HomeMy WebLinkAbout202505 Library Board UpdateColumbia Heights Public Library
Library Board Report – May 2025
BUILDING
TECHNOLOGY
COLLECTION
• New books were selected from reviews in the January issues of Booklist, Kirkus Reviews and
School Library Journal . Juvenile requests and replacements included Where the Red Fern Grows,
the I Survived…series, and The War that Saved My Life.
• Weeding was completed in adult nonfiction 636-699.
• Adult displays highlighted Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage
month. Endcap displays featured books with floral covers, mental health awareness, Star Wars,
Kentucky Derby, birding and graphic novels. Juvenile displays also highlighted AANAPI month, as
well as birding and gardening.
• The display case was created by the Friends of the Library and featured fishing, including MN
fishing regulations in English, Somali, and Spanish.
PROGRAMS AND SELF-DIRECTED ACTIVITIES DATE INTENDED AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE
Adult Basic Education (ABE) tour 5/1 Adult 18
Daycare Storytime 5/2 Children (0-5) 15
Painting Magical Botanicals 5/3 Children (6-11) 26
Job Fair for Teens 5/5 Young Adult 55
English Language Conversation Circle 5/5 Adult 7
EL Conversation Circle 5/7 Adult 6
Urban Birding Spring Bird Walk at Kordiak Park 5/7 Adult 12
Immaculate Conception School 1st Grade visit 5/8 Children (6-11) 14
EL Conversation Circle 5/12 Adult 9
Columbia Academy Special Ed Field Trip 5/14 Young Adult 22
EL Conversation Circle 5/14 Adult 5
LinoCut Stamp Workshop 5/14 Adult 8
Active Agers Book Club: The Art Forger 5/16 Adult 6
EL Conversation Circle 5/19 Adult 7
Adult Book Club: The Eighty Dollar Champion 5/21 Adult 14
EL Conversation Circle 5/21 Adult 5
ABE Level 2 tour 5/21 Adult 16
Eliza to Valley View 5/21 Children (0-5) 40
Eliza to Valley View 5/21 Children (6-11) 321
Valley View 1st Grade field trip 5/22 Children (6-11) 104
EL Conversation Circle 5/28 Adult 4
Eliza to ECFE 5/29 Children (0-5) 16
STAFF
Elizabeth Ripley, Adult Services Librarian:
• Met with the Friends of the Library.
• Worked with ABE teacher Laura to plan class tours to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.
• Met with HeightsNext representative Connie to strategize promotion of the film screening of
Plastic People in June.
• Provided tech assistance to a patron.
• Made deliveries to two At-Home patrons.
Columbia Heights Public Library 2. Library Board Monthly Update – May 2025
Eliza Pope, Youth Services Librarian:
• Contracted with EHolt Art to teach Magical Botanicals, which used watercolors on black paper.
• Cancelled the DIY Teen: Phone
Charms class due to lack of
registrations.
• Hosted a group of Special
Education students from
Columbia Academy for a field
trip featuring a behind the
scenes tour and a ‘Who’s That
Book Character’ game.
• Hosted four 1st grade classes
from Valley View Elementary for
a field trip featuring stories,
scavenger hunts, tours and
games.
• Hosted a 1st grade class from
Immaculate Conception School for a yearend visit and story; the 2nd grade class cancelled due to
rain.
• Visited Valley View Elementary to promote summer reading with Pre-K, Kindergarten, 2nd, 4th
and 5th grade classes, and the Reach program. Energy was very high, and kids were full of
questions.
• Visited an infant Early Childhood and Family Education class to present a sample storytime and
tell families about summer activities at the library.
• Prepared a final batch of bulks loans for 1st-4th grade classes at Immaculate Conception School
and the Mini-Adventures program at the CHPS Family Center.
Renee Dougherty, Library Director:
• Participated in weekly meetings of city division heads and the Library Board.
• Attended an update with MN State Library Services and library directors throughout the state.
• Attended a retirement party for Judy Soule, System Administration Supervisor, at Anoka County
Libraries
• Participated in strategic planning with the city Council and department heads.
• Checked in with ACL Director Colleen Haubner and had a budget consultation with Finance
Director Joe Kloiber.
MISCELLANEOUS
• Anoka County Law Librarian John Murphy held office hours on May 22.
• Staff tracked reference transactions during a survey week, May 5-10.
• Staff day topics included updates and info on cybersecurity, emotional intelligence, social
wellness and volunteering, cultivating mushrooms on discarded books, and the summer reading
program.
• Seven adult volunteers donated 24.75 hours this month.