January 20 2026 Library Advisory Board Meeting Minutes

City of Mesa  
Library Advisory Board Meeting Minutes 
 
Date: 
 
January, 20th 2025 
Time: 
 
5:30 p.m. 
Location: 
64 E 1st St 
 
 
Mesa, AZ 85201 
Members Present 
 
 
  Staff Present 
 
 
                                
 
Lonica Rowley, Chair 
 
 
  Jesse Simms 
Mark Powell 
 
 
 
  Stacey Akahoshi 
Jo Wilson                                               
Jenn Lopez 
Ellen Bachman 
Anna Mathews 
Christal Cline 
 
   
 
  Sara Lipich 
 
 
 
                                                   
Megan Sterling  
    
 
  Megan Guderian 
James Martherus   
 
                Zach Gomez-Robinson 
 
 
 
 
 
  Erin Jones 
 
 
 
 
 
  Brandon Williams 
Members Absent 
 
                 Guests Present 
Karina Wilhelm     
 
                 Cory Black 
Kristin Ricklefs-Johnson, Vice Chair 
   Michelle Trejo 
 
 
 
 
    
   Justin Mattingly- Jones  
 
 
    
AGENDA ITEM 
 
DISCUSSION 
 
Call to Order 
 
 
 
Chair, Lonica Rowley, called the meeting for the City of Mesa Library Advisory Board to order at 
5:34pm. on January 20th, 2026.  
 
Approval of November 
Meeting Minutes 
 
 
 
 
Public Comments 
 
Introductions, 
Recognitions, and 
Announcements 
 
Library Advisory Board 
members present items 
they would like to share 
with the group  
 
 Hear an update on the 
Gateway Library and the 
Grand Opening 
Celebration  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The November 18th minutes were moved by Megan Sterling and seconded by Jo Wilson. The minutes 
were unanimously approved by all board members present.  
 
AYES –  Rowley, Sterling, Powell, Cline, Wilson, Bachman, Martherus 
NAYS – None  
 
No Public Comments 
 
All staff and board members present introduced themselves.  
 
 
 
No items to present or share.  
 
 
 
 
Erin Jones, Library Branch Coordinator at Gateway Library, gave a presentation and update on the 
Gateway Library and its grand opening celebration. She began by sharing that the opening was one of the 
largest public library events the City has hosted. Vice Mayor Somers commented that it was one of the 
biggest public openings he had personally seen. Erin described the wide range of activities offered during 
the celebration, noting participation from City partners. Outdoor activities included booths and 
engagement from Parks and Recreation, the Arizona Museum of Natural History, Solid Waste and Fire 
(with mini trucks), Water Resources with a water refill station, and Transportation. Additional 
participants included the Daughters of the American Revolution, costumed book characters, bubbles, a 
roaming magician, a live band and DJ, face painting, a henna artist, a coloring station, a photo booth, and 
mocktails. Erin noted that library card sign-up tables experienced long lines throughout the day. She also 
reviewed indoor activities, which included THINKspot crafts, the Stuffbrary, library card sign-ups, and 
Romi the robot. Erin explained that Romi is part of a three- to six-month beta test in partnership with 
Biblioteca, and that Gateway Library is the first library in North America to host this technology. She 
shared that Romi has been especially popular with children and that staff are collecting user feedback to 
share with Biblioteca. Erin highlighted a special-edition library card design contest that coincided with 
the grand opening. Sara brought examples of the new card designs for the Board to view. Ellen asked 
which card design was the most popular, and Erin responded that we do not know right now but will let 
the board know next meeting. Erin also shared usage statistics following the opening. Gateway Library 
recorded approximately 31,000 visitors in December, representing 38 percent of all system visits. Over 
3,000 new library cards were issued during the month, accounting for 65 percent of all new cards 
systemwide, indicating success in reaching new users and demographics. Circulation at Gateway Library

AGENDA ITEM 
 
DISCUSSION 
 
 
 
Hear a presentation about 
the City of Mesa’s Office 
of Innovation and 
Efficiency  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hear an update on the 
Library’s Volunteer 
Services Program and 
Used Book Sales 
 
          
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Library Director’s 
Updates 
 
 
 
 
Identify items for future 
agenda 
totaled approximately 26,000 items in December. Mark Powell shared that his daughters visit the 
Gateway Library daily and expressed appreciation for the work and dedication of the library team. 
 
Michelle Trejo presented an overview of the Pathway to a Sustainably Efficient City of Mesa. Justin 
Mattingly-Jones introduced himself as the Library’s Performance Advisor. Michelle explained that the 
initiative focuses on improving staff performance and service delivery through organizational alignment, 
continuous improvement, and sustainable efficiency, a vision established by City Manager Scott Butler. 
She reviewed the City’s alignment framework and discussed the Library’s role in supporting thriving 
communities, noting a shift from output-based to outcome-based performance measures. She stated that 
the Library’s portion of this work will be approved by Library Director Polly Bonnett and Deputy City 
Manager Candace, with a future presentation to the Board planned. Michelle described the Performance 
Plus framework, which emphasizes outcomes and includes collaboration with the Office of Management 
and Budget and the Department of Innovation and Technology. She noted that departments have refined 
purpose statements and developed outcome-based key performance indicators, with shared areas of 
opportunity identified across departments. Michelle also discussed updates to MesaStat, which are 
intended to promote more meaningful, discussion-based conversations with City leadership. She 
introduced the Performance Plus Academy, focused on performance management and alignment between 
KPIs and budgeting, which is expected to launch in Summer 2026. Ellen Bachman asked whether the 
initiative was new, and Michelle clarified that it is a refinement and rebranding of existing efforts. Jo 
Wilson asked about sustaining buy-in, and Michelle noted the importance of engaging leadership, middle 
management, and frontline staff. Christal Cline asked whether there is a defined vision for what 
constitutes a thriving community, Michelle said not at the moment, that Deputy City Manager Candace 
Cannistraro would be setting that vision with her team.  
 
Cory Black, Volunteer Coordinator, presented an overview of the Mesa Public Library Volunteer 
Services Program, noting that volunteers play a key role in fulfilling the Library’s mission. She reviewed 
the scope of Volunteer Services, which includes recruitment, onboarding, training, scheduling, and 
supervision, as well as volunteer-supported programs such as the Summer Reading Program, 
Homebound Services, Valentine’s for Seniors, and First Responder Appreciation Cards. Cory reported 
that the Library currently has 387 volunteers, with 10 inactive and 5 emeritus, contributing more than 
24,500 volunteer hours in 2025 to date. She explained the use of the Better Impact system for volunteer 
management and reviewed recruitment methods, including the Library website, social media, 
VolunteerMatch, JustServe, and outreach events. She highlighted volunteer engagement and appreciation 
efforts, including Volunteer Appreciation Week, which featured daily gifts, a paint night, and citywide 
activities, as well as special events such as the Library After-Dark Party for teen volunteers. Lonica 
Rowley shared positive feedback from a teen volunteer in her family who attended the Library After 
Dark program. Cory also reviewed donation and bookstore activity, reporting that more than 81,000 
items were donated to Mesa Public Library through Donate Days, with over 8,500 items redistributed to 
the community. She summarized annual bookstore and online sales, noting strong revenue generated 
through in-library stores as well as Amazon and eBay sales. Christal Cline commented they shop at the 
bookstore for gifts every year at the new and like new sale. Lonica Rowley suggested allowing 
volunteers to redeem unused free monthly book benefits from prior months. 
 
Mesa Reads was in 2025. It ended up with over 15 million books read. Megan Guderian’s child won, she 
is raising readers. Thanks to Brenna Klassen for all their work on this. Staffing announcement, Tony 
Garvey moved to the City Manager’s Office. Brandon is now Assistant Library Director. Working with a 
consultant over the next 6 months to redo the website. Let Polly know if there is anyone who would like 
to have input or participate in testing.  
 
Megan Sterling asked for a Summer Reading Presentation in the Spring. Lonica Rowley said she is 
interested in learning more about Stuffbrary at every library, brought up how some libraries lend puzzles 
and board games. 
 
 Next Meeting Dates 
 
 
March 23, 2026 – Gateway Library- Community Room 
 
 
 
Adjournment 
 
Board member Jo Wilson moved, and Ellen Bachman seconded that the meeting be adjourned. The 
meeting was adjourned at 6:52 pm. Upon tabulation of votes, it showed:  
AYES – Rowley, Sterling, Powell, Cline, Wilson, Bachman, Martherus 
NAYS – None  
The next meeting will be held on the 23rd of March 2026 at the Gateway Library in the Community 
Room.  
Lonica Rowley, Chair signs for minutes 
 
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