Item 3C
Southlake Public Library
Board Report – September 2009
Services
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Demand for services – The overall demand for services in the library has continued in an upward trend
for 5 years now. As the operation matures it is inevitable the increases will slow, but 5 to 10 % is still
pretty healthy.
We had 35,000 items check out in June, and we have a bit over 50,000 items so two thirds of our
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items were checked out in June alone.
Regarding programming we are seeing for the first time that we are unable to satisfy demand that
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we have created because we do not have a large enough space to suitably handle the crowds. Last
year in the summer we had some large programs, but this summer week in and week out they are
the largest we have seen. Programming is up 15% over a huge year last year that was # 2 in the
state for a library in our size community. We had 2100 participants in our Summer Reading club
this year and 14,000 attended summer reading programs.
Bob Jones Nature Center and Historical Society - The library has worked with both of these groups in
the past to provide programs in the library promoting the Nature Center and the Historical Society
(particularly the log cabin). We are going to make an extra effort this year to work closely with each of
these fine organizations by doing crafts and special storytimes related specifically to each group.
Volunteer hours – we have spoken about the importance of volunteers before, and in July we had 782
volunteer hours in the library. That would be over 1300 volunteer hours in June and July. We could not
do it without volunteers and we have reached new heights this summer in terms of the number that we
have been able to utilize effectively – it is all about making it a priority and using folks talents to our
best advantage, and saving the taxpayer quite a few dollars to boot.
Sister Cities – The Library is working with the sister cities group to put together a display in the library
promoting our sister city trips to Japan. We are also working with CISD to promote the recent trip to
China and also put together a display in the library. The library has close to 190, 000 visitors a year so
the display will be highly visible, and also a reason for more people to visit the library. We work to
promote any community group – since the library is a community resource – we aren’t just books, after
all.
Visitor Stats – Year to Date:
Checkouts:
The Library saw a 9% increase in checkouts for July (33,528) and is up about 9% (244,380)
for the fiscal year thus far. We are close to reaching maximum limits on our traffic levels due to space
limitations and parking – despite those limitations traffic for July was 14,544 which was up 10% over
the same period last year.
Programming:
Storytimes and youth programming were up from last year in June with 3,720 people
attending programs during the period. The library is up 15% in programming for the FY so far
with 28,384 attendees. We had 2,100 participants in the Library’s summer reading program this year
Any questions please contact Kerry McGeath (8384)
Respectfully submitted by the Southlake Public Library Board:
Wanda SchaferLori BurrVicki KightEmily Galpin
Brenda FloresKim RobertsJune Koelker
Southlake Public Library
- Board Report - 08/26/09 - Page 1 of 1