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Staunton Public Library reports steady use, new partnerships and modest circulation gains
Summary
Library Director Sarah Scrobus told the City Council the Staunton Public Library signed nearly 2,100 new cards and saw roughly 154,000 visits in the past year; digital circulation rose about 15% and the library will launch a Community Gear Library partnership and resume Sunday hours in September.
Sarah Scrobus, director of the Staunton Public Library, presented the library’s annual report for July 1, 2024, through July 30, 2025, to the Staunton City Council on Aug. 28.
“We’ve had another really rewarding and busy year,” Scrobus said, reporting almost 2,100 new library cards and roughly 16,000 cardholders in the Valley Library system. She said the building recorded about 154,000 visits over the year — roughly 46 people per hour on average — and that circulation was up about 4% over the prior year.
Scrobus told council digital checkouts grew about 15% and now account for roughly 25% of total circulation. She said the library reduced monthly checkouts on the Hoopla pay‑per‑use service earlier this year to keep that subscription within budget, while continuing to offer Libby and OverDrive.
The director highlighted programming and outreach: the library ran about 678 programs (an average of 56 per month), carried out 125 outreach events including visits to child‑care centers and community festivals, and remodeled parts of the young‑adult and children’s areas. Summer reading registration rose about 46% over the prior summer, with roughly 9,000 participant hours logged.
Scrobus also reviewed partnerships and special services. The Talking Book Center — a subregional service for blind and print‑disabled readers — recorded a 31% jump in circulation and is piloting sampler audio packs and a newly designed accessible player. She said the library signed a memorandum of understanding with the Community Gear Library to circulate outdoor equipment (tents, backpacks, camp stoves and similar items) using Staunton library cards.
Scrobus thanked the Friends of the Library for more than 1,500 volunteer hours and $8,500 raised through used‑book sales, and noted the terrace project (Friends‑led capital work) is progressing through preliminary drilling and pier installation. She said the library expects to resume Sunday hours on Sept. 7.
Councilors asked for format breakdowns within digital circulation; Scrobus said she did not have a full format split at the meeting but offered to provide details later. Scrobus also described staff training initiatives (including dementia‑friendly training) and the library’s role helping residents access jobs and public benefits through one‑on‑one technology appointments.
The presentation material will be posted on the city’s website, the city manager said. The council did not take any formal action on library funding or staffing during the meeting; the report was provided as an informational update.
