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Home My WebLink About2025-12-10; Library Board of Trustees; 01; Library Reports for October 2025Meeting Date: Dec. 10, 2025 To: Library Board of Trustees From: Suzanne Smithson, Library & Cultural Arts Director Staff Contact: Andrea Hilliard, Principal Librarian andrea.hilliard@carlabadca.gov, 442-339-2041 Laura Stanger, Principal Librarian laura.stanger@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-5526 Subject: Library Reports for October 2025 District: All Recommended Action Receive the Narrative Report and Statistical Report for October 2025. Executive Summary The library’s monthly narrative and statistical reports for October 2025 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 October 2025 2.Statistical report for October 2025 LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dec. 10, 2025 Item #1 Page 1 of 7 Staff Report Carlsbad City Library Monthly Library Report October 2025 Highlights: 1.Banned Books Week Banned Books Week was observed from Oct. 5 – 11. Teens and adults participated in a themed Beanstack challenge at all three library locations. Forty-five patrons participated, logging 64 books and those who completed the challenge received a banned book as a prize. The self-directed activity sparked meaningful conversations about intellectual freedom, censorship and access to information. In addition, each library location created a “freedom to read” display to promote the American Library Association initiative. 2.Carlsbad Fire visits the Georgina Cole Library Georgina Cole Library’s Tuesday Afternoon Adventures welcomed five firefighters from Carlsbad Fire Station 1 during Fire Prevention Week. The firefighters discussed fire safety, read firefighting-themed children’s books and answered questions. Forty-four participants attended the Oct. 7 event. 3.Jane Austen Celebration The library celebrated English author Jane Austen’s 250th birthday with three special programs highlighting Austen’s life and legacy throughout the month of October at the Carlsbad City Library on Dove Lane. The events included a book discussion held in the Dec. 10, 2025 Item #1 Page 2 of 7 Exhibit 1 ' =~:~::::: ::~ IIP William D. Cannon Art Gallery, a lecture by Jane Austen Society Board Member Linda Miller in the Gowland Meeting Room and a screening of the film “Becoming Jane” in the Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium. A total of 101 community members attended the programs. 4. TeenTober Celebration The Library Learning Center and the Cole Library offered a full month of programs for teens in celebration of the American Library Association’s nationally recognized TeenTober initiative. These programs focused on offering learning and social opportunities to teens. Events occurred every Thursday and a total of 149 teens participated in the six events. •Throughout October: Scary Story submissions at the Library Learning Center: 120 submissions •Oct. 2: Ukulele Workshop at the Library Learning Center: 7 participants •Oct. 9: Financial Aid Workshop in partnership with MiraCosta College at the Cole Library: 9 participants •Oct. 16: Drawing Workshop at the Library Learning Center: 7 participants •Oct. 23: Tabletop game event at the Library Learning Center: 2 participants •Oct. 30: Scary Story Open Mic event at the Library Learning Center: 4 participants 5. Bilingual Family Gardening and Storytime The Library Learning Center hosted a five-week storytime and gardening program. The bilingual (English/Spanish) events invited families to dig into nature together through hands-on gardening activities paired with storytime sessions. Each week, children and caregivers explored the wonders of plants, soil, and sustainability while enjoying tales that celebrate the natural world. Attendance was consistently between 8 and 15 attendees each week. Programs: 6. Small Business Support series Sponsored by MiraCosta College and the Small Business Development Center, the Cole Library hosted a Small Business Support lecture series on Thursdays throughout October. During the four-part series, business experts discussed topics such as artificial intelligence, pricing, marketing and networking to 38 attendees. At each event, library staff Dec. 10, 2025 Item #1 Page 3 of 7 demonstrated how to use the library’s eResources that could assist business owners personally and professionally. 7. Tinker Tuesday features Dia De Los Muertos Sixty individuals visited the Dove Library for the Tinker Tuesday craft program in October. Participants created Mexican crafts - such as doily roses and tissue paper flowers, in preparation for Día de los Muertos. 8. A Not So Spooky Halloween The Dove Library hosted “A Not So Spooky Halloween” event on Oct. 27 in the Children’s Garden with 102 attendees. Participants enjoyed crafts, games, a costume parade and playing with a giant “Big Mac” Pumpkin. 9. Halloween at the Georgina Cole Library Ninety preschoolers and their families celebrated Halloween with a storytime and costume parade on Oct. 29. Children heard stories, decorated treat bags made of folded and recycled newspapers before parading through the library to “Trick-or Treat” at each services desk. Community Connections: 10. Carlsbad Strawberry Company storytime series Staff from the Dove Library partnered with the Carlsbad Strawberry Company to host weekly storytimes throughout the month of October at the company’s pumpkin patch. Staff read and promoted library programs to a total of 245 people throughout the month. Dec. 10, 2025 Item #1 Page 4 of 7 11.Girl Scouts visit the Georgina Cole Library Librarian Jennifer Benson hosted a Girl Scout troop of fifth grade students and their leaders on Oct. 10 for a tour of the Georgina Cole Library. The six scouts learned about library resources, explored the Carlsbad History & Genealogy collection and children’s area, and completed a dinosaur-themed scavenger hunt. 12.LiveWell Conference Library Assistant Sheri Hanlon attended the LiveWell Conference at the San Diego Convention Center on Oct. 22. Sheri was recently assigned supervision of the library’s Homebound Program and attended sessions related to aging and community engagement. Sheri connected with professionals from other government agencies and organizations with an eye toward future collaborative opportunities. 13.Halloween in the Village Library Technicians Eddie Jurado, Michael Veit and Astrid Gonzales attended the Halloween in the Village event on Oct. 25. Staff spoke with 513 attendees, handed out 450 books and promoted several programs including the In-N-Out Cover-to-Cover reading program. Kids and parents were excited to pick out their own books and were grateful to learn about Carlsbad City Library services. 14. Sage Creek School Visit Librarian Ashleigh Hvinden and Library Technician Manny Rendon visited Sage Creek High School on Oct. 29 and promoted the library’s new in-person teen programs: Dungeons & Dragons, Teen Graphic Novel Club, and Teen Geek Out! They also promoted the brand- new reading initiative, 100 Books Before High School Graduation. Staff spoke with 125 students and distributed 40 free books. Students showed enthusiasm for the Dungeons & Dragons and reading programs, and several former teen volunteers from the 2025 Summer Reading Adventure stopped by to say hello. Dec. 10, 2025 Item #1 Page 5 of 7 Accomplishments: 15. Adult Literacy success story A learner enrolled in the Carlsbad Library Adult Literacy Services, studied for and passed the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and was admitted this month into the Data Science Masters’ Program at University of California, San Diego. Literacy staff members are thrilled by this accomplishment and are grateful for a talented tutor who helped the learner reach this goal. Other: 16. California Library Association Conference Eight Library & Cultural Arts staff members visited Riverside, California to attend the 2025 California Library Association’s Annual Conference. The theme of the conference was “Telling Our Own Stories.” Staff were able to network with other California library staff and attend panels that highlighted literacy, teen internships, developing leadership skills and hearing from authors that were nominated for the California Young Reader Medals. Dec. 10, 2025 Item #1 Page 6 of 7 LIBRARY MONTHLY STATISTICS – OCTOBER 2025 OCTOBER 2024 OCTOBER 2025 Physical materials circulation 85,886 85,732 -0.2% Electronic materials circulation 25,840 30,723 +18.9% Programs 132 155 +17.4% Program attendance 4,057 5,016 +23.6% Study room utilization hours booked and occupancy 1,750 66.9% occupancy 1,917 68.7% occupancy +9.5% Visits 57,819 57,252 -1.0% Dec. 10, 2025 Item #1 Page 7 of 7 Exhibit 2 fcarlsbad City Library ~ D n --- 0000 ~ • • ~T~ t~t 0 0 0 0 0 ~'W~'W~