Annie Lapley, director of the Delaware County Library System, told the board on Oct. 16 that libraries across Delaware County issued more than 1,800 new library cards during September's library card sign-up month — roughly 60 new cards per day — and saw additional account reactivations from patrons who had not visited in several years.

Lapley announced that the county has begun using a new agenda and minutes management system, CivicPlus, for county council meetings and other county boards and commissions, including the county library board. "It's primarily a behind-the-scenes change," Lapley said, and she added that board packets will still be emailed to members while agendas and minutes become more accessible to the public via the new portal.

The system also rolled out updates to the Delco Reads mobile app to reduce clicks and improve navigation; Lapley said the system has tracked an uptick in usage of features that were made easier to reach. She credited member libraries for participating in a social media campaign billed as "Delco — we're basically the library capital of America," which featured each library and generated engagement from patrons.

On security, the board was told the system will require patrons to set a personal identification number (PIN) beginning in November for online account access. Lapley described the change as a security best practice that will help protect patron data and also enable some vendor integrations.

Lapley reminded trustees that a trustee training, "Meetings That Matter: Driving Results, Not Just Discussion," with Miriam Phillips, executive director of Hosting Solutions and Library Consulting, is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. on Zoom and is approximately one hour. She noted that one requirement to qualify for county aid in 2026 is having at least two trustees attend the training.

Lapley shared a late-breaking announcement that the Office of Commonwealth Libraries released a refreshed public library board trustee manual, updating a 2011 resource. The manual provides an overview of Pennsylvania public libraries, the role of the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, library law and regulations, board governance and trustee responsibilities, and other resources.

On the financial front, Lapley told the board the state budget impasse — 108 days overdue at the time of the meeting — had not yet affected the library system's state aid distributions because allocations are typically disbursed in January. She said the system has a fund balance sufficient to cover near-term needs and that district aid (normally received in August) has not yet been distributed. "We are not feeling that pinch, at the moment," Lapley said, but she described contingency spending plans if a longer impasse continues. She identified the Libby digital collection as one of the larger district-aid-funded line items that could require reprioritization across county, state and district funding streams if needed.

Lapley also announced a professional development day for member library staff on Dec. 5 at Newman University and noted the system's legislative breakfast set for March 6, 2026 at Middletown Library where awards will be presented; nominations for three award categories — public official, citizen, and library worker — are due Nov. 19.

The board approved the financial report and other routine items later in the meeting. Several public commenters used the meeting's public comment period to announce local library events, including Country Line Dancing Night at Providence Library on Nov. 21 and a visit by Broadway performer Bevle Moore at Sharon Hill Public Library on Nov. 3.