Director’s Report: February 2026
Library Programs (January): Adults: 27 | Youth: 15
| Metric | 2025/26 | 2024/25 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Library Visits | |||
| January | 9,537 | 11,591 | -17.72% |
| Fiscal Year | 79,291 | 90,308 | -12.20% |
| Total Circulation | |||
| January | 19,014 | 19,729 | -3.62% |
| Fiscal Year | 138,321 | 145,486 | -4.92% |
| Adult Programming | |||
| January | 208 | 140 | 48.57% |
| Fiscal Year | 1,651 | 1,173 | 40.75% |
| Youth/Teen Programming | |||
| January | 170 | 270 | -37.04% |
| Fiscal Year | 3,376 | 2,952 | 14.36% |
| Reference Questions | |||
| January | 1,630 | 1,758 | -7.28% |
| Fiscal Year | 10,771 | 11,472 | -6.11% |
| Internet Use | |||
| January | 909 | 893 | 1.79% |
| Fiscal Year | 7,193 | 6,727 | 6.93% |
| Youth/Teen Internet | |||
| January | 264 | 224 | 17.86% |
| Fiscal Year | 2,179 | 1,813 | 20.19% |
Building: The price of salt has gone up dramatically, resulting in an increase in fees from our snow removal company. They also are concerned about delays in delivery of salt due to the recent demand.
Staff: We are undergoing some adjustments in the Youth/Teen Department. Tara McCann is stepping away from her duties as Youth/Teen Services Department Head to focus on being a youth/teen librarian. Librarian Karen Dubke is in training to assume the role of Youth/Teen Services Department Head. The transition will be complete beginning March 9. Tara has told me that she looks forward to this transition, and I wish both well in their new roles.
Outgoing staff: Library Clerk Kali Harrison.
Services: Thanks to a contribution from the Friends of the Library, we are offering free book bags to new parents and their babies. Each bag contains a board book to keep, some information and tips about early literacy, information about the library, and more. Tonies are now available for check out in the children’s room! Tonies are basically an audio player and figurines for kids. The Toniebox plays songs and/or stories when you place a Tonie figurine on top.
Programming: Classic Movie Night returns this Thursday (February 12 at 6 pm) and will feature Some Like It Hot, directed by Billy Wilder. The Warren Astronomical Society will present an outdoor program, Observing the Night Sky, outside of the Sumpter Media Center on Thursday, February 26 at 6:30 pm. Genealogists from the Fred Hart William Genealogical Society will provide expert guidance on African American family history research at a program called Telling Your Stories, Finding Your Roots, on Saturday, February 21st at 2 pm.
Friends of the Library: The Friends’ annual meeting was well attended. I noted at their meeting how instrumental they are in all that the library does, including helping to fund the jazz programs, the Memory Café, and our summer reading programs. Nikki made a thank you video for them featuring attendees from some of our programs, our library staff, Hilary, Sharon, and myself. Jenn spoke to them about our Memory Café.