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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-07-22; Library Board of Trustees; 01; Library Reports for May 2026 and June 2026Meeting Date: July 22, 2026 To: Library Board of Trustees From: Suzanne Smithson, Library & Cultural Arts Director Staff Contact: Andrea Hilliard, Principal Librarian andrea.hilliard@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2041 Subject: District: Recommended Action Receive the Narrative Report and Statistical Report for May 2026 and June 2026. Executive Summary The library’s monthly narrative and statistical reports for May 2026 and June 2026 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 fiscal 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 May 2026 2.Statistical report for May 2026 3.Narrative report for June 2026 4.Statistical report for June 2026 LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES July 22, 2026 Item #1 Page 1 of 11 Exhibit 1 Carlsbad City Library Monthly Library Report May 2026 Highlights: 1.Free Comic Book Day Carlsbad City Library celebrated Free Comic Book Day on May 2 at all library locations, distributing 238 free comic books to patrons of all ages. The event highlighted the library's graphic novel collections while encouraging community engagement through free comic giveaways made possible through donations, purchased titles and support from local comic shop, The Comics Stronghold. In addition to the giveaways, the Library Learning Center hosted a Comic Book Cover Art Workshop led by library staff member and artist Eddie Jurado, which attracted 19 participants of all ages who designed their own comic book covers. At the Carlsbad City Library on Dove Lane’s Exploration HUB, four participants attended a Silhouette Cameo workshop and created custom superhero logo stickers while learning about vinyl cutting technology. 2.3rd Grade Art Contest – Drawing on Carlsbad’s Past Genealogy & Carlsbad History staff, in conjunction with the Historic Preservation Commission, coordinated the annual 3rd Grade art contest, “Drawing on Carlsbad’s Past”. Local 3rd grade classes study Carlsbad history and create an artistic representation of a historic site. An estimated 700 students created artwork for the contest, and 31 winners from ten schools were recognized and honored at the Carlsbad City Council Meeting on May 19. Winners also received an art kit to further encourage their creative talents. Winning artwork is on display at the Georgina Cole Library through the end of the summer. July 22, 2026 Item #1 Page 2 of 11 Programs: 3.“Sauced” Author Visit Starr Edwards, founder and CEO of the Carlsbad company Bitchin' Sauce, spoke in the Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium on May 26 about her new cookbook "Sauced”. The 32 patrons in attendance enjoyed hearing about the inspiration behind the recipes as well as the remarkable story of the company, which began in local farmers’ markets, and is now a $50 million dollar brand with product distributed around the world. 4.Tinker Tuesday At Dove Library’s weekly Tinker Tuesday event held on May 19, attendees learned about what keeps high-rise structures from falling and how engineers work with different shapes and materials to plan and design buildings, bridges and towers. Children ranging from 5 to 9 years of age collaborated with one another and their caregivers to determine which shape was the strongest (a square, a triangle or a circle). Using different types of paper and thickness, 42 patrons tested their structures to see how many books each structural shape could withstand. One square paper structure was able to withstand a total of 15 books! July 22, 2026 Item #1 Page 3 of 11 Accomplishments: 5.Library Learning Center Green Business Certification The Library Learning Center was recognized by the Carlsbad City Council as a newly certified participant in the Carlsbad Green Business Program. Senior Librarian Emily Hardy worked closely with Environmental Sustainability Senior Program Manager Katie Hentrich and Sandrine Cassidy of the Carlsbad Green Business Program Team to implement environmentally responsible practices at the Library Learning Center and complete the certification process. Efforts included improvements to waste reduction, recycling and sustainability initiatives that support the city's environmental goals. The certification was recognized at the April 28 City Council meeting, highlighting the Library Learning Center's commitment to sustainable operations and environmental stewardship. Community Connections: 6.Jefferson Elementary School Multi-Cultural Event Bilingual library staff attended the Multi-Cultural Festival at Jefferson Elementary School on May 16. They distributed books, seeds, origami take-home kits, and library giveaways as well as talked to parents about upcoming library events such as the Summer Reading Adventure, Pot Painting & Seed Planting, Reading Intervention, Baby Rhyme Time, and bilingual programming. Staff interacted with 185 parents and students and gave away 60 books. They were pleased to see multiple families who regularly visit the library and were happy to see familiar faces. Cultural Arts staff were present at the event supporting the Meet the Artist outreach for the Barrio traffic circle public art project. Patron Stories (heard around the library): 7.Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention at Dove Library – Patron email “I'm writing to express my appreciation for Manek's Tai Chi for Injury and Fall Prevention Part One. I have never tried a Tai Chi class before and, although I've been a long time Carlsbad library user, have never taken a class here before. I appreciate that it's offered through our county and city, as that ease of entry to try something new and (for me) challenging made it very compelling. I strongly believe that this course delivers a substantial benefit to its participants to build the muscles and habits to prevent (or recover) from injury. I have chronic imbalance from vertigo that my specialists have recommended these types of strengthening exercises. Another woman is pregnant and working to learn good balance and a third is recovering from knee surgery. Her doctors also recommended this type of movement. In particular, I praise Manek's style of teaching, which I think of as 'leave no participant behind'. He gently encourages all of us and gives concrete examples of how to think of the movements. The 89 year old man next to me and I know that we have had a good workout after our class is finished. Fortunately, Manek also makes it fun, and our group has become a little community of neighbors committed to improving their strength and lives. What more could we ask for in a program? I appreciate this excellent service that San Diego County and the City of Carlsbad are providing its citizens by offering this course in such a way that the barrier to entry is minimal. Thank you!” July 22, 2026 Item #1 Page 4 of 11 Exhibit 2 LIBRARY MONTHLY STATISTICS – MAY 2026 MAY 2025 MAY 2026 Physical materials circulation 82,159 82,040 -0.1% Electronic materials circulation 29,506 30,788 +4.3% Programs 151 154 +2.0% Program attendance 4,865 4,678 -3.8% Study room hours booked 1,812 1,840 +1.5% Visits 47,059 54,763 +16.4% ` July 22, 2026 Item #1 Page 5 of 11 Exhibit 3 Carlsbad City Library Monthly Library Report June 2026 Highlights: Summer Reading Adventure Kickoff Events 1. Local Author Fair The Author Events Team welcomed 24 local authors to the third annual Local Author Fair on June 6, held in the Ann Kulchin Courtyard at the Dove Library. Authors were able to sell their own independently published books and interacted with potential readers amidst a courtyard buzzing with patrons enjoying the Summer Reading Adventure kick off. In the Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium, Acorn Publishing presented an informative panel that demystified the three most common paths for writers: self-publishing, hybrid publishing, and traditional publishing. A total of 37 people attended the panel event. Approximately 200 patrons attended the fair, discovering new authors, supporting local writers, and bringing the courtyard to life beneath colorful umbrellas on a sunny Saturday in Carlsbad. 2. Summer Reading Adventure Kick-off Puzzles and Play at the Georgina Cole Library kicked off the Summer Reading Adventure on June 6, drew 15 patrons for an introduction to the growing trend of speed puzzling, led by competitive speed puzzler Sue Kroger. Attendees learned strategies for completing jigsaw puzzles quickly before trying the techniques themselves. The fastest participants won a puzzle to take home along with the confidence to enter competitions. 3. Pot Painting & Seed Planting The Library Learning Center kicked off Summer Reading Adventure with a community celebration that welcomed participants of all ages to explore reading, creativity and sustainability. Attendees signed up for the summer reading program, selected a free book, painted biodegradable planting pots, created personalized plant markers and chose seeds from the Library Learning Center's Seed Library. The event welcomed 89 attendees and was presented in partnership with the Cultural Arts Office, offering a fun, hands-on experience that connected literacy, art and environmental stewardship. 4. Scam Jam: Build Your Fraud Prevention Toolkit Presented in partnership with the District Attorney’s Office, AARP and San Diego County Aging & Independent Services, this timely program drew a crowd of 50 attendees to the Schulman Auditorium on June 5. Deputy District Attorney Scott Pirrello led the workshop, which focused on fraud prevention, scam awareness and reporting resources for older adults and the broader community. The event was livestreamed and recorded. During the Q&A session, a community member disclosed they had been the target of a financial scam and suffered considerable losses. Mr. Pirrello met privately with the individual and connected him with federal law enforcement for further assistance. The incident illustrated July 22, 2026 Item #1 Page 6 of 11 the importance of fraud-prevention education and the immediate, real-world impact that community partnerships and educational programming can have in protecting vulnerable residents. 5. “Kitchen Table Diaries” Release and Book Signing Learners, tutors, staff and their guests celebrated the release of “Kitchen Table Diaries: Learner Recipes & Stories from Around the World”. This anthology was written by 25 learners in the adult literacy program and compiled into a beautiful book that highlights months of work by both learners and tutors. Everyone shared a catered meal in the Children’s Garden at the Dove Library, followed by words from Library & Cultural Arts Director, Suzanne Smithson. A special gift presentation for each author included a handmade apron, designed and fabricated by Library Assistant Dadyar Vakili. This project was supported by grant funds from the California State Library. Programs: 6. Fixit Clinic: From Kitchen to Garden This popular event was held in the Ann Kulchin Courtyard on Saturday, June 13, simultaneously with a Grow Your Garden event on the West Patio, both of which featured summer gardening themes. Patrons signed up for tool sharpening and made banana peel fertilizer kits, while on the back patio they listened to a UC Master Gardener discuss “Is My July 22, 2026 Item #1 Page 7 of 11 Soil Dirt?” and traded succulents. The combined programs drew approximately 224 participants to the library, and as always, a significant number of small appliances, lamps, and electronics that might have ended in a landfill were diverted from that fate. 7.Baby Lapsit and Bilingual Storytime On June 18, Baby Lapsit and Bilingual Storytime were presented in their new weekly timeslot on Thursday mornings in the Gowland Meeting Room. Storytime Theater was previously presented on Thursday mornings in the Gowland Meeting Room and concluded on June 11. The demand for high impact early literacy programming at the Dove Library made staff evaluate how to best accommodate more patrons while also delivering best early literacy practices to the community. The changes have allowed more children and their families to participate in the programs and help develop foundational literacy skills. 8.Tuesday Afternoon Adventures Master Gardeners Dana and Donn of the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County joined Tuesday Afternoon Adventures at the Cole Library on June 9 to celebrate the Summer Reading Adventure’s “Plant a Seed, Read” program. Librarians read “No Nibbling” by Beth Ferry and A. N. Kang and “Seeds” by Carme Lemniscates to 17 school-aged children July 22, 2026 Item #1 Page 8 of 11 and their families, and afterward, the Master Gardeners helped the children to create wildflower seed balls. 9. Craig Newton Singer/songwriter and musician extraordinaire Craig Newton kicked off the Summer Reading Adventure special performances at the Cole Library on June 11. Craig played 10 percussion, string and wind instruments during the interactive performance and then allowed audience members make their own music by trying the violin, an African drum, and a steel tongue drum. Fifty-five people attended the event. 10. Rainbow Storytime Preschool Storytime at the Cole Library honored Pride Month with a Rainbow Storytime on June 17 celebrating the beauty of a community comprised of unique individuals, just like a rainbow. Sixty-nine patrons of all ages listened to librarians read “Rainbow: A First Book of Pride” by Michael Genhart and Anne Passchier, “Be Who You Are” by Todd Parr, and “Red: A Crayon’s Story” by Michael Hall before creating a concentric paper heart of rainbow colors and drawing a picture of their family or themselves to take home. Community Connections: 11. Reading at the San Diego County Fair The San Diego County Fair partnered with the Carlsbad City Library through the Serra Cooperative Library System by offering Fair admission passes for children and teens to earn through the Summer Reading Adventure program. Serra Cooperative Library System July 22, 2026 Item #1 Page 9 of 11 libraries in San Diego and Imperial county were also invited to present a storytime reading at the fair’s main exhibit hall to celebrate the 2026 theme of “Once Upon a Fair”. Genealogy Intern Jana Madrid and Library Technician Lori Joyce represented the Carlsbad City Library on June 17 and June 25. In addition to reading, they shared information and highlighted services unique to Carlsbad City Library. Patron Stories (heard around the library): A patron shared to the Dove Children’s staff, “I’ve run into five people here in the Children’s area, that I haven’t seen in so long- it's happening here you guys!” July 22, 2026 Item #1 Page 10 of 11 Exhibit 4 LIBRARY MONTHLY STATISTICS – JUNE 2026 JUNE 2025 JUNE 2026 Physical materials circulation 84,787 90,883 7.2% Electronic materials circulation 29,073 29,856 2.7% Programs 141 157 +11.3% Program attendance 5,857 5,413 -7.6% Study room hours booked 1,692 1,841 8.8% Visits 47,656 57,832 21.4% July 22, 2026 Item #1 Page 11 of 11