HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-01-27; Library Board of Trustees; ; Library Services during COVID-19ITEM #9
Meeting Date: January 27, 2021
To: Library Board of Trustees
From: Suzanne Smithson, Library & Cultural Arts Director
Staff Contact: Suzanne Smithson, suzanne.smithson@carlsbadca.gov
Sheila Crosby, sheila.crosby@carlsbadca.gov
Katie Nye, katie.nye@carlsbadca.gov
Subject: Library Services during COVID-19
District: All
Recommended Action
Receive report. No action needed.
Executive Summary/Discussion
Staff will update the board on Carlsbad’s library services and programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Next Steps
None.
Fiscal Analysis
None.
Public Notification
Public notice of this item was posted in keeping with the Ralph M. Brown Act and was available for
public viewing and review at least 72 hours before the scheduled meeting date.
Exhibits
None.
LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
January 27, 2021
Library Services during COVID-19
Maintained service hours for patrons to contact staff
•Mon-Sat 10-5 since March 2020
•Chat feature for patrons to live chat with librarians
launched in April 2020
Launched Free Video Streaming Services in July
•RBdigital
Launched new online research/information
services including live assistance
Downloadable Items: eBooks and eAudiobooks
•2020 saw a 58% increase in digital books (eBooks) downloaded
by patrons over 2019
•More than 61,000 Project Gutenberg titles have been added
to the library’s online catalog
•Sora by OverDrive now available in area schools
Online Library Payments Began Dec. 1
•Since Dec. 1, without publicity or marketing this new service,
the library received more than $1,400 from 183 patrons
Genealogy Research
•All seven of the library’s genealogy databases are now available to
patrons from home
On-demand Video Instruction and Programs
•Branching Out
•STEAM instruction
•Personal growth topics
Literacy Learners Continue Learning to Read
•Learners are piloting a new mobile app: Learning Upgrade
{city of
Carlsbad
•••• . . . · .. . . . . .
• • • • • • • • • • • •• • • . .
Branching Out
Virtual Offerings
•The library continues to offer multiple
virtual programs each week and month
Virtual views of Cannon Gallery Exhibits
•Each of two exhibits in the Cannon
Gallery were only open for in-person
public visits for several weeks
Special Events
•The City of Carlsbad Cultural Arts Office
•events supporting National Arts & Humanities Month in October
•Summer Reading Adventure
•In-N-Out Burger Cover to Cover Club
•Paws to Read and children’s programs
Special Events continued-
•Attendance at virtual genealogy programs increased
•Love on a Leash
•Fiddler and Irish dancer Celia Lawley
•Hispanic Heritage Month
•A Very Ukulele Holiday with Jazzy Ash
Back of House Service Adjustments
•Patron due dates adjusted
•DocuSign
•Public computers reconfigured for in-person patron use/ September
•Quarantining library materials to ensure patron safety
•Adjusting work spaces in three facilities to allow for safe distancing
•Maintained consistent supply of PPE and sanitation supplies to keep staff
safe and healthy
•Support from city I.T. to make working virtually possible
New library accounts
Items checked out via
curbside service Items returned
March-May 1,132 n/a n/a
June 428 12,252 19,402
July 501 20,797 23,830
August 606 20,583 19,381
Sept.400 21,892 23,708
Oct.444 21,546 21,932
Nov.358 18,576 21,770
Dec.345 19,964 25,082
Total 4,214 135,610 155,105
Statistics for Curbside and Library Accounts through December: