HomeMy Public PortalAbout14-Library Dept Sept reportMonthly Department Report – Library
Memo
To: City Council
From: Meg Lojek, Library Director
CC: Anette Spickard, City Manager
Date: 10/1/2019
Re: Monthly Department Report – September 2019
1. Staff:
Part time job has a conditional letter of employment out to the top candidate.
Library Director Meg Lojek and Programming Librarian Casey Bruck presented a session about
crafting community program like Doing Democracy for libraries at the Idaho Library Association
annual conference.
2. Classes, Workshops, Events:
Please see attached calendar for October programs. Lots of Halloween fun this month—the library
encourages imaginative play for creative brain development and narrative storytelling skills.
The Library-sponsored Independent Film Society has started its monthly foreign film screenings at
the Alpine. The Armchair Travelogue season kicks off October 16th with Irwin Mulnick’s presentation
about coaching Ultimate Frisbee in Israel and Palestine.
The Recreation Department partnered with the Library to continue Family Movie Nights indoors,
starting with Book of Life October 25th.
We are fortunate to partner with Payette Children’s Forest, which donated $300 for our programs
about bats, bees, birds and butterflies. The attached flyer is for our first “Batty” events.
3. The Next Chapter Campaign:
Library Building Design Events: Over 80 people attended the 2 public comment sessions September
18th and 25th. People energized the collaborative process as they explored, envisioned, and began to
recreate their public library in an interactive, casual environment. Feedback was invigorating, and their
comments are being compiled and included in the design work.
Consultants are meeting with Library Director, John Powell and Andy Laidlaw twice per month, and
the Library Trustees monthly. We are pulling in other staff members into the conversations as needed,
including City Manager, Kurt Wolf, Nathan Stewart, Tara Woods, Linda Stokes, Morgan Bessaw,
Monthly Department Report – Library
and Michelle Groenevelt. The concept of using space in the existing library to bolster the ongoing
space needs of the Recreation department and a larger meeting room for City Council is being met
very positively by the public. Fundraising has been strong this fall.
4. Library Stats:
September stats are included with this report. It is believed ongoing construction has deterred many
library visits throughout this year. During FY19, we de-accessioned 1958 items in order to make space
for the acquisition of 2109 new items.
5. Library Board of Trustees Training:
Lola Elliott, Library Board, attended a statewide training for public library trustees. She has brought
back learning modules to the Board’s monthly meetings. Trustees have been able to look at their role
in new light and ensure they are fulfilling their duties and mission. While there is always room for
improvement, she found the McCall library is respected around the state and the Trustees have been
doing most of the required roles. They are working now to develop a new Trustee training orientation
module and refine their overall goals.
6. Monthly Calendar:
Please see the attached October events calendar.