Zoom meeting link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83478306194
The library reopened Mondays on May 1
Programming
April was a busy month for programming, including a basketry/weaving workshop with Kathryn Rousso from Ketchikan, art workshops with Lisa Schramek-Adams, and a new afterschool program called Maker Lab for Kids that proved to be very popular. Maker Lab is for kids in grades 1-5, they engage in self-directed activities such as Robotics, Discovery Kits, Legos, as well as arts and crafts. We also continued Yoga with Karen Malcom and Stories in Motion (formerly known as Storytime).
In April the library collaborated with Matt Geritts with a Story Walk activity for kids and families at the Early Childhood Fair. Kari wrote a children's story about Matt and StarFlower, his pet duck using Matt's beautiful photographs to illustrate it. Comic Artist, Gus Petersen, filled in the gaps with wonderful illustrations. At the end of the storywalk the kids were able to meet Matt & StarFlower.
For the month of May we have slowed down on programming as we prepare for a busy two months of Summer Reading Programs for all ages. A call for donations for the programs have been sent.
Kari will be working with Pia Reilly and Joseph Quitslund to bring a fish stream to life in the library garden. Classes will be available this summer for 10-year-olds to adult to paint fish with Pia which will then be hung on a simple metal frame constructed by Joseph. This is funded by the Alaska Community Foundation’s Healthy Communities Grant.
Grants
Sealaska Heritage Institute asked us to partner with them for an Institute of Museum and Library Science grant that would provide Baby Raven Reads Story Times once a month for 9 months at Petersburg Public Library. It is very similar to the program we did with them last year. If the grant is awarded, Kari will be working with Sealaska staff and Juneau Public Library staff to create public library curriculum for 9 Baby Raven Reads books. We are waiting to hear if the grant will be awarded.
Staff Training
Martha and Barb are enrolled in a beginning cataloging class in June.
In March Kari participated in a two day workshop, Leading Conversations, hosted by the Alaska Humanities Forum.
Maintenance
In March water started to come up in the server room via a telecommunications conduit that runs underground from a telephone pole on 2nd street into the facility. APT rerouted the telecommunications cables through a spare conduit and Public Works capped the leaking conduit. Public Works will have to decide whether to make further repairs to the failed conduit, or simply seal the conduit and permanently decommission it.
Library power usage has increased significantly (50%) in the last two months and we are investigating possible mechanical system changes that may explain some periods of high demand we are now seeing. The spike also coincides with the installation of a new wireless meter so there is also the possibility that our old meter was faulty, and the new meter is correct. If this is the case our utility costs will go up an estimated 12-15K in FY24 and a supplemental budget request may be needed.
The ‘t-shirt project’ hit a few stumbling blocks – namely the challenge of finding a good unisex t-shirt. We’ve changed directions to explore starting with a basic black hoodie with a small design on the front and the full design on the back. These will not be ready for the summer tourist season but hopefully for Christmas! In the future we still plan to do t-shirts, possibly next summer.