Duchesne County Library reports highest combined circulation in a decade, cites digital growth and budget pressure

The Duchesne County Library System reported strong usage in 2024, with combined digital and physical circulation reaching 144,500 checkouts and record attendance at events, library staff said at the March 18 board meeting at the Roosevelt Library branch.

Library staff summarized 2024 accomplishments and challenges, saying digital circulation continues to grow while the system remains financially strained. "Digital circulation overall — that's Hoopla and OverDrive — is now 50,000 checkouts for this county," a library staff member reported, noting Hoopla use rose 43 percent over 2023.

The figures showed Roosevelt’s physical circulation reached about 80,000 checkouts (a 9 percent increase), Roosevelt visits topped nearly 70,000, Wi‑Fi sessions rose about 23 percent to nearly 25,000, and the system hosted 470 events with roughly 11,600 attendees — both records, the staff member said. The speakers emphasized that Duchesne branch closures during part of the year affected some site counts but did not erase the overall upward trend in demand.

Why it matters: the numbers indicate growing digital and in‑person use as the library adds services — self‑checkout, a new room‑reservation calendar and a mobile printing system — even as the system faces a near‑term budget gap tied to a remaining loan payment of approximately $140,000.

Board members and staff reviewed revenue and spending for 2024. Total revenues (including grants) were reported at $1,012,261 and operating expenditures at $1,001,840. Staff cost and benefits accounted for about $653,000; collections (digital and physical) cost about $134,000. Staff noted they have been dipping into savings in recent years and that $10,000 of last year’s funds went toward the loan payment while roughly $55,000 was spent on furniture and equipment for the remodeled Duchesne branch.

Staff described several grants and one‑time investments that bolstered services: a roughly $17,000 grant funded a laptop cart for Roosevelt, a $22,000 American Rescue Plan Act award administered by the Utah Education Network improved parking‑lot Wi‑Fi and battery backup at the Duchesne branch, and a state legislative appropriation of $8,000 was used to buy material in the Libby (digital magazines/ebooks) platform. The staff member said the library will end its hot‑spot lending program after the final year of that grant and will tighten Libby purchases, buying titles only when three or more patrons are waiting.

The report also covered capital and facilities: Duchesne’s remodel moved about 35,000 items and the roof leak at the Roosevelt building has been fixed. The Roosevelt building received a merit award from the American Council of Engineering Companies. Outreach efforts included an off‑site outreach program, expanded service to the Duchesne County Jail (about 250 items circulated to inmates in the year), and outreach in Fruitland and Tabiona where circulation rose.

Staffing changes noted in the report include hiring two librarians, Jada Murray and Vanessa Lucas, and a planned replacement for an assistant branch manager position that will be reduced to a 29‑hour part‑time role to save benefits costs. The board discussed sharing a full‑time custodian among county facilities to save budget dollars.

Board members asked for more breakdowns in future reports (for example, circulation by age group and genre), and staff agreed to supply those figures on request. Auditor Shalise Jessen told the board the library is not expected to need a truth‑in‑taxation process this year. "Hold tight on that," the staff member said, reporting discussions with the auditor and legal counsel.

The report closed with a caution about library acquisitions: staff said certain Libby titles that are temporary and expensive may no longer be purchased unless demand justifies the cost. The board set goals for the coming year including fully reopening Duchesne branch services, onboarding a new branch manager, launching a basic technology course, and continuing community programs.