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Clearview Library director tells Severance council library usage surged; asks for feedback on hours and programs
Summary
Clearview Library Director Erica Rose told the Severance Town Council that Severance residents accounted for 20% of the district's physical circulation and about a third of program attendance and room bookings in 2025, and asked the town for feedback on possible Sunday and evening hours.
Erica Rose, director of the Clearview Library District, presented the library's 2025 impact report to the Severance Town Council on April 28, saying the district saw large year‑over‑year increases in circulation, program attendance and meeting‑room use.
"Severance accounts for 20% of our physical circulation," Rose told the council, and residents made up about "33% of our 2025 program attendance" and "33% of 2025 room bookings." She said the Severance branch recorded roughly 1,027 patron bookings (about 30% of available meeting‑room time) and that nearly 82,000 physical items circulated there in 2025.
Rose asked the council for feedback on whether the district should add Sunday hours or later evening hours and what kinds of programs residents would like to see. "If people are interested in hours on Sundays in particular," she said, "or evening hours, we'd like to know." She invited council members and residents to email suggestions so the library can consider changes as it budgets for 2027.
Mayor Matthew Friess emphasized the institutional partnership between the town and the library district and clarified the two are legally separate taxing entities. "We're two separate legal entities," Friess said, explaining the Clearview Library District has its own elected board. He also noted the Severance library was built from reserves and "did not have to raise taxes to build it." The mayor encouraged residents to get library cards and take advantage of programming.
Council member questions focused on how residents can provide input and what hours are currently offered; Rose said current hours are generally 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday–Thursday and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on Fridays, and she said some rooms are used outside posted hours by community groups. Rose also said she hopes to expand youth and family programming and continue increasing adult programming.
The council did not take an action on hours at the meeting; Rose said the library would consider resident feedback while preparing the 2027 budget and programming plan.
