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Bradford Public Library reports record summer attendance and rising program use
Summary
Library staff told the county commission that the Bradford Public Library recorded high summer attendance, thousands of program participants in 2024, and nearly $40,000 in grant income; staff requested budget information ahead of the county budget process.
Library board members and the Bradford Public Library director updated the Grand Forks County Commission on 2024 activity and upcoming needs.
Library board member (name not specified) said the library’s 2024 summer reading program showed strong engagement, reporting that children logged “882,000 minutes of reading” during the program and that nearly $40,000 in grant funding supported library activities. Board members also highlighted partnerships with the Friends of the Library and the Library Foundation, which raise funds through events and sales to support programming and new equipment such as podcast recording capacity.
Library Director Wendt told commissioners the library broke records during a busy summer: one kickoff event drew about 600 people over two hours, and on a subsequent day staff recorded more than 800 people through the doors during a 12‑hour period, the highest daily count recorded since the COVID‑19 pandemic. Director Wendt said the library offered camps (including a 3D printing camp and LEGO robotics), theater camp, chess club and outreach to county childcare centers and senior centers. The library reported 983 programs in 2024 with more than 40,000 participants; circulation of 481 radon test kits was also noted.
Commissioners asked for budget information ahead of the 2026 budget process. A commissioner asked library staff to provide cash carryover projections for the general fund and capital improvement fund and to supply a five‑ to six‑year capital improvement plan listing major anticipated costs such as HVAC replacement and elevator upgrades.
The library board member asked that those materials be delivered at least two weeks before the July 15 budget meeting so county staff can include them in the budget review.
