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West Burlington library reports rising digital use, plans $70,000 bookmobile purchase
Summary
Library presenter reported more than 4,000 digital downloads in the first half of the year, described a shift toward digital acquisitions, and outlined plans to purchase a new Ford Sprinter-based bookmobile (estimated $70,000) with additional outfitting costs; the council was urged to support ongoing funding.
Mrs. Teeter presented the Burlington Public Library’s second-quarter report, saying the library had recorded more than 4,000 digital downloads in the first five to six months of the year and has shifted spending toward e-content such as hoopla and Libby.
The presenter said the library intends to purchase a new Ford Sprinter van as a bookmobile at an estimated cost of $70,000, with additional interior conversion and exterior signage costs to follow. She said attending an October conference will inform outfitting choices and may reduce final acquisition costs.
Mrs. Teeter described changes to the library’s service model: moving the circulation desk to the front of the building to improve patron service and adding a public computer for catalog access. She reported that 2,267 West Burlington residents currently hold library cards and that roughly 1,527 of those cards are actively used; the library will delete inactive borrower accounts over time.
On digital services, the presenter said hoopla offers many more available e-titles than Libby and that Libby’s consortium model sometimes creates wait lists for popular items. She noted the library is prioritizing digital acquisitions because a higher share of those items are used than some purchased physical books.
Council members asked about scheduling and staffing for Fourth of July outreach and encouraged the library to promote free workforce-development classes available through Mississippi Valley Skill and other local resources. Mrs. Teeter also noted plans for a Holocaust-related display in coordination with area partners.
The report concluded with a request that council support ongoing library funding and advocacy at the state level; council members said they would pass the information to the appropriate advocacy groups and a state representative expected to attend an upcoming meeting.
