Cornell White, interim director of the Hammond Public Library, told the Common Council that circulation, program attendance and library visits have increased over the past year even as he warned of possible financial impacts from recently proposed state legislation he referenced as SB1.

White said the library is addressing a local literacy gap he described as “about 18%” of students not reading at grade level and that his long-range plan prioritizes early literacy, ESL classes and expanded programs for youth and teens. He reported a sharp rise in programming: internal event attendance and overall visitation increased, and the library recorded 611 events in the prior year.

White told the council he estimated a potential impact of up to $450,000 on the library levy from SB1 as he understood it; he emphasized he was not asking the council for money at the meeting. He framed many of the legislative proposals as part of wider efforts affecting libraries and schools, and he said most such bills had failed but that vigilance is required.

Why it matters: The library director framed this as both a service and a fiscal issue — programs and usage are growing, and the library relies on levy and other funding sources that could be affected by state-level changes.

Programs and services: White described a range of offerings — early-literacy education, school-age and STEAM programs, teen (“young adult”) gaming and makerspace activities, and outreach events such as a “story walk.” He noted the library’s digital resources, including an app and licensed databases such as Ancestry.com available to cardholders.

Council response and next steps: Council members thanked White and the trustees for rising usage and for outreach efforts. White said he is focused on maintaining the building and improving maintenance practices.

Ending: The presentation drew council attention to literacy and library usage trends and flagged potential fiscal effects from state proposals; White said the library will continue to report metrics and pursue outreach and programming goals.