Chairman Wong called the meeting to order at 8:04 a.m., welcomed everyone and noted that the meeting was posted with the Secretary of State on October 28, 2021. Chairman Wong introduced Wendy Woodland of the Texas Library Association and Samantha Martinez of the Legislative Budget Board. She announced that the commission would go into executive session at 11:00 a.m.

Roll Call for members and establishment of a quorum.

Chairman Wong conducted a roll call vote and established that a quorum was present. She noted that Commissioner Tegeler would try to attend in person.

Minutes of August 6, 26, and 27, 2021 Commission meetings.
 
Vice Chair Givens moved approval of the minutes from the August 6, August 26, and August 27, 2021, commission meetings. Commissioner Mann seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Presentation of commemorative resolutions for Larry Holt, Mark Smith, and Craig York.

Chairman Wong presented a resolution to Larry Holt who served on the commission from 2009 to 2021. Commissioner Holt thanked the chair and among his remarks stated that service on the commission was one of the highlights of his life, that the three chairs he served under all were respectful and courteous and sought commission input. He also thanked the staff and said that TSLAC staff does exceptional work, in an exceptional way for an exceptional purpose.

Chairman Wong presented a resolution to Mark Smith, who retired from state service August 31, 2021 after eight years as TSLAC’s Director and Librarian. Mr. Smith thanked Chairman Wong and the commission and said that serving as Director and Librarian was the greatest honor of his career and that it was a wonderful job. He said that the work of the commission as a citizen board is hugely appreciated by all staff and that the agency needs the commission to keep the agency responsive. He thanked the commission for their service to the state and echoed Commissioner Holt’s comments about the dedication and hard work of agency staff.

Sarah Jacobson presented a resolution to Craig York, Talking Book Program studio technician for 20 years who retired September 30, 2021. Mr. York thanked the commission and stated that it was his pleasure, privilege, and honor to serve the people of Texas in the manner he did.

No action required.

Public Comment.

Wendy Woodland updated the commission on the Texas Library Association’s actions to support its members particularly school librarians since state Rep. Matt Krause initiated his inquiry into content available in school libraries noting that the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom has seen a significant increase in challenges to materials in libraires many of which are in Texas. The TLA is reviewing and updating its intellectual freedom resources, developing webinars and programming as well as advocacy training on this issue for its members she said. She said that TLA appreciates the work that TSLAC does to support all libraries and thanked the commission for its service to the library community.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures. Commissioners Tocker and Mann stated that they had potential conflicts with items within agenda item 13.

Review and approve committee assignments.

Gloria Meraz presented commission committee assignments as recommended by Chairman Wong as follows:

Audit Committee
Vice Chair Givens, Chair Commissioners Mann and Tocker

Archives and Records Committee
Commissioner Garza, Chair Commissioners Givens and Iglesias
 
Libraries and Talking Book Committee
Commissioner Tocker, Chair Commissioners Mann and Tegeler.

Commissioner Mann moved to approve the committee assignments and Commissioner Tocker seconded.
Motion passed unanimously.

Review and approve acceptance of gifts and grants.

Sarah Jacobson requested approval for a gift of $500 from Patricia Skoff and a gift of $5,000 from the estate of Alma Ruth Gladen, both to the Talking Book Program. Commissioner Tocker moved to accept the gifts and Commissioner Garza seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Update on federal ARPA funds.

Gloria Meraz provided a written report updating the commission on progress of the expenditure of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds as directed by the commission at its June 4, 2021, meeting. Because the LEARN network was not able to continue its work of providing turnkey solutions for expanding broadband access for small public libraries, she said that staff will be redirecting those funds toward related broadband project areas, including increased allocation of funds for expanded Wi-Fi and lending hotspot devices in the competitive grants program, as well as identifying other technology service areas for TSLAC and libraries. No action required.

Review and approve contracts, contract renewals and amendments.

Jelain Chubb requested approval to amend a contract with the Texas Facilities Commission for HVAC system replacement at the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center in an amount not to exceed $1,050,000. She noted that the original contract was executed in 2020 but that construction market conditions have changed significantly since the budget was prepared and that the construction industry in general has been strained due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Commissioner Garza moved to approve the request and Commissioner Mann seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Jennifer Peters requested approval to award and execute a contract to another state entity or qualified vendor to evaluate the agency’s current five-year Library Services and Technology Act plan covering federal fiscal years 2018-2022 and state fiscal years 2019-2023. She said the contract would not exceed
$100,000 and would expire March 31, 2022. Commissioner Tocker moved to approve the request and Commissioner Garza seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Ms. Peters requested approval to solicit, award, and execute at least one contract with a qualified vendor to provide e-books and/or downloadable audiobooks for the E-Read Texas program. The contract would not exceed $1,000,000 for the initial year, with optional annual renewals, to the vendor(s) that provides the best value to the state. In response to questions from commissioners, Ms. Peters said that the e-books which are selected by a collection development team comprised of librarians meet the guidelines of the agency’s collection development policy and that most books are adult level. Commissioner Tocker moved to approve the contract request and Commissioner Mann seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Ms. Peters requested approval to contract with a qualified vendor to provide application support and maintenance for TSLAC’s Grants Management System in an amount not to exceed $75,000 for the initial year, with up to four optional annual renewals totaling $375,000. Vice Chair Givens moved to approve the request and Commissioner Garza seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
 

Ms. Peters requested approval to solicit, award, and execute a contract with a qualified vendor to provide training, expertise, and support for a Digital Navigator project that would provide this service to a cohort of library staff in a pilot grant project. The contract amount would not exceed $100,000 for the initial year, with optional annual renewals. Vice Chair Givens moved to approve the request and Commissioner Mann seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Ms. Peters requested approval to solicit, award, and execute a contract with a qualified vendor to collect and analyze Wi-Fi usage in public libraries in an amount not to exceed $400,000 for the initial year, with the option to renew services for additional years. Vice Chair Givens moved to approve and Commissioner Tocker seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Ms. Peters requested approval to award and execute a contract with another state entity or qualified vendor in an amount not to exceed $200,000 for the evaluation of statewide support of digital literacy and equity efforts in Texas libraries. Commissioner Mann moved to approve the request and Commissioner Tocker seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Ms. Peters requested approval to contract with a vendor to provide regional onsite library technology support to assist libraries with support for devices and computer use, as well as broadband expansion planning. Commissioner Tocker moved to approve and Vice Chair Givens seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Michael Ford requested approval to contract with a vendor to provide Wi-Fi upgrades to three agency locations in an amount not to exceed $250,000. Commissioner Iglesias moved to approve the request and Commissioner Garza seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

At this point in the meeting Chairman Wong said the commission would take a break and then go into executive session. The time was 10:48 a.m. Chairman Wong called the commission back into open session at 12:47 p.m. and took up agenda item 11.

Report on 87th Legislative Session changes affecting commission roles and responsibilities.

Sarah Swanson provided a report on changes affecting commission roles and responsibilities as a result of legislation from the recent legislative session and asked commissioners to contact her if they had any questions.

Report of the Director and Librarian.

Gloria Meraz provided a lengthy written report on commission activities, projects, and initiatives and responded to questions from the commission. No action required on this agenda item.

Review and approve American Rescue Plan Act competitive grants.

Sarah Swanson reminded the commission that two commissioners had disclosed potential conflicts of interest for approval of grants to libraries funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

Jennifer Peters requested approval for grants for the Texas Supports Libraries grants program in the amount of $1,072,371 for 26 grants to libraries. The Texas Supports Libraries Grant Program is designed to help communities respond directly and immediately to the pandemic as well as to related economic and
 
community needs through equitable approaches. Commissioner Garza moved to approve the grants and Commissioner Mann seconded. The motion passed with Commissioner Tocker abstaining.

Ms. Peters requested approval for the Texas Telehealth (Equipment and Resources) Grant Program in the amount of $125,000 to four libraires to provide equipment and resources for a telehealth project at their library facilities. Library telehealth projects use Internet networks and computers to help facilitate visits between health care providers and library patrons. Commissioner Tocker moved to approve and Vice Chair Givens seconded. The motion passed with Commissioner Mann abstaining.

Ms. Peters requested approval for $1,160,000 in grants to 10 libraries for the Texas Digital Navigator Grant Program. Commissioner Tocker moved to approve the grants and Vice Chair Givens seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Authorization to post in the Texas Register adoption of amendments to 13 Chapter 8, TexShare Consortium, §8.1, Definitions and §8.3, Consortium Membership and Affiliated Membership.

Jennifer Peters requested approval to post in the Texas Register the adoption of amendments to 13 Chapter 8, TexShare Consortium, §8.1, Definitions and §8.3, Consortium Membership and Affiliated Membership. Commissioner Mann moved approval and Commissioner Tocker seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Authorization to post in the Texas Register adoption of amendments to 13 TAC Chapter 2, General Policies and Procedures, §2.12, Sick Leave Pool, and new §2.13, State Employee Family Leave Pool.

Sarah Swanson requested authorization to post in the Texas Register adoption of amendments to 13 TAC Chapter 2, General Policies and Procedures, §2.12, Sick Leave Pool, and new §2.13, State Employee Family Leave Pool. Commissioner Tocker moved to approve and Commissioner Iglesias seconded.
Motion passed unanimously.

Approval of appointments to the TexShare Advisory Board.

Jennifer Peters requested approval for TexShare Advisory Board appointments as follows: Ernestina Mesa, Dean for Academic Success at Palo Alto College for an academic library representative and Nora Galvan, Director of Library Services at Pharr-San Juan-Allen ISD as a school library representative.
Commissioner Tocker moved approval with Commissioner Mann seconding. Motion passed unanimously.

Executive Session under the Open Meetings Act, Government Code, Chapter 551

•    §551.076 and §551.089, Deliberation Regarding Security Device or Security Audits: Facilities and Information Technology Security Update
•    §551.074 Personnel Matters: Deliberate on the search for an appointment of a Director and Librarian
•    §551.071 Consultation with and advice from legal counsel regarding any item on this agenda,

This agenda item was covered previously in the meeting.

Report on agency expenditures summary.

Donna Osborne presented a written report on agency expenditures. No action required. 

Demonstration of the Talking Book Program.

This agenda item was postponed to a future commission meeting due to time restrictions.

Future commission meeting dates.

Gloria Meraz noted that the commission had set a meeting for February 17 and 18, 2022, in Austin, and suggested that the commission arrive by late morning on February 17 to work on strategic planning in the afternoon and then conduct a regular commission meeting on Friday morning, February 18. After discussion, the commission agreed to add commission meetings on Friday, April 8, 2022, and Friday, June 3, 2022, in Austin.

Adjournment

Commissioner Iglesias moved to adjourn the meeting and Commissioner Tocker seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Chairman Wong adjourned the meeting at 1:31 p.m.