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The Colony Public Library reports 2025 activity, names Akhil Tamadi volunteer of the year
Summary
Library staff presented 2025 usage statistics—including 95,917 physical checkouts and 39,168 digital checkouts—outlined upcoming programs, and announced Akhil Tamadi as the James W. Althouse Volunteer of the Year; council noted a $301,000 United Way fundraising total and reminded residents of weather preparedness.
Library staff updated the City Council on The Colony Public Library’s 2025 activity and upcoming programs, and presented the library’s James W. Althouse Volunteer of the Year award.
The presenter said the library was open 281 days last year, issued 2,130 new library cards, added 3,768 items to the collection, pulled 3,777 holds, recorded 95,917 physical checkouts and 39,168 digital checkouts, and hosted 480 library programs with 15,573 participants. “We checked out 95,917 physical items, and we checked out 39,168 digital items,” the presenter said, adding that the library’s digital platforms (Hoopla and Libby) credit checkouts to The Colony cardholders.
Upcoming programs cited included weekly story times, bilingual story time, early-literacy library play dates, an art-club kit honoring Gee’s Bend quilters for Black History Month, a homeschool huddle, teen activities (including a make-your-own soy candle kit with registration set for Feb. 9), a veterans-benefits session with the Denton County Veterans Service Office, a NASA ambassador talk on galaxy collisions, and a Black History Month event featuring quilting history and a dramatic monologue by Hester Moore.
Library staff introduced volunteer coordinator Tammy Beacham, who described the James W. Althouse award (named for a longtime Friends board member) and the volunteer program’s 30-year history. Beacham praised Akhil Tamadi, who has volunteered with the library since age 12 and serves as a peer mentor in the reading-buddies program; staff invited Tamadi for photographs and to accept the plaque.
During community-interest remarks, the mayor and council noted Brian and Jacqueline Eggert won a recent United Way fundraiser and that the event raised $301,000 for United Way of Denton County. The mayor also reminded residents the city has a weather-response plan with additional public safety staff, public works on call, an updated road plan, and supplies of sand and salt, and urged residents to follow city social media for updates.
No members of the public spoke during the citizens-input portion, the consent agenda was approved, and the council moved on to the regular agenda.
