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Library director reports large circulation gains, new hires and expanded summer programming
Summary
At the Beaufort County Library Board meeting, Executive Director Amanda Dickman told trustees the system recorded roughly 43,000–44,000 more borrows year‑over‑year, added staff and rolled out a range of summer programs while continuing facilities improvements and outreach.
Amanda Dickman, executive director of the Beaufort County Library System, told the board that circulation and visits rose substantially over the past year and that staff additions and summer programming are driving engagement. "Things are heating up in our libraries," Dickman said as she reviewed program photos and usage data.
Dickman said print circulation rose by about 25,000 items and digital circulation increased by roughly 20,000 items, for a combined increase near 43,000–44,000 additional borrows compared with the prior year. She said door counts rose by about 28,342 and the system issued approximately 3,000 more library cards than the previous year. "We've got lots of people moving to Beaufort County," Dickman said, adding the new Port Royal branch and post‑pandemic return to in‑person services were contributing factors.
Why it matters: the numbers point to both rising demand for physical and digital materials and continuing pressure on budgets for digital licenses and best sellers. Dickman said Tutor.com usage rose sharply — "it grew to 748 uses versus 36 in the previous year" — and urged continued outreach to help new cardholders find services.
The director announced staffing moves: three pending hires for library assistant roles and a user experience librarian, Lee Ramey, who will join the system July 28 from the State Library to lead training and staff development. She also introduced summer intern Grace, who has worked in the children's area at the Bluffton branch.
Dickman reviewed ongoing facilities work and small capital improvements: replacement of exterior book returns at La Bico, Saint Helena and Beaufort branches; installation of bike racks at Port Royal and Lubbico; renovation of the Hilton Head reading garden to mitigate flooding; and new children's tables and chairs. She asked board members and the public to participate in a new "Tell Your Library Story" communications campaign and listed upcoming events including an Origami Magic program July 21–23 and a Port Royal birthday celebration on Aug. 23.
On community services, Bluffton Library manager Kitty McKean said six blood‑pressure monitors are housed in the system and that "they've been popular," with roughly half checked out at any given time. Dickman described the library's summer lunch program (about 2,000 lunches distributed so far, compared with 2,700 the prior year) as an important service pairing food with reading.
The board did not take formal policy action on the director's report; members thanked Dickman for the thorough update and moved on to the finance report.
