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Hamilton East Public Library reports rising cardholders, circulation and new makerspace
Summary
Library director Melissa Loysell told commissioners the Hamilton East Public Library served about 180,617 people, added 9% more registered card holders to reach 95,684 and circulated roughly 2.25 million items in 2025 while expanding youth programming and launching a new Ignite MakerLab.
Melissa Loysell, director of Hamilton East Public Library, presented the library’s annual report to the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners, saying the library’s service territory population is about 180,617 and the system now has 95,684 registered card holders.
Loysell said, “We currently have 95,684 resident registered card holders. That's a 9% increase from last year,” and highlighted increases in program attendance: an 18% rise in youth-program attendance (about 6,000 more attendees) and a 39% jump in adult-program attendance from 2024 to 2025.
The report showed the system circulated 2,247,338 items in 2025, with roughly one-third of circulation now electronic. Loysell described cost pressures for digital materials and said 60% of the operating budget went to salaries, insurance and benefits while 25% went to services and charges, including digital materials and IT.
She reviewed capital work and service improvements under way: small construction projects in Fishers targeted to finish before the June 1 summer-reading kickoff, a new Ignite MakerLab in Noblesville aimed at entrepreneurs, and a new library catalog replacing a system used for over 30 years. She also noted the library participated in 334 community events in 2025, reaching more than 32,000 people.
Board members asked whether a copy of the library’s presentation might be supplied for use in the state-of-the-county address; Loysell agreed to provide materials. The presentation included a short promotional video produced by the library’s marketing team.
The library’s data and planned projects were received for the record; no formal action was required.
