Botetourt Memory and Eagle Rock branch report growing use and program activity

Library staff told trustees on April 8 that Botetourt Memory, the county’s Omeka S digital collection for genealogy and local history, has expanded usage and holdings while staff manage a backlog of materials to publish.

Sarah Rodgers, Fincastle Branch Manager, reported 445 genealogy-room visits from July 2025 through March 2026 and 36 online genealogy requests in the current fiscal year. She said the Community item set has recorded more than 36,000 views since its late-2024 launch; current holdings were reported as 77 item sets, 19,152 items and 34,265 scanned images, with 13 item sets published to date. Rodgers noted recent transcription work (Wills & Testaments and Death Records 1860–69) and described capacity limits tied to staff hours and internship cycles.

At the Eagle Rock Branch, Jennifer Hannah reported quarterly door counts (January 832, February 830, March 1,019) and steady program attendance across yoga, community art, youth chess and upcoming summer activities. Hannah said the branch now has four volunteers supporting programs and outreach partnerships with Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and Feeding Southwest Virginia for community food assistance. She reiterated a need for continued support for security-camera upgrades given the branch’s rural location and response distances.

Trustees praised staff work, including migration to the Polaris system, and requested staff return next month with a draft multi‑year plan to implement Strategic Priority #4 (Celebrate Local Stories & Heritage).