| Library use sets record |
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| Written by PETER KUEBECK Sentinel Staff Writer | ||
| Saturday, 23 March 2013 08:12 | ||
At Tuesday's board of trustees meeting, Director Michael Penrod announced that the library circulated a record 605,799 items during 2012 - a new all-time record, and up nearly 11 percent over 2011. "It's been a banner year, 2012," he said. "Your library is back." Circulation was up at all of the library's locations - including online, boasting a whopping 149-percent jump in ebook circulation, amounting to over 13,300 items. "Ebooks are bringing people into the library that didn't use the library before," said Penrod. "Again, (ebooks are) not replacing us, it's making us more vital." The number of library cardholders - more than 27,200 - was up 27 percent over last year, and program attendance was up more than 8 percent. More than 207,400 people visited the library last year, or an average of 17,500 each month. "This is what your levy did, folks," said Library Board President Brian Paskvan. In other business, the board: • Approved permanent appropriations for the year, with an estimated $2.9 million in revenues expected, and anticipated expenditures of $2.79 million. • Approved a strategic plan for the years 2013 through 2015. Among a long list of planned projects and initiatives is the increasing of wifi bandwidth at the Bowling Green and Walbridge locations; implementing of a self-checkout service; enabling the library to accept credit cards to pay for fines; adding meeting room space and other improvements at Walbridge; increasing circulation by 5 percent annually; expanding local history resources; and using at least 16 percent of the annual budget to purchase new materials. • Heard about further renovations at the Carter House, across North Church Street from the library. The building underwent the removal and replacement of a wall in the kitchen area, flooring restoration, and plasterwork. Penrod also presented flooring and paint choices to the board. He emphasized that work at the house - which will, when finished, be used for library events, and can also be rented by other groups - is not a complete historical restoration, but aims at preserving and protecting the site. "Right now I just want to restore the house, protect the house and get the house open with a really serious nod to its history," he said. "It's just amazing to see this house come to life." A ribbon cutting at the property is expected in June. • Welcomed new board member and former Wood County Clerk of Courts Becky Bhaer. Bhaer has served on the Friends of the Library Board, the Library Foundation Board, and the Community Reads committee, and has participated in a number of the library's campaigns, including the successful levy campaign. "And now I'm ready to learn about the board of trustees," she said. |
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| Last Updated on Saturday, 23 March 2013 08:18 |
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