Escondido library expands programming: oral histories, Beanstack summer reading and large cultural events

Reno and other staff highlighted a range of growing library programs and community outreach. Staff said the Lunar New Year dragon‑dance event drew about 845 attendees at the mall location and described several successful youth and adult programs, including an adult crochet club (28 attendees) and a pilot for a library kitchen skill series.

Archivist Ashley Hayes’ Latinos oral‑history project — a grant‑funded effort launched in late 2025 — has produced eight completed full oral histories with two additional interviews scheduled, for 10 participants to date. Staff said each oral history can require many hours of preparation and recording, and described plans to combine oral histories with archival materials and geographic mapping to create public walking‑tour content and other interpretive materials.

The director reported three new part‑time youth services hires (Heather, Carly and Summer) and said assistant director Dan is implementing Beanstack, a popular app that will streamline registration and tracking for summer reading. The library plans a late‑spring pilot for Beanstack and a full rollout for the summer reading challenge.

Staff also noted community partnership pilots, including a small mobile vaccination event with fewer than five attendees that organizers said they will revisit once the renovated library space is available to host mobile partners more visibly.

Board members and public commenters complimented the temporary mall location for drawing steady use and family attendance while the main building is renovated.