One of the standard segments of our library board meetings is the Branch Manager Report. In July, our director of branches, Nancy Barnes, filled in for vacationing Abraham Korah. Their comments were so good I thought them worthy of wider dissemination. I have lightly edited them, adding my own intro and conclusions.
We also have a “Join the Conversation” display and cards for community participation in conjunction with the One Small Step Storycorp grant that Adult Services Coordinator Trary LaMee secured earlier this year which aims to foster civil and civic community engagement.
If you walk by the front area of the library, you will see all of the summer reading programs that are currently occurring for children, teens and adults. You will also see our new display of board games that are now available for check out. This is a new endeavor that our staff has taken on and has been met with a very positive response and robust checkouts.
District-wide, each branch has their own youth services intern and they have been a tremendous help to our branches and a program we’re grateful the board has funded the past two years. This position has directly translated into an increase in summer programs, outreach and attendance numbers. In Glenwood for example, our attendance by these target age groups has increased as follows: 43.8% for early childhood; 80% for teens; 136.6% for families and all ages; 603.2% for adults; 614.3% for seniors. School-aged children participation fell by 11.9% compared with last year.
Additionally, the board approved six adult service coordinators in the 2025 budget. As a result of this position at each branch, we’re seeing more robust programming for adults and seniors. In Glenwood, for example, adult and senior programs have increased by these percentages: 52.7% for early childhood; 44.4% for teens; 411.8% for adults, 53.3% for families and all ages; 1,450% for seniors. Programs for school-aged children decreased by 20.7%.
We also recently partnered with Alpenglow, the new bookstore in Glenwood, to bring in Justin Hocking, an author who grew up in Glenwood and is now on the faculty at Portland State University.
In addition, we found that if we can work with organizations who use the library, there are opportunities to develop those library partner programs. We have a great relationship with the Garfield County Older Adult Services team as well as Burt Oglesby, who guides tai chi twice a week for the community at no cost. We have also recently partnered with a 12-step meditation/prayer group and are building a connection with the genealogical group in Glenwood.
I often say to our managers that our branches are not in competition with each other. They all have their unique twists. They all have positive and powerful stories to tell. The important point is this: We are united in our vision for an engaged and literate society. I hope the community is as proud of library successes as I am.
Intro
Our board meetings move around the district. The last board meeting at Glenwood happened in April of 2025. Concluding in May was the art show we held with the Glenwood Art Guild. We currently have some informative displays from the Glenwood Historic Preservation Society of notable buildings as well as information about how Glenwood residents can landmark their homes for preservation.We also have a “Join the Conversation” display and cards for community participation in conjunction with the One Small Step Storycorp grant that Adult Services Coordinator Trary LaMee secured earlier this year which aims to foster civil and civic community engagement.
If you walk by the front area of the library, you will see all of the summer reading programs that are currently occurring for children, teens and adults. You will also see our new display of board games that are now available for check out. This is a new endeavor that our staff has taken on and has been met with a very positive response and robust checkouts.
Programs
Our youth services intern, Faye, a Glenwood High School student, has been an integral part of our summer reading events this summer. Faye has been helping Red, our youth services coordinator, with all of the summer programming and assembling take-and-make craft kits for kids and families.District-wide, each branch has their own youth services intern and they have been a tremendous help to our branches and a program we’re grateful the board has funded the past two years. This position has directly translated into an increase in summer programs, outreach and attendance numbers. In Glenwood for example, our attendance by these target age groups has increased as follows: 43.8% for early childhood; 80% for teens; 136.6% for families and all ages; 603.2% for adults; 614.3% for seniors. School-aged children participation fell by 11.9% compared with last year.
Additionally, the board approved six adult service coordinators in the 2025 budget. As a result of this position at each branch, we’re seeing more robust programming for adults and seniors. In Glenwood, for example, adult and senior programs have increased by these percentages: 52.7% for early childhood; 44.4% for teens; 411.8% for adults, 53.3% for families and all ages; 1,450% for seniors. Programs for school-aged children decreased by 20.7%.
Outreach
Red, with support from Faye, has also been leading storytimes called Reading with Red in various locations, mostly in parks, across Glenwood. Additionally, the branch is participating in Glenwood’s Tuesday night markets to reach a wide swath of the community.Recent partnerships
The Glenwood Springs Branch Library, along with the other branches, recently participated in CLEER’s BikeThere event. The library is also partnering with Aspen Public Radio for a volunteer fair focused on families and especially students, in late August of 2024.We also recently partnered with Alpenglow, the new bookstore in Glenwood, to bring in Justin Hocking, an author who grew up in Glenwood and is now on the faculty at Portland State University.
In addition, we found that if we can work with organizations who use the library, there are opportunities to develop those library partner programs. We have a great relationship with the Garfield County Older Adult Services team as well as Burt Oglesby, who guides tai chi twice a week for the community at no cost. We have also recently partnered with a 12-step meditation/prayer group and are building a connection with the genealogical group in Glenwood.
Visits and circulation
Lastly, the number of visitors to the branch has averaged about 12,000 patrons per month. Spanish-language material circulation has increased by 10% and new materials are being checked out by patrons on a very consistent basis.Director conclusions
It’s worth underscoring that decisions made by our board — creating new positions for youth interns, youth services and adult services — deliver real benefits to our community. But they also help our staff, mostly local folks, build career ladders. By investing in our talent, we can hold onto them.I often say to our managers that our branches are not in competition with each other. They all have their unique twists. They all have positive and powerful stories to tell. The important point is this: We are united in our vision for an engaged and literate society. I hope the community is as proud of library successes as I am.
[This column originally ran in the July 16, 2025 edition of the Sopris Sun.]
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