April 8, 2025
Library Advisory Board Minutes: April 8, 2025
For Multnomah County Library Advisory Board
The Multnomah County Library Advisory Board (LAB) met virtually on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. The meeting began at 5:05 pm.
Board members present were: Clare Wilkinson, David Jarvis, Domiè Newton, Jade Chan, Joe Marquez, Kelsey Fong, Kristi Ketchum, London Sorcinelli, Madison Riethman, Megan Parrott, Naomi Margolis, Nikia Kae Solbjor, Taryn Sauer, and Tia-Theo Thompson.
Ingrid Jacobson and Kate Fleming were unavailable.
Staff members present were: Annie Lewis, library director; Jen Studebaker, community services director; Johnette Easter, HR director; Jon Worona, director of innovation & technology; Katie Shifley, finance & facilities director; Maddelyn High, management analyst; and Sonja Ervin, equity & inclusion manager.
Goldann Salazar, District 4, Multnomah County; and one member of the public were also in attendance.
WELCOME & CHECK-IN
Meeting attendees joined the virtual meeting either via video or phone and participated in a warm-up conversation in virtual breakout rooms.
UPDATES FROM LIBRARY LEADERSHIP
Lewis shared recent systemwide updates and highlights from the Director’s Report, including:
- The book launch tonight for release of The Blue Line Letters by Steven Christiansen, a Library Writers Project publication
- An update on the federal landscape and pause of Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funding for libraries
- Signing of a lease for a temporary space during construction closure of the St. Johns Library
- An update on the ongoing recruitment for a new Library Deputy Director
- Encouragement to check out one of many annual Día celebrations coming up in late April, and supported by The Library Foundation
Several items emerged for discussion, including a question about publicizing a recent event with author Kyle Lukoff (in partnership with the Association for Library Service to Children or ALSC) ; and the nature of MCL’s relationship with the State Library of Oregon and potential impacts of halted IMLS funding.
BOARD BUSINESS
Meeting minutes for the March 4, 2025 meeting were approved with no changes.
Megan Parrott shared an update on behalf of the Membership Committee:
- This year, the Membership Committee is taking an active role in the co-chair election process, per LAB’s recently-adopted bylaws. The committee invites any interested members to submit a written statement of interest (150 words max). LAB will vote on new leadership at the May meeting.
- Parrott also reminded that LAB’s recruitment effort to fill two slots is still open through May 15, asking that folks spread the word. In June, LAB will vote on new members.
BIAS TRAINING
Equity Manager Sonja Ervin led meeting attendees through a training on implicit bias, sharing the brain science behind bias; as well as definitions and examples. Ervin led folks through several activities, and shared methods for slowing down to interrupt bias (“debias”).
CLOSING
Lewis shared a plug for Verselandia, the annual youth poetry slam presented by Literary Arts, at which she’ll be a judge.
The meeting adjourned at 6:28 pm.
Respectfully submitted by:
Maddelyn High, director’s assistant
Multnomah County Library, Oregon