Martindale Brightwood branch manager details staffing, programs and community outreach

Teresa Coleman, branch manager of the Martindale Brightwood branch of the Indianapolis Public Library, told the board on Sept. 22 that the branch is operating programs and services while remaining understaffed.

Coleman said the branch, which the board visited for the meeting, has one full-time branch manager, one full-time adult librarian, a full-time juvenile librarian starting the coming Saturday, a full-time circulation supervisor, two full-time library assistants, a full-time computer lab assistant position (posted), one hourly library assistant (interviews underway), two pages with one vacancy, two adult volunteers and one teen volunteer. She said the branch would typically have 10 team members if fully staffed.

The report explained why the senior room was closed during the pandemic and reopened in July 2024, and described outreach efforts to steer older patrons toward the space. Coleman said the senior room houses the large-print collection and a blood-pressure cuff from the Libraries with a Heart program. She said library staff rearranged shelving and added signage and paint to make collections easier to find and the environment more welcoming.

Coleman highlighted recent arts and culture programming at the branch, including a reception and exhibit for digital artist Charlotte Brown Parrot and an ongoing exhibit titled Our Hair by Sandra Holiday. She also described a mural by Tasha Beckworth that documents the branch's history and noted that former branch manager Ruby Anderson (1988–2001) attended and was recognized. Coleman said she plans to mark the branch's 125th anniversary in 2026.

On services and usage, Coleman reported system-provided figures for 2025: 49,877 visits to the branch (as of the report), 8,990 active cardholders, 263 new library card registrations in 2025, 170 programs reaching 692 participants, and 3,942 seed packets distributed through the branch seed library. She described the top patron services as circulation assistance (39.8%), computer reference (28.1%), service assistance (25.3%) and reference (6.3%).

Coleman outlined children’s and teen activity, noting paused in-house weekly storytime in the absence of a children's librarian and reliance on system programming for juvenile events; she said several new play and activity items (Duplo, oversized Connect 4, board games) were bought with gift funds. She also described adult offerings including weekly career center services, computer classes, Mahjong, textile workshops and a monthly book club.

Why it matters: the presentation illustrated how a neighborhood branch sustains core services and community partnerships despite staffing shortfalls and how local arts, volunteer engagement and targeted programs factor into usage and outreach.

The report closed with Coleman inviting questions; no substantive board objections or votes were recorded on the branch report itself.