HomeMy WebLinkAboutOperational Report from MarshaTo: M. Rebecca Loader, Library Director
From: Marsha Tubbs, Children’s Librarian
Subject: July 2000 Operational Report
Date: July 24, 2000
I. Programs
A. Super Tuesday Specials
July 11MN Zoomobile 236 Children62 Adults
July 18 Half Pint and Oscar124 Children42 Adults
July 25Prof. Bundershnitzel 130 Children40 Adults
We have been very successful with these programs this season. The support of the School
District in promoting our summer programs through the SOAR newsletter and their Elementary
School Calendars may have been the catalyst.
B. Summer Reading Clubs
Mystery at Castle Libra (teens)170
Library Kids Lead the Way (elementary)683
Crossover (kids registered in both) 72
We are still registering in both these clubs. The total registration figure indicates we may set a
new record for participation in Reading Clubs within Columbia Heights.
C. My Teacher Storytime
July 5Slava Brin8 Children3 Adults
July 12Joyce Bliss15 Children8 Adults
July 19Gayle Hubel8 Children4 Adults
July 26 Diane Roffler8 Children 5 adults
This program continues to draw moderate groups. We may consider discontinuing it next year.
D. Funtime/Storytime
July 618 Children6 Adults
July 1314 Children8 Adults
July 2016 Children9 Adults
July 2714 Children5 Adults
This storytime remains popular largely due to the crafts that accompany each session.
Unfortunately, I have had limited time to devote to preparation of the stories and I feel they are
not of the same caliber as our fall and winter programs.
E. American Girl
Invitations to the second American Girl Party have been mailed. We increased registration from
30 to 40 girls and filled the program without having to advertise outside the building. Kirsten
(1854) will be this year’s hostess. Participants will learn quilting techniques from Crystal Batters
(of the Anoka County Historical Society) fulfilling the role of Kirsten. Crafts being provided
include: straw horses, yarn dolls, wallpaper quilt squares, and prairie sunbonnets. This program
is popular.
F. Harry Potter Party
The library in conjunction with the school district is offering an end-of-summer Reading Club
party for those teens who read five chapter books this summer. The party is scheduled for August
17 from 2-4 pm. A magician has been booked and a 3M Wizard will be in attendance as well.
The kids will participate in a number of Harry Potter-type activities and will leave the party with
mementoes of the event. The staff is currently working frantically to get invitations mailed to
100+ participants and on planning the event.
II. Collection
A. Weeding continues on the J 900s (completed through J 930) and on the Readers.
B. Book selection has been placed on the back burner for awhile due to the efforts involved in
programming and the increase in clientele.
III. Projects
A. I continue to work on the Storytime Kits project along with several librarians from Anoka County. I
anticipate the first ten of these kits to be completed by mid-August.
B. Bulk Loans to area schools is the next project I need to address. I will be preparing a schedule for
pickup and delivery to be submitted to Linda Ernst at District 13 and to ICS. District 13 has
agreed to arrange transportation for the books.
IV. Circulation
The Children’s Department has been doing an incredible amount of programming this summer. This
programming has paid off in two ways: First, we have seen a large increase in NEW users. It has not
been unusual during the months of June and July to have issued 20 new cards a week. Second, there has
been a large increase in circulation, especially in those areas targeted for programming (Grades 3-8 EJ
Fiction and J Fiction). We have also seen a nice increase in our YA fiction. Business is booming. The
month of June 2000 showed nearly 1000 circulation increase over June 1999. I estimate it could have
been closer to 1500 or 2000 if we hadn’t experienced computer difficulties. The staff has been challenged,
the collection has been challenged and both met the challenge well.
V. Personnel
A. Kelly Olson, Clerk Typist II, has carried the extra demand at the circulation desk with grace. Between
circulation and programs she has been very busy. She sent and received two large book orders
this month, prepared documents for the American Girl Party, began work on Harry Potter,
completed the Library’s newsletter “SAMPLER,” updated the magazine holdings listing, and
cleaned up our statistics after the computer crashed.
B. Pages have been busy shelving the large volume of returns, aiding in preparations for programs and
mending J Non-Fiction.
C. Volunteers have registered all 833 kids in the Reading Clubs, set up the Activity Room for programs
and cleaned up after programs, washed the Board Books, and prepared parts for crafts.