HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04 Library Board UpdateColumbia Heights Public Library
Library Board Report – April 2024
BUILDING
o A locksmith was called to extract a key stuck in a study room door.
TECHNOLOGY
o The Sirsi Dynix Symphony ILS staff interface (Work Flows) was updated; the first software
upgrade in over a year.
COLLECTION
• Shifting continued to better highlight books in the collection.
• New books were selected from reviews in the December and January issues of School Library
Journal and the January and February issues of Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, and Library Journal.
• Weeding was completed in adult mysteries for condition, series orphans, and lack of use.
• Adult displays featured financial literacy, Earth Day, National Library month, general
space/eclipse, and titles by Kao Kalia Yang. Youth book displays featured the communities and
neighborhoods and space and eclipse books.
PROGRAMS AND SELF-DIRECTED ACTIVITIES DATE INTENDED AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE
Family Storytime 4/1 Children (0-5) 41
EL Conversation Circle 4/1 Adult 4
Financial Literacy: How to Improve Credit & What to Do If You Have None 4/1 Adult 6
EL Conversation Circle 4/3 Adult 2
EL Conversation Circle 4/4 Adult 5
Family Storytime 4/8 Children (0-5) 54
EL Conversation Circle 4/8 Adult 6
Financial Literacy: Looking at the Fine Print for Loans & Credit Cards 4/8 Adult 6
Highland Elementary Kindergarten Field Trip 4/9 Children xx -xx 89
Tinker Time: Design Your Own Library Tote Bag 4/9 Children (6-11) 30
EL Conversation Circle 4/10 Adult 4
EL Conversation Circle 4/11 Adult 4
Saturday Scribes: Kao Kalia Yang 4/13 Adult 50
Family Storytime 4/15 Children (0-5) 28
EL Conversation Circle 4/15 Adult 7
Financial Literacy: Managing Credit Cards and Debt 4/15 Adult 1
DIY Teen: Pop Tart Plush 4/16 Teen (12-18) 8
Book Club: “House in the Cerulean Sea” 4/17 Adult 9
EL Conversation Circle 4/17 Adult 3
Mystery Book Club: “The Dry” 4/17 Adult 6
EL Conversation Circle 4/18 Adult 4
Why Knot? Weaving Water with MWMO 4/20 Adult 30
Richard Scarry’ Busy World Anniversary with Eastside Coop 4/20 Children (6-11) 89
Family Storytime 4/22 Children (0-5) 32
EL Conversation Circle 4/22 Adult 5
EL Conversation Circle 4/24 Adult 6
Adult Photography Basics (Legacy) 4/24 Adult 15
EL Conversation Circle 4/25 Adult 3
Family Storytime 4/29 Children (0-5) 40
EL Conversation Circle 4/29 Adult 5
STAFF
• Elizabeth Ripley, Adult Services Librarian
o Met with the Friends of the Library.
o Made two deliveries to At-Home patrons.
o Met with the Columbia Heights Senior Consortium.
o Launched a new volunteer initiative, Tech Docents, and trained the first volunteer, Emily
Wolfe.
Columbia Heights Public Library Library Board Monthly Update – April 2024
• Eliza Pope, Youth Services Librarian,
o Attended the Valley View Elementary Carnival.
o Designed and taught “Design Your Own Library Tote Bag” where thirty kids and grown-ups
decorated a library tote bag with stencils, fabric markers, and puff paint. Kids commented
they couldn’t wait to use their bags to take home library books. An adult care facility
attended the event; fortunately, there were enough supplies for the adults to participate.
o Conducted a “DIY Teen: Pop Tart Plush” program where seven teens sampled a variety of
pop tart flavors and learned basic sewing stitches. The program was planned as a no-sew
activity, but all expressed a desire to learn how to hand sew!
o Partnered with Eastside Food Coop to offer a 50th anniversary celebration of Richard Scarry’s
“Busyworld: Cars and Trucks and Things That Go.” The day’s activities included a Goldbug
scavenger hunt, a raffle to win copies of books, a community collage of houses and cars,
activity sheets, and a reading. The event reached library patrons, as well as Eastside regulars
unfamiliar with the library. A huge thank you to Eastside Food Co-Op for approaching the
library with the idea and helping make it very successful!
o Welcomed 80 kindergarteners from Highland Elementary for a visit April 9. Each class spent
20 minutes with Eliza learning about the library, reading books, singing songs, and playing
games and another 20 minutes with Farrah in the youth area doing a scavenger hunt,
coloring a bookmark, looking at books, and playing with toys. The library was part of a two-
stop field trip that also included the CH Fire Department and was the first ever field trip for
kindergartners!
o The library received solar eclipse viewing glasses from SEAL (Solar Eclipse Activities for
Libraries). Glasses were distributed to Family Storytime participants on the day of the
eclipse and to anyone asking for glasses at the library. To celebrate the eclipse, there was a
special moon- and space-themed storytime and eclipse coloring sheets and information
available in English and Spanish in the youth area.
o Provided bulk loans for Immaculate Conception School grade 1-5 classes.
o Completed planning for the summer reading program and special programs for youth.
• Renee Dougherty, Library Director,
o Staffed a table at the City Expo on April 11.
o Met with Adult Services Librarian Elizabeth Ripley for her 6-month performance review.
o Facilitated the book club discussion of “The House in the Cerulean Sea.”
o Participated in four interviews for City Manager finalists on April 17 and 18.
o Met with Will Rottler about the website revision.
o Participated in a division head lunch with Lenny Austin as well as his retirement party.
o Attended the swearing-in ceremony for new Police Chief Matt Markham.
o Trained in the public and staff interfaces of new interlibrary loan software on 4/24.
o Participated in the Anoka County Library public service team and city division head
meetings.
All Staff
o Completed mandatory safety training for city employees on 4/9.
MISCELLANEOUS
o The Anoka County Law Librarian met with one person.
o A display of juried student art, coordinated by CHPS teacher Sarah Honeywell, was installed
in the community room and a reception was held on April 11.
VOLUNTEERS
9 adult volunteers donated 34 hours.