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Home My WebLink About2024-10-23; Library Board of Trustees; ; Library Reports for September 2024Meeting Date: Oct. 23, 2024 To: Library Board of Trustees From: Andrea Hilliard, Principal Librarian Digital Initiatives & Special Projects Staff Contact: Andrea Hilliard, Principal Librarian Digital Initiatives & Special Projects andrea.hilliard@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2041 Subject: Library Reports for September 2024 District: All Recommended Action Receive the Narrative Report and Statistical Report for September 2024. Executive Summary The board will review the library’s monthly narrative and statistical report for September 2024. This report provides 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 This item does not require environmental review because it does not constitute a project within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act under California Public Resources Code Section 21065 in that it has no potential to cause either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Exhibits 1.Narrative report for September 2024 2.Statistical report for September 2024 Oct. 23, 2024 Item #1 Page 1 of 7 LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Staff Report Exhibit 1 Carlsbad City Library Monthly Library Report September 2024 Highlights: 1. Books to Go – Carlsbad City Library’s Book Bike Biking around Carlsbad, the Books to Go team went to six events and engaged with 819 people. At the Farmer’s Market, staff reached 423 community members; at three elementary schools staff connected with 289 students; at Carlsbad High School 49 students and Valley Middle School 58 students. The Books to Go team promotes reading, the seed library, Libby, Hoopla, library services and events. 2. Author Event Outdoor adventure writer Eric Blehm spoke about his most recent title, “The Darkest White,” a biography of the snowboarding pioneer Craig Kelly, on Sept. 28 in the Gowland Meeting Room at the Carlsbad City Library on Dove Lane. Mr. Blehm talked about each of his additional books, nonfiction accounts that feature wilderness explorers, SEAL Team 6 warriors, and other heroic subjects. 32 rapt library patrons attended. Programs: 3. Exploration HUB meets Tinker Tuesday The Tinker Tuesday program is an in-person weekly program centered on STEAM activities for kids in grades K-3. Children learn about taking thoughtful risks, engage in experiential learning, persist in problem solving and embrace collaboration. To provide visibility and exposure to the Exploration HUB among families, staff provided a theme-based activity on Sept. 24. The infrastructure for a small suspension bridge was printed in the Exploration HUB’s 3D printer and children were tasked to create suspensions and support for the bridge. Library Assistant Hugo Ricalday Cuevas, and Library Technicians Dadyar Vakili and Chrisje Field were surprised and thrilled by how participants used problem-solving skills and overall collaboration to create their suspension bridges. Oct. 23, 2024 Item #1 Page 2 of 7 4. Let’s Make a Piñata Returning San Diego piñata artist Diana Benavidez provided a hands-on workshop for kids and their caregivers to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Families learned the process of how to make piñatas, the larger-than-life art form that is often used in children's celebrations. Library Technician Linda Arce assisted with the program in the Gowland Meeting Room on Sep. 28. The program was well attended with 45 participants. 5. Paws to Read The Paws to Read program, where children read to a non-judgmental furry friend, had a special guest at the Dove Library on Sep. 5. In addition to the adorable canine companions, Carlsbad City Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem Priya Bhat-Patel, stopped by for a visit. 6. Grow Your Garden This popular library program held an “Ask a Master Gardener” event in the Ann Kulchin Courtyard on Sept. 14. Three master gardeners answered questions and provided tips for fall planting and garden maintenance throughout the year. 52 were in attendance, including 20 who attended an hour-long workshop with Master Gardener Dana Withall. Oct. 23, 2024 Item #1 Page 3 of 7 Special Projects: 7. Exploration HUB Creates The Exploration HUB team worked throughout the month of September to create three amazing creations to be raffled off at the City of Carlsbad Citizens Academy in October. The team worked collaboratively and efficiently to create a Flower Fields inspired tote bag, an art frame made with recycled book pages and watercolors, and a vinyl sticker. All creations were made using the Silhouette Cameo Cutter and software available in the HUB. 8. Literacy Anthology Literacy staff have been working hard for over nine months to coordinate and support Tutor/Learner pairs to create works to be collected into an anthology. Twenty-five adult learners submitted 45 poems and short stories for the Learner Anthology which will be sent to a designer for printing later this year. This is the second anthology Literacy staff have helped the community create. The title of the book is “Waves of Inspiration”. Stay tuned for more details about the book release and signing party celebrating the authors. Community Connections: 9. Girl Scout Tour A local Girl Scout Troop reached out to the Dove Library requesting a library tour after their troop meeting at the library. Senior Librarian Bill Sannwald gave the tour to the troop of five girls and their caregivers. Bill highlighted every service point, the seed library, and a tour favorite –the book return. Oct. 23, 2024 Item #1 Page 4 of 7 10. Older & Bolder Expo This year’s Older & Bolder Expo at the Carlsbad Senior Center on Sept. 14 featured library staff on two stages. Senior Librarian Emily Hardy sat on a panel discussion with a variety of senior service providers to discuss a case study of older adults experiencing boredom and seeking new experiences. Emily shared library services including streaming audio/video, eResources and access to a variety of rewarding volunteer opportunities. In addition to the panel discussion, Library Technician Denise Pateros hosted a booth at the Expo, interacting with 80 attendees who learned about upcoming library programs, literacy tutoring and a variety of eResources. 11. Girl Scout Informational Outreach Childrens Technician Hannah Lockhart attended three informative sessions for Girl Scouts in September, showcasing library resources, meeting spaces and children's programming. These resources included Paws to Read for the service animal badge and Lego Builders for the engineering badge. Hannah connected with 15 enthusiastic potential Girl Scouts and Troop Leaders eager to explore how the library can support their efforts. Additionally, Hannah provided a craft for participants to make a library card holder in celebration of Library Card Sign-Up Month. This outreach empowers leaders to create meaningful opportunities for children, reinforcing our commitment to community engagement and youth development. 12. Hi-Noon Rotary Club Library Tour & Presentation Principal Librarian Laura Mendez worked with the Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club to host their weekly meeting at the Dove Library on Sept. 30. Forty Rotarians met to hear a presentation from Laura and Community Outreach Supervisor Sandra Riggins about Library & Cultural Arts Department programs and services. Programs & Venues Coordinator Alyson Benford opened the William D. Cannon Art Gallery for a special tour of the current Fiber in 3D exhibit, and Library Assistant Sheri Hanlon assisted Laura to host two group tours of the Dove facility. Many Rotarians expressed how impressed they were with the facilities, and Rotary President Velyn Anderson reported that it was the highest turnout for an offsite meeting she had ever seen. Oct. 23, 2024 Item #1 Page 5 of 7 13. La Costa Glen Low Vision Outreach Librarian Sameera Redkar visited the La Costa Glen senior living community on Sept. 30 to share library resources for patrons with low vision, including Libby, Hoopla and Kanopy on their personal devices. Sameera provided hands-on assistance to showcase accessibility modes in library apps and how to utilize Windows features to help navigate websites without straining their eyes. Twenty five people attended the presentation and Sameera issued seven permanent library cards at the event. 14. Sage Creek HS Outreach – TeenTober Librarian Ashleigh Hvinden and Community Outreach Supervisor Christina Lorenzo visited Sage Creek High School during lunch to promote TeenTober events, service hour opportunities and the upcoming College Advice prep series. Ashleigh and Christina spoke to 100 students who were thrilled to choose a free book to keep. This Sept. 25 visit was the first of three planned lunch events for the 2024-25 school year, a coordinated effort with the Sage Creek High School Library Media Technician. TeenTober is a nationwide celebration hosted by libraries in October and aims to celebrate teens, promote year-round teen services and the innovative ways these services help teens learn new skills, and fuel their passions in and outside the library. The American Library Association’s TeenTober replaces the former Teen Read Week and Teen Tech Week celebrations. Patron Stories (heard around the library): “I noticed a heartwarming moment between two patrons this morning and thought I would share. As two male patrons passed each other in the lobby I could see that they immediately took note of each other's cap; they each had military insignias. They stopped in their tracks and saluted each other. They chatted for a few minutes and then parted ways with a mutual fist bump. The recognition they gave each other seemed so supportive and mutually uplifting. I enjoyed the moment myself!” ---Library Technician Mariellen Bellen Oct. 23, 2024 Item #1 Page 6 of 7 Exhibit 2 LIBRARY MONTHLY STATISTICS – SEPTEMBER 2024 SEPTEMBER 2023 SEPTEMBER 2024 Physical materials circulation 86,717 82,898 -4.4% Electronic materials circulation 22,496 26,032 +15.7% Programs 113 111 -1.8% Program attendance 3,458 3,788 +9.5% Study room utilization hours booked and occupancy 1,578 62.4% occupancy 1,715 69.6% occupancy +8.7% Visitors 38,969 43,467 +11.5% Oct. 23, 2024 Item #1 Page 7 of 7 fcarlsbad City Library ~ D □ --- 0000 ~ • • lfiT~ 0 0 0 'W~'W 0 0 0 0 0 ~'W~'W~