HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-10 Library Board UpdateColumbia Heights Public Library
Library Board Report - October 2022
BUILDING
• Exterior windows were washed.
• Modern Heating retrofitted the HVAC system to accept less expensive HEPA filters.
• Orkin visited for bi-monthly pest inspection.
• Horowitz replaced HVAC filters. A boiler pump has failed and will be repaired in November.
TECHNOLOGY
• Public computers and software were purchased and are being configured for installation.
• IT staff is consulting Columbia Heights Public School staff to determine why student
Chromebooks can’t connect to the wireless network.
• Printing and billing problems with legal-sized paper have been resolved.
• The callbox at the staff entry failed and was repaired.
COLLECTION
• Book displays included horror fiction and Mercy Watson read-a-likes.
• Weeding continued in adult fiction.
PROGRAMS, VIRTUAL EVENTS,
SELF DIRECTED ACTIVITIES
DATE INTENDED AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE
Doug Ohman’s MN from Road: Arrowhead 10/1 Adult 46
Family Storytime 10/3 Children (0-5) 28
English Language Conversation Circle 10/3 Adult 3
Tinker Time: Ocean Creature Diorama 10/4 Children (6-11) 9
Daycare Storytime 10/5 Children (0-5) 13
English Language Conversation Circle 10/6 Adult 1
Story Stroll @ Huset Park 10/7-10/10 Self-Directed 40
Sculpting Clay Pumpkin Luminaries 10/8 Children (6-11) 23
Family Storytime 10/10 Children (0-5) 26
English Language Conversation Circle 10/10 Adult 6
Mental Health Awareness- Make It OK 10/10 Adult 5
Spooky Terrariums 10/11 Young Adult (12+) 9
English Language Conversation Circle 10/13 Adult 2
Family Storytime 10/17 Children (0-5) 21
English Language Conversation Circle 10/17 Adult 3
Resume Writing with CareerForce 10/18 Adult 4
Tinker Time: Slime 10/18 Children (6-11) 25
Adult Book Club: “The Mothers” 10/19 Adult 9
Dia de los Muertos 10/19 Adult 25
English Language Conversation Circle 10/20 Adult 2
Family Storytime 10/24 Children (0-5) 23
English Language Conversation Circle 10/24 Adult 5
Needle Felted Pumpkins 10/24 Adult 14
English Language Conversation Circle 10/27 Adult 5
Consult the Law Librarian 10/27 Adult 1
Family Storytime 10/31 Children (0-5) 17
English Language Conversation Circle 10/31 Adult 4
STAFF
• Eliza Pope, Youth Services Librarian,
o Reports that storytime features rhyming and music, which attendees are learning and
sharing with families outside of the library, and parachute play on Halloween when
attendance was lower than usual.
o Planned and facilitated a hands-on Slime program for youth featuring experimentation
and the addition of sensory elements to a basic clear or white base.
Columbia Heights Public Library Library Board Monthly Update – October 2022
o Met with Renee. CHPS Director of Teaching and Learning Tara Thukral, Teaching and
Learning Elementary Coordinator Emily Gartner, and Elementary Clericals Shari Alexon
and Angie Fanning to discuss collaboration, ecards, and strategies to encourage families
to use the public library.
o Met with Paula Abele from Prodeo Academy about library resources available to their
students and ways the library can support families and students.
o Attended two meetings with Jodi Gadient and Katie Holznagel to plan for the Advisory
Council, Youth Advisory Council, and winter schedule of events for 21CCLC-funded
programming.
• Cortni O’Brien, Adult Services Librarian,
o Staffed an information booth at Columbia Heights Pride Festival (10/8) with Kelly Olson.
o Served as the library liaison to the Friends of the Library at their meeting on 10/10.
o Facilitated the quarterly Columbia Heights Senior Consortium meeting on 10/11.
o Met with CHPS Community Education Director Melissa King about possible collaboration
on technology programming.
o Designed a mock voting booth providing ballot information and promoting election
participation.
o Coordinated distribution and collection of works for the Tiny Art Show.
o Delivered materials to three “At-Home” patrons.
• Renee Dougherty, Library Director,
o Met with the Library Foundation on 10/11 and received a donated painting “Entering
the Ouroborus” by Rachel Klismith.
o Met with Colleen Haubner about invoicing and partnering with the Anoka County
Library.
o Met with Maria Lourey-Bowen of the Anoka Job Training Center to plan a job fair in
2023.
o Attended regular meetings of the ACL management team and public service teams, and
Columbia Heights division heads.
Miscellaneous
• The local Sister Cities group installed a display for Polish American Heritage month.
FACILITY USE 2022 2021
Visitors 6,382 5,039
Study & Meeting Room Use 262 229
PUBLIC COMPUTER USE 2022 2021
Users 897 936
Sessions 1,314 1,353
Minutes 52,353 48,333
VOLUNTEERS Total Hours
Adult 5 25.5
Teen 1 3