HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 28, 1995COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
PUBLIC LIBRARY
320 - 40th ,~VF_NU2 ;'t. E.
COLUMBIA bi;EiGHTS, ?vli'.l 55421-2995
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III.
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
TO:
FROM:
Patrick Hentges, City Manager
M. Rebecca Loader, Library Director
SUBJECT: September operational report
DATE:
September 28, 1995
me
B.
C.
D.
E.
Significant Accomplishments
The Board met on 9/5 with four members present.
The Friends met on 9/11 with seven members present.
29 people attended the 9/13 Filmtime.
Values Week was marked at the library by the distribution of bookmarks.
The library, Meredith Cable, and the History Channel presented a program on
9/18 entitled, '~istory for Kids and'Teens,Too." 41 people attended and
participated in History Mania (a quiz show), viewed a video, listened to
Irene Parson~,and enjoyed popcorn. Marsha and Kelly dressed up in 1930's
era costumes and prepared a book display, a book list, and a bookmark related
to the 1930's. This cooperative effort was a lot of work, but may have opened
up an avenue for more effective use of cable.
The class schedule from Immaculate Conception School started the week of 9/17.
II. Departmental Goals
A. The Saturday hours changed 9/9 to 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
B. The new copier was delivered on 9/6.
C. Jeanine attended the acs users' group meeting on 9/14.
D. The new camcorder policy will be implemented on 10/1, and staff spent considerable
time getting the paperwork ready.
E. Pinecone Nursery performed the landscaping budgeted for 1995 on 9/19.
F. Becky held a worksession for the supervisors on 9/23 on database searching.
G. Becky attended the public service meeting on 9/28.
Issues and Problems
A. A stone smashed one of the north windows on 9/1.
B. The character generator broke on 9/22.
It was repaired 9/13.
Circulation 1994 1995
Adult 6681 6197
Juvenile 7162 6197
13843 12394
Work days 27 27
AUGUST
'LIBGIS 1994 1995
Reference 1746 2074
Dir. A 248 117
Dir. B 51 31
Work days 27 27
recycled paper
TO: M. Rebecca Loader
FROM: Mary M. Kloss
SUBJECT: Operational Report, September 1995
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY: On Monday, September 11, 1995, at 1:00 p.m., the Friends of the Library met with
8 members present. President, Rita Norberg read a letter from Becky in regard to their request for a wish list from
her. The Friends are anxious to spend the monies earned at the book sale, but will have to wait until the 1996
budget is approved. A wish list will be presented to them in November.
SENIOR CITIZEN PROGRAMMING: On Wednesday, September 13, James Van Meter presented a slide program
on his trip to India. Twenty-nine senior citizens attended this program and refreshments were served by the
Friends of the Library. The attendance figure for this program was high because a senior citizen group from a
church located in northeast Minneapolis attended. Mr. Van Meter is an excellent photographer and also very
articulate. His slide presentation was one of the best I've seen.
HOMEBOUND SERVICE: During the month, 3 homebound patrons requested books.
BULLETIN BOARD: This month's bulletin board has the theme: "Make reading your goal...or else!" and features
Viola Swamp and her football team. These illustrations were adapted from Miss Nelson has a field day by Harry
Allard.
BOOK DISPLAY: This month's book display "Solve mysteries...read" has proven very popular. I've had to pull
additional books for the display several times during the month.
DELIVERY OF BOOKS TO PARKVlEW VILLA: On Friday, September 1, I delivered 30 books to Parkview Villa
and returned to the library with 27. The circulation on those returned was 26.
NEWSLETTER: I gave copy for the October newsletter to Kelly on Monday, September 18. I decided to try a new
column format for the newsletter. We don't have a desktop publishing program, so this was difficult for her to do.
I recommend that in the near future, we look into purchasing a software program that does desktop publishing
especially newsletters and brochures. This would save Kelly a lot of time and trouble. We would also be able to
produce a more professional looking newsletter.
VALUES PROGRAM: I designed and had printed a bookmark for the Community Core Values Program. This
bookmark was distributed to the public the week of September 18-23.
POSITION TARGETS: I completed the library directory the week of September 11. The brochure has been
placed in literature racks around the library and in a pocket on the main bulletin board. Earlier, I had ordered
bookmarks and a poster on the Dewey decimal system, so I used these in connection with this library directory.
I hope the patrons and library staff will find this directory useful. I also left space on the directory so additional
subjects and their call numbers can be added.
OTHER AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY WORKED ON DURING THE MONTH: · Writing of news release for the city employee newsletter.
· Withdrawing of shelf list cards for items declared withdrawn.
· Recording of supplies used from supply sign-out sheets.
· Ordering of library supplies as needed.
· Updating of "Welcome Packet".
· Planning for winter adult reading club.
· Selecting of books for October's book display, "Scare up a good book".
· Updating of booklist for "Polish-American Heritage Month" book display.
ATTACHMENTS:
Library directory
Values bookmark
MMK/jms
1TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
M. Rebecca Loader, Library Director
Marsha Tubbs, Children's Librarian
September 28, 1995
September Operational Report
September has been a month of preparation. The Children's Department staff spent a large number of hours catching up
after the summer programming and preparing for the upcoming fall schedule.
STORYTIME: Fall Storytime registration opened on September 5. We have five separate sessions available this fall. The
Tuesday 2 or More session is overflowing (32 registrations). We have 12 registered in two of the remaining classes and
seven and eight registrations in the others with a total of 71 children registered. There are not as many as last year, but
considerably more than most of the county libraries. We have a nice theme package planned - the first session will be
stories by the campsite. Sessions begin the first week in October.
ICS CLASS VISITS: I spent a large amount of time preparing and planning for upcoming class visits, previewed filmstrips,
selected booklists for reading aloud, selected areas to booktalk, etc. Teachers began registering the last week in August
and I was informed by many that they would be shortening the amount of time at the library; coming every other week
instead of every, and were not interested in stories or filmstrips. After inquiring of the individual teachers as to the reason
for change, I surmised this much - ICS hired a professional consulting staff to evaluate their program; the recommendations
of this staff were implemented this year, including a schedule established by the consultant. This has affected the amount
of time each class has open for library. ICS has closed the library within the school. Our filmstrips are too old, the
students and teachers want to see the new titles. The storytelling/reading often interrupts the curriculum (as I read
Caldecott), teachers want to use these in the classrooms. At this time I am re-doing my schedule to accommodate
kindergarten, 2nd and 3rd grade (occasionally), 1st, 4th, and 5th have requested books only, and 6th grade would like
booktalks (monthly). I am scrambling - but will make it.
MEREDITH CABLE: The big highlight of the month was "History for Teens & Kids Too" presented September 18 in the
Children's Department. A cooperative program between Meredith Cable, the History Channel, and the library. 41 people
attended the program which went well, but had the potential to be much more successful. We anticipated 100+ attendance
~nd had hoped to attract teens age 10 - 16. The crowd was much younger and smaller. The problem: not enough notice
up front, a library needs at least 4 - 6 weeks to advertise this type of program (our patrons would return only once during
a 4 - 6 week period). The newspapers did not print an advance notice - the word just didn't get out. On the plus side
however, we made some good contacts with the cable people, the library will receive a group of videos from the History
Channel, and the program was top-notch. My thanks to Kelly for her tremendous effort in a last minute push to get out
flyers, advertising, booklists, etc. Thanks to Becky and Jeanine for the props provided both Kelly and I, they made our
costumes complete.
PROJECTS COMPLETED:
*A new Children's Services brochure was produced and printed this month.
*Fall bulletin boards are up downstairs.
*Class visits began September 18.
*One new puppet play completed.
*Three separate booklist for children (EJ Fiction, ABC, 123).
WORK IN PROGRESS:
*Two - three more puppet plays.
*YA and JFic collection book order.
*Procedures manual.
*Production of book props.
*Planning for Holiday Storytime and Crafts.
MAT/kjo