City Commission on September 30th. Funding for the library remains steady.
The budget for FY 2026 was approved by the City Commission on September 30th. Funding for the library remains steady.
(b)
Budget FY 2026 - Galveston County Library System:
The County Commissioners Court approved the requested budget for the Galveston County Library System. Texas City will receive $80,874 this year, an increase of $794 over last year. These funds are used to pay the fee for the courier for the Interlibrary Loan program and to puchase ebooks and eAudiobooks from Overdrive.
The County Commissioners Court approved the requested budget for the Galveston County Library System. Texas City will receive $80,874 this year, an increase of $794 over last year. These funds are used to pay the fee for the courier for the Interlibrary Loan program and to puchase ebooks and eAudiobooks from Overdrive.
(4)
NEW BUSINESS
(a)
Selection of Chair and Vice Chair:
The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to select the current Chair and Vice-Chair to serve for another year. Christina Bergvall will continue as Chair of the Board and Lynn Ellison will continue as Vice-Chair.
The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to select the current Chair and Vice-Chair to serve for another year. Christina Bergvall will continue as Chair of the Board and Lynn Ellison will continue as Vice-Chair.
(b)
Confirmation of December meeting date:
Since the scheduled meeting date, December 22, is during Christmas week, the board voted unanimously to move the meeting to Monday, January 5th at 4 PM.
Since the scheduled meeting date, December 22, is during Christmas week, the board voted unanimously to move the meeting to Monday, January 5th at 4 PM.
(5)
BOARD COMMENTS
None.
None.
(6)
ADJOURN:
Meeting was adjourned at 4:38 PM.
Meeting was adjourned at 4:38 PM.