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Library reports record card registrations, steady checkouts after mall move; outreach events draw hundreds
Summary
Library staff reported the highest recent total registered borrowers, steady physical checkouts dominated by Escondido residents, growing digital checkouts (Overdrive/Libby largest), and several outreach events — including a career fair with about 43 employers and roughly 200 job seekers.
Reno, library director, told trustees the library has seen record-high total registered borrowers in recent months, noting an increase of about 2,000 registered borrowers between June and August and reporting a total near 98,000 at the time of the meeting. Reno said the number remains high in part because accounts are not cleared quickly; card registration renewals occur every three years under current policy.
Reno said digital materials continue to grow: OverDrive/Libby accounts for the majority of digital checkouts, with Hoopla second and a variety of other online resources contributing smaller monthly totals. Link+ checkouts remain steady in the roughly 300-per-month range.
Staff presented usage changes after moving some services to the mall. While 65% of new physical library cards at the mall were from Escondido residents, the library has seen an uptick in registrations from San Diego and nearby unincorporated areas; however, checkouts remain predominantly by Escondido residents (about 88%). Reno said staff will analyze neighborhood data to determine whether the mall location is driving the change in registrations.
Reno summarized several successful outreach events and programs at the mall: a Building Bridges career and community fair in partnership with the mall and the San Diego Workforce Partnership that drew about 43 local employers and roughly 200 job seekers; a resume workshop with 24 participants; Paws to Read and a relaunch of Spanish-language Saturday story time with about 60 attendees at the first session; and the return of a chess club and other youth programming. He said many programs are more visible at the mall’s open spaces, increasing attendance.
Reno also updated trustees on the oral history project, saying staff would provide counts of completed interviews at the next meeting; the project has continued beyond its initial grant period and staff plan to expand outreach to additional communities. He said the federal government shutdown had not affected library operations or grants in the near term because most current grants are state-funded.
Reno noted increased demand for physical library cards: the library typically orders 2,000 cards per year but is ordering about 6,000 this cycle because of higher sign-ups. He said staff could explore producing a limited special-edition card (for example 500–1,000 cards) tied to the renovation or mural, but that would require coordination with city marketing and a small additional cost.
Trustees discussed Friends of the Library sales and outreach; staff said the Friends meet monthly (second Wednesday) and the library can support publicity and signage for Friends sales during the mall holiday season.
No formal action resulted from the statistics and director report; staff said they will return with neighborhood-level analysis and counts for oral-history interviews at a future meeting.
