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Date: November 18, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Library Commission
John La Rock, Community Services Director
By: Heather Cousin, City Librarian | [email protected] Subject: Library Commission and Community Services – Accept and File the 2024-2025 Library Commission Annual Report. Expenditure: None.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the Community Services Director and Library Commission that City Council accept and file the 2024-2025 Library Commission Annual Report.
FUNDING
None required.
DISCUSSION
The Library Commission Annual Report for July 2024 through June 2025 was approved by the Library Commission at their meeting of October 13, 2025, with a recommendation that Your Honorable Body accept and file the report.
ATTACHMENT
1. 2024-2025 Library Commission Annual Report
1 Library Commission
2024-2025 Annual Report
The Library Commission’s Scope of Work
Governing Code: Division 1, Chapter 3, Article 3, Sections 13.3.1 13.3.8 The Commission makes recommendations to the City Council regarding the operation of the library system by keeping in touch with the patrons; establishes strong lines of communication with the schools; supports the Historical Society and the Friends of the Torrance Library; promotes the use of the library; gives information on its activities and encourages public support as well as legislative support.
Library Commission Members
Member Role Appointed
Indrani Chatterjee Commissioner 7-1-2024
Peter Lefevre Vice Chair 7-1-2023
Dennis Piotrowski Commissioner 7-1-2021
Andrea Reilly Chair 7-1-2021
Sadhna Singh Commissioner 7-1-2023
Kim Wang Commissioner 7-1-2021
Vacant Commissioner
Highlights 2024-2025
Meeting Date Location
July 8, 2024 West Annex
August 12, 2024 West Annex
September 9, 2024 West Annex
October 14, 2024 Dark
November 11, 2024 Dark
December 9, 2024 Dark
January 13, 2025 Southeast Library
February 10, 2025 Henderson Library
March 10, 2025 North Torrance Library
April 14, 2025 Walteria Library
May 12, 2025 West Annex
June 9, 2025 West Annex
Commissioner Andrea Reilly took on the task of Chair and Peter Lefevre as Vice Chair as the Commission kicked off the new year in July 2024, taking over from Chair Piotrowski. Although the Commission had one vacancy throughout the year, Commissioners continued with business, rotating meetings throughout library branches.
ATTACHMENT 1
2 In August, the Commission discussed fundraising , a topic that would return multiple times throughout the year. With funding cuts announced at the State level, the Commission considered how best to assist with advocacy.
Commissioners reached out into the community in September, attending library related workshops of neighboring jurisdictions and sharing that information with Torrance staff. Library staff also shared the Summer Reading Program outcomes and outputs and kicked off the National Library Card Sign Up Month campaign.
Due to a lack of quorum and holidays, October, November, and December Commission meetings were cancelled.
In January, staff kicked off the new year meeting at the Southeast Library. Commissioners were treated to an update on exterior upgrades, hiring, and programming increases. Commissioners began receiving regular updates from the Friends of the Torrance Library (Friends) and the Torrance Public Library Foundation (Foundation).
February brought the Commission to the Henderson Library. At that meeting, Commissioners received an update on the Torrance Little Free Libraries from Management Aide, Carlo Aguila. The total number of Torrance Little Free Libraries is at nine in parks throughout the City.
North Torrance Library was the site of the March meeting. Representatives from both the Friends and Foundation were back to give updates on their organizations. Commissioners also discussed participating in the Serving with a Purpose Conference. The Conference provides valuable information for library staff and stakeholders about advocacy and fundraising.
Commissioner Wang was appointed to the Commission on Aging in March. The unscheduled vacancy left the Library Commisson with just 5 members until the July appointments.
In April, the Commission met at the Walteria Library. While there, they received updates about changes to national library funding priorities, like the termination of the Institute of Library and Museum Services (IMLS) and the impact that will have on state and local programs.
May saw the Commission back in the West Annex Commission Meeting Room. Commissioners discussed the upcoming library event featuring authors Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft .
The June Library Commission Commissioners heard a report on the history and his impressions of the status of the Library from retiring Librarian, Michael George. George, who worked for the City of Torrance for 25 years, traced the library’s history from that of a City department to a division of the Community Services Department.
Operation of the Library System
Commissioners fulfilled their commitment by:
• Receiving regular updates during Monthly Division Reports • Getting fundraising updates from the Friends and Foundation • Receiving an operational overview and visit at each Library location • Getting updates from staff during the Staff Appreciation event 3 Establishes strong lines of communication with the schools Commissioners fulfilled their commitment by receiving regular updates from library staff who did the following and reported during meetings:
• Meeting regularly with Torrance Unified School District Library Staff • Attending Back to School events
• Attending the DELMAC conference
Supports the Historical Society
Commissioners fulfilled their commitment by regularly attending meetings of the Historical Society and inviting and encouraging the cooperation and collaboration of Library staff whenever possible. Some examples of Library collaborations:
• Participation in the annual Rock Around the Block event • On the recommendation of the Commission, Library staff present History of Torrance presentations
• Preservation of historical Torrance photographs, articles and memorabilia by Library staff
Supports the Friends of the Torrance Library
Commissioners fulfilled this obligation by routinely requesting updates from both the Friends and Foundation regarding fundraising and any challenges to their operations. During the 2024- 2025 session, the topic of the Friends was agendized eight times out of the nine times the Commission met.
Promote the use of the Library
Commissioners fulfilled this obligation by:
• Actively supporting events like National Library Card Sign Up Month (October), National Library Week (April), and the Summer Reading Program
• Promoting the use of the Torrance Little Free Library program • Requesting updates on El Retiro Library’s Extended Access Program Gives Information on its Activities
Commissioners fulfilled this obligation by:
• Routinely reporting Library Commission activities and events at other organizations and events like the Historical Society Board meeting
• Sharing information with members of City Council
• Sharing information with Library Staff
Encourages Public Support as well as Legislative Support Commissioners fulfilled this obligation by:
4 • Routinely receiving legislative updates and suggesting advocacy objectives to staff 5