HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-06-2024 Library Board Packet
LIBRARY BOARD
Library—Community Room, 3939 Central Ave NE
Wednesday, March 06, 2024
5:30 PM
AGENDA
ATTENDANCE INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC
Members of the public who wish to attend may do so in-person, or virtually via Microsoft Teams at
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting and entering Meeting ID 258 931 356 928
and passcode DJhAgg at the scheduled meeting time. For questions please call the library at 763-706-3690.
CALL TO ORDER
1. Approve the Agenda
2. Review/Approve Library Board Minutes from February 7, 2024
3. Review 2024 Operating Budget
COMMUNITY FORUM: At this time, individuals may address the Library Board about any item not included on
the regular agenda. All speakers need to state their name and connection to Columbia Heights, and limit their
comments to five (5) minutes. Those in attendance virtually should send this information in the chat function to
the moderator. The Board will listen to brief remarks, ask clarifying questions, and if needed, request staff to
follow up or direct the matter to be added to an upcoming agenda.
NEW BUSINESS
4. Spring Event Promotion
5. 2023 Year in Review
DIRECTOR'S UPDATE
6. January Board Report
ADJOURNMENT
Auxiliary aids or other accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request when the request is
made at least 72 hours in advance. Please contact Administration at 763-706-3610 to make arrangements.
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COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PUBLIC LIBRARY
3939 Central Ave NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421
BOARD OF TRUSTEES: MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, February 7th, 2024
Drafted
2/8/2024
ATTENDANCE INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC
Members of the public who wished to attend could do so in‐person, by calling 1‐312‐626‐6799 and entering meeting ID 862 5221 5747 and passcode 039390, or by
Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86252215747 at the scheduled meeting time. For questions, please call the library at 763‐706‐3690.
The meeting was called to order in the Library Community Room by Gerri Moeller at 5:37pm.
Members physically present: Gerri Moeller; Carrie Mesrobian; Melanie Magidow; Chris Polley; Justice Spriggs (Council
Liaison). Members remotely present: N/A. Members absent: Rachelle Waldon. Also present: Renee Dougherty (Library
Director); Nick Olberding (Board Secretary). Public remotely present: Ava Mein.
1. The Meeting’s Agenda was approved as‐is.
2. The Minutes of the January 3rd and January 13th, 2024, Board Meetings were moved and approved.
3. Review 2024 Operating Budget: 8.47% of the year and 5.93% expended; no concerns raised.
Community Forum: Opportunity for public input. No correspondence. One member of the public remotely in
attendance.
Old Business:
4. Strategic Directions: The Board reviewed Version 2.0 of the Strategic Directions 2024‐2026 document and agreed
that it was a good framework to focus on in the coming years (see Agenda Packet for full list). Additional ideas
brought up during this meeting were: organize our network of past/future partnerships to help (re)establish the
connections for future collaboration; boost accessibility (eg. standing desk computer option, video conferencing
access); niche/focused displays (eg. comedian memoirs); display suggestion box to gather insight from patrons;
consider shelf‐talkers to help merchandise the collection; and making “What is the Board reading?” an official
item of future meetings (plus use for social media posts).
a. Collections: raising awareness, increasing appeal, and boosting circulation
b. Communications: revitalized website, collaboration with communications staff, patron input, promotions
c. Outreach: more events, more partnerships and renewed ones, more librarian outreach visits
d. Space: play/learning areas, repair/renewal of facility, custodial duties, parking, safety/accessibility
A motion to adopt the Strategic Directions 2024‐2026 as the Library’s guiding document was made; seconded,
and unanimously approved.
5. Website Redesign Process: Revize (host of the City website) will be meeting with Renee and the City
Communication team next week to discuss the steps of moving forward with the proposed Library micro‐site.
New Business:
6. City‐wide Book Club: Justice Spriggs would like the city to host a book club and wanted to get the Board’s opinion
on the subject; it is still in the feasibility and planning stages. The thought was to frame it around a book like
Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time by Jeff Speck to help gain support and
educate people on the benefits of building community around people rather than automobiles. The Board liked
the idea, but advised that when nonfiction books are chosen for Book Clubs they are generally narrative
nonfiction that tells a story. Previous attempts at a city‐wide Book Club, were not well attended, and many had
not read the book.
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7. After‐School Community Learning Grant: The Library and Recreation were approached by the school district
about applying for an after‐school learning grant through the Minnesota Department of Education; after losing
out on the last round of federal grants for 21st Century Learning Centers. Applications are due by February 22,
and programming will begin in May, so it is a quick turn‐around. The partners (Library, Recreation, School District)
will focus on programming for youth in grades 1‐5.
8. Tri‐Metro Arts Collective Exhibition Application: In the absence of a defined CHPL Public Art Committee, the
Library Board reviews and approves art exhibition applications. The current application has been submitted by
Columbia Heights Public School art teacher, Sarah Honeywell, and would be comprised of student artwork
(mostly 2D, but potentially some sculptures). The exhibition hopes to attract the area’s teen population to the
library; it will consist of a juried showcase event and continuing exhibition from April ‐May 2024. The Board made
a motion to approve the application by the Tri‐Metro Arts Collective; it was seconded and unanimously
approved.
Director’s Update:
9. December Board Report: Provided as an FYI.
10. From the Floor:
a. What is the Board Reading?:
i. Carrie: Pig Earth John Berger; A Court of Thorns and Roses Sarah J Maas
ii. Chris: The InvestiGATORS John Patrick Green; 331/3: PJ Harvey’s Rid of Me Kate Schatz
iii. Melanie: The Turtle of Oman Naomi Shihab Nye; Remarkably Bright Creatures Shelby Van Pelt
iv. Gerri: Nettle & Bone T. Kingfisher; This is Your Mind on Plants Michael Pollan
v. Justice: Walkable City: How Downtown can Save America, One Step at a Time Jeff Speck
vi. Renee: What You are Looking For is in the Library Michiko Aoyama
vii. Nick: White Noise Don DeLillo
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:28 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Nicholas P. Olberding
Recording Secretary, CHPL Board of Trustees
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Strategic Directions 2024 – 2026
Collections – Increase awareness, promote availability, and boost use of library resources
Increase the appeal of physical collections:
o Merchandising strategies, simplification, face out covers on shelves and displays
o Weeding unattractive, outdated, and worn materials
Boost circulation of physical and digital materials:
o Expand SORA from Columbia Academy and High School to all CHPS schools and students
o Increase number of library card holders
o Consider other types of materials (Library of things, art, video games, table games, materials exclusive to
Columbia Heights, eBooks)
Communications – Show and tell the breadth of library services and their impact on the community
Map the customer journey to determine patterns of use
Revitalize the Library website
Use the expertise of city communications staff
Conduct a patron survey
o Routinize whiteboard questions in the library
Determine library “brand” and have a consistent look and feel across print and digital platforms
Take photographs – events, people, displays
Raise awareness of underused collections (streaming video, large print, music)
Communicate benefit and value (free resources, life‐long learning, social connections)
Quarterly Board member attendance and/or reports to the City Council
Outreach – Determine identify of community and how the library can connect
Identify non‐users and prospect for new customers
o Demographic research
o Increase number of open house events with targeted groups (ECFE, adults, ELL learners at CHPS
elementaries, entrepreneurs/business owners)
Re‐establish partnerships and establish new partnerships (Existing: Metro North Adult Basic Education (ABE),
Columbia Heights Public Schools, Early Childhood and Family Education, Heights Next)
Expand active and passive programming (classes, cosplay, movies, book clubs, game contests)
Space – Ensure the building is welcoming, safe, comfortable, and accessible to all
Address concerns about safety
o Staff de‐escalation training
Address cleaning issues and custodial staff shortages
Plan and budget for repair and replacement (HVAC, door access/card readers, video cameras, building security,
self‐check kiosks, furniture, community room AV, study room technology)
Early literacy play and learning spaces for all ages
Explore use of vacant lot (green space, parking lot)
Conduct space and fixture evaluation and capture metrics of use
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Fund 240 ‐ LIBRARY
2024 YTD ACTIVITY FOR
AMENDED BALANCE MONTH ENCUMBERED UNENCUMBERED % BDGT
ACCOUNT DESCRIPTION BUDGET 02/29/2024 02/29/2024 YEAR‐TO‐DATE BALANCE USED
41010 REGULAR EMPLOYEES 515,400.00 69,355.65 33,968.43 0 446,044.35 13.46%
41011 PART‐TIME EMPLOYEES 144,300.00 22,078.07 12,023.04 0.00 122,221.93 15.30%
41020 OVERTIME‐REGULAR 700.00 283.88 79.49 0.00 416.12 40.55%
41050 ACCRUED LEAVE ADJUSTMENT 0.00 637.50 0.00 0.00 ‐637.50
41070 INTERDEPARTMENTAL LABOR SERVICES 500.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 500.00 0.00%
41210 P.E.R.A. CONTRIBUTION 48,000.00 6,690.19 3,369.50 0.00 41,309.81 13.94%
41220 F.I.C.A. CONTRIBUTION 50,500.00 6,971.40 3,502.06 0.00 43,528.60 13.80%
41300 INSURANCE 82,800.00 13,660.61 6,830.84 0.00 69,139.39 16.50%
41510 WORKERS COMP INSURANCE PREM 5,000.00 711.76 357.64 0.00 4,288.24 14.24%
42000 OFFICE SUPPLIES 1,200.00 121.47 0.00 0.00 1,078.53 10.12%
42010 MINOR EQUIPMENT 100.00 493.40 339.85 0.00 ‐393.40 493.40%
42011 END USER DEVICES 3,300.00 73.97 0.00 2,420.36 3,226.03 2.24%
42012 OTHER TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT 0.00 969.94 0.00 0.00 ‐969.94
42030 PRINTING AND PRINTED FORMS 700.00 72.00 72.00 0.00 628.00 10.29%
42170 PROGRAM SUPPLIES 1,000.00 50.00 0.00 0.00 950.00 5.00%
42171 GENERAL SUPPLIES 7,300.00 518.18 39.34 0.00 6,781.82 7.10%
42175 FOOD SUPPLIES 100.00 13.97 0.00 0.00 86.03 13.97%
42180 BOOKS 55,000.00 7,650.48 3,096.13 0.00 47,349.52 13.91%
42181 PERIODICALS, MAG, NEWSPAPERS 7,800.00 860.52 855.02 0.00 6,939.48 11.03%
42183 EBOOKS 15,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 15,000.00 0.00%
42185 COMPACT DISCS 4,700.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4,700.00 0.00%
42187 BOOK/CD SET 800.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 800.00 0.00%
42189 DVD 6,500.00 516.49 309.60 0.00 5,983.51 7.95%
42990 COMM. PURCH FOR RESALE 300.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 300.00 0.00%
43050 EXPERT AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 5,400.00 732.68 732.68 1,848.00 4,667.32 13.57%
43105 TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES 700.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 700.00 0.00%
43210 TELEPHONE 900.00 624.56 0.00 0.00 275.44 69.40%
43220 POSTAGE 200.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 200.00 0.00%
43250 OTHER TELECOMMUNICATIONS 3,200.00 275.12 13.10 0.00 2,924.88 8.60%
43310 LOCAL TRAVEL EXPENSE 500.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 500.00 0.00%
43600 PROP & LIAB INSURANCE 12,300.00 1,025.00 0.00 0.00 11,275.00 8.33%
43800 UTILITY SERVICES 7,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 7,000.00 0.00%
43810 ELECTRIC 46,300.00 1,669.12 1,669.12 0.00 44,630.88 3.61%
43830 GAS 16,600.00 1,837.66 1,837.66 0.00 14,762.34 11.07%
44000 REPAIR & MAINT. SERVICES 18,700.00 10,135.63 199.15 800.00 8,564.37 54.20%
44010 BUILDING MAINT: INTERNAL SVCS 43,800.00 3,650.00 0.00 0.00 40,150.00 8.33%
44020 BLDG MAINT CONTRACTUAL SERVICES 29,000.00 1,820.00 90.00 3,631.86 27,180.00 6.28%
44030 SOFTWARE AND SOFTWARE SUBSCRIPTION 18,800.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 18,800.00 0.00%
44040 INFORMATION SYSTEMS INTERNAL SERVICE 87,800.00 7,316.67 0.00 0.00 80,483.33 8.33%
44050 GARAGE, LABOR BURD. 300.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 300.00 0.00%
44330 SUBSCRIPTION, MEMBERSHIP 700.00 181.00 0.00 0.00 519.00 25.86%
44375 VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION 200.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 200.00 0.00%
47100 OPER. TRANSFER OUT ‐ LABOR 18,600.00 1,550.00 0.00 0.00 17,050.00 8.33%
TOTAL EXPENDITURES: 1,262,000.00 162,546.92 69,384.65 8,700.22 1,099,453.08 12.88%
EXPENDITURE REPORT FOR CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
PERIOD ENDING 2/29/2024
Fiscal Year Completed: 16.39%
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Columbia Heights Public Library
Library Board Report – January 2024
BUILDING
• Access card readers at the telecom room and north workroom doors were repaired on 1/9.
• Adams Pest Control inspected the building on 1/17.
• A shortage of custodial staff resulted in one evening, 1/10, when the building was not cleaned.
TECHNOLOGY
COLLECTION
• Shifting continues in adult, juvenile, and young adult fiction to align with merchandising rules
and better highlight books in the collection.
• Weeding was completed in adult science fiction and large print collections.
• Slatwall endcap displays included New Year’s resolutions, short stories for short days, and books
related to tea in honor of National Hot Tea month.
PROGRAMS AND SELF-DIRECTED ACTIVITIES DATE INTENDED
AUDIENCE
ATTENDANCE
English Language (EL) Conversation Circle 1/4 Adult 2
Daycare Storytime 1/5 Children (0-5) 12
EL Conversation Circle 1/8 Adult 6
EL Conversation Circle 1/11 Adult 4
Tinker Time: Polymer Clay 1/16 Children (6-11) 15
Book Club: Klara and the Sun 1/17 Adult 12
EL Conversation Circle 1/18 Adult 5
Active Agers Book Club at Murzyn Hall 1/19 Adult 8
EL Conversation Circle 1/22 Adult 7
DIY Teen: Candle making 1/23 Young Adult (12-18)
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EL Conversation Circle 1/25 Adult 1
Family Storytime 1/29 Children (0-5) 27
EL Conversation Circle 1/29 Adult 6
Contemporary Tapestry Weaving 1/31 Adult 7
STAFF
• Eliza Pope, Youth Services Librarian,
o Launched the winter session of Family Storytime and welcomed at least one new family
as a result of outreach visits in December.
o Helped youth and grownups explore
polymer clay at Tinker Time. Kids learned
how to work with clay to avoid color
transfer, how to warm clay to make it easier
to work and experimented with using tools
to create texture and detail. Each
participant went home with instructions to
bake their creations or returned the next
day to pick up those baked in the toaster
oven.
o Taught “DIY Teen: Candles” for fifteen teens
who made and decorated candles. Teens
took turns learning to safely use a hotplate
to melt wax in a double boiler and a digital
thermometer to know when to add color
and scent.
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Columbia Heights Public Library Library Board Monthly Update – January 2024
o Met with Tucker and Sophie from Eastside Food Co-op to discuss a partnership event to
celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Richard Scarry’s “Cars, Trucks, and Things That Go.”
Eastside will be releasing a line of Richard Scarry themed items at the Co-op and asked
to partner with a library to offer a free, drop-in event for kids and families to celebrate
the anniversary on April 20 from 1-3 pm.
o Met with Kristen Stunkel, Jodi Gadient, Katie Holznagel, Keith Windschitl and Renee
about the possibility of applying for an Afterschool Community Learning Grant from the
Minnesota Department of Education.
o Installed a new Imagination Station, “Party Planners” for the early literacy play space.
Kids can develop fine motor skills by cutting wooden vegetables, practice writing by
addressing pretend invitations, use a party planning worksheet to plan and initiate
conversations with caregivers, and engage in lots of pretend play. Additional new toys
were also rotated into the youth area. They included wooden trains for the train table,
Mega blocks for building, a new sensory puzzle, search and find alphabet bags, and
window blocks for the light table.
• Elizabeth Ripley, Adult Services Librarian,
o Made three deliveries to At-Home patrons.
o Prepared a bulk loan for a new institutional borrower, Personal Care Senior Living.
o Facilitated the Active Agers book club discussion of “There, There” by Tommy Orange.
o Met with the
Friends of the
Library on 1/11.
o Attended the
Division Head
meeting on 1/8.
o Met with Friend
Veronica Johnson to
plan the March
puzzle contest.
o Met with Emma
Bute, CHPS
Communications
Coordinator, to
discuss adult
enrichment
programs and
community engagement opportunities.
o Hosted the Contemporary Tapestry Weaving class for adults.
• Renee Dougherty, Library Director,
o Met individually with Georgia Cook, Eliza Pope and Winnie Coyne for annual
performance evaluations.
o Participated in a Library Board retreat on strategic objectives on 1/13.
o Facilitated Adult Book Club discussion of “Klara and the Sun.”
o Participated in the Anoka County Library public service team meeting and weekly city
division head meetings.
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Columbia Heights Public Library Library Board Monthly Update – January 2024
o Met with ACL Director Colleen Haubner, City Manager Kevin Hansen, Communications
Coordinator Will Rottler, and CHPS teacher Sarah Honeywell on various topics.
o Made a presentation about library and school partnership activities at the joint City
Council/ISD 13 School Board meeting on 1/29.
o Completed a webinar: Building Authentic Relationships with Underserved Communities.
o Began meeting with Recreation and school district staff about a potential afterschool
learning centers grant from the MN Department of Education.
• Matthias “Rin” Gorman began work on January 2 as a part-time Library Supervisor.
MISCELLANEOUS
o One incident of indecent exposure/public masturbation occurred on 1/3. The individual was
asked to stop the behavior and other patrons called the police.
o The Anoka County Law Librarian met with one person.
o Traditionally, Winter Reads has focused on adults, but in 2024 includes a component for
youth. While Anoka County requests that patrons participate via Beanstack, Columbia
Heights patrons typically prefer paper forms. Youth can pick up a BINGO card at the Ask Me
desk, complete it, and win a snowman sticker sheet, scratch off bookmark, and CHPL
temporary tattoo. Youth can participate as many times as they would like.
o Adult participants in Winter Reads were also encouraged to decorate and write cards for
seniors through ACCAP’s senior kinship program. Five finished cards were created and
delivered to ACCAP.
o By month end, 31 Winter Reads book reviews and/or BINGO sheets were completed. Every
adult participant gets a notebook and is eligible for a weekly prize drawing for a hat.
o One half of the glass display case featured a weaving display by Library Friend Kaye Reiners;
the other half featured a Winter Reads promotion by Friend Kathy Super.
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