City Council

CITY OF MONROVIA LIBRARY BOARD AGENDA REPORT DEPARTMENT: Community Services, Library Division MEETING DATE: July 23, 2026 PREPARED BY: Kurt Gally AGENDA LOCATION: CC-2 Adult Services Supervisor Ginger Antunez Youth Services Supervisor __________________________________________________________________________________ ADULT SERVICES REPORT Adult Programs On June 2, the Summer Adult Craft program featured rock painting. Participants used acrylic paint and acrylic markers to decorate rocks using dot painting and other creative techniques. In addition to providing an opportunity for creative expression, the program encouraged community building as participants shared ideas, learned from one another, and connected through a relaxed, collaborative activity. A total of 21 participants attended. On June 8, staff visited Heritage Park Senior Apartments for outreach. Seven residents participated in six rounds of Bingo. Afterwards, staff signed four residents up for Summer Reading and assisted another resident with using the Libby app on their tablet. The library’s calendar of events was also distributed and a few residents expressed interest in the upcoming Induction Cooktop Workshop. On June 8, 9, and 10, staff visited three senior groups that meet weekly at the Community Center: Co- Mingle Mondays, New Horizons, and Gad-a-bouts. During these visits, staff shared information about library resources and services, encouraged participation in the Summer Reading Program (SRP), and demonstrated how to access the library's digital magazine and newspaper database, PressReader. A total of 147 individuals attended the presentations. Twenty-four participants registered for the Summer Reading Program, and six either signed up for a new library card or updated their library account information to access library services. Staff answered 44 questions about library services, with the greatest interest focused on the Summer Reading Program and technology assistance. On June 9, staff hosted the Yarn and Sewing Hangout. Nine people attended and brought a variety of projects including knitting, embroidery, needle felting, cross stitch, and pattern sewing. Three people received beginning instruction on the sewing machine, and another used a machine to work on her project. On June 10, staff visited Brookdale Senior Living to facilitate a tech help session. One individual participated in this monthly program. The participant learned how to add personal events to the Calendar app on an iPhone. On June 13, staff hosted Dungeons & Dragons 101 for 21 participants. Staff presented a slideshow detailing the basic rules for how to play Dungeons & Dragons as well as broke down how to create a CC-2 character from scratch. Participants were shown a mock combat scenario and how their characters can take actions. Online resources were also shared for how to create their own campaigns to play at home. At the end, staff raffled off a special set of dice and a custom dice bag to one lucky winner. On June 16, staff hosted Dungeons & Dragons for 23 participants. Staff and volunteers ran four separate games accommodating regular attendees as well as new players that had previously attended the Dungeons & Dragons 101 event. Each game was different with some heroes betting on dinosaur races and others helping ghostly specters to pass on. Staff and volunteers also said a fond farewell to one volunteer who is moving away. A special thank you to Alan Diaz for their dedication and passion in volunteering for the library’s Dungeon & Dragons program. On June 20, Adult Services collaborated with green energy consultant John Shipman, Chef Ying, and Chef Chris to host an Induction Cooktop Workshop in the Community Room. Thirty participants attended the workshop, which began with a presentation highlighting the benefits of transitioning to an all-electric home. Participants then watched the chefs demonstrate induction cooking while preparing several dishes. Samples of the Asian Latin-inspired menu were served, including coconut curry pozole, miso-glazed corn ribs, and pan-seared shrimp with coconut risotto. By the end of the workshop, four of the six induction cooktops newly added to the Library of Things collection had been checked out. On June 22, Adult Services hosted Wildfire Ecology, Evacuation Preparedness, and Your Community in the Community Room. Nine participants attended this interactive workshop led by CORE and Fire Chief Huson. The program highlighted Monrovia’s wildfire risk and provided practical steps for preparing families and educating residents about home hardening. Attendees learned how to create defensible space, understand evacuation alerts, and make informed decisions about wildfire safety. On June 23, the Novel T’s Book Club met to discuss The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters. A total of 17 attendees participated in this monthly program. The club is looking forward to next month’s meeting where they will be discussing Crooks: A Novel about Crime and Family by Lou Berney. On June 26, staff hosted Game Night for Adults with 20 participants. Popular tabletop games played were Sorry!, Dixit, Flip 7, Scrabble Slam and Monopoly as well as Nintendo Switch 2 games like Mario Kart 8 and Mario Party Jamboree. Attendees also shared their own games with others such as Hot Streak and Colossal. After gameplay, many players chatted together about other game recommendations for the library’s game collection. On June 27, staff hosted the first Amped Up: Music Trivia & Karaoke session. The 10 participants enjoyed two quizzes that used song clips of popular genres from the 70’s and 80’s. Afterwards, the group sang a few songs together including The Love You Save by the Jackson 5 and All Out of Love by Air Supply. Literacy Services In June, a total of 93 Learners and Tutors participated in 14 programs, including: News & Views, Word Workshop, and Book Club. On June 13, staff collaborated with the Music Center of Los Angeles County for a presentation of Latin American folktales for Monrovia families, Literacy Center participants, and eligible-but-not-yet-enrolled Learners. Attendees enjoyed storytelling and free books for the home library. On June 15 and 29, staff provided a Literacy Movie Nite with two screenings of The Joy Luck Club, the film adaptation of the Book Club's current reading selection. Veterans Services During the month of June, the Veterans Resource Center (VRC) had a total of 168 interactions with veterans. County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) 43; Veteran Peer Access Network (VPAN) 30; and VRC staff 95. CC-2 On June 11, the Veterans Resource Center (VRC) hosted a ceramics workshop for veterans at local business, Makers & Clay, welcoming 15 participants for a fun and creative afternoon. Attendees had the opportunity to craft custom ceramic mugs while enjoying each other's company in a relaxing and friendly atmosphere. It was a memorable event filled with connection, comfort, and shared enjoyment. On June 23, seven participants gathered for the monthly Veterans Meetup at Starbucks. The group welcomed new participants to the meetup, an Army veteran and an Air Force veteran. Participants enjoyed delicious coffee and friendly conversation. Library staff discussed the move of the monthly meetup in the fall to Merengue Bakery. In addition, library staff reviewed resources and services available to veterans and their families at the VRC. All attendees received flyers detailing upcoming VRC programs. A few participants signed up for the Family Feud program in July and the ceramics class in August. YOUTH SERVICES REPORT Family Storytime In June, the library’s storytime series continued to engage young children and their families with sessions held on June 3, 10, 17, and 24. Each week featured an early learning theme, including space, colors, soccer, and the beach. Children ages 2 to 5 enjoyed stories, songs, crafts, and interactive activities designed to build early literacy skills, encourage language development, and foster social interaction in a welcoming group setting. Storytime also provided caregivers with simple, developmentally appropriate strategies to reinforce learning at home through reading, music, and play. A total of 445 individuals attended the June storytime sessions. Level Up Crafts As part of this year’s Summer Reading Program theme, Level Up at Your Library, staff introduced Level Up Crafts, held every other Monday on June 8 and 22. Children participated in crafts and activities inspired by popular video games. Each session featured a different theme and coordinated craft, providing opportunities for participants to express their creativity, collaborate with peers, and build new friendships. June’s featured themes were Minecraft and Sonic. A total of 100 individuals attended the two sessions. (40 participants - Minecraft Program and 60 participants - Sonic Program) Barks & Books Through the library’s partnership with Love on a Leash and Therapy Dogs International, children participated in a literacy enrichment program designed to build reading confidence in a relaxed environment alongside a friendly therapy dog. A total of 11 children attended the program. Friday Lego Free Play Throughout the month of June, families were invited to participate in Friday afternoon LEGO building sessions at the library. Children worked both independently and collaboratively on their creations while developing fine motor skills, concentration, self-confidence, communication, and critical thinking. A total of 120 children and caregivers attended the June sessions. Storytime with the Park Naturalists On Saturday, June 13, staff collaborated with the Parks and Recreation Division of Community Services to present Storytime with the Park Naturalists at Lucinda Garcia Park. The program featured play-themed stories, songs, and movement activities while introducing participants to local wildlife. This ongoing partnership continues to expand access to library services, enhance programming experiences, and strengthen community connections. A total of 45 children and caregivers attended the June program. CC-2 Sensory Friendly Morning On June 27, the library hosted Sensory Friendly Morning for neurodivergent children and their caregivers. Participants were invited to explore, play, and make new friends in a welcoming and inclusive environment designed to support children with sensory processing differences, including Autism Spectrum Disorder. Library services and activities were fully available, including book checkout, accessible crafts, and sensory play. Pre-registration continued to be encouraged to maintain a comfortable and safe environment, although walk-in participants were welcomed as space permitted. A total of seven children and caregivers attended the June program. Mini Lab: Toddler STEAM Activities Mini Lab for Toddlers was held in June, with 55 children ages 2 to 5 and their caregivers participating. During the program, attendees explored chemical reactions and the scientific method through hands-on activities and experiments. Children and their caregivers were encouraged to investigate, ask questions, and learn together while developing critical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. The program continues to nurture curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong interest in science through engaging, age- appropriate experiences. Baby Storytime The early literacy program, Baby Storytime, for families with young children aged 0-2, continues to be very popular. In June, 465 attendees shared songs, rhymes, stories and activities together to assist in the development of language and literacy in the youngest members of the community. The program models the benefits of talking, reading, singing, writing and playing for young, developing minds. A total of 465 children and caregivers attended. Video Game Free Play A Video Game Free Play program for elementary school-aged children was held in June, with 25 children and caregivers attending. Participants enjoyed playing a variety of video games with their peers in a safe, supervised environment. The program encouraged social interaction, teamwork, and positive peer engagement while providing families with an opportunity to connect through shared recreational activities. Innovation Lab Staff held the Innovation Lab program in June, serving 29 children ages 6 to 11 and their families. Participants explored STEAM concepts through hands-on activities focused on engineering, architecture, and design. The program encouraged creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making while providing opportunities for children to collaborate and apply new skills in an engaging learning environment. Reptiles and Friends Presented by the Wildlife Learning Center As part of the Summer Reading Program, staff hosted a wildlife education program presented by the Wildlife Learning Center in June. Attendees enjoyed an engaging presentation featuring reptiles, amphibians, and insects from around the world while learning about their habitats, behaviors, and unique characteristics. A total of 200 children and caregivers attended the program. CC-2 Monday Funday As part of the Summer Reading Program, staff brought back the popular Monday Funday series, held every other Monday throughout the summer. Each session features a different activity designed to encourage creativity, social interaction, and family engagement. The first Monday Funday, Smoothie Social, was held on June 15 for children ages 6 to 12. Staff prepared fresh strawberry banana and mango berry smoothies for participants to enjoy while playing board games and video games in the Community Room. A total of 75 children and their caregivers attended. The second Monday Funday, Summerween, was held on June 29. Participants celebrated "Halloween in the summer" by creating Perler bead designs, decorating "pet" ghosts in jars, making spider and spider web crafts, and playing a "What's in the Box?" guessing game. Snacks and soda floats were also provided. A total of 80 children and their caregivers attended. Outreach In June, staff conducted several outreach visits to promote the Summer Reading Program and highlight the library’s services and collections. Outreach efforts included visits to the Boys & Girls Club, First Lutheran, Tzu Chi, Canyon Early Learning Center, and the YMCA. Staff visited the Boys & Girls Club to introduce the Summer Reading Program, share information about the library’s collections and services, and distribute free books and program coupons. A total of 160 children participated. Outreach presentations were also provided at First Lutheran and Tzu Chi, where staff introduced the Summer Reading Program and library resources. A total of 95 children participated. On June 11, staff presented four Storytime sessions at Canyon Early Learning Center, encouraging children to visit the library during the summer. Following each session, participants received free books and Summer Reading Program coupons. A total of 59 children attended. On June 19, staff visited the YMCA Summer Camp to introduce the Summer Reading Program. Children participated in LEGO building and games before selecting a free book and receiving Summer Reading Program coupons. A total of 62 children attended. TEEN PROGRAMS Teen Advisory Board (TAB) Meeting The June Teen Advisory Board (TAB) meeting was held on June 6 in the Library Story Room and was led by the TAB Leadership Team. The meeting began with a "This or That: Four Corners" icebreaker, during which members moved to different areas of the room to answer questions such as their preferred summer day trip destination. Members received updates on June volunteer opportunities and signed up to assist with preparing crafts for storytime, Level Up Crafts, and other children's programs. Teen members also volunteered to host the monthly Teen Game Night and Pop-Up Teen Makerspace events. A total of 22 TAB members attended the meeting. CC-2 Teen Activity Hour After the regular TAB meeting, for the Teen Activity Hour teens were invited to paint rocks. They used acrylic markers and paint to create colorful designs. Some teens painted their favorite bands, while others wrote inspirational quotes. A total of 12 teens attended this program 3D Workshop A 3D Printing Workshop for Tweens and Teens was held on Saturday, June 13. Participants learned how the library’s 3D printing service works and were guided through the process of creating their own 3D designs. By the end of the workshop, each participant had designed a personalized keychain to be printed on the library’s 3D printer. A total of five tweens and teens attended the workshop. Teen Game Night The Teen Game Hangout was held on Friday, June 19. Participants enjoyed snacks while playing Nintendo Switch and board games. Ultimate and Monopoly being the most popular choices. This Teen Advisory Board (TAB)-led program gave volunteers the opportunity to welcome their peers, facilitate activities, and develop leadership skills in a fun and engaging environment. The program continues to provide teens with a safe and supervised space to build healthy social connections, practice critical thinking, and engage in friendly competition. A total of 10 teens attended the program. Pop-up Makerspace for Teens The Pop-Up Teen Makerspace was held on Wednesday, June 24. Participants were invited to explore the portable makerspace cart, which offers a variety of tools and supplies for creative projects. Teens used the materials to make jewelry, create origami, and paint. The program provided a welcoming space for teens to express their creativity, develop artistic skills, and socialize with peers who share similar interests. A total of eight teens attended the program. CC-2