[{"_1":2,"_75":-5,"_76":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6497674,"mediaKeyId","5528616-c7fbf0b7787212e8df4934916ac95f77","parentId",5528616,"title","Abilene Library Advisory Board approves minutes, backs pending book orders; Heritage Square library slated for spring 2026","audioSeconds",882,"startMs",2240,"endMs",885025,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5528616-c7fbf0b7787212e8df4934916ac95f77&start=2&end=885","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5528616-c7fbf0b7787212e8df4934916ac95f77/thumbnail_2240.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6497674/Abilene/Taylor-County/Texas/Abilene-Library-Advisory-Board-approves-minutes-backs-pending-book-orders-Heritage-Square-library-slated-for-spring-2026","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6497674-e4b7ec6237bd3e043f29f9b88f581bd8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771065924&Signature=N9nUVgdWLQIr6uT9NQumZLWifQeOWGzHXSS4wjiBk7UkGWBeEu~R4A4dDvXKu44I-K2TxwhFkUWSznZI~shFloeF5IMRSDOxUU7SgPvZ5BqrK6KIVvJnZdtX19aumOhfWFCLRAAvpf0LzQHR1IfeNokKTw7mUiXQkBAuJS2wa~a4l1i-mxbJivpbe4Jj0Qd~5WSm-ZH9drLUOiF1hGiMKd80LAmrbPcoMZHQ-5DEVpT3j0UWa~dyw2aRTffoBC9xXefw2BCUs9WN4822Mxh6IrKQdPXQ86QyR50zHCx5u0w~lP9aWiy67cBStjISx8tXG-ReVyIA1bzedcbPVlLBUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Abilene","date","2025-08-04T00:00:00Z","article","At a meeting of the Abilene Library Advisory Board, members approved corrected minutes from Nov. 4, 2024, approved minutes from the board’s Feb. 3 meeting, and recommended approval of pending book orders. The board then heard a report from Ms. Hammer, the library director, on summer programs and progress on two branch libraries inside city recreation centers and the Abilene Heritage Square library project.

The recommendation to approve pending book orders will be forwarded to the library director for completion, the board said. No public comments on pending book orders were received during the public-comment period.

Ms. Hammer summarized summer programming and technology changes that staff say expanded participation. \"All the prizes were generously funded by the Friends of the Library whose continued support makes incentive based reading programs possible,\" Ms. Hammer said. She reported the summer reading challenge concluded on July 31 and staff were finishing data entry from paper logs. The library implemented the Beanstack reading platform this summer; Ms. Hammer said the system recorded more than 1,200 registered readers, about 27,800 books logged and roughly 44,600 minutes tracked in June and July. The library also held more than 175 programs across branches, including visits by the Abilene Zoo and outreach events.

Ms. Hammer gave updates on two library branches being built inside the city’s recreation-center replacement initiative. Each new recreation center will include a small branch library sharing flexible programming space; both centers are scheduled to open in spring 2026, she said. The Mockingbird branch is projected to close in November so the collection and facility can be prepared for the move; the transcript did not specify the year of that November closure. Ms. Hammer said existing Mockingbird staff positions will be retained and reassigned to the new branches.

On the Abilene Heritage Square project, Ms. Hammer said city council approved a lease and that construction remains on schedule. \"The city has agreed to a $29,500,000, 40-year lease for that library space,\" she reported. Key milestone dates she provided are substantial completion on March 13, 2026; owner move-in beginning about March 16, 2026; and a grand public opening currently set for May 18, 2026, all subject to change. The Heritage Square library is planned to occupy more than 65,000 square feet, compared with about 42,000 square feet at the current main library; Ms. Hammer said the expansion will require additional staff. Ten new positions — six full-time and four part-time — are included in the fiscal year 2026 budget to support operations in the larger facility.

Furniture and fixtures for the Heritage Square library will be procured through a separate council process, Ms. Hammer said. Council previously approved $3,000,000 from the city’s minor-improvement fund for fixtures, furniture and equipment; those purchases will be returned to council for contract approval. Ms. Hammer also said the library is reviewing dealer quotes and working with Museum Arts on themed built-in and interactive elements for the children’s floor.

The meeting concluded with no further business and an adjournment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Abilene - Library Advisory Board","oneSentenceSummary","The Abilene Library Advisory Board approved past meeting minutes and recommended pending book orders. Library Director Ms. Hammer reported on summer reading participation, Beanstack implementation, branch planning inside two new recreation centers and timeline, and key dates and staffing for the Abilene Heritage Square library.","taxTitle","Abilene, Taylor County, Texas","taxId",2817,"location","headline","","shortSummary","actionData","errors"]

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Abilene Library Advisory Board approves minutes, backs pending book orders; Heritage Square library slated for spring 2026