HomeMy WebLinkAboutOperational Report for Barb
TO: Renee Dougherty, Library Director
FROM: Barb Kondrick
SUBJECT: Adult Services January Operational Report
DATE: January 31, 2014
I.Programs
a.The Library Book Club, facilitated by Renee Dougherty, met Wednesday, Jan. 29 to
discuss “The Kitchen House,” by Kathleen Grissom. Twelve adults participated.
b.The Nonfiction Book Club, facilitated by Catherine Vesley and Barb Kondrick, met Friday,
Jan. 17 and discussed books that participants had read during the past month. Seven
adults participated.
c.Winter Jackets Reading Program for Grownups, age 17 and older, started Thursday,
January 2. After reading or listening to a book of their choice, participants are invited to
fill out a short review form and have their name entered in a weekly prize drawing. All
participants receive a small Winter Jackets notebook when they turn in a review. So far,
there have been 112 entries and four weekly prize winners. Prizes include items from
the Library of Congress gift shop: 2014 Book Lover’s Calendars, canvas book bags,
coffee mugs, and notepad/pen sets with a quote from Thomas Jefferson in a letter to
John Adams, 1815, “I cannot live without books.” Participant’s book reviews are added
to a “Book Reviews” 3-ring notebook and also posted on the library’s Facebook page for
other readers to peruse. Photos of the weekly winners, along with their book reviews,
are displayed in the library.
d.Barb facilitated an eBooks class on Thursday, Jan. 9. Three adults attended.
e.As part of the Winter Jackets theme, Minnesota mystery writer Jess Lourey did an
author talk and book signing on Wednesday, January 22. Her latest novel, “January
Thaw,” set in Battle Lake, Minnesota and featuring amateur sleuth, Mira James, was
released and entered into the library collection just in time for the event. Friends of the
Columbia Heights Library provided light refreshments and served as greeters for the
event. Thirty-six adults attended, despite the cold and blustery weather. The program
was paid for by the Minnesota Legacy Fund.
II.Meetings
a.The Friends of the Columbia Heights Library cancelled their January meeting due to
severe weather.
b.Barb attended the January 13 City Council Meeting and did a short presentation on the
Winter Jackets Reading Program.
c.Barb and two adult Buddy Up and Read volunteers visited Crooked Lake Library on
Saturday, January 25, for a tour of the building and to meet with the building manager
and Conversation Circles volunteer facilitator. Crooked Lake has been hosting a
Conversation Circles program for some time, inviting library users—whose first language
is other than English-- who want to practice their English speaking skills with others.
Because Columbia Heights has had such a positive response for our Buddy Up and Read
Program, we are investigating the possibility of adding a Conversation Circles program in
the future.
d.Barb attended a newly formed Older Adults Work Group meeting with Jill Smith and
several other ACL adult services librarians at LSS on Wednesday, January 29. The group
decided to concentrate on three programming themes for library patrons 55+ next fall:
the arts, computer literacy, and volunteerism.
III.Projects
a.January and February’s bulletin board theme is the Winter Jackets Reading Program.
b.Barb provided AskMN online reference service once in January.
c.At-Home Service: Barb selected materials and set up deliveries for three at-home
patrons, with a total of 30 items.
d.Supplies and DVDs were ordered.
e.Spring programming descriptions were submitted for Heights Happenings.
f.Weeding began for adult audiobooks on CD and music CDs.
IV.Volunteers
a.Volunteers completed 49 hours of volunteer time—delivering materials to at-home
patrons, pricing sale books, refilling the book sale cart, serving as reading “Buddies,” and
completing various tasks at the library.
b.One of the Buddy Up and Read volunteer mentors was not able to find an open time to
schedule meetings for two weeks in January with her client. As a temporary solution,
we reserved space for them to meet in the conference room at the Public Safety
Building.