Nampa Public Library reports rising use and warns of reduced federal grant support

Jared Tolman, Public Library Director, told the City of Nampa Council on April 16 that library use and programming have increased but the library expects a drop in federal grant funding after a state department that distributed library and museum grants closed.

The report matters because the library is a common-access resource during tight economic times: Tolman said visitation and use spike during recessions and that the library’s services provide measurable savings and skills-building for residents.

Tolman said the library served roughly 250,000 visits last year (up about 11%), circulated about 850,000 items (up 10%), and handled more than 50,000 reference questions. He highlighted nearly 1,000 programs with nearly 50,000 program attendees (an 83% increase in some program attendance categories) and said the bookmobile made more than 300 stops, producing more than 7,000 checkouts and engaging about 1,200 patrons. Tolman described an…