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Wellington Public Library reports increases in patrons, circulation and partnerships; launches food-drive effort
Summary
Library director presented the 2024 Public Library Annual Report showing increases in registered users, circulation and one-on-one appointments; the library will begin a food-for-fines drive immediately to support the Wellington Food Pantry after a reported 50% funding cut to the pantry.
Ross Lajones, Wellington Public Library director, delivered the library's quarterly update April 22 and reported year-over-year increases across multiple service metrics and new community partnerships.
Lajones said the library added roughly 500 new registered patrons in the year ending February 2024, equating to "one new person in our library every 4.8 hours of operating." He told trustees physical item circulation rose about 10% while total circulation (including digital media) increased by 14%. Lajones also reported public internet use rose 16%, one-on-one appointments increased by 85%, individuals directly engaged by library staff rose 61% and the number of people exposed to library events increased by about 72%.
The director credited those gains to partnerships with Colorado State programs, Larimer County departments and local nonprofits. Lajones described a new community partner for the summer reading program — a local business providing an estimated 1,600–2,000 drink-ticket prizes — and said the library will host events at Centennial Park and coordinate performers at the Main Street Market. He said the library will continue collaborations with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science for STEM programming and add Colorado Parks and Wildlife to the schedule.
On services, Lajones said interlibrary loan lending (items the Wellington library provides to other libraries) rose 34% while borrowing from other libraries rose 29%, and again noted the library came in under budget for the year. He gave dates for the summer reading program: registration begins May 2, programming runs June 2 through Aug. 2.
Lajones announced an immediate expansion of the library's "food for fines" practice and a new partnership with the Wellington Food Pantry after he said the pantry's funding has dropped by roughly 50%. He asked patrons to donate breakfast items (cereal, oatmeal, dried fruit, mac and cheese, rice, pasta and canned goods); Lajones said fines will be waived in exchange for donations.
Trustees praised the library's outreach and volunteer support: Lajones said the library currently has about 45 volunteers. Board members highlighted the library as a community gathering space and commended the staff for returning good results on a modest budget.
