HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-08 Library Board UpdateColumbia Heights Public Library
Library Board Report - August 2022
BUILDING and EQUIPMENT
• Slashed footstools were taken to a local upholstery shop for repair; estimated return is eight
weeks.
• The public printing/copying kiosk was not charging for making copies. Vendors Comprise and
Marco and city IT staff spent weeks troubleshooting, eventually resolving the issue.
• The north “ask me” desk computer experienced spontaneous shutdowns and freezes. It was so
sent to Dell to resolve hard-drive malfunction. The “book drop” computer is temporarily
replacing it causing some delays in processing of new materials.
• An upgrade to the ILS software (WorkFlows) corrupted the AMH printer used to print “hold”
slips; the issue was resolved.
COLLECTION
• Requests for purchase included books on middle school math, youth portrait drawing, shark
encyclopedias and youth nonfiction about Iran. Adult and juvenile print books and youth DVDs
were ordered.
• Book displays included military veterans and “Vote in Honor of a Veteran,” books set in
Minnesota, and hot summer reads.
• Weeding continued in adult fiction, adult audiobooks, and DVDs.
• Glass display case featured “Minnesota from the Road, to promote a fall program.
FACILITY USE 2022 2021
Visitors 7,561 5,787
Study & Meeting Room Use 225 26
PROGRAMS, VIRTUAL EVENTS, SELF DIRECTED
ACTIVITIES
DATE INTENDED AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE
Family Storytime 8/1 Children (0-5) 29
English Language Conversation Circle 8/1 Adult 4
Weaving a Wild Wall Hanging 8/3 Children (6-11) 19
Screen Printing 8/4 Young Adult (12-18) 8
Family Storytime 8/8 Children (0-5) 45
English Language Conversation Circle 8/8 Adult 4
Story Stroll: Paletero Man at Prestemon Park 8/9-8/12 Self-Directed 40
Tangling and Meditative Drawing 8/10 Children (6-11) 12
English Language Conversation Circle 8/15 Adult 6
Book Club: Anxious People 8/17 Adult 9
Poems in the Park @ LaBelle 8/19 Self-Directed cancelled
English Language Conversation Circle 8/22 Adult 4
English Language Conversation Circle 8/29 Adult 3
TOTAL =12 ?
STAFF
• Eliza Pope, Youth Services Librarian,
o Visited North Park School for Innovation’s summer Encore classes. In six Pre-K to 5th
grade classes, she read stories, played games, and told students about the summer
reading program.
PUBLIC COMPUTER USE 2022 2021
Users 1,037 933
Sessions 1,535 1,355
Minutes 55,700 47,200
Columbia Heights Public Library Library Board Monthly Update – August 2022
o Transformed the Imagination Station from a farmer’s market into an ice cream shop
with the assistance of teen volunteer Natalie. Kids can dish up fake ice cream, practice
counting dollars, talk about their favorite flavors and color a dream ice cream cone.
o Created and oversaw the 2022 Summer Reading Program which ended on August 15.
302 youth registered for summer reading (82 in Birth-Kindergarten group, 179 in Grades
1-6, and 41 teens). Registered youth read over 1,889 hours during the summer! Those
who read 20 or more hours and returned a completed reading log were entered into
prize drawings for State Fair and Twins tickets.
o Successfully concluded the program to distribute summer lunches to youth; 263 lunches
were distributed during the summer.
o Spoke at new teacher orientations for Columbia Heights Public Schools and the
Immaculate Conception School. She shared information on applying for an institutional
borrower accounts, library databases for teachers and learners, and new initiatives such
as the MN State Park passes and the elimination of overdue fines.
• Cortni O’Brien, Adult Services Librarian,
o Oversaw the twenty-eight adults registered for the Summer Reading Program who
logged 286 hours of reading.
o Delivered materials to five “At-Home” patrons.
• Renee Dougherty, Library Director,
o Met with Nick Olberding and Cortni O’Brien for their annual performance evaluations.
o Met with the Library Foundation on August 16. The Foundation decided to cancel the
2022 Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser.
Miscellaneous
• Partnered with Every Meal to distribute free food bags from July 29 through September 5.
• Monarch Bus recruited drivers (in the lobby) on August 8 and 10.
• The community room was the Precinct 3 polling site for the August 9 Primary Election.
• Library Board Chair Teresa Eisenbise read a story at the Monarch Festival at Sullivan Park on
August 17.
• Staff attended the City Employee Picnic on August 17.
• Numerous incidents with drunk/disorderly/mentally ill patrons verbally harassing staff and other
patrons. Police were called multiple times. The public telephone was removed.
• Paper towels were removed from public restrooms to prevent vandalism. Electric dryers
continue to be available.
In the custom screen-printing workshop
for teens, participants wrapped up their
t-shirt printing and swapped designs
amongst themselves.
VOLUNTEERS Total Hours
Adult 2 13
Teen 4 17