[0:00]

[0:00] OK this is the August library Advisory

[0:04] Commission meeting, 2026.

[0:06] Sorry.

[0:08] OK.

[0:10] I call this Thursday, August 20 meeting of the library

[0:13] Advisory Commission to order.

[0:15] We'll start with the roll call.

[0:16] Desiree van loon, tomasina Capo Deborah Gentry, Mary

[0:22] Ann Reddick, Katie McCarthy.

[0:24] Mark McCall.

[0:26] All right.

[0:26] Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

[0:30] You can stand.

[0:33] I try not to make sure anyone trips.

[0:34] So then it should be coming up.

[0:36] And this is as close as TV'S ever gone, I swear.

[0:45]

[0:48] Next time, I'll wear American flag shirts.

[0:51] But you have to wait.

[0:52] Yeah, I'll wave in the.

[0:56] Lights there we go.

[0:58] OK I pledge allegiance to the flag

[1:02] of the United States of America, and to the Republic

[1:05] for which it stands.

[1:06] One nation under God, indivisible,

[1:09] with liberty and justice for all.

[1:11]

[1:18] OK staff reports.

[1:20] All right, guys, we made it to the summer.

[1:23] We're back.

[1:25] Also for staff.

[1:26] You made it through the summer.

[1:28] So, some fun things that have been going on.

[1:33] Hollyhock library is officially closed today.

[1:36] We were there.

[1:37] Hollyhock were there packing up everything we did not know.

[1:41] The moving company gave us carts to put all the books on.

[1:44] So we didn't have to pack up books into boxes

[1:46] and then remember their order.

[1:48] So it went very well.

[1:50] Everyone's very sad to be leaving our little baby

[1:53] hollyhock, but also very excited to be

[1:56] in the building with our Resource Center

[1:58] that we direct people to the senior center

[2:00] so we still can get the bingo parking lot crazy.

[2:04] But staff have been going crazy with new programs,

[2:06] so we'll be doing that because we have our very own space.

[2:09] But we do have larger rooms.

[2:10] So as our storytimes grow larger than our baby hollyhock.

[2:14] We'll be able to move into bigger and bigger rooms.

[2:16] So I can't wait.

[2:18] We are trying to as we approved last meeting in June.

[2:22] We'll be rotating now with hollyhock

[2:24] in our commission meeting.

[2:25] So double check exactly which location.

[2:28] First time at hollyhock will be in October,

[2:30] and I'll try to make sure that we

[2:31] do like a nice big tour for you guys to see everything as well.

[2:36] Next library of things kits have been going crazy.

[2:40] Thank you Megan for also being in here

[2:41] while we're talking about it.

[2:42] Megan is the one that has to do all of the records

[2:44] for our library of things.

[2:46] Kelsey and I go on shopping sprees and buy random things,

[2:48] and then she has to figure out how

[2:49] to put them in our collection.

[2:52] So when it gets cooler outside and you

[2:56] want to hang out outside.

[2:57] We have bags for cornhole, which we actually have at this park.

[3:01] If you just want to walk over and have a good time.

[3:03] Also, if you've lost all yours, the corn is out of it.

[3:06] You can take them home.

[3:07] Nice little travel pack.

[3:09] We also got metal detectors coming in.

[3:12] So go find some lucky coins out in the park.

[3:14] Don't dig it up, but share anything you find, please.

[3:18] But because it's still the middle of summer and it's hot,

[3:21] we've also continuing to do more American Girl dolls.

[3:25] Those are huge hits.

[3:27] So now we're duplicating some of the ones we've had.

[3:29] But we also added Felicity as the final America 250.

[3:33] She's from 1874.

[3:35] Nope 17 1774.

[3:38] There three years before.

[3:41] Thank you Megan.

[3:42] And then more Tony boxes and all of those as well.

[3:45] So library of things.

[3:46] We also heard from another library.

[3:47] They've been scoping out what we are doing.

[3:50] So now they are going to be copying

[3:51] us with some American Girl dolls and a few other things.

[3:54] So Bravo to staff and Megan for coming

[3:57] up with really cool ideas, and actually put them into motion.

[4:00] And then we are hosting.

[4:03] This is going to be a really hard word for me,

[4:05] reflecting America a semiquincentennial.

[4:07] Oh, I killed it on the first try.

[4:10] Living history event.

[4:12] The goal is to bring in speakers from our community that

[4:15] serve time with the service.

[4:17] Have great family stories of being

[4:20] in surprise from the beginning.

[4:21] Have family stories dating all the way back

[4:23] to our American Revolution, and other stories from our community

[4:28] that are just quintessential American.

[4:31] We're hoping to get a really good event together.

[4:33] The call for speakers is through August 31.

[4:35] So if you know anybody, tell them to apply.

[4:38] We're hoping to get at least a few speakers to have some really

[4:41] cool ideas, and just show the history

[4:42] of not only surprise and the Valley, but our entire country.

[4:46] Did you say the date.

[4:47] The final date for Call of speakers is August 31.

[4:51] Our date for the event is November 19.

[4:54] So right after Veteran's Day, we wanted to have one

[4:57] last push for our America 250.

[5:01] I think that hit all of our major events.

[5:03] Staff reports are done.

[5:06] Well, that was fast.

[5:08] OK, moving on to the.

[5:14] Commission agenda.

[5:16] Let's see.

[5:18] Wow I have one more.

[5:21] Oh, sorry.

[5:23] I should've kept my mouth shut.

[5:26] This is what happens when I'm alone in a different library.

[5:28] I don't have people to bounce ideas off of but.

[5:31]

[5:34] Our lovely library director here won a public Service Award.

[5:38] Please tell me the official title of the award, please.

[5:42] Thank you.

[5:43] The Gabe Zimmerman community public Service Award.

[5:47] Community builder, large community tab.

[5:50] Nice I won in 2020 2024.

[5:53] We got two winners in the room.

[5:55] Guys, this is fantastic.

[5:57] Hot dog.

[5:59] Good for you.

[6:00] It's a big deal.

[6:01] It is a big deal.

[6:03] It is.

[6:04] We're very proud of Kelsey.

[6:05] She got to go down and have a little speech.

[6:07] And a bunch of library staff went down to support

[6:10] and had Ashton come because it's her birthday.

[6:13] I'm sorry.

[6:14] What day was it.

[6:16] I don't know.

[6:17] Feels like this accolade is probably more

[6:18] important than date of birth.

[6:21] Should we take this to a vote.

[6:24] Real obnoxious.

[6:25] I was like, I've never worked on my birthday.

[6:27] I'm so sorry, I love you.

[6:28] Have a great time.

[6:29] But either way, it just shows what she's

[6:32] done with this library system.

[6:34] She was the first employee.

[6:35] She's the one that brought all of this to fruition

[6:37] and somehow allows us to do really crazy ideas.

[6:40] Half of them might be hers, but we're just

[6:43] really excited that not only is Kelce on the list

[6:47] and able to show what she does, but also she

[6:50] brings surprise public library along with them.

[6:51] So great job.

[6:52] I'm sorry I missed that.

[6:54] My bad.

[6:54] I'm not.

[6:55] Should we do our reenactment.

[6:57] Yes do your speech.

[6:58] Can you give it online.

[7:01] Yeah, yeah, just go to the website.

[7:04] You can watch it.

[7:05] She's now more uncomfortable talking about me.

[7:10] All right, now we can finish.

[7:12] I'm done.

[7:13] Thank you.

[7:13] OK OK.

[7:15] Moving on to the regular agenda.

[7:19] Item one consideration and action pertaining

[7:21] to the June 11, 2026 library Advisory Commission meetings

[7:26] is a meeting minutes.

[7:27] Is there a motion to approve the meeting minutes.

[7:30] I motion to approve the June 11, 2026 library Advisory Commission

[7:35] meeting minutes I second.

[7:38] It's been moved and seconded.

[7:41] All those in favor say Aye.

[7:43] Aye all those opposed.

[7:45] Nay the motion carries.

[7:48] The minutes are approved.

[7:51] Item number two.

[7:52] Discussion and action pertaining to the selection of the library

[7:55] Advisory Commission.

[7:56] Chair discussion is open Yep And you have your voting slips.

[8:01] You have to put your name and who you

[8:03] nominate after your discussion.

[8:05] Just so I've got a few rounds for when

[8:07] we do chair and co-chair.

[8:08]

[8:13] Discuss first.

[8:16] Yeah I was just letting him know that the thoughts, opinions you

[8:19] just nominate and then you vote.

[8:21] First you nominate, then you use those to vote.

[8:23] OK, but I wasn't supposed to call for a vote

[8:26] to start the discussion.

[8:27] I'm really bad.

[8:29] No, no.

[8:29] You're fine.

[8:30] You're fine if you like.

[8:31] I've been gone for six months.

[8:32] It was only like one month off.

[8:35] Well, I would like to nominate Mark, a previous award winner

[8:39] to.

[8:39]

[8:42] Thank you for a chair.

[8:44] For chair.

[8:44] Yeah, that's the one we're on.

[8:46] Yes Yes sorry.

[8:48]

[8:55] I'm sorry.

[8:55] You're writing this down first or what.

[8:57] OK oh, OK.

[8:59] So is there a second.

[9:00] Yeah oh, you have to second the nomination.

[9:05] Yeah, I think so.

[9:06] We're so good at this, you guys.

[9:09] It's been a year, to be fair.

[9:10] I think I thought we'd do nominations

[9:11] and then you vote, and then we read off the votes.

[9:14] So is there another person who would like

[9:16] to be chair is the question.

[9:18] Oh, or one.

[9:20] You want to nominate someone else.

[9:21] I'm going to deflect the nomination to Desiree

[9:23] and nominate Desiree again to continue.

[9:25] Oh, because I'm doing so well, at least.

[9:28]

[9:31] I'd like to nominate Tommy.

[9:34] I got a rumble.

[9:35]

[9:39] She's in a very good chair.

[9:40] I appreciate that.

[9:41]

[9:44] Anybody else board chair.

[9:47] OK, now you get to write your name

[9:49] and the person you vote for.

[9:51] For just chair.

[9:52] Yes OK.

[9:54] You can use this if you have extras.

[9:56] No, I'm just going to cross it out.

[9:58]

[10:01] It's also hard to do with the first month back.

[10:07] I know I do feel sorry for us.

[10:11] Dang it.

[10:11] OK, I will take it.

[10:13] You don't have to read them out loud.

[10:14] Yes OK.

[10:15] Tabulate and then tell them who won.

[10:18] You don't say thank you.

[10:20]

[10:26] Last one.

[10:29] Over here.

[10:33] I'm just going to take this.

[10:34] Do you know who's there.

[10:35] Yes OK, good.

[10:39] All right.

[10:39] So, do I have to read.

[10:40] I don't have to read off each one.

[10:41] I have to put it in the minutes, so I guess we do.

[10:44] That's like mixing up.

[10:47] So it's a surprise.

[10:48]

[10:52] Commissioner Gentry votes for Commissioner McCaul.

[10:55] Commissioner McCaul votes for Commissioner

[10:57] van loon and Commissioner Thomasina

[11:01] voted for Commissioner.

[11:03] Thomasina commissioner Mariann voted for Commissioner.

[11:07] Thomasina I'm writing.

[11:08] Just reading the names that you're putting on there.

[11:11] Yes OK.

[11:12] Commissioner McCarthy voted for Commissioner

[11:14] Tommy and Commissioner Desiree voted for Commissioner Tommy.

[11:19] So we have a new chair.

[11:20]

[11:23] All right, so my acceptance.

[11:25] Yeah it's got to be longer than Kelly.

[11:26] Yeah, yeah.

[11:27] How long I think it was, like, three minutes, so.

[11:29] OK, I can make it.

[11:30] Do not forget who the inaugural was.

[11:32] OK beautiful.

[11:37] So then we need a motion to accept it.

[11:41] OK right.

[11:42] We do that and then we move on to coaching.

[11:45] Yeah all right, so is there a motion

[11:48] to approve the new commission.

[11:50] Commission chair I motion to approve Tomasino

[11:54] da Capo as commissioner.

[11:55] Chair for the 2627 library year.

[12:02] Seconded oh, yeah.

[12:04] OK, second, it's been moved and seconded.

[12:08] I'll call for a vote.

[12:10] All those in favor of Thomas Capo being

[12:13] the chair of the library Advisory Commission

[12:14] for the 2627 fiscal year.

[12:19] All those in favor say Aye.

[12:20] Aye all those opposed.

[12:22] Nay the motion carries.

[12:24] Yay again.

[12:26]

[12:29] OK, so discussion and action pertaining

[12:34] to the selection of the library Advisory Commission.

[12:37] Vice Chair or co-chair.

[12:39] What's the official title.

[12:40] Vice Chair.

[12:41] What does it say.

[12:42] Well, this says co-chair.

[12:43] This says Vice Chair.

[12:44] Vice Chair.

[12:45] OK OK.

[12:46] My bad.

[12:46] Fine Vice Chair.

[12:48] Meetings canceled.

[12:48] So the discussion is open.

[12:54] So I'd like to nominate Mark McCall.

[12:59] Thank you.

[13:00] I think he already won that award, so.

[13:02]

[13:07] Well, then I'll throw it back to you and nominate.

[13:11] Again and we'd be happy to help you.

[13:13]

[13:18] Any more.

[13:18]

[13:22] No OK.

[13:24] All right.

[13:24] So I guess let's write it on our ballots

[13:30] and then hand them to Ashley where is it still the tile.

[13:44] Yeah it is.

[13:45] Yeah I tried to hang it up and bought a bunch of studs,

[13:48] so I didn't.

[13:48] Oh what do you call it.

[13:52] The Velcro.

[13:54] The magic for me.

[13:56] Oh what do you call the script.

[13:59] That's how I hang it in my office, because it's all

[14:01] asbestos, so we can't.

[14:03] So we use the command.

[14:04] All right.

[14:05] Justice commissioner van loon votes.

[14:08] Commissioner McCaul.

[14:10] Commissioner Thomasina nominates commissioner.

[14:13] Desiree commissioner Gentry nominates.

[14:18] Commissioner McCaul.

[14:19]

[14:21] Commissioner Mary Ann nominates commissioner McGuirk.

[14:26] Commissioner McCarthy nominates Commissioner

[14:28] Mark and Commissioner McCaul nominates commissioner Desiree.

[14:33] So we do have a majority.

[14:35] Oh, over time, I had to look up.

[14:40] So now someone needs to make a motion.

[14:43] Is there a motion.

[14:46] Is there a motion to approve.

[14:48] Commissioner McCall, as the Vice Chair of the library Advisory

[14:51] Commission, I move to select commissioner

[14:54] McCall as Vice Chair of the library Advisory Commission,

[14:57] I second.

[14:59] Thank you.

[15:00] It's been motion and seconded.

[15:02] We'll now call for a vote.

[15:03] So all those in favor say Aye.

[15:05] Aye all those opposed.

[15:07] Nay the motion carries.

[15:09] Congratulations Thank you.

[15:11] All right.

[15:13] Thank you.

[15:19] Yeah do we have fun here.

[15:20] Oh, absolutely.

[15:21] OK yeah.

[15:23] Oh, no.

[15:25] Please, no.

[15:27] All right.

[15:28] Item 3.

[15:28] Discussion and action pertaining.

[15:30] Oh, sorry.

[15:30] Item 4.

[15:31] We just did that presentation and discussion

[15:33] of staff attendance at the American Library Association

[15:35] 2020 sixth annual conference.

[15:38] I love this stuff.

[15:39] You guys love this stuff.

[15:42] We love to send people to our conferences.

[15:44] And of course, every year, our largest one

[15:47] that we tend to get a lot of staff for

[15:49] is our American Library Association conference.

[15:51] This year was in Chicago, and we were luckily

[15:53] able to send four people.

[15:55] So you have to listen to four different staff talk about how

[15:57] wonderful we are and how wonderful the conference is

[15:59] and all of that.

[16:01] And they're not lying at all, but we will have them go through

[16:04] and I pass it over to Bambi to get us started.

[16:07] Yes so this was my first time attending the American Library

[16:12] Association conference.

[16:14] Not my first time in Chicago, but it was my first time

[16:16] as a tourist in Chicago.

[16:19] So I fell in love with it.

[16:20] So the conference was amazing.

[16:22] It was from June 25 to June 29.

[16:26] Oh, hang on, back up.

[16:27] OK, here.

[16:29] Here are all the attendees.

[16:31] So I'm with Megan one of the days, and then Rachael and Emily

[16:34] and I got to fly together.

[16:35] So we were at the airport bright and early.

[16:38] So that's how the session started.

[16:42] When we got there, Megan and I both

[16:45] attended a new member orientation,

[16:47] so that was kind of cool.

[16:48] They gave us the whole layout of what

[16:50] to expect, how to get in on round tables,

[16:54] how to join other committees at the ALA.

[17:00] It was just kind of an all in all

[17:01] informative, all encompassing.

[17:04] Some of the other conferences I went to or not conferences,

[17:07] seminars leading from the middle,

[17:09] building consensus from influence, not authority.

[17:12] So that one was really cool.

[17:14] It really spoke to me as a middle manager,

[17:17] talked the whole room was nothing,

[17:19] but middle managers spoke a lot about having

[17:24] to be able to sell things to the people that you're leading,

[17:28] but then also be able to communicate

[17:31] and share that knowledge up or down,

[17:34] depending on which way it's going.

[17:35] And so it was kind of nice to be around a bunch of people that

[17:38] could relate and share stories.

[17:42] They talked about being a glue helping motivate the staff when

[17:48] you have new things come down that maybe seem

[17:51] a little daunting, but still trying to sell it to them,

[17:53] that it's going to be great.

[17:56] It also talked about being able to adjust and interpret

[17:59] what needs to be said.

[18:01] So maybe something's being told to you from senior management,

[18:05] but you need to be able to interpret that to your staff.

[18:08] So it gave a lot of tools.

[18:09] It was a pretty lengthy slide show that we were a part of.

[18:13] And it was a lot of discussion, so that was a lot of fun.

[18:16] Another one I attended was called Becoming

[18:18] a library triple threat.

[18:19] How improv helped you become a better librarian,

[18:22] teammate, and leader.

[18:23] Rachel and I were in that one together,

[18:25] and this one was so much fun that we just did it at our staff

[18:28] meeting this last week.

[18:31] So talked about how improv can really

[18:33] help teams be better listeners, be better storytellers,

[18:39] be able to team build.

[18:42] One of the exercises we did was you went around the room

[18:45] and each person just had was able to say one sentence

[18:49] to create an entire story.

[18:51] And so it allowed you to show your ideas how those can work

[18:56] together to create something really

[18:58] cool, strengthen the teamwork.

[19:00] It sparked creativity.

[19:02] It helped just in general.

[19:04] It was a lot of fun.

[19:05] We had a lot of fun doing it at ALA

[19:07] and then we had even more fun, I think, doing it with our staff

[19:09] because we were talking about library specific stuff.

[19:13] And so it turned out to be a real fun activity.

[19:17] Another one I went to this one I kind of stumbled upon.

[19:20] It was called Breaking barriers a librarians story

[19:22] of changing times.

[19:24] So I was using the app.

[19:25] It was my first time using the app.

[19:27] I didn't really know what to expect when I

[19:30] tell you this place was so big.

[19:33] Or what was the name of the convention center.

[19:36] McCormick Place.

[19:37] It's over 1,000,000ft So imagine and they

[19:41] don't really give you a map.

[19:42] You just pick out what you want to go to.

[19:44] So you're just walking for miles, what felt like miles

[19:48] and miles to get to these.

[19:49] So this one I was like, this sounds cool.

[19:51] It's right next to me.

[19:52] I don't want to walk any further.

[19:54] And it ended up being one of my favorites.

[19:56] It actually was for retirees from ALA that had

[20:00] been on previous round tables.

[20:02] And so while I wasn't a retiree, I

[20:06] think there's something to be said

[20:07] about hearing from the people that have come before you.

[20:11] And so the guy that was talking there,

[20:14] he was the executive director of ALA from 1972 to 1985,

[20:20] and he worked with Nixon.

[20:21] He worked with Barbara Bush.

[20:23] He, like, was one of the leading people

[20:25] to start like to make sure literacy services basically

[20:32] adult literacy campaigns.

[20:34] We're starting with Barbara Bush.

[20:36] I mean, this guy was phenomenal.

[20:37] So I couldn't have lucked out on stumbling into a better one.

[20:41] Like when I say it was my favorite, it really was.

[20:43] They invited me to their retiree roundtable that night.

[20:46] I mean, it was just a lot of fun.

[20:48] But one of the things that he spoke to that during that

[20:52] was about food insecurity.

[20:54] And he talked about how food insecurity and illness, how they

[20:58] correlate with low literacy.

[21:00] And so it's like he was saying that it's libraries, jobs

[21:03] to focus on, not just the literacy part,

[21:07] but we need to be collaborating with agencies to help with food

[21:12] insecurities and things like that because they

[21:14] all go hand in hand.

[21:16] And so that was really interesting.

[21:18] He was like saying, we need more programs

[21:20] to work with adults as well.

[21:21] On low literacy.

[21:22] I think we focus a lot on the early literacy

[21:24] and we're constantly pushing early literacy,

[21:27] but we forget that not everybody was educated the same way

[21:31] or came from the same socioeconomic background.

[21:34] And so he was just really saying, since he's

[21:38] been in like that's been his mission

[21:39] is to try and correlate the get more and more together

[21:45] about the early literacy, the adult

[21:47] literacy, the correlation between food insecurity.

[21:50] So it was really cool.

[21:53] I went to a lot more, but those were the main ones

[21:55] that I want to talk about.

[21:57] But the more fun things that I got to do

[21:59] is I heard someone even say they looked.

[22:02] I got to go to the Obama Presidential Center Library,

[22:05] and one of the ladies I was with knew the manager there.

[22:08] So I got the whole tour.

[22:11] I got to go into the staff area.

[22:14] We got all the ins and outs of how

[22:16] the Obamas selected the specific books in the library.

[22:20] And it was just it was super, super cool.

[22:24] Not only did they take how we have our seed library,

[22:26] they took it to a whole other level.

[22:28] They have a whole garden outside, a vegetable garden

[22:31] that people can actually pick the vegetables

[22:34] from and take them home.

[22:36] So it wasn't just inside the museum.

[22:38] It wasn't just that it was all outside.

[22:41] There was just so much to walk around, so much to see.

[22:44] I didn't get to go in the actual main.

[22:48] Let me show you here on this photo, that big brick

[22:52] thing in the middle that I'm standing

[22:53] in front of the second photo from the left.

[22:56] I didn't get to go inside there.

[22:57] That one wasn't open yet to the public,

[22:59] but we got to go into the actual museum part, which

[23:02] is I don't think I took any pictures of that on here,

[23:06] but the one to the right of that is inside the library,

[23:10] and the one to the left is inside the library.

[23:12] So really cool.

[23:14] They had a lot of program rooms that the library hopefully

[23:19] will be able to utilize.

[23:20] Because the library itself was pretty small.

[23:22] All, they meant it to be more of like a living room style

[23:26] that you can see, a lot of the wood, the ladders.

[23:29] It was just very quaint.

[23:31] They do their storytime right at a couch and a rug,

[23:34] right in what looks like a living room.

[23:37] So it was just very intimate.

[23:40] They had these really cool sound barrier things

[23:44] all throughout the ceiling.

[23:45] So while there was like 200 people inside this library,

[23:48] it was almost like silent in there,

[23:50] but everybody was talking.

[23:51] It was like the weirdest, weirdest thing,

[23:53] because whatever these sound, things were all on the ceiling.

[23:56] It just eliminated that sound, but super cool.

[24:00] That was probably one of my favorite things.

[24:02] Another thing, it was the 150th celebration for ala.

[24:06] We were there, I didn't even yeah, yes,

[24:09] I can't say that word, but so I got

[24:12] to go to a dinner and a celebration about the 150th.

[24:18] So that was a lot of fun.

[24:20] Somehow I just kept landing with all these vendors.

[24:22] I kept getting to go to these vendor dinners and stuff.

[24:26] And so I got to learn about these launch

[24:28] pad quests that were hopefully going to be getting

[24:30] here within our library system.

[24:32] They just launched with playaway.

[24:33] It's like one of the coolest things.

[24:35] They're kind of like a big pad and they have stem games

[24:38] on them and reading games and it's all math and science

[24:42] and they're super, super cool.

[24:43] So yeah, look out for those.

[24:46] What else did I get to do.

[24:47] I went to oh they'll talk more about the vendor thing.

[24:52] But it was a little overwhelming.

[24:54] I mean there were just like thousands.

[24:56] I'm not.

[24:57] That's not even an exaggeration.

[24:58] Thousands of vendors.

[25:00] I took a picture.

[25:02] They had American Girl dolls, and they had a big giant box.

[25:05] And you got to pick your American Girl doll

[25:07] that you wanted to pose with.

[25:09] So of course, had to take a photo.

[25:11] And then when I told you guys, I went kind of as a tourist

[25:14] this time I took the architecture river tour

[25:17] and that if you haven't ever done that was really amazing.

[25:21] So while I learned a lot about libraries,

[25:25] I think the networking and meeting the vendors

[25:29] and finding out about what other library systems are doing,

[25:32] hearing from past like that one was really cool.

[25:37] I had a blast.

[25:39] So I'm very appreciative that I got to go

[25:42] and I thought it was a lot of fun.

[25:45] Yeah OK.

[25:54] Hi, everyone.

[25:55] My name is Marissa Gonzalez.

[25:56] This is my second time going to ALA.

[25:58] I went two years ago as a very last minute substitute.

[26:03] So this time I was able to bring an extra suitcase.

[26:05] And it was much more fun because there

[26:08] are so many vendors at all times just

[26:10] throwing free things at you.

[26:12] So it's very important if you get

[26:13] to go bring an extra suitcase, you'll use it.

[26:16] OK, so this is my experience.

[26:19] This is my definitive ranking of all my tote bags at ALA.

[26:22] I got 14 of them.

[26:24] Wow, there are a lot.

[26:26] Just kidding.

[26:27] We're going to talk about how to best

[26:29] serve tweens and teens in their mental health

[26:31] through literature.

[26:32] I was super invested in this.

[26:36] Go back to that.

[26:38] They want to know at least the top one.

[26:40] Yeah tell us your favorite one.

[26:41] The librarians start in.

[26:43] Ignorance is pretty.

[26:44] That one's a really good one.

[26:45] I like that.

[26:45] The ACLU one.

[26:48] That one I got also for my best friend who's a public defender.

[26:51] So there are two of those.

[26:53] I think it says boom, the boom comic ones

[26:55] is really good because it's got the flat bottom like an IKEA

[26:58] bag.

[26:58] Yeah So for vibes, it's the ACLU one.

[27:05] And then the highlights one I think is the cutest.

[27:09] And then for practicality it's the boom because it's

[27:11] just it's the biggest one.

[27:13] It's going to fit the best.

[27:14] All those other tote bags were actually in the boom tote bag

[27:16] at one point.

[27:17] Oh, yeah.

[27:18] What's in the bags.

[27:22] It's the best.

[27:23] OK I also got a lunch box from the Library of Congress.

[27:27] There you go.

[27:28] Thank you.

[27:30] Library people.

[27:30] Get it.

[27:31] That's amazing.

[27:32] OK, so now we're going to talk about serving

[27:34] the mental health needs of teens through literature.

[27:38] So just a little overview of some terminology.

[27:42] Adverse childhood experience better known as ACEs

[27:44] are things traumatic events.

[27:48] So abuse neglect household challenges

[27:50] other adversities that are just a myriad of things.

[27:54] But aces for kids can lead to toxic stress.

[27:59] So prolonged experience or prolonged exposure

[28:01] to any of these things can lead to toxic stress, which can then

[28:04] impact young brains and affect things like attention span,

[28:08] learning, and decision making.

[28:09] So the antidote to that is pieces,

[28:13] which is positive childhood events, which include

[28:16] being in a safe, stable home, a good community,

[28:19] having trusted adults in their lives like librarians,

[28:22] and reading.

[28:23] Reading is actually a good, positive childhood event.

[28:27] Medically speaking, we had a pediatrician on staff

[28:30] at this presentation.

[28:31] It was very cool.

[28:33] Where do I go from there.

[28:35] Oh, I had a mom a few weeks ago who came up to the front desk

[28:40] with her little girl.

[28:41] And she said, I have to read this from the script.

[28:43] She said, this lady is a librarian.

[28:45] That means she can help you, not just when you need help

[28:47] with a scavenger hunt, but if you ever get lost

[28:50] or need help can come to her.

[28:52] Oh dang it, I thought I'd made me cry.

[28:55] I know she is a grown up you can trust.

[28:59] So having kids in the library is actually

[29:01] important to their developing mental health,

[29:04] not just their grips on all of the aspects of early literacy.

[29:08] So moving on from that to the totes,

[29:11] we talk about totes for a minute.

[29:14] Circle back.

[29:15] OK, so how can libraries help.

[29:18] The biggest one is to stock the hard stuff.

[29:20] All of the panelists on this particular talk

[29:23] were young adult or teen to middle grade,

[29:28] to picture book authors who are all adults

[29:32] who experienced a lot of adversity in their childhood.

[29:35] So their number one recommendation.

[29:38] And this goes for the pediatrician as well,

[29:39] is to stock the hard stuff.

[29:41] Books are a free space for kids where they can see that what

[29:45] they're going through is not completely unique, even

[29:48] though it is unique to them.

[29:49] It happens in the world, and it's not something

[29:51] they need to be ashamed of.

[29:53] It's not something they need to bottle

[29:54] up and push down for the rest of their lives

[29:56] and turn it into those aces.

[29:59] And then readers' advisory specifically

[30:01] for parents with struggling kids is a really

[30:03] big thing I have resources on.

[30:05] They had the most comprehensive list of everything seen things

[30:09] from body dysmorphia in toddlers loss of a parent,

[30:15] grandparent or caretaker.

[30:16] Just anything you could think of.

[30:18] They had books for kids, from toddler to tween.

[30:23] It was awesome.

[30:24] And then the pediatrician actually

[30:26] prescribes books to some of her younger patients,

[30:31] not patrons patients.

[30:33] And she always asks the question for kids who don't

[30:35] really like to read just yet.

[30:37] She says, if you were going to read a book about you,

[30:40] what kind of story would it be.

[30:42] So I think that's a really good piece of advice for anyone who

[30:45] has a young child come up to them and be like, I want a book,

[30:49] but I don't know what kind of book.

[30:50] That's a really good question to ask them,

[30:52] because it then puts the onus back on them

[30:54] and they get to reflect a little bit,

[30:55] and then they end up getting a book that they

[30:57] can see themselves in.

[30:58] However that may be.

[31:00] And then we have to keep being a safe space

[31:02] for all of our kiddos.

[31:04] That's really a huge part for the library.

[31:06] Part of the ACS that I forgot to mention earlier

[31:10] is that 19% of US teens have consulted

[31:13] ChatGPT for mental health help.

[31:15] Yikes 15% to 20% have clinical depression

[31:20] and 40% report persistent sadness or hopelessness.

[31:23] And these numbers only increase incrementally

[31:26] for our queer youth as well.

[31:28] Specifically for trans and nonbinary.

[31:31] So safe spaces are an absolute must.

[31:34] Having universal resources and especially paying attention to

[31:37] and forming good connections and bonds with our toddler

[31:42] all the way up to teen and tween when they need the most help

[31:45] and maybe don't have the tools to reach out for it,

[31:48] or they don't have someone at home who they can go to.

[31:52] So those are my biggest takeaways from that really

[31:55] informative panel.

[31:57] Thank you so much.

[31:58] I learned a lot.

[31:59] Awesome oh.

[32:05] She just went for the hot dogs and the toaster and the beans.

[32:08] We risked our lives.

[32:11] I'm not as funny as Rachel, and I'm not as eloquent as Bambi.

[32:16] But Rachel did.

[32:19] But Rachel did say something that I want to piggyback off of.

[32:22] I went to school outside of Chicago, in River Forest.

[32:26] That's where I got my m.l.s. degree 20 years ago this year.

[32:34] I became a librarian.

[32:36] I started working in libraries in 2007, and when my mom died,

[32:40] I moved to California to start my first full time

[32:43] library job there.

[32:45] So I've been working in libraries for 20 years.

[32:52] So I knew Chicago pretty well.

[32:55] So I stepped close to the conference center.

[32:59] And I had some and it was my first one.

[33:02] It was my first time going and it was really overwhelming,

[33:06] but I've found some great takeaways.

[33:11] These are just a list of the things that came to my mind

[33:15] when I was trying to put things together about the conference.

[33:19] It was kind of like a mind clap.

[33:21] It was like one of those cloud word cloud things.

[33:26] Very kind of disorganized, but I was trying to put it together.

[33:33] Rachel said something about stocking the hard stuff.

[33:35] I work in collections.

[33:37] I work in collections.

[33:38] I buy the team material here, the Spanish collection,

[33:42] I work, I buy the digital overdrive.

[33:45] And so I went.

[33:47] I took away from the collection development.

[33:50] I went to one on eradicating white supremacy in libraries,

[33:56] and it talked about being intentional with your selection,

[34:01] don't buy for just one demographic.

[34:04] You have to buy for everybody because when you serve

[34:07] everybody, and when somebody comes into the library

[34:10] and they want something that they can see themselves into

[34:16] and it I've seen it.

[34:18] When I hand a book to somebody who really who was looking

[34:24] for it, or I recommended a book and their face lights

[34:27] up because they know you took the time

[34:29] to learn who they are as a person

[34:32] and find a book that reflected their life experience.

[34:36] There's so many different lived experiences in this world.

[34:40] It's hard to buy books for everyone,

[34:42] but the least we can do is try.

[34:45] So as collection development.

[34:47] I've worked as a branch manager, I've

[34:51] worked as head of collections, I've

[34:54] worked as a circulation clerk.

[34:55] I've done so many different positions,

[34:57] and I have spoken to so many different kinds of people.

[35:01] This was just a reminder to me that I serve everybody,

[35:06] I serve all these people, and so they all deserve

[35:09] something to see themselves in.

[35:11] So ensure access to diverse stories,

[35:15] because in a time where people are trying to take away some

[35:19] of those stories, it's really important

[35:21] that libraries continue to be the safe space

[35:24] for holding all those stories.

[35:29] And they shouldn't just have stories

[35:31] that reflect their experience, but they should have stories

[35:34] that make them feel welcomed and affirmed because they don't

[35:38] always get that in schools.

[35:41] Or like growing up with other kids, they get bullied.

[35:44] I got bullied as a kid because I wore

[35:45] glasses, got weird nicknames.

[35:48] And so libraries are someplace they come to be safe.

[35:55] The other thing I learned a lot about

[35:57] was how to advocate for libraries.

[36:00] The data alone doesn't tell the story.

[36:04] Libraries have been suffering a lot of funding cuts.

[36:08] So when you advocate they reminded me when you advocate

[36:12] for library use, the data that is amazing to tell a story

[36:17] because people hear numbers and they're like,

[36:21] OK, yeah, that sounds good, but what

[36:23] does that mean as an impact.

[36:26] And that's when you bring in the story of a homeless person

[36:33] coming in to find something at the library,

[36:36] and the library gave him a water bottle or something

[36:39] to make him feel comfortable, or you want to pair those numbers

[36:45] with faces of people to make it, because that

[36:49] is how you are going to advocate for your library.

[36:53] And we all have a part to do play in that.

[36:59] Every one of us.

[37:00] And they were like every one of you

[37:02] can be an advocate from your library,

[37:05] and it doesn't matter where you are

[37:07] or who you're talking to could be talking to the person

[37:09] doing your teeth.

[37:10] You can advocate for your library.

[37:12] There have advocated to the library at my doctor's office,

[37:16] I'm like, have you seen the latest stuff that we got today.

[37:18] Oh, you like that.

[37:19] Oh, you should come to the library.

[37:22] People probably want me to shut up, but I keep doing it anyway.

[37:27] Preach the Gospel of library and Doctor.

[37:32] The keynote, KEYNOTE speakers.

[37:36] The speakers I really related to was

[37:39] where LeVar Burton and Doctor Biden because guys

[37:43] have to see Doctor Biden.

[37:45] Doctor what does that not come up.

[37:46] When you were talking, Doctor and Rachel Maddow said

[37:49] she had a crush on all of us.

[37:50] Yeah Doctor Biden, can we go next time.

[37:55] I'll pay for my way.

[37:56] No, literally.

[37:56] I know commissioners are encouraged to go to.

[38:00]

[38:04] New Orleans to sit up in the front row.

[38:07] The front row right by the stage.

[38:09] And I took a bunch of pictures and I

[38:12] should have put one in there.

[38:13] But she had such a mom feel and she was just

[38:17] like I say to my students all the time

[38:20] that we have to commit ourselves to acts of kindness,

[38:23] that we have to be the ones to keep the positivity going.

[38:28] In a world where there's too much

[38:30] anger, too much hostility, too much impatience with each other.

[38:35] She's like.

[38:35] She went on about how much she loved

[38:37] libraries, how they were all welcoming and inclusive places.

[38:41] And she's like, keep doing that.

[38:44] I love libraries and I love you.

[38:47] And then LeVar Burton kind of bookend

[38:52] with LeVar Burton and these thousands of librarians reading

[38:58] and he was.

[39:01] He talked about what are the odds like.

[39:05] Yeah, it was just favorite shows.

[39:07] Oh my God.

[39:08] He talked about that.

[39:10] He talked about Reading Rainbow how it was like playing roots.

[39:15] How playing Geordi La Forge, how he gave

[39:18] his input on his characters.

[39:20] And they said, we have to keep pushing the positivity

[39:25] and bringing light.

[39:27] People love to read.

[39:29] He just loves Reading Rainbow and he loves that he's reading.

[39:34] That's what we all love.

[39:36] And then he finished, finished up with all of us

[39:39] singing Reading Rainbow.

[39:40] And that's fine.

[39:42] That's awesome.

[39:44] That was basically that was basically.

[39:49] That was the most fun.

[39:51] That was my.

[39:52] No, literally it was amazing.

[39:53] And the vendors.

[39:54] So many things.

[39:55] So many ideas for Library of things.

[39:57] So many ideas for more books.

[40:01] Yeah so take it away, EO.

[40:03] How am I supposed to.

[40:07] Like oh my goodness, you guys were so good.

[40:11] You got this.

[40:12] Thank you.

[40:13] OK, so my name is Emily.

[40:15] We have two Emily's that work in our system

[40:17] currently, so they call me EO is my last name.

[40:22]

[40:25] Thank you for clarifying.

[40:27] But this was my second time going to ALA annual.

[40:30] My first time was with Rachel.

[40:33] They can't send us without each other.

[40:35] We're a bonded.

[40:37] Yes we just learned so much together.

[40:41]

[40:43] But it was my first time in Chicago.

[40:46] I've been all over the Midwest, but I had never been to Chicago.

[40:49] I absolutely fell in love with it there.

[40:53] Want to go back already, but it was such a cool experience.

[40:58] So up on the screen or in your little

[41:00] packets are a list of the panels I was able to attend.

[41:05] I think the ones that really resonated the most with me was

[41:10] the pre preschool because we're always talking

[41:14] about pre kindergarten and at first that's

[41:16] what I thought the panel was.

[41:17] And I'm like wait we said pre twice like but it was all they

[41:24] gave so many good resources.

[41:26] It was a Wisconsin library that got to partner with PBS.

[41:32] And they have so many good resources

[41:35] for social and emotional learning for toddlers

[41:39] before they go off to preschool.

[41:40] Because the issue that they were having is like,

[41:44] that's the first time the kid has

[41:46] been apart from their adults.

[41:48] And that's the thing I didn't even think of with my toddlers

[41:51] and my toddlers.

[41:51] Storytime and just how to build those really

[41:55] secure attachments with adults.

[41:57] So they're not like they don't have that anxious attachment

[42:02] style, but just finding out appropriate ways

[42:06] to build those safe and secure attachments.

[42:10] And that's just kind of eases them into preschool.

[42:14] The other panels that really resonated with me on the book

[42:20] stage, they'll have different publishers come up

[42:25] and talk about different books that they're

[42:26] having or different topics.

[42:28] And I went to one that talked about youth literature

[42:34] and embracing deaf culture.

[42:36] So going off on what Megan said, just our responsibility,

[42:46] we have as a library staff to make sure everybody

[42:50] feels seen, but also the responsibility that we

[42:54] are being true to those voices.

[42:57] And we're not speaking for those voices.

[43:00] We're amplifying those voices, which we can do

[43:03] through literature, of course.

[43:04] But this panel was very interesting

[43:08] because there is such a large disconnect between people who

[43:14] are hearing and how they understand

[43:18] deaf language and deaf culture, because it's

[43:21] so much more than a language.

[43:23] It's a culture and just understanding

[43:28] how to be respectful when you're learning from deaf people, how

[43:32] you want to learn from deaf teachers, and just

[43:40] the conscious and unconscious bias of audism,

[43:45] because there's so many times where hearing people think that,

[43:48] oh, we need to fix this problem, but so many people

[43:52] in the deaf community don't see it as a problem.

[43:55] That's their communication.

[43:58] So yes, just always trying to put ourselves to understand

[44:05] different cultures.

[44:07] One of the panels I went to in my first ALA annual

[44:13] was about Arab American voices in libraries,

[44:18] and just how much there is a disconnect

[44:21] between our education system and understanding geography.

[44:27] And you get what I know.

[44:30] Yeah, I literally just woke up the other day with my friends.

[44:32] It's not really taught anymore.

[44:34] Even when I was in school, like, geography is not a thing.

[44:37] And just like I'm very bad at trivia night

[44:39] and literally when it lands on geography.

[44:43] Yeah good night.

[44:45] No right.

[44:47] But awesome.

[44:50] But just like and even just getting

[44:53] confused with ethnicity and religion

[44:56] and just those stereotypes.

[44:59] And so we bear a lot of that responsibility to make sure

[45:03] we're spreading the accurate information

[45:07] and always staying up to date.

[45:09] We're lifelong learners.

[45:11] Always trying our best to keep up with what's going on matching

[45:16] the community needs.

[45:17] The other really interesting panel I went to

[45:20] was crush climate anxiety.

[45:23] So this is definitely something.

[45:26] The newer generations are learning more and more about.

[45:31] And they just gave ways to.

[45:33]

[45:36] Acknowledge how the children how a lot of these kids are feeling

[45:42] and how although it's like this huge problem and it

[45:49] may make the kid feel very, very small.

[45:53] There are ways that we can take other

[45:56] and try and come back to that.

[45:59] But yeah, that one was what's the word.

[46:05] Like sad.

[46:07] Yeah happy.

[46:08] Sad like just so overwhelming and existential because I mean,

[46:15] that's what libraries are always going to be.

[46:17] We're always going to have to be reflecting on what

[46:20] the new generations need.

[46:22] And so it's very important.

[46:24] But it also is very harmful.

[46:27] It's just sad.

[46:28] But I think that this being the 150 years of ALA,

[46:37] that they did a really nice job of reflecting and connecting

[46:45] librarians on us, our core bill of rights as librarians,

[46:51] but also us reflecting and re-examining

[46:56] those to see how those Bill of Rights continue today.

[47:01]

[47:04] And then there are the main stage speakers.

[47:06] I saw one of my favorite authors, Min Jin Lee.

[47:10] Yes, I was sobbing.

[47:14] Yes And I was actually able to get her newest book

[47:22] that's coming out on NetGalley.

[47:25] Oh yes.

[47:26] You guys should probably be able to sign up for NetGalley.

[47:29] Yes a way to get electronic advance reader copies if you

[47:35] haven't heard of it before.

[47:36] Yes and so they were talking about her book.

[47:39] And I was like, wow, I know what they're talking about.

[47:44] You haven't read it yet, but yes.

[47:47] Yes it was.

[47:48] Yes it's such a good book.

[47:50] And she was just such a great speaker

[47:53] and I'm a very emotional person.

[47:56] So I was just like everything, what Rachel was saying earlier,

[48:01] I was like, oh my God, I can't read that without crying.

[48:03] And that happened months ago.

[48:06] But yes.

[48:11] Oh, George and Johnson, that was a great speaker too.

[48:14] I didn't even realize that they're

[48:16] having another book come out.

[48:20] Just a lot about book bans.

[48:23] There was also talk about what one of the panels

[48:27] talked about soft and quiet book bans.

[48:30] So not like sometimes you'll see it in the news

[48:34] like, oh, this school library is taking out this book.

[48:38] But then a lot of the times, it's just kind of

[48:41] pushed under the rug.

[48:44] Sure that's all I need to say about that.

[48:47] We all know what's going on with that.

[48:50] Yeah, I just saw something about how.

[48:54] Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's not going to get too crazy here.

[49:00] But yes, Rachel Maddow is claiming they

[49:02] were all such great speakers.

[49:05] And then my last slide, I got to meet Daniel typekit.

[49:10] Oh, I know that.

[49:12] I'm sorry, guys.

[49:13] That was my highlight.

[49:16] That was pretty crazy.

[49:18] And just being there.

[49:20] Oh, I was also wearing my Arthur shirt that day

[49:23] and PBS getting so excited.

[49:26] Like the people at that booth.

[49:28] Like, it's just so beautiful, such a inner child

[49:32] like healing experience.

[49:35] Yes so much cute stuff.

[49:37] I was so excited to show my toddlers that I

[49:41] got to meet Daniel Tiger.

[49:43] Not to brag.

[49:44] We also got a bunch of cool resources.

[49:47] We got blue storytime stuff.

[49:49] Yes, I was very happy with all of the youth

[49:53] oriented stuff they had.

[49:56] Rachel was kind of disappointed in me

[49:58] for including the picture of the big hot dog

[50:02] going to town like Lizzie, but.

[50:05] Chicago in front of the bean.

[50:07] What are you going to do.

[50:09] It's like your job.

[50:10]

[50:13] I know Kelce.

[50:15] Wow OK.

[50:18] Yes and there's me reading from one of my favorite books.

[50:23] Genderqueer the author was actually there.

[50:27] Yes, yes.

[50:28] And they signed a copy of the book for me.

[50:31] Yes that was super cool.

[50:33] And I get to make.

[50:35] It was a very long line.

[50:37] And Megan.

[50:38] Megan got me, got me empowered to get in the line

[50:43] because I was really looking forward to that.

[50:45] I was like definitely have to pick your battles with what

[50:49] you're doing because you're just so much cool stuff

[50:52] and so much exciting stuff.

[50:54] And, well, don't worry, next time we'll be there so we can.

[50:57] Yeah And take different.

[51:00] I love all of it.

[51:02] Yeah it looks like you went to the Field Museum.

[51:05] Indeed yes.

[51:07] Oh, my goodness.

[51:08] That's such a good.

[51:11] Pattern recognition.

[51:13] Yes it was really cool.

[51:15] We were disappointed that the Pokemon exhibit was sold out.

[51:20] It was OK.

[51:22] Yeah, that was very crazy.

[51:24] Like, I just want you to take my money.

[51:26] Yeah, yeah.

[51:27] And then we did have to take a cab back to.

[51:29] That was a really crazy McCormick

[51:31] to see Rachel Maddow because we couldn't get her back.

[51:34] That was.

[51:35] I had never been to.

[51:38] I didn't even know what she was talking about anyway.

[51:42] But yeah, that was my experience.

[51:44] I'm so grateful I got to go and it's just so nice.

[51:47] It's so refreshing to be around so many people who

[51:50] are so excited about the same things and new things,

[51:54] and just it was wonderful.

[51:56] I'm going to start crying now.

[51:59] Are we able to ask a question.

[52:01] Absolutely This has been very light here towards the end,

[52:06] but I want to ask a serious question.

[52:07] In light of being a safe place and hearing stories

[52:12] about children's experiences, of not being somewhere safe,

[52:16] not the library, but our librarians

[52:20] mandated reporters of abuse.

[52:23] Not in Arizona, unless you're a school librarian, I know.

[52:30] Yeah, because that starts to get interesting because

[52:34] of the ethics and.

[52:37] I know because I'm in library school right now.

[52:40] I remember that was a big thing that they talked

[52:43] about in my ethics course.

[52:45] And it's really difficult. Yeah, that's all I can say.

[52:51] It's difficult. I can't speak on surprise that we are not

[52:55] mandated reporters, but we do have

[52:57] a close relationship with our community officers

[52:59] who are going out.

[53:00] And so if we talked about one of our patrons who

[53:03] tends to be a resident here, and we see issues that

[53:05] are coming up, we can talk to them

[53:07] about what options do we have.

[53:09] And then we also work with HSV.

[53:11] So we're not mandated, but we have criers

[53:15] and we have very large hearts in this library system.

[53:17] So we do have resources to reach out.

[53:20] So you could never see it and then not

[53:22] say we don't have to but we do.

[53:24] Yes right.

[53:25] You don't sit there with this pent up

[53:27] knowledge you haven't placed.

[53:28] And I think that's a great way how Ashley worded that.

[53:32] Because it's really important to make sure that the person

[53:37] who it's affecting that they have the autonomy,

[53:39] which is what makes me nervous about being

[53:42] if we were mandated reporters.

[53:44] It's like, I don't feel comfortable just

[53:46] going to the police right away.

[53:48] So making sure we're connected with our community resources

[53:51] and that whoever we're helping, we want to be helpful.

[53:56] Yeah love that.

[53:59] Thank you.

[54:01] Any other questions.

[54:03] I love that.

[54:04] Thank you so much.

[54:05] You guys are so engaging and passionate

[54:08] and I love every minute of this.

[54:11] And I do want to go next year now.

[54:13] And I have this registration for and around the same time as WNBA

[54:19] all stars.

[54:19] So like, we could just make it one big trip.

[54:21] I mean, Chicago, it was just this past year.

[54:25] Yeah where is the next one located.

[54:27] New Orleans.

[54:28] Oh, no.

[54:30] This was my first ala.

[54:31] And it was a great time.

[54:34] But speaking of that, I love the ranking of the tote bags.

[54:38] But also I would love to know what did you experience there

[54:41] in Chicago that you really enjoyed that just added

[54:45] to the experience and made it like,

[54:48] I'm so excited and energized to go back to the conference

[54:50] because I got to see or do this.

[54:53] Yeah what I really love about Chicago

[54:56] is it has a Midwest feel like everyone is so nice,

[55:00] but you're still in a big city.

[55:03] So that was just because I mentioned,

[55:06] I've been all over the Midwest, but it was

[55:09] just so different in that way.

[55:11] Just everyone.

[55:12] So just do your thing, like.

[55:16] And people like I remember cab driver.

[55:19] Oh, yeah.

[55:21] Our cab driver, there was somebody honking,

[55:23] and he was just unfazed.

[55:26] I feel like here.

[55:28] Like it's scary to honk, even if you think

[55:32] you're going to get hit.

[55:33] And they're just everybody just and it's like, yeah.

[55:37] And it's just like I love that honesty

[55:41] just don't have to worry.

[55:45] Yeah do you have a ranking of the best things that you

[55:48] ate while you were there.

[55:49] I was going to say my thing is the food,

[55:50] because I feel like you can tell a lot about a place

[55:52] from the food.

[55:53] And my.

[55:54] My mom's from Michigan.

[55:55] I've been all over Michigan.

[55:57] I know the Midwest.

[55:57] I wasn't expecting Chicago to have, like,

[56:00] such awesome diversity and quality of food.

[56:03] We ate on a different country every single night

[56:05] and it was always wonderful.

[56:07] This was my first Chicago dog also.

[56:10] Yeah Emily almost got me punched by the guy making the Chicago

[56:14] dog because I made a joke about ketchup, and she goes out loud.

[56:17] Rachel, no, don't put ketchup on it.

[56:19] And the guy just turns real slow.

[56:23] No, he hands it to me and he goes, don't put ketchup on it.

[56:27] I was going to anyway.

[56:32] But yes, the food was really good.

[56:34] Chicago dog would have again for sure.

[56:38] No scrunch dogs at Home Depot has really good.

[56:41] OK, that's good to know.

[56:42] Yeah, I had an I went I found a restaurant

[56:46] that my dad took my younger brother to back in the back

[56:52] a few years ago.

[56:54] And because my family's from the Midwest, I grew up in Wisconsin.

[56:58] And so Chicago, Chicago is like going home.

[57:01] So I was like, as soon as I got off the plane, I'm like,

[57:04] my people, I am here.

[57:08] So we went to a German restaurant, which was delicious.

[57:11] But the best thing I had in Chicago was this

[57:14] dessert called it was a s'more.

[57:17] It was a giant s'more.

[57:20] And they grilled it so that you could actually taste the.

[57:26] You could smell the fire, that it was like tasting us more.

[57:32] And it was giant.

[57:33] It was like this big and it was most delicious

[57:38] dessert I had ever had.

[57:39] So I ate it like three more times while I was there.

[57:44] And it was.

[57:45] And they were like, unfortunately,

[57:47] one of the nights the grill broke and they

[57:49] saw me coming because they.

[57:52] It's a small lady.

[57:53] Yeah they didn't, they saw me coming

[57:55] and they're the grill broke.

[57:58] So it's not going to have that fresh.

[58:00] And I'm like, oh, it's fine, it's fine.

[58:03] And they knew it wasn't really fine.

[58:05] But they one night they comped me for it.

[58:07] So I was like, yeah, it was really funny.

[58:10] So yeah.

[58:11]

[58:15] So I literally went to a vendor dinner like every single night.

[58:20] So we got to go into the science museum after hours.

[58:25] So we had it to ourselves and they were giving hors d'oeuvres

[58:29] and it was bacon wrapped mushrooms.

[58:31] And so I didn't really get anything fancy like you guys,

[58:34] but I had really good food the whole time.

[58:37] Yeah, I don't It was all catered.

[58:39] Mine was all free.

[58:40] Well, except for the 150th that you had to pay.

[58:42] It was a plated was a plated night.

[58:45] And I would say the food was not my favorite.

[58:48] The other ones that I got to go to.

[58:50] So yeah.

[58:52] And you said for the Obama, the library branch

[58:54] at the Obama center that they have rooms that they

[58:57] will do programming in.

[58:58] Do they have programming now.

[59:00] It's separate from the library.

[59:01] So the library is very small.

[59:03] Like I can't remember the square.

[59:05] I want to say it was like 5000ft Don't quote me on that.

[59:10] But I remember it being half the size of a sort.

[59:12] So it has the tiny little room where there's only two.

[59:16] A two person desk for checkout and check in.

[59:18] Like that's it.

[59:19] And then there's another room that's called

[59:21] the Presidential reading room.

[59:24] And so that one's it's everything in there.

[59:27] President Obama picked and there's one little desk

[59:29] in there, and then there's some tiny little STEM areas

[59:33] to do, like maker space.

[59:35] And when I tell you the staff area guys,

[59:38] I was like, I'm never going to complain about my staff area

[59:41] again.

[59:41] I could literally touch both sides.

[59:44] It had a sink right here.

[59:45] It had four lockers and two desks,

[59:48] and there's nine staff members there.

[59:51] So I was like, where are they all sitting.

[59:53] I was kind of confused, but yeah, it's very, very small.

[59:56] So they are going to have to do programming

[59:57] next door at the other museum.

[59:59] But that had tons of program rooms

[1:00:01] tons downstairs in the basement.

[1:00:03] And it had a really cool theater where

[1:00:05] I got to watch the whole thing about presidents.

[1:00:07] President Obama's presidency.

[1:00:09] And it brought me to tears like it was a lot of fun.

[1:00:12] And then somehow I ended up at a block party.

[1:00:17] Ex-mayor of Chicago.

[1:00:19] I don't know how I ended up at that one.

[1:00:20] I was just ending up at these places

[1:00:23] where people are going to be like.

[1:00:25] They're like, oh yeah, next to me was.

[1:00:28] Like, hey, I don't know what I'm doing here, but nice to be here.

[1:00:32] Thanks for having me.

[1:00:33] And I just got some food and some drinks and.

[1:00:36] Hi I'm Emmanuel.

[1:00:37] No yeah, it was a lot.

[1:00:40] It was a lot of fun.

[1:00:41] I really met a lot of cool people.

[1:00:43] I met like all of Chicago's library.

[1:00:46] I mean, they think they have 20 some libraries or something.

[1:00:49] I mean, it's a lot of libraries.

[1:00:50] I think the Obama ones, like the 22nd or.

[1:00:52] Yeah so I met, like most of the branch managers

[1:00:55] for all the different Chicago libraries.

[1:00:56] It was just a lot of fun.

[1:00:57] I had a lot of Uber rides.

[1:00:59] I've never taken so many Uber rides in my entire life.

[1:01:02] I really know how to use Uber now.

[1:01:06] Is it hard to travel there, when you're going in between stuff.

[1:01:08] It's like the Uber is like traffic crazy.

[1:01:11] Like I'm going to teach them how to use public transit

[1:01:13] in Chicago next time.

[1:01:14] Yeah, it is so easy.

[1:01:16] I never did that.

[1:01:17] I never did the public ride the bus when I took e-bikes and mine

[1:01:20] didn't work, so that was cool.

[1:01:23] And I think I got honked at three times.

[1:01:26] Yeah so I was Obama library funded differently.

[1:01:31] I thought I heard somewhere that it's

[1:01:33] funded differently than the other Presidential Library.

[1:01:37] I think it's the only Presidential Library,

[1:01:39] like true Presidential Library.

[1:01:41] Like the only one, I think.

[1:01:42] Oh, yeah.

[1:01:43] Yeah it's the only one that has an actual lending

[1:01:45] library branch in it.

[1:01:47] Oh and that it's not just a research library.

[1:01:50] Yeah, well, there's a center, and then there's the library.

[1:01:54] Connected But they're also different.

[1:01:58] Yeah, it's really cool.

[1:02:00] Everyone should go.

[1:02:01] Did you get on that ladder and ride across the room.

[1:02:05] No, but I took the picture specifically for Kelsey, so.

[1:02:08] OK I really wanted to do that.

[1:02:10] Like in beauty.

[1:02:12] Well, that is a dream.

[1:02:15] Never mind.

[1:02:16] Next time.

[1:02:17] Yeah next time.

[1:02:18] Well, I just echo what she said.

[1:02:20] Your guys' passion.

[1:02:21] Every time you talk, I swear I'm just like,

[1:02:22] I got into I'm so passionate about my job

[1:02:24] and I love what I do.

[1:02:25] And every time I hear you, I'm like,

[1:02:26] I think I should become a librarian.

[1:02:29] Hey it's working.

[1:02:31] That's another one.

[1:02:32] I'm like, I love what I do, too.

[1:02:35] I mean, you just make me like.

[1:02:37] That's how she got me, that's for sure.

[1:02:38] Oh, it's so good.

[1:02:40] I'm going to cry.

[1:02:41]

[1:02:44] Yeah And Emily, I want to tell you,

[1:02:47] you're talking about being a person who makes impact on kids.

[1:02:50] My son.

[1:02:51] Well, my four-year-old will literally.

[1:02:52] If you're at the desk, he waits for you to be

[1:02:55] available to check stuff out.

[1:02:57] I hired her three times.

[1:03:02] He'll go ask her for things.

[1:03:03] Like when we're doing a scavenger hunt.

[1:03:04] If he doesn't have a pencil, he'll like.

[1:03:06] There's people at the desk open, and he

[1:03:08] will go to her putting books away and ask her for a pencil.

[1:03:11] So you've made that impact.

[1:03:14] She's so happy.

[1:03:15] That's my favorite part of working in my life.

[1:03:18] Just so stressful.

[1:03:24] But yeah.

[1:03:24] Shout out Bambi.

[1:03:25] She introduced me to the library.

[1:03:27] Oh, geez.

[1:03:28] She hired me when we were with the County as a page,

[1:03:31] and I was like, she's going to be.

[1:03:33] Yeah, this is just going to be like.

[1:03:37] Yeah, yeah.

[1:03:38] You're going to go to school for psychology.

[1:03:39] Yeah she switched.

[1:03:41] Yeah but I think eventually maybe one day.

[1:03:45] But I'm very happy where I am right now.

[1:03:48] Well, we're happy where you are.

[1:03:50]

[1:03:53] Thanks, guys.

[1:03:53] Amazing thank you.

[1:03:55] And you get a glimpse into what the back of our workroom

[1:03:58] sounds like at all times.

[1:04:00] It is a very fun place to be because we have such characters,

[1:04:03] but they love it.

[1:04:04] A truly like this is why we want to send them

[1:04:07] is because they have passion.

[1:04:09] We can't teach them everything.

[1:04:10] And we should get out of surprise and see what else.

[1:04:12] Teachers are working hard.

[1:04:16] But it's just wonderful to see them connect

[1:04:18] because they come back and they're like,

[1:04:19] I'm going to do everything.

[1:04:20] And I was like, maybe once a week,

[1:04:22] like, chill, take a deep breath, OK, now go.

[1:04:25] And you do that when you go, I gotta go.

[1:04:27]

[1:04:31] I gotta tell the best part.

[1:04:32] So they've talked about getting a lot of free stuff.

[1:04:36] I had so much free stuff that I walked blocks with my suitcase.

[1:04:41] I already checked out of the hotel and a box of books

[1:04:44] to mail because I am cheap, so I wanted

[1:04:47] to find the local post office.

[1:04:49] So I walked like four blocks with my suitcase,

[1:04:52] my carry on, my backpack and the box of books to mail back here.

[1:04:58] It's also fun to watch you guys react to them because we're

[1:05:01] all library nerds.

[1:05:02] Whether you like it or not, we're all in it together, so.

[1:05:06] Well, yeah, they said LeVar Burton.

[1:05:08] I was like, I right.

[1:05:09] What I know when everybody saw Rachel's tote bags

[1:05:13] and just like, understood.

[1:05:15] Like, oh yeah, that was the best because it's IKEA.

[1:05:18] Thank you.

[1:05:21] Well thank you guys.

[1:05:22] Thank you so much.

[1:05:24] May I have that clip, please.

[1:05:26] Yes throw it.

[1:05:27] That's a hard act to follow.

[1:05:29] I didn't know that.

[1:05:30] You could just go.

[1:05:32] If that's the case, I will be there next year,

[1:05:33] like on New Orleans.

[1:05:35] Awesome and I've just now learned like

[1:05:38] to not be scared of flights.

[1:05:39] So like, I'm ready to travel, so I need to go.

[1:05:43] Yeah I think some of us will be going next year.

[1:05:46] So we.

[1:05:47]

[1:05:53] Need to make myself care so I can be invited to this again.

[1:05:55] You don't have to.

[1:05:57] I'm just.

[1:05:58] I'm just.

[1:05:59] I'm just telling you I'm going to go.

[1:06:01] Just go to New Orleans and chill.

[1:06:02] Yeah you can just tell that you are.

[1:06:05] And they would never question you.

[1:06:07] Yeah, well, you were chair.

[1:06:09] You keep saying that.

[1:06:11] You were saying it's like being a former president, right.

[1:06:14] Yeah we got an Obama title.

[1:06:16] Obama same.

[1:06:17] Same OK.

[1:06:21] Presentation and discussion on the 2026 summer reading program

[1:06:24] on Earth.

[1:06:25] I'm sorry.

[1:06:25] I'm not as funny as all of them together.

[1:06:28] We're going to have some fun.

[1:06:29] I just wanted to do a brief overview.

[1:06:30] I knew we had a lot on the agenda tonight,

[1:06:32] but summer reading is huge.

[1:06:34] Our staff put so much time, so much effort into it.

[1:06:38] Again, at the same point of view you just watched,

[1:06:40] we have to tell them to not do 12 more programs

[1:06:42] that are already doing 37.

[1:06:44] Please stop.

[1:06:45] Choose it for another month.

[1:06:46] So I just like to bring in the numbers and a few

[1:06:49] of the pictures, just to see exactly

[1:06:51] the impact that our staff are doing

[1:06:53] and really how we're growing.

[1:06:55] So this year, our registered users were 6673.

[1:07:00] For context, our very first year in 2023, we had 2000.

[1:07:04] Wow that's insane.

[1:07:07] Word has gotten out.

[1:07:08] People love our coupons.

[1:07:10] They love the program.

[1:07:11] They love all of our secret codes and our scavenger hunts.

[1:07:15] We get yelled at by kids that we don't switch

[1:07:17] the scavenger hunts enough.

[1:07:19] They're very serious.

[1:07:20] So then we do extra ones during the summer

[1:07:21] and it's still not enough.

[1:07:23] Our first time participants ever in a summer reading

[1:07:26] program at all was over $3,000.

[1:07:29] Wow that's amazing.

[1:07:30] We are.

[1:07:32] I want to shout from the rooftops

[1:07:34] that the library has things.

[1:07:35] And this is showing that we're.

[1:07:36] Something's working.

[1:07:37] It's our staff going out to those outreaches.

[1:07:39] It's again, I'm going to come back to the programs

[1:07:41] that they're planning.

[1:07:42] There's also dinosaurs this year.

[1:07:43] So like people lose their mind over dinosaurs.

[1:07:49] We were fantastic.

[1:07:50] We had 3,600 achievers.

[1:07:51] So these are all people that reached 1,000 minutes or more.

[1:07:54] And there are some kids who will keep

[1:07:56] putting in their minutes and it's getting 2, 3, 4 or 5,000.

[1:08:00] Over the six month span, some of them do it in a day.

[1:08:04] As impressive.

[1:08:05] The badges are through the program

[1:08:08] where you get badges for different it community events.

[1:08:12] You go to Secret codes minutes.

[1:08:14] They're kind of sprinkled in there.

[1:08:16] That is a lot of badges.

[1:08:18] And total minutes were over 9 million.

[1:08:20] And these are just surprised residents

[1:08:23] or surprise participants because you have to choose your branch.

[1:08:28] I'm million minutes is a lot.

[1:08:30] It is amazing that we are a budget person.

[1:08:33] I'm actually going to call that just shy of a billion, right.

[1:08:36] It's awesome.

[1:08:38] I can learn from you.

[1:08:39] And every day we're a tag team next month.

[1:08:42] Yeah, but now I lost.

[1:08:45] My train of thought completely derailed me.

[1:08:49] I don't a lot of minutes.

[1:08:50] It is a lot of minutes.

[1:08:52] But it's just amazing to see.

[1:08:53] Just how much our community is coming

[1:08:55] together and enjoying reading and also enjoying the program.

[1:09:00] The first summer reading meeting for next year is in October,

[1:09:04] so this is a year long event.

[1:09:07] Bambi, you're still in here, so I'm going to call on you.

[1:09:09] What is this picture from.

[1:09:12] Jamie's Dino.

[1:09:13] It was a Dino dinosaur program, wasn't it.

[1:09:17] The dinosaur parade.

[1:09:18] Dinosaur parade.

[1:09:18] Yeah what was the parade all through.

[1:09:20] She played Jurassic Park and walked the entire perimeter

[1:09:25] inside the library.

[1:09:26] They made these little dinosaurs.

[1:09:28] I love that.

[1:09:29] It goes like.

[1:09:30] And the feet.

[1:09:31] And I believe that's hot dog.

[1:09:32] Chicago dog.

[1:09:33] Rachel inside the dinosaur.

[1:09:35] Oh, yeah.

[1:09:37] Chicago dog.

[1:09:38] She does tend to be some of our costumed events.

[1:09:42] Rachel's fantastic and a great character for those.

[1:09:46] But this was.

[1:09:47] People kept talking about it.

[1:09:48] We had people come up to Bambi and when I was working the desk

[1:09:50] the next week, talking about how much fun they had

[1:09:52] at the dinosaur parade, because we

[1:09:53] had a lot of velociraptors roaming through the library

[1:09:56] with the Jurassic Park music.

[1:09:57] I mean, you hear it going off and

[1:09:58] everyone's like, what is that.

[1:10:00] I think we had a program where we were working in the back,

[1:10:02] and someone started the music and we were like, Jurassic Park.

[1:10:06] We were actually in a very formal meeting

[1:10:08] and we were both like.

[1:10:09]

[1:10:15] I did that one just for you, but it's not a snake.

[1:10:17] So for context, within just this June 1 and July 31, the reading

[1:10:23] program ends the 20th.

[1:10:24] But our staff can't stop themselves.

[1:10:26] We did 110 just summer reading programs.

[1:10:29] That's not including our book clubs,

[1:10:30] our storytimes, our crafts that are every month programs.

[1:10:33] They did 110 extra.

[1:10:37] We have 20 programmers, I think within all of our staff,

[1:10:42] 2025 programmers at 110.

[1:10:44] That's a lot we had over.

[1:10:47] Excuse me.

[1:10:47] We had near $7,000 program attendees.

[1:10:52] So these numbers are very fun.

[1:10:54] And as Megan was saying, they want to tell a story.

[1:10:58] The numbers are the story at times.

[1:11:00] Like it is amazing that we had near as many people

[1:11:03] come to programs as we had registered,

[1:11:05] which is still quadruple of what we've had in the past.

[1:11:09] We also bring in a ton of teens for our summer reading.

[1:11:13] They work the front desk or front desk.

[1:11:15] The summer reading desk.

[1:11:16] They hand out prizes, which saves our lives.

[1:11:19] When you have million minutes and prizes for all of them.

[1:11:23] Excuse me.

[1:11:23] 10,000,000 minutes, 10 million, I don't a billion,

[1:11:27] billion, billion.

[1:11:28] I've lost my brain.

[1:11:30] And so, just a really awesome thing to see our community

[1:11:33] come in and help us as well, because we need it.

[1:11:36] So it's shelving that's doing the summer reading programs.

[1:11:38] They're coming in and helping set

[1:11:39] up for all the different crafts and then

[1:11:41] breaking down the paint.

[1:11:44] So pictures on this one.

[1:11:46] Wild man Phil, people adore him, not Kelsey.

[1:11:49] He brings in snakes and lizards and Gila monsters.

[1:11:52] And he came in on a Monday at Asante

[1:11:55] and we had 400 people at that one on a Monday morning,

[1:11:59] which is usually a very quiet day for programming

[1:12:03] because we don't have as many staff at Asante on Monday

[1:12:05] and sold out the house.

[1:12:06] It was amazing.

[1:12:08] The middle one is from Baby cave painting,

[1:12:11] so I put there a lot of the parents

[1:12:14] disrobed their kids so they could really play in the paint.

[1:12:17] Didn't want to post that publicly

[1:12:19] and respects to the parents.

[1:12:20] But they were covered in paint.

[1:12:24] But they were cave paintings everywhere.

[1:12:25] It was the most adorable thing in the world.

[1:12:28] That was a cool program that Lisa put on.

[1:12:30] And then we had our I can't remember the name of this group.

[1:12:33] Dino Dino crew.

[1:12:35] Maddie and Kelsey's child.

[1:12:41] These guys come in full dinosaur getup and it is 110 degrees out.

[1:12:46] So we're very grateful that they did our first day, our kickoff.

[1:12:51] So just such a cool thing.

[1:12:53] And the kids love this.

[1:12:54] When you can take a story and learning from dinosaurs

[1:12:57] or just reading books about dinosaurs and fictional stories,

[1:13:01] and then to have them come alive.

[1:13:02] It's very, very cool.

[1:13:05] It gets everyone going.

[1:13:07] Dinosaurs and I always want to take a moment.

[1:13:11] I tried to get everyone on here.

[1:13:13] This was the easiest way to do it.

[1:13:14] We have so many people within our community that I want

[1:13:17] to thank, and we work with them every year,

[1:13:20] and they're always willing to come in and we're like,

[1:13:22] hey, by the way, I know you gave us 4,000 coupons last year.

[1:13:25] Now it's up to 6,000.

[1:13:26] Is that OK.

[1:13:27] And every time they want to join in.

[1:13:30] So like our mainstays that are just

[1:13:31] within surprise, our Portillo's, Culver's, Panda Express, Oreo,

[1:13:38] Queen jet's pizza.

[1:13:40] What are the things that are habit.

[1:13:42] Habit? no.

[1:13:43] Was countywide, wasn't it.

[1:13:44] Yeah Phoenix Raceway was us.

[1:13:47] Yeah Phoenix Raceway.

[1:13:50] Texas Roadhouse.

[1:13:51] Our friends of the library, like the Phoenix Raceway was.

[1:13:53] I didn't see those.

[1:13:54] It was like a coloring book.

[1:13:55] And then on the back, you could enter

[1:13:58] a drawing for free tickets.

[1:13:59] OK, I didn't see that.

[1:14:00] And they want to do more with that.

[1:14:01] So I'm like, can we get a car out front.

[1:14:05] You can drive it around the block.

[1:14:06] Let's see.

[1:14:06] Yeah, yeah.

[1:14:07] So we're just it's amazing to see every year we get more

[1:14:11] sponsors that want to come on board because they believe

[1:14:13] in what our staff is doing, but also

[1:14:15] they're part of this community.

[1:14:16] And it's just it's those little things that build

[1:14:18] community that I just adore.

[1:14:21] I turn in my Culver's and people are like, oh, did

[1:14:23] you get this from the library.

[1:14:24] I'm like, yes, I did, thank you so much.

[1:14:26] I got 25 minutes until my next meeting.

[1:14:28] Can I have my food.

[1:14:29] No, I'm just kidding.

[1:14:31] But it is very fun to see how many come through.

[1:14:33] And like I said, we're getting more and more every year.

[1:14:35] And these people keep signing up every single time.

[1:14:38] I'll give you 1,000 more.

[1:14:39] Oh, you ran out.

[1:14:40] Let me give you 1,000 more.

[1:14:41] So we're very, very grateful.

[1:14:44] We have awesome prizes.

[1:14:45] But these add to it.

[1:14:46] And it also brings people to surprise,

[1:14:48] to spend money and surprise and continue to grow.

[1:14:51] So I can never say enough about it.

[1:14:54] Can I do comments positive in a critical.

[1:14:56] Sorry positive.

[1:14:58] The staff here as is always amazing when we

[1:15:00] come in to collect the prizes.

[1:15:03] They were out of one of the ones that I don't know.

[1:15:06] I think it was the Barrio queen or something.

[1:15:09] We don't have any more of the whatever.

[1:15:11] Will you take a Culver's instead.

[1:15:13] And we're like, are you kidding.

[1:15:15] Yes thank you.

[1:15:16] So we're picking the colors and then it's

[1:15:18] the County wide sponsor, but just as we provide feedback

[1:15:22] back the mercury again, we ran into difficulty

[1:15:25] with the ticketing process and I had

[1:15:27] to escalate all the way up to the vice president of the Suns

[1:15:30] just to get my tickets.

[1:15:32] I was not happy.

[1:15:33] Wild yeah.

[1:15:35] You're committed.

[1:15:35] But we went.

[1:15:36] It was a good game.

[1:15:37] They won.

[1:15:37] It was the Brittney Griner came back game

[1:15:40] and we won and all that.

[1:15:42] But still, it was like I shouldn't have to fight

[1:15:46] to get tickets like that.

[1:15:47] So just feedback I appreciate it because we can.

[1:15:50] The Phoenix Mercury is a sponsor through the County

[1:15:53] who the County then gives prizes to everyone.

[1:15:55] Just for context, I love I'm going on Saturday, so

[1:15:59] and I have another two games lined up, so I'll let you know.

[1:16:02] And that was my thing.

[1:16:03] I was like, we want to support the local community

[1:16:05] and we want to support our sports teams,

[1:16:07] but not if I have to beg you, yes, to get

[1:16:10] me to switch apps this year.

[1:16:11] And their logistics team is probably going through it,

[1:16:14] because even in other libraries, we

[1:16:16] have to refer them to a helpline because there's

[1:16:19] just so much going on that we don't have control over.

[1:16:21] Exactly, yeah, yeah.

[1:16:22] But we pass all of that on.

[1:16:24] We do surveys and we let everyone know.

[1:16:28] Yeah, it was difficult. There was a week where Kelsey and I

[1:16:31] were going back and forth.

[1:16:32] Every time one of us would try, it's

[1:16:33] like it's still not working.

[1:16:34] But what I made it work.

[1:16:35] Took her a couple more days.

[1:16:37] If the Gabe Zimmerman award winners came.

[1:16:40] That's right.

[1:16:41]

[1:16:44] Oh, you just know who to call.

[1:16:46] And you get it taken care of.

[1:16:47] But still, lots of publicity about these events that

[1:16:51] are on our social media and so forth.

[1:16:53] But how else is it these statistics are so fantastic.

[1:16:57] Where else are you going to publicize that.

[1:17:01] The front desk.

[1:17:02] Front desk.

[1:17:03] I think that that's a lot of the places that I work.

[1:17:06] The front desk, a measly four hours.

[1:17:08] And it's like every time someone comes in

[1:17:10] and they're like, oh, it's summer reading.

[1:17:12] Like it's make sure you sign up for us

[1:17:14] because you still get all the County stuff

[1:17:16] and a little bit more.

[1:17:17] And I think as you look at the expansion.

[1:17:20] And as we plan for outreach and sponsorships,

[1:17:22] we are becoming like the West Valley library.

[1:17:26] Sorry, Avondale, but so building that reputation

[1:17:29] of like, no, we're going to have fun,

[1:17:30] we're going to do really cool stuff.

[1:17:32] And I think that what separates us from a lot of the other ones,

[1:17:34] it's very easy just to take the County prizes and be like, yeah.

[1:17:37] And then we're going to have some extra programs

[1:17:39] and we're like, no, no, no.

[1:17:40] And then you get all of these big people love these prizes.

[1:17:44] I guess what I didn't ask that.

[1:17:46] I know the statistics.

[1:17:48] Yeah our library dashboard is our number one.

[1:17:51] It's on our website.

[1:17:52] We want to send that out.

[1:17:54] We also work with our marketing communications team

[1:17:58] and through the city, and we're going

[1:18:00] to be in the progress magazine.

[1:18:02] And so we'll show some of our numbers there.

[1:18:05] It depends on the lineup of when they come out,

[1:18:07] where sometimes it's not all of our numbers,

[1:18:10] but we're just happy to show, no, no, no, look at this.

[1:18:12] We've done this.

[1:18:14] And commission loves to tell people.

[1:18:16] All right.

[1:18:17] So you guys but also back to Kelsey's point.

[1:18:21] Like we tell our staff these numbers.

[1:18:23] And then when someone goes oh my God I love your summer reading.

[1:18:25] They're like, did we had $7,000 people.

[1:18:28] Like they want to brag about what we're doing as well.

[1:18:30] So how about this surprise independent or something

[1:18:33] like that.

[1:18:34] Love if they pick it up.

[1:18:35] Oh, do you submit it.

[1:18:37] And sometimes they don't.

[1:18:38] Our marketing department does.

[1:18:39] Our marketing leads all of that.

[1:18:41] But feel free if you found something

[1:18:43] that maybe they should know.

[1:18:45] Yeah or.

[1:18:48] Yeah oh.

[1:18:49] That's cool.

[1:18:49] You guys can do more things than we can.

[1:18:51] Do you have a breakdown in demographics as far as age.

[1:18:54] How many teens adults use.

[1:18:55] Yes, so data just curious of the 3,000 new people we get whatever

[1:19:02] because we can go in and pull if it's 0

[1:19:04] to 5 because the different age groups you sign up for.

[1:19:07] Yeah do I have that on here.

[1:19:08] I think last year I was looking up because I like

[1:19:11] am competitive a little bit.

[1:19:12] So I was comparing it to Scottsdale, not to Phoenix,

[1:19:15] but bigger cities like, well, our numbers like

[1:19:18] and our numbers are actually close to or better

[1:19:20] than Scottsdale.

[1:19:21] And a lot of the metrics for last year's summer reading,

[1:19:24] I don't know how we finished.

[1:19:25] But for the first few weeks, we were the number

[1:19:29] one branch outside of Phoenix.

[1:19:32] Wow so every week I checked, I looked at your guys' name

[1:19:34] to see where you guys were at.

[1:19:36] And I was like, yeah, you guys are easily up there.

[1:19:39] Yeah at one point, I believe off the top of my head,

[1:19:42] I'm logging in to see if I can see it quickly.

[1:19:44] But just like any librarian, there's data all over the place,

[1:19:48] so it's pulling the actual right numbers is what I got to find

[1:19:51] at one point in the middle of the summer,

[1:19:53] we were beating everybody but County and Phoenix.

[1:19:56] You have 15, 16, 17 libraries.

[1:20:01] So like, obviously they're going to beat us every time.

[1:20:04] Mesa and Chandler.

[1:20:05] So we were the largest in the West Valley.

[1:20:07] But Glendale is bigger than us, Scottsdale is bigger than us.

[1:20:10] And we were having numbers bigger.

[1:20:12] Chandler's always had a killer summer reading.

[1:20:14] They are the people that we want to be because somehow they

[1:20:16] are destroying all the time.

[1:20:18] And mesa is just huge as well.

[1:20:20] It's a very large population.

[1:20:21] So let's see.

[1:20:25] And we also receive feedback in like a survey.

[1:20:28] So less quantitative or qualitative of like here's

[1:20:32] what we really like.

[1:20:33] We didn't like this.

[1:20:34] And they provide that directly to us.

[1:20:36] So we can see great Bay County.

[1:20:41] Yeah the County runs the survey.

[1:20:43] And then they give us our results.

[1:20:44] And I believe they do it both from a staff and a patron side.

[1:20:48] OK, interesting.

[1:20:50] OK I mean, do you guys are you going to submit it to that.

[1:20:54] The video, they do the surprise lately.

[1:20:57] There's the two ladies that do the.

[1:21:01] Yeah, yeah.

[1:21:02] Virginia yeah, yeah.

[1:21:04] They're part of our marketing team

[1:21:06] and we meet with Nicole every other week, so.

[1:21:08] She tries to slip us in as many times.

[1:21:11] We graciously have to understand there are other city departments

[1:21:14] who also deserve the spotlight.

[1:21:16] Not really.

[1:21:17] But someday we will convince Nicole that we should

[1:21:19] be the first and only time.

[1:21:21] Yeah does it happen every time.

[1:21:23] But I mean, the summer reading numbers are impressive,

[1:21:25] so maybe you guys can make your own little library

[1:21:28] talk show for your library.

[1:21:31] Yeah library lately.

[1:21:32] Yeah OK.

[1:21:34] It's OK if you don't have it right at your fingers.

[1:21:36] I'm just curious.

[1:21:36] Yeah it's OK.

[1:21:37] Our next meeting, I found it.

[1:21:39] I just have to figure out exactly.

[1:21:43] I'm going to guess adults is my.

[1:21:45] That would be your highest improving age category.

[1:21:49] That's kind of what I was wondering.

[1:21:50] I feel like adults really got into literacy this past summer,

[1:21:54] as they should, but I think a lot of them

[1:21:57] don't realize that they're eligible because they're

[1:22:00] working the desk.

[1:22:01] And I'm like, oh, like my kids.

[1:22:03] And they're in your name.

[1:22:04] They're like, oh no, I'm not signed up.

[1:22:05] And I'm like should be like, well, I read it

[1:22:09] and I'm like, that counts.

[1:22:10] Yeah, yeah, that's a two for one.

[1:22:12] You should just read to a classroom.

[1:22:13] Yeah OK.

[1:22:16] I got the first numbers.

[1:22:19] Removing Phoenix and County.

[1:22:21] Chandler and mesa were the only two libraries

[1:22:23] with more registered users.

[1:22:24] Chandler and Chandler and mesa.

[1:22:26] Mesa and then let me see if I can find I love data.

[1:22:29] Let me give you data.

[1:22:30] I think it's bigger than we are overall.

[1:22:33] Yes which I mean, like Scottsdale, Glendale,

[1:22:35] like most places, are substantially bigger

[1:22:38] than we are.

[1:22:39] How many does Avondale have.

[1:22:41] I mean, you were just.

[1:22:42] Tommy, you gotta ask this.

[1:22:44] When I were here, what was the question.

[1:22:45] Not a lot.

[1:22:48] Branches we have two.

[1:22:50] Yes And people.

[1:22:52] As in workers.

[1:22:53] No patrons.

[1:22:54] Patrons, whatever.

[1:22:55] It's a good question.

[1:22:57] I was like, on a daily basis or during summer reading.

[1:23:00] Summer reading.

[1:23:00] Because you were saying we're trying

[1:23:02] to be take what surprises and cut it in half like, all right.

[1:23:06] We did have a lot of good numbers.

[1:23:07] We've got I was going to say, their library director,

[1:23:10] and I work together at one point,

[1:23:12] so I do talk to her pretty frequently.

[1:23:14] Their main branch has similar statistics to Asante.

[1:23:16] OK yeah.

[1:23:17] And that's the one I work at, is their main branch.

[1:23:20] OK I think we had about 4,400 finishers

[1:23:25] for our summer reading program.

[1:23:27] Which was pretty good.

[1:23:28] And it was mostly adults was our number one category.

[1:23:31] A lot of pre readers.

[1:23:33] That's cool.

[1:23:34] Yeah OK.

[1:23:34] Good OK.

[1:23:37] So one format thing so I can actually see what I'm doing.

[1:23:43]

[1:23:48] Let's see.

[1:23:49] So adults were at 2,300.

[1:23:57] Teens were at just shy of 1,000.

[1:24:03] Our kids were at 2,500 again.

[1:24:07] So adults and kids are kids is 5 to 11.

[1:24:10] And then pre-readers is 4 and below.

[1:24:12] And they were at 900.

[1:24:14] So adults and kids right at that same age.

[1:24:17] So same numbers.

[1:24:19] That's awesome.

[1:24:22] Any other questions on summer reading crushing it.

[1:24:26] Yeah as usual our staff are great.

[1:24:30] Like it's exciting because we get to be

[1:24:31] the ones to tell you guys.

[1:24:32] But like saw it there babbling, excited and thinking

[1:24:36] about the next program.

[1:24:37] Like we can't slow them down enough.

[1:24:39] And it is just so fun to come in and brag and just

[1:24:42] be like a proud mama bear every single time

[1:24:43] of like, look what they did.

[1:24:46] So just mad.

[1:24:47] Kudos to all of our staff two 50th yet or is that coming up.

[1:24:51] You don't have to do it.

[1:24:52] Yes I will have to do a recap.

[1:24:54] OK Maybe next month.

[1:24:56] Next time.

[1:24:57] The stats.

[1:24:58] It's because I don't think it's over because our November

[1:25:00] program is still in my head.

[1:25:01] Oh, I see, I haven't done one because that was fun too.

[1:25:03] And being able to do both at the same time was pretty cool.

[1:25:08] Don't tell staff that it's in your outlook.

[1:25:13] Nicole sent it to us.

[1:25:15] The stars, oh, obviously the stars and stories.

[1:25:18] Never mind.

[1:25:18]

[1:25:21] For next time OK.

[1:25:23] Yeah next meeting.

[1:25:24] We'll do that.

[1:25:26] All right, so call to the public.

[1:25:30] There is no public.

[1:25:33] Would you like to say something.

[1:25:35] No OK.

[1:25:36] No no no no.

[1:25:38] Other business and future agenda items.

[1:25:41] Discussion is open.

[1:25:43] Do we have anything planned for the new Gen. Multi-gen center.

[1:25:48] Like anything, we have to.

[1:25:50] Yes I'm going to be emailing you guys

[1:25:51] all the fun stuff coming up.

[1:25:53] So we are having a soft open next week.

[1:25:56] We're inviting the families and patrons

[1:25:58] who come to hollyhock the most.

[1:26:00] So that'll be a quiet thing.

[1:26:02] Our marketing team will be there to catch the kids,

[1:26:05] and we'll have word searches that are library related

[1:26:08] and fun little coloring for them,

[1:26:11] because we really want them to just

[1:26:12] come in and be in the space.

[1:26:14] We're also doing a community art project, which

[1:26:15] will start that day, and we'll go all the way

[1:26:17] through the first month.

[1:26:18] And then the grand opening is September 3

[1:26:22] and it is in the morning.

[1:26:23] But I'll send all that information for you guys.

[1:26:26] And then if you guys want to stop by at any time

[1:26:28] ahead of time, but October, we will be there for commission.

[1:26:33] You said September three.

[1:26:34] September three.

[1:26:35] It is a Thursday, but I have it on my list

[1:26:38] to email you guys all the outreach stuff for September.

[1:26:40] So September.

[1:26:41] So that's coming up.

[1:26:43] I have a request.

[1:26:45] I was dropping my son off at his in-home preschool

[1:26:48] that he goes to.

[1:26:50] There was a child wearing a shirt

[1:26:51] that said surprise library on it with the logo,

[1:26:54] and it was so cute.

[1:26:55] And I was like, I want to have a shirt.

[1:26:57] Why I have a shirt.

[1:26:59] Turns out he's read 1,000 books.

[1:27:00] So I just read you 1,000 books.

[1:27:04] I know it's a little too late for me.

[1:27:06] But just like, next time you guys are doing stuffed shirts,

[1:27:08] like, I'll buy one.

[1:27:09] I really want one.

[1:27:10] Yeah, I have a beanie now, but I want a shirt.

[1:27:12] A beanie I can wear, like two times.

[1:27:14] Merch no.

[1:27:16] These ones that say volunteer right now, putting it on a list

[1:27:19] or can I just like illegally get your logo

[1:27:21] and make my own shirt or something.

[1:27:23] It's crooked.

[1:27:24] Yeah, exactly.

[1:27:25] I know people who make shirts.

[1:27:27] I just really want one.

[1:27:28] I can get you 1,000.

[1:27:30] I have a hookup.

[1:27:32] It's better if you're an adult with your.

[1:27:34]

[1:27:37] Shirt one into the library and work your way around.

[1:27:40] Yeah oh.

[1:27:43] That's funny.

[1:27:43] I can see, like, a cute little baby tee moment.

[1:27:47] I know it's going to fit like a baby, too.

[1:27:51] I was like, why does he have a library shirt.

[1:27:53] I am a commissioner for the library.

[1:27:55] I don't have a former chair.

[1:27:56] I know all I have is, like, tote bags and an ornament

[1:28:01] and a beanie and a magnet.

[1:28:04] I agree, I would love to have.

[1:28:08] I know that I have the one, I have the gray one

[1:28:10] that I wear when I volunteer, which I feel like yeah,

[1:28:13] because I'm a volunteer.

[1:28:14] It doesn't say volunteer on it.

[1:28:15] We did get new volunteers because when

[1:28:17] I wear that with my badge, people think I work here.

[1:28:20] But I am very helpful.

[1:28:23] I do know where everything is for the most part.

[1:28:25] But then there's sometimes I'm like,

[1:28:27] well, I always say I'm just a volunteer,

[1:28:29] but I can help you with that.

[1:28:30] And if I say, I'm just a volunteer.

[1:28:33] Let me take you to a library.

[1:28:35] But I realized I was like, yeah, I probably

[1:28:36] should use my cricoid to put volunteer on it,

[1:28:40] but that would be great.

[1:28:42] But just like any shirt that I could wear out to be like,

[1:28:44] hey, yeah.

[1:28:45] Hey, have you heard of just because Follow me

[1:28:47] to the library.

[1:28:48] Yeah everyone this way.

[1:28:51] Yes we are very grateful for all the merch we have been given.

[1:28:53] I actually used that little tape measure in my purse.

[1:28:57] It's very useful, but it doesn't.

[1:28:59] Like I don't get to show it to people.

[1:29:01] It's not a conversation starter.

[1:29:03] Like, maybe it could be you're not trying hard enough.

[1:29:06] No like a t-shirt would be a surprise library

[1:29:09] t-shirt with Rachel Maddow.

[1:29:11] No right.

[1:29:11] Joe Biden, Joe Biden.

[1:29:14] I wonder if we could.

[1:29:15] I don't want to copyright infringe, but take a look.

[1:29:19] It's in a book.

[1:29:19] Surprise Rachel.

[1:29:21] Library just I don't know.

[1:29:24] I agree, the shirt's not 1,000.

[1:29:26] Maybe we're talking the whole tote bag department.

[1:29:29] I mean, maybe we need to get on top of that.

[1:29:31] And it could be our new favorite.

[1:29:32] Obviously, we need the solid bottom,

[1:29:34] they were saying for IKEA.

[1:29:36] IKEA bag.

[1:29:36] Yeah that's funny.

[1:29:38] Well, it sounds like you don't need it.

[1:29:40] You do need more participation in a summer reading program.

[1:29:46] Would you want so much.

[1:29:47] Because we all had t-shirts that had summer reading

[1:29:50] program and the dates and summer reading

[1:29:55] like a walking billboard.

[1:29:56] Yeah, I'm just going to wear a sandwich board,

[1:29:59] walk around town.

[1:30:01]

[1:30:03] Yeah if there were multiple types.

[1:30:05] I mean, I might be able to actually sell it.

[1:30:08] I don't know what the rules are for that,

[1:30:10] but if you had a little merch area,

[1:30:12] people might actually buy it.

[1:30:13] I know I would because I'm a library nerd, but safe space.

[1:30:19] Yeah, but I agree.

[1:30:20] I think that would be very nice.

[1:30:24] And I can't wait to wear that beanie if it ever cools down

[1:30:28] I know someday I'll go somewhere to wear

[1:30:32] it when we go to New Orleans.

[1:30:34] It's not cold there, is it.

[1:30:35] No never mind.

[1:30:37] It's at the end of journey.

[1:30:38] Oh, OK.

[1:30:38] Yeah so cold in the convention center.

[1:30:43] Yeah, but everyone would definitely recognize us if we

[1:30:45] all pulled up with our beanies.

[1:30:46] They'd be like, what's wrong with those people in two.

[1:30:49] Yeah, they're from Arizona.

[1:30:51] This is cold for them.

[1:30:52] No, literally, I think it's a plan.

[1:30:55] So as far as I don't know if this is actually other business,

[1:30:58] but have we decided anything about banned books

[1:31:02] week coming up.

[1:31:05] Like any sort of programming or anything

[1:31:07] like that or just the display.

[1:31:09]

[1:31:12] I don't know yet, to be honest.

[1:31:13] I still have summer reading on the brain.

[1:31:17] I mean, we always just focus on freedom to read.

[1:31:21] Yeah either way, I don't.

[1:31:22] Yeah, not picky, but something.

[1:31:26] I know we had talked about it before,

[1:31:28] but I didn't know if there was any movement come in and already

[1:31:32] come in and chat about it and see how in depth we want to go.

[1:31:37] And then I so in June, I went up to Burlington, Vermont

[1:31:43] to stay with a friend of mine.

[1:31:45] Her husband is deployed.

[1:31:46] He's been gone a long time, and I was just going

[1:31:48] to help her with the kids.

[1:31:50] And, we just wanted to help.

[1:31:52] And plus, it's really nice up there, and it's really hot here.

[1:31:55] So I went up there and I basically was like hanging

[1:31:59] out with the kids for the week.

[1:32:00] They're 8 and 10.

[1:32:01] They're my godchildren.

[1:32:02] We had such a good time.

[1:32:03] And of course, it's me.

[1:32:05] So I'm like, let's go to the library

[1:32:07] and see, sign you up for summer reading and do all the things

[1:32:11] and see what programs they have going on this week.

[1:32:13] And it's a really lovely library.

[1:32:16] It's inside their City Hall.

[1:32:18] It's actually she lives in South Burlington, which I didn't think

[1:32:21] was big enough to warrant its own City Hall,

[1:32:23] but apparently it does.

[1:32:24] Burlington's not that big, but it's a really lovely space.

[1:32:28] Their whole downstairs is the children

[1:32:31] and juvenile area and then upstairs

[1:32:33] is teens and adults, which is really nice.

[1:32:36] And inside, it has they call it the wiggle room,

[1:32:40] and it's an enclosed space where it's like all windows,

[1:32:43] like from the pony wall up and then a glass door

[1:32:46] and it's like all soft stuff.

[1:32:47] So there's a bunch of toddlers in there,

[1:32:49] just like having a great time.

[1:32:51] And then the parents are mostly sitting outside, like chatting

[1:32:55] and but you can view what's going on.

[1:32:57] It's very sweet.

[1:32:58] Nice space.

[1:32:59] But I did notice they don't have much programming area.

[1:33:02] They have a very small room.

[1:33:04] And I was asking like, where do you do all your programs.

[1:33:06] Like, well, in here, but we don't

[1:33:08] really have that much space.

[1:33:10] And so I was talking to their branch manager

[1:33:14] and because I was like, I'm a Advisory

[1:33:18] Commission chair, like in my city,

[1:33:20] I'm like, oh, where are you from.

[1:33:21] So we started talking because I didn't want them to think I

[1:33:23] was just like a random weirdo.

[1:33:25] I'm just like, I have a reason for being weird and asking

[1:33:29] you all these questions.

[1:33:31] Did you get a library card.

[1:33:32] I did.

[1:33:33] It's not activated.

[1:33:34] But she let me have one.

[1:33:35] But they were very sweet and they were asking like

[1:33:42] oh like so we service 42,000.

[1:33:45] Like they count their whole city like we service

[1:33:48] this many people, even if that's not the number of library cards

[1:33:50] they have.

[1:33:51] This is who we service our whole community, 42,000 people.

[1:33:54] They're like, what size are you.

[1:33:56] And I'm like, oh, population.

[1:33:58] It's more than that.

[1:33:59] And she's like, because they didn't know where surprise was.

[1:34:01] I was like, it's a suburb of Phoenix

[1:34:03] in the West Valley of Phoenix.

[1:34:04] Like, oh, OK, random town.

[1:34:06] They've never heard of us.

[1:34:07] And they thought like, surely we'd be really small.

[1:34:10] Like maybe they would be bigger, but we do 42,000.

[1:34:13] I'm like, it's 140,000.

[1:34:16] They're surprised.

[1:34:17] Yeah, 55,000 active library cards than they do population.

[1:34:22] Exactly and so I was like, I'm not trying to brag.

[1:34:24] I was really nice about it, but she was very sweet.

[1:34:27] But I like to ask people and talk to them

[1:34:30] and just compare and see what they're

[1:34:32] doing versus what we're doing.

[1:34:33] And I do have to say they're very impressive

[1:34:35] and they're very sweet, and they're also

[1:34:37] very dedicated staff that were so excited to talk

[1:34:40] to me about things.

[1:34:42] But guys, our programming is absolutely amazing.

[1:34:47] And I know they're a lot smaller than us,

[1:34:49] but they had the whole week I was there,

[1:34:52] but basically the whole month of June,

[1:34:54] they only had two like school aged programs for kids

[1:34:58] that because like I said, my godchildren at 8 o'clock and 10,

[1:35:01] there were two things the whole month for them.

[1:35:03] Like most things were like the story

[1:35:05] time for Littles, which was only once a week.

[1:35:08] And then they had a couple of teen things, basically

[1:35:12] one thing a week for teens.

[1:35:15] And I know they're probably limited with funding and things

[1:35:17] like that, but I was like, wow, we are so fortunate,

[1:35:21] but also so awesome.

[1:35:23] So I wanted to just bring that back.

[1:35:25] And every time I go and talk to a different library.

[1:35:28] Our library is really amazing, so I just

[1:35:30] wanted to share that with you.

[1:35:31] And they were all they were all very impressed too.

[1:35:33] So they thought we were amazing.

[1:35:35] They were like, where is this city again.

[1:35:36] Because they thought it was, oh, it's a little suburb.

[1:35:39] It's really tiny.

[1:35:40] Is that anywhere near scottsdale?

[1:35:41] Yeah, I visited Scottsdale once.

[1:35:44] No, these people had never, like, one of them

[1:35:46] was like the branch manager.

[1:35:47] She was from Wisconsin, and she had

[1:35:48] never been West of Wisconsin.

[1:35:50] And the other, the two, there was a page there,

[1:35:54] and there was just like there she was, and she was an intern.

[1:35:59] And now she works there.

[1:36:01] But they were they're from Burlington,

[1:36:04] like, never left the state of Vermont.

[1:36:06] So they had no idea where any of our geography.

[1:36:09] So that was almost better.

[1:36:10] But like 1,000 people because to them that's huge.

[1:36:15] Well, our County is bigger than your state.

[1:36:17] Yeah exactly.

[1:36:18] But I do have I just wanted to report back of how very proud

[1:36:21] I was how impressed they were.

[1:36:24] And like, every time I go to a new library, I'm like,

[1:36:26] oh, we are so impressive.

[1:36:27] So very cool.

[1:36:31] Very cool.

[1:36:32] Bring that back.

[1:36:33] And like.

[1:36:33] Because yeah, when we do get out of surprise,

[1:36:35] it's good because we can steal some of our ideas.

[1:36:38] And maybe they can steal some of our ideas.

[1:36:41] And they were also impressed that we have

[1:36:43] an Advisory Commission because they

[1:36:46] do not and Burlington doesn't.

[1:36:47] And they're like, oh, I don't know.

[1:36:48] I don't know of anybody that has one.

[1:36:50] Well we do.

[1:36:51] So it's difficult to get all of them

[1:36:54] together because there's not many of you.

[1:36:56] So it's impressive.

[1:36:57] And I wanted to let you all know that every time I

[1:36:59] go to a different library, I'm more and more

[1:37:02] impressed with what you all do.

[1:37:04] So the link outside libraries with summer reading, who reached

[1:37:08] out to us and was like, we were looking some library system in

[1:37:12] like Kansas, like we searched all the summer reading programs,

[1:37:15] like in this country and we're looking for ideas

[1:37:18] and they called us and we're like,

[1:37:21] can you tell me more about what you're doing.

[1:37:22] So we have no affiliation with found either.

[1:37:25] Our socials or whatever.

[1:37:27] So slowly people are figuring it out.

[1:37:30] Wow even faster than you can travel.

[1:37:33] So very convenient.

[1:37:34] Keep telling all the people.

[1:37:37] Comparison is the thief of joy.

[1:37:39] Unless you're comparing us to other people.

[1:37:40] Yeah, and then it's awesome.

[1:37:45] And then it brings lots of joy.

[1:37:47] No, I mean, we're not as big as other.

[1:37:48] Like, I have a friend who's on the Advisory Commission

[1:37:51] for the Anaheim public library system,

[1:37:54] and they're a lot bigger than we are.

[1:37:56] They have a lot more money than we do.

[1:37:58] They do some very cool things with it.

[1:38:00] I'm not going to say it's better than what we do,

[1:38:02] but they just have more options because their budget is bigger.

[1:38:06] And their branches are bigger.

[1:38:08] Circulation like, I mean, they're just a bigger city

[1:38:11] that's much older than we are.

[1:38:13] But I still even when I do that, I'm like, oh, well,

[1:38:18] you guys do that.

[1:38:19] That's awesome.

[1:38:19] But like we do this and you guys don't

[1:38:22] actually offer that at all.

[1:38:23] So even when we're not the biggest or have the most money,

[1:38:28] there are still things that we really shine up.

[1:38:31] So I will still ask people all these questions

[1:38:35] just so I can find those spots.

[1:38:36] Yeah, we're doing this really great.

[1:38:39] So I say it's not me, you guys.

[1:38:41] But I'm very proud.

[1:38:44] So is there any other business.

[1:38:49] Current events and reports.

[1:38:52]

[1:38:55] No any more discussion.

[1:38:58] All right.

[1:39:00] Is there a motion to adjourn the meeting.

[1:39:05] I motion to adjourn the August library advisory meeting.

[1:39:10] I'll second.

[1:39:10] It's been moved and seconded.

[1:39:15] All those in favor say Aye.

[1:39:16] Aye all those opposed.

[1:39:18] Nay the motion carries.

[1:39:19] The meeting adjourned.

Library Advisory Commission

Agenda

Transcript