HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-05-25; Library Board of Trustees; ; Library Reports for April 2022Meeting Date: May 25, 2022
To: Library Board of Trustees
From: Sheila Crosby, Deputy Library Director
Katie Nye, Deputy Library Director
Staff Contact: Sheila Crosby, sheila.crosby@carlsbadca.gov
Katie Nye, katie.nye@carlsbadca.gov
Subject: Library Reports for April 2022
District: All
Recommended Action
Receive reports. No action needed.
Executive Summary/Discussion
The board will review the library’s monthly narrative and statistical report for April 2022. These
reports provide a summary of work completed across all Carlsbad City Library divisions and
locations as well as data and information about the services and programs presented for the
community.
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
1.Narrative report for April 2022
2.Statistical report for April 2022
May 25, 2022 ITEM 1 Page 1 of 10
LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Staff Report
EXHIBIT 1
Carlsbad City Library
Monthly Library Report
April 2022
Highlights:
1.Carlsbad Reads Together
The Carlsbad Reads Together main event on April 28 featured authors Marie Benedict
and Victoria Christopher Murray discussing their collaborative process and their book
“The Personal Librarian”. The two authors had an excellent on-screen rapport and the
conversation flowed naturally with Victoria highlighting her origin story of writing her
first book at age seven and Marie detailing her fascination with revealing the lives of
significant historical women who have been overlooked. The two discussed Belle’s
historical challenges in balancing career success, while maintaining her identity and her
choice of “passing” as white. For the event, 241 people registered and 108 attended the
zoom webinar, and seven people joined in through the Facebook livestream. As of May
5, post engagement of the event on Facebook was 91. From February 10 to May 1, the
libraries circulated “The Personal Librarian” 528 times (330 in eBook/eAudiobook
format and 198 in a physical format).
57 people have responded to the event survey. Comments:
•It was a terrific event and book choice! Both myself and my 15-year-old daughter
read the book and attended. Thank you for putting the event together!
•Thank you for facilitating this event, such a treat to get to know these thoughtful
and inspiring authors and be allowed a glimpse "behind the scenes".
•It was one of the best books I read this year, …. and it reaches a wide audience.
May 25, 2022 ITEM 1 Page 2 of 10
2. Earth Day Celebration
The Adult & Teen Services team took the book bike to the Earth Day Celebration on April
2 at Pine Avenue Park. Staff distributed succulents, books, sunscreen and seeds to the
community. Staff interacted with 102 people, visited with vendors in the area who were
providing samples of beeswax candles, pickled carrots and seedlings and promoted the
upcoming Fix It Clinic scheduled for April 16. The library partnered with Public Works for
both events.
3. Fix-It Clinic
Staff at the Georgina Cole library hosted the San Diego Fix-It Clinic on the east lawn on
April 16. This event was sponsored by Sustainable Materials Management Division in
partnership with Zero Waste San Diego. The 4-hour event featured live demonstrations
from local repair businesses, including a sewing guild, surfboard repair, and a mobile
bike mechanic. Registered participants brought small electrical appliances for free
assessment and repair. 37 community members attended. The clinic received
enthusiastic support from attendees and was featured in the Carlsbad City Manager’s
weekly video address. One resident emailed a letter of gratitude to the library that
included this compliment: “I have lived in Carlsbad over twenty years and have been
continually surprised by how much service the city offers. Well done, and thank you.”
Programs:
4. Book Clubs
• First Wednesday Book Club
Librarian Liza Blue scrambled to add more tables and chairs to accommodate the 25
patrons who showed up to Carlsbad City Library on Dove Lane to discuss The
Personal Librarian on April 6. A mix of regular patrons and new faces came to the
event through the Carlsbad Reads Together promotion and members were happy to
meet again in person. Participants learned about Belle Da Costa Greene through a
May 25, 2022 ITEM 1 Page 3 of 10
historical fiction lens, and there was plenty to dig into with themes of class, race,
gender, and identity. As always, those who were more critical of the book offered
some of the best fodder for discussion, and everyone came away with new
perspectives, just what one would hope to get out of a shared reading experience.
• The Thursday Afternoon Book Club
This year's Carlsbad Reads Together selection, “The Personal Librarian”, drew a
group of 20 to Library Assistant Sheri Hanlon’s in person book club on April 14. The
main character, Belle Da Costa Greene, played a crucial role in helping the powerful
banker J. P. Morgan amass a unique collection of rare manuscripts, paintings, and
other works of historical significance. As a bonus, Sheri displayed a PowerPoint with
images of the various characters from the novel while playing the 1924 song
“Rhapsody in Blue” by Gershwin in the background.
5. Exploration HUB
During the month of April, the Exploration HUB offered seven classes inspired by the
Carlsbad Reads Together book selections, “The Personal Librarian” and “Slay”. At the
beginning of each class, staff described Carlsbad Reads Together and how the book tied
into the class of the day. Staff also encouraged patrons to read the books, attend the
author event and to check out the other activities connected to this annual program.
6. Genealogy & Carlsbad History Programs
• Carlsbad Village Station Images
Carlsbad History staff provided archival images of the Carlsbad Village Station,
railway maps, and Carlsbad historical landmarks for the UK television series
“World’s Most Scenic Railways” narrated by notable actor Bill Nighy.
• Focus On
Focus On returned in April with hands-on lessons for navigating the Ancestry
Library Edition database. 11 people participated in the two classes. May’s topic
will be “FamilySearch--Editing the Family Tree.” Class dates, description and
registration is available at
https://carlsbadca.libcal.com/calendar/focusongenealogy.
• Virtual Intermediate Genealogy – “Pandemics of Our Ancestors”
Stephen Baird, MD, is Professor Emeritus of Pathology at UCSD School of
Medicine. This talk about pandemics has grown out of both experience as a viral
immunologist and a desire to inform and put the Covid-19 pandemic in
perspective with many other pandemics throughout history. 59 people attended
the program on April 12.
May 25, 2022 ITEM 1 Page 4 of 10
• Virtual DIG: DNA Interest Group - “The Second Middle Passage: Following the
DNA Trails”
With slave ancestral research, many often rely on a preponderance of indirect
evidence to confirm enslaved ancestors. For this lecture, Melvin J. Collier
presented on two cases where DNA was a valuable piece of evidence that
identified and confirmed enslaved ancestors and how DNA research provided
clues to determine the areas from which the two enslaved ancestors had likely
been sold during the domestic slave trade (Second Middle Passage). 50 people
attended the program.
7. Literacy Services
The first Tutor Training since 2020 was held on April 20 and attended by two
prospective tutors, and Library Technicians Valane Jones and Hannah Nelson. City
Volunteer Services staff now attend Literacy Services’ Tutor Trainings to present city
requirements in a fully integrated training session.
8. Children’s Services
• Preschool Storytime
At the Georgina Cole Library, a total of 182 attendees joined the program across
three dates (April 6, 13, 27). Library Technician Hannah Lockhart led storytimes
centering on different themes, such as letters of the alphabet.
• Tuesday Afternoon Adventures
In conjunction with Carlsbad Reads Together, the community read and discussed
the children’s book selection “Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and
Storyteller Pura Belpre” by Anika Aldamuy Denise. Families shared the story and
planted a garden. 16 people were in attendance.
May 25, 2022 ITEM 1 Page 5 of 10
•Dia
For Día, a nationally recognized initiative that emphasizes the importance of
literacy for children of all backgrounds, staff followed the theme “Each story
matters and every child counts” at a program on April 26. 13 children attended
and made crafts and enjoyed a piñata on the west patio at the Georgina Cole
Library.
•1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Young children continue to register and log their books read on Beanstack,
steadily working towards the goal of reading 1000 books. There were 26 new
readers in April, bringing the total of active readers to 41. We had one more
patron reach their first milestone of 250 books.
•Community Bingo
Children’s Services continued their support of Día by offering a game of
Community Bingo. Children, from preschool to eighth grade, will get to know
their community by completing the squares and earning the very special reward
of a book of their own choosing. In the first two weeks of the program , 67 bingo
cards were distributed, and 11 patrons made a bingo and claimed their reward.
May 25, 2022 ITEM 1 Page 6 of 10
Early Learning Storytime: Carlsbad City Library on Dove Lane
Services:
9.Carlsbad Seed Libraries
500 wildflower seed packets and bee identification guides arrived from Tanglewood
Studios as a result of a grant that was written by Lead Librarian Darin Williamson. The
seed packets will be distributed through the seed libraries at each location.
10.State Parks Passes
Through a partnership between California State Parks and California State Library, free
day-use passes for State Parks are available at all California public libraries for a long-
term 2-year trial. Carlsbad City Libraries have received three of these trial passes with
more expected to arrive in mid-May.
Community Outreach:
11.Books To Go
Librarians Joe Burch, Noah Szajowitz and Jennifer Benson represented the library at the
Carlsbad Village Farmers Market with the Book Bike on April 20, accompanied by
Principal Librarian Laura Mendez and an SDSU graduate student conducting a
community needs survey. Approximately 150 donated books were distributed to
readers of all ages, along with flyers for the 2022 Carlsbad Reads Together program, 40
packets of wildflower seeds, and 25 bottles of Library-branded promotional sunscreen.
Staff engaged with 212 people.
Special Projects
12.Tutor Training Modules
Community Outreach Supervisor Carrie Scott participated in two virtual tutor training
presentations with literacy coordinators from Solano County and Newport Beach Public
Library and California State Library consultants. This project is part of a statewide effort
to develop tutor training modules incorporating California Library Literacy Services’
program essentials and make them available to literacy programs.
May 25, 2022 ITEM 1 Page 7 of 10
13.Subject Heading Terminology
In line with the positive changes made by the Library of Congress and following their
recommendations for replacement terms, the Collections & Technical Services division
has completed the implementation of some changes in subject heading terminology in
the catalog. Items that were tagged as being related to “Aliens” and “Illegal Aliens” now
use the terms “Noncitizens” and “Illegal Immigration” instead, which are more accurate
and appropriate.
Staff Accomplishments:
•Library Assistant Angelica Mejia accepted her appointment to be part of the
American Library Association, Pura Belpré Award Committee for the 2022-2023
award year. The Pura Belpré Award is presented annually to a Latinx writer and
illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latinx cultural
experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
•Library Assistant Sandra Riggins and Library Technician Hannah Nelson
participated in the virtual three-day GARE (Government Alliance on Racial
Equity) Annual Membership Conference alongside the city’s Diversity, Equity &
Inclusion colleagues, in addition to attending the regular DEI Committee
meetings. Both are involved in the development of a Library & Cultural Arts-
specific DEI Committee.
Community Connections:
14.Instagram Takeover
In celebration of National Library Week, the Library & Cultural Arts Department took
over the City of Carlsbad’s Instagram account to showcase a day in the life of the library.
As part of National Library Week, April 5 marks National Library Worker’s Day; Principal
Librarian Laura Mendez filmed staff in all three library locations throughout the day to
give the community a real-time behind the scenes look at the rich variety of library
programs and services we offer.
Videos have been turned into a highlight reel that can be found on the @carlsbadcagov
Instagram page. As of April 6, the stories had over 4,100 views, and the five picture
posts on the Instagram site had over 400 likes and 13,000 impressions, which are the
number of times our posts appeared on people’s screens. This effort was a wonderfully
effective way to share our library story with the larger Carlsbad Community. In fact,
when a long-time Library Learning Center patron saw our posts about Career Online
High School and the HUB, she came upstairs to learn more about the services for herself
and her daughter.
May 25, 2022 ITEM 1 Page 8 of 10
Patron Stories (heard around the library):
• “Hey, I kinda like coming to the library. It’s actually pretty fun.” - A tween telling their
grown-up on their way out of the Dove Children’s Library with a stack of chapter books.
• “Libraries and librarians are a vital piece of our community bringing knowledge and
expertise to curating collections, providing not just books but a whole world of tools
otherwise unavailable to many!” – Public comment on Instagram post
Other:
15. Workability Program
The Carlsbad Unified School District’s Workability program works with special education
students who are between 18 and 21 years of age to give those students experiences
that will help identify their post-high school career interests and goals. Workability
students began volunteering in Circulation Services at the Dove Library in January 2022,
putting items in order on book carts so that they are easier for library staff to shelve.
Initially, the students were very shy and did not have a lot of interactions with staff. This
month the Workability coach said that he has noticed a marked difference in one of the
students. He said the student is interacting with people more and coming out of their
“shell.”
May 25, 2022 ITEM 1 Page 9 of 10
EXHIBIT 2 LIBRARY MONTHLY STATISTICS
April 2022
April 2019
(Pre-COVID-19) April 2022
Total Library Hours Open 840 642
Total Visitors On-site
(2022 includes curbside) 54,950 31,994
Library Services
Circulation of Library Materials 83,660 71,306
eAudiobook/eBook/eMagazine Downloads
Audio/Video Streaming
*Available offerings have adjusted
13,397
1,170
16,697
0
Reference Questions 15,332 9,065
Programs, Facility Usage
Number of Programs Presented
(On-site, Off-site, 2022 includes virtual)
Programs Attendance
233
6,813
70
2,365
Number of Community Rentals
Community Rentals Attendance
76
4,617
57
2,282
Technology
Web Sessions
In-House Computer Use
eResource Use
38,522
7,870
7,621
46,223
2,237
8,467
May 25, 2022 ITEM 1 Page 10 of 10
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