Library and museum report increased attendance and winter programming; museum opens dinosaur exhibit next Thursday

Library and museum staff told the Arts & Culture Board the two institutions saw increased program attendance over the winter and are preparing new exhibits and electronic resources for 2025.

Dennis Quinn, director of Bemis Public Library, said the library had a “bit of a spike” in winter programming and that several guest performers drew between about 120 and 170 attendees per performance. He said staff are reviewing usage data for electronic resources and that the library team expects to change some e‑newspaper providers and add self‑guided learning databases once contract negotiations finish. Quinn said facility and infrastructure work is expected in spring and summer 2025.

The Littleton Museum director said the museum’s preliminary attendance numbers for 2024 look close to pre‑pandemic levels and invited board members to the opening of a dinosaur exhibit next Thursday at 5:30 p.m. The museum director noted the exhibit is aimed at young families and community audiences.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Lauren O’Connell, who identified herself as a member of the Cycling Without Age Littleton group, thanked the board for a grant and asked about board goals for the year and how the group could align its work with the board’s priorities.

Staff also announced community arts programming: the board publicized free art and design workshops for youth that will begin in March (first Saturdays 10 a.m.–noon and third Wednesdays 6–8 p.m.); staff said marketing and registration pages (with QR codes) will be distributed in the coming weeks.

Board members and staff encouraged members to promote museum and library events and to use the study website and QR codes to review the consultants’ plan and event details.