Library director reports BookPage funds reallocated to printing and digital holds; digital card, wireless printing and renovations highlighted

Director Chang presented the Citrus County Library System fiscal-year review and answered questions about how the canceled BookPage subscription was handled.

Chang said Board of County Commissioners guidance and public feedback led staff to reallocate roughly $3,300 that had been set for BookPage: "I allocated some money for that. About a thousand dollars went into that item," he said, and "$2,300" was shifted into the digital collection to help reduce long holds lists. Chang clarified the existing contract with BookPage remains active through February 2026 and that any unused credits under that contract would remain tied to BookPage rather than being automatically refunded to general operations.

Key service updates and metrics: Chang said the system recorded more than 500,000 combined physical and digital visits and just over 600,000 checkouts for the year; the system offered roughly 2,800 programs with more than 33,000 attendees. Summer reading participation exceeded 540,000 minutes logged. Volunteer support remains substantial, with volunteers contributing roughly 18,000 hours over the year.

Digital and technology changes: The library implemented Patron Point to enable digital library-card signups and a new digital newsletter platform. Chang said the digital card has produced hundreds of instant digital registrations, reaching many adults who can now access ebooks and databases outside regular hours. The system also deployed a new wireless printing solution that allowed patrons to print from their own devices; staff reported 75,000 pages printed and over 10,000 unique users from April through September after the rollout. Chang said work remains to implement a pay‑by‑card option for printer payments, with a target to address it in the coming months.

Facilities and programming: The board heard that Lakes Region completed a renovation supported by ARPA and philanthropic matching funds and that Coastal Region’s renovation is nearly complete; both include new meeting rooms, study rooms and updated youth areas. Coastal Region will have a grand-reopening celebration on Dec. 4. Director Chang also described expanding Saturday service hours at Coastal Region and other branches.

Planned activities: The library will begin a community needs assessment this winter, with public surveys, facilitated in-person sessions and a final report to guide planning across 1–20 year time horizons. Chang said a restricted-access children’s card (to limit certain content for underage patrons) is in testing and expected to be brought to the advisory board with a full presentation at the December meeting.

Why it matters: The discussion clarifies how limited, previously designated subscription funds were repurposed for operational needs and highlights investments in access and infrastructure — digital registration, printing access and renovated meeting spaces — that affect daily patron services across Citrus County.