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Home My WebLink About2024-12-11; Library Board of Trustees; 01; Library Reports for October 2024Meeting Date: Dec. 11, 2024 To: Library Board of Trustees From: Andrea Hilliard, Principal Librarian Digital Initiatives & Special Projects Laura Mendez, Principal Librarian Strategic Partnerships & Outreach Staff Contact: Andrea Hilliard, Principal Librarian Digital Initiatives & Special Projects andrea.hilliard@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2041 Laura Mendez, Principal Librarian Strategic Partnerships & Outreach laura.mendez@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-5526 Subject: Library Reports for October 2024 District: All Recommended Action Receive the Narrative Report and Statistical Report for October 2024. Executive Summary The board will review the library’s monthly narrative and statistical report for October 2024. These reports provide a summary of work completed across all Carlsbad City Library locations as well as data and information about the services and programs provided for the community. Explanation & Analysis None. Fiscal Analysis No financial impact. Next Steps None. Environmental Evaluation This item does not require environmental review because it does not constitute a project within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act under California Public Resources Code Section 21065 in that it has no potential to cause either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Exhibits 1.Narrative report for October 2024 2.Statistical report for October 2024 Dec. 11, 2024 Item #1 Page 1 of 7 Exhibit 1 Carlsbad City Library Monthly Library Report October 2024 Highlights: 1.Small Business Success Series In October, the Small Business Development Center and MiraCosta College presented four workshops covering various strategies to grow and improve a business. The workshops were held at the Georgina Cole Library and had 35 participants. •"AI for Business Growth: Pivot, Innovate, Thrive": Cheryl Brown provided attendees with actionable insights and practical tools to leverage artificial intelligence to transform a small business. •"Pricing for Profit: Mastering Small Business Pricing Strategies:": Diana Barbiani demystified the art and science of pricing strategies that drive profitability. •"Profit Boost: Strategies to Raise Prices and Cut Costs": Diana Barbiani taught the dual strategies of increasing prices and decreasing expenses to enhance the bottom line. •“Marketing & Networking Mastery: Unlocking Sales Growth": Pam Covarrubias demonstrated how to leverage marketing as a key driver of sales and learn proven techniques for networking efficiently and effectively. 2.Fix-It Clinic Halloween Edition On Oct. 26, 95 participants attended a Halloween edition of the Fixit Clinic at the Georgina Cole Library. The event featured five activities including a repair station for broken items, two sewing workshops where participants created capes and repaired clothing, and a costume giveaway that helped 17 people find Halloween attire. Additional booths from the Carlsbad Sustainability Department and Republic Services provided eco-friendly resources and e-waste collection. Dec. 11, 2024 Item #1 Page 2 of 7 Programs: 3. Bilingual Storytime On Oct. 7, 21 and 28, Dove Library staff presented an American Sign Language Bilingual Storytime. Families and children ages three to five participated in this interactive storytime with songs and finger play, followed by a 15-minute group play time and a craft. 4. Halloween Family Events Over 140 attendees enjoyed two special Halloween themed toddler times on Oct. 29 at the Dove Library. Patrons and staff dressed in costumes to enjoy a reading of “The Wheels on the Bus at Halloween” and parade through the library. 5. Not-So-Spooky Halloween Celebration The Not-So Spooky Halloween Celebration took place in the Children’s Garden at the Dove Library on Oct. 30 and welcomed over 200 attendees in costume. Library staff provided a not-so-spooky storytime, themed crafts, a Dia de los Muertos altar, photo opportunities and activities for families to enjoy. The Carlsbad Strawberry Fields also donated a “Big Mac” Pumpkin. Families guessed the weight of the pumpkin and the closest guess took the pumpkin home. Dec. 11, 2024 Item #1 Page 3 of 7 6. TeenTober October 2024 marked Carlsbad libraries’ inaugural participation in TeenTober, established by the Young Adult Library Services Association to combine previous events like Teen Read Week and Teen Tech Week. Throughout the month, staff invited Carlsbad teens to rediscover and connect with library services and resources. Programs included: • A teen art contest at all locations encouraged teens to reimagine a banned book or their favorite book's cover. Eleven teens submitted work to be eligible to win a Kindle Fire tablet and have their work displayed in the facility. • On Oct. 4, teens were invited to play a game of Coco Lotería followed by an author visit with Ashley Granillo, author of "Cruzita and the Mariacheros," at the Learning Center. Ms. Granillo discussed her writing and teaching career and took questions from the audience of 11. • A college prep advice series was held at the Cole Library. • A “Carlsbad Teens Through the Years” display featuring snapshots of teen life in Carlsbad over the past 140 years, was presented by Genealogy & Carlsbad History staff in the Carol Tico display case at the Cole Library. This fun display featured treasured historical images and materials from the Carlsbad History Collection archives. 7. College Prep Advice Series: In October, the Cole Library hosted four college prep advice workshops with a total of 40 attendees. • Palomar College Recruitment Specialist Dr. Andrew Mertig discussed higher education options, navigating the college admissions process and tips for crafting a standout application. • MiraCosta Outreach Coordinator Gaby Love made a presentation on the college application and admissions process. • The MiraCosta College team led a hands-on financial aid application workshop. They helped attendees start their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) and learn about the financial aid process. • Sage Creek counselor Stephanie Gray gave expert advice on getting informed and organized, writing the college application essay, highlighting your extracurricular activities and gathering letters of recommendation to make the case to your chosen colleges. Dec. 11, 2024 Item #1 Page 4 of 7 Services: 8. eResource Sharing On Oct. 24, Librarian Sameera Redkar hosted a hands-on eResources learning session for learners enrolled in the literacy program. Participants learned how to bookmark the library website and access various apps on their personal devices. Learners explored resources for language learning, citizenship preparation, read-along books and career development. 9. Homework Zone at the Library Learning Center October marked the return of Homework Zone at the Library Learning Center, running Monday through Thursday from 4 - 5:30 p.m. This program offers students from kindergarten through high school the chance to receive homework help from qualified volunteers. After a hiatus, we’re excited to see Homework Zone back in action, supporting students with their academic needs and offering meaningful community connection for our volunteers. 10. Hispanic Heritage Month Exploration HUB staff incorporated the Mexican art form of alebrijes, folk art sculptures that depict fantastical creatures, animals, people and objects, to introduce patrons to the software used to create 3D models. Patrons received an orientation on TinkerCad, the 3D modeling software and applied basic skills to create a fantastical creature that would eventually print through the 3D printer service. Community Connections: 11. Rotary Club Celebration Librarian Yolanda Aubuchon joined Library Technicians Cory Oakes and Cathryn Coburn to staff a booth at the Rotary Club’s annual Oktoberfest celebration on Oct. 5. The booth near the pumpkin patch featured a children’s art activity, book giveaways for all ages, library swag and information on programs and services. Staff interacted with 214 people at the family-friendly event. 12. Dual Language Immersion School Visit Sixty-three middle school students from the Dual Language Immersion School in Vista visited the Carlsbad City Library on Dove Lane on Oct. 17 in order to learn more about available library resources. Librarian Ashleigh Hvinden and Library Assistant Brandon Tiongison divided the group and gave a tour of the facility, highlighting the Children’s Garden and the Exploration HUB. Following the 20-minute tour, the teens assembled into groups of four and worked on history assignments for the next two hours. Library staff Dec. 11, 2024 Item #1 Page 5 of 7 provided guidance to the students, showing them how to utilize both in-house print resources, and digital information on public access. The teacher in charge of the visit was delighted by the students’ excitement and wants to schedule another visit soon. Patron Stories (heard around the library): Community Outreach Supervisor Christina Lorenzo coordinated two school tours with first- grade teacher Emily Host at the Library Learning Center on Oct. 24. Each student received a tote bag filled with a free book, an event calendar, a workbook and a library card application. Ms. Host expressed her hope to make this a biannual tradition with her classes. Twelve parent chaperones were overheard sharing how welcome they felt in the friendly community space. Several parents mentioned they hadn’t been to the Learning Center and were excited to return. Other: October Exploration HUB patron creations Dec. 11, 2024 Item #1 Page 6 of 7 Exhibit 2 LIBRARY MONTHLY STATISTICS – OCTOBER 2024 OCTOBER 2023 OCTOBER 2024 Physical materials circulation 84,075 85,886 2.2% Electronic materials circulation 24,522 25,840 5.4% Programs 133 132 -0.8% Program attendance 4,129 4,057 -1.7% Study room utilization hours booked and occupancy 1,565 61.9% occupancy 1,750 66.9% occupancy 11.8% Visitors 39,087 57,884 67.5% Dec. 11, 2024 Item #1 Page 7 of 7