HomeMy WebLinkAbout202511 Library Board UpdateColumbia Heights Public Library
Library Board Report – November 2025
BUILDING
• A boiler leak was repaired.
TECHNOLOGY
COLLECTION
• New books were selected from reviews in the June issues of Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, Library
Journal and School Library Journal . A set of World Book encyclopedias (2026), Spanish language
books for adults, adult nonfiction about Palestine, and youth popular series and graphic novels
were ordered.
• Weeding was completed in adult mysteries A-C and adult audiobooks and DVDs.
• Adult displays featured books on aging, a mystery feast, family relationships/dealing with
conflict/boundaries, football, card making and Native American heritage.
• Juvenile displays featured books by Native American authors and illustrators.
PROGRAMS AND SELF-DIRECTED ACTIVITIES DATE AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE
Learn to Play Dungeons & Dragons for Families 11/1 Children (6-11) 13
English Language Conversation Circle 11/1 Adult 6
Storytime 11/3 Children (0-5) 52
EL Conversation Circle 11/3 Adult 8
Community Craft Night 11/3 Adult 4
Tinker Time: Perler Bead Donuts 11/4 Children (6-11) 18
EL Conversation Circle 11/5 Adult 7
Daycare Storytime 11/7 Children (0-5) 15
AARP Homefit Workshop 11/8 Adult 12
EL Conversation Circle 11/8 Adult 9
Storytime 11/10 Children (0-5) 56
EL Conversation Circle 11/10 Adult 8
EL Conversation Circle 11/12 Adult 9
Evening Storytime 11/13 Children (0-5) 3
Friends Puzzle Contest 11/15 Adult 25
EL Conversation Circle 11/15 Adult 10
Storytime 11/17 Children (0-5) 40
EL Conversation Circle 11/17 Adult 5
Book Club: The Big Sugar 11/19 Adult 8
EL Conversation Circle 11/19 Adult 4
DIY Teen: Decoden Keychains 11/20 Children (12-18) 7
Active Agers Book Club: The Ride of Her Life 10/21 Adults 8
EL Conversation Circle 11/22 Adult 6
Dabble in Medieval Marginalia 11/22 Adult 14
EL Conversation Circle 11/22 Adult 6
EL Conversation Circle 11/24 Adult 9
EL Conversation Circle 11/26 Adult 7
EL Conversation Circle 11/29 Adult 5
STAFF
Elizabeth Ripley, Adult Services Librarian:
• Met with the Friends of the Library. The Friends Puzzle Challenge took place on November 15
and 24 puzzle enthusiasts attended. The first team completed their puzzle in 30:08, the second
Columbia Heights Public Library 2. Library Board Monthly Update – November 2025
team completed theirs in 40:24 and seconds later the third team finished in 40:26. Three
participants were drawn at random to win a prize funded by the Friends.
• Worked with Conversation Circle volunteers on sharing resources, new webinar/training
opportunities, and the subbing process for Circle facilitation.
• Lead a discussion of “The Ride of Her Life” by Elizabeth Letts for the Active Agers book club.
• Made five deliveries to At-Home patrons.
Renee Dougherty, Library Director:
• Participated in a focus group on Minnesota library standards and state-level resources
sponsored by CRPLSA (Council of Regional Public Library System Administrators.)
• Attended meetings of the CHPL Foundation, the Anoka County Library Public Service Team, city
division heads and library staff.
• Met with the assistant director of Anoka County Library and the Columbia Heights
Communications Coordinator.
• Facilitated the book club discussion of “The Big Sugar” by Mary Logue.
• Conducted an annual performance review for Library Page Gordon Silva.
Eliza Pope, Youth Services Librarian:
• Hired Badwolf Adventures to lead a Learn to Play Dungeons and Dragons session for families.
After a brief delay due to a scheduling mix-up, kids and their grown-ups learned how to create
characters and embarked on a short adventure, culminating in the defeat of a frog army.
• Assisted a small group of teens and young adults at the DIY Teen: Decoden Keychains program
in creating custom keychains using whipped cream
clay, acrylic charms, and keychain blanks, piping
the clay to resemble pastel frosting before
arranging the charms.
• Worked with Bultum Academy to plan a field trip
for kindergarteners and 1st graders which was
cancelled due to bad weather.
• Delivered Tinker Time making Perler bead donuts.
• Attended an English Language Learner Family Night
at Columbia Academy to connect with families,
share library information and make buttons.
MISCELLANEOUS
• Anoka County Law Librarian John Murphy held
office hours on November 20.
• Six adult volunteers donated 20 hours. Two teens
volunteered for 13.5 hours.