HomeMy Public PortalAbout15-Library Dept. report Sept 2020Monthly Department Report – Library
Memo
To: City Council
From: Meg Lojek, Library Director
CC: Anette Spickard, City Manager
Date: 9/30/20
Re: Monthly Department Report – September 2020
1. Classes, Workshops, Events:
Summer Reading Program Statistics: Partnerships were scaled back this year to put less stress
on local small businesses. There was financial relief from CARES Act funding instead.
• Children recorded 644 hours of reading time on the new ReadSquared app.
• That’s at least 224 books!
• 80 students participated – that is a significant deacrease due to COVID19, but still
an impressively involved community of families!
In September, the After School Adventures program kicked off. It is full with 10 students (5
per day). They take the school bus from BRMES to the library, enjoy a healthy snack, some
physical activity and a brain challenge. Librarians can help with homework before the students
are picked up at 5pm. The children seem to love it.
Other fall events include Study Buddy room reservations, Outdoor Story Time, and Let’s
Walk About It (grant supported outdoor book walks led by local retired teachers, also full to
capacity).
Doing Democracy continues virtually on Zoom. This month’s topic was “Anxiety in our
Community” – a topic that had been rescheduled from early March! 12 people attended.
In September, there were 52 new library memberships for households in the area. All of them
were entered into a drawing, and Peter Solorio won the new Kindle e-reader device, donated
by Friends of the McCall Library for Library Card Sign Up Month.
Monthly Department Report – Library
Labor Day saw the Friends of the Library put up a one-day Used Book Sale. All proceeds go
directly back to the library to supplement things like children’s books and programs. Thanks
to all the FOL volunteers.
A new partnership with McCall Parks and Rec, the Library and the Shepherd’s Home will
provide a TutorMobile to travel to neighborhoods starting in October. Children can receive
help with homework and add some structure to the days that they are not in school.
2. Staff:
Diane Penny organized National Voter Registration Day, during which 24 voters registered.
Next, 2 staff members are partnering with McCall Donnelly High School to register 18-year
olds on site.
Library Board of Trustees member Lynn Lewinski retired, and Dawn Matus has been
recommended to take the open seat. Lynn is thanked for her many years of service and will
be honored in the current Library newsletter.
Staff is continually re-evaluating procedures for a safe library experience during COVID19,
and considering how to pivot again in the upcoming winter months.
3. Other: McCall Library aims to ease the transition into the new school year with access to
technology, tutoring, and a place to study. A limited amount of new equipment (laptops,
hotspots, ipads, teleconferencing devices) is available for checkout; the Idaho Room can be
reserved for Study Buddies in middle and high school; and we are doing our best to connect
students with tutors. See flyer below.
4. Library Stats: September stats were not available at the time this report was due, so they
will be included in the October Council report. Comparing August 2019 to August 2020
shows a slight downturn in library book checkouts due to COVID19: Adult books checked
out was down 15%. Story books were down 26%. However, Teen books were up by 28%.
Wireless connections have increased by 100% over the amount of last year, and E-books on
OverDrive have gone up over 30%.
5. Calendar: please see draft calendar attached for October events.
Monthly Department Report – Library