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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2024 1112 LB REG ITEM 07BITEM: 7.B. CITY OF MOORPARK MOORPARK LIBRARY BOARD AGENDA REPORT TO: Moorpark Library Board FROM: Jessica Sandifer, Deputy Parks and Recreation Director BY: Christine Cowell, Librarian DATE: 11/12/2024 (Regular Meeting) SUBJECT: Consider Library Quarterly Report for First Quarter Fiscal Year 2024/2025 DISCUSSION Consider Library Quarterly Report for First Quarter Fiscal Year 2024/2025. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Receive and file report. Attachment – Library Quarterly Report for First Quarter Fiscal Year 2024/2025. 8 Library Board 11/12/2024 Regular Meeting Page 2 Moorpark City Library Quarterly Report July – September 2024 Highlights: American Library Association Conference: In late June, June 25 – July 2, the library's three librarians attended the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in San Diego. The event provided a wealth of professional development opportunities, networking, and discussions on the future of libraries. A special moment for the team was when Christine and Emma had the chance to meet Mychal Threets, and their picture was featured in Publishers Weekly's ALA Annual 2024 in Photos, a proud moment for the library. Photo: Nathalie op de Beeck. United for Libraries, Virtual Conference: The City Librarian attended the United for Libraries virtual conference from July 30 to August 1, which provided a wealth of knowledge on library advocacy, fundraising, and community engagement. Each day focused on a different aspect of library leadership and support. The conference offered valuable insights and strategies that will help the library strengthen its advocacy, fundraising efforts, and partnerships with Friends groups and trustees. Mental Health First Aid: In August, the City Librarian successfully completed the Mental Health First Aid Instructor Training. This important certification enables her to teach Mental Health First Aid courses, equipping others in the community with the knowledge and skills to supp ort individuals experiencing mental health challenges. This certification will also be highly beneficial to her role on the city's Mental Health Task Force, enhancing the library's contributions to promoting mental health awareness and well-being within the community. Constitution Week Display: In celebration of Constitution Week, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) set up an engaging display in the library from September 15 to 21. Patrons had the opportunity to learn more about the U.S. Constitution and its significance. As part of th e 9 Library Board 11/12/2024 Regular Meeting Page 3 display, DAR members generously gave away pocket editions of the Constitution and patriotic stickers to library visitors. Moorpark City Library Quarterly Statistics, FY 2024-2025 Library Usage Door Count Cards Issued Public Computer Sessions Reference Questions Number of Volunteers Volunteer Hours Fiscal Year 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 July 4,712 5,188 132 101 296 316 142 77 13 11 81 26 August 5,444 4,919 126 139 365 464 150 104 14 14 31 25 September 4,938 4,506 176 161 355 397 186 112 24 30 104 70 1st QTR 15,094 14,613 434 401 1,016 1,177 478 293 51 55 216 121 YTD 15,094 14,613 434 401 1,016 1,177 478 293 51 55 216 121 General: Volunteer hours significantly increased this quarter due to expanded opportunities at the library, particularly for teens. Teens have been seeking more meaningful ways to contribute, and the library has responded by providing a variety of new roles. This quarter, teens helped shelve books, prepare materials for programs, and even lead popular activities like Lego Robotics, American Sign Language, Chess Club, and Dungeons & Dragons. In addition, they wrote book reviews and assisted with various program preparations. The Golden Grades tutoring program returned this fall for the first time since the pandemic, providing academic support to students. The Reading Buddies program also saw a change, now pairing young readers with teen volunteers instead of adult volunteers, fostering mentorship and engagement between the teens and younger patrons. Feedback: At the first Reading Buddies session, some of the kids said to their mom afterwards, “This is so awesome! Can we come back twice a week after school?” And the mom said “This was fantastic. It was so much more than I was expecting.” Overheard from a kid at Golden Grades tutoring, said to the teen tutor: “Are you here every week? CAN you be here every week?” One volunteer left Emma a card reading, “Dear Ms. Emma, Thank you so much for helping me volunteer this summer. I have had so much fun! I hope to volunteer more this fall. P.S. Thanks for the books.” 10 Library Board 11/12/2024 Regular Meeting Page 4 Physical Circulation Electronic Books & Magazines Video Streaming (Kanopy & Craftsy) Total Circulation Holds Placed Fiscal Year 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 July 7,239 7,498 1,037 866 212 171 8,487 8,535 1,324 1,395 August 6,431 7,182 1,067 762 171 202 7,668 8,146 1,361 1,429 September 6,277 6,712 1,399 816 170 228 7,845 7,756 1,435 1,206 1st QTR 19,947 21,392 3,503 2,444 553 601 24,000 24,437 4,120 4,030 YTD 19,947 21,392 3,503 2,444 553 601 24,000 24,437 4,120 4,030 Collections: In response to the declining physical circulation, "The Great Collection Shake-Up" was launched in August 2024 to refresh the library's layout and make collections more accessible and appealing. This project was designed to improve circulation by optimizing the placement of materials based on patron behavior and trends, enhancing the browsing experience, and drawing attention to underutilized sections. Key Goals and Changes: • Move to Digital: Many audiobooks, adult and young adult fiction, and nonfiction collections were transitioned to digital formats. This shift freed up physical space and catered to the growing demand for digital media while maintaining access to popular titles. • Expansion of Children's Collections: The physical collection of children's materials, especially board books and easy readers, was expanded to serve young patrons and their families better. • Marketplace Atmosphere: The first room of the library was transformed into a marketplace-style space featuring all-face-out displays for new books. This change created a more dynamic and inviting browsing experience for patrons, encouraging the discovery of new titles. Key Collection Relocations: • Audiobooks: At the end of Adult Fiction, physical audiobooks and DVDs were relocated to create an "AV Alley." • New Books: The new book section was moved to the previous DVD area, making it more prominent and accessible. • Spanish Collection: The Spanish collection was relocated to where children's books were previously housed, making it easier to find and browse. • Nonfiction: The nonfiction section was moved to the wall after biographies, and the fiction section was shifted to where nonfiction was previously located. 11 Library Board 11/12/2024 Regular Meeting Page 5 •Young Adult Collection: The young adult collection was relocated to the former adult fiction area, with manga and graphic novels prominently placed near the study tables to encourage teen engagement. •Children's Collections: Children's fiction was moved to the teen zone, children's graphic novels were relocated near Emma's desk, and children's biographies were moved to the former children's graphic novel area. •Easy Readers and Picture Books: Easy readers were placed under the TV, facing the teen zone, and children's picture books were expanded to the shelves around the tables in the children's area. The children's Spanish picture books were moved to low shelves at the end of the area. This reorganization was driven by circulation data and patron feedback, aiming to make the library's collections more accessible to navigate and more enjoyable to explore. Early results show a 52% increase in young adult circulation and a 3% increase in adult circulation following these changes, and staff continue to monitor circulation trends to determine the impact on other collections. The success of this project has inspired further efforts to improve physical circulation and overall patron engagement with the library's resources. Children’s Programs Children’s Attendance Teen Programs Teen Attendance Adult Programs Adult Attendance Fiscal Year 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 July 9 17 495 421 10 6 48 40 6 5 48 39 August 10 17 581 378 5 4 37 24 5 5 61 44 September 6 13 268 276 8 2 54 13 7 5 89 38 1st QTR 25 47 1,344 1,075 23 12 139 77 18 15 198 121 YTD 25 47 1,344 1,075 23 12 139 77 18 15 198 121 All Ages Programs All Ages Attendance Total Programs Total Program Attendance Self-Directed Programs Self-Directed Participation Fiscal Year 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 July 19 1 264 34 44 29 855 534 2 3 95 65 August 12 2 134 122 32 28 813 568 2 3 84 83 September 5 1 46 88 26 22 457 415 3 1 126 4 1st QTR 36 4 444 244 102 79 2,125 1,517 7 7 305 152 YTD 36 4 444 244 102 79 2,125 1,517 7 7 305 152 12 Library Board 11/12/2024 Regular Meeting Page 6 Programming: Children's Programming: Fewer Programs, Higher Attendance This quarter, we strategically reduced the number of children's programs. This move proved successful as it led to a significant increase in attendance. This reduction was part of our commitment to offering higher-quality, more impactful programs that better align with the needs and interests of our community. By focusing on fewer but more engaging activities, we were able to increase the attendance and participation per event, resulting in more meaningful interactions for families and children. Our targeted outreach efforts also played a crucial role in attracting more participants to each event. Teen Participation Growth Teen participation doubled this quarter due to several new and expanded offerings. Based on the popularity of last year's Dungeons & Dragons program, we increased its frequency to twice a week instead of once a week. Additionally, the Teen Advisory Group (TAG) continued to meet throughout the summer, when it typically takes a break, allowing for ongoing engagement. Crafty Teens has been slowly building a dedicated following, and the teen librarian introduced a weekly Anime Night, which has attracted a new group of teen patrons. Teen librarian notes: The twice-weekly D&D games continue to be a huge success. One teen joining the “all ages” D&D group literally squealed in excitement and said, “I get to play with the adults!? Oh my gosh, I’m so excited. I’m going to come back every single week. To BOTH games. I’m SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW!!!” The participants are incredibly excited to return week after week. Several have started arriving several hours early at the library to hang out with each other and are utilizing other library resources like the How To Draw books. One, who had to drop out due to a family commitment, told me how sad he was to have to drop out and that he couldn’t wait to try and return for a new game in January. The Wednesday night group made their own Discord server to chat about the game outside library hours. Additionally, after a few weeks of play, two of the younger teens (12 and 13) gained the confidence to be Game Masters. They requested to run their games for the group. During another D&D session, one teen commented, “D&D is making me better at quick math.” Another day, a teen approached the teen librarian to say, “I love coming to the library. It makes me so happy.” All Ages Programs and Intergenerational Engagement All-age programs have seen significant growth this quarter, reflecting a trend toward more intergenerational activities. Community-led programs such as the Knot & Hook Crochet Club, American Sign Language Club, and Chess Club have flourished, with dedicated volunteers sharing their passions and hobbies with others. These programs foster a sense of community and encourage skill-sharing across generations. Additionally, creative outlets like Open Mic Night, Gamers Gathering, and Rubber Duck 13 Library Board 11/12/2024 Regular Meeting Page 7 Cosplay have provided participants with fun, engaging ways to express themselves and connect with others. Self-Directed Programs This quarter, we've seen a significant increase in self-directed programs, particularly with patrons using the library to play board games. The availability of board games has encouraged more independent, spontaneous use of library space, allowing patrons of all ages to engage in casual, community-building activities. This rise in self-directed participation underscores the library's role as a gathering place for both recreational and social interaction, further enhancing its value as a community hub. Transform Your Lawn: The library's recent program, Transform Your Lawn: A Guide to Drought-Tolerant Landscaping, was tremendously successful. Presented by the Ventura County Master Gardeners, the event attracted 33 patrons eager to learn how to create sustainable, water-efficient landscapes. Matilija Nursery in Moorpark generously donated plants featured in the display and given away as part of the event's prizes. The program was so well-received that the Master Gardeners are now planning a follow-up session to address the many questions attendees posed regarding the care of drought-tolerant plants. The presenters also admired the strong turnout and were curious about the library's promotional efforts, highlighting the community's enthusiasm for sustainable gardening topics. Facebook Page Visits Instagram Profile Visits Teen Instagram Profile Visits YouTube Unique Views Unique Webpage Views Fiscal Year 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 24-25 23-24 July 441 256 267 152 10 17 44 44 8,262 10,243 August 523 254 283 126 9 12 17 17 11,715 10,955 September 561 167 203 130 10 22 42 31 12,522 11,124 1st QTR Total 1,525 677 753 408 29 51 103 92 32,499 32,322 YTD 1,525 677 753 408 29 51 103 92 32,499 32,322 Marketing and Outreach: Our social media strategy has evolved this quarter, focusing on showcasing more of the library’s spaces, people, and activities in posts. Instead of relying solely on graphics and flyers, which didn’t fully capture the library’s vibrant community and atmosphere, we have shifted to posting more photos of real moments inside the library. This change is designed to tell our story better and connect with our audience by providing a more 14 Library Board 11/12/2024 Regular Meeting Page 8 authentic glimpse into the library experience. The results have been positive, with increased engagement across platforms. In addition to our social media efforts, we’ve seen a 22% increase in Storytime in the Parks attendance this year. Programs like Read It & Eat It and Crafty Adults have also gained traction, with several new participants joining these activities. Below are images of the top five posts for the Moorpark City Library’s main Facebook page, by reach, for July, August, and September. July 2024: August 2024: 15 Library Board 11/12/2024 Regular Meeting Page 9 September 2024: 16