HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-11 Library Board UpdateColumbia Heights Public Library
Library Board Report – November 2024
BUILDING
• Electrical repairs were made to ceiling lights in the youth area.
• Adams Pest Control made a regular monthly inspection.
• Northland Refrigeration made repairs to one of the heating boilers.
TECHNOLOGY
A new library website was launched November 1. It took a couple of weeks for Google to incorporate
the changed site into its search algorithms.
COLLECTION
• New books were selected from reviews in the July and August issues of Booklist, Kirkus Reviews,
Library Journal, and School Library Journal. Patron requests, series titles or books by bestselling
authors with December publication dates, youth holiday books and series replacements were
added. Adult and youth DVDs were ordered.
• Weeding was completed in adult fiction C-K and the large print collection.
• Adult displays celebrated Native American Heritage month and featured large print missed
connections, football, presidents, and cookbooks.
PROGRAMS AND SELF-DIRECTED ACTIVITIES DATE INTENDED AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE
Daycare Storytime 11/1 Children (0-5) 12
Storytime 11/4 Children (0-5) 40
English Language Conversation Circle 11/4 Adult 6
Youth Services Librarian Visit to Prodeo Academy Classrooms (offsite) 11/5 Children (6-11) 84
Adult Basic Education class tour of library 11/6 Adult 16
Adult Services Librarian visit to Metro North ABE class (offsite) 11/6 Adult 15
EL Conversation Circle 11/6 Adult 5
Youth Services Librarian visit to ECFE 11/7 Children (0-5) 9
EL Conversation Circle 11/7 Adult 3
Puzzle Contest 11/9 Adult 38
Walk and Talk Book Club 11/12 Adult
Tinker Time: Tic, Tac, Toe 11/12 Children (6-11) 23
EL Conversation Circle 11/13 Adult 4
Needle Felted Pumpkins 11/13 Adult 15
ICS 1st Grade Field Trip 11/14 Children (6-11) 13
EL Conversation Circle 11/14 Adult 4
Active Agers Book Club (offsite) 11/15 Adult 7
Clay Gingerbread Houses 11/16 Children (6-11) 22
Storytime 11/18 Children (0-5) 51
EL Conversation Circle 11/18 Adult 3
ICS 2nd Grade Field Trip 11/19 Children (6-11) 23
Book Club: “North Woods” 11/20 Adult 10
EL Conversation Circle 11/20 Adult 5
Loft class: Writing Better Presentations 11/21 Adult 2
EL Conversation Circle 11/21 Adult 3
Storytime 11/25 Children (0-5) 33
EL Conversation Circle 11/25 Adult 5
DIY Teen 11/26 Young Adult 5
EL Conversation Circle 11/27 Adult 3
STAFF
Elizabeth Ripley, Adult Services Librarian:
• Led a library tour for an Adult Basic Education class and visited another class at Metro North.
Columbia Heights Public Library 2. Library Board Monthly Update – November 2024
• Facilitated display of a karst and water pollution display from
the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
• Met with the Friends of the Library.
• Made deliveries to two At-Home patrons.
Eliza Pope, Youth Services Librarian:
• Engaged 23 adults and kids in creating unique tic-tac-toe sets.
Even those new to the game learned to play with help from their
grown-ups. Many families who have aged out of storytime
continue to attend the monthly Tinker Times.
• Contracted with Mak from Rum River Art Center to offer
“Gingerbread Clay Houses” for 22 enthusiastic participants who
explored their creativity and had fun while transforming clay into whimsical houses.
• Gathered with a group of four teens for a cozy night of fun and creativity. They sipped hot
chocolate while crafting Perler bead designs. They were so wrapped up in their Perler bead
creations, the teens stayed until the library closed.
• Welcomed first and second graders from Immaculate Conception School. Both groups were very
adept at checking out materials and submitted many requests for books to borrow in the future.
• Made an outreach visit to three first-grade classrooms at Prodeo Academy to deepen students’
understanding of libraries and librarianship. Building on their recent reading of "Tomas and the
Library Lady" by Pat Mora, Eliza shared additional books about libraries, discussed library cards,
and answered students' questions about the daily work of a librarian.
• Visited an Infant ECFE session at the ISD 13 Family Center to present a storytime that highlighted
the early literacy practices of talk, sing, read, write, and play specifically for babies.
Renee Dougherty, Library Director:
• Participated in the Anoka County Library public service team and city division head meetings.
• Attended the American Library Association CORE Leadership Forum conference on November
15-16.
• Met with the adult book club for a discussion of “North Woods” by Daniel Mason.
• Met with the CHPL Foundation; requested and received a grant for $89,000 toward the
expansion of the parking lot.
MISCELLANEOUS
• Anoka County Law Librarian John Murphy held office hours on November 21 to accommodate
the library closure on Thanksgiving.
• Staff attended health insurance open enrollment meetings and the Public Safety appreciation
luncheon.
• A Tiny Art Show, consisting of 32 pieces returned by community artists, was displayed.
• A karst and water pollution exhibit from the Minnesota Pollution Contral Agency was installed
and will be displayed through the end of December.
• Eight adult volunteers donated 32 hours.