Southport branch highlights: summer reading surge, volunteers and digital access challenges

Fiona Duke, branch manager of the Southport branch, told the Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees on July 2025 that the branch has been a busy local hub for summer reading, multilingual services and computer access.

“I'm happy to share that our patrons blew past the community goal of 20,000,000 minutes read,” Duke said, describing systemwide summer reading results and noting Southport’s local programs and outreach. She told trustees the branch celebrated its 50th anniversary in the building (opened April 1, 1974), has a regional staff of 24 and 10 volunteers and that staff tenure across the team averages more than 14 years.

Why it matters: Duke said Southport serves a diverse community and documented local needs the branch addresses: the service area population was given as about 45,008; roughly 17.8% of residents were born outside the United States and more than half of Perry Township students are multilingual, representing more than 80 countries and dozens of languages. At the branch Duke described staff-language capabilities — two Burmese speakers, a Zomi/Hakka speaker and a Spanish speaker — and partnerships with the Immigrant Welcome Center for Pathway to Literacy and English conversation circles.

What the branch is doing: Duke walked the board through program statistics for January–June. Southport registered 786 new borrowers during that period and reported 8,620 active borrowers in June; the branch presented 176 programs with 5,663 participants (56% youth-focused). Staff reported 162,294 public computer sessions since May 2024 and said PC use peaks during school breaks, after school and since a PC management system upgrade. Duke said the branch partners with Perry Township Schools on a summer servings meal program (June 16–July 18) that served 984 meals this year.

Digital access and seniors: In response to a trustees’ question about the 6.3% of the branch service area reported as having no home internet or computer, Duke said the branch lends Wi‑Fi hotspots, provides heavy public‑computer access and offers space for people to use the library’s Wi‑Fi. Trustees asked about senior programming; Duke and others noted the branch’s chair aerobics class (offered 41 weeks this year with a high single‑class turnout near 63) and scam‑awareness programs and other adult offerings intended to engage older patrons.

Volunteers and community partners: Duke credited volunteers with sustaining programs such as Stitch Some Support, Family Game Day, Dungeons & Dragons, Pathway to Literacy and English conversation circles, and listed partners including the Afghan American Community Center, Burmese American Community Institute (BACI), Central 9, Chim Center and City of Southport. Duke noted a number of in‑branch outreach photos and programs and named Mayor’s neighborhood advocate Delia Novak as supporting summer outreach hours.

What board members said: Trustees praised branch displays, volunteers and staff service; one trustee specifically thanked Duke for the branch’s community outreach and programming. The branch manager said she will follow up on additional ideas raised by trustees and staff.

Ending: Duke concluded by emphasizing the branch’s role as an accessible service point for diverse users and for students returning to school, and the board moved on to other agenda items after questions about robotics workshops, Roblox club age ranges and summer program staffing.