Price City Library reports heavy usage, outreach and 300 lb. food drive

The Price City Library Board told the City Council on Feb. 11 that library use grew substantially over the past year and highlighted outreach programs aimed at increasing access to books and services.

Debbie Marbadakis, representing the library board, said the facility recorded 32,367 visitors and patrons checked out over 17,000 items in the reported period. "We collected approximately 300 pounds of food that we were able to donate to the food bank just during the holiday season," Marbadakis said, describing the library's "food for fines" program that let patrons clear fines with food donations.

Jason Olson, chair of the Price City Library Board, summarized the board's outreach, including 104 story-hour sessions in 2025 with more than 900 participants and 10 public internet computers that together accounted for about 1,874 hours of use. Olson and other board members described installing eight small "little libraries" around town to broaden access and invited residents interested in hosting one to contact the board.

Council members asked about usage of Libby (the library's e-book/audiobook platform) and how to register additional little-library locations. The board said it would gather Libby statistics and include them in the next quarterly report. The library requested and received the council's acknowledgment; no formal council action was required on the quarterly update.

The board said it plans to return with future quarterly updates and clarified it will follow up with requested Libby metrics and a fuller list of little-library locations.