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Director outlines summer reading, Born Learning Trail and staffing amid renovation
Summary
Library Director Nizzie Bell told the Ripon Library Board the summer reading program 'Unearth a Story' is ready to launch, staff are fully hired, first‑grade visits added roughly 115 patrons, digital circulation comprises about 32% of checkouts, and a Born Learning Trail was installed with local sponsorship.
Library Director Nizzie Bell delivered the monthly director’s report and reviewed programs, outreach and renovation progress. "Summer reading program preparations are underway already for this year's theme, which is 'Unearth a Story,'" Bell said, describing dinosaur decorations, kid reading logs, teen individualized monthly goals and adult checkout tracking the board calls "syrup."
Bell said staff are fully staffed as of May, reported classroom visits by five first‑grade classes that added roughly 115 patrons to the month’s totals, and noted that digital circulation accounts for about 32% of total circulation during the renovation, while the physical circulation dipped because adult and teen collections were moved to the basement.
Bell also said the Born Learning Trail was installed and thanked local sponsors: Ripon Dew and Kiwanis paid for signs and Drexel Building Supply donated cedar posts. The trail will be unveiled on May 16 for Kids to Parks Day and the board said it will publicly acknowledge donors.
Bell described ongoing outreach events (a Hy‑Vee mascot event, school and college fairs) and reported roughly $10,466 in expenditures for the month while noting large balances remain in the library’s funds. She also flagged an extended lead time for a condensing unit for HVAC procurement that could affect renovation sequencing; staff said they will ask the engineering firm (MSA) for vendor timing and contractual responsibilities.
