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Hastings Public Library reports increased program attendance and makerspace growth amid staff transition
Summary
Library staff presented an annual impact report to the council describing new services (printing system, online calendar, 3D printers), expanded outreach and makerspace use, gold accreditation from Nebraska Library Commission, and a continuing search for a library director.
Joseph Chapman, the library experience supervisor, presented the Hastings Public Library’s annual impact report at the March 17 work session. Chapman said the report documents new services, outreach, and program metrics and noted the library is operating during a director transition.
Chapman listed new or expanded services: a new public printing system, a patron‑facing online calendar for program scheduling, and the addition of 3D printers in the library’s makerspace. He described children’s and teen programming (weekly STEAM/tween sessions and a teen maker program), the Senior Planet computer-training course for older residents, and two active adult book clubs. Chapman said the library continues virtual offerings and that outreach activities included geocaching in local parks and distributions of Spanish-language paperbacks to the county Justice Center.
Chapman reported the library received gold accreditation from the Nebraska Library Commission and said summer‑reading participation produced roughly 450,000 minutes read in 2024. He cited broader usage data from the report: more than 250,000 items checked out in the year and attendance of roughly 7,900 for library programs. Chapman said Hastings Library Foundation funding remains the primary source for the library’s program budgets and that the county interlocal agreement continues to provide support for the bookmobile and county cardholders.
On staffing, Chapman said the library director position is open and the hiring process is underway; Chapman presented the report in the director’s stead. He echoed the museum’s concern about potential reductions at the Institute of Museum and Library Services, noting past Nebraska projects funded by IMLS (including a roughly $700,000 Library Innovation Studios project) and the importance of those grants to makerspace and rural library initiatives.
Ending: The council asked a few clarifying questions about Senior Planet and the director search timeline. Council members praised the report and Chapman’s presentation; councilmember Mark Rowan said applications close on March 25 for the open director position and interviews will follow.
