July 14, 2026
Library Advisory Board Minutes: July 14, 2026
For Multnomah County Library Advisory Board
The Multnomah County Library Advisory Board (LAB) met for a hybrid meeting at Midland Library on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. The meeting began at 5:33 pm.
Board members present were: ALife Allah, David Jarvis, Domiè Newton, Jade Chan, Jayden Abel, Jeana Chulim-Ellis, Jose Ramirez Reyes, Kelsey Fong, Kristi Ketchum, Megan Parrott, Nikia Solbjor, Simon Xu, Tia-Theo Thompson, and Yolanda Sanchez
Joe Marquez, Kate Fleming, and Madison Riethman were not available.
Staff members present were: Maddelyn High, management analyst; Sonja Ervin, equity and inclusion manager; and Stephen Houser, library deputy director.
Commissioner Jones-Dixon, District 4, Multnomah County was also in attendance; as was one member of the public.
Library staff members Elizabeth O’Neill, project management and evaluation manager; and Carly Hollobaugh, research and evaluation analyst, were also present.
WELCOME & CHECK-IN
LAB Co-Chair Jade Chan welcomed new members (Jayden Abel, Jeana Chulim-Ellis, Simon Xu, and Yolanda Sanchez), who introduced themselves. Attendees participated in a group icebreaker.
Chan shared news that Joe Marquez stepped down from the co-chair role, and per the bylaws, Chan appointed Nikia Solbjor as interim vice chair.
UPDATES FROM LIBRARY LEADERSHIP & DISCUSSION
Library Deputy Director Stephen Houser shared recent systemwide updates and highlights from the Director’s Report, including:
- The June 27 opening of St. Johns Library (the second to last bond opening), which had over 3,000 folks in attendance during opening weekend
- Midland, East County, Albina, and Central libraries serving as cooling spaces to support county heat relief in June
- Summer Reading programming in full swing, with program participation numbers ahead of where they were last year
- Upcoming community engagement related to future capital planning, which is in the discovery phase
- Recent updates to library rules, particularly related to illicit drugs; restroom use times and limited occupancy; and alignment with a new county ordinance about weapons
LAB members engaged in active discussion, posing several questions about changes to guidance for restroom use and equity implications for those with health issues and for those who are caregivers; and about training for staff related to new rules, rules enforcement and data tracking, and more.
A request was made to update LAB on the results of enhanced security measures implemented over the past year or so; in addition to a report-back on how the rollout of new rules is going.
Houser reminded that library staff have limited tools to impact the number of incidents/rule violations in libraries, as staff are responding to widespread issues happening in our community; but that staff are working on how to better track data and to develop high-quality reporting. In response to a question about how staff are supported in enforcing library rules and in managing disruptive or violent incidents, Houser shared that de-escalation training has been especially helpful, as has after-incident support.
PATRON VOICES
Project Management & Evaluation Manager Elizabeth O’Neill and Research & Evaluation Analyst Carly Hollobaugh joined to share results of the Patron Voices project, which four LAB members participated in as interviewers. Hollobaugh shared an overview of the project and participatory research methodology, followed by a summary of interview findings.
In response to a question about how survey feedback will be used, O’Neill shared that feedback will be built into MCL’s forthcoming strategic plan, and will also be a data source for an upcoming mission/vision/values revision.
Chan and Solbjor briefly shared their experiences with this project, noting that they enjoyed it and would be interested in participating in something similar in the future.
O’Neill noted that her team is brainstorming other ways that LAB can be involved with projects like this moving forward; noting that the library’s next full patron survey will happen in October 2026.
Hollobaugh, O’Neill, and Houser expressed gratitude to LAB members who participated in the Patron Voices project.
STRATEGIC PLANNING
O’Neill provided context, timeline information, and opportunities for LAB to be involved in upcoming strategic planning work.O’Neill explained that a strategic plan is an operational roadmap, allowing an organization to capture what’s working; and what it wants to change and why, in alignment with broader organizational and county goals. The library's current plan can be found on the website.
Work to develop a new library strategic plan will kick off this September, leading to plan development in Q4 of 2027 and Q1 of 2028. The plan will cover a 3-to-5 year increment; be tied to service priorities; and influenced by lots of service statistics and data from other feedback channels (like patron surveys and the Patron Voices Project).
Two areas for potential LAB involved include patron engagement, and review of the draft plan itself. Initial engagement sessions may begin in winter 2026.
Chan noted that LAB members are excited to continue to work together with this staff team.
BOARD BUSINESS
Domiè Newton shared a quick update about the work of LAB’s new Equity Committee, noting that members are interested in training development. Jose Ramirez Reyes added that committee members have lots of different ideas brewing about bringing equity into LAB, noting that there is more to come, as this team is just forming. LAB members interested in joining this committee can reach out to Newton, Reyes, or ALife Allah.
Chan thanked committee members for beginning this work, reminding new LAB members that they will be asked to pick a committee to serve on shortly.
Kristi Ketchum and Solbjor shared Membership Committee updates, noting that Ketchum is this committee’s new chair (taking over for Marquez), with Solbjor in a support role.
Ketchum thanked LAB members who filled out a recent board survey, and shared high-level results, including a desire to connect both in LAB meetings and at a social level; balance the information members need (e.g., MCL processes and practices) in order to serve as effective advisors to MCL, and having a better understanding of their advisory role. The Membership Committee will work on some action items based on survey results and will continue to provide updates.
Chan also shared that LAB’s new member orientation was moved due to an administrative error in which the wrong candidate was invited to join LAB, and the invite had to be retracted.
Chan shared that she is convening the Governance Committee, a committee that is usually ad hoc and focused on bylaws revision. Megan Parrott will take the lead on this committee. Parrott reminded that the bylaws are LAB’s operating procedures (although not a legal document). With several new members joining LAB, leadership and Parrott (as a longtime LAB member) want to help set some norms and expectations, as well as support and advise on operating procedures.
Parrott shared a hope that this work will support inclusivity, and noted that other interested LAB members are welcome to join the effort.
Chan announced that LAB usually votes to cancel its August meeting, in favor of a group social. This year, Chan and Solbjor are proposing a hybrid social and meeting format at the East County Library. The intent of the meeting portion, which will take place without library staff, is to support informal, open conversation amongst LAB members.
Ketchum made a motion to cancel the August meeting, and Solbjor seconded. By a show of hands, the August meeting was cancelled by a unanimous vote.
Parrott then made a motion to host a potluck and meeting in August, and Ketchum seconded. By a show of hands, this plan was approved by a unanimous vote.
Approval of the June 9, 2026, minutes was moved to September due to lack of time.
CLOSING
The meeting adjourned at 7:11 pm.
Respectfully submitted by:
Maddelyn High, director’s assistant
Multnomah County Library, Oregon