Chesterfield Public Library staff told the county board that systemwide use is rebounding and programs are reaching new neighborhoods. Carolyn, an assistant director, reported about 2,000,000 checkouts and roughly 1,000,000 in‑person visits this year, levels that reach or exceed pre‑pandemic figures. She said the Midlothian branch accounted for a notable bump in 2024 after its opening.

Carolyn said the system now has nearly 100,000 nonexpired cardholders and is adding new members at an accelerated rate. Programs and attendance are also increasing, she said, and the library’s digital circulation has grown from about 22% of total circulation to roughly 38%, a shift that she noted increases collection costs.

On collections, staff reported turnover for newly purchased materials between nine and 12 times per year, which they offered as evidence the system is buying items patrons want. Carolyn told the board that Baker & Taylor’s recent bankruptcy sent “shock waves” through libraries but said Chesterfield had contingency plans and expects to shift orders to other vendors without service interruption.

The presentation described a suite of nontraditional collections (STEM kits, museum passes, nature backpacks) and a planned trial with a third‑party vendor, identified in the presentation as Unique Services Management, to follow up on long‑overdue accounts to return materials to shared circulation.

Staff framed the system as an efficient operation: the department’s per‑capita expenditure was low on a benchmark chart while circulation and visits per capita were midrange. Carolyn also cited a high customer satisfaction score—9.47 out of 10—derived from the library’s annual survey program.

Library staff emphasized partnerships and targeted outreach as drivers of recent gains. Mike described collaborations with Cooperative Extension, the Rotary and local nonprofits and highlighted an outreach pilot in Greenlee Mobile Home Park. Using census data and ArcGIS mapping, staff said they set up bilingual quarterly pop‑ups, eliminated late fees at the events and partnered with groups such as the YMCA; according to the presentation, card signups in that community rose 47% and checkouts rose 41% after the initiative.

Staff previewed facility work and outreach plans: LaPrade Library is scheduled to reopen in February after an interior redesign; an Enon Library project adjacent to Elizabeth Davis Middle School is in design development with bidding anticipated by mid‑September and an operating target of Dec. 27 (year not specified); Ettrick–Matoaca is planned to expand from about 8,000 to 20,000 square feet; and the Friends group is raising funds to renovate or replace a donated vehicle to serve as a mobile library.

Board members asked clarifying questions about construction timing and the mobile vehicle. Staff said the LaPrade move‑in period pushed the reopening schedule and that they are evaluating whether to renovate the donated vehicle or purchase a new one.

The presentation closed with summer learning figures: staff reported 10,000 people registered for the system’s summer program, about a 27% increase from the previous year.