September 9, 2025
Library Advisory Board Minutes: September 9, 2025
For Multnomah County Library Advisory Board
The Multnomah County Library Advisory Board (LAB) met at Albina Library on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. The meeting began at 5:38 pm.
Board members present were: ALife Allah, David Jarvis, Domiè Newton, Jade Chan, Joe Marquez, Jose Ramirez Reyes, Kate Fleming, Kristi Ketchum, Madison Riethman, Megan Parrott, Nikia Kae Solbjor, Taryn Sauer, and Tia-Theo Thompson.
Ingrid Jacobson, Kelsey Fong, London Sorcinelli, Naomi Margolis, and were unavailable.
Staff members present were: Annie Lewis, library director; Jen Studebaker, community services director; Katie Shifley, finance & facilities director; Maddelyn High, management analyst; and Stephen Houser, deputy director.
Jackie Starr, Friends of the Library, was also in attendance.
WELCOME & CHECK-IN
LAB Co-Chair Jade Chan welcomed attendees, who shared introductions and participated in a group icebreaker
UPDATES FROM LIBRARY LEADERSHIP & DISCUSSION
Library Director Annie Lewis shared recent systemwide updates and highlights from the Director’s Report, including:
- A warm welcome to MCL’s new Deputy Director, Stephen Houser, who started mid-August. Lewis shared gratitude to Integrated Services Director Dave Ratliff, who served as interim deputy director until the position could be permanently filled.
- Celebration of the opening of Albina Library in mid July
- Announcement of the featured book for this year’s Everybody Reads community reading program – Lovely One by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Lewis reminded that this program is a partnership between Literary Arts, The Library Foundation, and MCL; and that LAB members receive a free ticket to the author reading.
- The upcoming kick-off of library programs and activities for Latiné and Hispanic Heritage Month
- An update on work in progress to address safety and security at Central Library. Lewis summarized work to analyze recent recommendations, as well as steps that the library has already taken to enhance security measures. Lewis encouraged folks to watch her August 7 briefing to the board of county commissioners. The library is currently working to evaluate weapons detection and Lewis thanked LAB members who completed a recent survey to provide input. Lewis shared that further analysis will be shared at a September 30 board briefing. A long discussion ensued, including conversation and questions regarding a recent fatal stabbing near Central Library at the end of July.
BOARD BUSINESS
Meeting minutes for the July 8, 2025 meeting were approved with two edits.
LAB Co-Chair Kate Fleming, Megan Parrott, and Madison Reithman gave descriptions of standing and proposed new LAB committees, and LAB liaison Maddelyn High reminded that LAB members are required to participate in at least one committee. Committees are as follows:
- Finance Committee / Community Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC) leads
- Membership Committee
- Governance Committee
- Equity Committee
- Community Affairs Committee (new proposed committee)
High requested that LAB members send their top three committee choices via email ahead of the October 14 meeting, during which committee membership will be confirmed. High committed to sending out a reminder as well as written descriptions of each committee.
CLOSING
The meeting adjourned at 7:02 pm.
Respectfully submitted by:
Maddelyn High, director’s assistant
Multnomah County Library, Oregon