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Unger Memorial Library reports circulation and programs; librarian Cynthia Peterson to retire
Summary
Librarian Cynthia Peterson presented the Unger Memorial Library annual report, citing usage statistics, program attendance and services—and announced her planned retirement at the end of the year.
Cynthia Peterson, librarian at the Unger Memorial Library, presented the library's 2023–24 annual report to the Plainview City Council on June 6 and told the council she plans to retire at the end of the year.
Peterson said the library logged 7,654 visitors in the 2023–24 fiscal year (state reporting period) and 14,547 physical and media checkouts. She reported growth in digital circulation and database usage: 2,368 OverDrive/ebook uses and expanding eRead Texas access. The library recorded more than 3,000 computer sessions and added 3,036 items across formats during the period. Program activity included 38 juvenile programs with 766 attendees and numerous adult and meeting‑room uses accounting for 1,762 program attendances.
On services, Peterson said the library continues curbside checkout, interlibrary loan and Techshare participation. She said notary services average more than 98 notarizations per month. The library maintains the Hale County cemetery database and has digitized historical newspapers for local research; the Plainview Herald remains subject to copyright restrictions and is not available online until it enters the public domain.
Peterson outlined pending challenges: she is preparing a long‑range plan to present to council before year end and noted the library building "needs a major refurbishment"—including painting and new flooring—and said additional shelving and space adjustments are under consideration. She announced, "This is my last time I'm going to report to y'all. I am retiring finally at the end of this year." Council members congratulated Peterson and thanked her for her service.
Peterson also described statewide database changes driven by funding uncertainty for Techshare and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, and noted plans to compare resources (for example, newspapers.com Texas edition vs. NewsBank) before changing local subscriptions.
No formal council action was required at the meeting; Peterson said she will return with a long‑range plan before her departure.
