HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-10 Library Board UpdateColumbia Heights Public Library
Library Board Report – October 2024
BUILDING
• Central Roofing completed recommended repairs.
TECHNOLOGY
COLLECTION
• New books were selected from reviews in the June and July issues of Booklist, Kirkus Reviews
and School Library Journal. Recent adult nonfiction in the 600s, 800s, and 900s (health,
parenting, gardening, cooking; literature; and biographies and histories) as well as adult and
youth DVDs were ordered. Easy non-fiction on construction and vehicles, missing titles in series,
“I Spy…” and “Splatoon” books were purchased.
• Weeding was completed in adult fiction L-Z, romance, and western.
• Adult displays celebrated book month, cat month, painting and drawing techniques, and
Hispanic Heritage month.
PROGRAMS AND SELF-DIRECTED ACTIVITIES DATE INTENDED AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE
Daycare Storytime 10/2 Children (0-5) 11
English Language Conversation Circle 10/2 Adult 6
EL Conversation Circle 10/3 Adult 2
Storytime 10/7 Children (0-5) 35
EL Conversation Circle 10/7 Adult 7
Walk & Talk Book Club 10/8 Adult
Social Media: Finding Authenticity 10/8 Adult 2
EL Conversation Circle 10/9 Adult 8
ICS 1st Grade Field Trip 10/10 Children (6-11) 14
Saturday Scribes: Alison McGhee 10/12 Adult 12
Storytime 10/14 Children (0-5) 47
EL Conversation Circle 10/14 Adult 5
Tinker Time: Leaf Suncatchers 10/15 Children (6-11) 43
Book Club: “Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” 10/16 Adult 12
Mystery Book Club: “Once There Were Wolves” 10/16 Adult 4
EL Conversation Circle 10/16 Adult 4
Mayor’s Monarch Pledge: Seed Paper and Citizen Science 10/17 Adult 8
EL Conversation Circle 10/17 Adult 6
Storytime 10/21 Children (0-5) 56
EL Conversation Circle 10/21 Adult 5
ICS 2nd Grade Field Trip 10/22 Children (6-11) 23
DIY Teen: Candy Shaker Charm Keychain 10/22 Young Adult 9
North Park ELL Family Night at the Library 10/23 All Ages 106
EL Conversation Circle 10/23 Adult 4
EL Conversation Circle 10/24 Adult 3
Somali Kebed Weaving 10/26 Children (6-11) 29
Storytime 10/28 Children (0-5) 49
EL Conversation Circle 10/28 Adult 5
EL Conversation Circle 10/30 Adult 2
EL Conversation Circle 10/31 Adult 3
Tiny Art Self-Directed 60
STAFF
• Elizabeth Ripley, Adult Services Librarian
o Met with the Friends of the Library.
o Led a “Seed Paper and Citizen Science” program with Mayor Marquez Simula sharing
National Wildlife Federation Mayor’s Monarch Pledge initiatives in Columbia Heights.
o Met with the MELSA Jobs and Small Business team.
o Met with the Columbia Heights Senior Consortium.
o Met with the MELSA Adult Programming team.
Columbia Heights Public Library 2. Library Board Monthly Update – October 2024
o Attended the 55+ Hiring Event sponsored by Anoka County Career Force.
o Met with the Director for a yearly Performance Evaluation.
• Eliza Pope, Youth Services Librarian,
o Hosted Sahra from Child and Teen Check
Ups at a storytime.
o Assisted kids and grownups paint leaf
suncatchers at Tinker Time.
o Contracted the Somali Museum of
Minnesota to teach a Kebed Weaving
class with grandmothers sharing a
traditional weaving technique.
o Taught a DIY Teen class on candy shaker
charms.
o Hosted the first Immaculate Conception
field trips of the 2024-2025 school year.
First and second-grade classes visited for a
brief tour with time to independently
explore the collection. Staff assisted
students in finding books that piqued
their interest. Nearly all first graders
arrived with library cards ready to check out books on the self-check kiosks. While many
second-graders did not yet have library cards, several students and families visited the
library after the field trip to obtain cards and prepare for future visits.
o North Park School for Innovation sponsored an English Language Family Night at the
library again this year. Dinner was provided, books and gift cards were raffled off, Eliza
gave a brief overview of library cards and library services, and families had time to
explore the library. Unfortunately, parking constraints led to a delayed start and
logistical challenges. Eliza created a form in English and Spanish to help with library card
applications, but there was still difficulty communicating how MELSA applications differ
from those for residents of Columbia Heights. After the event, two families came to the
library the following Saturday to check out books with their new cards and to use
computers.
o Attended Columbia Academy EL Family Night at McKenna Park to make buttons with
families and pass out information about the library.
o Attend Prodeo Academy’s Family Night to greet families as they made their way to
sample lessons by Prodeo teachers. Many families took library info cards, but some said
they lived in Hennepin County or already had cards in different library systems.
o Attended the Minnesota Library Association conference on October 24 including
keynote addresses from Mychal Threets and Cindy Hohl, ALA president. Outstanding
breakout sessions included “Games in Libraries”, “Custom AI Chatbots”, and
“Extroverting Like a Professional” sessions.
• Renee Dougherty, Library Director,
o Participated in the ACL public service team and city division head meetings.
o Met Will Rottler and Winnie Coyne numerous times about the new library website. The
new site launched November 1.
o Met with the adult book club for discussion of “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store.”
Columbia Heights Public Library 3. Library Board Monthly Update – October 2024
o Attended the Columbia Heights Public Schools Communication Advisory Council
meeting.
o Met with Library Supervisor Al Mamaril and Adult Services Librarian Elizabeth Ripley for
their annual performance reviews.
o Attended a lunch in honor of Fire Chief Charlie Thompson with city division heads and a
formal reception upon his retirement.
o Attended a pinning ceremony for new Fire Chief Dan O’Brien.
o Presented the proposed 2025 Library budget to the City Council at a work session on
10/7.
o Extended conditional offers of employment to Naatii Ahmed and Gordon Silva who
began training as Pages on 10/21.
MISCELLANEOUS
• The Law Librarian held office hours on the fourth Thursday.
• Eight adult volunteers donated 32 hours.