TEXAS CITY LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
MINUTES
Day, January 5, 2026, 4:00 pm
LIBRARY MEETING ROOM
MINUTES
Day, January 5, 2026, 4:00 pm
LIBRARY MEETING ROOM
The Library Board of Directors met at 4:00 PM, Monday, January 5, 2026, in the Library Meeting Room, in Texas City, Texas, with the following in attendance:
Lynn Ellison, Jill Halasz, Rita Waldrop, Stephanie Doyle, Shirley Mapps, Danica Surman
Lynn Ellison, Jill Halasz, Rita Waldrop, Stephanie Doyle, Shirley Mapps, Danica Surman
Dr. Lynn Ellison declared that a quorum was present and called the meeting of the Library Board to order at 4:07 PM.
(1)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes were approved unamimously.
The minutes were approved unamimously.
(2)
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
(a)
Winter Open House Recap
The event was very successful. Attendance was 248. Friends of the Library provided crafts and door prizes. 5 high school students from NHS and the Interact Club volunteered at the event.
The event was very successful. Attendance was 248. Friends of the Library provided crafts and door prizes. 5 high school students from NHS and the Interact Club volunteered at the event.
(b)
Spring Programming Update
Some upcoming programs were mentioned: Family Portrait Day on February 7; a true crime program in January, Beginning computer classes begin on Friday, January 9; 2 programs for the Ancestry Searchers, Play&Learn workshops beginning February 5.
Some upcoming programs were mentioned: Family Portrait Day on February 7; a true crime program in January, Beginning computer classes begin on Friday, January 9; 2 programs for the Ancestry Searchers, Play&Learn workshops beginning February 5.
(c)
Outreach
Outreach events since the last board meeting were the Texas City Garden Club holiday market on November 8 and an event with Communities in Schools on November 13.
Outreach events since the last board meeting were the Texas City Garden Club holiday market on November 8 and an event with Communities in Schools on November 13.
(d)
Local History Update
The Local History Librarian is working on a number of projects:
- The Texas City High School yearbooks from the 1950s are being digitized and will soon be available on the library's website
- The Vertical Files have been reorganized and catalogued and a finding aid will be added to the website.
- We are in the process of applying for a third TexTreasures grant to continue the digitization of the Texas City Sun.
- She has started to work on developing the Hispanic Oral History Project. Will be scheduling a preliminary meeting with community members to determine the focus and scope of the project.
The Local History Librarian is working on a number of projects:
- The Texas City High School yearbooks from the 1950s are being digitized and will soon be available on the library's website
- The Vertical Files have been reorganized and catalogued and a finding aid will be added to the website.
- We are in the process of applying for a third TexTreasures grant to continue the digitization of the Texas City Sun.
- She has started to work on developing the Hispanic Oral History Project. Will be scheduling a preliminary meeting with community members to determine the focus and scope of the project.
(e)
250 Display from the Texas State Library and Archive
The library has been given a display featuring historical documents from Texas History as part of the Texas America 250 celebrations this year. The display will be up in the library soon, and when it is taken down it will be available for use at other City facilities and local organizations. Suggestions for locations are welcome.
The library has been given a display featuring historical documents from Texas History as part of the Texas America 250 celebrations this year. The display will be up in the library soon, and when it is taken down it will be available for use at other City facilities and local organizations. Suggestions for locations are welcome.
(f)
Grant Updates
Thinking Money for Kids - held 10 programs in 2025 using the grant materials. The final report for the grant is due on January 31, 2026.
TexTreasures Grant - work has begun on the second phase of the grant - digitizing the newspapers from 1960-1971. The second quarter report is due on January 30. The application for a third grant is due on February 9.
Thinking Money for Kids - held 10 programs in 2025 using the grant materials. The final report for the grant is due on January 31, 2026.
TexTreasures Grant - work has begun on the second phase of the grant - digitizing the newspapers from 1960-1971. The second quarter report is due on January 30. The application for a third grant is due on February 9.
(3)
OLD BUSINESS
(a)
Budget FY 2026 - City of Texas City
At the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year, 26.9% of the budget has been spent, so spending is on track
At the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year, 26.9% of the budget has been spent, so spending is on track
(b)
Budget FY 2026 - Galveston County Library System
At the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year, 30.5% of the funds have been spent. This is slightly more than 1/4 because a one-time payment for the InterLibrary Loan courier services was paid in October. The remaining funds will be spent equally each month on eBook purchases through Overdrive.
At the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year, 30.5% of the funds have been spent. This is slightly more than 1/4 because a one-time payment for the InterLibrary Loan courier services was paid in October. The remaining funds will be spent equally each month on eBook purchases through Overdrive.
(4)
NEW BUSINESS
(5)
BOARD COMMENTS
The library director mentioned that the annual meeting for the Friends of the Library was taking place that day at 6:00 pm in the library.
Questions were asked about the new municipal complex regarding location and size.
The library director mentioned that the annual meeting for the Friends of the Library was taking place that day at 6:00 pm in the library.
Questions were asked about the new municipal complex regarding location and size.
(6)
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 4:40 PM.
The next Scheduled Meeting is February 23, 2026, at 4:00 PM.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:40 PM.
The next Scheduled Meeting is February 23, 2026, at 4:00 PM.