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ITEM 3 |
Library Board Community Services
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Date: |
03/21/2023 |
To: |
Library Board |
From: |
Courtney Allen, Management Analyst |
Subject: |
Library Manager's Report |
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Overview |
Welcome to spring! We have so many wonderful things happening at the library right now. Sue Van Horne, Tara Anglin and I have been steering the game space creation with intent of a soft opening by the end of March. Many thanks to Alexis Merritt for her contributions to this project. She successfully advocated for CPL with game producers/publishers which resulted in dozens of free games for the Library, and she also coordinated a group of volunteers to help unpack and organize approximately 130 games on Friday, March 3rd after the library closes for the day. In combination with the games purchased with Friends' funding, we have an amazing game selection that is already capturing the interest of library visitors and staff. We are working with Community Services marketing to get signage and promotional messaging ready. The outdoor library space at Sunset is the second significant project underway. We are excitedly waiting for the material vending machine, shade sails and water fountain to be installed and have reached the point where we can consider the StoryWalk in the park as well as interactive play pieces. Chandler Public Library is a new Citizen Science partner site. Information about this organization and the program can be found here https://scistarter.org/library-about . Each of our four branches will receive 2 C02 testing kits that patrons can borrow to test the air quality as they go about their daily activities. The data collected is included in science research. |
Branch Updates |
Basha Branch
- Reworked floor layout to make it more accommodating for teen patrons / adult patrons visiting afterschool.
- Writer in Residence with author Deena Remiel is going well.
- 1-on-1 appointments being utilized.
- Writing workshops can be hit or miss based on the area of instruction.
- Deena is awesome. Super passionate, accommodating and easy going!
- Sharon Skinner will be serving as our Writer in Residence starting in May.
- Blind Date with a Book was a smashing success with the teens after school. Another is planned in the coming months.
- Build It! is well-loved by the school-aged kids using Legos, Snap Circuits, Wooden Blocks, etc.
- Successful Water Conservation Family Storytime @ Night
- Seeds of Knowledge Pre-School Outreach (4 visits. 25 kids/classroom)
- Basha Spanish class collaborations.
- Research different Afro-Latino people in history.
- Used library databases (Biography in Context, Britannica Library, etc.)
- Taught how to use non-library resources when academic databases don't have everything you need.
- Zuill Bailey was unfortunately canceled via Mesa Center of the Arts.
Downtown Branch
- The café has a name: Book and Board Library Lounge. Equipment has arrived. Health inspection application is being processed.
- We’ve had a huge response from our Love Your Library campaign. Lots of hearts given.
- The public elevator is scheduled for inspection on 3/6. Hopefully that means it will open on Monday.
- David MacKay has resigned his position as the Maker Space Librarian.
- We will be conducting interviews for Pages and Technology Clerks.
Outreach
- The library gave away books at the Multicultural Festival.
- The Chandler Innovation Fair was a huge success. People were excited to see our 3D printer, demonstrate our Ozobots and our Oculus Virtual Reality headset. The outreach team built a shape sorter using the Makery’s Glowforge and printed the shapes using the 3D printer.
- We have been doing a lot of school outreach. After a visit to Bogle Jr High, a teacher wrote a note to say that a reluctant reader discovered reading because of our outreach.
Hamilton Branch
- We recently added soft seating and lighting on the public floor, creating three new reading/conversation areas.
- CUSD removed the library's original outside book drop and installed a brand-new one. We're thrilled with the new one!
- Hamilton is hosting VITA every Thursday and Friday through April. To date, they have provided free tax prep to 77 patrons.
- Staff continue to make collaborative connections with Hamilton High teachers and club sponsors. The most recent partnership produced a Lunar New Year program with more than 200 patrons in attendance.
Sunset Branch
- We recently created a teen space and shifted the collection to bring the YA and YA Graphic Novels closer to that area. We are working on a sign and new furniture, but teens have already discovered and started using the space.
- February was very busy as we are hosting VITA every Monday and Tuesday morning, collected more than 20 dresses for the Prom Dress Drive, received nearly 500 Love Your Library hearts on our display wall, and hosted a Friends of Chandler Public Library Media Sale-all at the same time!
- One of our Greeters has left to pursue full-time employment. We hope to fill the position by the end of March.
- The new patio fence and water fountain were installed. We will soon see new benches and a shade sail. We are already planning programs on the new patio for May.
- We have received new cabinets and equipment for our Learning Lab. The space is becoming more flexible for programming as we can now roll equipment like the 3D printer, Cricut Maker, and Sewing/Embroidery machine into the space to accommodate everything from STEAM Club to Cactus Stitchers to Family Maker Day and more.
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Collections and Statistics |
Active Cardholders
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Increase / Month |
Increase / Calendar Year |
Monday, January 2, 2023 |
64,082 |
.56% |
N/A |
Wednesday, February 1, 2023 |
65,336 |
2.0% |
2.0% |
Wednesday, March 1, 2023 |
66,070 |
1.10% |
3.10% |
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Physical Item Circulation
January 2023 |
108,335 |
February 2023 |
98,755 |
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Cloud Library Checkouts
January 2023 |
22,130 |
February 2023 |
19,727 |
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Auto-renewals (started August 10. 2022)
January 2023 |
47,498 |
February 2023 |
44,040 |
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Programming |
January-February Highlights
- In January we participated in Chandler's Celebration of Unity. Nine programs were held for various ages, covering such topics as Civil Rights, multicultural fashion, and the Lunar New Year. Over 600 people engaged in these programs.
- In February, we highlighted STEAM and Makery programs. Hamilton ran a month of STEAM programs, Downtown set out STEAM Stations after storytimes, and Basha focused on water and conservation in teen programs, Family Fun Night, and Travel Thursdays. Sunset also featured water conservation in STEAM Club and STEAM Jr programs. The Downtown Makery held a VR program, a glowforge laser cutter demonstration, and a Makery open house during the Chandler Innovation Fair. The Library also set up a booth at the Fair, reaching 750 people during the event.
- In February, the Writers in Residence series began at Basha. During this residency, which runs through April, the author, Deena Remiel, is offering writing programs and meets privately with local writers to offer guidance. Writers workshops and one on one consultation sessions are in the calendar.
- In addition, free tax help sessions began in February in partnership with volunteers from VITA and AARP, held at Downtown, Sunset and Hamilton libraries.
Upcoming Library Programs March-May
- Chandler Public Library’s LibCon runs all March, featuring fun events that brings together fans and creators, old and young, in celebrating the importance of pop culture stories that connect us all. LibCon began in 2011 as a one day pop culture convention for teens. This year we are trying something new! LibCon will span the entire month, featuring free programs at all four Chandler libraries, for all age groups! Fans of K-Pop, Manga, Marvel, DC, Sci-Fi, cosplay creation, games, fantastical storytimes, princesses and fantasy, and more, will enjoy these programs. You can view the range of programs available at chandlerlibrary.org/libcon.
- The Cover to Cover In-N-Out Burger Spring Reading Program runs March 4- April 15. The program is for kids ages 4 - 12 years old, who can earn In-N-Out Burgers for reading books! For every five books read, the child will receive a Cover to Cover Club Achievement Award good for a free Hamburger or Cheeseburger. Each child may earn up to three awards during the program. Awards are available while supplies last.
- In April, we are highlighting Earth Day and sustainability programs. We will promote the City’s Water Wise Workshops at the libraries, the Beanstack Earth Day Reading Challenge, the Neighborhood Seed Swap at Sunset, as well as a systemwide Seed Bomb Grab & Go Activity Kit. Some of our STEAM Club, STEAM Jr programs and storytimes will focus on Earth Day, environmental awareness, and sustainability.
- In May, our weekly storytimes and STEAM programs take a break as programmers prepare for Summer Reading Challenge planning, and assist with outreach (especially to schools) to drum up interest in the Challenge. We are looking at a partnership with Chandler’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Division for a special storytime series honoring Asian American and Pacitic Islander Heritage month.
Find out more about upcoming programs on our event calendar at chandlerlibrary.org, and subscribe to our e-newsletter. |
Information Technology |
- Audio / video upgrades were completed in the Downtown Copper Rooms. Improvements include audio quality and volume levels, easier to use touch panels, a large TV was added in Copper North to replace the damaged projector screen, and a new hearing assist system was installed.
- The AutoLend 24/7 book vending machine is scheduled to be delivered and installed for Sunset's new patio area in early April.
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Friends of the Chandler Library |
- During 2022, 506 volunteers contributed 16,062 hours of time to the Library.
- A new storage unit was delivered to Sunset Library.
- Teen Advisory Group and FOL hosted a drive thru book drive at all four locations on February 4. Approximately 3,000 books were collected.
- Love Your Library campaign hosted in all four library locations.
- Friends of Chandler Public Library is partnering with the Library to launch the new Board Game Cafe at the Downtown Library.
- March book sales include a Clearance Sale and a Children's Book Sale.
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