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Hobbs Public Library director reports rising use, new services and expanded hours
Summary
Library Director Nicole Lawless told the City Commission the Hobbs Public Library increased circulation to nearly 90,000 in 2024, added digital services (Hoopla, Kanopy), expanded hours and programs, and grew patron attendance and card registrations.
Nicole Lawless, Hobbs Public Library director, presented the library’s 2024 annual report to the Hobbs City Commission, saying the library has expanded services, staff and hours since she was hired in May 2023.
Lawless said the updated mission is “to enrich lives and inspire creativity, curiosity, and literacy through access to information and entertainment from multicultural community of all ages.” She described new positions (including a teen librarian), new programs (Spanish-English dual-language story time for ages 3–5) and added digital platforms Hoopla and Kanopy.
On usage metrics, Lawless reported the library’s annual circulation nearly doubled from 2022 (about 52,000) to 2024 (almost 90,000), with more than 11,000 of the 2024 circulations coming from digital resources. Patron visits increased to 45,794 in 2024. Program offerings grew to 354 events with total attendance of 11,272, and the library added 874 new library cards in 2024. Lawless also highlighted the library’s summer reading kickoff (more than 500 attendees in 2024) and a well-attended 2023 eclipse viewing event.
Commissioner Fields asked how the public can find library events online; Lawless said the library’s Facebook page is “Hobbs Public Library” and the website is hobbspubliclibrary.org. The commission thanked Lawless for the report.
Lawless said the library became fully staffed in 2024 for the first time in several years and introduced new materials such as Vox Books—children’s books with built-in audio readers designed to support early literacy. She described databases and digital learning resources available to cardholders (e.g., HeritageQuest, Rosetta Stone, Transparent Language, Brainfuse HelpNow and Peterson’s Test and Career Prep).
The commission received the report and had no objections; the presentation closed before action on unrelated agenda items.
