Library reports record circulation increases, discontinues hotspot program amid budget pressures

Dan, a library representative, presented the Duchesne County Library’s 2024 annual report to commissioners, highlighting increases in physical and digital usage as the system recovered from a prolonged branch closure. "Roosevelt circulation, physical items, went up 10% — that's 80,000 circulations," Dan said, and the county’s total combined circulation reached about 144,500, the highest since records from 2014.

Digital services also grew: the library recorded roughly 50,000 digital circulations (about a 25% increase) and nearly 25,000 Wi‑Fi uses at library locations last year. Outreach programs expanded with new sites (Fruitland, Tabiona) and a first full year at Fruitland with roughly 1,300 checkouts; the library also piloted outreach at the county jail (about 250 checkouts).

Staff reported a record number of programs and attendance — more than 70 events totaling about 11,600 attendees — even as one branch was closed part of the year for relocation and repairs. Grants and one-time investments supported those services, including a roughly $17,000 award for 15 laptops and a cart to support public technology needs.

Facing budget constraints, the library board decided to discontinue the hotspot-circulation program that had circulated about 1,700 hotspots last year. "That's a hard decision," the library representative said, noting it affected a few families but that fixed in‑building Wi‑Fi and other services better meet mission priorities. Commissioners and staff discussed the tradeoffs between mobile hotspot circulation and more stable in‑library internet access.

The library also announced a staffing adjustment: an assistant branch manager position will convert from full-time to a 29‑hour part-time role to reduce benefit costs. Commissioners were told the county contributed about $55,000 toward furnishings and equipment for a reopened branch; the library finished a costly roof repair that had required specialized work.

The representative closed by noting ongoing concerns about future state and federal funding streams (including uncertainty about the Institute of Museum and Library Services) and asked commissioners to consider linking county web resources to the state burn-window and other public‑information portals.

Commissioners thanked library staff for their work and asked follow-up questions about usage drivers for in‑building Wi‑Fi versus patrons using parking-lot connectivity. The library representative said the county has about 6,000 active patrons (used within past three years) and emphasized that digital services remain a growing share of overall usage.