HomeMy WebLinkAbout202305 Library Board UpdateColumbia Heights Public Library
Library Board Report – May 2023
BUILDING
TECHNOLOGY
• IT staff restricted available internet browsers on public computers to Microsoft Edge in an
attempt to force PDFs to automatically open in Adobe Acrobat rather than the browser window.
• The self-check kiosks are emailing receipts again.
• A new public multifunction printer/copier/scanner was installed, and staff trained in its use.
COLLECTION
• Book displays included Asian American/Pacific Islander awareness month, gardening, and new
materials.
• Requests for juvenile books on Ramadan, Scratch coding were purchased.
• Adult DVDs were ordered.
• Weeding was completed in adult fiction A-B, mysteries, and nonfiction 500s as well as in juvenile
graphics.
PROGRAMS, VIRTUAL EVENTS,
SELF DIRECTED ACTIVITIES
DATE INTENDED AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE
English Language Conversation Circle 05/01 Adult 4
Tinker Time: LEGOs 05/02 Children (6-11) 15
English Language Conversation Circle 05/04 Adult 3
Doug Ohman’s MN from the Road: Name that Town 05/06 Adult 56
English Language Conversation Circle 05/08 Adult 5
Job Fair for Teens 05/09 Young Adults 60
English Language Conversation Circle 05/11 Adult 4
Daycare Storytime 05/12 Children (0-5) 15
Bike Fix-It Clinic 05/13 Adult 20
English Language Conversation Circles 05/15 Adult 6
Tinker Time: LEGOs 05/16 Children (6-11) 11
Book Club: Dead Wake 05/17 Adult 8
Creating a Vigil Plan 05/17 Adult 12
Wine and Words Book Club 05/19 Adult 8
English Language Conversation Circle 05/22 Adult 5
English Language Conversation Circle 05/25 Adult 3
Children’s Area Scavenger Hunt (self-directed) 37
STAFF
• Eliza Pope, Youth Services Librarian,
o Interviewed three teen volunteers and reviewed applications and facilitated background
checks for an additional five teens.
o Installed a Café featuring a toy refrigerator and stove in the early literacy play space.
Learning toys were purchased with a grant from the Columbia Heights Library
Foundation.
• Cortni O’Brien, Adult Services Librarian,
o Met with the Friends of the Library for lunch at Tasty Pizza on May 11.
o Delivered materials to four “At-Home” patrons.
• Renee Dougherty, Library Director,
o Participated in the Anoka County Library Management Team meeting and weekly city
division head meetings.
o Facilitated the book club discussion of “Dead Wake.”
• Staff were invited to attend a Public Employees Retirement Association (MNPERA) “Hire to
Retire” seminar on May 10.
Columbia Heights Public Library Library Board Monthly Update – May 2023
• Eliza and Renee attended Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training with Dr. Shawn Moore on May
22 or 31.
• Eliza and Aide Farrah Briest attended training for summer youth lunch distribution partners
provided by Youthprise. Lunch will be served on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays,
beginning June 13.
• Library Pages and full-time staff attended an all-Page meeting on May 5. Pages selected shifts,
reviewed procedures, learned about the summer reading program, and shared best practices.
• Full-time and supervisory staff attended Anoka County Library Staff Day on May 18. Topics
included strategic planning and serving diverse patrons.
MISCELLANEOUS
• The glass display case featured LEGO builds from two Tinker Time programs and postcards from
around the world installed by the Friends of the Library.
• Metro Transit staff sought public feedback on the proposed F-Line Bus Rapid Transit route on
May 4.
• All copies of the periodical, “Mayo Clinic Health Newsletter”, were stolen.
• The Anoka County Job Training Center hosted a teen job fair on May 9; 60 people attended.
Employers featured were Crest View Senior Communities, Crisp & Green, FedTech, National
Sports Center, and Urban Air Adventure Park.
• Hope4Youth, an Anoka County non-profit serving homeless youth, 18-24, visited on May 26.
• Coordinated Business Systems provided staff training on the new multifunction printer/copier.
PUBLIC COMPUTER USE 2023 2022
Users 942 764
Sessions 1,455 1,147
Minutes 58,267 39,034
FACILITY USE 2023 2022
Visitors 6,227 5,696
Study & Meeting Room Use 271 171
VOLUNTEERS Total Hours
Adult 11 44
Teen 0 0
May 9 Teen Job Fair with the Anoka County Job Training Center