HomeMy WebLinkAbout202510 Library Board UpdateColumbia Heights Public Library
Library Board Report – October 2025
BUILDING
• The library experienced a power surge on 10/18 which damaged many lighting fixtures which
required repair.
• The community room HVAC system was repaired.
• Excel Energy replaced two electricity meters.
TECHNOLOGY
• The automated materials handler received its annual preventative maintenance tune-up.
COLLECTION
• New books were selected from reviews in the May issues of Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, and School
Library Journal. Adult titles on addiction, recovery, and suicide and juvenile requests and
replacements were ordered.
• Weeding was completed in adult fiction M-R and adult audiobooks
• Adult displays highlighted Hispanic heritage, horror, books made into movies,
art/writing/publishing instruction manuals, and Spanish-language titles. Juvenile displays
celebrated Hispanic heritage and scary stories.
PROGRAMS AND SELF-DIRECTED ACTIVITIES DATE AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE
English Language Conversation Circle 10/1 Adult 5
ELL Conversation Circle 10/4 Adult 9
Storytime 10/6 Children (0-5) 55
ELL Conversation Circle 10/6 Adult 6
Community Craft Night 10/6 Adult 6
Tinker Time: Clay Mushrooms 10/7 Children (6-11) 51
ELL Conversation Circle 10/8 Adult 8
North Park Elementary EL Family Night 10/8 All Ages 88
Evening Storytime 10/9 Children (0-5) 0
Teen Volunteer Afternoon cancelled 10/10 Children (12-18) 0
ELL Conversation Circle 10/11 Adult 7
Storytime 10/13 Children (0-5) 52
ELL Conversation Circle 10/13 Adult 6
DIY Teen: Tiny Art 10/14 Children (12-18) 8
Book Club: The Wright Brothers 10/15 Adult 9
ELL Conversation Circle 10/15 Adult 5
Static Electricity with the Bakken Museum 10/16 Children (6-11) 21
Daycare Storytime 10/17 Children (0-5)
ELL Conversation Circle 10/18 Adult 7
Storytime 10/20 Children (0-5) 32
ELL Conversation Circle 10/20 Adult 5
Mystery Book Club 10/21 Adult 5
EL Conversation Circle 10/22 Adult 7
Be Your Own Publish with the Loft Literary Center 10/22 Adult 8
Preschool Yoga with Yogilli 10/25 Children (0-5) 8
EL Conversation Circle 10/25 Adult 7
Storytime 10/27 Children (0-5) 42
EL Conversation Circles 10/27 Adult 6
EL Conversation Circle 10/29 Adult 5
Tiny Art Show All Ages 30
Columbia Heights Public Library 2. Library Board Monthly Update – October 2025
STAFF
Elizabeth Ripley, Adult Services Librarian:
• Curated an exhibit of tiny art featuring 30 works of painting, quilting, embroidery, needle felting,
sketching, and crochet.
• Planned a series of monthly community craft nights which will continue in the new year.
• Facilitated discussion of The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett for the mystery book club.
• Attended meetings of the Friends of the Library and the Columbia Heights Senior Consortium.
• Made three deliveries to At-Home patrons.
Renee Dougherty, Library Director:
• Presented the proposed 2026 library budget at a City Council work session.
• Attended the Minnesota Library Association annual conference in St. Cloud.
• Facilitated the book club discussion of “The Wright Brothers” by David McCullough.
• Conducted annual performance reviews for Al Mamaril and Elizabeth Ripley.
• Attended meetings of city division heads and library staff.
Eliza Pope, Youth Services Librarian:
• Instructed kids and adults in sculpting mushrooms from air-dry clay at Tinker Time.
• Hosted an educator from the Bakken Museum for a program during MEA break. Participants
conducted a variety of static electricity demonstrations and experiments; they were eager to
share their knowledge and make predictions about how electricity would conduct through
various materials.
• Hosted a DIY Teen: Tiny Art Night; two participants submitted creations for exhibition.
• Welcomed North Park School for Innovation teachers, students and parents for an EL Family
Night. This was the first family night since the parking lot expansion, and everyone appreciated
how much easier it was to arrive on time and find parking. Teachers greeted families with games
as they arrived. During the pizza dinner, families heard presentations on EL family services, a
University of Minnesota study, and library resources. Afterwards, families had the opportunity
to sign up for library cards. The city’s Community Connector, Angela, provided wonderful
support in connecting with Spanish-speaking families
• Attended Highland Elementary EL Family Night. Teachers noted that more than 300 people had
RSVP’d for the event, and the lunchroom was filled with kids and families enjoying pizza, playing
BINGO, and learning about EL services. Eliza hosted a table in the lobby to share library
information and event flyers while helping kids make buttons.
Three new Library Pages, Rene Arcentales Calderon, Sumaya Mohamed, and Muna Yusuf, began
training on October 6.
MISCELLANEOUS
• Anoka County Law Librarian John Murphy held office hours on October 23.
• Six adult volunteers donated 23.75 hours. A new teen volunteer began.
Columbia Heights Public Library 3. Library Board Monthly Update – October 2025