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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-17-2025-BLT-AGENDA PACKETCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES AGENDA Civic Center Council Chambers 100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660 Monday, November 17, 2025 - 5:00 PM Board of Library Trustees Members: Lauren Kramer, Chair Antonella Castro, Vice Chair Dorothy Larson, Secretary Meghan Murray, Trustee Chase Rief, Trustee Staff Members: Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director Francine Jacome, Administrative Support Specialist The Board of Library Trustees meeting is subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act. Among other things, the Brown Act requires that the Board of Library Trustees agenda be posted at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of each regular meeting and that the public be allowed to comment on agenda items before the Commission and items not on the agenda but are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board of Library Trustees. The Chair may limit public comments to a reasonable amount of time, generally three (3) minutes per person. The public can submit questions and comments in writing for the Board of Library Trustees to consider. Please send them by email to the Library Services Department at LibraryBoard@newportbeachca.gov by Sunday, November 16, at 5:00 p.m. to give the Board of Library Trustees time to consider your comments. All emails will be made part of the record. The City of Newport Beach’s goal is to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all respects. If, as an attendee or a participant at this meeting, you will need special assistance beyond what is normally provided, we will attempt to accommodate you in every reasonable manner. Please contact Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director, at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting to inform us of your particular needs and to determine if accommodation is feasible at (949) 717-3801 or mhartson@newportbeachca.gov. NOTICE REGARDING PRESENTATIONS REQUIRING USE OF CITY EQUIPMENT Any presentation requiring the use of the City of Newport Beach’s equipment must be submitted to the Library Services Department 24 hours prior to the scheduled meeting. I.CALL MEETING TO ORDER II.ROLL CALL III.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IV.NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC The City provides a yellow sign-in card to assist in the preparation of the minutes. Completion of the card is not required in order to address the Board of Library Trustees. If the optional sign-in card has been completed, it should be placed in the tray provided. The Board of Library Trustees of Newport Beach welcomes and encourages community participation. Public comments are generally limited to three (3) minutes per person to allow everyone to speak. Written comments are encouraged as well. The Board of Library Trustees has the discretion to extend or shorten the time limit on agenda or non-agenda items. As a courtesy, please turn cell phones off or set them in silent mode. November 17, 2025 Page 2 Board of Library Trustees Meeting V.CONSENT CALENDAR All matters listed under CONSENT CALENDAR are considered to be routine and will all be enacted by one motion in the form listed below. The Board of Library Trustees has received detailed staff reports on each of the items recommending an action. There will be no separate discussion of these items prior to the time the Board of Library Trustees votes on the motion unless members of the Board of Library Trustees request specific items to be discussed and/or removed from the Consent Calendar for separate action. Members of the public who wish to discuss a Consent Calendar item should come forward upon invitation by the Chair. A.Consent Calendar Items Minutes of the October 20, 2025 Board of Library Trustees Meeting (pp. 5- 10) 1. DRAFT OF MINUTES Patron Comments (pp. 11-13)2. Monthly review of evaluations of library services through suggestions and requests received from patrons. PATRON COMMENTS Expenditure Status Report (pp. 14-15)3. Monthly expenditure status of the Library's operating expenses, services, salaries, and benefits by department. OCTOBER EXPENDITURES Board of Library Trustees Monitoring List (p. 16)4. List of agenda items and dates for monthly review of projects by the Board of Library Trustees. MONITORING LIST VI.CURRENT BUSINESS A.Items for Review Laptop Borrowing Policy (NBPL 10)(pp. 17-20)5. Staff recommends that the Board of Library Trustees review and approve minor revisions to Library Policy NBPL 10, Laptop Borrowing Policy. STAFF REPORT ATTACHMENTS A-C November 17, 2025 Page 3 Board of Library Trustees Meeting Collection Development Policy (NBPL 2)(pp. 21-38)6. Staff recommends that the Board of Library Trustees review and approve revisions to Library Policy NBPL 2, Collection Development Policy, to be compliant with the California Freedom to Read Act (AB 1825). STAFF REPORT ATTACHMENTS A-D Review Holidays and Meeting Schedule (pp. 39-41)7. Staff requests that the Board of Library Trustees review the Library's holiday and meeting schedule for 2026 and approve as presented. STAFF REPORT ATTACHMENT A Grant Acceptance from California Library Literacy Services (p. 42)8. Staff recommends the Board of Library Trustees accept a grant from California Library Literacy Services to support the Newport Beach Public Library's Project Adult Literacy program. STAFF REPORT Library Activities (pp. 43-52)9. Monthly update of library events, services, and statistics. STAFF REPORT B.Monthly Reports Library Foundation Liaison Reports (pp. 53-55)10. A. Library Foundation Board - Report of the most recently attended meeting. B. Library Live Committee - Report of the most recently attended meeting. C. Witte Lectures Committee - Report of the most recently attended meeting. FOUNDATION REPORT Foundation Literacy Liaison Report11. Trustee update of the most recently attended Foundation Literacy Committee Meeting. Friends of the Library Liaison Report12. Trustee update of the most recently attended Friends of the Library Board Meeting. November 17, 2025 Page 4 Board of Library Trustees Meeting VII.PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Public comments are invited, and non-agenda items generally considered to be within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board of Library Trustees. Speakers must limit comments to three (3) minutes. Before speaking, we invite, but do not require, you to state your name for the record. The Board of Library Trustees has the discretion to extend or shorten the speakers’ time limit on agenda or non-agenda items, provided the time limit adjustment is applied equally to all speakers. As a courtesy, please turn cell phones off or set them in silent mode. VIII.BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES ANNOUNCEMENTS OR MATTERS WHICH MEMBERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION ACTION OR REPORT (NON-DISCUSSION ITEM) OR RECONSIDERATION IX.ADJOURNMENT CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH Board of Library Trustees Civic Center Council Chambers 100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA Meeting Minutes Monday, October 20, 2025 – 5:00 PM I. ROLL CALL Chair Lauren Kramer called to order the Board of Library Trustees meeting for October 20, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Trustees Present: Chair Lauren Kramer, Vice Chair Antonella Castro, Secretary Dorothy Larson, Trustee Meghan Murray, Trustee Chase Rief Trustees Absent: None Staff Present: Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director Francine Jacome, Administrative Support Specialist Rebecca Lightfoot, Library Services Manager Andrew Kachaturian, Adult Services Coordinator Annika Helmuth, Branch and Youth Services Coordinator Miranda Gentry, Circulation Coordinator Ben Zdeba, Community Development Planning Manager III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Secretary Larson led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC - Waived V. CONSENT CALENDAR Administrative Support Specialist Francine Jacome read the Consent Calendar Notice to the public. A. Consent Calendar Items 1. Minutes of the September 15, 2025 Board of Library Trustees Meeting 2. Patron Comments Monthly review of evaluations of library services through suggestions and requests received from patrons. 5 Board of Library Trustees Meeting October 20, 2025 Page 2 4.Expenditure Status Report Monthly expenditure status of the library’s operating expenses, services, salaries, and benefits by department. 5.Board of Library Trustees Monitoring List List of agenda items and dates for monthly review of projects by the Board of Library Trustees. Chair Kramer opened the items to public comment, and there was none. Motion made by Secretary Dorothy Larson, seconded by Trustee Chase Rief, and carried 5-0-0-0 to approve the Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1-4. AYES: Castro, Kramer, Larson, Murray, Rief NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENCES: VI.CURRENT BUSINESS A.Items for Review 6.General Plan Update Seeking Input on Refreshed Goals and Policies in the Draft Arts and Culture Element and Historical Resources Element. Planning Manager Ben Zdeba reported on the community-driven General Plan updating process, adding that staff has returned to the Board looking for feedback on the two relevant draft elements presented at the August meeting. Chair Kramer opened public comment, and there was none. In response to Secretary Larson’s inquiry, Planning Manager Zdeba could not recall the entire membership of the General Plan Advisory Committee’s (GPAC) Arts and Culture Subcommittee, but reported that it is at least partially comprised of GPAC Member Paul Watkins, GPAC Co-Chair Arelene Greer (who also chairs the Subcommittee), and GPAC Member Dennis Baker. He added that GPAC Member Watkins is in attendance if the Board has any questions. Chair Kramer commended the draft elements and stated that she has nothing to add to them. The trustees agreed and lauded the thorough nature of the documents. 6 Board of Library Trustees Meeting October 20, 2025 Page 3 8. Mariners Branch Update Staff will provide the annual overview of the Mariners Branch operations. Branch and Youth Services Coordinator Annika Helmuth reported that Mariners Branch Librarian Alex Johnkins was unable to attend the meeting. She reported that the Mariners Branch opened in 2006 and continues to operate in conjunction with Mariners Elementary School. She added that it is the City’s second-largest library and is open seven days a week, following the Central Library’s schedule. Branch and Youth Services Coordinator Helmuth reported that since the Public Works Department took over maintenance of all City libraries, the Mariners Branch has already seen improvements to its safety and efficiency, with a complete roof replacement and fire sprinkler system overhaul upcoming. She added that the Mariners Branch saw 150,000 visits in the past year, with the most popular program being Storytime. She reported that the children’s area’s interactive art wall is growing rapidly in popularity, and the Mariners Branch also saw strong participation in the Summer Reading Program (SRP). She reported that the Seed Library is growing in popularity, and the City’s Test Proctoring Service is now housed at the Mariners Branch after being transferred from the Corona del Mar Branch. Branch and Youth Services Coordinator Helmuth reported on the Mariners Branch’s many community outreach activities. Chair Kramer opened the item to public comment, and there were none. Chair Kramer received and filed the report. 9. Youth Services Update Staff will provide the annual overview of Youth Services. Branch and Youth Services Coordinator Helmuth clarified that the report’s format has shifted from calendar years to Fiscal Years, with this report focused on FY 2024-25. She added that Youth Services saw growth in the past year, along with additional community engagement. She added that early literacy is essential to the mission of Youth Services with a focus on elementary schools. She noted that the educator engagement webpage has been streamlined and extolled the popularity of the Storytime events, SRP, and first-grade class visit programs. Branch and Youth Services Coordinator Helmuth reported that a new projector system funded by the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation has been installed in the Central Library’s Children’s Room. She added that the children’s collection is one of the most active in the library system. She reported on usage figures, reflecting increased participation over the previous few years alongside increased outreach efforts. She thanked the Newport Beach Friends of the Library and the Foundation for their support of Youth Services. In response to Secretary Larson’s inquiry, Branch and Youth Services Coordinator 7 Board of Library Trustees Meeting October 20, 2025 Page 4 Helmuth clarified that graphic novels are geared towards elementary school students ranging from kindergarten through sixth grade. In response to Chair Kramer’s inquiry, Branch and Youth Services Coordinator Helmuth reported on how library staff tracks attendance at events through the rudimentary use of a headcount clicker. Secretary Larson commended the graphic novels for how they encourage children to read. In response to Vice Chair Castro’s inquiries, Branch and Youth Services Coordinator Helmuth stated that staff is currently emphasizing after-school programming for ages 6-11 and looking for ways to incorporate learning into the busy afternoon schedules of children after school lets out. She added that there is room for growth around the Storytimes, and staff is considering what would be the best extension after these popular events. She confirmed that the writing program is focused on teens with an emphasis on essays, but she added that there have been stand-alone writing workshops focused on ages 8-11. Vice Chair Castro advocated for the writing programs, including the inclusion of poetry. Chair Kramer opened the item to public comment, and there were none. Chair Kramer received and filed the report. 10. Library Activities Monthly update of library events, services, and statistics. Library Services Director Hartson introduced newly hired Circulation Coordinator Miranda Gentry to the Board. She reported that the Central Library’s productive recent three-week closure saw the completion of a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning project, Children’s Room recarpeting, repainting, front lobby art display system installation, lobby lighting updates, and general facility cleaning, all being concluded on time. She noted how the Corona del Mar Branch saw an increase in patron visits for those three weeks due to displaced Central Library patrons. She added that staff has received excellent feedback about the Central Library’s facility upgrades since its reopening. In response to Chair Kramer’s inquiry, Library Services Director Hartson confirmed that there has been discussion among staff about repainting the exterior of the Central Library ahead of Witte Hall’s opening. She reported that the City has solicited bids for a larger Citywide exterior painting project that includes the Central Library. She added that there has not yet been a decision made about either keeping the Library the same color or whether it should be changed to tie the Civic Center area together under a unified exterior color. In response to Secretary Larson’s inquiry, Library Services Director Hartson reported that the timing of the painting is sooner rather than later due to a goal of completing the Central Library’s exterior painting before Witte Hall opens. 8 Board of Library Trustees Meeting October 20, 2025 Page 5 Secretary Larson expressed her pleasant surprise that the Central Library reopened on schedule after its three-week closure for renovations. Chair Kramer opened the item to public comment, and there were none. Chair Kramer received and filed the report. B. Monthly Reports 11. Library Foundation Liaison Report A. Library Foundation Board – Report of the most recently attended meeting. B. Library Live Lectures Committee – Report of the most recently attended meeting. C. Witte Lectures Committee – Report of the most recently attended meeting. Trustee Rief reported that he was unable to attend the latest Foundation meeting but has an appointment to discuss some matters with the Foundation, adding that Chief Executive Officer Jerold D Kappel has a full meeting report included in the Agenda packet. Library Foundation Director of Programs Kunga Wangmo-Upshaw reported that the last Library Live Lecture was sold out and included participants from the inspiring California School for the Deaf’s football team depicted in the recent novel “The Boys of Riverside.” She added that the November Library Live Lecture is also sold out. Secretary Larson reported that the lecture series is so successful because they are proactively focused on contemplating what people will want to hear about over the coming year. Chair Kramer opened the item to public comment, and there were none. Chair Kramer received and filed the report. 12. Foundation Literacy Liaison Report Trustee update of the most recently attended Foundation Literacy Committee Meeting. Vice Chair Castro reported that they met on September 23, to discuss the success of International Literacy Day, award recipients, and financial matters. She reported that Project Adult Literacy now has 61 learners and tutors, noting that there is a volunteer training opportunity upcoming on October 29. She promoted a holiday potluck brunch on December 6, at 10:00 a.m. She reported that Project Adult Literacy staff attended an event in the City of Carlsbad to exchange ideas and best practices. Chair Kramer opened the item to public comment, and there were none. Chair Kramer received and filed the report. 9 Board of Library Trustees Meeting October 20, 2025 Page 6 13. Friends of the Library Liaison Report Trustee update of the most recently attended Friends of the Library Board meeting. Trustee Murray reported that the most recent meeting was canceled, but added that she attended the Friends of the Library’s check presentation at the last City Council meeting. Chair Kramer opened the item to public comment, and there were none. Chair Kramer received and filed the report. VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS – THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER None. VIII. BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES ANNOUNCEMENTS OR MATTERS WHICH MEMBERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION ACTION OR REPORT (NON-DISCUSSION ITEM) Chair Kramer reported that she will be absent from the November meeting. Vice Chair Castro confirmed that she will be at the next meeting and able to run it. IX. ADJOURNMENT – 5:26 P.M. The next meeting will be on November 17, 2025. 10 NEWPORT BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY PATRON COMMENTS OCTOBER 2025 Comment #Comment Response Date Received Source of Comment Staff Member Staff Member Title Date Responded to Patron 1 10/02/2025 Phone Allison Sarnowski Administrative Support Technician 10/02/2025 2 10/04/2025 Email Rebecca Lightfoot Library Services Manager 10/06/2025 3 10/06/2025 Phone Annika Helmuth Branch & Youth Services Coordinator 10/06/2025 4 10/08/2025 Email Miranda Gentry Circulation Coordinator 10/09/2025 5 10/10/2025 Email Melissa Hartson Library Services Director 10/10/2025 [I'm calling to say thank you for the wonderful service I receive from Evelyn and Mike at Balboa and Greg at Central. I am very happy with the Library facilities and services. One special request is to please obtain the 1966 movie “Hawaii” on DVD. I think I already put in a request for this item, so hopefully you are considering it. Thanks!] We thanked this patron for his kind feedback. He opted not to provide his contact information. The compliments and request were shared with the appropriate Library staff members. There is construction at my house which is very stressful to my dog. Are well- behaved, leashed dogs allowed in the library? Thank you for your inquiry. Bringing animals into the Library, except service animals as specified and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, is prohibited. However, the Library has outdoor seating with tables, chairs, and Wi-Fi access where you may bring your leashed dog. This space is located outside the second-floor entrance. Also, there is a dog park at the north end of the Civic Center Campus and Park that has two separate areas of play for big and small dogs. Best regards. Would it be possible for you to have a viewing of this documentary ["The Librarians"]? I would go to a screening, but it is not playing close to me. Thank you!Unfortunately, no, that movie is still showing in the theaters and we would be unable to host a screening. Hopefully, it will be available to stream or purchase on DVD soon so you can see it. Thank you. [I am very happy with the service provided by Leah over this past weekend at Mariners. I cannot speak more highly of the service she provided as well as the services the Library offers to the community at large. Leah has an ability to navigate a busy moment at the library with the utmost respect and professionalism. She was cordial and patient while ensuring the needs of each patron were met. She really took care of everybody and was so kind while doing so.] We thanked this patron for the positive feedback about Leah and our services. The compliments were shared with the appropriate Library staff members. I returned my books on Sunday morning at the Central Library. It is stating they are overdue. I hope this clears up! Thank you! Thank you for your inquiry. I have checked your account and all items have cleared from your account. The courtesy overdue email goes out three days before items are due, so there may have been some overlap between receiving the email and you returning the items. Please let me know if there is anything else I can assist with. Thank you. 11 NEWPORT BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY PATRON COMMENTS OCTOBER 2025 Comment #Comment Response Date Received Source of Comment Staff Member Staff Member Title Date Responded to Patron 6 10/12/2025 Email Rebecca Lightfoot Library Services Manager 10/13/2025 7 10/13/2025 In Person Melissa Hartson Library Services Director 10/13/2025 8 10/14/2025 Email Rebecca Lightfoot Library Services Manager 10/14/2025 9 10/22/2025 Email Andy Kachaturian Adult Services Coordinator 10/22/2025 10 10/22/2025 Comment Card Andy Kachaturian Adult Services Coordinator 10/22/2025 At one time the NB library had an active book club that published the books that they were reading and the meeting days. I am unable to find this information on the library website. If still in existence, would you direct me to this resource? Thank you. The Newport Beach Public Library Foundation hosts a monthly book discussion group. You can find out more information about the dates and titles here on their website … I hope that helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thank you. Oh my gosh. Jeremy was an absolute life saver. He is knowledgeable, kind, patient, [and] helpful! I am so grateful he was here before I almost lost my work. He is an asset to this library. Thank you!! We tried to reach this patron using the contact information provided, but we were unable to connect. The positive feedback was shared with the appropriate Library staff members. I am trying to put book[s] on hold, but they all say not available. Do you know why this is? [It is] all of the Freida McFadden books. Sorry to hear that you are having issues placing holds on this author’s titles. I was able to log in and successfully place some titles on hold—can you please let me know which titles or formats you had issues with? We do own a number of her titles in eBook form, so it is possible that is the issue. If that is the case, please let me know and I can investigate that as well. If you have a list of titles you would like placed on hold, I would be happy to do that for you—please just let me know which titles, what format you prefer, and which pickup location you would like. Best regards. I hope this email finds you well ... I am a student representative from Tuned In, a music club at University High School. I am reaching out to inquire about hosting a concert at the Newport Beach Library on any available date in November or December. We would specifically like this to be at the library. It will be around an hour long concert, with live music from our musicians at University High School. We will bring everything that is needed, all we ask is that you provide us with a space for our performance! Thank you so much, and we look forward to hearing back from you. Thank you for your inquiry about space at the Newport Beach Public Library for a musical performance. The Friends Meeting Room is a rental space available at the Central Library. However, due to ongoing construction, room capacity has been limited to no more than 49 people, which includes attendees, staff, and any volunteers. Construction is slated to continue through the spring of 2026, at the earliest. We would be unable to accommodate an event of the size you are proposing at this time. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions. Thank you. [I'm here with my daughter to praise Bernadette for the awesome job she did at storytime this morning. We had a wonderful time … We’ll be back on Wednesday!] We thanked this patron for his kind words. The positive feedback was shared with the appropriate Library staff members. 12 NEWPORT BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY PATRON COMMENTS OCTOBER 2025 Comment #Comment Response Date Received Source of Comment Staff Member Staff Member Title Date Responded to Patron 11 10/25/2025 Email Melissa Hartson Library Services Director 10/27/2025 12 10/27/2025 Email Rebecca Lightfoot Library Services Manager 10/28/2025 13 10/28/2025 Email Rebecca Lightfoot Library Services Manager 10/28/2025 I see that California State Library resources are available through "Palace Project" phone app. Are they available through desktops? Thank you.I’m sorry, no, the Palace Project’s content is only available through mobile devices, there is not a dedicated desktop application. The intent was to bring eBooks and audiobooks from different streaming platforms together under one single umbrella to improve usability. The Palace Project creators chose to focus on a mobile app. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thank you. For my college class, History of Orange County at UC Irvine, we are assigned to interview someone who works in an Orange County history capacity—a volunteer with a local historical society; [a] city or county librarian or archivist; [a] local author; [a] history professor or high school history teacher; ANYONE involved in chronicling a part of Orange County’s past. So, I would absolutely love to be able to interview a librarian or historian about their role—what they do, [what are] the challenges involved in teaching Orange County history, etc. This project is due November 3rd, so I would absolutely love to do so before then. Please reach out if this is a possibility! Thank you for reaching out! Unfortunately, I don’t think we’re the best ones to answer your questions. Have you reached out to the Sherman Library? They specialize in the history of this region ... Another good avenue might be Newport Beach Historical Society ... I hope that helps. Best of luck on your project. I.T. Dept: Computer PC# 4 Needs "Wiping": There's a Google User (presumably your IT Personnel) stuck logged into this Workstation, PLUS all of the Desktop and Other Settings are STUCK Personalized to that Network User. Therefore, I believe this computer needs to be Wiped to be standardized with all the others. But while I'm asking, on behalf of many, [I] ask that you add a minimum of 15 minutes to the Unattended Logout Timeout period currently set. It's currently not enough time particularly because when [the] upstairs bathroom becomes full, we have to spend maybe 5-10 minutes waiting or having to go to another restroom. This phenomenon is frequent and the library cannot otherwise fix the latter. Thank you. Thank you for reporting the issue with Computer #4. Staff logged into the computer station this morning to check its settings. The default settings have been restored. Also, thank you for your suggestion to improve our services. We will work with our IT Department to evaluate and assess our options to extend the time when you lock the computer. Best regards. 13 LIBRARY EXPENDITURES FY 2025-26 (November 3, 2025) ACCOUNT DESCRIPTION ORIGINAL APPROP REVISED BUDGET MONTHLY EXPENDED YTD 2025-26 EXPENDED AVAILABLE BUDGET YTD 2025-26 % EXPENDED YTD 2024-25 EXPENDED I SALARY & BENEFITS SALARY FULL-TIME REGULAR 3,359,526 3,372,855 258,825 978,941 2,393,914 29.0%957,424 SALARY PART-TIME 1,510,834 1,574,590 74,745 295,942 1,278,648 18.8%280,635 BENEFITS 2,265,515 2,418,574 90,452 336,961 2,081,614 13.9%727,339 SALARY & BENEFITS TOTAL 7,135,875 7,366,020 424,022 1,611,844 5,754,176 21.9%1,965,399 II MAINT & OPERATION PROFESSIONAL SERVICE*6,488 3,988 2,031 2,219 1,770 55.6%54,377 UTILITIES 391,004 391,004 3,231 109,873 281,131 28.1%140,031 PROGRAMMING 2,000 4,800 107 2,542 2,258 53.0%1,075 SUPPLIES**53,750 53,000 1,430 16,440 36,560 31.0%27,872 LIBRARY MATERIALS 669,740 670,740 33,176 378,423 292,317 56.4%396,887 FACILITIES MAINTENANCE 45,802 69,926 14,418 16,754 53,173 24.0%86,870 TRAINING AND TRAVEL 10,681 10,681 350 550 10,131 5.1%235 GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES***27,274 36,524 2,658 16,707 19,817 45.7%11,192 PERIPHERALS & SOFTWARE 4,500 4,500 --4,500 0.0%151 INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS 1,810,801 1,810,801 150,900 603,600 1,207,201 33.3%616,391 OFFICE EQUIPMENT 2,000 2,000 --2,000 0.0%64 MAINT & OPERATION TOTAL 3,024,040 3,057,965 208,300 1,147,108 1,910,857 37.5%1,335,146 LIBRARY BUDGET TOTAL 10,159,915 10,423,984 632,322 2,758,952 7,665,032 26.5%3,300,545 *INCLUDES OUTSIDE PRINTING **INCLUDES OFFICE AND PROCESSING SUPPLIES ***INCLUDES, ADVERTISING, DUES, EVENT INSURANCE 14 FY 2025-26 (November 3, 2025) DATE FUNDED AMOUNT PURPOSE AMT EXPENDED YTD NOTES JULY 2025 WISH LIST 100,000 NEW MATERIALS 0 SPENDING TO BEGIN IN THIRD QUARTER 50,000 PROGRAMMING 2,499 IN PROGRESS 100,000 BALBOA OPENING DAY COLLECTION 0 SPENDING TO BEGIN IN THIRD QUARTER TOTAL 250,000 2,499 DATE FUNDED AMOUNT PURPOSE AMT EXPENDED YTD NOTES AUGUST 2025 WISH LIST 34,000 BALBOA OPENING DAY COLLECTION 0 SPENDING TO BEGIN IN THIRD QUARTER 6,000 FURNITURE 5,799 SPENDING IS COMPLETE TOTAL 40,000 5,799 FRIENDS FOUNDATION 15 Previous Agenda Date Scheduled Agenda Date Ongoing Ongoing Nov 18, 2024 Nov 17, 2025 Jan 21, 2025 Jan 20, 2026 Feb 24, 2025 Feb 17, 2026 Feb 24, 2025 Feb 17, 2026 Mar 17, 2025 Mar 16, 2026 Apr 21, 2025 Apr 20, 2026 Apr 21, 2025 Apr 20, 2026 May 19, 2025 May 18, 2026 May 19, 2025 May 18, 2026 May 19, 2025 May 18, 2026 Jul 21, 2025 Jun 15, 2026 Jul 21, 2025 Jun 15, 2026 Jul 21, 2025 Jul 20, 2026 Jul 21, 2025 Jul 20, 2026 Aug 18, 2025 Aug 17, 2026 Aug 19, 2024 Aug 17, 2026 Sep 16, 2024 Sep 21, 2026 Oct 20, 2025 Oct 19, 2026 Oct 20, 2025 Oct 19, 2026 LAST REVIEWED Dec 11, 2023 NBPL 10 Laptop Borrowing Policy Nov 17, 2025 Jun 17, 2024 NBPL 2 Collection Development Policy Nov 17, 2025 Mar 18, 2024 NBPL 3 Library Gift and Donor Policy Mar 16, 2026 Jul 15, 2024 CC I-1 Library Services Policy (Council Policy I -1)Jul 20, 2026 Sep 16, 2024 NBPL 9 Expressive Use Areas Sep 21, 2026 Nov 18, 2024 NBPL 1 Library Use Policy Nov 16, 2026 Nov 18, 2024 NBPL 6 Media Lab Use Policy Nov 16, 2026 Nov 18, 2024 NBPL 7 Sound Lab Use Policy Nov 16, 2026 Jan 21, 2025 NBPL 12 Circulation Policy Jan 19, 2027 Jan 21, 2025 NBPL 5 Internet Use Policy Jan 19, 2027 Jan 21, 2025 NBPL 11 Rules for Acceptable Use of Wireless Internet Connections Jan 19, 2027 Feb 24, 2025 NBPL 8 Display and Distribution of Materials Policy Feb 16, 2027 Mar 17, 2025 NBPL 13 Study Rooms/Charles Sword Meeting Room Policy Mar 15, 2027 Jul 21, 2025 NBPL 4 Children in the Library Policy Jun 21, 2027 Aug 18, 2025 NBPL 14 The Friends Meeting Room Aug 16, 2027 BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES MONITORING LIST Policy Review (See List Below) Branch Update - Mariners Review Holidays / Meeting Schedule Performance Review of Library Services Director (Closed Session) Annual Budget - Preliminary Review AGENDA ITEM POLICY REVIEW Adult and Reference Services Update Branch Update - Balboa Literacy Program Update Youth Services Update Branch Update - Corona del Mar Marketing Update & Social Networking Update Annual Budget - Approval Library Material Selection Election of Board of Library Trustees Officers/Trustee Liaisons Arts & Cultural Update Financial Report Comparison of Beginning Budget to End of the Year Amended Budget Information Technology Update Media Lab Update Newport Beach Public Library eBranch, Database and Downloadable Services Review Proposed Library Closures for Winter Holidays 16 CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES STAFF REPORT November 17, 2025 Agenda Item No. 5 RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Board of Library Trustees review and approve minor revisions to Library Policy NBPL 10, Laptop Borrowing Policy. DISCUSSION: The availability of library laptops has been a service offered since 2004. The laptops offer flexibility throughout each library branch, supplement the number of available computers, and help to reduce waiting for patrons when demand increases. Corona del Mar Branch, because of its size and service model, offers laptops exclusively. Revisions to the policy are minor, consisting of updated language and formatting. NOTICING: This agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the Board of Library Trustees considers the item). ATTACHMENT A: NBPL 10, Laptop Borrowing Policy – original ATTACHMENT B: NBPL 10, Laptop Borrowing Policy – red-lined ATTACHMENT C: NBPL 10, Laptop Borrowing Policy – final TO: BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES FROM: Library Services Department Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director (949)717-3801, mhartson@newportbeachca.gov PREPARED BY: Andrew Kachaturian, Adult Services Coordinator TITLE: Laptop Borrowing Policy (NBPL 10) 17 1 NBPL 10 Laptop Borrowing Policy 1.Patrons who use circulating Newport Beach Public Library (NBPL) laptops are subject to the Internet Use Policy (NBPL 5). 2.Laptops can be checked out to current NBPL cardholders whose accounts meet use requirements. These devices are for use within the Library building. 3.The loan period for laptops is one hour. Laptops can be renewed for 20-minute increments through the PC management software as long as there is no waiting list. 4.Laptops may be checked out at the reference desk at the Central Library, from the circulation desk at Balboa Branch, and from the reference desks at Mariners and Corona del Mar Branches. 5.Patrons must present a valid NBPL card and be current in the Library's circulation system. All patrons will be required to provide a valid photo identification that will be held at the desk where the patron checked out the laptop. Student IDs will be accepted as valid identification as long as they have a photograph and are current. 6.Patrons are limited to one checkout of a laptop per Library cardholder. 7.Laptops will be checked out on a first come, first served basis. Laptops returned late will be assessed a late fee as set forth in the Library’s Circulation Policy (NBPL 12). 8.Laptops are due at the Reference Desks at Central, Mariners, and Corona del Mar or the Circulation Desk at Balboa 30 minutes before closing. 9.When laptops are checked in, they must be returned with all peripherals. 10.There is a replacement charge for damage or loss of the laptop and/or its peripherals of up to $1,200, as set forth in the Circulation Policy (NBPL 12). 11.This policy is subject to review and change as authorized by the Board of Library Trustees. Adopted by the Board of Library Trustees on October 7, 2013 Amended by the Board of Library Trustees on January 22, 2019 Amended by the Board of Library Trustees on December 20, 2021 Amended by the Board of Library Trustees on December 11, 2023 This Policy will be periodically reviewed by the Board of Library Trustees on the first to occur of (i) as circumstances may require or (ii) every two years from the date of adoption, last amendment, or last review. Adopted, last amended, or last reviewed on December 11, 2023. ATTACHMENT A 18 1 NBPL 10 Laptop Borrowing Policy 1.Patrons who use circulating Newport Beach Public Library (NBPL) laptops are subject to the Library Policy NBPL 5, Internet Use Policy (NBPL 5). 2.Laptops can be checked out to current NBPL cardholders whose accounts meet use requirements. These devices are for use within the Library building. 3.The loan period for laptops is one hour. Laptops can be renewed for 20-minute increments through the PC management software as long as there is no waiting list. 4.Laptops may be checked out at the reference desk at the Central Library (Central), from the circulation desk at Balboa Branch (Balboa), and from the reference desks at Mariners and Corona del Mar (CdM) Branches. 5.Patrons must present a valid NBPL card and be current in the Library's circulation system. All patrons will be required to provide a valid photo identification that will be held at the desk where the patron checked out the laptop. Student IDs will be accepted as valid identification as long as they have a photograph and are current. 6.Patrons are limited to one checkout of a laptop per Library cardholder. 7.Laptops will be checked out on a first come, first served basis. Laptops returned late will be assessed a late fee as set forth in the Library’s Library Policy NBPL 12, Circulation Policy (NBPL 12). 8.Laptops are due at the Reference Desks at Central, Mariners, and Corona del MarCdM or the Circulation Desk at Balboa 30 minutes before closing. 9.When laptops are checked in, they must be returned with all peripherals. 10.There is a replacement charge for damage or loss of the laptop and/or its peripherals of up to $1,200, as set forth in the CirculationLibrary Policy (NBPL 12). 11.This policy is subject to review and change as authorized by the Board of Library Trustees. Adopted by the Board of Library Trustees on- October 7, 2013 Amended by the Board of Library Trustees on- January 22, 2019 Amended by the Board of Library Trustees on- December 20, 2021 Amended by the Board of Library Trustees on- December 11, 2023 Amended – November 17, 2025 This Policy will be periodically reviewed by the Board of Library Trustees on the first to occur of (i) as circumstances may require or (ii) every two years from the date of adoption, last amendment, or last review. Adopted, last amended, or last reviewed on December 11, 2023November 17, 2025. ATTACHMENT B 19 1 NBPL 10 Laptop Borrowing Policy 1.Patrons who use circulating Newport Beach Public Library (NBPL) laptops are subject to Library Policy NBPL 5, Internet Use Policy. 2.Laptops can be checked out to current NBPL cardholders whose accounts meet use requirements. These devices are for use within the Library building. 3.The loan period for laptops is one hour. Laptops can be renewed for 20-minute increments through the PC management software as long as there is no waiting list. 4.Laptops may be checked out at the reference desk at the Central Library (Central), from the circulation desk at Balboa Branch (Balboa), and from the reference desks at Mariners and Corona del Mar (CdM) Branches. 5.Patrons must present a valid NBPL card and be current in the Library's circulation system. All patrons will be required to provide a valid photo identification that will be held at the desk where the patron checked out the laptop. Student IDs will be accepted as valid identification as long as they have a photograph and are current. 6.Patrons are limited to one checkout of a laptop per Library cardholder. 7.Laptops will be checked out on a first come, first served basis. Laptops returned late will be assessed a late fee as set forth in Library Policy NBPL 12, Circulation Policy. 8.Laptops are due at the Reference Desks at Central, Mariners, and CdM or the Circulation Desk at Balboa 30 minutes before closing. 9.When laptops are checked in, they must be returned with all peripherals. 10.There is a replacement charge for damage or loss of the laptop and/or its peripherals as set forth in Library Policy NBPL 12. 11.This policy is subject to review and change as authorized by the Board of Library Trustees. Adopted - October 7, 2013 Amended - January 22, 2019 Amended - December 20, 2021 Amended - December 11, 2023 Amended – November 17, 2025 This Policy will be periodically reviewed by the Board of Library Trustees on the first to occur of (i) as circumstances may require or (ii) every two years from the date of adoption, last amendment, or last review. Adopted, last amended, or last reviewed on November 17, 2025. ATTACHMENT C 20 CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES STAFF REPORT November 17, 2025 Agenda Item No. 6 RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the Board of Library Trustees review and approve revisions to Library Policy NBPL 2, Collection Development Policy, to be compliant with the California Freedom to Read Act (AB 1825). DISCUSSION: Assembly Bill 1825 establishes the California Freedom to Read Act. The bill requires “every public library jurisdiction that directly receives any state funding…shall establish, adopt, and maintain a written and publicly accessible collection development policy for its public libraries by January 1, 2026, and shall submit that collection development policy to the State Librarian.” The State Library has been reviewing submitted collection development policies in accordance with an established process and checklist (Attachment A), verifying the statements listed in the checklist are true. Staff submitted Library Policy NBPL 2, Collection Development Policy (Attachment B), to the State Library for its review at the end of August 2025. In response, the State Library informed staff that NBPL 2 currently meets three of the four checklist items. The State Library found that the fourth checklist item, which states, “The policy contains the following statements,” is missing. Here are the missing statements: • The collection meets the broad and diverse interests of the community and respects both the library’s autonomy and their specific community needs. • The public library serves as a center for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas. • Library materials should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people, and should present diverse points of view in the collection as a whole. • The right of the public to receive access to a range of social, political, aesthetic, moral, and other ideas and experiences is acknowledged. The proposed revisions to NBPL 2 incorporate these four specific statements into the policy as required by AB 1825. Staff shared the red-lined policy (Attachment C) containing the proposed revisions with the City Attorney’s Office and the State Library. Both entities cleared the revisions to proceed and indicated TO: BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES FROM: Library Services Department Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director (949) 717-3801, mhartson@newportbeachca.gov PREPARED BY: Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director TITLE: Collection Development Policy (NBPL 2) 21 Collection Development Policy (NBPL 2) November 17, 2025 Page 2 to staff that these policy changes would meet the requirements of AB 1825. If the proposed revisions are approved, staff will resubmit NBPL 2, Collection Development Policy – final (Attachment D) to the State Library for its closing review to determine that NBPL 2 is compliant with AB 1825. NOTICING: This agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the Board of Library Trustees considers the item). ATTACHMENT A: California Freedom to Read Act Process and Checklist ATTACHMENT B: NBPL 2, Collection Development Policy - original ATTACHMENT C: NBPL 2, Collection Development Policy - red-lined ATTACHMENT D: NBPL 2, Collection Development Policy - final 22 California Freedom to Read Act Process and Checklist To help libraries be compliant with the California Freedom to Read Act, the State Library will review collection development policies following this process and checklist: 1.Review the collection development policy from a library in accordance with the checklist and verify the following statements are true: The library posted their collection development policy on their public website. The policy establishes a process for community members to share their concerns regarding library materials and to request that library materials be reconsidered for inclusion in the library’s collection. The policy guides the selection and deselection of materials. The policy contains the following statements: The “collection meets the broad and diverse interests of the community and respects both the library’s autonomy and their specific community needs.” The “public library serves as a center for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas.” “Library materials should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people, and should present diverse points of view in the collection as a whole.” The “right of the public to receive access to a range of social, political, aesthetic, moral, and other ideas and experiences” is acknowledged. 2.If the policy meets all the requirements on the checklist: a.Update the tracking spreadsheet to show that the library is fully compliant. b.Notify the library that their policy is compliant. 3.If the policy does not meet the requirements on the checklist: a.Return the policy to the library, b.Indicate to the library what is missing, c.Provide additional technical assistance as needed. ATTACHMENT A 23 1 NBPL 2 Collection Development Policy The Library seeks to provide breadth and depth within the collection, various points of view, and differing formats. The Library endeavors to balance materials of permanent value with those of current interest. Materials are selected based on their content as a whole, not on selected excerpts. Race, nationality, or political, social, moral, or religious views of an author will not affect the selection of materials. Inclusion of an item in the Library’s collection does not mean the Library staff, Board of Library Trustees, or the City of Newport Beach endorses the contents, views, or objectives expressed in that item. Collection Objectives It is the intent of the Board of Library Trustees (“Board”) that the Newport Beach Public Library provides a contemporary, relevant collection of resources in order to meet the informational, educational and recreational needs of the entire community. The Library strives to meet these needs within the limitations of space, budget, and availability of items. Selection is based on merit of the work; value of the work within the collection; and the needs and interests of the community. Consideration is given to specific types of material; to materials for specific age groups; to materials for special interests of patrons; and to differing formats of materials. These selection criteria will apply equally to materials purchased and to those accepted as gifts. With respect to the Library’s children’s collection (the “Children’s Collection”), the desire of the Board and Library staff is to curate a Children’s Collection that serves the informational, educational, social, spiritual, and emotional learning needs, development, and recreational reading requirements appropriate for child patrons (through sixth grade) within the City of Newport Beach. Responsibility of Selection Ultimate responsibility for materials selection rests with the Library Services Director (“Director”), who operates within the framework of policies determined by the Board. The Director delegates the major responsibility of materials selection to the Librarians on staff. The responsibility for material selection for the Children’s Collection ultimately rests with the Director, however, it is the desire of the Board that there be a staff member appointed as the Children’s Collection Coordinator (the “Coordinator”). The Coordinator is responsible for developing proposed lists of materials for procurement for the Children’s Collection (“the Proposed List”) prior to acquiring any materials for the Children’s Collection. Each Proposed List will be provided to the Director for review and approval. Material that is on controversial topics must be read by the Director or Coordinator to determine whether or not they belong in the Children’s Collection prior to being put into circulation. In addition to the Director’s objective professional opinion and the criteria in this Policy, the Director will also take into account independent book reviews (i.e. non-paid reviews), literary awards and patron demand and interest. Once the Director approves items on a Proposed List, the Coordinator may proceed with procuring the Approved Materials. ATTACHMENT B 24 2 For purposes of the Children’s Collection, the term “controversial topics” means material that addresses (either in written or illustrative form) material that may not be considered age appropriate, such as: violence, sexual relationships, and/or gender identity. Guidelines for Materials Selection Collection Development is based on these specific criteria: •Community needs, interests, and demands •Significance and compatibility of the work to the collection •Recommendations of reviews from professional journals or publications of national repute •Reputation and qualifications of the author, illustrator, publisher, or producer •Availability of other information on the subject •Literary, artistic, historical, scientific, or intellectual merit •Suitability of format •Author or creator already has popular works in the collection •Significance of the author’s work to the Newport Beach area •Suitability of subject and style to intended audience The importance or weight of each of these factors will vary from one acquisition to another, others may be considered, and materials for adults, teens and children will each be judged differently. Additional guidelines for selection of children’s materials include the following: •Subject matter is age appropriate, which is defined as material that is suitable to particular ages or age groups of children and adolescents, based on developing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age group. Further, for purposes of the Children’s Collection, the determination of whether or not material is “age appropriate” will not be based solely on reading level (e.g. whether a third party review has determined it appropriate for third through eighth grades) as such a broad age range does not take into account the fact that children have reached varied social and emotional maturity levels at different stages, nor does it take into consideration whether there is an alternative work on the same subject matter that may be more consistent with this Policy. •Illustrations (visual literacy) should be age appropriate and evaluated just like the written word. Moreover, children’s books containing sexually graphic or violent pictures should be closely evaluated to determine whether there is a better alternative on the same subject matter absent such illustrations. •Consideration is given to the need, contribution, and suitability of the material with regard to the informational, educational, social, spiritual, and emotional development of children. •Take into consideration the varied interests, abilities and maturity levels of the children served. The Children’s Collection should reflect diverse points of view and the materials purchased should create a balanced approach. For controversial topics, effort should be made to select material that is most age appropriate and the Coordinator along with the Director should review these materials prior to purchase or in the case of pre-purchase ordering once the material is received prior to placing it in circulation to determine whether or not it is consistent with the current Policy. 25 3 Patrons making requests that items be added to the permanent collection will be referred to the “Suggest a Title” form located on the Library’s website. Suggestions from Library patrons are encouraged and receive serious consideration. Third Party Vendors There is a preference for independent objective vendors. Any third party vendor contracted by the Library must be provided a copy of this Policy and contractually required to abide by the terms herein (meaning, this Policy will be attached to and incorporated into any contract for the provision of collection materials). Further, the Director will provide the Board with drafts of the staff’s request for proposals prior to them being sent out as well as copies of all responses. No binding contracts will be executed without the Board’s review of the vendor being contracted and the terms and conditions contained in such agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein with respect to third party contracting, contracting with third party vendors shall comply with all laws applicable to local public agencies related to contracting for services including Newport Beach City Council’s Policy F-14. Library Displays, Programming, and Prizes Children’s displays, programming, and prizes will follow the guidelines in this Policy. If the Director wants to deviate from this Policy, they will first present any such proposed deviation to the Board for approval. Reciprocal Lending Many items which are not in the collection are available to Library patrons, through established interlibrary loan practices. Concurrently, the Library participates in universal borrowing, established by the California Library Services Act, Article 4, California Education Code Section 18731, which states, “A California public library may participate in universal borrowing. A public library participating in universal borrowing shall not exclude the residents of any jurisdiction maintaining a public library.” This allows Newport Beach Public Library patrons direct access to materials housed in other participating public libraries in Orange County and throughout the State of California. Patron Rights The Library believes that the use of library materials is an individual and private matter. Parents and caregivers have the primary responsibility to guide and direct the use of library materials by the minor children under their care and supervision. In support of the above principles, in general the Library endorses the Library Bill of Rights and The Freedom to Read Statement as adopted by the American Library Association Council. Library patrons with concerns about a specific title in the collection shall be provided with a copy of this Policy and asked to complete the "Patron’s Request for Evaluation of Library Resources" form, Attachment I to this Policy. Library staff shall evaluate the material, based on this Policy. A recommendation shall be forwarded to the Director who shall respond in writing to the patron (“Director’s Decision”). Once the Director has made the Director’s Decision, copies of the Patron’s Request for Evaluation of Library Resources and the Director’s Decision shall be provided to the Board at its subsequent regular meeting. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Policy, any materials in the Children’s Collection or Teen Collection considered not age appropriate by the Director will be relocated to another Library location or the Director may take other actions pursuant to the Collection 26 4 Maintenance section in this Policy. If a patron disagrees with the Director’s Decision, the patron may appeal to the Board for final resolution. The appeal shall be filed on the “Application for Appeal of Evaluation of Library Resources to the Board of Library Trustees” (“Appeal Application”), and the Board’s final resolution shall be determined in accordance with the “Procedures for Patron’s Appeal of Evaluation to the Board of Library Trustees” (“Procedures”). The Appeal Application and the Procedures are set forth in Attachment II to this Policy. The Board also has the right to call for review of any material contained in the Library and request the Director and/or any staff member to participate in its review. Donations The Library only accepts materials in useable condition. All donations become the sole property of the Newport Beach Public Library upon receipt and cannot be returned. The Library reserves the right to decide whether donated items are added to the collection and to determine the conditions of display, storage, and access. All donated materials added to the collection must meet the same collection criteria as purchased materials. Donated items not added to the collection are given to the Friends of the Newport Beach Public Library for sale in their bookstore. Proceeds from the Friends of the Library Bookstore directly benefit the Library. Collection Maintenance The Library and the Director are continually evaluating the collection and, on their own initiative, may take actions with respect to the collection based on this Policy. To maintain the quality and relevance of the collection, the Library regularly withdraws materials that are worn, outdated, superseded or obsolete. Space limitations require that duplicate copies no longer in demand also be withdrawn. As materials become worn, damaged, or lost, replacement will be based on whether or not: •The item is still available •There is an ongoing demand or need •Another item or format might better serve the same purpose •Updated, newer, or revised materials would better replace a given item •Another library system could better provide the item or a comparable item in the future [Attachment I – Patron’s Request for Evaluation of Library Resources] [Attachment II – Application for Appeal of Evaluation of Library Resources to the Board of Library Trustees and Procedures for Patron’s Appeal of Evaluation of Library Resources to the Board of Library Trustees] Adopted - October 22, 1990 Amended - October 28, 1991 Amended - January 24, 1994 Reassigned - April 8, 2003 Corrected (Att. II) – October 10, 2006 27 5 Revisions Approved – November 16, 2010 Amendments Approved by City Council – September 27, 2011 Amended – August 20, 2018 Formerly I-16 Amended – August 17, 2020 Amended – August 15, 2022 Amended – September 18, 2023 Amended – October 16, 2023 Amended – January 16, 2024 Reviewed – May 20, 2024 Amended – June 17, 2024 This Policy will be periodically reviewed by the Board of Library Trustees on the first to occur of (i) as circumstances may require or (ii) every two years from the date of adoption, last amendment, or last review. Adopted, last amended, or last reviewed on June 17, 2024. 28 1 NBPL 2 Collection Development Policy The Library seeks to provide breadth and depth within the collection, various points of view, and differing formats. The Library endeavors to balance materials of permanent value with those of current interest. Materials are selected based on their content as a whole, not on selected excerpts. Race, nationality, or political, social, moral, or religious views of an author will not affect the selection of materials. Inclusion of an item in the Library’s collection does not mean the Library staff, Board of Library Trustees, or the City of Newport Beach endorses the contents, views, or objectives expressed in that item. Collection Objectives It is the intent of the Board of Library Trustees (“Board”) that the Newport Beach Public Library provides a contemporary, relevant collection of resources in order to meet the informational, educational and recreational needs of the entire community. The Library strives to meet these needs within the limitations of space, budget, and availability of items. Selection is based on merit of the work; value of the work within the collection; and the needs and interests of the community. Consideration is given to specific types of material; to materials for specific age groups; to materials for special interests of patrons; and to differing formats of materials. These selection criteria will apply equally to materials purchased and to those accepted as gifts. In conformance with the California Freedom to Read Act (AB 1825): 1.The collection meets the broad and diverse interests of the community and respects both the Library’s autonomy and its specific community needs. 2.The Library serves as a center for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas. 3.Library materials should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people, and should present diverse points of view in the collection as a whole. 4.The right of the public to receive access to a range of social, political, aesthetic, moral, and other ideas and experiences is acknowledged. With respect to the Library’s children’s collection (the “Children’s Collection”), the desire of the Board and Library staff is to curate a Children’s Collection that serves the informational, educational, social, spiritual, and emotional learning needs, development, and recreational reading requirements appropriate for child patrons (through sixth grade) within the City of Newport Beach. Responsibility of Selection Ultimate responsibility for materials selection rests with the Library Services Director (“Director”), who operates within the framework of policies determined by the Board. The Director delegates the major responsibility of materials selection to the Librarians on staff. The responsibility for material selection for the Children’s Collection ultimately rests with the Director, however, it is the desire of the Board that there be a staff member appointed as the Children’s Collection Coordinator (the “Coordinator”). The Coordinator is responsible for ATTACHMENT C 29 2 developing proposed lists of materials for procurement for the Children’s Collection (“the Proposed List”) prior to acquiring any materials for the Children’s Collection. Each Proposed List will be provided to the Director for review and approval. Material that is on controversial topics must be read by the Director or Coordinator to determine whether or not they belong in the Children’s Collection prior to being put into circulation. In addition to the Director’s objective professional opinion and the criteria in this Policy, the Director will also take into account independent book reviews (i.e. non-paid reviews), literary awards and patron demand and interest. Once the Director approves items on a Proposed List, the Coordinator may proceed with procuring the Approved Materials. For purposes of the Children’s Collection, the term “controversial topics” means material that addresses (either in written or illustrative form) material that may not be considered age appropriate, such as: violence, sexual relationships, and/or gender identity. Guidelines for Materials Selection Collection Development is based on these specific criteria: •Community needs, interests, and demands •Significance and compatibility of the work to the collection •Recommendations of reviews from professional journals or publications of national repute •Reputation and qualifications of the author, illustrator, publisher, or producer •Availability of other information on the subject •Literary, artistic, historical, scientific, or intellectual merit •Suitability of format •Author or creator already has popular works in the collection •Significance of the author’s work to the Newport Beach area •Suitability of subject and style to intended audience The importance or weight of each of these factors will vary from one acquisition to another, others may be considered, and materials for adults, teens and children will each be judged differently. Additional guidelines for selection of children’s materials include the following: •Subject matter is age appropriate, which is defined as material that is suitable to particular ages or age groups of children and adolescents, based on developing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age group. Further, for purposes of the Children’s Collection, the determination of whether or not material is “age appropriate” will not be based solely on reading level (e.g. whether a third party review has determined it appropriate for third through eighth grades) as such a broad age range does not take into account the fact that children have reached varied social and emotional maturity levels at different stages, nor does it take into consideration whether there is an alternative work on the same subject matter that may be more consistent with this Policy. •Illustrations (visual literacy) should be age appropriate and evaluated just like the written word. Moreover, children’s books containing sexually graphic or violent pictures should be closely evaluated to determine whether there is a better alternative on the same subject matter absent such illustrations. •Consideration is given to the need, contribution, and suitability of the material with regard to the informational, educational, social, spiritual, and emotional development of children. 30 3 •Take into consideration the varied interests, abilities and maturity levels of the children served. The Children’s Collection should reflect diverse points of view and the materials purchased should create a balanced approach. For controversial topics, effort should be made to select material that is most age appropriate and the Coordinator along with the Director should review these materials prior to purchase or in the case of pre-purchase ordering once the material is received prior to placing it in circulation to determine whether or not it is consistent with the current Policy. Patrons making requests that items be added to the permanent collection will be referred to the “Suggest a Title” form located on the Library’s website. Suggestions from Library patrons are encouraged and receive serious consideration. Third Party Vendors There is a preference for independent objective vendors. Any third party vendor contracted by the Library must be provided a copy of this Policy and contractually required to abide by the terms herein (meaning, this Policy will be attached to and incorporated into any contract for the provision of collection materials). Further, the Director will provide the Board with drafts of the staff’s request for proposals prior to them being sent out as well as copies of all responses. No binding contracts will be executed without the Board’s review of the vendor being contracted and the terms and conditions contained in such agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein with respect to third party contracting, contracting with third party vendors shall comply with all laws applicable to local public agencies related to contracting for services including Newport Beach City Council’s Policy F-14. Library Displays, Programming, and Prizes Children’s displays, programming, and prizes will follow the guidelines in this Policy. If the Director wants to deviate from this Policy, they will first present any such proposed deviation to the Board for approval. Reciprocal Lending Many items which are not in the collection are available to Library patrons, through established interlibrary loan practices. Concurrently, the Library participates in universal borrowing, established by the California Library Services Act, Article 4, California Education Code Section 18731, which states, “A California public library may participate in universal borrowing. A public library participating in universal borrowing shall not exclude the residents of any jurisdiction maintaining a public library.” This allows Newport Beach Public Library patrons direct access to materials housed in other participating public libraries in Orange County and throughout the State of California. Patron Rights The Library believes that the use of library materials is an individual and private matter. Parents and caregivers have the primary responsibility to guide and direct the use of library materials by the minor children under their care and supervision. In support of the above principles, in general the Library endorses the Library Bill of Rights and The Freedom to Read Statement as adopted by the American Library Association Council. 31 4 Library patrons with concerns about a specific title in the collection shall be provided with a copy of this Policy and asked to complete the "Patron’s Request for Evaluation of Library Resources" form, Attachment I to this Policy. Library staff shall evaluate the material, based on this Policy. A recommendation shall be forwarded to the Director who shall respond in writing to the patron (“Director’s Decision”). Once the Director has made the Director’s Decision, copies of the Patron’s Request for Evaluation of Library Resources and the Director’s Decision shall be provided to the Board at its subsequent regular meeting. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Policy, any materials in the Children’s Collection or Teen Collection considered not age appropriate by the Director will be relocated to another Library location or the Director may take other actions pursuant to the Collection Maintenance section in this Policy. If a patron disagrees with the Director’s Decision, the patron may appeal to the Board for final resolution. The appeal shall be filed on the “Application for Appeal of Evaluation of Library Resources to the Board of Library Trustees” (“Appeal Application”), and the Board’s final resolution shall be determined in accordance with the “Procedures for Patron’s Appeal of Evaluation to the Board of Library Trustees” (“Procedures”). The Appeal Application and the Procedures are set forth in Attachment II to this Policy. The Board also has the right to call for review of any material contained in the Library and request the Director and/or any staff member to participate in its review. Donations The Library only accepts materials in useable condition. All donations become the sole property of the Newport Beach Public Library upon receipt and cannot be returned. The Library reserves the right to decide whether donated items are added to the collection and to determine the conditions of display, storage, and access. All donated materials added to the collection must meet the same collection criteria as purchased materials. Donated items not added to the collection are given to the Friends of the Newport Beach Public Library for sale in their bookstore. Proceeds from the Friends of the Library Bookstore directly benefit the Library. Collection Maintenance The Library and the Director are continually evaluating the collection and, on their own initiative, may take actions with respect to the collection based on this Policy. To maintain the quality and relevance of the collection, the Library regularly withdraws materials that are worn, outdated, superseded or obsolete. Space limitations require that duplicate copies no longer in demand also be withdrawn. As materials become worn, damaged, or lost, replacement will be based on whether or not: •The item is still available •There is an ongoing demand or need •Another item or format might better serve the same purpose •Updated, newer, or revised materials would better replace a given item •Another library system could better provide the item or a comparable item in the future [Attachment I – Patron’s Request for Evaluation of Library Resources] 32 5 [Attachment II – Application for Appeal of Evaluation of Library Resources to the Board of Library Trustees and Procedures for Patron’s Appeal of Evaluation of Library Resources to the Board of Library Trustees] Adopted - October 22, 1990 Amended - October 28, 1991 Amended - January 24, 1994 Reassigned - April 8, 2003 Corrected (Att. II) – October 10, 2006 Revisions Approved – November 16, 2010 Amendments Approved by City Council – September 27, 2011 Amended – August 20, 2018 Formerly I-16 Amended – August 17, 2020 Amended – August 15, 2022 Amended – September 18, 2023 Amended – October 16, 2023 Amended – January 16, 2024 Reviewed – May 20, 2024 Amended – June 17, 2024 Amended – November 17, 2025 This Policy will be periodically reviewed by the Board of Library Trustees on the first to occur of (i) as circumstances may require or (ii) every two years from the date of adoption, last amendment, or last review. Adopted, last amended, or last reviewed on June 17, 2024November 17, 2025. 33 1 NBPL 2 Collection Development Policy The Library seeks to provide breadth and depth within the collection, various points of view, and differing formats. The Library endeavors to balance materials of permanent value with those of current interest. Materials are selected based on their content as a whole, not on selected excerpts. Race, nationality, or political, social, moral, or religious views of an author will not affect the selection of materials. Inclusion of an item in the Library’s collection does not mean the Library staff, Board of Library Trustees, or the City of Newport Beach endorses the contents, views, or objectives expressed in that item. Collection Objectives It is the intent of the Board of Library Trustees (“Board”) that the Newport Beach Public Library provides a contemporary, relevant collection of resources in order to meet the informational, educational and recreational needs of the entire community. The Library strives to meet these needs within the limitations of space, budget, and availability of items. Selection is based on merit of the work; value of the work within the collection; and the needs and interests of the community. Consideration is given to specific types of material; to materials for specific age groups; to materials for special interests of patrons; and to differing formats of materials. These selection criteria will apply equally to materials purchased and to those accepted as gifts. In conformance with the California Freedom to Read Act (AB 1825): 1.The collection meets the broad and diverse interests of the community and respects both the Library’s autonomy and its specific community needs. 2.The Library serves as a center for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas. 3.Library materials should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people, and should present diverse points of view in the collection as a whole. 4.The right of the public to receive access to a range of social, political, aesthetic, moral, and other ideas and experiences is acknowledged. With respect to the Library’s children’s collection (the “Children’s Collection”), the desire of the Board and Library staff is to curate a Children’s Collection that serves the informational, educational, social, spiritual, and emotional learning needs, development, and recreational reading requirements appropriate for child patrons (through sixth grade) within the City of Newport Beach. Responsibility of Selection Ultimate responsibility for materials selection rests with the Library Services Director (“Director”), who operates within the framework of policies determined by the Board. The Director delegates the major responsibility of materials selection to the Librarians on staff. The responsibility for material selection for the Children’s Collection ultimately rests with the Director, however, it is the desire of the Board that there be a staff member appointed as the ATTACHMENT D 34 2 Children’s Collection Coordinator (the “Coordinator”). The Coordinator is responsible for developing proposed lists of materials for procurement for the Children’s Collection (“the Proposed List”) prior to acquiring any materials for the Children’s Collection. Each Proposed List will be provided to the Director for review and approval. Material that is on controversial topics must be read by the Director or Coordinator to determine whether or not they belong in the Children’s Collection prior to being put into circulation. In addition to the Director’s objective professional opinion and the criteria in this Policy, the Director will also take into account independent book reviews (i.e. non-paid reviews), literary awards and patron demand and interest. Once the Director approves items on a Proposed List, the Coordinator may proceed with procuring the Approved Materials. For purposes of the Children’s Collection, the term “controversial topics” means material that addresses (either in written or illustrative form) material that may not be considered age appropriate, such as: violence, sexual relationships, and/or gender identity. Guidelines for Materials Selection Collection Development is based on these specific criteria: • Community needs, interests, and demands • Significance and compatibility of the work to the collection • Recommendations of reviews from professional journals or publications of national repute • Reputation and qualifications of the author, illustrator, publisher, or producer • Availability of other information on the subject • Literary, artistic, historical, scientific, or intellectual merit • Suitability of format • Author or creator already has popular works in the collection • Significance of the author’s work to the Newport Beach area • Suitability of subject and style to intended audience The importance or weight of each of these factors will vary from one acquisition to another, others may be considered, and materials for adults, teens and children will each be judged differently. Additional guidelines for selection of children’s materials include the following: • Subject matter is age appropriate, which is defined as material that is suitable to particular ages or age groups of children and adolescents, based on developing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age group. Further, for purposes of the Children’s Collection, the determination of whether or not material is “age appropriate” will not be based solely on reading level (e.g. whether a third party review has determined it appropriate for third through eighth grades) as such a broad age range does not take into account the fact that children have reached varied social and emotional maturity levels at different stages, nor does it take into consideration whether there is an alternative work on the same subject matter that may be more consistent with this Policy. • Illustrations (visual literacy) should be age appropriate and evaluated just like the written word. Moreover, children’s books containing sexually graphic or violent pictures should be closely evaluated to determine whether there is a better alternative on the same subject matter absent such illustrations. 35 3 • Consideration is given to the need, contribution, and suitability of the material with regard to the informational, educational, social, spiritual, and emotional development of children. • Take into consideration the varied interests, abilities and maturity levels of the children served. The Children’s Collection should reflect diverse points of view and the materials purchased should create a balanced approach. For controversial topics, effort should be made to select material that is most age appropriate and the Coordinator along with the Director should review these materials prior to purchase or in the case of pre-purchase ordering once the material is received prior to placing it in circulation to determine whether or not it is consistent with the current Policy. Patrons making requests that items be added to the permanent collection will be referred to the “Suggest a Title” form located on the Library’s website. Suggestions from Library patrons are encouraged and receive serious consideration. Third Party Vendors There is a preference for independent objective vendors. Any third party vendor contracted by the Library must be provided a copy of this Policy and contractually required to abide by the terms herein (meaning, this Policy will be attached to and incorporated into any contract for the provision of collection materials). Further, the Director will provide the Board with drafts of the staff’s request for proposals prior to them being sent out as well as copies of all responses. No binding contracts will be executed without the Board’s review of the vendor being contracted and the terms and conditions contained in such agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein with respect to third party contracting, contracting with third party vendors shall comply with all laws applicable to local public agencies related to contracting for services including Newport Beach City Council’s Policy F-14. Library Displays, Programming, and Prizes Children’s displays, programming, and prizes will follow the guidelines in this Policy. If the Director wants to deviate from this Policy, they will first present any such proposed deviation to the Board for approval. Reciprocal Lending Many items which are not in the collection are available to Library patrons, through established interlibrary loan practices. Concurrently, the Library participates in universal borrowing, established by the California Library Services Act, Article 4, California Education Code Section 18731, which states, “A California public library may participate in universal borrowing. A public library participating in universal borrowing shall not exclude the residents of any jurisdiction maintaining a public library.” This allows Newport Beach Public Library patrons direct access to materials housed in other participating public libraries in Orange County and throughout the State of California. Patron Rights The Library believes that the use of library materials is an individual and private matter. Parents and caregivers have the primary responsibility to guide and direct the use of library materials by the minor children under their care and supervision. 36 4 In support of the above principles, in general the Library endorses the Library Bill of Rights and The Freedom to Read Statement as adopted by the American Library Association Council. Library patrons with concerns about a specific title in the collection shall be provided with a copy of this Policy and asked to complete the "Patron’s Request for Evaluation of Library Resources" form, Attachment I to this Policy. Library staff shall evaluate the material, based on this Policy. A recommendation shall be forwarded to the Director who shall respond in writing to the patron (“Director’s Decision”). Once the Director has made the Director’s Decision, copies of the Patron’s Request for Evaluation of Library Resources and the Director’s Decision shall be provided to the Board at its subsequent regular meeting. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Policy, any materials in the Children’s Collection or Teen Collection considered not age appropriate by the Director will be relocated to another Library location or the Director may take other actions pursuant to the Collection Maintenance section in this Policy. If a patron disagrees with the Director’s Decision, the patron may appeal to the Board for final resolution. The appeal shall be filed on the “Application for Appeal of Evaluation of Library Resources to the Board of Library Trustees” (“Appeal Application”), and the Board’s final resolution shall be determined in accordance with the “Procedures for Patron’s Appeal of Evaluation to the Board of Library Trustees” (“Procedures”). The Appeal Application and the Procedures are set forth in Attachment II to this Policy. The Board also has the right to call for review of any material contained in the Library and request the Director and/or any staff member to participate in its review. Donations The Library only accepts materials in useable condition. All donations become the sole property of the Newport Beach Public Library upon receipt and cannot be returned. The Library reserves the right to decide whether donated items are added to the collection and to determine the conditions of display, storage, and access. All donated materials added to the collection must meet the same collection criteria as purchased materials. Donated items not added to the collection are given to the Friends of the Newport Beach Public Library for sale in their bookstore. Proceeds from the Friends of the Library Bookstore directly benefit the Library. Collection Maintenance The Library and the Director are continually evaluating the collection and, on their own initiative, may take actions with respect to the collection based on this Policy. To maintain the quality and relevance of the collection, the Library regularly withdraws materials that are worn, outdated, superseded or obsolete. Space limitations require that duplicate copies no longer in demand also be withdrawn. As materials become worn, damaged, or lost, replacement will be based on whether or not: •The item is still available •There is an ongoing demand or need •Another item or format might better serve the same purpose •Updated, newer, or revised materials would better replace a given item •Another library system could better provide the item or a comparable item in the future 37 5 [Attachment I – Patron’s Request for Evaluation of Library Resources] [Attachment II – Application for Appeal of Evaluation of Library Resources to the Board of Library Trustees and Procedures for Patron’s Appeal of Evaluation of Library Resources to the Board of Library Trustees] Adopted - October 22, 1990 Amended - October 28, 1991 Amended - January 24, 1994 Reassigned - April 8, 2003 Corrected (Att. II) – October 10, 2006 Revisions Approved – November 16, 2010 Amendments Approved by City Council – September 27, 2011 Amended – August 20, 2018 Formerly I-16 Amended – August 17, 2020 Amended – August 15, 2022 Amended – September 18, 2023 Amended – October 16, 2023 Amended – January 16, 2024 Reviewed – May 20, 2024 Amended – June 17, 2024 Amended – November 17, 2025 This Policy will be periodically reviewed by the Board of Library Trustees on the first to occur of (i) as circumstances may require or (ii) every two years from the date of adoption, last amendment, or last review. Adopted, last amended, or last reviewed on November 17, 2025. 38 CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES STAFF REPORT November 17, 2025 Agenda Item No. 7 RECOMMENDATION: Staff requests that the Board of Library Trustees review the Library’s holiday and meeting schedule for 2026 and approve as presented. BLT MEETING SCHEDULE HOLIDAY CLOSURES BLT MEETING DATES New Year’s Day THU, JAN 1 Martin Luther King Day MON, JAN 19 JANUARY 20 Presidents’ Day MON, FEB 16 FEBRUARY 17 MARCH 16 Easter SUN, APR 5 APRIL 20 Memorial Day MON, MAY 25 MAY 18 JUNE 15 Independence Day SAT, JUL 4 JULY 20 AUGUST 17 Labor Day MON, SEP 7 SEPTEMBER 21 OCTOBER 19 Veterans’ Day WED, NOV 11 NOVEMBER 16 Thanksgiving Day THU, NOV 26 Day-After Thanksgiving FRI, NOV 27 Christmas Eve THU, DEC 24 – 1/2 Day DECEMBER 21 Christmas Day FRI, DEC 25 New Year’s Eve THU, DEC 31 – 1/2 Day DISCUSSION: Per the Board of Library Trustees By-Laws (Article IV – Meetings) Section 1: “The regular meetings shall be held on the third Monday of each month commencing at 5:00 p.m. at the Central Library or at a specified branch library, unless noticed otherwise. In the event the third Monday of the month is a holiday observed by the City, such regular meeting shall be held on the next business day TO: BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES FROM: Library Services Department Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director (949)717-3801, mhartson@newportbeachca.gov PREPARED BY: Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director TITLE: Review Holidays and Meeting Schedule 39 Review Holidays and Meeting Schedule November 17, 2025 Page 2 commencing at 5:00 p.m. at the Central Library unless noticed otherwise. Special meetings may also be held subject to compliance with the provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act.” Both the Martin Luther King Jr. Day and President’s Day holidays fall on the third Monday of January and February respectively. Therefore, the Board of Library Trustees will hold its January and February meetings on the following Tuesday. NOTICING: This agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the Board of Library Trustees considers the item). ATTACHMENT A: 2026 Meeting Schedule 40 Board of Library Trustees 2026 Meeting Schedule JANUARY 20, 2026** JULY 20, 2026 FEBURARY 17, 2026** AUGUST 17, 2026 MARCH 16, 2026 SEPTEMBER 21, 2026 APRIL 20, 2026 OCTOBER 19, 2026 MAY 18, 2026 NOVEMBER 16, 2026 JUNE 15, 2026 DECEMBER 21, 2026 ** HELD ON A TUESDAY BECAUSE OF THE MONDAY HOLIDAY ATTACHMENT A 41 CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES STAFF REPORT November 17, 2025 Agenda Item No. 8 RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommend the Board of Library Trustees accept a grant from the California Library Literacy Services to support the Newport Beach Public Library’s Project Adult Literacy program. DISCUSSION: Project Adult Literacy (PAL) offers one-on-one tutoring and small group classes to patrons with low literacy skills. PAL is partially funded by the City’s general fund and partially funded through grants, donations, and the fundraising efforts of the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation. One of the major funding resources is through the California Library Literacy Services’ annual grant program. A grant of $41,935 has been awarded to the Newport Beach Public Library (Library) to support our high-quality literacy program. The grant funds will be used towards staffing for the program. The Library has received 90% of the award, $37,742, for FY 2025-26 and will receive the remaining grant funds, $4,193, in spring 2026. Staff recommend the acceptance of this grant by the Board of Library Trustees. If accepted, the funds will be allocated into Library Services Literacy accounts. NOTICING: This agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the Board of Library Trustees considers the item). TO: BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES FROM: Library Services Department Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director (949)717-3801, mhartson@newportbeachca.gov PREPARED BY: Rebecca Lightfoot, Library Services Manager TITLE: Grant Acceptance from California Library Literacy Services 42 CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES STAFF REPORT November 17, 2025 Agenda Item No. 9 MELISSA HARTSON, LIBRARY SERVICES DIRECTOR Café Space Local coffee and tea house, Kit Coffee, began renovations to the Central Library café space. A partition was installed around the front of the space to help mitigate the noise, control the dust, and contain the work during the renovation. Tenant improvements are expected to continue for approximately 10 weeks. Distinguished Citizen Program I spoke to the Newport Beach Foundation’s 13th Class of the Distinguished Citizen Program. The cohort consisted of 30 individuals who live or work in Newport Beach. The program is designed to teach participants about key components that form the foundation of Newport Beach, including local government. I presented a high-level overview of the Library Services Department highlighting library- and arts-related opportunities for civic engagement. After I spoke, a participant expressed interest in support and involvement with the Library Foundation. WHEELHOUSE LIST FOR LIBRARY TRUSTEES •Spotlight on Science: Quantum Computing Thursday, November 19, 7 p.m. Community Room, Civic Center •Holiday Open House Sunday, December 7, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Corona del Mar Branch •Library Closure: Thanksgiving Holiday Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 All locations •Board of Library Trustees Meeting Monday, December 15, 5 p.m. City Council Chambers, Civic Center •Project Adult Literacy Holiday Potluck Saturday, December 6, 10 a.m. Community Room, Civic Center TO: BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES FROM: Library Services Department Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director (949)717-3801, mhartson@newportbeachca.gov PREPARED BY: Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director TITLE: Report of October Library Activities – November 17, 2025 Meeting 43 Report of October Library Activities November 17, 2025 Page 2 REBECCA LIGHTFOOT, LIBRARY SERVICES MANAGER Literacy Project Adult Literacy (PAL) held their first Learner Open House, where learners and tutors found out more about classes offered in the program. The final Volunteer Tutor Training and New Learner Orientation for 2025 took place on October 20, 21, and 28. The annual Volunteer In-Service Training on October 29, welcomed 27 attendees. Literacy Coordinator Christina Smith attended Career Online High School (COHS) training and will be reaching out to those interested in COHS. Programming The Library hosted Storytellers 2.0 in October, the advanced level writing series offered to participants who have completed the first Storytellers three-part series. Also in October, the first of three Genealogy Uncovered workshops, Beginning Genealogy, was presented to an at-capacity class. Facilities Central Library (Central) reopened to the public on Monday, October 6. A rupture in the chiller line above the Children’s room caused a significant water leak mid-month. Thanks to the quick response from Library and Public Works (PW) staff, all repairs and cleanup were completed with minimal disruption to public service and no lasting effects. There are still a few items left to complete on the public elevator project, but it has passed inspection and is in use once again. At Mariners Branch (Mariners), the security vendor came out to troubleshoot a motion detector that continued to trigger an alarm. The technician replaced the battery and appeared to have corrected the issue. ANNIKA HELMUTH, BRANCH AND YOUTH SERVICES COORDINATOR Branch Activities October at the branches was highlighted by seasonal programming and steady library use. At Mariners, staff represented the Library at the City’s annual Spooktacular event, connecting with over 1,100 attendees. At Balboa Branch (Balboa), programming remained limited to Storytime as staff prepared for the upcoming replacement project. And at Corona del Mar Branch (CdM), early literacy programs continued to draw strong attendance. The annual CdM Fire Station Storytime was another tremendous success that drew 179 participants. 44 Report of October Library Activities November 17, 2025 Page 3 PW also completed various maintenance projects at the branches. At Mariners, PW staff repaired study desk cords, replaced broken public toilet parts, and continued LED lighting upgrades. Mariners also had 18 new computer chairs added for public use. At CdM, a restroom plumbing issue was promptly resolved and the space deep-cleaned. At Balboa, thermostats were replaced and are now operating correctly. Youth Services Central resumed youth programming in October with strong participation. BARK: Read to a Dog welcomed three therapy dogs and several new families; Middle Grade Book Club discussed Wink by Rob Harrell, followed by a drawing activity; and STEAM Lab participants built bird feeders and nature journals. The annual Halloween Party drew 157 attendees who enjoyed crafts, stories, and trick-or-treating around the library. Tech Toys for Kids The Tech Toys for Kids collection successfully launched on October 6. High demand and interest in the collection was evident with all twelve items on hold by mid-afternoon on launch day. In October, the collection circulated a total of 35 times collectively, and patron feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Staff is actively monitoring use patterns and areas of greatest impact as we look towards possible expansion in the next fiscal year. Personnel CdM welcomed Carly Quijano as part-time Library Assistant, returning the location to full staffing. Branch and Youth Services Coordinator Annika Helmuth attended the California Library Association annual conference in Riverside, California where she participated in several highly engaging breakout sessions on creating intentional storytime training, creating story walks in the community, student success card partnerships, current legislative priorities, and designing spaces to support lifelong learning. ANDREW KACHATURIAN, ADULT SERVICES COORDINATOR Teen Services The Young Adult Advisory Council (YAAC) had a large turnout of 19 teens in October. They performed icebreakers, team-building exercises, and leadership skills. The teens enjoyed sharing the books and media that they are currently consuming and assisted in suggestions for the teen area in the Library and helped plan future YAAC meetings. The Library also participated in three events in October: The Newport-Mesa Unified School District College and Career Fair on October 22, a CollegeWise course on How to Pay for College also on October 22, and a Dare to Prepare workshop for young drivers on October 25 Library Assistants Greg Johnson and Anne-Marie Angeloff attended the NMUSD College and Career Fair and had 133 visits to their table, where they gave out marketing information, giveaways, and presented information about upcoming programs and volunteer opportunities. Many people stopped by to say how much they enjoy and appreciate the Library. As the Career Fair was scheduled at the same time as the CollegeWise class, attendance was slim, but this afforded the presenter to spend more personalized time with each person, which was appreciated. The Dare to Prepare course on October 25 was well attended with 16 teens and adults. The focus was on distracted driving and helped families understand the importance of staying focused and safe while driving. 45 Report of October Library Activities November 17, 2025 Page 4 Adult Services Reference Librarian Jeremy Rodriquez provided a tour of the Library to a small group of health services librarians on October 16. They were interested in learning what resources the Library offered, both for academic and personal interest. They were most interested in learning about the Media Lab, physical media in the Popular Library, meeting spaces, and programs offered by the Library, especially the Medicine in Our Backyard series provided by the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation. Staffing There were no staffing changes in Adult Services in October. MIRANDA GENTRY, CIRCULATION COORDINATOR Staffing We are in the process of filling two part-time Library Clerk I positions with one vacancy at Mariners and one at Central. We have extended offers to two candidates who are working with HR on background and fitness checks. We are currently recruiting for one Library Page vacancy at Central. First round of interviews will take place in the middle of November. 46 JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN 2025 2025 2025 2025 2025 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2026 2026 Tracked by #searches A to Z Databases 481 438 234 182 1335 Alexander Street 253 682 457 1123 2515 Ancestry 200 205 9 306 720 AskART 12 17 9 13 51 Brainfuse JobNow/VetNow 107 62 25 3 197 Britannica School Edition 9 0 82 248 339 Exploring Race in Society 24 14 4 40 82 Gale Archives Unbound 7 4 16 17 44 Gale Directory Library 45 25 ****70 Gale in Context: Biography 1 8 14 81 104 Gale in Context: Elementary 2 0 6 6 14 Gale in Context: Environmental 0 2 0 0 2 Gale in Context: Opposing View 17 10 10 216 253 Gale Interactive: Science 0 0 0 0 0 Gale Literature Resource Center 16 17 6 116 155 Gale eBooks 52 15 15 60 142 HeritageQuest 405 325 180 90 1000 Legal Information Ref Center 64 57 22 130 273 National Geographic 12 26 20 46 104 National Geographic Kids 6 34 10 26 76 NewsBank 4794 4741 4505 4846 18886 NoveList Plus 48 41 65 81 235 NoveList K-8 Plus 12 146 33 55 246 ProQuest 4466 **31725 36191 Proquest eLibrary 0 33 23 4 60 Reference Solutions Business 322 609 392 412 1735 Reference Solutions Residential 12 29 14 19 74 SIRS Discoverer 4 12 53 13 82 SIRS Issues Researcher 267 659 1881 379 3186 State Statistics 5 6 5 47 63 World Book Online 9 39 53 33 134 Tracked by #page views Artist Works 3 2 6 3 14 Consumer Reports 2475 2156 1853 1934 8418 CultureGrams 68 36 4 49 157 Morningstar 3697 7618 4826 3483 19624 RealQuest 8 14 121 36 179 Tumblebooks 35 33 11 33 112 Value Line 9891 8507 10381 11564 40343 Wall Street Journal 3393 3469 1439 4086 12387 Tracked by courses LinkedIn Learning 254 262 209 484 1209 Tracked by books logged Beanstack 7403 2832 1877 2334 14446 Tracked by Hours Used ABC Mouse 34.58 37.55 19.98 19.62 111.73 Beanstack 7738 1554 385 266 9943 Rosetta Stone 28.82 33.70 57.47 85.32 205.31 Notes: * Accurate data unavailable for August and September 2025. Data will be restored in October 2025. ** Gale Directory Library subscription cancelled September, 2025 Database FY Comparisons YTD 25/26 Proquest Articles Retrieved 2025-2026 Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun AVG. Business Databases 3021 * *7149 5085 Newspapers--Current 913 * *1000 957 Newspapers--Historical 3265 * *1196 2231Magazines47* *1054 551 47 NBPL Website Usage 2025-2026 Metric Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Average Total Total Users 28317 28872 26436 36733 30090 120358 New Users 14608 15467 14189 23841 17026 68105 Sessions 47805 50528 45583 55929 49961 199845 Pageviews 122016 123728 105782 122541 118517 474067 Sessions Per User 2 2 2 2 2 -- Pages Per Session 3 2 2 2 2 -- Avg. Session Dur. (min)7 7 6 6 6 -- Bounce Rate (%)64 62 63 66 64 -- Today's Business Solutions Wireless (TBS): Total Data Transferred (GB) 2025-2026 Location Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Average Total Balboa 201 275 237 143 214 856 CdM 391 514 540 420 466 1865 Mariners 2240 2200 2460 2340 2310 9240 Central *14120 16200 6960 11000 12070 48280 Total 16951 19189 10197 13903 15060 60241 Today's Business Solutions Wireless (TBS): Total Unique Patrons 2025-2026 Location Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Average Total Balboa 383 278 278 291 308 1230 CdM 557 527 695 526 576 2305 Mariners 1454 1432 2038 1749 1668 6673 Central *11130 10480 6307 8671 9147 36588 Total 13524 12717 9318 11237 11699 46796 Today's Business Solutions Wireless (TBS): Average Number of Patrons Per Day 2025-2026 Location Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Average Total Balboa 30 21 20 19 23 90 CdM 32 34 42 32 35 140 Mariners 111 109 150 135 126 505 Central *746 672 361 518 574 2297 Total 919 836 573 704 758 3032 Today's Business Solutions Wireless (TBS): Average Usage Per Patron (MB) 2025-2026 Location Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Average Total Balboa 536 1012 874 505 732 2927 CdM 718 999 795 818 833 3330 Mariners 1580 1570 1230 1370 1438 5750 Central *1300 1580 1130 1300 1328 5310 Total 4135 5161 4030 3992 4329 17317 Central Library Closure: 09/15/2025-10/05/202548 OCT 25 YTD 25/26 YTD 24/25 BALBOA 2,281 10,065 11,389 CdM 5,332 18,620 15,690 MARINERS 25,225 92,199 85,130 CENTRAL *45,412 178,988 205,802 eBooks 7,977 33,760 32,098 eMagazines 8,342 30,853 19,768 eAudiobooks 8,036 32,862 30,107 Streaming Films 4,696 18,548 13,555 TOTAL 107,301 415,895 413,539 NOV 24 97,545 DEC 24 93,571 JAN 25 99,093 FEB 25 93,114 MAR 25 106,845 APR 25 101,417 MAY 25 102,137 JUN 25 106,003 JUL 25 112,143 AUG 25 110,848 SEP 25 85,603 OCT 25 107,301 TOTAL 1,215,620 * Central Library Closure: 09/15/2025-10/05/2025 12 Month Comparison NEWPORT BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY - OCTOBER 2025 CIRCULATION BALBOA CdM MARINERS CENTRAL * eBooks eMagazines eAudiobooks Streaming Films 85,000 90,000 95,000 100,000 105,000 110,000 115,000 NOV 24 DEC 24 JAN 25 FEB 25 MAR 25 APR 25 MAY 25 JUN 25 JUL 25 AUG 25 SEP 25 OCT 25 49 OCT 25 YTD 25/26 YTD 24/25 BALBOA 432 1,898 1,619 CdM 872 4,129 3,053 MARINERS 2,358 8,022 8,509 CENTRAL *5,487 25,307 28,969 TOTAL 9,149 39,356 42,150 12 Month Comparison NOV 24 8,252 DEC 24 7,381 JAN 25 9,625 FEB 25 8,888 MAR 25 9,980 APR 25 10,439 MAY 25 9,439 JUN 25 12,069 JUL 25 12,051 AUG 25 11,518 SEP 25 6,638 OCT 25 9,149 TOTAL 115,429 * Central Library Closure: 09/15/2025-10/05/2025 NEWPORT BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY - OCTOBER 2025 REFERENCE BALBOA CdM MARINERS CENTRAL * 6,000 7,000 8,000 9,000 10,000 11,000 12,000 13,000 NOV 24 DEC 24 JAN 25 FEB 25 MAR 25 APR 25 MAY 25 JUN 25 JUL 25 AUG 25 SEP 25 OCT 25 50 OCT 25 YTD 25/26 YTD 24/25 BALBOA 1,957 8,684 9,675 CdM 7,686 31,754 13,799 MARINERS 15,245 56,723 51,155 CENTRAL *16,935 120,074 157,457 TOTAL 41,823 217,235 232,086 12 Month Comparison NOV 24 47,388 DEC 24 46,860 JAN 25 55,207 FEB 25 52,945 MAR 25 61,298 APR 25 58,738 MAY 25 58,962 JUN 25 65,123 JUL 25 65,474 AUG 25 63,224 SEP 25 46,714 OCT 25 41,823 TOTAL 663,756 * Central Library Closure: 09/15/2025-10/05/2025 NEWPORT BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY - OCTOBER 2025 PATRONS SERVED BALBOA CdM MARINERS CENTRAL * 40,000 45,000 50,000 55,000 60,000 65,000 70,000 NOV 24 DEC 24 JAN 25 FEB 25 MAR 25 APR 25 MAY 25 JUN 25 JUL 25 AUG 25 SEP 25 OCT 25 51 OCT 25 YTD 25/26 YTD 24/25 BALBOA 229 1,412 1,700 CdM 1,480 6,360 5,197 MARINERS 3,658 10,130 8,954 CENTRAL *7,399 32,597 38,986 TOTAL 12,766 50,499 54,837 12 Month Comparison NOV 24 7,689 DEC 24 6,265 JAN 25 9,973 FEB 25 9,975 MAR 25 11,223 APR 25 13,152 MAY 25 12,209 JUN 25 12,429 JUL 25 13,246 AUG 25 14,714 SEP 25 9,773 OCT 25 12,766 TOTAL 133,414 * Central Library Closure: 09/15/2025-10/05/2025 PROGRAM ATTENDANCE NEWPORT BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY - OCTOBER 2025 BALBOA CdM MARINERS CENTRAL * 5,000 7,000 9,000 11,000 13,000 15,000 NOV 24 DEC 24 JAN 25 FEB 25 MAR 25 APR 25 MAY 25 JUN 25 JUL 25 AUG 25 SEP 25 OCT 25 52 Jerold D Kappel, CEO The Library Foundation of Newport Beach Memo To: Library Trustees From: Jerold D Kappel, CEO Date: November 12, 2025 Re: Library Foundation Report 1. Governance and Management: The November 2025 Board Meeting was held on Monday November 10. Chase Reif, Library Trustee and Foundation Liaison, and Melissa Hartson, Library Director, attended. Vanessa Moore, Arts Commissioner, attended and presented the August 2026 Arts and Culture Week proposal. a. There is no December Foundation Board meeting. There will be a holiday reception, the date of which will be announced later. b.Kunga Wangmo Upshaw will be on maternity leave beginning Monday, November 24, 2025. She anticipates returning in late January. c.The Stahr Courtyard work, scheduled to be completed by the end of November, is far from completion. Consequently, the Foundation has placed holds on other sites for programs scheduled for the Friends Room during January-March 8. d.The Board approved a policy regarding solicitation of corporate sponsorships and strategic alliances for Foundation events. 2.Rebranding of Foundation: The Branding Committee has requested additional refinements from the consultants of the new mark graphic and logo of the Library Foundation. It will be announced in the winter edition of Bookmark Magazine scheduled to be published and mailed the first week of December. 3.Beyond Books Campaign a.The Library’s commitment to the City is 50% of the cost of construction not to exceed $11,743,968. However, the Foundation did agree to fund the full amount of the additional cost of expanding the size of the video wall which will add $130,000 to the Foundation’s total commitment. Currently there is still $1.2 million remaining of the contingency fee. Contingency fees that are not spent will reduce the final cost to the Foundation. The Foundation has nearly completed its Beyond Books Campaign, however $852,000 is in future payments. The Foundation will need to continue raising funds to meet the payment schedule of the Third Amendment to the MOU 53 2 agreement. The Construction management originally required that all names for the donor wall in the Woolsey Library be provided by November 15. However, with the construction completion date now moved to March 8, 2026, the Foundation is requesting that the date to provide names of donors be moved to January 15, allowing an additional 60 days for donors to make their commitment to the campaign. i. Inclusion on the donor wall are for donors at $25,000 and above. b. The proposal to name the auditorium “The Library Foundation Auditorium” requested by Tod and Linda White with their major contribution was approved by the City Council on October 14. c. The Grand Opening of Witte Hall is still scheduled for the weekend of March 20-22, 2026, even though the projected completion of the Hall is now March 8. The Foundation is continuing to plan for the Donor Grand Opening event of Witte Hall on Friday March 20, 2026. It is a donor benefit for donors that have contributed at least $25,000 to the construction of Witte Hall. d. We update the construction video on the website every 7-10 days. Everything is on the Witte Hall tab on the website—why it is needed, what it will accomplish, how to support, the gift agreement form, donor levels and benefits. 4. Development: The Foundation is seeking corporate sponsors for the opening weekend of Witte Hall. The goal is to raise $100,000 this weekend. Additionally, the Foundation will publish a printed program that will include donor recognition and all Library and Foundation programs for the remainder of the 2025-2026 season ending June 30. Advertising will be available in the program. a. There are some significant changes in the tax deductibility of contributions that were included in the bill signed into law in July 2025 that will take effect on January 1. All major donors to the Foundation and to the Beyond Books Campaign have been notified of these changes. b. Giving Tuesday is December 2. The Foundation will do a special campaign to raise funds for technology for the Library, including equipment for the Broadcast Booth for podcasting, and additional Tech Toys and Tech Toys for Kids. c. The November-December period is when nearly 40% of contributions are received by the charitable sector. Contributed revenue for the year depends on these two months. 5. Finance: The Board of Directors accepted the 2025 fiscal year audited financials and approved the IRS reporting form 990 at the November meeting. The audit and the public form of the 990 will be published on the Foundation’s website under the About/Financial Responsibility tab. The Foundation includes three years of 990s and audits on its website. It has a 4 Star rating from Charity Navigator and is rated Platinum for transparency and accountability by Candid. The Foundation has also passed two privacy and payment security compliance tests for contributions through its website. 6. Programming: The only programming still held in the Friends Room is the Book Discussion Group as there are less than 45 people. The Foundation has used the Civic 54 3 Center Community Room, Oasis Center, and the Newport Coast Community Center for programming while the Courtyard is under construction and the Friends Room capacity is severely limited. a. All four Library Live lectures are sold out. The first Library Live presentation with Thomas Fuller, author of The Boys of Riverside: A Deaf Football Team and a Quest for Glory was Thursday, October 16, 7:00pm. Fuller was in conversation with former professional football referee and local community leader, Laird Hayes. The coach featured in the book joined Fuller and Hayes for the Q&A. The presentation also featured ASL signers and leadership from the California School for the Deaf. The second Library Live was with Riverside author Susan Straight with her newly published novel, Sacrament: A Novel. Straight’s novel about California nurses during the Covid epidemic has been featured in the LA Times, OC Register, NY Times, Washington Post, and other printed and online publications. b. The Witte series has sold 240 total season passes for Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Additionally, a total of 199 single tickets has been sold for the lectures. The first Witte Lecture is February 27-28 with China expert Julian Gerwitz. c. The Spotlight on Science next lecture will be on November 19 in the Community Room with Doug Finke speaking about quantum computing. There are over 200 people already registered. d. The Library Foundation will participate in the Arts and Culture Week with a special Library Live presentation. The speaker will be confirmed in December. e. The Foundation has over 19,500 current email subscribers. The open rate is 52.8%, which is 15% over the industry average. We include Library and Friends news in the Foundation’s weekly newsletter. f. All Medicine in Our Backyard and Spotlight on Science lectures are video recorded and provided free on the Foundation’s website under the Archives tab. Medicine in Our Backyard average views are 110 with a high of 251. Spotlight on Science has average views of 350 with a high of 784. Because of contract paywall requirements with Witte Lectures and Library Live speakers, those videos are only available to Foundation members and for a limited time. g. After the March 20 grand opening of Witte Hall, the Witte Lecture series, Library Live, and Spotlight on Science will be moved to Witte Hall. The Financial Literacy Workshops, Medicine in Our Backyard, and the Book Discussion Group will continue to be held in the Friends Room. 7. Bookmark: The Fall/Winter Bookmark is in production for publication in the first week of December. Featured will be Spring programming, the annual report, an introduction of the new “brand”, the announcement of the Grand Opening of Witte Hall, an article on Trustees, an essay and a poem from the Project Adult Literacy In Your Own Words booklet, and at four pages dedicated to Library events and news. 55