MCPL Monthly April 2023

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mcplmonthly

2023

APRIL

Blue Ridge Branch unveils new murals by local artist

aroundmcpl

Blue Ridge Branch

Jackson County

The Blue Ridge Branch recently had two murals installed in their branch by local artist Anthony Parker. Parker created these pieces specifically for the Blue Ridge community. His artwork includes a creative take incorporating the MCPL logo colors, the Missouri state bird, and the Missouri state flower.

Antioch Branch

Clay County

A customer from the North Oak Branch recently visited the Antioch Branch and recalled her then 5-year-old son attending the Read to a Dog program. She shared the story of how he chose books off the shelf and settled in to read to two gentle dogs. Her son, now 21 years old, was just deployed overseas with the military. The customer was gifted photos of her son from 16 years earlier by a long-time staff member who remembered the program and the customer’s son.

Green Hills Library Center

Platte County

Green Hills Library Center recently received several customer comments about the impact of libraries on their families. A customer stated that books are her self-care that help her get through life and having the Libby App for eBooks has been incredibly important. Another spoke of bringing her daughter to storytimes in the 1970s and now bringing her grandson as well. One grandparent has enrolled her granddaughter in the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program. There was even a customer who let us know that she met her husband at the Library and pointed out that “There’s more to check out at the library than just books!”

1.0M Transactions

285K Active Customers

90.7% Net Promoter Score

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MCPL’s April adult programs centered around gardening and the outdoors, including Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces, Home-Style Composting, and Great Horned Owls. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive for these nature programs, such as: “Great info! It’s important for the world. Please do more programs to educate communities!” We also celebrated Jazz Appreciation Month with the program Kansas City Jazz: The Golden Years. Customers loved it! “This is one of the best programs I’ve been to. I didn’t know what KC Jazz was before; now I want more.” We continue to see how much customers love learning new skills as well as connecting with their communities through our programs.

Program Highlights

429 Programs

3,046 In-Person Attendees

618 Virtual Attendees

Attendance By Age Group Print

Top Checkouts

Adult Fiction

1. It Starts with Us

2. The Boys from Biloxi

3. Simply Lies

Adult Nonfiction

1. Spare

2. I’m Glad My Mom Died

3. Becoming Free Indeed

Young Adult Fiction

1. Naruto

Juvenile Fiction

1. Don’t Eat Bees

Adult Fiction eBook

1. Verity

2. Book Lovers

3. It Starts with Us

Adult Nonfiction eBook

1. Spare

2. I’m Glad My Mom Died

3. Maybe You Should Talk To Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed

Young Adult Fiction eBook

1. The Summer I Turned Pretty

2. A Court of Thorns and Roses

3. The Inheritance Games

Juvenile Fiction eBook

3

customerfavorites

2. Lore 3. Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes 2. Book of Rules 3. I’m a Unicorn 1. Mothering Heights 2. Old School 3. The Deep End

51% Teen 3% Adult 46%

Children

eBooks

youthservices

El Día de los Niños, or the Day of the Child, is a joyous celebration of children, families, and reading on April 30. It is a nationally recognized initiative emphasizing the importance of culture, literacy, and diversity. This year, several branches throughout the Library system celebrated El Día de los Niños in partnership with the Youth Services and Reader Services Departments. Staff created festive displays, reading lists, and other activities to celebrate the day.

316 Storytimes

9,027 Storytime Attendees

194 Read and Feed Attendees

“Miss Jo does an amazing job leading the Toddler Story Hour. I have been taking my grandson since September 2022. He loves story hour and is always excited to go. Miss Jo is always kind and speaks with the children. Her program is consistent, so he feels secure knowing what to expect. He has blossomed and is now participating. Thank you for providing a great program for children.”

–Customer attending Withers Branch Storytime

technologysupport

32.8K Wi-Fi Sessions

21.4K Computer Sessions

40.4 Avg. Session Time (Minutes)

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Edgerton Branch El Día de los Niños Display. Green Hills Library Center El Día de los Niños Display.

Michael Engelman, Antioch Branch Manager, recently received the Member of the Year Award from the Gladstone Area Chamber of Commerce. Michael has served on the Board of Directors and volunteered in various capacities. He was described by Gladstone Area Chamber of Commerce President Amy Harline as a “behind the scenes type volunteer, but very much appreciated” for his work in recruiting new members and tireless efforts to support the community.

communityoutreach capitalimprovement

East Independence Branch

The footings and foundations on the site are now complete. The utility work continues and installation of the electrical rough-in has begun. The under-slab gravel and vapor barrier will begin soon, as well as the slap-on-grade pour.

Grain Valley Branch

The standing seam roof has been completed and installation of the storefront and glazing is continuing. On the interior, drywall and overhead duct work is continuing. The site work for the parking lot has begun.

North Oak Branch

Restroom tile has been completed and the installation of the ceiling grid is nearly complete. Work has continued on tongue-and-groove wood install and interior painting. Casework has begun and site concrete is being poured.

Riverside Branch

The groundbreaking ceremony has been set for Friday, May 19, at 9:30 a.m. Parking will be available on site at 4510 NW Gateway Avenue, Riverside, Missouri, and the public is invited.

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April 23-29, 2023 marked National Library Week. The theme, “There’s More to the Story,” pointed to the vast array of services offered by libraries like Mid-Continent Public Library, beyond the books that customers typically think of first. In addition to being able to broadly share the benefits of our library system, customers were invited to share their library stories, which ranged from appreciation of the staff to the resources that have been helpful in shaping the lives of a wide swath of people in our communities.

During the month of April, Mid-Continent Public Library received media coverage across a variety of outlets in the Kansas City area, as well as in several out-of-market publications, which featured the Library’s recent preservation award for the Woodneath historic home. The Library’s Food for Fines program was also publicized in advance of its May 1 start.

33 Media Mentions

April 30 – KMBC previewed the Library’s upcoming Food for Fines program in their evening broadcast.

(30,800 estimated reach)

April 24 – Carthage Press (a newspaper out of Carthage, Mo.) announced the winners of Missouri Preservation’s 2023 awards, including Mid-Continent Public Library for its work preserving and transforming the historic home at Woodneath Library Center into The Story Center. (3,920 estimated reach)

April 6 – The northland Courier Tribune newspaper featured several upcoming programs at MCPL’s northland branches, and the St. Joseph News-Press also shared the upcoming roster. (162,000 estimated reach)

communityspaces

169 Community Room Reservations

570K Social Media Impressions

26.0K Social Media Engagements

447K Marketing Emails Sent

186K Marketing Emails Opened

117K Total Website Users

544K Total Website Pageviews

“Thanks for what you do to keep the MCPL website up and running. The website is a lifeline. You are greatly appreciated.”

–Customer via Website Feedback

4,125 Collaboration Room Reservations

11.6K Community Space Attendees

6 our

reach

Milestone Service Anniversaries

25 Years

Alan Chapin

Information Technology Manager

Administrative Headquarters

“I think Alan has been absolutely great to work with over his time here at the Library. The thing that stands out most about Alan is his willingness and ability to help our staff and customers get what they need.”

- Bryan Gash, Chief Technology Officer, Administrative Headquarters

Michelle Misenhelter

Early Literacy Associate

Antioch Branch

“Michelle is diligent and caring, fun to work with, and very dependable. We are so happy to have her on our Antioch team!”

- Elise Mack, Assistant Branch Manager, Antioch Branch

15 years

Paul McDonald Administrative Headquarters

Sandra Scharhag Riverside Branch

10 years

Sheryl Chitwood Red Bridge Branch

Melissa Stan Buckner Branch

Kathryn Yule Grain Valley Branch

5 years

Jessica Nicholas Parkville Branch

Christopher Thrasher Administrative Headquarters

Andrew Vandendaele Administrative Headquarters

Kayla Vaughan Platte City Branch

In honor of Library Workers Appreciation Day, the staff at Administrative Headquarters was treated to Hawaiian Shaved Ice from the Taste of Aloha Food Truck while bonding over yard games and great conversation. Branches throughout the system also found ways to show their staff how much they are valued through food, fun, and tokens of appreciation.

12

New Hires

6

Position Changes

7

ourteam

Mid-Continent Public Library was awarded a Summer Reading Program Grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to support the Reading Rocket’s summer outreach visits. Funds will be used to distribute books to families at Reading Rocket visits to affordable housing complexes, food pantries, after school programs, and other community service hubs. The Reading Rocket expects to distribute over 2,000 books to 5,000 families who face barriers to Library services over the summer. To learn more about the Reading Rocket, and how you can support the Rocket through a gift to the forever book fund, visit mymcpl.org/ReadingRocket