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Loomis Library reports record use, releases five-year strategic plan and demonstrates water savings from native-plant demonstration
Summary
The Loomis Library and Community Learning Center reported near-19,000 door visits, nearly 42,000 physical checkouts and digital circulation gains in FY 2024-25; staff finalized a five-year strategic plan and shared preliminary data showing a 24% water savings at the library demonstration garden.
The Loomis Library and Community Learning Center reported steady growth in usage in fiscal 2024-25, unveiled a finalized five-year strategic plan and shared early data showing notable water savings from a recent landscaping demonstration.
Library staff told the council the library recorded nearly 19,000 in-person visits, about 42,000 physical checkouts and 9,180 digital checkouts for the year. Staff reported 3,609 registered cardholders and said they added 2,603 items to the collection during the year. The library also expanded programs, recording 5,366 attendees across 224 programs and circulating take-and-make craft kits and other materials.
In its strategic plan, the library set four priorities: facilities and space (the building is at capacity); maintaining access to programs, services and collections; strengthening volunteer recruitment and onboarding; and improving communication, advocacy and long-term sustainability. Staff told the council the library is assessing deferred maintenance and options that could include remodeling or future expansion.
The master gardeners and demonstration garden also reported a preliminary evaluation from Placer County Water Agency showing roughly 24% water savings after removing turf and installing native landscaping at the library site, comparing 2021-22 usage (with shoulder months removed) to post-installation usage. Library and gardening volunteers donated harvest and programming support; the town's partnership with UC Master Gardeners and other nonprofits contributes to programming.
Why it matters: library staff said the facilities are at or near capacity and the strategic plan recommends planning now to maintain services and meet growing community demand. The council and staff discussed potential capital planning and asked staff to consider funding set-asides for future expansion or deferred maintenance in broader budget discussions.
Quotes: library leadership closed the presentation with a statement of mission: "Bad libraries build collections, good libraries build services, and great libraries build communities," which staff presented as their guiding principle.
