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Library director says visits and checkouts are rising as collections and programs expand
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Summary
At a recent Weatherford library board meeting (date not specified in transcript), library staff reported rising visits and checkouts across physical and digital collections, introduced a donated puzzles collection, previewed summer events and sought budgeted shelving and facility improvements.
At a recent Weatherford library board meeting (date not specified in the transcript), the library’s communications director, Jay, told board members that visits and circulation are increasing across physical and digital collections, and staff are rolling out new programs and collections to meet demand.
Jay said the library moved its magazines to a quieter reading corner and consolidated DVDs and audiobooks behind the circulation desk to free shelf space and create a single media area. She highlighted a new puzzles collection, funded entirely by donations, that recorded nearly 100 checkouts in its first month. "We're trying to be strategic about how we maximize our space and our collections," Jay said.
The director reported growth in both in‑person visitors and digital usage. Digital magazines were reported at about 11% of circulation, and staff are monitoring eAudio and ebook demand. Jay described the library’s licensing choices for downloadable titles — some publishers sell 12‑ or 24‑month licenses while others sell single‑use checkouts — and said the library recently joined the Texas State Library eRead (cloud library) to expand available digital titles.
Staff also previewed summer programming, including a kickoff featuring a fossil dig and a fire‑truck display hosted with the fire department. "Our chief is a complete fossil nerd," Jay said, describing plans to let children dig for fossils and meet firefighters at the kickoff. The library also plans additional family and Saturday events to broaden access.
On partnerships and outreach, Jay discussed past and potential collaborations with schools and a nearby college library (which also uses the Libby app), and said the library hopes to offer Weatherford ISD summer cards again and to explore year‑round partnerships that would reduce or waive nonresident fees for students. She noted that any formal, ongoing fee waivers or policy changes would require review by city management and, potentially, city council.
Capital and operational items on the board’s radar included a budget request for new picture‑book shelving with casters to make the front of the library more flexible, parking‑lot striping and safety lighting improvements, and options for strengthening Wi‑Fi — including lending mobile hotspots to patrons in need. Jay said staff are evaluating costs and vendor options for reducing wait times on popular digital titles by purchasing additional licenses where feasible.
Volunteers and the Friends group were highlighted as central to programming and fundraising: the Friends’ Pictures with Santa event drew roughly 220 people, and a 40th‑anniversary luncheon is planned; volunteers receive identifiable lanyards and help run recurring events and the upcoming book sale.
The meeting closed with a reminder that the next meeting is scheduled for July 27 and a motion to adjourn that was moved and seconded; the transcript ends immediately after the second and does not record an explicit announcement that the motion carried.
Jay attributed most of the reported gains to increased programming and outreach that bring residents into the library beyond traditional checkout activity; staff emphasized that many improvements (for example partnership policy changes or capital projects) will require separate approvals or additional budget authority.
