Library Board Agenda 09-11-2018MONTICELLO LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
5:30 PM
AGENDA
1. Approval of the minutes of the June 12, 2018, Board Meeting
2. Library Report – Sarah Seeley, Library Services Coordinator
3. GRRL Update – Brandi Canter, Patron Services Supervisor
4. Old Business –
a. Meeting Room Policy
5. New Business –
6. Next Library Board Meeting – Dec 11, 2018, 5:30 pm
2018 Meetings
Tuesdays at 5:30 pm
Sep 11
Dec 11
GREAT RIVER REGIONAL LIBRARY - ONE LIBRARY 32 LOCATIONS
Quarter: JULY-SEP Year: 2018
Statistics
As of September 1, the Monticello Public Library circulation is at 128,211 items - up 0.5% over the
same 8-month period in 2017. The monthly totals for the summer were higher than 2017, 2016,
and even some 2015 totals. The number of summer check-out session totals was up 6.7% over
last year. Monticello borrower numbers are nearly the same as last year, at 6,528.
In 2018 the Monticello Public Library has presented 208 programs for children, teens, and adults
with a total attendance of 2,536. We conducted six outreach events this summer with a total
reach of 1,110 people. Library staff have presented four programs at schools, to a total of 515
students and teachers. There have been 37 class visits at the library with a total of 907 visitors.
To date, we have provided 9 tours to a total of 349 individuals and have proctored 5 exams.
Programs
We had our biggest summer reading program ever. We changed up both the kids and teens
programs, and this created a lot more buzz and participation. We asked more of kids this year -
they had to complete a whole reading record before getting a prize, but once they did, they got to
spin a wheel to see which prize they would get. Thanks to creative sourcing on the part of library
assistants and support of the Friends, we were also able to offer nicer prizes than in the past. We
had 1,212 reading records returned, with a total of 6,060 hours read - twice as many as ever
before.
The teen program got a big change-up as well. We reached out to local businesses for in-kind
support for prizes, and while we didn’t hear from a lot of places, those who did respond gave very
generously. Once word got out the kind of prizes that were being offered, we had 40 more teen
signups than we ever had before – 134. The teens responded really well to one scratch-off card
per reading record returned. They turned in 1,120 coupons for 4,480 hours. Total hours read for
both programs was 10,540.
Summer programs were well attended and the new Concert on the Library Lawn series went
reasonably well and we plan to offer concerts again next year.
A final activity of the summer was participation in Monticello's Creative City Celebration event,
highlighting all kinds of creative endeavors and artists around the area. The library sponsored a
kids summer theater camp, with the attendees performing at the event, and an adult writing
program with contributions also being read. The library booth included a community art project we
called Spreading Our Creativity around the World.
Building/Maintenance Issues
With all the recent rain, the windows seem to be holding tight. The motor on the library’s AC unit
went out during the heat and humidity in July, but City maintenance got it replaced as soon as
they could so we only had a couple days without air. City maintenance replaced all the paper
towel and soap dispensers in the library.