Library manager reports January circulation, programs and ongoing construction

Gwen, the library manager, presented the January operations report to the Los Alamos County Library Board, reporting print circulation and program highlights, and updating the board on building work and planned studies.

Gwen said January print circulation was 20,997 and digital circulation was 9,404, representing roughly 31 percent of total circulation. Program attendance highlights included the libraries’ New Year’s Eve (a children’s “Noon Year’s Eve” event) with about 200 attendees at Mesa and about 75 at White Rock. Upcoming programs include a tabletop game day, a knitting group at White Rock, an online talk on Feb. 13 about the history of the San Fe Indian School, the Feb. 15 gardening panel and the March 1 Seed Library anniversary event. Gwen also said the library will restart monthly evening hours with county social‑service case coordinators once a month at each location to assist patrons who cannot access services during daytime hours.

Gwen said the county will award a contract for a sound study at Mesa Public Library to identify mitigation options for ongoing noise issues. Separately, staff reported siding replacement and ceiling repairs at a branch are underway; the contractor began work during bad weather but “are making great progress” and the project is scheduled to be complete by the end of March. Gwen also said staff issued a press release after county council adopted revisions to library policies, with one wording change in the diversity and inclusion statement noted.

Gwen shared a patron comment praising staff assistance locating grief-related books and helping a family use digital services, which staff presented as an example of service impact.