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Home My WebLink About2025-02-26; Library Board of Trustees; 01; Library Reports for January 2025Meeting Date: Feb. 26, 2025 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 January 2025 District: All Recommended Action Receive the Narrative Report and Statistical Report for January 2025. Executive Summary The board will review the library’s monthly narrative and statistical report for January 2025. 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 January 2025 2.Statistical report for January 2025 LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Feb. 26, 2025 Item #1 Page 1 of 7 Staff Report Exhibit 1 Carlsbad City Library Monthly Library Report January 2025 Highlights: 1. 2025 Winter Reading Challenge "Unplug and Get Curious" The 2025 Winter Reading Challenge was held throughout the month of January and encouraged the community to step outside their routines and explore something new, whether it was a book or one of our exciting January programs. These programs included events like the Agua Hedionda Raptors presentations, Saturday Chess Meet Up, and the Volunteer Expo. Patrons tracked their reading in the library’s online software Beanstack to reach the set community reading goal of 150,000 minutes read. The challenge was a resounding success, exceeding the community goal with a grand total of 313,787 minutes read in January. This impressive feat surpassed last year's total of 298,878 minutes. While total participants and completions were down compared to last year, the significant increase in rewards redeemed suggests higher engagement among participants. 2025 2024 Total Participants 976 1304 Completions 637 950 Rewards Redeemed 1477 712 Minutes Read 313,787 298,878 Thank you to our generous sponsors, Dave & Buster's and Bitchin' Sauce, who provided rewards for challenge completions, and the Friends of the Carlsbad Library who funded registration rewards. Feb. 26, 2025 Item #1 Page 2 of 7 UNPLUG AND GET Curious Learn more and register now Carlsbad's 2025 Winter Reading Challenge • 2. Lunar New Year Storytimes Librarians Angelica Mejia and Matt Beatty presented a special Lunar New Year themed Baby Lapsit program on Jan. 29 at the Carlsbad City Library on Dove Lane. The observance of the Year of the Snake was marked with a snake themed book and rhyme, and the shape of the day was a circle in honor of the moon. Preschool Storytime, led by Library Technicians Melinda Pitula and Hannah Lockhart, celebrated Lunar New Year at the Georgina Cole Library on Jan. 29. Sixty-three attendees read stories, learned about the “Tray of Togetherness” by Flo Leung, enjoyed a flannel board of slithering snakes, twirled scarves as they performed “Dragon Dance” by the Kiboomers, and crafted a mobile of a red snake with yellow painted spots and sparkly eyes. 3. Volunteer Expo The library held its first Volunteer Expo on Jan. 11 at the Cole Library and it was a resounding success with 75 attendees. Eight organizations with existing library partnerships participated, including: Gently Hugged, the League of Women Voters, TrueCare Carlsbad Health Services and Clinic, Interfaith, New Village Arts, Carlsbad Community Garden Collaborative, Carlsbad Oceanside Art League and our own Carlsbad City Library Literacy Program. The expo was promoted to potential volunteers to the senior community at the Carlsbad Senior Center and to local high schools, to help students fulfill graduation volunteer hour requirements. One participating organization called it the "best volunteer fair" they'd ever attended, citing the excellent turnout. A patron, who is a 20-year volunteer and part time worker, described the event as “amazing", noting that the expo was more helpful than any online volunteer portal she'd used, noting its informative nature and ease of use, even with the limited number of organizations present. Due to the positive reception, Library & Cultural Arts Department plans to host the program again next year inviting a different selection of organizations. Feb. 26, 2025 Item #1 Page 3 of 7 Programs: 4. Author Program Author Jennifer Coburn discussed her new book, “Girls of the Glimmer Factory,” a companion piece to her earlier title “Cradles of the Reich” at the Cole Library on Jan. 26. Ms. Coburn first spoke at the library when “Cradles” was published in 2022 and was brought back by popular demand. She addressed a crowd of 50 people, giving a detailed overview of her research and writing processes. Attendees were able to purchase her book three days prior to publication. Library staff received a shout out for sponsoring author talks on the acknowledgments page of this newest novel, a delightful and rewarding outcome. 5. Saturday Chess Meet-Up Library Learning Center staff launched a weekly intergenerational chess program on Jan. 11. This program is open to all ages and skill levels and aims to foster community connection and increase visibility and usage of the Learning Center. Thirty-three participants attended the first session, and the program has consistently garnered healthy attendance each subsequent week. 6. Raptor Presentations Live Raptor Presentations visited each library location in January, with outstanding attendance and response from families. Animal ambassadors Tecolote (a Western screech owl) and Blue (an American kestrel), along with Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation staff Grant Thompson, visited Tuesday Afternoon Adventures at Cole Library on Jan. 7. Fifty-two patrons learned about these two species of raptors, characteristics that make them unique, and their lives at the Foundation's Discovery Center in Carlsbad. Curious kids and adults asked lots of great questions and had a chance to examine the feathers of a hawk and an owl. 7. African Crafts Dove Library featured African themed paper crafts at their weekly Tinker Tuesday on Jan. 28. Seventy children of all ages enjoyed making craft Ndebele houses and savannah animals. Several children went rogue with their own ideas, including creating the ever- popular toilet paper roll binoculars. 8. LEGOs in the Exploration HUB Ten children and their adults attended a 3D Design & Printing class in the Exploration HUB on Jan. 28 in celebration of LEGO Brick Day. LEGO Brick Day commemorates the day in 1958 when the patent for the LEGO brick was filed in Denmark. Staff delivered a collaborative, reverse-classroom style lecture and invited participants to check out laptops, create Tinkercad accounts, and start designing. Participants were encouraged to submit something small and printable so they could experience the design-to-printer process. Feb. 26, 2025 Item #1 Page 4 of 7 9. Hawaiian Genealogy Genealogy & Carlsbad History staff welcomed the Umeke Hawaiian community group on Jan. 25 to a program on Hawaiian Genealogy. Librarian Jennifer Snapp-Cook shared information about the genealogy collection and staff services, Hawaiian specific genealogy resources, and a little about her personal journey doing Hawaiian research. Jennifer was presented with a lei at the beginning of the session and invited to provide another session in the near future. Umeke also provided a family history display for the Cole Library display case through mid-February. 10. Crowds at Storytime Dove Library’s Bilingual Storytime on Jan. 27 was the largest ever with an attendance of 97, completely filling the storywell of the children’s area. The program has been growing in popularity and attendance for months. Recent storytimes featuring Portuguese and English have brought in a new audience of Portuguese speaking caregivers. Services: 11. Stargazing Kits Carlsbad City Library received two stargazing kits through the same grant that funds the State Parks Pass program. Each kit includes a telescope, carrying case, portable stool, compass, flashlight, night sky and lunar field guides, and a State Parks Pass. The stargazing kits are the latest addition to the Library of Things and began circulating on Jan. 9. Special Projects: 12. Vision Boards in Literacy Learners and tutors in Carlsbad Library Literacy Services attended a fun and educational vision board class on Jan. 28. The class was led by Library Technician Divina Hernandez- Gomez with the assistance of Library Technicians Michelle Williams and Cory Oakes. Participants had a chance to get to know each other, learned about vision boards and goal setting, and enjoyed a creative activity and refreshments. Participants took home their completed vision boards, and a goody bag containing a pen, notebook and a Carlsbad water bottle. Community Connections: 13. Newcomers Presentation Principal Librarian Laura Mendez provided a presentation to 30 members of the San Dieguito Newcomers Club at Stagecoach Park on Jan. 15. The Newcomers Club is designed to build community, friendship and showcase local resources for residents in the Carlsbad and San Dieguito area who have either moved or become widowed in the past year. Six new library cards and 30 enthusiastic future library patrons were the outcome of the outreach. Feb. 26, 2025 Item #1 Page 5 of 7 14. Youth Enrichment Services (YES) Presentation Principal Librarian Laura Mendez provided a presentation about new and upcoming services at the library for youth at the YES meeting on Jan. 16 at Pine Avenue Community Center. During the presentation, Laura shared library resources with the YES group of approximately 35 educators and nonprofit representatives serving youth in Carlsbad. 15. Farmers Market Outreach Librarians Yolanda Aubuchon and Darin Williamson attended the Farmer's Market on Jan. 15 to promote library programs and services while giving away books and seeds. Staff engaged with 312 people while promoting California State Parks passes, Libby, Genealogy services, Seed Library, Steam kits, and the January Cole Library calendar of events. Some stories from the outing: • A man said he was bummed to see us because his wife really looks forward to coming to the Farmer's Market when the library and the bike are there. She decided to stay home that night, so he searched through inventory and found a Longmire series book. He let staff know that the author was from Wyoming, spoke for free at all local Wyoming libraries and he and his wife had seen him speak in Sheridan. He was excited to return with a suitable story for her from the library. • A boy with his dad achieved the excitement trifecta when he saw a train, a fire engine running with lights and sirens, and was able to take home a book - which just happened to be his three favorite things. • Another man said, "I can't believe I found this book. I remember when my dad used to read it to me and now, I'm going to start reading it to my boy." Patron Stories (heard around the library): 16. Storytime @ Cole Library Librarian Jennifer Benson connected with a patron and their child after leaving Preschool Storytime led by Library Technicians Hannah Lockhart and Melinda Pitula at Cole Library inquiring “How was Storytime today?” The patron’s response: “Fabulous. As always.” Feb. 26, 2025 Item #1 Page 6 of 7 Exhibit 2 LIBRARY MONTHLY STATISTICS – JANUARY 2025 JANUARY 2024 JANUARY 2025 Physical materials circulation 87,730 81,181 -7.5% Electronic materials circulation 26,446 28,794 +8.9% Programs 93 119 +28.0% Program attendance 3,253 3,666 12.7% Study room utilization hours booked and occupancy 1,476 55.0% occupancy 1,704 66.8% occupancy +15.4% Visitors 41,889 44,151 +5.4% Feb. 26, 2025 Item #1 Page 7 of 7 fcarlsbad City Library ~ D r:, --- 0000 VwW • • ~T~ 0 0 0 'W~'W 0 0 0 0 0 ~'W~'W~