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Germantown Library reports 358,000 checkouts in 2024, highlights patio project and restored hours
Summary
The Germantown Community Library reported 358,000 total circulations for 2024, presented funding breakdowns showing two-thirds municipal support and one-third Washington County reimbursement, and described a $45,000 patio upgrade and restored operating hours for 2025.
Trisha Smith, director of the Germantown Community Library, presented the library’s 2024 annual report at the Village Board’s March 3 meeting, reporting 358,000 total circulations, more than 12,000 registered cardholders and about 3,000 daily visitors in 2024.
Smith told trustees the library serves 35,290 residents across Germantown and portions of non-libraried Washington County municipalities; operating revenue for 2024 was roughly $1.4 million, about two-thirds from the Village of Germantown and about one-third from Washington County reimbursements tied to county circulation. Smith said the library received roughly $73,000 in grants and donations last year and that it spent about 65% of its operating budget on salaries and benefits.
Smith reviewed circulation trends: 225,000 print items, 64,000 digital items and 56,000 audio-visual items were checked out in 2024. She noted continued growth in digital circulation and in graphic novels and large-print books. Programming remained robust: the library held about 530 programs with roughly 21,000 attendees. Smith said the library’s Monarch system migration and bundled e-newsletter reduced costs and improved consistency across regional library systems.
Major projects in 2024 included a patio expansion funded largely through fundraising: the library raised about $45,000 to add an ADA-accessible sidewalk, picnic tables, literacy-focused features and outdoor musical instruments. Smith said the library restored normal operating hours on Jan. 2, 2025, after temporary reductions during the prior budget year.
Trustees praised staff fundraising and program creativity; Trustee Jan Miller thanked the director for keeping services strong in tight budget years. Trustee Kaminski asked about computer counts; Smith said the library has 10 public computers and was finishing upgrades to Windows 11 by the end of the month. Trustees and residents at the meeting noted high community use and positive impressions of the library’s services.
Smith encouraged trustees to consider e-rate funding opportunities in future budget cycles and said the library would continue expanding programming for tweens and outreach to surrounding non-libraried areas of Washington County.
