2025_12_03_LAB_APPROVED_MINUTES.PDF

Minutes of the LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD hybrid meeting recorded at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, 
December 3, 2025, held in a hybrid format in-person at Tempe Public Library, and via Microsoft 
Teams.  
(MEMBERS) Present: 
Shari Laster (Chair)  
Jesse Shank (Vice-Chair)  
Katie Boligitz  
Marie Brown  
Wendy Rosen  
Sonia Sen  
(MEMBERS) Absent: 
Jessica Brown 
City Staff Present: 
Jessica Jupitus, Deputy Community Services Director – Library 
Erin Fillmore, Senior Management Assistant – Community Services Admin 
General Public Present: 
None 
Agenda Item 1 - Call to Order: 
Shari Laster, Library Advisory Board (Board) Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 
  
Agenda Item 2 - Call to the Audience: 
No public comments from the audience to report. 
Agenda Item 3 - Approval of the November 5, 2025 Board Meeting Minutes: APPROVED
Shari Laster, Board Chair, asked the Board members to review the unapproved meeting minutes 
document dated November 5, 2025.  
o 
No edits noted or requested. 
 
MOTION:    
Wendy Rosen moved to approve the November 5, 2025 Board meeting minutes as 
presented. 
SECOND:  
Marie Brown seconded. 
DECISION:  
Motion approved, 5-0.  
Ayes:  
Shari Laster (Chair), Jesse Shank (Vice Chair), Katie Boligitz, Marie Brown, and Wendy 
Rosen 
Nays:   
None 
Absent: 
Jessica Brown 
Abstained:  
Sonia Sen  
 
Minutes 
LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD 
Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Library Advisory Board 
December 3, 2025 
 
Agenda Item 4 - Staff Report: Jessica Jupitus, Deputy Community Services Director – Library 
o 
Jessica Jupitus, Deputy Community Services Director – Library, gave the following report specific to 
Tempe Public Library (Library) operations: 
 
305 adults were engaged in 22 programs during November 2025; programs included: 
 
Book Clubs 
o 
Mystery Club  
o 
Friends of Dorothy  
o 
Great Books  
o 
Coffee, Tea, and Books  
o 
Footnotes Walking Club 
o 
Let’s Get Graphic 
o 
Weird Books for Weird People 
o 
Love and Fate 
o 
Bite Size Book Club 
 
Writing Programs  
o 
Writers’ Connection  
o 
Reflections on Emotional Intelligence 
o 
Navigating the Amazon – Writer in Residence 
o 
Marketing: Let’s Sell Books – Writer in Residence 
o 
Motherhood Anthology Project with little somethings press 
 
Improv Club 
 
Library Stitch Club 
 
Recycled Book Craft: Book Turkey 
 
Reel Deal Film Society 
 
Find and Fix Leaks with Water Conservation 
 
Board Game Café 
 
Tempe Leadership Tour 
 
Puzzle Swap 
 
 
The Writer in Residence had 48 consultations in November 2025 providing a chance for people to 
meet one-on-one with a published author to get feedback on their work, the industry, and any 
other questions they had.  
 
Library staff gave Tempe Leadership participants a “behind the scenes” tour of the Library that 
included one very excited child who was turning 12 a week later and was incredibly excited to 
have access to the teen center as a result.  
 
The Library’s first car show is Saturday, December 6, 2025 in the north parking lot from 10 a.m. to 
12 p.m.  
 
o 
J. Jupitus reported the following information specific to operations of the Library’s Youth and Teen 
Services areas: 
 
1,590 participants were engaged in 39 youth programs during November 2025, J. Jupitus 
highlighted the following programs: 
 
Storytimes:  
o 
Baby Lapsit  
o 
Family Evening  
o 
Preschool  
o 
Toddler  
o 
Cuentos Contigo 
 
Mini STEAMers  
 
Budding Builders

Library Advisory Board 
December 3, 2025 
 
LEGO Learning Lab 
 
Paws2Read with Finn and Roxy 
 
Sunday Funday  
 
Pokemon Hour 
 
Raising a Reader with Southwest Human Development 
 
 
Teen:  
o 
Maker Lab 
o 
Crochet Corner 
o 
Series of Unfortunate Repairs with Cowtown Skateshop 
o 
Teen Art Gallery 
o 
Trivia: Superheroes and Villains 
o 
Super Mario Kart 
 
The Library had 17 teen volunteers for the month providing 54 hours of service.  
 
70 Youth Activity Kits and 55 teen STEAM kits circulated as well as 226 scavenger 
hunters. 
o 
That number alone shows you how much quieter November has been!  
o 
The Library did a “Wall of Gratitude” encouraging families to share what they are thankful 
for with 102 people participating by sticking a note up on the wall.  
o 
The Library is heading into the cool off period of the year. 
 
 
Physical circulation of materials for November 2025: 
 
Physical circulation of materials in November 2025 totaled 36,667 uses; 
 
 
Virtual/eResource circulation for November 2025:  
 
eResource circulation in November 2025 totaled 45,762 uses; 
 
 
Library staff added 1,147 new users and renewed 1,653 cards in November 2025.  
 
Public access computers saw 3,342 total sessions in November 2025. 
 
Gate Count: 35,564 
 
The Library had 139 App downloads (90 Apple; 49 Android) in November 2025.
 
 
The Library is weeding magazines that are no longer being published in the new year.  
 
The collection is down to 28 magazines due to both decreasing circulation and fewer being 
published in print.  
 
There is a robust collection of magazines through Libby, including international titles and 
niche publications including library ones like Booklist and Book Links.   
o 
J. Jupitus updated the Board on the following topics: 
 
The Board previously inquired about the Library’s process when a Library material is challenged. 
As approved by this Board in April 2025, the Collection Policy was updated and moved away from 
using a “Request for Reconsideration” form to a “Statement of Concern” form.  
 
When someone completes the Statement of Concern form, which is necessary to initiate the 
Library review process, it is reviewed and evaluated by the Library managers and appropriate 
professional Library staff (Library Team).  
 
The Library Team reviews both the item listed in the Statement of Concern form and the 
submitted Statement of Concern form to determine what, if any, changes may need to occur.  
 
A written response is sent to the Library user generally within six weeks of the review.

Library Advisory Board 
December 3, 2025 
 
To date, no items have been removed from the Library’s collection. On occasion, an item 
may be reclassified, like a teen item moving to adult if it is found to be more mature in 
content. 
 
J. Jupitus noted the Library recently received a Statement of Concern for a statement in a 
children’s nonfiction book for Palestinian children's experiences. The Library has not yet 
received the book back to evaluate it. 
 
The Board asked if the number of submitted Statement of Concern forms could be added to 
the Staff Report as a standing item. J. Jupitus responded that when the Library receives a 
Statement of Concern, it is added to the Staff Report but did not see the benefit of adding a 
standing item since they are rarely received. 
 
The Board asked if J. Jupitus will provide the title, concern stated, and decision for all 
Statement of Concern submissions and J. Jupitus responded that this information will be 
included in the Board’s Staff Report. 
 
J. Jupitus mentioned the Library receiving a shoutout at the Mayor’s State of the City event with a 
slide showing updated data from the recent Community survey. 
 
J. Jupitus mentioned the Library scored 85% for quality of the Library in the Community 
survey but perception of the Library Complex decreased by 5% from the previous survey. 
After digging deeper into the results, updated information will be added to the Board’s 
January 2026 Staff Report. 
 
Agenda Item 5 – Library Programming Update: Jessica Jupitus, Deputy Community Services 
Director – Library 
o 
Jessica Jupitus, Deputy Community Services Director – Library, gave the following Library 
Programming Update: 
 
The Library has three major initiatives: FanCon, Summer Reading, and One Tempe One Book. 
 
FanCon occurs in January with attendance between 3,000 to 5,000 people.  
 
The Summer Reading Program occurs during the summer and will be shortened in 2026 
based on the Maricopa County Library District’s statistics and will focus on the highest 
reading periods of the summer.  
 
One Tempe One Book just finished the third program year, and it has gotten better every 
year.  
 
Library programming supports City Council Strategic Priority Quality of Life, Performance 
Measure 3.33 Culture of Literacy and Engagement. 
The Summer Reading Program participant target is 5,600 participants by 2027 and in 2025, 
participation for Summer Reading was 4,658 (not yet updated on the database). 
 
Program Attendance target is 35-40 average attendance per program, and it is anticipated 
that the average program attendance is 45 per program in 2025.  
 
Active Library card holders target is 49,863 card holders by 2027 and it is anticipated that 
active Library card holders in 2025 is 83,000. 
 
Material usage target is 3.8 per capita by 2027 and it is anticipated that material usage in 
2025 is 5.3. 
 
Adult programming 
 
The Board Game Café did not do well in 2022, but it is back and is doing great. 
 
One-off programs like Ghost Hunting, Practical Audacity, and Victorian Mourning Customs 
have been well attended.  
 
Socializing is one of the largest incentives for adults attending adult programs. People enjoy 
the novelty of one-off programs and having access to something they don’t have available 
elsewhere. 
 
Youth programming 
 
Totally Tempe Tuesday is offered in the summer and is well attended. 
 
Story Time is a big hit for youth programming.

Library Advisory Board 
December 3, 2025 
 
Repetition of programs, focus on learning, out-of-school programming, and familiarity are the 
foundations of successful youth programs. 
 
Trends 
 
As the number of programs has gone down, the program attendance has gone up. 
Year
Number of Programs
Number of Attendees
2022
758
17,534
2023
1,080
23,378
2024
825
26,673
2025*
574
28,935
*2025 numbers are anticipated and not final until year end.
 
J. Jupitus noted that the Library is considering programming in trimesters. For example, 
January through April programming will focus on creativity; May through August programming 
will focus on Summer Reading; and September through December programming will focus on 
building communities. 
 
The Board asked how the Library tracks attendance and why programs have been reduced. 
o 
J. Jupitus responded that attendance is tracked by counting people in attendance and the 
decision to reduce programs occurred after an evaluation of programs to ensure the 
Library is investing more in high quality programming instead of offering programs to fill 
the calendar. 
 
The Board asked if FanCon attendance is included in the total number of attendance and J. 
Jupitus responded that attendance for FanCon is included.  
 
The Board asked if a book has been selected for the 2026 One Tempe One Book and J. 
Jupitus responded that the topic is kindness and a book has not yet been selected. The 
Library is open to book suggestions. 
Agenda Item 6 – Review and Approval of Library Advisory Board Annual Report: APPROVED 
o 
Jessica Jupitus, Deputy Community Services Director – Library, presented the 2025 Library Advisory 
Board Annual Report for review and approval consideration.  
 
Erin Fillmore, Senior Management Assistant, noted that the Board member attendance numbers 
will be updated prior to submitting the report to reflect December 2025 meeting attendance.  
 
Shari Laster, Board Chair, asked the Board members to review the Library Advisory Board 
Annual Report as presented.  
 
MOTION: 
Wendy Rosen moved to approve the 2025 Library Advisory Board Annual Report as 
presented. 
SECOND:  
Jesse Shank seconded. 
DECISION:  
Motion approved, 6-0.  
Ayes:  
Shari Laster (Chair), Jesse Shank (Vice Chair), Katie Boligitz, Marie Brown, Wendy 
Rosen, and Sonia Sen 
Nays:   
None 
Absent: 
Jessica Brown 
Abstained:  
None 
Agenda Item 7 – 2026 Calendar Year Election of Officers: APPROVED 
o 
Shari Laster, Board Chair, called for a discussion to identify a Library Advisory Board Slate of Officers 
for the 2026 calendar year.  
 
The Board members collectively proposed the following 2026 Slate of Officers:  
 
Chair: Wendy Rosen 
 
Vice-Chair: Jesse Shank

Library Advisory Board 
December 3, 2025 
 
MOTION:    
Jesse Shank moved to approve the 2026 Slate of Library Advisory Board Officers as 
presented. 
SECOND:  
Sonia Sen seconded. 
DECISION:  
Motion approved, 5-0.  
Ayes:  
Shari Laster (Chair), Jesse Shank (Vice Chair), Katie Boligitz, Wendy Rosen, and Sonia 
Sen 
Nays:   
None 
Absent: 
Jessica Brown 
Abstained:  
Marie Brown 
Agenda Item 8 – Member Announcements/Future Agenda Items
o
Jessica Jupitus, Deputy Community Services Director – Library, mentioned that Friends of Tempe 
Public Library (Friends) will be holding a strategic planning session for operations and encouraged 
Board members to attend and help out with the planning.  
o 
The Board mentioned there is an opportunity to serve on the Friends board as they have one board 
member opening. Anyone can serve on the Friends board since there are no boundary restrictions. 
o 
Shari Laster, Board Chair, announced her resignation from the Board effective December 4, 2025. 
 
The Board expressed their gratitude toward S. Laster, Board Chair. 
o 
Marie Brown’s, Board Member, Board term ends December 31, 2025. The Board expressed their 
gratitude toward M. Brown for her service to the Board. 
o 
The Board expressed their gratitude toward Erin Fillmore for providing Board minutes.  
Agenda Item 9 – Adjournments 
o 
Motion made by Wendy Rosen to adjourn the meeting. 
Second by Sonia Sen. 
Meeting Adjourned at 6:50 p.m. 
 
 
The next meeting of the Library Advisory Board is scheduled to occur at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, 
January 7, 2026; 
 
o 
This public meeting will be held in a hybrid format in-person and virtually via Microsoft Teams. 
Prepared by: Erin Fillmore; Reviewed by: Jessica Jupitus  
 
 
 
 
 
01/08/26 
Approval Signature: Library Advisory Board Chair