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Nogales board reviews outreach, Little Free Libraries, signage and summer programming
Summary
Board members and staff discussed outreach including Little Free Libraries, bilingual books and bookmarks, signage upgrades at three branches, low summer program sign-ups at Sonoita, and a county infrastructure request for Rio Rico.
At its July 9 meeting, the Nogales Library Board of Trustees reviewed outreach plans, Friends of the Library activity and library operations across the four-branch county system, focusing on Little Free Libraries, bilingual materials, signage and summer programming attendance.
Juanita Hevel, speaking for the Friends of the Library, said the group will stock at least 140 new books in the Little Free Libraries and bought roughly 35 children's books from a Patagonia Library sale. Hevel said the new materials include Spanish- and English-language titles and the Friends produced bookmarks with a QR code linking to the Nogales library website. "The Little Free Libraries are going to be stocked with at least a 140 more books" Hevel said.
Board members and staff reported outreach and programming details: the library system plans backpacks and school supplies for back-to-school events at Rio Rico and Nogales (the Nogales event is scheduled for July 18), and partners including the superintendent's office helped run summer camps that provided lunches for participants. The board also discussed coordinating volunteers and story times at branch libraries, and engaging homeschool families.
Chair Vandervoort said he and librarian Denise Lopez met with Chris Young, the county deputy manager, to request opening a passageway at the Rio Rico library as a small infrastructure project; Vandervoort said he will follow up with the county and report back to the board. "He asked us what our priorities were...and we told him that was our priority," Vandervoort said.
Board members said Sonoita had no sign-ups for children's summer programming this year and urged more outreach to families and schools to rebuild participation in that branch. Marva, the Friends treasurer, said the Friends have applied for grants with South32 and the Humberto Lopez foundation and are awaiting responses for $30,000 requests to support book purchases and outreach.
Library staff reported a system-wide review of the library policy manual and encouraged board members to visit branches and help promote the library's new catalog systems, Polaris and Vega. Mariposa Community Health Center is scheduled to present at the board's next meeting about a potential partnership to update health-literacy materials and coordinate mobile clinics.
Board members asked staff to bring updates on signage negotiations with the county (for Rio Rico, Tubac and Sonoita), onboarding volunteer storytellers, and the county's response about the Rio Rico passageway.
