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St. Helens Library to digitize local papers, expand early-childhood programming and highlight makerspace growth
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Summary
In its Feb. 9 director’s report the St. Helens library outlined an Oregon Heritage digitization project, a new early-childhood 'We Wigglers' program, a month of Library Lovers promotions, expanded teen involvement in the makerspace and rising digital circulation numbers from 2025.
During a Feb. 9 report to the St. Helens Library Board the library director detailed new and ongoing programs, grant activity and usage metrics that the library will feature at an upcoming joint meeting with the city council.
The director said Brenda will take historical newspapers to the University of Oregon in April to be digitized under an Oregon Heritage grant; the grant includes time for Brenda to consult the university archives. The library has also launched a monthly early-childhood series called 'We Wigglers,' run in partnership with Northwest ESD Hub specialists; the first session drew 19 children and was described as highly engaging.
The board heard preliminary plans for an Oregon Humanities '200 and fiftieth' conversation tentatively scheduled for April 28 and for integrating the anniversary programming into the library’s summer challenge. The director said staff will host speakers and trained moderators from Oregon Humanities for a community conversation and will coordinate local history displays with the museum association and tribal partners.
Event promotion is already under way: a launch event is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m., with authors, invited dignitaries and light refreshments; the Writers Guild will meet at noon. Board members were asked to RSVP and help publicize the month-long slate of activities.
The director also highlighted usage and service statistics from calendar year 2025: a reported total patron-savings value of $833,438 derived from material checkouts, 28,362 Libby digital checkouts (including 12,492 ebooks and 12,429 audiobooks), 3,711 emagazine issues checked out, and 17,239 songs streamed. She reported 728 new patron accounts (a 16% increase) and described makerspace activity (99 users in January, 24 introductory sessions and active volunteers providing technical help).
On accessibility, the director said the library is exploring grant-funded installation of automatic door paddles for auditorium access and other doors, with equipment-plus-installation costs described as 'a couple thousand' per door. She said grant applications will be prepared and the board would be updated as proposals progress.
The director closed by urging board members to attend the Feb. 25 joint meeting and to support library events intended to demonstrate community value to the city amid budget planning.
