County proclaims Library Card Sign‑Up Month; libraries present usage statistics

The Allegheny County Board of Legislators on Sept. 11 proclaimed September 2025 as Library Card Sign‑Up Month and invited Southern Tier Library System representatives to present library usage statistics.

Brian Hildreth, executive director of the Southern Tier Library System, told the board that the 17 county libraries together hold about 395,000 materials — approximately 8.4 items per resident — and that total checkouts in 2024 were 237,000, about five items per resident. He reported nearly 30,000 program attendances and about 146,000 visits in 2024, which he said amounts to about three visits per resident. Hildreth said about one in three residents — approximately 15,000 people — had library cards active within the last six years; he noted the system serves far more county residents than current active cardholder counts suggest.

“Go up and sign up for a library card. If you don't have one right now, you've got 17 locations all across the county that will be more than happy to let you fill out a library card application,” Hildreth said at the podium. The board adopted a proclamation recognizing Library Card Sign‑Up Month and encouraged residents to obtain or renew cards.

Legislators asked clarifying questions during the presentation; Chairman Brooke Harris asked whether residents who forgot a Libby password were counted as active cardholders, and Hildreth replied affirmatively. The proclamation text cited research tying library use to improved school performance for children and described a library card as access to books, technology and community programs.