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Home My WebLink About2025-05-28; Library Board of Trustees; 01; Library Reports for April 2025Meeting Date: May 28, 2025 To: Library Board of Trustees From: Andrea Hilliard, Principal Librarian Laura Mendez, Principal Librarian Staff Contact: Andrea Hilliard, Principal Librarian andrea.hilliard@carlabadca.gov, 442-339-2041 Laura Mendez, Principal Librarian laura.mendez@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-5526 Subject: Library Reports for April 2025 District: All Recommended Action Receive the Narrative Report and Statistical Report for April 2025. Executive Summary The board will review the library’s monthly narrative and statistical report for April 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 The proposed action is not a “project” as defined by CEQA Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5) and does not require environment review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) and 15061(b)(3), because the proposed action to report on the library’s monthly narrative and statistics is an organizational or administrative government activity that does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. Any subsequent action or direction stemming from the proposed action may require preparation of an environmental document in accordance with CEQA or CEQA Guidelines. Exhibits 1.Narrative report for April 2025 2.Statistical report for April 2025 LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES May 28, 2025 Item #1 Page 1 of 8 Exhibit 1 Carlsbad City Library Monthly Library Report April 2025 Highlights: 1.Carlsbad Reads Together Author Talk Following a month of engaging programs for all ages inspired by this year’s Carlsbad Reads Together theme, the culminating event, an author talk with Julia Alvarez, drew 153 in-person attendees to the Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium and 163 views on the City of Carlsbad YouTube livestream. The event successfully highlighted the power of storytelling and brought the community together in celebration of literature and shared experience. 2.“Just a Story” Library Assistant Kylee Seal read “Just a Story” on April 15 as part of a Carlsbad Reads Together themed Preschool Storytime to 133 total attendees at two performances. The book, whose theme of the meaning of storytelling complemented this year’s Carlsbad Reads Together selection, explores the difference between fantasy and reality in a way the very young can understand. 3.Writing Workshop with So Say We All Executive Director Justin Hudnall from the San Diego nonprofit So Say We All, presented a “Getting Started” writer's workshop in conjunction with Carlsbad Reads Together on April 5. The event included several warmup activities, collaboration among participants, and discussion of how to make the parts of a story, plot, and characters come together for memoir writing. The 15 attendees wrote, drafted, and revised writings and all came out with the beginnings of a story. Librarian Marin Faeyera and Library Technician Jade MacEoghain supported the program and promoted Carlsbad Reads Together events. May 28, 2025 Item #1 Page 2 of 8 4.Grow Your Garden Twenty people attended the workshop "Maximizing Planting Potential" with Greg Reese of Fox Point Farms at Georgina Cole Library on April 12. Mr. Reese discussed topics such as succession planting, extending the growing season, companion planting, and cover crops. An additional 22 people came by the tables to pot succulents with the five National Charity League volunteers, learn about the “Grow Your Garden” series, and get information about pollinators from Carlsbad Community Gardens Collaborative's (CCGC) President, Jay Klopfenstein. People brought a variety of offerings to the crop swap, including lemons, kale, lettuce, herbs, kumquats, and ornamental plants. 5.Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast The Library & Cultural Arts Department Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast took place on April 26 in the Children’s Garden at the Carlsbad City Library on Dove Lane. Thirty volunteers enjoyed breakfast, live music by guitarist Jesse London, and remarks from Library Director Suzanne Smithson, Community Outreach Supervisor Sandra Riggins and Library Assistant Susan Burke. Volunteers received small gifts and contributed their thoughts about volunteering on a collaborative poster. Throughout the event, attendees mingled with other volunteers and staff and in the process learned more about programs, services and other volunteer opportunities in the department. May 28, 2025 Item #1 Page 3 of 8 Programs: 6.Tinker Tuesday Dove Library’s Tinker Tuesday featured a light saber craft for Star Wars Day on April 29. Eighty-two participants crafted their own light sabers and gently engaged in mock battles. Library Assistant Hugo Chavez donned a Star Wars themed costume to add to the festivities. 7.Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros at Cole Library Preschool Storytime families and elementary school-aged patrons at Tuesday Afternoon Adventures, celebrated Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros (nicknamed Día) during the last week of April at the Cole Library. The Day of the Child began in Europe 100 years ago, and children's author Pat Mora introduced the traditions for the Day of the Child in Mexico to the United States in the mid-1990s. Libraries in the U.S. have been celebrating children and 'bookjoy' as Mora calls it ever since. During Tuesday Afternoon Adventures on April 30, Library Tech Astrid Gonzales and Librarian Jennifer Benson shared Pat Mora's Día-themed book "Book Fiesta" in Spanish and English, and afterward patrons created a Mexican-inspired craft papel picado. Children in all preschool programs picked out a free book for their home libraries. An additional Día event was held on May 3 at the Library Learning Center, and will be reported on in the May report. May 28, 2025 Item #1 Page 4 of 8 8.Dungeons and Dragons The Exploration HUB at the Dove Library hosted two Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) Character Building Workshops in April to celebrate Carlsbad Reads Together themes. Staff costumes set the mood. The two-hour sessions invited participants to grab a character sheet and follow along with an informational PowerPoint supported by several D&D sourcebooks. The sessions saw 15 attendees with tweens, teens, and adults alike being enthusiastic about storytelling and creative expression. Each participant was able to take home their own twenty-sided die and gain some familiarity with the game. 9.Life Cycle of Waste Tuesday Afternoon Adventures partnered with Republic Services on April 22 at the Cole Library for a presentation on the waste stream and composting for 41 elementary aged patrons and their families to celebrate Earth Day. Republic Services staff Chloe and Stephanie taught how to separate waste into green waste, recyclables, and landfill, and the children showed off their knowledge in a game of "Which bin does this go in?". The hour finished with a succulent planted with compost made from community collected green waste that each child took home. May 28, 2025 Item #1 Page 5 of 8 10. Wicked: Sing Along Event Library & Cultural Arts staff planned a "Wicked: Sing Along Event" on Saturday, April 19. Ninety- three individuals attended the event which included a costume contest, a photo booth, Wicked themed crafts and a showing of the sing along version of the film with the newly upgraded sound system in the Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium. Community Connections: 11. School Visits Carlsbad Christian Academy fourth and fifth grade students continued their monthly visits to browse and check out books at the Cole Library. Lacking a campus library, approximately 40 students received a library tour on their first visit in January and are becoming well versed in finding resources on their own and with the help of Children's staff. Students are particularly fond of Playaways and Read Alongs and enjoy both fiction and nonfiction materials for personal enjoyment and school projects. 12. Latino Book & Family Festival Community Outreach Supervisors Christina Lorenzo and Sandra Riggins participated in the Latino Book & Family Festival at MiraCosta College on April 5 and were fortunate to have a booth next to the stage which made it a popular place to be. Christina and Sandra interacted with 335 people, informing them about Carlsbad City Library resources and programs and distributing 186 books in both English and Spanish and 31 educational games. 13. Earth Month Celebration Librarian Angelica Mejia joined Library Technicians Antonio Garcia Hernandez and Aide Jimenez Vargas at the city’s Earth Month Celebration at Pine Avenue Park on April 12. The 155 visitors to the library’s table created sustainable crafts for all ages, picked up seeds from the Seed Library and learned about digital resources to reduce paper waste. May 28, 2025 Item #1 Page 6 of 8 14.Farmers Market Library Technician Melanie Veteto and Lead Librarian Darin Williamson hosted a booth at the Farmer's Market to promote library programs and services while giving away books, seeds and information on April 16. Staff engaged with 512 people while sharing information on Carlsbad Reads Together, California State Parks passes, Libby, Genealogy services, Grow Your Garden, the Seed Library and the Cole Library calendar of events for April. 15.La Costa Glen Senior Living On April 17, Cole Library hosted a genealogy group from La Costa Glen, giving them a tour and orientation to our Genealogy & Carlsbad History resources. Library Technician Ann Montgomery fielded questions and showed group members around the mezzanine, highlighting our large book collection, historical maps, journals and magazines. Librarian Sameera Redkar gave a presentation to the La Costa Glen Senior Living Low Vision Group on April 28. Sameera demonstrated how to use accessibility features on Windows, Apple, and Kindle devices to access library resources. Fifteen people participated in the outreach event, and one attendee registered for a library card. After the presentation, participants engaged in a hands- on activity to practice their newfound skills 16.Career Day Library Assistant Kylee Seal performed outreach at a career day event at Del Rio STEM Elementary school where she gave six presentations to a total of 325 students in grades Transitional Kindergarten through fifth grade. Several students sent Kylee thank you notes, including this note from a child named Madison. May 28, 2025 Item #1 Page 7 of 8 Exhibit 2 LIBRARY MONTHLY STATISTICS – APRIL 2025 APRIL 2024 APRIL 2025 Physical materials circulation 85,591 82,298 -3.8% Electronic materials circulation 24,260 28,767 +18.6% Programs 146 176 +20.5% Program attendance 4,716 5,686 +20.5% Study room utilization hours booked and occupancy 1,751 65.2% occupancy 1,780 66.3% occupancy +1.6% Visits 43,598 47,697 +9.4% May 28, 2025 Item #1 Page 8 of 8