Carlsbad City Library trustees heard on Oct. 22 that core usage metrics rose in September, with gains attributed to a new teen-program pilot, a strong library card sign-up month and expanded reciprocal lending.

Principal Librarian for Partnerships and Community Outreach Laura Sanger told the Library Board of Trustees that a pilot series of teen programs at the Dove Library on Dove Lane launched in September. The weekly Wednesday sessions, led by library technician Manny Rendon, offered rotating options including Dungeons & Dragons, a manga and graphic-novel club, and themed “teens geek out” events. The pilot recorded 50 teen participants across four sessions; Dungeons & Dragons drew 44 attendees in just two sessions.

Why it matters: Library staff said teens are a difficult audience for public libraries to reach, and the pilot aims to provide a safe, recurring space for teenagers to connect. Andrea Hilliard, principal librarian for digital initiatives and special projects, told trustees that “all of the core metrics were up in September,” noting gains in circulation, visits and program attendance when compared with the prior September.

Trustees were given additional context for the increases: the system resumed Sunday hours late in the reporting year, and the seven Sundays between May 18 and June 29 added 2,769 visits. The library also launched participation in Link+ (reciprocal lending) on Dec. 3, 2024, which Hilliard said allowed patrons to borrow nearly 2,500 items from other libraries in the fiscal year and extended access to academic titles and out-of-print materials.

Hilliard reported a successful library card sign-up month in September. She told trustees the library added approximately 1,570 new library accounts during that campaign.

Board members asked for detail on age breakdowns and collection changes. Trustee Scheffler noted the reported average “teen” age was about 11; Sanger replied that the program’s registration groups tweens and younger teens together and that the average skews younger. On collection changes, Hilliard said a targeted weeding project and collection maintenance work reduced the count of physical items in some categories but improved overall material quality.

Trustees praised the outreach efforts. Trustee Weidlick singled out off-site programs at Calavera Hills and Buena Vista elementary schools and work at the Pine Avenue Community Center as helping expand the library’s reach into the community.

The pilot teen series is scheduled to run through December 2025 and will be reevaluated at year’s end to inform future planning. Library staff and trustees said they will monitor participation and demographic mix as the program continues.