Shulman Auditorium upgrade on schedule; library reports big increases in Wi‑Fi and streaming use

At the Dec. 11 meeting, the Carlsbad Library technology update laid out facility and systems work and flagged significant upticks in digital access.

Andrea Hilliard, principal librarian for digital initiatives, said, "The Shulman Auditorium has been closed for just over 5 months. The space is receiving an audio, video, and lighting upgrade. The project is going well and is on schedule to reopen in early 2025." She said rentals of the auditorium will begin in March 2025 and staff will train on the new equipment before programming resumes.

Hilliard also described the city's use of Canto, the digital asset management system, where genealogy and Carlsbad history librarians have uploaded collections (postcards, oral histories and a "Carlsbad Teens Through the Years" photo series) that will be publicly accessible. She reported that in‑house computer sessions were up about 6% year over year and that Wi‑Fi sessions rose about 32% for July–September 2024, "going as high as 41,196." Hilliard said the library is in early planning for digital‑literacy classes to help patrons use software and online services.

On operations, Hilliard described vendor delays in the patron‑printer replacement project, validation steps taken to integrate devices with print‑management software and an amended agreement that resolved outstanding procurement issues; installation dates will be shared with trustees when finalized.

The board did not take formal votes on technology projects at the meeting; staff will return with more details as projects move to implementation.