Clackamas County Library Advisory Board - July 20, 2026

Agenda

Next meeting: Sept. 28, 2026

Draft minutes

Attendance

Voting members

Present:

• Debrah Bokowski, Chair
• Grover J. Bornefeld, Vice Chair
• Natalie Smith
• Evan Griffith
• Ryan Healy
• Nancy Eichsteadt, Non-voting alternate (Gladstone)
• Dan McCue, Non-voting alternate (Oak Lodge)

Others present

• Mitzi Olson, DTD Library Manager
• Mindy Garlington, Gladstone City Councilor
• Paul Savas, Board of County Commissioner

Call to Order:  The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m.

Director’s Report: Mitzi

• The terms for both Nancy Eichsteadt and Evan Griffith have been extended through June 30, 2030.
• Natalie Smith announced she will be moving to the state of Washington and will resign from her Library Board position at the end of August. The group discussed opening a recruitment for the City of Gladstone position. This person also represents the City on the Library District Advisory Committee. 
• The members recognized and expressed their appreciation for Natalie’s years of dedicated service on the Library Board and her longstanding commitment to the libraries.
• Mitzi reported that participation in the Summer Reading Program has been significantly higher this year. 
• Summer Reading statistics were shared, highlighting increased participation at the Oak Lodge Library, attributed to the new library, community center, and free lunch programs. 
• Discussed the progress on selecting permanent art for the two library locations, with installations planned for early January 2027. 
• Mitzi will be out on medical leave from July 27th through August 20th.
• The Library will have a space at the Gladstone Community Festival on August 1st. We plan to offer free books to the children.
• Mindy asked for an update on the library's book vendor and whether the library is receiving fully processed materials. Mitzi explained that the library is still waiting for Ingram to complete a system upgrade that will enable full integration between the ordering system and the integrated library system (ILS), including electronic invoicing and real-time budget tracking by collection.

Friends/Foundation Updates: Debrah/Mitzi

• The Friends participated in the Historic Downtown Oak Grove Festival, where they promoted the new library despite challenging weather conditions. The event generated $67 in donations and 137 sign-ups for Summer Reading. 
• Dan McCue has joined the Friends as a Board member. 
• Discussed the Friends recent request to use space in the Concord Community Center to store book donations. Mitzi expressed concern about logistics and the impact on elderly volunteers. 
• Mitzi mentioned that while the book sale space is smaller, they are generating equivalent or slightly higher revenue compared to the previous location.
• The Gladstone Foundation is hosting a book sale in the Gladstone Community Room on August 1st during the Gladstone Community Festival from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

City Update: Mindy

• Mindy talked about the Gladstone Community Festival that is being organized by Michele Prusso from the Gladstone Community Center. The event is taking place on August 1st. The events include a vendor fair, pickleball activities, a children’s area, car show, beer garden, and parade.
• Mindy also discussed the old Gladstone Library property and the plan to develop the property into a beer library by fall. The new owners will have a food cart in the parking lot and offer beer inside the old library.

County Update: Commissioner Paul Savas

• Paul mentioned ongoing transportation planning efforts by the Clackamas Transportation Department to improve accessibility in the Concord area, including potential shuttle services and improved pedestrian routes, though these improvements will not be completed for 2-3 years. 

Public Comment: None

ADJOURNMENT: 6:36 pm
Next Meeting: September 28, 2026

Respectfully submitted,

Mitzi Olson