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Annual report shows shifts in collection and program use; trustees flag data-format questions
Summary
Staff reviewed the Franklin Public Library’s 2024 state annual report, reporting declines in physical holdings and growth in program attendance. Trustees asked clarifying questions about data categories, reciprocal-borrowing accounting and how gate counts capture program attendance.
Library staff reviewed the Franklin Public Library’s 2024 state annual report and compared key statistics with 2023 figures.
The report lists "books in print" at 96,000 and shows a notable decline in some physical materials. Staff stated "total physical items in the collection" as 18,469 in the report and said that figure was down from roughly 130,000 the prior year; trustees and staff flagged that the way the state statistics are compiled changed this year, and staff noted they were comparing comparable items where possible. Staff emphasized the reporting period runs through Sept. 30 for the metrics presented.
Staff reported circulation changes: total circulation increased by about 3,600 items year over year, while children's material circulation decreased by roughly 1,400 items. Interlibrary loan activity showed the number of items Franklin sent to other libraries increased by about 2,500; items received from other libraries remained steady.
Programming was a major area of growth. Staff said programs for ages 0–5 increased by 36 events and for ages 6–11 increased by 29 events; young adult programs were up 15 and adult programs up 37. Attendance rose across age groups, with staff reporting attendance increases of about 2,600 for ages 0–5, about 1,210 for ages 6–11, about 350 for young adults and about 700 for adults.
Trustees asked whether program sessions are recorded for later viewing; staff said only the "Great Decisions" series and the podcast have been recorded recently, and that most post-pandemic virtual content saw low view counts. Trustees discussed whether gate counts undercount program participants because people using the meeting room may not be captured by the lobby counter. Staff said program attendance is captured separately with a clicker; the board asked staff to consider whether adding a program column or otherwise reconciling program counts and gate counts would be useful for reporting.
The board approved the 2024 state annual report with a request to correct a trustee name and preferred mailing address before the chair signs the form.
