We're a board to roll call police. For that's here. Here. Chair here. But PRESIDENT To absent to being counted in the Johnson-Thompson a bully. The first item that we have on the agenda. Is the approval of minutes minutes. 25 dash 25 approving 5/7/2025. Library board All right. I'll take a motion from council PRESIDENT Maker to approve the minutes. Is there any discussion? All in favor say Aye? Aye, any oppose? 5 in favor. None opposed. The minutes have been adopted. The second item on the agenda as the staff report staffing for 25 dash 96 by you go. All
right. I will turn it over to Director Hartman and we Do se a sleaze here to present a library told us today. Welcome. a porch or just a library board. Thank you. I want to make sure that in all of our introductions over the last year of all the important library, things we want you to know. We didn't get a chance to tell you about library go. And that is one of our most important partnerships with the same public schools. Is here to give you kind of an overview of library. Go and some of the work that we've done this year sought to her. Thank you for having me again. My name is Denise. Yes, Alice, I worked at the broader community library and the youth services team lead. And I'll be presenting on library. Go. Library goes started back in 2017 at the start of our program, we had roughly a little bit over 42,000 library. Go accounts as of this past MARCH for the year
of 2025, we have 87 a little over 87,000. My break. Records library go is a virtual card that students can use using their lunch id number or their student id number in conjunction with a prefix that the library gives their school to check out library library materials as well as labor resources. So databases they can check out e-books. The audio books library go accounts are library, go counts asked for through the library website there's no financial risk to library go. A student holders when students lose or item staff use it as a point to connect with the students to explain the importance of responsibility and how to borrow library items and keep them in a safe place. Some stats for our last year with
wire a go as we had a little bit over 101,000 library go counts at the start of the year. For physical items checked out. We had a little bit over 64,000 items for e-books. We had a little bit over 119,000 items ad then for items that were book items. So these would be like audio books and accessing databases. We had a little bit over 12,000 items. For library goes. Students don't have to worry about losing a library card. So with physical cards, they can get misplaced. They can get lost if their last people can potentially. Have access to those that they find with a ago. You don't have to worry about that. The item is based on information that the student will know. So again, State id number lunch number, it helps reduce barriers and access to materials. We can connect students with all of our
different library, materials and resources. And there's no financial risk to parents at all. Recently, we got a grant We had a questionnaire council PRESIDENT. Thanks to adjust. I was just curious on the previous slide, it looked like 101,000 students have a library go. Card, which is obviously more than students in some public schools. Does that mean partnerships with other school districts well? Correct? Yep. So that would be using public schools and we do have some charter and private schools that also have a library coal accounts. A school district that sites not going to add up steam, Pollard's it limited to schools take its limited to Saint Paul just because that is what is within focus for our program. Add to that question. I at a very similar question. So do you know like what percentage o the Saint Paul public school students
have enrolled in the library? Card? I don't know off the top of my head, but I could get that to Director. So all Saint Paul public school students automatically get a library card. So I want to make sure that that part is clear and they MAY not all be using it, but they all automatically get it when they get their student id number and then individual charters and private schools in Raul, all of their students with I see I was looking at the last slide, says schools apply through s p deal website. So once the school plays, all the students are automatically enrolled is that's Christie. It. So recently we received a l s t a grant that stands for Library Services and
Technology Act. We received over $27,000 for the grant to help promote with light rain. Go the reasoning for this grant is that we collected data and realize that a lot of the students that are on the east side of Saint Paul, where not utilizing library go as opposed to some of the other neighborhoods that we have that are in my So library go helps close the racial and economic gaps by again providing access to labor materials and resources in databases. I dove r. Library locations. The 2 arbors located on the east side. So he didn't heights and the Sun-ray library are the 2 that we have done. Promotion for LeBron go family night. For Hayden. Has they connected with 7 different schools? 2 of the schools were forced like elementary and Hazel Park Prep Academy for the Sun-ray Labrae. They connected with 4
different schools, icluding Battle Creek in Eastern Heights Elementary on those family library It's we had food. We had activities and then families were able to connect with a community specialist as well as library staff to learn more about the program and how to use it both inside the classroom and outside of the classroom at home. We also have done educator training classes with the Saint Paul public schools. Educators, and then we are in the process of updating library materials. Some feedback that we received for the library go family nights is that both internally and externally? We had a lot more improvement about what what families understood as what library go is ad how to use
We spoke to many different families who whose first language was not English. Some of the language included King on Spanish, the Sun Ray Library also has a lot more families that they're seen now that they didn't previously see before the family and mates. We also acknowledge that there were a lot of families coming from our mobile library stops in locations. Another thing that we heard is that a lot of students need to be reminded that they have a library, a goal. And then we also had families learned families who wanted to learn more about just in general, like what library programs or activities they could attend with their children. For the educator
trainings. We had 6 Saint Paul public schools meetings during this past year. We had topics that focused on popular items that the teachers wanted to learn about, but also about just some resources for if they're helping students with research projects that included to data research basis, Levy, which is our our online at that, you can download e-books and audiobooks from. And then we also talked about homework, help. For the updated materials. We acknowledge that with our new rebrand. We did new materials to provide information about library. Go to our stakeholders and the audience. We up to the new grand. We updated the new brand had more audience aligned messaging. We are in the process and very close to finishing up having a classroom posters, flyers for families while its size cards
as well as iPad cleanings. And then our postcards for the kindergarteners will be going out this spring and fall. So some things that we've heard some comments and feedback. We got war from a library staff member. I've seen children's faces go from frowns to lighting up when they realize they can check something out just because their student at Saint Paul public libraries. Same poll student said that you mean I can check out a library card with just my lunch number. That's And then a quote from me is that at the end of 2023, we had almost 7,000 more students enrolled in library go than we did in at the beginning of the year. Some of the things we heard was that students again, don't always know. They have library go and they just need a
reminder. So currently, what we're doing is we're trying communicate that to families, make sure that they understand what the difference is between the physical card and the e cart and how they can use it both in the classroom and outside of the classroom. There's been some confusion about that library goes just for school so they can only use it as school is just for research projects. That's not true. You can use library go if you're just hanging out in the library. If you're attending a program and you want to check out some books. Students also, we also heard that for some of our younger kindergarten to scond that it's not easy for them to access the card. So we're currently trying to figure out a way. How can we make that easily accessible to them since their youngsters and
things can tend to get lost or forgotten we also heard that. Families are struggling with how to translate using library. Go again in the classroom and transferring it to public use in the library. Lastly, what I would like to end on is that library goes a virtual card that students can use with their lunch id number or the student number they can use that to access lbre materials and library resources in databases which helps fill back Unama gap. If you want help on promoting library go, you can have educators reach out to the Saint Paul Public Library. They can go to our website on the library, go landing page and they can fill out our onboarding our request form and then staff can work with them to try to get their school signed up for library. Go. Any questions. Thank you.
Any questions. Presenter? Thanks, MADAM Chair. No questions. Just a huge thank you to you for the presentation and for your leadership of this work. And I remember when I first took office, this was. I think relatively new year old or so. And it just struck me as one of those things that it's just such elegant. Melding of 2. 2 things that we want to do the same time that we don't necessarily need to make more complicated. We have students who are in school. We have libraries and we want students in school to know that they can use our libraries. And why not just make the library card be the same as the student id that these all the time in school and just and love that we did that. I think it's brilliant. I hope we can find more opportunities to make that kind of mutually beneficial activity. So seamless. Definitely. I have couple questions. So
the library go. Students are automatically enrolled. But if they're also have a library card, they can basically use either one would be. Right, ok, okay. And then I again want to express my appreciation for all of your work and just the it, you know, additional like outreach that you're doing on the east side and I'm hoping that, you know, we can we can help build more access to thinking maybe some of these families have, you know, have barriers. Are they? Maybe they don't even go to the library sometimes and just getting them there or just they don't know about the program. Some of the things that you had on the last few slides and I would I would think to your point aout younger students maybe don't know their lunch or their student id number. I I cannot tell you my son, student id number the top of my head. And I know that I don't
think they don't. They punch a coat in for their lunch anymore. I'm not sure since they have free lunches. So I'm actually sure what do anymore at schools, but I think that having the student idea's great and then I'd also be curious, are there any other ways to make it even easier fort for kids and families to be able to talk to the library and use their account. I don't know the answer to that. But that's just something that I was thinking of. Well, there are no other questions or comments. Thank you so much to the cnn will the next item. Thank you. The final item on the agenda is staff report. 25 Dash 97 by programs. Director Hartman and we've got Merlino key to here to
talk to us about programming. Welcome. Thank to for chair generals and members of library board. My name is Molina. Okay to cool on public services manager for Saint Paul Public Library in my role, I oversee 3 locations. Rondo Community Library are mobile library and are soon to be constructed Hammond that way In addition, I also supervise staff that are responsible for planning larger programs or they supervise. Program an engagement across the system. Part of that work is library programming. So today I'd like to talk to you about library programs. So first, what is a library program library programs or events are typically one time events and activities designed to enrich
the library. Experience. Alright, events such as author Talk Story Times or cultural celebrations create memorable moments and spaces where community can gather. Learned connect with each other and with the library. They are essential ways that libraries and value to the patient experience. They extend our reach beyond books, computers and other services that we provide consistently. They provide educational, cultural and social activities. This center, the diverse needs of our communities. They also align with our library mission. Fundamentally, our program support our mission to welcome all people to connect, learn, participate and grow. One of the larger pieces of work that I've been engaged in over the last year is to add a continuance proved a continuous improvement lands
to how we deliver our programs, which led to the development of a programming statements. What we in turn, we have been calling our programming. Why? Why do we do these things? It's a comprehensive approach to the consistent application of programming principal standards and best practices in program, design and delivery. Because our programs aren't happenstance. Polk or library values that ensure open access to knowledge and diversity of library information and perspectives. For all patrons by incorporating standards and best practices outlined in our programming statements. We create safe spaces where intellectual freedom is encouraged. And it allows the ability to explore dialogue and learn without censorship. Our program is also guided by professional standards that are anchored intellectual freedom and the rights to read
and access information. These are upheld by the American Library Association, which is the oldest and largest professional association for libraries and librarians in the United States. It provides find the foundational guidelines that we incorporate into program design. Fnally, they're designed to enrich services to introduce resources and further support information access for patrons. So while our programs are generally presentation based, tey usually include some opportunity to connect with the other materials in the library. So our resources such as databases, e-books, physical materials and community services. They served to connect patrons to additional tools, the resources to do life in our spaces. Our program, the statement serves as a reminder
of these values and elements that we incorporate into programs. a significant piece of the program. The statement is the programming tiller. So there are 3 pillars that are foundational to our programming and that should guide us when we start thinking about what we want to incorporate or plan for program. So our library programs enrich support in the line with our strategic direction. They're created to incorporate our strategic goals such as celebrating in affirming literacy as a course service of Saint Paul Public Library. Our library go family nights that the Alicia just talk talked about as one example, as well as our literacy action cohort. Our programs live up to our
library experience promise. Our programs are open and welcoming to all. We leave with curiosity and create programs that connect pages to literacy and each other by focusing o our library experience promise. We create experiences that are joyful, meaningful and unique and inclusive. Finally, library program center, our communities and provide unique experiences are cultural. Celebrations are author talks and story times that are delivered in multiple languages. Are examples of hw we create space for likeness and difference which reflects the diversity in our city. Ultimately our library program support our mission by increasing access to
collections promoting services in creating spaces where like this and difference. For like the sun difference. I'm sorry. So some essential programming elements. What are some of the things we think about when we program? First we identify a target audience and needs what have we heard from community what they told us. We listened to and we ask from our community surveys, focus groups, direct community engagement, help us create programs that are responsive in relevant are Sankofa reading program in our partnership with the network for the development of Children are of African descent as a direct result of what we've heard from community. We partner with local organizations and community. What can partners provide that we can offer? Collaboration and partnerships are essential to program development and delivery. We rely on our community feel
gaps in knowledge and specialization to create impactful programs, partnerships, enhance our programs with expertise like guest speakers or consultants. Also marketing communications is without our marketing communications department. We can effectively library stories. They tell the library story in a way that increases are standing in community, our or com, which is what we call our marketing communications department. They helped bring our program visions to life. They craft compelling campaigns leveraging the power of social media, traditional fliers where presidents banners bulletin boards and even bus stops. To highlight our programs. finally, we evaluate our program. That's the piece of like our program planning. Did. We reach our stated goals
and outcomes and how do we best measure success? Attendances surveys tell part of the story, but we want to know more in part of the work that I'm doing includes incorporating a value evaluation methods that measure outcomes. What behaviors that we see change as a result of our programs. For example, if we only measure attendants say, for example, we have a computer class and only 3 people attended that might seem like it's not a successful program. But if someone comes back the next week and they tell us, hey, I passed a college exam as a result of your computer class. That's outcome that we can measure. And it's something that we benefit from. And so that's a successful program, even if only 3 people attended, we benefit by developing evaluation methods that measure success using
multiple criteria. So that you've heard a lot about like the theory behind library programs to why behind library programs, I like to transition talk a little bit about the applications of those principles, the program, some sales, the outcomes. So as you can see, our library programs are is this for as far as diverse as our city and our communities. And this is just a small selection of the programs that we offer. It's also important to note that library programs take many forms from interactive workshops and presentations to community celebrations delivering can be in-person. Virtual is sometimes a hybrid format. One of the things that we learned during covid was to be nimble and delivery of programming. And I'm gonna talk about a few of these. I won't go
through all Talk about a couple an illustrator. My point. So story Core library programs. They can be found in almost any library. They're interactive sessions. That includes songs, stories and even crafts to boost early literacy skills for young children. Storytimes are actually some of the first programs that we transition to a virtual method during covid. Re brave is our annual one city. One book reading program co-hosted by the mayor. That encourages you to explore themes of courage and justice to curated book selection to kids in discussions. All the talks and visits. Those are other another core library program that usually includes an engaging talk book reading excerpts from local and national authors to Inspire Connect Library
patrons with new and established sorry, Lou, what its advance it like that. go back. Sorry about that, including of the talks lend themselves to a variety of delivery methods, including in-person live streams and record it for accessibility. I wanted to briefly touch on how we pay for our is on the I'm sorry. Keeps advancing. But we use a combination of funds to support a vibrant, inclusive programs that celebrate literacy community and at tangible worked to our stated Mission, Vision and goals. The Library General Fund supports programming by ensuring that we have adequate and dedicated staff to plan deliver programs. The general funds gives us the incredible foundation of our libraries.
Our staff, they create welcoming community, focus experiences for our residents. Other costs such as materials for create or library go family nights of fun to separately and are paid for with a combination of funds from the Friends of Saint Paul Public Library who are staunch advocates and philanthropic partners. Along with funds from the state Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund support program. This center arts culture or have historical face. So in sum when we plan fully identify goals outcomes, Target audience is a center. Our communities, we create spaces for community to connect, learn, participate and grow. We create spaces that are mine, yours and ours. Planning plus preparation
equal successful programs last year we saw 47,051 people, community members of all ages attend our programs. That's a 30% increase from 2023, which means our programs are in demand. And we also offer 3,106 separate programs for all ages and our libraries and the next slide. I know I've talked a lot and told you a lot about the theory behind library programs and why we do these things. But the next slide is going to actually show you some of our program Inc. I love this last picture. This is from this year's re brave. It was standing room only. I think there were 130 something it MAY be even more people in a room that actually had a
capacity of about 80 some so I know shows the success of our programs that people actually really do want to see our programs and put all of those things, all those values ad elements that talked about. Together, that's the outcome. So what's Again, I oversee programs and engagement for system is so I want to continue to encourage innovation program planning just as we asked staff and residents to re brave during our annual citywide book Club, we encourage our staff to bring ideas in innovation and program. Brave and to refine and define how we add value to our community. Thank you. Thank any questions, just questions councilor per so so helpful to see the
rundown and just want to name and appreciate how much you all continue to go after outside grants and working with the friends, the type of work that helps relieve the pressure on, you know, the library board levied the city. Let just want to name all the work that goes into sort of procuring that and planning for that and just really appreciate it. Also want to acknowledge your mention of the Hemingway library. Can't not mention it. And live nearby in sight, even in the slightest some pictures of I think the letter in the park. Yes, I walk through the anytime soon jumps out, but just want to name how and press have been with how proactive libraries been. Well, that construction is going on just to make sure there's programming in the neighborhood and make sure there's adequate hours and other branches just because it
is a big loss for families. And our neighbor did not have it during construction, but it's going to be such a huge, huge, huge asset once it's time. So just want to name those things. Really appreciate it. Thank you. I appreciate that. And just as fly, we're doing 2 additional library to park programs this year. I did quite a few last year was a lot probably too many, probably too ambitious. So you know, you live and you learn. But we're doing them again this year. Just less and number. council, PRESIDENT Thanks, MADAM Chair, thanks so much for the presentation. Especially love the video really helped bring bring things to life. And I just want to appreciate your focus on the why and the theory behind the programming. I actually really liked the
first part of the presentation that talks about that theory because I think all too often it's really easy to just, you know, do programs by 20 per when we don't stop to ask why we just programs and attendance and your emphasis on the why the connecting flavors mission the outcomes. Not just the outputs of not just how many people came, but what happened as a result of them coming, I think, is really Kirk Live. 2 questions. One is what do you what do you hear in terms of listening to community that people want to see more of in terms of programming that we maybe struggle to provide and second, you mentioned partners and figuring out what can we provide that our partners can and vice versa. I think often about how between us and parks and rec. We're you know, we're all one city, even s p p s community education. And I'm wondering if there's intention behind deciding to put a
particular program in a particular location thinking about. Does every family does every child within a certain amount of distance, for example, are certain neighborhood between us parks and rec in his s have access to. Toddler Todd Time, right? Any such program. So that we're really making sure that between all 3 of us, every neighborhood is well served or is that? Is that kind of a level detail beyond what's what's going on right now? I would say tat is a level of detail be on and it's something to consider its not something that I have actively participated terms of like. If we think about a partner a program like, oh, what is part story? It is a consideration, but I don't know if we talk to each other about it. If that if that's like the core of your question, can you repeat
the first yet? Just that are there things that we hear from community of people would like to see that we So that's one of the things that is nice about traditional evaluation methods where we asked light, you did you enjoy this program? Did you learn anything new? What more would you like to see? So we often do hear that folks like or cultural programs. So we did our Juneteenth program last year, almost every survey results and we want more of this meeting. We want more historical or programs that. Center history or center content that helps them learn more about the history of Minnesota. So the way that program went, it talked about Juneteenth. But in the context of like, Minnesota's ties to slavery or enslavement during
that period. And folks are like, I had no idea because Minnesota, so far north that it know that there are any connections. So we'd like to know more about that. So I've seen that quite a I can think of like experience when I was at Hennepin County have only been here years. So I have some context of what people ask for a Saint Paul. But when I was at Hennepin County, folks were really interested programs around food, justice community building. Councilor Thanks for Joseph. I don't have questions. I wanted to say thank you to all of you. Insane public libraries for your work. Really in all at the commitment and dedication that we have, especially in bringing in creative, innovative programming, especially programming programming that's culturally relevant and to our communities and really meeting
our committees for the ad. And so I just also really appreciate the intentional work you all to in collecting data and making sure that w use that to figure out where we need to boost funding inner cities here, especially really appreciate just the piece from the library go lead the east side disparities and that the extra funding there to make sure that we expand that program, too. Her family's the east side. So those are my over at that. And again, thank you so much for their presentations today from the both of you, counselor for Thanks are just on the off of council PRESIDENT Makers point. I think the. The overlap of sort of the different city departments or school facilities is so different by neighborhood to like in Midway is an example. There's multiple park spaces,
but neither of them are are programmed or at least Greenfield Veglia few times a year has some spot programming. But it's not a program space for its part live. Right? Park is not a program space, right? You know, we the elements, entry and Hancock wrecked its program. But other than that, there's really nothing in midway for public access. That's program Betty Marks even got here now is for that early childhood. So it is actually somewhat unique to have like in certain neighborhoods, the library would be the place for the most dedicated programming. So yeah, it is just a huge, huge boost because it's master families young kids. Are folks looking for knowing that it's something where there is that Sonny programming even in Midway is a little bit. A little bit And to your point, when we did library library in the
park. There was a lot of coordination that we had to navigate to make that happen because they aren't set up for programming. And Horton Park is a passive park, which means it doesn't have a clubhouse is not attend. It. So there was a lot of additional work that we had to do with parks to sort of activate that space to even make it program ready. So thank you for acknowledging that. decisions. Are just. I appreciate just kind of hanging a little bit more about the programming as well. And I think sometimes he we hear acasually through like the different events and the different options that are available. And I know that it can vary per. But on the library. And I'm just kind of wondering, do you have like a overview of just kind of like what's offered at which libraries particular just like? What are the programs
already in library or like, you know, if you're kind of curious to see like which one, but also just to help when it comes to just continuing to get folks to know about the different types of a programming that available that are available. Yes, so you can actually access that quite easily on our website. So we have online calendar its bid, Leo of its and you can filter by location. You can filter by age. You can filter by the type of program that you're interested is a cultural celebration. If it's a story time, you can filter that way and it will bring you back those results quite easily on our website. Also, we do traditionally promote the program so you can go into branch and are typically would
be flyers available. I'm like I mentioned social media and things like that. But for easiest quickest access to get the information you're looking for in our public website is the best place to get it. Thank you. Yeah, I just often I'm like so many people MAY have questions about where to go for things. So, you know, to over 1000, viewers at I think it's always good to hear kind of where they had access. Want to know something specific. You can always reach out to us. We could make a little list or something like that and shoot it over to you. Thank you. Any other questions? Well, thank you, Alina. I again, just kind of echo what my colleagues are saying, but I really appreciate hearing about just the the diverse range of programming provided like how we've evolved our programming. Over time. And then I also really appreciated hearing
about the outcomes because council readings point that's important when we're looking at like, you know, looking through budget and what would what are the needs and how can we help support that? And so thank you. And I I also love the video. I was that both of the re brave events and they were extremely popular. And then even, you know, outside of brave event, there's usually art. And there's just a lot happening in the program that I really enjoyed I know think the community really, really appreciate as well. So I want to thank you for that. Thank you. Board chair just and members of library board. I appreciate your time this afternoon. Thank you. Before we adjourn for the day, I speaking of library,
the park. I want to highlight an event coming up here on JUNE 14th from 10 to 12, 30. We have library in the park at Horton Park laying the first stone, which is basically we are celebrating te construction of the him Le Pen. One Midway Library. There will a secure. There will be. It's a kickoff celebration. There will be a dj. There will be ice cream. There will be community art making for the new building. Double Dutch, a cat who or scavenger hunt and more. And so I'm not sure what don't know. They've been to Qatar scavenger hunt, but I'm really excited. To the point about programming, like I really appreciate the creative programming that goes into these events. And I'll be there and can't wait to do so. Thank you so much, Chair Joseph. Look,
happens and word for of the time. sure you guys have a boring regular. Send 5 more before. It's like at to resolve for Great, ok? Well, thank you so much to everyone for being here appreciate all the conversations day and with nothing else to come for us. We are