HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 31, 1995COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
PUBLIC LIBRARY
AVENUE N. E.
I~,N 55-121-299d
US'I 2) 7fi2-2L~05
~d12) 782-28U,~
II.
III.
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
TO:
FROM:
Patrick Hentges, City Manager
M. Rebecca Loader, Library Director
SUBJECT:
March, 1995, operational report
DATE: March 31, 1995
Significant Accomplishments
A. The Friends met on 3/6 with eight members present.
B. The Board met on 3/7 with four members present.
C. 25 people attended the March Senior Citizen Time.
D. Fourteen sessions of pre-school storytime were held in March with a total
attendance of 208 children and 66 adults.
Departmental Goals
A. The automatic door opener was installed 3/12.
B. Building maintenance included: repairing lobby carpet tiles, installing coat racks
in the children's department, painting the children's room, and re-upholstering two
couches.
C. The wish list was presented to the Friends on 3/6. They voted to donate the following:
eight plastic storage bins, a data-vac, keyboard carel, and three display panels with
accessories.
The camcorder circulated 9 times in March.
The library was the host for the March public service meeting for the Anoka County
branch librarians. Becky conducted a historical tour of the building for the fifteen
attendees. For.many of them, it was their first visit to Columbia Heights. Staff
received a lot of positive feedback on the building and collection.
The Library Board conducted a long-range planning session on 3/21.
On 3/22 Becky conducted a tour of the facility for the Recreation Director candidates.
On 3/23 Jeanine attended the User Group meeting at Anoka County Library.
On 3/27 Mayor Sturdevant presented Barbara Miller,~Board President, with a proclamation
on National Library Week.
Jeanine participated in a cable shoot on 3/28 and a central filing meeting on 3/29.
Marsha presented a session on reading to children to Diane Creese's teen mother class
on 3/28. Marsha also presented a session on storytelling techniques to Jill Junger's
speech class on 3/29.
De
G.
H.
I.
Issues and Problems
A. On 3/12 the lock in the front door fell apart.
B. On 3/15 a patron fell off the front curb and had to be transported to the hospital.
February
Circulation 1994 1995 LIBGIS 1994 1995
Adult 6377 6147 Reference 2298' 2386'
Juvenile 5319 5411 Dir. A 233 318
11696 11558 Dir. B 68 75
Work days 23 23 23 23
recycled paper
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
DATE:
M. Rebecca Loader, Library Director
Marsha Tubbs, Children's Librarian
Children's Librarian Meeting - March 21, 1995
March 31, 1995
The meeting began with a viewing of a video tape produced by the Hennepin County Library system on child abuse.
Hennepin County Library had produced this tape in response to staff concerns regarding child abuse when it occurs within
the library setting. The tape was in a question & answer format, with staff asking questions and child protection/welfare
professionals responding. While no solid solutions were given, some food for thought was provided and a few good points
made. I requested a copy for Columbia Heights viewing. This issue is something Kelly and I comment on daily, though
it suq:)dsed me that a parent strikin~ a child is not considered child abuse. I think there is a lot I could learn in this area-
perhaps a lot we all could learn. It is my strong opinion that children are not objects to be owned, but little people with
rights. Unfortunately the law does not agree with me yet!
The rest of the meeting was business as usual: a proposal was presented to develop a recognition reward for
parents/providers who support their children as readers. Rene Perrin from Crooked Lake presented some graphic designs
for buttons, the group selected one, but opted for a refrigerator magnet rather than a button. The slogans were: READING
IS OUR THING, I SUPPORT KIDS AND LIBRARIES, or WE READ TOGETHER. The words Anoka County Library would
be displayed with each slogan as well.
Summer Reading Club incentives were discussed and Kathy Baxter agreed to contact Anoka County Parks and ask for
wave pool tickets again. She will also be contacting Minneapolis Public Library and requesting passes to the Planetarium.
There was a great amount of discussion on the subject of when and how these incentives would be distributed. A
committee was formulated to meet a second time to finalize these plans.
Kathy Baxter told the group that donations were down in 1995 and she was unsure, as of yet, what the program schedule
from the summer would look like.
Anoka County Library will be moving more paperbacks into the YA and J collection. More economical use of budgetary
funds and paperbacks are the format choice for this age group. The meeting closed at 4:35 P.M.
TO: M. Rebecca Loader
FROM: Mary' M. Kloss
SUBJECT: Operational Report, March 1995
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY: On Monday, March 6, the Friends of the Library met for their monthly meeting with
8 members present. At the meeting, the Friends voted on items to be purchased from Becky's and Marsha's wish
list. They also agreed to be hostesses at the library on Saturday, May 20,/or the Heights Pride open house and
voted to purchase a $15.00 gift cerlificate to be given away in a drawing at the open house. After the meeting, they
enjoyed a puppet show gJvet~ by Marsha and Kelly and retreshments ot cake and coffee. On April 3, the Friends
will have an evening meeting. I arranged for them to meet at the Dragon House at 6:00 p.m. for dinner and to have
a business meeting at 7:00 p.m. I sent them each an invitation, and they will RSVP to me by March 29, if they plan
to have dinner at the restaurant.
SENIOR CITIZEN PROGRAMMING: On Wednesday, March 8, George Erickson showed slides of his trip to
Australia. Twenty-five senior citizens attended and refreshments were served by the Friends of the Library. During
the month, I arranged for slide presentations for August and September. In August, Charles Tharaldson will show
slides on Spain and in September, James Van Meter will show slides on India.
HOMEBOUND SERVICE: I selected books and arranged delivery for 4 homebound patrons this month.
BOOK DISPLAY: In honor of March as "Women's History Month", I organized a display of books on famous
women.
DELIVERY OF BOOKS TO PARKVIEW VILLA: On Monday, March 6, Shari Briley and I delivered 30 books to
Parkview Villa. 29 books were returned, and the circulation on those returned was 40.
ADULT READING CLUB: The adult reading club, "SO MANY BOOKS...SO LI'I-rLE TIME" continues until April
15. By the end of March, 129 adults have registered for the adult reading club.
VERTICAL FILE: The following subject areas were added to the vertical tile: CAPILLARY ACTION, MAYA
(CENTRAL AMERICAN PEOPLE), MEXICO, OCEANS, RAIN FORESTS--AMAZON RIVER REGION, RELIGION
AND POLITICS, SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL, SOUTHWEST (NEW), VIOLENCE IN TEENAGERS,
VIOLENCE--PREVENT, ANOKA COUNTY (MINNESOTA)--PUBLIC OFFICIALS, LEGISLATURE. MINNESOTA--
PUBLIC OFFICIALS, LEISURE--MN., CHAMBER OF COMMERCE--COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, HEIGHTS
HAPPENINGS, HEIGHTS PRIDE.
BULLETIN' BOARD: The bulletin board promoting the adult reading club will continue throughout this month.
GRAPHICS: Designed and reproduced a Senior Citizen Time flyer of spring and early summer programs and
designed a tablet to be given away at the open house for the Heights Pride Celebration. Heather Cook printed the
tablets for the library.
NEWSLETTER: I duplicated 300 copies of the March newsletter on 2/28/95. On Friday, 3/17/95 gave the April
newsletter material to Kelly.
MISCELLANEOUS: · Duplicated flyers and assembled "welcome" packets for the Public Service librarian's meeting
· Prepared a National Library Week proclamation
· Continued to organize and label the library photo album
· Submitted articles to Jean Kuehn for the city employee newsletter
· Ordered the Spring/Summer Minnesota Explorer for distribution in the library
· Arranged for the typing of a new Friends of the Library membership list and their constitution and
by-laws
MMK/jms "
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
DATE:
M. Rebecca Loader, Library Director
Marsha Tubbs, Children's Librarian
March Operational Report
March 31, 1995
Where to begin? So many things going on and so much happened in March! Here goes.
BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS: The Childrert's Department received a new coat of paint this month. While the contractor's
were not the most thorough or the neatest, they sure did work quickly. The end result: dirty and dingy walls are bright and
clean, a major improvement. Add to the paint, the new recovered couches (which turned out beautifully), and the coat pegs
{whJ(;h ar{ in all ime) and "lower leve " is coming up in the world. Almost everyone comments on one aspect
or another. It really does make a difference. Thanks to all of you.
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY: Many thanks to the Friends for their "gifts". The Children's Department received 8 white
storage bins (to store the new puppets) and a PC tray for the computer on my desk. This organization is a very valuable
part of the Columbia Heights Public Library and as a special thanks to them, Kelly and I hosted a puppet play and coffee
(coffee house atmosphere) for them at their March meeting. I believe everyone enjoyed themselves, comments were
favorable. Kelly and I had an opportunity to use the new puppets and the Friends had coffee with puppets as companions.
It was great fun!
MEETINGS/TOURS: We hosted another Brownie tour this month. Sheila Hatchell, evening supervisor lead this tour. She
explained the catalog and research techniques to the group and then helped them with some research for badges.
The Children's Department was a part of the city-wide tour conducted during the reception of Parks and Recreation
candidates. We had a class in at the time so the department was buzzing with activity. It appeared all went well.
Last but definitely not least, Anoka County Librarians held their Public Service Meeting here on March 9. We here at
Columbia Heights put a lot of effort into this meeting and put our best foot forward. I believe it was successful! The
librarians were congenial, relaxed, inquisitive, and somewhat surprised if not amazed. The size of this building can be
deceptive. The county librarians had impressions of this building and its collection that I am sure were favorably altered
dudng the meeting and tour. We dispelled rumors and presented reality. The upshot-a very favorable impression for the
City of Columbia Heights.
I attended the Children's Librarian meeting at the County (Northtown) on March 21, 1995. This was to be a planning
meeting for Summer Reading Club. A number of proposals were made, many have since been acted upon. I am attaching
a report of the meeting.
As I am writing this report, I have two meetings remaining in March. Diane Creese from Community Education here in
Columbia Heights has asked me to provide a 30 - 45 minute "talk" to teenage moms on the subject of reading to children.
This conference is scheduled for March 28 at 1:30 P.M.
At 8:15 on March 30, I will again be speaking to the Senior High speech class as part of their storytelling curriculum. I will
read/tell 2 -4 stories and the class critiques my technique. (This one always makes me nervous-but I'm determined to keep
this connection open!)
PROGRAMS: Winter Storytime has ended. Registrations for all 3 sessions were full (30 each). We averaged 12-18 in
attendance per session. The planning I did over November and December has been successful. We now have
approximately 30 storytimes roughly sketched out with book sections and support materials. I would like to add 8-10 each
year until we reach 100. As new books arrive and I read them, I am adding new titles to the existing storytime plans.
Spring Story and Crafts begin April 11. We have 30 registered to date. We will have 2 sessions a week for 2 weeks.
Thursday Specials. I have booked all but one pedormer for our summer Tuesday Specials. This program begins June 20
with.~C- Jamboree Talented Pet Show. Registrations will be required, and of course, all participants are winners. June
27 will be our Super 8 Film Festival (oldies but goldies); July 11 - Doodles the Clown; July 18 - open; July 25 -Sean Brown
Storybound; August 1 - Jim Costick The Great Jimmini returns for his 25 year anniversary pedormance. He got his start
right here as a high school student when Miss Jo gave him his first chance to pertorm; August 8 - Mikael Rudolph mime;
August 15 - Cory Mohan Banjo dancers. Contracts for all pedormers should go out next week. All have been confirmed
by phone.