April 14, 2026
Library Advisory Board Minutes: April 14, 2026
For Multnomah County Library Advisory Board
The Multnomah County Library Advisory Board (LAB) met for a hybrid meeting at Albina Library on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. The meeting began at 5:33 pm.
Board members present were: ALife Allah, David Jarvis, Domiè Newton, Jade Chan, Joe Marquez, Jose Ramirez Reyes, Kate Fleming, Kelsey Fong, Kristi Ketchum, Madison Riethman, Megan Parrott, Nikia Kae Solbjor, and Tia-Theo Thompson.
Ingrid Jacobson, London Sorcinelli, and Naomi Margolis were absent.
Staff members present were: Maddelyn High, management analyst; and Stephen Houser, library deputy director. Commissioner Jones-Dixon, District 4, Multnomah County was also in attendance.
WELCOME & CHECK-IN
LAB Co-Chair Jade Chan welcomed attendees, who shared introductions. Folks participated in a group icebreaker.
UPDATES FROM LIBRARY LEADERSHIP & DISCUSSION
Library Deputy Director Stephen Houser shared recent systemwide updates and highlights from the Director’s Report, including:
- A note that Library Director Annie Lewis is out on leave
- A new county proclamation of April 21 as Library Workers Day, part of a week of celebration for National Library Week
- Celebration of National Library Volunteers Week and MCL’s 500 active volunteers, including LAB members
- Reflection on the success of the Everybody Reads finale event with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
- Announcement of upcoming events to celebrate the opening of the new East County Library
LIBRARY STRATEGIC PLANNING
Houser shared information about MCL’s upcoming strategic planning effort, which will include creation of a new, updated mission, values, and vision statement. This effort will include engaging both library staff and key library audiences and stakeholders, including patrons and non-patrons. The new strategic plan will guide the organization and resource allocation for the next three-five years. The planning effort itself may take up to a year.
Conversation ensued about MCL’s past strategic planning efforts, and how LAB members might like to be involved. LAB members expressed interest in being involved in an in-depth way, potentially with a longer focus-group discussion or retreat-style work session, and perhaps also an ongoing workgroup/subcommittee (since the strategic plan will span more than a single year).
Folks added that it would be good for all LAB members to get some grounding in what a strategic plan is, why organizations use them, and MCL’s overall plans for this new engagement (and how it differs from past efforts). LAB members’ current involvement in the Patron Voices Project may be useful in helping to determine how to structure LAB engagement for this new systemwide effort.
BOARD BUSINESS - COMMITTEE UPDATES
Meeting minutes for March 10, 2026 were approved with no changes.
Finance Committee members shared that the CBAC/budget cycle is close to wrapping up, with a presentation scheduled for May 20.
Membership Committee Chair Joe Marquez shared that LAB’s current recruitment cycle is now open, through May 1, with 13 applications received so far. The committee plans to conduct prospective member interviews throughout May, and to bring a new slate of candidates for LAB member voting/approval to the June meeting.
Chan and Kate Fleming also shared updates from a recent LAB leadership meeting, highlighting some considerations from LAB members, including feedback that having fewer staff members attend monthly LAB meetings may promote better, more comfortable discussion and LAB member participation. LAB members continue to want to be meaningfully involved and engaged, and are looking for ways to make meetings more interactive. Chan and Fleming encouraged LAB members to continue to reach out at any time with ideas or feedback.
Fleming also shared that she will need to take a temporary hiatus from LAB due to a conflict, and will serve out her current term as LAB co-chair until June 30 – after which time, LAB will need to elect a new co-chair to serve alongside Chan. More details about an upcoming co-chair election process are forthcoming. If you’re interested, please reach out to Chan or Maddelyn High.
CLOSING
The meeting adjourned at 6:32 pm.
Respectfully submitted by:
Maddelyn High, director’s assistant
Multnomah County Library, Oregon