Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Library Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Library reports robust event turnout, Friends raise funds and discuss payment and social media options
Summary
The City Librarian reported on a community breakfast and a popular 'Whoville' holiday event; Friends of the Library said it raised about $200 from raffle baskets and discussed whether card payments and a Friends-managed social media account are feasible.
The City Librarian provided an update on recent library programs, saying the library held a community breakfast with "about 50 people in attendance," featuring presentations from police and fire departments, the city manager and partner tables including the Chamber of Commerce.
The librarian also described a first annual "Whoville" holiday event that included music, crafts, book giveaways and a volunteer Santa identified as Dennis. "We probably had about 500 people come through in the 2 hours that we had the event," the City Librarian said, calling it a successful community event the library expects to repeat next year.
On funding and grants, the librarian said staff are reapplying for the lunch-at-the-library program (approval pending documentation) and continuing applications for sustainability grants and funding for adult and ESL programs for fiscal 2025–26.
Representing the Friends of the Library, the Friends' representative reported that raffle baskets raised about $200 and that those funds are used to support children’s programming, supplies and occasional purchases for events. "All the money that we get goes to the children's programming," the Friends representative said.
Board members raised operational questions: whether the Friends could accept card payments for raffle tickets and sales, and how to better promote events. The Friends representative said electronic payments would be handled by Friends (not the city) and that setting up a recipient account would require a process the volunteers had so far been reluctant to pursue, but that the issue could be revisited. A board member suggested leveraging the city's "I Love National City" social media page to increase event visibility; the librarian said the library is currently included on the city's social platforms and that any Friends-run account would be monitored by Friends rather than the city.
No formal policy changes or expenditures were decided; members agreed to continue planning events and to explore payment options and outreach with Friends and city staff.
