HomeMy WebLinkAbout202308 Library Board UpdateColumbia Heights Public Library
Library Board Report – August 2023
BUILDING
• Viking Automated Sprinkler Company tested controls, emergency lights, and sprinklers on 8/2.
• Windows were washed on 8/11.
• Adams Pest Control visited on 8/28.
• The library was not cleaned on two nights this month because of a lack of backup custodians.
TECHNOLOGY
• MS Office was not activated on some public computers, but IT staff resolved the problem.
COLLECTION
• Book displays included World Cup soccer, Learn Something New, and Barbie/pink books.
• New juvenile books by local author Nasra Noor, “Cat Kid Comic Club” additional books on aliens,
space exploration, Disney princesses, and early readers.
• Youth DVDs were ordered.
• Weeding was completed in adult fiction M-R, and nonfiction 600s.
PROGRAMS AND SELF-DIRECTED ACTIVITIES DATE INTENDED
AUDIENCE
ATTENDANCE
Tie-Dye Tote Bags 8/1 Young Adult 11
Encore at the Library: Summer Science with Bakken Museum 8/2 Children (6-11) 27
Youth Services Librarian visits Mini Adventure Club 8/7 Children (0-5) 16
Youth Services Librarian visits Adventure Club 8/7 Children (6-11) 41
English Language Conversation Circle 8/7 Adult 6
Family Craft Night: Bubble Wands 8/8 Children (6-11)
12
Encore at the Library: Clay Pokémon 8/9 Children (6-11) 18
English Language Conversation Circle 8/14 Adult 7
Adult Book Club “The Library Book” 8/16 Adult
8
Mystery Book Club “Murder on Orient Express” 8/17 Adult
5
English Language Conversation Circle 8/21 Adult 7
English Language Conversation Circle 8/28 Adult 5
Summer Reading (Self Directed) 467
Scavenger Hunt (Self Directed) 54
STAFF
Eliza Pope, Youth Services Librarian,
o Visited Columbia Heights Public Schools’ Adventure Club and Mini-Adventure Club.
o Visited Immaculate Conception School to meet new teachers and promote library services
like monthly library visits and bulk loans for classrooms.
o Contracted the Bakken
Museum to present Encore
at the Library: Science in the
Summer. Will from Bakken
connected youth to science
careers through hands-on
experiments. They learned
about conductors and
insulators, tested how a
variety of materials reacted
to heat, used hand cranks to
generate electricity to test
which materials worked as
Columbia Heights Public Library Library Board Monthly Update – August 2023
conductors, and experimented with lasers.
o Contracted with Erin from eHolt to teach Encore at the Library: Clay Pokémon. Youth
learned basic hand building techniques to create their favorite Pokémon out of clay. While
building their Pokémon, youth learned about how clay
is fired, how hot a kiln gets, and how to assemble their
creations so they don’t explode!
o Hosted Sam from eHolt Art to lead teens in creating
tie-dyed tote bags and bandanas. Teens learned
techniques for tying their pieces to get the desired
effects and when and how to rinse to get pastels or
vibrant colors.
o Planned and delivered a family craft night to create
giant bubble wands. Each family left with a container
of bubble solution and a recipe to mix at home.
Cortni O’Brien, Adult Services Librarian,
o Announced her resignation, effective 9/8.
o Delivered materials to five “At-Home” patrons.
Renee Dougherty, Library Director,
o Staffed the reference desk numerous times to cover vacations leaves this month.
o Met with staff from City IT and Comprise Technologies about potential options for the print
management kiosk.
o Attended the grand opening of the new City Hall.
o Met with the HR Director to plan for hiring an adult services librarian.
o Attended a memorial service for Denis Polley, spouse of Foundation trustee Jane Polley.
MISCELLANEOUS
• The glass display case featured summer sports.
• The Anoka County Law Librarian met with two people on 8/24.
• Staff attended the city employee picnic on 8/15.
• Amelia, a new outreach worker from Guild, is now providing services on Wednesdays.
• EveryMeal delivered an additional pallet of food bags on 8/15 which were distributed by month
end.
PUBLIC COMPUTER USE 2023 2022
Users 1,247 1,037
Sessions 1,812 1,535
Minutes 78,561 55,700
FACILITY USE 2023 2022
Visitors 8,238 7,561
Study & Meeting Room Use 292 225
VOLUNTEERS Total Hours
Adult 4 29.25
Teen 7 60