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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 (carlsbad City Library Jm 0000 ~ ~ ~ 0 II ~t 8A8 c:> □