December 2025 Closed Session and Regular Commission Meeting

Detroit Library Commission Closed Session Meeting immediately followed by Detroit Library Commission Regular Meeting

Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 1:30pm

Main Library
5201 Woodward Avenue
Galleria

Seating is Limited to the First 30 Guests - MASKS ARE OPTIONAL

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Meeting ID: 870 5300 9580
Passcode: 592749

Public Comments may be sent to yrice@detroitpubliclibrary.org prior to the date of the meeting.

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Meeting Agenda

I. Call to Order

II. Approval of the Agenda - Action Item

III. Public Comments

IV. Approval to Enter Into a Closed Session – Action Item

• Personnel Matter – Action Item

V. Approval of the Regular Meeting Minutes of November 18, 2025 – Action Item

VI. Report of the President

VII. Report of the Executive Director

VIII. Committee on Administration

• Approval of the Routine Human Resources Report – Action Item
• Approval of a Detroit Library Commission Study Session – Action Item

IX. Audit Committee

• Approval of the Detroit Public Library Audit Report – Action Item
• Approval of the Burton Endowment Fund Audit Report – Action Item

X. Committee on Books and Literacy

• Approval of the Library Lending Policy – Action Item
• Approval of the Revised Library Borrowing Policy – Action Item

XI. Committee on Buildings

• Approval to Contract with Conference Technologies, Inc. for the Upgrade of the Audio-Visual System in the Main Library’s Auditorium – Action Item

XII. Bylaws Committee

• Approval of the 1st Reading of the Detroit Library Commission Rules and Regulations Revisions – Action Item

XIII. Committee on Finance

• At its December 9, 2025 meeting, the Committee on Finance agreed to have the following suggestions from Commissioner Hicks forwarded to the full Commission to consider for inclusion in the DPL’s FY2027 Proposed Budget to be financed through DPL’s fund balance:
  
  1. Approval to restart the process of redeveloping DPL’s municipal reference library with the $200,000 allocation per year for five years and then reassess the relative need for the above service including tract utilization/request for service – Action Item
  
  2. Approval to allocate $200,000 for internal/staff legal counsel to advise the administration and Board in matters related to the Library. The Board and staff are completely reliant on the legal advice and opinions of the Detroit Law Department or must refer legal issues to outside counsel (at a rate that discourages detail investigations of issues). In several cases the interests of the City/City Law Department are in conflict with the Library. Internal staff can allow for more discretion and completeness in our understanding of legal challenges and potential strategies to maintain the Library’s independence - Action Item
  
  3. Approval to allocate 1.5 FTE’s (Full-Time Equivalent) to act as direct administrative support to the Board. Said positions should be a direct report to the Board – Action Item
  
  4. Approval to allocate $50,000 to conduct a feasibility study to determine if the DPL should return as a public entity to the publishing business to support local writers and researchers - Action Item
  
  5. Approval to allocate $250,000 to support the creation and support for a national search for the position of DPL Executive Director. – Action Item

• Approval of the DPL FY2027 - FY2030 Proposed Budget – Action Item
• Approval of the Routine Finance Report – Action Item

XIV. New Business

XV. Old Business

XVI. Adjournment