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Library director outlines services, circulation and trust-fund projects amid funding review
Summary
Library staff told the council the library network circulates a mix of physical and digital material, welcomed over half a million visitors last year, and uses trust-fund support for programs and capital projects. Staff noted the library fund faces pressure and that work is underway on a funding and governance review with WCCLS.
Beaverton ' The Beaverton City Library presented an overview of services, outreach and finances at the council's budget workshop, highlighting growing program use, a mix of physical and digital circulation, and the role of trust funds and WCCLS contributions.
Library director Kim said staff welcomed more than 500,000 visitors in the prior year, answered roughly 39,000 reference questions and created nearly 10,000 new library cards. "Every interaction at the front desk, in the stacks, or at the service point is an opportunity to provide exceptional service," Kim said.
Nut graf: The library described a wide range of services, from multilingual story times and summer reading to a bookmobile and a growing "library of things." Staff said the library fund is roughly $12 million and that approximately 41% of library revenue is local property tax while WCCLS and county contributions supply a significant share of the remainder.
Highlights from the presentation: - Usage and outreach: The library reported more than 2,000 programs in FY24 with total attendance near 50,000 (a roughly 20% year-over-year increase) and 1,200 outreach visits reaching more than 28,000 adults and children. - Collections and circulation: Staff said digital circulation increased during and after COVID and remains a significant portion of total use. Digital licenses are often limited by license count and can be more expensive than single-copy physical purchases; patrons can place holds on digital items like physical materials. - Branch operations and funding: The Murray Scholls branch operates 5 days a week with 6.7 FTE and circulated more than 649 items last year. Trust funds (from Friends and Foundation) pledged support (for example a $100,000 annual pledge) and were used for projects including the bookmobile and makerspace. - Funding and governance review: Staff said they are participating in a WCCLS funding and governance review intended to clarify service-area definitions, funding formulas and how partner contributions are calculated.
Council members asked about digital vs. physical circulation trends, the library's fundraising and trust-fund uses, and whether the library pursues grants. Library staff said some grants support capital investments (the bookmobile) and that Friends/Foundation fundraising remains an important source of program support.
