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Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library presents expanded services, partnerships and rising digital usage
Summary
Paula Brehmager summarized CHPL’s 2024–25 highlights: growing circulation and visits, record digital downloads, broad partnerships (JFS, United Way, Free Store Food Bank, Last Mile Food Rescue), and expanded community services such as meals, senior programs and maker spaces.
Paula Brehmager, identified as the Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, told commissioners the system continues to expand services across the county and to partner with public agencies and nonprofits to reach residents where they are.
Brehmager said CHPL operates roughly 41 locations (including a distribution center in Queensgate) with about 900 staff and more than 1,000,000 square feet of public space. She highlighted systemwide increases by November 2025 in circulation (about 2% up) and visits (about 6% up), and noted that CHPL broke 5 million digital downloads in 2024 and was nearing 6 million for 2025 (SEG 532–551).
The presentation listed partnerships and programs that link library services to county needs: Hamilton County Job and Family Services (on-site monthly support at branches, document printing and tech assistance), USDA-supported meals and snacks at 18 branches, Last Mile Food Rescue and Free Store Food Bank food distributions (serving thousands of families), senior services such as Memory Cafe and a Deer Park senior lunch program, juvenile justice outreach and reentry visits, maker spaces that support entrepreneurs, and hosting of the 513 relief bus (SEG 715–707, SEG 788–798, SEG 734–744).
Brehmager also described CHPL’s civic and cultural programming including Books by the Banks and a Black Music Walk of Fame exhibit. Commissioners asked about continuing COVID-era services (test-kit distribution) and library support inside the justice center and for recovery pods; Brehmager confirmed those services continue in variants and that staff provide outreach and resource navigation (SEG 847–855, SEG 921–933).
Commissioners praised CHPL’s role as a countywide civic hub and emphasized the library’s role in workforce development, senior services and community partnerships. No formal action was requested; commissioners welcomed continued updates and collaboration on initiatives such as the 513 relief bus and housing/job partnerships.
The presentation provides background for future budget or partnership requests and informed commissioners’ questions about service continuation, facility investments and coordination with county programs.
