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Middletown Free Library reports record visits and rising Brookhaven use
Summary
Middletown Free Library director Derek Lloyd told Brookhaven council the nonprofit recorded roughly 70,000 visits and 70,000 physical checkouts last year, raised $170,000 (about 30% of its budget), and saw year-over-year circulation from Brookhaven rise to about 4,300 items in 2025.
Derek Lloyd, director of the Middletown Free Library, told Brookhaven Borough Council that the nonprofit library saw record building visits and growing use by Brookhaven residents. "We had over 70,000 people come into the library this year," Lloyd said, adding that the library also logged about 70,000 physical items checked out and raised roughly $170,000, "which amounted to about 30% of our budget."
Lloyd said the library has broadened its circulating collection beyond books to include tools, board games, camping equipment and musical instruments, all at no charge to patrons. He described program growth as well: the library ran roughly 1,600–2,025 programs during the year, drawing more than 26,000 attendees. "We are one of 28 libraries in Delaware County, but that represents 15 to 20 percent of program attendance in the county," Lloyd said.
On Brookhaven-specific use, Lloyd said about 2,000 Brookhaven residents hold active library cards and reported stepwise increases in circulation to Brookhaven residents: about 2,800 items in 2023, 3,300 in 2024 and roughly 4,300 in 2025. He cautioned that program attendance by town is hard to track because the library does not require proof of residency for program signups. "We don't ask for residency. We ask for nothing except your name and a way we can contact you," he said.
Council members asked how instrument loans and other nontraditional items are checked out; Lloyd said such items have shorter loan periods and must be returned to Middletown. He also said grants are readily available for technology purchases, but funding ongoing staff hours is harder to secure. "It's very easy for me to get a grant for technology...very few people want to write me a grant so that I can pay the janitor an extra 3 hours," he said, noting staff-time limits restrict program expansion.
The presentation concluded with Lloyd offering to answer follow-up questions and to assist the borough with library-related trends and policy questions. The council did not take formal action following the presentation.
