Library staff outline branch reopening plans, staffing promotions and new public programs

Santa Monica Public Library staff and board members at an early‑January meeting reviewed plans to reopen neighborhood branches next week, announced internal promotions and sketched programming and technology services tied to added hours.

Agency official (S4) said the library is preparing welcome banners, curated exhibits and refreshments for community members as Fairview and Ocean Park reopen. "We received many, many good positive feedback," S4 said, adding the staff saw strong social‑media interest and that "over 3,000 folks we returned," a figure the board discussed as a gauge of community demand.

In staffing updates, S4 announced two promotions: Robert Graves and Jennifer Boyce were promoted to librarian‑3 roles to help cover branch management after recent retirements. S4 said human resources is interviewing to fill a third librarian‑3 vacancy and will use a three‑ and six‑month placement assessment to determine final branch assignments.

On hours and services, S4 said branches will open initially three days per week with a plan to expand to four days (including Saturdays) in July if staffing and community response allow. "If everything goes well, then that could be also a hybrid," S4 said, describing a mix of staffed and self‑service models already used at other locations.

The board discussed facilities and operations tied to reopenings: increased custodial and landscaping support, technology readiness for public computers and self‑checkout systems, and how to staff programs like story time, teen services and business workshops. S4 attributed technology coordination to principal librarian Vanegas and the ISD team and urged planning for enough laptops and space to run recurring AI workshops and community labs.

Programming highlights included a recent children's book fair, a guitar showcase at Pico Branch and a sound bath at Ocean Park. S4 promoted a Friends of the Santa Monica Public Library event on Jan. 30 featuring author Lily King with a Q&A and signing; a staff update showed 172 of 180 tickets had been sold.

Committee members also updated the board about ad hoc work on library revenues and fundraising. The group discussed possible courtyard events and author dinners as fundraisers and planned a joint meeting with the Friends in February to align calendars and next steps.

The board approved the minutes from the Dec. 11 meeting by roll‑call vote before the substantive discussion. The meeting adjourned at 6:58 p.m.

Next steps: staff said they will publish an official press release and bring community‑mapping results and a recruitment update to the joint meeting with the Friends to guide placement and programming decisions for the reopened branches.