Chaska Library reports nearly 1.5 million checkouts in 2024, expands school card program

The Chaska Public Library reported nearly 1,500,000 total checkouts systemwide in 2024 and a continued rise in digital borrowing, library director Jody Edstrom said Monday at the City of Chaska council meeting.

Edstrom said countywide digital checkouts through the Libby app rose about 25% in 2024, and that youth print material makes up roughly 46% of the total collection’s circulation. “We reached almost 1,500,000 checkouts … in this last year in 2024,” Edstrom said.

Those figures were part of a broader presentation on services at the Chaska branch by Edstrom and Kevin Spencer, Chaska branch manager. Spencer told the council the Chaska branch welcomed more than 58,000 visitors and logged more than 4,200 program attendees in the last year. At the Chaska location alone, checkouts rose about 20% after the library used a local grant to expand Spanish-language materials, Edstrom said.

Edstrom and Spencer outlined recent and planned services: a virtual library card pilot launched last fall for sixth graders in Chaska Middle School East with a goal of expanding to grades six through 12 across Eastern Carver County Schools; new self-checkout stations and mobile-printing at all branches; expansion of bilingual story times and evening hours; and the addition of free notary services in 2025.

Spencer said youth programming remains central: “We have 2 story times each week on Wednesday and Thursdays at 10:30, and numbers have been increasing with each week.” He also described partnerships with local groups — the historical society, scouts, North Star Therapy animals and Parks and Recreation — and programs ranging from teen trivia nights to a craft swap at other branch locations.

Council members responded with praise for the library’s role as a community gathering place and for outreach into schools. Mayor Hubbard and several council members said they value the library’s role in downtown economic development and community life as the city plans future facilities.

Edstrom invited council members to meet with her about community needs and reiterated that the library is preparing to expand programs and services in 2025.

The presentation concluded with council comments in support of continuing partnerships and an expressed interest in learning more about space needs as the city plans future library facilities.