Annual Report

The new annual report is here.  The new annual report is here.  I feel like Steve Martin's character in "The Jerk" who was so excited about the arrival of the new phone books.  I'm always excited when I can review the statistics from the past year.  The Library's 2012 annual report shows what we have accomplished and where we want to go moving forward.

The numbers were very good.  Circulation is up 8% from last year for a total of 88,775 in 2012.  This number includes downloading (using electronic books and audiobooks).  Downloads were up from 889 in 2011 to 2,275 in 2015.  There are lot more ereaders out there and our customers are learning to use the free collection available through our NEIBORS website.  Staff have presented several workshops to help people learn how to download and access material through their mobile devices.  New borrowers were up as well.  We issued over 1,500 cards this last year.  7,044 new books and dvds were added to the collection.  Program attendance was at an all-time high of 3,449 people who attended children's, teens, and adult programs.  The highlight was that 109 people attended the bat program in Asbury in June.  872 children and 149 adults participated in our summer reading program. 

A couple of measures were down slightly.  We had fewer people using computers in 2012.  In 2011, 6,324 people signed in to our public computers but only 5,169 used our computers in 2012.  Perhaps more people are getting their own computers or using their smart phones.  That would match a national trend.  We also had about 500 fewer visitors in 2012.  That may be attributed to the fact that we were closed several days at Epworth branch because of the Bierman Road construction.  Access to the library was hampered for several weeks.  We were also closed a week around Christmas to move the Farley branch to Drexler Middle School.

And for the dollars and cents . . .  Total expenditures for 2012 were $5,99278.  This is a per capita cost of $25.45.  Expenditures were up almost $10,000 from 2011 when we spent $589,835.  On the revenue side, we brought in $3,003.97 in fines and fees.  That is up from $500.00 in 2011 because now we are charging for late returns.  I know no one likes to pay fines, but it sure does help get materials back on time so that we can fill the holds for popular, in demand titles.    Check out our website (www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us) for the whole annual report.

We have lots to look forward to in the year ahead.  We have a grant of $1,500 from Alliant Energy to update our health and wellness collection of books and dvds.  The building plans are continuing for a new municpal building in Asbury which will include a larger library and programming space.  This fall we are going to begin a series of computer classes.  Come learn how to surf the Internet, download materials, and much more.  Children's programs are diversifying to include working with the Canine Connection so that you can learn how to choose, raise, and train your dog.  There are special doggie visitors at several storytimes.  And don't forget the new Lego programs going on all fall. 

The Library still has much to do to provide you with outstanding library service, but we are growing and we are striving to be your public library.  Have a great weekend.  Dawn