Library Advisory Board Minutes: March 10, 2026
For Multnomah County Library Advisory Board
The Multnomah County Library Advisory Board (LAB) met for a hybrid meeting at Northwest Library on Tuesday, March 10, 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: Annie Lewis, library director; Dave Ratliff, integrated services director; Jen Studebaker, community services director; Johnette Easter, HR director; Jon Worona, director of innovation & technology; Katie Shifley, finance & facilities director; Kim Sutton, MarCom director; Kirby McCurtis, location services director; Maddelyn High, management analyst; Sonja Ervin, equity manager; and Stephen Houser, library deputy director. Commissioner Jones-Dixon, District 4, Multnomah County was also in attendance.
WELCOME & CHECK-IN
LAB Co-Chairs Kate Fleming and Jade Chan welcomed attendees, who shared introductions. Folks 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 reminder that the culminating event for the library’s Everybody Reads program is this Thursday with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who will be interviewed by Renée Watson, who just won the Newberry Award
- Library openings, including Troutdale Library (after roof repair), and Hollywood Library (after bond refresh work), featuring a new mural; and the upcoming closure of Gresham Library on March 27 in preparation for opening of the new East County Library
- Hiring of the library’s new security manager, who reports to Deputy Director Stephen Houser
- MCL’s participation in One Book, One Coast from April 1 to May 31
LAB member Megan Parrott highlighted a recent event at Albina Library with Albina Music Trust.
FISCAL YEAR 2027 CBAC MEMO
LAB Finance Committee member Madison Reithman shared background information about the Community Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC) process, as well as context about the library’s forecast and budget scenario going into the coming Fiscal Year (FY27). This coming year, the library is in a constrained budget environment, which requires difficult decisions in order to match services with available revenue. Reithman noted that the Finance Committee met a total of four times in the fall and winter, learning about the forecast, county budget process, and considerations for development of this year’s budget, including proposed cuts and their impacts. After sessions concluded, the Finance Committee drafted a budget memo, shared ahead of time with all LAB members for review. Once finalized, this memo goes to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration during budget deliberations, leading up to approval of the entire county’s budget.
In response to questions, Commissioner Jones-Dixon and others shared more about how commissioners use input provided by CBACs, noting that the submission deadline for these memos was recently moved up to give electeds more time to consider feedback. Feedback helps commissioners make more informed decisions, and to better understand the overall impact of budget decisions.
Finance Committee member Kelsey Fong summarized highlights from the memo for the group. Finance Director Katie Shifley noted that an entire Finance Committee session was devoted to a deep dive on budget reduction options the library considered, and the evaluation framework used to make decisions.
LAB Co-Chair Jade Chan asked that the full Finance Committee materials folder and proposed budget materials links be shared alongside the draft CBAC memo. LAB liaison Maddelyn High noted this, and committed to making these materials more readily available to folks not on the Finance Committee.
After questions and further discussion, Parrott moved to approve the memo with suggested copyedits. Domiè Newton seconded. By a show of raised hands, the memo was unanimously approved by all LAB members.
Parrott thanked members of the Finance Committee, and in particular, returning members, who bring institutional knowledge to the process. Riethman gave a shoutout to county economist Jeff Renfro, who supports this work each year by explaining how the county (and the library) receive revenue, as well as sharing broader economic context. Lewis and Shifley expressed gratitude to this committee for the significant time commitment.
High noted that the next step is to submit the memo. A few members of the Finance Committee will join library staff on May 20 for the library’s budget presentation to the board of county commissioners.
BOARD BUSINESS - COMMITTEE UPDATES
Meeting minutes for January 13, 2026 and February 10, 2026 were approved with no changes.
Membership Committee members shared a brief update, noting that Joe Marquez was chosen as committee chair. LAB will soon open recruitment to fill four positions, including two youth positions. The committee plans to bring a slate of new members to the June LAB meeting for review and approval. Students and folks from East County will be prioritized.
Committee members are also strategizing around exit interviews to gather general feedback about member experience and to learn more about why folks may leave before their term is up.
Formation of an Equity Committee is still pending.
Lewis shared appreciation for LAB members who are participating in the Patron Voices Project to conduct interviews, which are happening soon.
Chan reminded that next month’s meeting is on April 14, and to please reach out ahead of time when you can if you need to miss a meeting.
CLOSING
The meeting adjourned at 6:47 pm.
Respectfully submitted by:
Maddelyn High, director’s assistant
Multnomah County Library, Oregon