HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-11 Library Board UpdateColumbia Heights Public Library
Library Board Report - November 2022
BUILDING
• Horowitz repaired a malfunctioning boiler pump.
• The community room served as the CH Precinct 3 polling site for the General Election.
COLLECTION
• Book displays included Native American Heritage month, Mo-vember mustaches, “I Survived…”
read-a-likes, Maud Hart Lovelace award nominees, and “Fancy, not Nancy” easy books.
• Weeding of adult fiction and mystery A-H was completed.
PROGRAMS, VIRTUAL EVENTS,
SELF DIRECTED ACTIVITIES
DATE INTENDED AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE
Tinker Time: Block Printing 11/1 Children (6-11) 11
Daycare Storytime 11/2 Children (0-5) 13
English Language Conversation Circle 11/3 Adult 3
Highland Elementary ELL Family Night 11/3 All Ages 120
Doug Ohman’s MN from the Road: Heartland Lakes 11/5 Adult 50
Family Storytime 11/7 Children (0-5) 27
English Language Conversation Circle 11/7 Adult 3
English Language Conversation Circle 11/10 Adult 3
Family Storytime 11/14 Children (0-5) 22
English Language Conversation Circle 11/14 Adult 4
Storytime at ECFE class 11/15 Children (0-5) 16
Tinker Time: Shrinky Dinks 11/15 Children (6-11) 11
Storytime at ECFE class 11/16 Children (0-5) 23
Adult Book Club: “The Name of the Wind” 11/16 Adult 6
Storytime at ECFE class 11/17 Children (0-5) 16
English Language Conversation Circle 11/17 Adult 2
Wine and Words Book Club: “The Bookwoman of
Troublesome Creek”
11/18 Adult 12
English Language Conversation Circle 11/21 Adult 5
Organizing Your Important Documents – CANCELLED 11/21 Adult
Storytime at ECFE class 11/22 Children (0-5) 14
Storytime at ECFE class 11/22 Children (0-5) 14
English Language Conversation Circle 11/28 Adult 4
Tinker Time: Clay Action Figures - CANCELLED 10/29 Children (6-11)
STAFF
• Eliza Pope, Youth Services Librarian,
o Distributed 15 take-and-make poetry workbooks created by May Lee-Yang as part of a
MELSA Teen Lit Takeover presented in place of a live conference.
o Planned or facilitated Tinker Time programs on block printing and Shrinky Dinks.
o Hosted an English Language Learner Family night at the library for Highland Elementary
on 11/5 where she explained library services and designed a scavenger hunt to help
familiarize families with the building.
o Visited five Early Childhood and Family education classrooms to present storytime and
promote library services.
o Attended the CHPS Academic Leadership Team meeting to promote library resources to
district teachers.
o Attend the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant Advisory Council.
o Met with Darcy Hokkanen from the Anoka County Job Training Center about a job fair
for youth in spring.
Columbia Heights Public Library Library Board Monthly Update – November 2022
o Planned additional ELL Family Nights for Immaculate Conception School and North Park
School for Innovation.
• Cortni O’Brien, Adult Services Librarian,
o Met with the Friends of the Library on 11/10.
o Met with Will Rottler to plan a video about Conversation Circles.
o Delivered materials to six “At-Home” patrons.
• Renee Dougherty, Library Director,
o Presented the proposed 2023 budget at the City Council work session.
o Met with Jane Polley of the Library Foundation to discuss a potential art acquisition.
o Met with Marcia Barcelata-O’Neill and Marc Valencia from NewPublica about public
engagement at the library in support of the Minnesota Department of Transportation
planning study for the future of Central and University Avenues.
o Facilitated the adult book club discussion.
o Met with Sarah Hawkins from ACL and Kelly Olson about creating library cards from
MELSA applications.
o Was interviewed by Wilder Foundation staff as part of the Anoka County Library
Community Needs Assessment.
o Attended two virtual presentations from potential patron engagement software
vendors.
o Attended regular meetings of the ACL management and public service teams, and
Columbia Heights division heads.
Miscellaneous
• The Tiny Art Show was displayed throughout the month; 28 works were submitted.
• Six hundred eighty (680) ecards were delivered to Columbia Heights Public Schools for
distribution to students and teachers at Columbia Academy.
• Nassar Mussa from Metro Transit tabled in the lobby on 11/23 to present information and
receive feedback about the proposed Bus Rapid Transit F-line.
• A second outreach worker from Guild began meeting with people transitioning out of
homelessness. Tina Sweesy visits on Tuesdays, 1-4 pm, and Torre Judkins on Wednesdays, 10 am
– 2 pm.
• Two 911 calls were made for wellness checks for non-responsive visitors.
• Staff tracked reference interactions during MELSA Survey week, 11/14-11/19.
FACILITY USE 2022 2021
Visitors 5,343 5,515
Study & Meeting Room Use 199 207
PUBLIC COMPUTER USE 2022 2021
Users 716 857
Sessions 1,020 1,246
Minutes 41,964 45,947
VOLUNTEERS Total Hours
Adult 5 25.5
Teen 1 3