Library usage statistics for April:
    836 people attended 90 meetings
    6 ICN meetings were held
    174 people used our study rooms
    2,720 people used the Computer lab
    97 children used the computer in the Children’s area
    237 new borrowers were added
    1,461 items were added to the library collection
    600 items were removed from the library collection
    Circulation statistics – 61,836 (up 9,474 from April 2007)
       
Budget – A few line items are over budget.  At this time of year, we keep a close watch on all expenditures to make sure that we stay within the total budgeted amount for the library.  We are still waiting to get an accounting of the costs of getting our computers and email back up after the server failure the end of March.

Food For Thought – In April, the discussion focused on Chick-Lit: Light-Hearted Books for Reading Pleasure.  The topic for May is True Crime.  A suggested reading list is available at the Information Desk.

The Friends are getting ready for their next used book sale which will held the weekend of May 16th.

The Foundation met on April 22 to discuss the golf outing which will be held June 18.  Registration forms are available at the library.

Jo Pearson and Jean Hampson attended the Computers in Libraries conference, sponsored by Information Today, Inc., in Arlington, Virginia April 7 – 9.  Many Iowa librarians (including Jo and Jean) were lucky enough to get money from the Gates Foundation via the State Library allowing them to attend all-expenses-paid. Though it was a little overwhelming, both came back inspired to try new things and with great ideas for moving the library ahead into the World of Technology. There were keynote speakers each of the three days, and five “tracks” every day, each focusing on a different aspect of computers in libraries (which meant five concurrent sessions at any given time! LOTS from which to choose!). They learned about Web gadgets and Web design, searching and search engines, social software, virtual services, and breaking down barriers to service, among many other things. It was a very productive conference and they hope to integrate many of their ideas. Many thanks to Bill Gates and the State Library of Iowa for making the trip possible!

National Library Week was April 13-19.  Our theme this year was “Cheers for the Library”.  Programs during the week included the Friends annual author dinner with Kathy Miller Haines on April 17 and the volunteer lunch on Friday, April 18, where we honored and thanked our library volunteers.  Library card holders were given out during the week (thanks to our Friends for giving us the money to purchase these!).

Bruce Hale, author of many children’s books, visited our library on April 29 and presented a program.  Bruce also presented a program at Theatre Cedar Rapids that evening at 7 p.m.  Bruce was the first of three authors to present a program this year as a part of our Out Loud Author Series, which has been funded by the Giacoletto Foundation.

Molly Andersen and Susan Kling attended an ICN public library trustee training session on April 23.

Full-time library staff participated in a training session in preparation for our new downloadable audio books project.

There were no staff anniversaries to celebrate in April.   
   
Our staff meeting was held on Thursday, April 17, at 8:30 a.m.  Many thanks to our Friends board for bringing in breakfast and anniversary gifts to honor and thank library staff for their hard work.