The Wood County District Public Library is nearly back to pre-COVID levels with circulation and visitors.
Total circulation was up 7% in 2023, compared to 2022, reported library Director Michael Penrod at the Jan. 22 meeting.
“We’re at 83% of pre-COVID, so we’re at the top of the recovery curve,” he said.
Program attendance went up 51% to 30,230 compared to last year.
“That is what our program count was pre-COVID, so we can definitely say our community is back,” he said.
Penrod attributed the library’s success to the support of the community.
“I got here 27 years ago and was just amazed with how active the community is with the library,” he said.
When we offer a program, so many people show up.
“This community has always valued what we offer … and its magical the way they engage with us,” Penrod said.
Even after purging 4,464 card holders last year, the library has 22,287 on file.
“Although we’re still doing a quality purge every year, we’re still signing up a lot of people,” Penrod said.
Penrod explained card holders with zero activity in three years are removed from the system.
With BG being a college town, there is a lot of turnover every four years.
Even if you move out of state, as long as you’re checking out e-books, you’ll remain active, he said.
“As long as they’re engaging with us, they remain in the system,” he said.
The library added 14,726 items, got rid of 19,927 and has 173,639 items remaining in the building.
“We should always get rid of a few more than we add,” Penrod said.
Volunteer hours at Walbridge and the main branch in Bowling Green were up 68% to 3,932 compared to 2023.
“That is just phenomenal,” he said.
Print book circulation has remained steady; however, a drop has been seen in physical audiobooks, music and movies while streaming of those items is going up.
Additional information will be shared at the March meeting, Penrod said.
Also at the meeting, the board:
• Thanked Becky Bhaer for her service as a member of the library and foundation boards.
Bhaer submitted her resignation after the December meeting.
• Accepted $188,504 in gifts from 2023, which included $558.50 from the coin vortex, $6,900 from Friends of the Library, and $173,365 from the Wood County District Public Library Foundation.
“The community continues to be supportive,” said board President Ken Frisch.
• Learned bids for the heating plant replacement came in lower than expected.
The project estimate was $295,000. Seven bids were received.
The board accepted a bid of $214,537 from Earl Mechanical Services, Wauseon, to replace the system this summer. The bid included two alternates to replace the last of the 1974 components.
Board member Brian Paskvan confirmed there was a 10% contingency built into the cost, and said with a low bid, the contingencies may add up.
“It’s an important replacement in our effort to continue to maintain the facilities,” Frisch said.
The work will happen this summer, when heat is not needed, and will not interrupt daily operations, Penrod said.
• Heard Penrod report the elevator, which is 21 years old, will need work in the next 18 months. It will be inoperable for one month, which will create a problem for carting books upstairs.
• Learned there were 4,200 children signed up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Children birth through 5 will receive a free book once a month at no cost to the family.
• Learned 243 people turned up for the cookie bake-off in December, the largest turnout ever.
• Heard Maria Simon, youth services coordinator, report that the library’s Mock Caldecott winner, “Big,” was the actual winner.
Simon also reported on the space-themed books that will be shared with 1BookBG.
• Learned the Winter Reads program launched on Jan. 8 and in four days registration had exceeded the total for 2023.
