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ITEM 2 |
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Library Board Community Services
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| Date: |
03/17/2026 |
| To: |
Library Board |
| From: |
Courtney Allen, Management Analyst |
| Subject: |
Library Manager's Report |
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| Overview |
With April nearly upon us, we've been busy at CPL with a full calendar of programs, including tax services, our annual spring reading challenge, cultural events, and Discovery Library outreach activities.
Don't forget that April 1st is Library Giving Day and National Library Week begins on April 19th, a great time to advocate for the importance of public libraries in communities across the nation.
The renovation at Hamilton Library is nearing completion, with new furniture and additional shelving to be installed in the coming weeks. Stop by to check it out!
Please share your congratulations with Chris McGinley, who is joining us at the Downtown Library as our new branch manager. The recruitment to fill his vacancy at Basha closes on March 15th, 2026.
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| Branch Updates |
Basha Branch
- Our annual Holi program went well. Good turnout from the community.
- Our Writer in Residence, Valerie Ipson, continues to see good turnout for her 1-on-1 appointments.
- We received a ton of positive feedback from the students on our "Love Your Library" display.
- Several staff members mentioned by name for the customer service they offer to the community.
- Overall, a really positive, uplifting passive community engagement.
- Puzzle Swap continues to see major numbers and community support. One of our most popular programs.
- Our longest running program, Stich'n Time has seen a resurgence in attendance.
- Patrons of all ages are starting to show up.
- Some of our Talk Time patrons have attended as well.
- Gilbert Christian Schools stopped by for multiple class tours of the library.
Downtown Branch
- Library Specialist, Kathryn Tilton, started in late January. She is a great addition to the Teen Services team.
- Carpets were cleaned throughout the entire building, including our staff and public areas.
- Thanks to a partnership with the Vision Gallery, a multi-media art project was installed in early February and will remain through the end of April. The art project celebrates Hispanic heritage.
Hamilton Branch
- The Lunar New Year Event put on by Hamilton’s Teen Advisory Group was a big success again this year with over 150 attendees. Performances included dancing, karate, and the dragon dance.
- The new storytime room has been a hit with parents and kids as storytime returned in full swing at the beginning of February.
- Patrons are loving the new setup and changes made from the renovation. They like how open the space has become.
- The new study rooms should be available soon to the public but have helped with allowing us to continue offering VITA Taxes during the renovation and even allowing for Writer in Residence to come to Hamilton.
- Staff are enjoying the new setup as well and the circulation team can't wait to get into their new room after furniture arrives in the next few weeks.
Sunset Branch
- Sunset’s public and staff restrooms have been remodeled with updated tile, countertops, flooring, sinks, and stalls.
- Our new Youth Services Librarian, Sarah, is doing a fantastic job.
- VITA is once again offering free tax preparation at Sunset, and it has been extremely busy and running smoothly.
- We had a very successful collaboration with the Phoenix Suns and player Oso Ighodaro. More than 400 people attended and enjoyed crafts, activities, burritos from Rubios, and tours of the new Discovery Library.
Outreach
- The Discovery Library is officially on the road and has already welcomed over 2,000 visitors.
- The Discovery Library was a huge hit at the City's Multicultural Festival, Airport Day and Innovation Fair.
- In January and February, outreach staff created over 100 new library accounts and circulated nearly 1,000 items.
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| Collections and Statistics |
| Active Cardholders |
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| December 1, 2025 |
74,235 |
| January 1, 2026 |
74,168 |
| February 1, 2026 |
74,382 |
| March 1, 2026 |
74,495 |
| Physical Item Checkouts |
| November 2025 |
94,399 |
| December 2025 |
89,430 |
| January 2026 |
97,693 |
| February 2026 |
87,074 |
| CloudLibrary Checkouts |
| November 2025 |
20,191 |
| December 2025 |
21,345 |
| January 2026 |
22,285 |
| February 2026 |
18,723 |
| MCLD MAX Usage |
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| November 2025 |
143 Borrowed, 153 Loaned | 1.07 L/B |
| December 2025 |
184 Borrowed, 159 Loaned | 0.86 L/B |
| January 2026 |
223 Borrowed, 213 Loaned | 0.96 L/B |
| February 2026 |
190 Borrowed, 188 Loaned | 0.99 L/B |
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| Programming |
January and February 2026 Summary
- We held over 650 programs in our libraries in January and February, with over 13,000 people in attendance.
- The Discovery Library has had 25 events and engaged with 2,128 people. 30+ events are scheduled for the Discovery Library in March and April.
- Early Literacy Series Story School, presented by Make Way for Books, ran from January 21–February 27. This is always successful and we get great feedback. We will have another Story School session starting in April running through May 14.
- Adult Literacy held 38 Talk Time sessions in January and February, with 258 in attendance.
- Our new Early Literacy Specialist Lisa Best has been observing Ready, Set, Kindergarten! and plans to present it at the Chandler Care Center in May.
Systemwide/ Signature Events Coming in March and April
- In-n-Out Burger Cover to Cover Spring Reading program begins March 7 and runs through April 18 for children ages 4-12. For every five books or 300 minutes read, the child receives an achievement award for a free burger. Each child can earn up to three awards. Sign up and materials must be obtained at the library branches.
- Library lecture series for Chandler's Celebration of America (America 250) runs March through May. Special lecture topics starting March 2 covers themes such as history and space exploration connected to Route 66; traveling to Presidential historical sites; the Arizona Trail by mountain bike; Arizona folk music history, and more. Attendees can earn points on their Red, White and Blue digital pass with a scan of a QR code at the program.
- Nature of Things, a series in collaboration with Chandler Nature Center, continues in March through May. Sonoran Desert wildflowers, the 850-mile long Arizona Trail, and natural wonders of the Grand Canyon are featured in the next three programs.
- Writer in Residence series continues through April 21 with local author Valerie Ipson. Ipson is the author of several novels and children's books, including Ideal High (2015), Christmas Future (2018), After Bedtime (2021), Sweet Dreams, Princess (2021), and Baby Bear’s Turn (2023). She will hold one-on-one consultations and three workshops between Basha and Hamilton Libraries.
- During April, encourage people to check out our performances and music-themed youth programs connected to the City's Jazz on the Move series! We'll be hosting several live performances at Sunset, Downtown, Hamilton, and a larger jazz performance at Sunset Park with the Jake Leyba Quintet.
- Water-Wise Workshops in March and April head to Sunset, Hamilton, and Downtown, covering topics such as heat-resistant landscaping, worm composting, and transforming yards into beautiful, natural xeriscape designs.
- Systemwide Spring Art Series will run April 11-May 13. Know anyone who likes to create art? Downtown, Basha, and Hamilton are offering a range of fun and creative art programs, some of which are taught by local artists. Painting, digital art, ink wash, collage, and more. For adults and teens, most require registration.
- Kyrene School District Art Show at Sunset Library to view paintings, drawings, and other artwork created by kindergarten through 8th grade Kyrene students! The show is on display from April 23-May 12.
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| Information Technology |
- The Library guest Wi-Fi has been upgraded at Hamilton, Basha, and Sunset. The Downtown upgrade is scheduled to be completed in mid-March. Coverage and speeds will both see an improvement on the new system.
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| Friends of the Chandler Library |
- Fundraising book sales continue with clearance, media and children's books on site, as well as online sales. Many thanks to those that donate books to the Friends and those that support their library through books purchased.
- Friends sponsored library programs and services are featured on the Library's calendar of events - chandlerlibrary.org/friends
- April 1 is Library Giving Day - #LibraryGivingDay is a one-day fundraising event with the goal of encouraging people who depend on and enjoy public libraries to donate to their individual library system.
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