Santa Monica Public Library Board Audio November 12, 2025

The City of Santa Monica Public Library Board held a meeting on November 12, 2025, focusing primarily on the approval and discussion of the updated Collection Development Policy and Plan. The board reviewed a comprehensive 30-page document outlining goals such as championing intellectual freedom, building an inclusive collection, maintaining timely access, adapting to changing community needs with new formats like video games, and bridging past and future digital collections. A significant procurement-related issue discussed was the bankruptcy of Baker and Taylor, a major vendor for library materials, necessitating sourcing new vendors, with Ingram mentioned as a key alternative. The board approved the revised policy to comply with the California Freedom to Read Act and the collection development plan unanimously. Budget discussions revealed a temporary reduction in the collection budget due to staffing needs, with plans to restore and grow the budget moving forward. The meeting also covered staffing realignments and service expansions for library branches, including increased full-service days and new hires, supported by a citywide realignment plan approved by the city council. Additional topics included community mapping initiatives to better understand and serve diverse community needs, and ongoing efforts to explore sustainable library funding sources, including discussions about special districts and parcel taxes. The board approved the annual report and discussed future programming expansions tied to increased staffing and community engagement.