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Carlsbad library reports growth in digital lending, steady visits and expanded teen programming
Summary
Principal librarian Andrea Hilliard told trustees Oct. physical circulation and visits were roughly flat year over year while electronic lending rose about 19%, and staff highlighted expanded teen programs and newly funded Sunday hours at two branches.
Carlsbad’s Library and Cultural Arts department reported rising electronic lending and steady in-person use as trustees reviewed monthly statistics on Dec. 10.
"Electronic material circulation continues to be really strong and increased almost 19% year over year," said Andrea Hilliard, principal librarian for Digital Initiatives and Special Projects, attributing the growth largely to Hoopla, the library’s e-content vendor. Hilliard told trustees physical material circulation and library visits were essentially flat compared with the same month the prior year.
Hilliard and Laura Stanger, principal librarian for partnerships and community outreach, also highlighted local programming. Stanger said the library observed Banned Books Week and ran a Beanstack challenge that drew 45 teens and adults and 64 completed books; teen-focused Teentober programming reached 149 teens across six events and produced about 120 submissions to a creative-writing contest.
The pair noted an operational change approved earlier this year by the Carlsbad City Council to add Sunday service hours at Cole and Dove libraries: beginning May 18 the locations each received four additional service hours.
Why it matters: rising electronic circulation shifts how the library allocates resources and shapes outreach and programming, while sustained in-person visits and high teen participation signal continued demand for on-site services and events.
Board response and next steps: trustees asked no substantive changes to the reports; staff said they will present November and December statistics at the January meeting.
