Library News
- Paradise Library Re-opens
- Librarian's News
Chico Friends of the Butte County Library joins in celebrating the re-opening of the Paradise Library! The library building itself, fortunately, escaped the Camp Fire; however, there was smoke damage to the collection and damage to the grounds.
Paradise Library is now open, as of August 1, on the following hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 to 6:00 PM, as well as on Saturdays from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Paradise Library is located at 5922 Clark Rd.
We’ve had fun this summer and the Summer Reading has been as popular as ever. Next, the staff will spend time planning programs for the Fall. September is “Library Card Sign-up Month,” “Celebrate Banned Books Week” is September 22-28, and October is “Star Wars Reads” month, with a display of Stars Wars books and movies.
Storytail Tutors is a special ongoing program, on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month at 2:00 PM. A volunteer brings a well-behaved dog to the library, and children can read stories to the dog. Stop by and see the wonderful interactions!
In spite of all that has happened in Butte County this past year, the library is pleased that the 2019-20 County Budget for our department is status quo, no reductions in hours or staffing. With the Friends’ help, we can continue to provide services and programs, and purchase books and other materials.
Staff Reports
- CFOL Financial Report
- Summer Reading
- LFL: Alive and Well!
- Maker Lab Updates
We had a good fiscal year 2018 - 2019! Our regular income (membership and library services) was $113,159, including $71,028 from book sales alone! Our total spending was $113,933 (books and other materials, library programs, computers, and library remodels). In addition to our regular income, we had two generous memorial donations from library lovers, which will help us to help the library with its long-term growth goals.
CFOLhas no paid employees. Keep us in mind when you are looking for a way to volunteer your time or money, for the good of the library.
Diane Friedman, Treasurer, CFOL
This year’s summer reading theme was “It’s Showtime!,” and we signed up over 1200 patrons at the Chico Branch! We are extremely pleased with the success of this year’s program. Thanks to the support from CFOL and others, the Library was able to:
- Purchase a number of in-theme books for both the juvenile and young adult collections.
- Invite performers to present three ukulele concerts in front of the Maker Lab.
- Put on a number of special story-time events, with 2 by 2 Ranch and Petting Zoo.
- Offer two separate Escape Room events, maxing out the allotted number of participants
- Provide prizes for an ongoing scavenger hunt
- Offer four Costuming 101 craft programs
- Put on a Teen Lock-In with a tabletop gaming theme
Andrea Liao, Acting Children’s Librarian
The Little Free Libraries started by the Butte County Library have been handed off to CFOL. I’m here to say that the project is alive and well! This report is on the LFL that is located at Peterson Park.
It was brought to my attention by Maureen Parks Jeffers, that this wee box of adventure and inspiration was in need of repair. The next week she emailed me a “thank you!” However, the work had been done by an anonymous benefactor! The door now looks and functions beautifully. If the anonymous benefactor reads this, please contact me so I can thank you properly.
Elizabeth Bergthold, CFOL
Chico Library's Maker Lab’s on-going programs have been well-received in the past months. June 2019 overall attendance of Maker Lab programs was 235 people. To support the Chico library staff running the programs, CFOL has generously provided money for supplies and consumables, and for the purchase of four flip top tables and a storage rack for the Lab.
In the coming months, there will be an artist-led program in the Maker Lab involving VR, green screen photo shooting/filming, and art and craft making. Please stay tuned.
Alex Chen, Information Systems Technician