HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03 Library Board UpdateColumbia Heights Public Library
Library Board Report – March 2024
BUILDING
• A roof leak occurred at the junction of high and low roofs on the north side. The carpet was
soaked and books in the adult nonfiction 900 section were temporarily moved to prevent
damage.
• Adams Pest Control inspected the building on 3/12.
TECHNOLOGY
• Enhanced filtering was added to the two public computers located in the children’s area to
discourage adults without children from using them to access “dodgy” websites in the area
frequented by children and parents. Filters seek to block sites with pornography, nudity,
violence, weapons, gambling, etc. Staff have complained about patrons viewing dating sites and
a patron called police about an adult male viewing websites with scantily clad people.
• IT staff corrected issues with computers not automatically shutting down at closing.
COLLECTION
• Shifting continued to better highlight books in the collection.
• Easy non-fiction books were moved to the easy reader section to align with the practice in other
county libraries and to aid ease of patron browsing and discovery.
• New books were selected from reviews in the November, December, and January issues of
Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, and Library Journal.
• Weeding was completed in adult mysteries for condition, series orphans, and lack of use.
• An adult slatwall display featured neurodiversity. Youth book displays featured Ramadan and
Eid, women’s history month, and space in anticipation of the April eclipse.
PROGRAMS AND SELF-DIRECTED ACTIVITIES DATE INTENDED AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE
Daycare Storytime 3/1 Children (0-5) 14
Family Storytime 3/4 Children (0-5) 48
EL Conversation Circle 3/4 Adult 10
EL Conversation Circle 3/6 Adult 4
EL Conversation Circle 3/7 Adult 6
Puzzle Contest 3/9 Adult 24
Family Storytime 3/11 Children (0-5) 40
EL Conversation Circle 3/11 Adult 9
Tinker Time: Fingerprint Art Magnets 3/12 Children (6-11) 26
EL Conversation Circle 3/13 Adult 4
Start Your Writing Life at 55+ 3/13 Adult 12
Driver’s License for All with COPAL 3/14 Adult 15
EL Conversation Circle 3/14 Adult 4
Learn to Play Dungeons and Dragons 3/16 Children (6-11) 20
Family Storytime 3/18 Children (0-5) 44
EL Conversation Circle 3/18 Adult 5
DIY Teen: Boba Tea 3/19 Teen (12-18) 20
Book Club 3/20 Adult 10
EL Conversation Circle 3/20 Adult 2
EL Conversation Circle 3/21 Adult 5
Family Storytime 3/25 Children (0-5) 18
Conversation Circle 3/25 Adult 3
Let’s Clay: Gnomes 3/26 Children (6-11) 4
Static Electricity with Bakken Museum 3/27 Children (6-11) 22
EL Conversation Circle 3/27 Adult 4
EL Conversation Circle 3/28 Adult 5
Columbia Heights Public Library Library Board Monthly Update – March 2024
STAFF
• Eliza Pope, Youth Services Librarian,
o Designed and taught “Fingerprint Art Magnets” where kids emulated Ed Emberly to create
animals, monsters, and other creatures from their fingerprints.
o Conducted a “DIY Teen: Boba Tea” event featuring tea and crafts. Some teens had never
made Shrinky Dinks and others said they loved doing Shrinky Dinks when they were kids!
Many commented that they loved coming to boba tea events every year, the library always
has fun events, and the library feels like home.
o Contracted Badwolf Adventure Studies to present a “Learn to Play Dungeons and Dragons
Family Edition” program. Two Dungeon Masters helped kids and parents create custom D&D
characters with unique backstories, personalities, and skill sets and then led families
through a quick encounter to learn how to play.
o Hosted a “Let’s Clay: Gnomes” event during CHPS’s Spring Break. Bad weather and poor
driving conditions resulted in eleven registration cancellations with two attendees.
o Hosted “Static Electricity with the Bakken
Museum.” Because the program was advertised
in the Star Tribune there were a few drop-ins.
All enjoyed learning about static electricity
through a hand crank generator, hands-on
experiments to see which materials conduct
static electricity, and an exploding thunder
house like the one Ben Franklin would have
used to demonstrate how lightning rods work.
o Provided bulk loans for Immaculate Conception
School grade 1-5 classes.
o Began planning for the “Summer Adventure”
reading program for youth.
• Renee Dougherty, Library Director,
o Attended a virtual update with DEED and the State Library on CareerForce Corner.
o Had lunch with Mayor Marquez Simula.
o Attended a retirement party for Network Administrator Aleksandr Chernin.
o Met with Library Pages Millie Onofre Giles and Karen Yaeger for their annual performance
reviews.
o Met with Elizabeth, Eliza, and the selectors and Assistant Director of ACL to talk about
collection strategies, including using a “Last Copy Withdrawn” user to manage deletions and
books in series.
o Attended a webinar “Designing a Website Your Patrons Will Love.”
o Participated in the Anoka County Library monthly public service team, weekly city division
head, city communications committee, and Columbia Heights Public Schools
Communications Advisory Committee meetings.
o Met with the Director of the Anoka County Library.
MISCELLANEOUS
o The Anoka County Law Librarian met with one person.
o Hosted a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency display on Climate Resilient Communities.