February 2026
City of Camarillo Public Library is where discovery leads. We offer information resources that nurture learning andstrengthen the community. We are open to the public Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday-Sunday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. For access to our digital resources, please check our website: www.camarillolibrary.org.
Library Highlights
Camarillo Public Library
Library & RFBC Activity Report
In celebration of Black History Month, Adult Services invited Ventura County Museum Research Library docent and
researcher Andy Ludlum to present historical accounts of two women from Ventura County. Seven patrons attended to learn about the integral roles Cerisa House Wesley and Annie Smith played in the development of the Ventura County community.
Materials shown in the presentation included maps,
photographs and voice recordings of Wesley and Smith to depict the world they helped shape.
In a separate event, California State University Channel Islands English Professor Raquel Baker gave a multimedia lecture exploring Black speculative fiction and thoughtfully engaged an audience of 17. Our Children’s Department hosted a Black History Month Storytime with “Ina the Sunshine Storyteller,” who shared stories about influential African Americans
throughout history and a traditional African song with 26 attendees. For teens, licensed cosmetologist Shenee
Randolph shared the rich history and cultural significance of braiding and locs. Eleven teens were able to get hands-on experience with braiding and expressed appreciation for a program geared toward the Black community.
Ina the Sunshine Storyteller
Ventura County Museum
Library & RFBC Activity Report - February 2026
Literacy / ESL
Adult Literacy and ESL had 63 volunteer tutors and adult learners practice reading, writing and speaking for a total of 281 hours throughout February. This included 28
active tutors contributing 135 hours and 35 active adult learners participating for a total of 146 hours.
The Adult Literacy Center hosted four Conversation
Groups each week—three in person and one via
Zoom—for a total of 15 sessions in February. Fifty-five participants from around the world practiced their
listening and speaking skills with the support of 26
volunteer tutors and Adult Literacy/ESL staff.
Our tutors and learners are working toward many different goals, and it’s been encouraging to see their progress. One learner has met with a college counselor and is preparing to take his first college class this summer. Another learner is preparing for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam and has been practicing the speaking portion with mock interviews to build confidence.
This month the library also hosted a Mardi Gras Extravaganza with a live jazz band featuring students from Adolfo Camarillo High School. Seventy-seven people enjoyed the experience. On Valentine’s Day, the library hosted a Tarot Love Readings Workshop led by Rachel Grady. Grady offered several sample group readings and discussed the ethics surrounding love readings. Twenty people attended the workshop.
The library also focused on health this month. Dignity
Health presented “Healthy Heart: Lowering Your
Cholesterol,” educating patrons on risk factors, preventive measures and healthy steps individuals can take to lower their cholesterol. Fifteen people attended. The Children’s Department also led a Children’s Dental Health Month
Storytime with a dental assistant. During this storytime, 55 children learned about dentists and how to take care of their teeth.
Library Highlights (Cont’d.)
Conversation Group
Healthy Heart: Lowering Your Cholesterol
To celebrate Black History Month, the Russell Fischer Business Collection (RFBC) partnered with Project50, an organization dedicated to empowering Ventura County's Black community. Maegan Profeta, RFBC Business Services Coordinator, collaborated with Project50 Founder and CEO Dexter Nunnery to create a reading list intended to last beyond a single February event. Mr. Nunnery visited the library to select the books, and Maegan recorded his choices and created the digital version. He shared that he receives many requests for collaboration around February and agreed to this partnership because the impact would extend beyond Black History Month. This collaboration led to the creation of “Project50’s Top Ten Recommended Business Reads.” The list was well received, engaging 136 people in its first month. It will remain a year-long digital resource, accessible on the library’s website and via a QR code displayed on a poster in the RFBC section.
In the Emergency Preparedness workshop, 12 participants learned about potential local risks, practical emergency solutions and budget-friendly ways to stock an emergency kit from CERT-trained presenter Jessica White. All participants left with the beginnings of an emergency kit based on Ready Ventura County’s recommendations. The second workshop in the Modern Home Economics series, Healthy Diet on a Budget, featured Registered Dietitian Kelly McHugh, who demonstrated how to create a healthy meal plan and stretch a grocery budget. Eighteen people attended.
The Modern Home Economics series continued with two programs: Emergency Preparedness and Healthy Diet on a Budget. The series was developed to meet patrons' combined interests in life skills and personal finance, addressing the growing demand for practical financial and “how-to” programming.
L i b r a r y & R F B C A c t i v i t y R e p o r t - F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 6 P a g e 3 o f 4
March will feature four RFBC programs, including the final two Modern Home Economics sessions: Hobbies and Thrifting. These sessions blend practical skills with personal finance in a real-world way. Attendees will learn about affordable local hobby resources and gain thrifting basics and benefits from Ventura County stylist Sophia Hall of Make Good.
The third workshop will be “Ask an HR Expert: Job Help,” featuring an experienced HR panel: Wendy Levy (Director of Human Resources, City of Camarillo), Laura Martinez (President/CEO, HR Force Inc.) and Nidia Rodriguez (Associate Director of Human Resources, Meissner). Panelists will discuss what employers seek in job candidates, including résumé and interview best practices.
R U S S E L L F I S C H E R B U S I N E S S C O L L E C T I O N O p e r a t i n g w i t h i n t h e C a m a r i l l o P u b l i c L i b r a r y , t h e R u s s e l l F i s c h e r B u s i n e s s C o l l e c t i o n ( R F B C ) i s e m b e d d e d i n t h e C a m a r i l l o b u s i n e s s c o m m u n i t y a n d g r e a t e r e n t r e p r e n e u r e c o s y s t e m . T h e R F B C p r o v i d e s p r o f e s s i o n a l a n d b u s i n e s s d e v e l o p m e n t o p p o r t u n i t i e s t h r o u g h s p e c i a l e v e n t s a n d a c u r a t e d c o l l e c t i o n o f t o p b u s i n e s s r e s o u r c e s .
The final March program will be “Visionboard Playshop,” an uplifting, interactive session facilitated by Deborah Deras. Attendees will learn tools to help clarify goals and create a vision board to support their aspirations.
Project50 Display
E m e r g e n c y P r e p a r e d n e s s W o r k s h o p Healthy Diet on a Budget
Feb. 2026
44,215
5,023
5,894
2,870
1,436
692
6,687
Feb. 2025
42,537
4,519
5,010
2,316
1,747
539
5,299
Feb. 2026
4 3
166
6 Feb. 2025
16 2
15 13
Physical Material Checkouts
eBook Checkouts
eAudiobook Checkouts
Digital Magazine Checkouts
Video Plays
New Cards Issued
Reference Inquiries
M e t r i c s a n d S t a t i s t i c s
R U S S E L L F I S C H E R B U S I N E S S C O L L E C T I O N M e t r i c s a n d S t a t i s t i c s
C A M A R I L L O P U B L I C L I B R A R Y
L i b r a r y & R F B C A c t i v i t y R e p o r t - F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 6 P a g e 4 o f 4
Jan. 2026
48,903
5,901
6,726
3,200
1,541
788
7,190
Jan. 2025
43,227
4,877
5,317
2,505
1,669
574
5,286
Reference Inquiries
Programs
Programs - Attendees
Meetings
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