Appleton Public Library board hears large increases in visits, circulation and programs and moves toward strategic planning

The Appleton Public Library board approved the consent agenda and minutes and spent much of the meeting reviewing third-quarter usage and program statistics, after which staff outlined a proposal to begin a formal strategic planning process next year.

A library staff member presenting the statistics said the library’s year-to-date total circulation is up 55%, with September circulation up about 19% compared with the same month last year. E-circulation was reported up about 6%. The presenter also reported a 77% increase in door count for the year and a 104% increase for September; reference transactions were up about 56%. On the technology side, public-computing sessions were reported up roughly 102% year-to-date and Wi‑Fi distinct clients up about 201%.

Board members asked how the library counts visits; the staff presenter said the facility uses an electronic entrance counter that records entries, noted that it undercounts in some situations (strollers, clustered groups) and described the resulting door-count figures as an approximation.

Following the statistics, staff introduced a proposal to begin a strategic planning process in the coming year. Staff said the library’s existing strategic framework dates to 2013–14 and was updated in 2019; the board was told a more modest refresh would cost less than a full rewrite, and that the scope chosen will affect the budget for the planning work. Staff said an official approval of the planning process is expected to be brought back to the board next month.

Staff also briefed the board on a personnel update: several positions are open, including a half-time case clerk (internal posting, interviews planned this week), a senior/community partnership supervisor (application window closing Nov. 23, interviews mid-December) and a security monitor position (reposted). The board was told that Adrianna will vacate the community partnership supervisor role on the 12th and start as executive director of the Friends of the Appleton Public Library on the 15th.

Votes and procedural notes: the board approved the minutes from the previous meeting and adopted the consent agenda by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that the board carried.

Next steps: staff expects to return next month with a formal motion or recommendation on the scope and budget for the strategic planning process.