CEO highlights Pike grand opening, McFadden lecture attendance, seed library distribution and systemwide use statistics

Chief Executive Officer Gregory Hill presented the library’s first-quarter highlights at the April 28 board meeting, including the March grand opening for the Pike branch, system program metrics and several notable adult and youth program successes.

Hill reported that opening day at the Pike branch produced 1,072 checkouts and that the first week (March 29–April 4) recorded 2,552 checkouts; visitors to the branch from opening day through April 26 totaled 5,828. The CEO recognized branch staff for the Pike opening and highlighted staff recognition awards systemwide. He also recapped major programs and metrics: the McFadden lecture at the Madam Walker Legacy Center drew 824 guests and a recorded online video had, within days, more than 1,188 views; the seed library opened in March across all 25 locations plus bookmobiles, with an estimated 55,800 seed packets distributed; and March systemwide program counts included 303 adult programs and 607 youth programs with total visitors shown in materials as about 17,677 across system locations.

Hill and staff also reported operational statistics: typical-day physical circulation and visitor figures showed modest month-over-month increases in some measures, while staff noted a small year-to-year decline in physical circulation attributed in part to branch closures and reopenings during the period; digital resource usage (databases and e-resources) showed growth. Mary Anne McKenzie, strategic planning and assessment officer, presented context on circulation trends, active cardholder counts and study/community room usage. McKenzie said active cardholder totals are up compared with the end of 2023 and that shared-system enrollment for Indianapolis Public Schools has increased library card registration among students.

The CEO previewed upcoming events and dates: the Nora branch grand reopening celebration is scheduled for Saturday, May 3 at 10 a.m. (Nora branch at 8625 Guilford Road), and summer reading registration opens the first week of May; a Teddy Bear Concert with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is scheduled at Nora on May 3 from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Trustees asked questions about study-room and community-room utilization; staff said community-room bookings and study-room hours both increased in the quarter and discussed plans to monitor utilization more closely.

Hill closed by thanking staff and the foundation and noting that the Foundation’s annual fundraising event (Circulate Night at the Library) has tickets on sale and that the Foundation has a goal to increase fundraising revenue. No formal board action was required on the presentation.