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Beaufort County libraries report 880,000 items borrowed, expand lockers and summer programs
Summary
Director Amanda Dickman told the Beaufort County Council on June 7 that county libraries recorded heavy use — about 880,000 items borrowed — and outlined facility refreshes, two bookmobiles, an Institute of Museum and Library Services grant for locker pickup and an expanded summer reading program.
Amanda Dickman, director of Beaufort County Libraries, told the Beaufort County Council on June 7 that county libraries remain busy and are planning facility upgrades and service expansions.
Dickman said county cardholders borrowed 880,000 items last year, of which 72% were physical and 28% were digital. She reported about 373,000 visits to library locations, 51,500 reference questions answered, 1,199 meeting-room reservations and more than 2,400 public programs drawing about 38,000 attendees. "Libraries are more than just books," Dickman said. "We are vibrant community hubs that foster learning, engagement, and stats that we're gonna go over, it shows us that library usage has remained strong."
The library director emphasized that the system grew cardholders to just over 5,000 and said Beaufort County ranks 11th in the state by population served but recorded more visitors, programs and items borrowed than several peer systems. Dickman highlighted that Beaufort County is the only library system in the state with two bookmobiles and described program offerings for teens, read-to-a-pet events and a summer reading program that asks participants to read 20 minutes a day. "This is not just for kids. Yes. We want kids to read, but it's also for adults," she said, noting last year's participation of just over 2,000 and setting a personal goal to exceed 3,000 participants this year.
On facilities, Dickman said facilities and capital-improvement work has begun, including carpet replacement and exterior sprucing at multiple branches to keep spaces "modern, welcoming and accessible." She pointed to a new locker pickup system installed at Burton Wells, funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and demonstrated an expanded collection that includes “wonder books” with built-in audio players for read-along use. "We've received a grant through the Institute of Museum and Library Services for that locker system," she said.
Council members asked questions about longer-range plans for a full renovation of the Hilton Head branch and whether lockers might be installed at other branches; Dickman said a full Hilton Head renovation is on a longer-range plan and that the county is monitoring the Burton Wells lockers but could expand them if demand supports it. Council members and others in the room praised the Port Royal and Saint Helena branches as gathering places and noted frequent community use for meetings and events.
Dickman closed by thanking council members for "investing in our libraries" and asked the council to encourage wider community participation in summer programs. No formal action was taken during the presentation.
