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Downingtown Library reports growth in patrons, programs and circulation
Summary
Jasmine Smith, director of the Downingtown Library, reported roughly 6,000 new people in the service population, a 6% increase in door counts and circulation, 17.5% more programs, and 32% higher program attendance; she said expansion planning with architects is underway.
Jasmine Smith, director of the Downingtown Library, told the Cowan Township board on July 9 that the library is seeing sharp growth across several metrics and that facility expansion planning is in progress.
Smith said the library's service population increased by about 6,000 over the prior year, and that both door counts and circulation rose roughly 6%. Programming expanded, she said, with 17.5% more programs offered in 2025 than in 2024 and a 32% increase in program attendance. "We're seeing those people moving to the area come and use the library," Smith said, describing higher participation in story times, new book clubs (mystery and nonfiction), expanded mahjong offerings, a middle‑school writing club, and sensory story time developed with a certified special‑education teacher.
Smith said the library held a summer reading kickoff on June 8 that drew about 400 people and that 38 teens volunteered at the summer reading table. She told the board the library is "bursting at the seams" and that staff are working with architects to plan an expansion that will allow the library to meet growing community needs.
Board members thanked Smith and encouraged public outreach at upcoming community events; no funding request or vote on expansion was taken at the meeting.
