Library director reports circulation gains, digital use surge and budget adjustments

Daniel (who introduced himself as Dan), the county library director, presented the library’s 2024 annual report to the Duchesne County Commission, summarizing circulation, program attendance, outreach and financial results.

Dan told commissioners that circulation at the Roosevelt branch rose about 10 percent in 2024 to roughly 80,000 physical checkouts, the highest since the COVID pandemic in the county. Digital circulation — primarily audiobooks and e-books accessed via the Libby platform — reached about 50,000 checkouts, a 25 percent increase that now represents about one-third of total circulation. Dan said the county participates in a statewide consortium for digital materials and that the library contributes funds annually to meet patron demand.

The report noted outreach growth: weekly outreach at Fruitland and Tabiona produced increased checkouts (1,300 at Fruitland in its first full year), and a new jail outreach provided 250 checkouts through coordination with the sheriff’s department. Library programs increased: staff offered about 70 events last year (a near 40 percent increase) with roughly 11,600 attendees. Roosevelt had roughly 70,000 visits in 2024, a 10 percent increase.

Dan said the Duchesne branch had been closed for most of 2024 for remodeling and reopened in December; the closure affected countywide statistics. He described grants received: a roughly $22,000 ARPA-derived grant expanded Wi-Fi coverage into parking lots and a separate grant purchased 15 laptops and a cart for public use in Roosevelt.

On budgeting, Dan reported the library’s total 2024 revenue (tax money, interest, grants and fines) was a little over $1 million, with about $123,000 in “soft” funding (grants, donations). Staff costs remain the largest expenditure. He said the library used $55,000 to furnish the reopened Duchesne branch and applied about $10,000 to a loan payment. Dan said the library ended the hotspot-circulation program and will move to be more selective about long-standing physical-periodical orders, acknowledging longer wait times for patrons. He asked the commission to note a planned conversion of one Roosevelt full-time position to 29 hours per week to reduce benefit costs.

Commissioners praised staff and volunteers. One commissioner thanked Dan and library staff, noting frequent patron traffic in the parking lot and praising the recent remodel and new meeting rooms. Dan said Haley Toland had been hired as a replacement staffer and that the history center had additional room for patrons to deposit family records. He emphasized the library’s reliance on state collections for digital circulation and concern about potential federal funding changes that could affect the statewide consortium.

Dan closed by inviting the public to an open house at the Duchesne branch and by offering to provide additional fiscal details to the commission on request.