Library

As We Work Towards Celebrating And Enjoying Our New Building, We Continue To Be Guided By Our Core Values Of Patron-Centric, Stewardship, Innovation, And Excellence.

-Edith Guadiana Craig

About

ST. CHARLES PUBLIC LIBRARY

The St. Charles Public Library was pleased to learn that we were recognized as a 2020 three-star library by Library Journal. The Library Journal Index rates U.S. public libraries based on the following criteria: physical circulation, electronic circulation, library visits, program attendance, internet use, public Wi-Fi sessions, and electronic retrievals. In 2020, 5,608 U.S. public libraries qualified to be rated in the Index, with 262 libraries receiving star signations.

Award-Winning Staff
PAMELA SALOMONE

Pamela Salomone, Communications and Marketing Manager, was the recipient of the 2020 Deborah Dowley Preiser Marketing Award sponsored by the Illinois Library Association. This award “recognizes a library employee who has performed excellent public relations and programming work over several years.” Salomone has utilized exemplary leadership, innovation, and dedication to help launch new and engaging adult programs, revamp the Library’s quarterly newsletter, increase social media presence and strengthen community partnerships.

Award-Winning Staff
DAVID KELSEY

David Kelsey was named a 2021 Library Journal “Mover & Shaker” for his work serving the elderly. Kelsey was one of forty-six individuals selected and the only Mover & Shaker recognized in Illinois. Kelsey was the recipient of the 2021 Francis Joseph Campbell Award, sponsored by the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association. The award recognizes David for his “outstanding contributions in advancing public library services for seniors with physical and cognitive challenges.”

Award-Winning Staff
CHRISTINE STECK

Christine Steck, Outreach Services Assistant, received the 2021 Oberman-Rich Award, sponsored by the Illinois Library Association. The award “recognizes the contributions of a support staff member to the library community and the role of support staff in libraries.”

Award-Winning Staff
DEIDRE WINTERHALTER

Deidre Winterhalter, Youth Services Assistant Manager, participated in two American Library Association process committees for the Association of Library Service to Children. The Membership Committee works to recruit and retain membership across the United States. The Children and Technology Committee seeks to inform and engage youth librarians in technology programming and policy. Winterhalter served as co-chair of Children and Technology for 2020-2021 and will continue until 2022.

Each year, we reflect on our previous fiscal year and create an essential overview to share what we are most proud of and what we have accomplished. The fiscal Year 2020-2021 presented some challenges, such as our temporary residency at Haines, the various COVID-19 restrictions, openings and closures, and our transition back to our newly renovated Library. This annual report reflects these hurdles and showcases stories, statistics, and information for 44 weeks of operation instead of 52 weeks. I am proud the Library continued to provide services and resources to the community no matter the situation.

The fiscal year began in July 2020 with the opening of our doors at the former Haines Middle School while the Library was being renovated. We were working in a much smaller location, but in-person patron and staff capacity was limited due to COVID-19. We worked around these restrictions by engaging patrons in unique ways. We partnered with community organizations and took our programs outside by creating Story Junior Historians and Movies in the Park. We offered vestibule holds pickup service, contactless printing, and Grab and Go kits. Online streaming, research tools, homework help, and downloads helped patrons keep up on studies, career development, and popular entertainment. Our highly attended in-person adult and youth programs moved to Zoom and video format and saw a significant increase in registration and popularity. As a result, we learned how important these programs, social media, and online services were to help us stay connected as a community.

As we closed our doors at Haines, we were excited to move back to One South Sixth Avenue. Our transition to the new building re-charged us and reminded us that we were home. After all the planning and hard work, we opened our doors to the community on July 17, 2021, with a Library Grand Re-Opening Celebration. This project was on time and budget.

Our annual report highlights the programs and services we provided and the invaluable lessons during this transitional year. As we celebrate our new building, we continue to be guided by our Core Values of being Patron-Centric, embodying Stewardship, Innovation, and Excellence. Let me end my message with heartfelt gratitude for the Board, staff( patrons, and community. I hope you are proud of all that we’ve accomplished, and I hope you discover your new Library is a welcoming, safe, and empowering place now and for many more generations to come.

SELF-STUDY COMPUTER CLASSES

In August of 2020, our technology class curriculum was turned into a series of self-study courses that patrons could follow from the comfort of their homes. Our Technology Educator developed instruction videos and delivered them to patrons via email. Patrons can watch the videos to learn how to use Google Apps or Microsoft Office. They can practice the skills taught by following along with a copy of the document shown in the instructional video. All videos offer closed captioning. The self-study option is still being offered to provide patrons with an alternative to in-person instruction.

EARLY LITERACY AND PARENTING BAGS

Youth Services created an excellent new service-Early, Literacy, and Parenting bags. Early Literacy kits have fun themes and do not have an age range. Our new Parenting bags have topics like divorce, new baby, death, etc. The purpose of the Parenting kits is so adults can get a curated bag of materials on sensitive issues without speaking to a staff member.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

The St. Charles Public Library continues to explore opportunities to enhance collaboration with the City of St. Charles and other community organizations. The Library is proud to work together with these community partners to provide outstanding events and programs for local residents of all ages.

LIBRARY STAFF VOLUNTEER IN THE COMMUNITY

The Library was represented in our community through various events. Our Circulation Services Manager helped the River Corridor Foundation plant 5,000 mixed daffodil bulbs centered on the Mr. Eggward sculpture in Mount Saint Mary Park and joined fellow Breakfast Club Rotarians to support the Fox River Clean-Up.

ST. CHARLES EARLY LEARNING PARTNERSHIP

Our Youth Services Manager served on the St. Charles Early Learning Partners team, a grant-funded initiative/partnership with the School District and other community organizations dedicated to working together for early childhood education. The group continues to work with a coach from Partner, Plan, Act. We applied for a United Way grant and received a portion of our offering. It was challenging to spend the monies during the pandemic, but the group received spending. The team is working with a graphic artist and a social media specialist to establish a presence in the community.

LITERACY VOLUNTEERS FOX VALLEY (LVFV)

LVFV was awarded a grant to purchase 30 Chromebooks to facilitate tutoring sessions remotely during the pandemic. We collaborated with LVFV to catalog and process the Chromebooks to circulate the devices and track them with their students. The students are, in turn, encouraged to obtain a library card and empowered to use the Library with this new tool. It is an exciting collaboration that provides a literacy outcome on many levels.

3D RESIN PRINTING

3D resin printing was launched in late June. The Help Desk staff learned the process of working with this new printer and material. The results show remarkable detail. This fox model shown is a fine example of the detailed edging and surface smoothing possible within 3D resin printing. The subjects are the same model printed in different sizes. 3D resin printing will be made available in STC Creative.

FACILITIES & SECURITY

In January 2021, the Facilities team counted all items collected from the five-book drop locations throughout St. Charles, Wayne, and South Elgin. In six months of our daily book pickups, we retrieved over 16,000 books. This data collection is vital to the placement of book drop locations and frequency of service. The Facilities team is maintaining.