Milton Measures 39% Increase in Annual Community Participation
Milton Public Library

This week, the Milton Public Library released its highly anticipated 2023 annual report, which showcases a year of remarkable growth and community engagement while outlining ambitious plans for the future. In 2023, MPL experienced a significant surge in community participation, with in-person visits reaching 507,837, marking a notable 39% increase from the previous year. Attendance at library programs also soared, totaling 37,000 attendees across 1,837 events, reflecting a 35% increase year-over-year.

Sarah Douglas-Murray, CEO of MPL, expressed pride in the library’s accomplishments. “This past year, we’ve made significant strides, driven by our commitment to empower the community to Read, Learn, Create, and Connect,”

“Our achievements include a Service Delivery and Organizational Review to better meet community needs. We also promoted inclusivity through the Government of Canada-supported’ Seniors Translation for Newcomers’ project, which encouraged intergenerational learning. Additionally, we celebrated cultural understanding with projects like ‘101 Deweguns… A Living Hearts Legacy’ and the ‘Medicines’ mural, highlighting our Indigenous communities.”

Read more via The Hamilton Spectator.

Meet the Women Who Launched St. Paul Public Library's Laser Loons
St. Paul Public Library

Late last year, staff members of the St. Paul Public Library launched the Laser Loon library card, inspired by a beloved design suggested for the new state flag. An effort to coax a few more folks to use the city's libraries quickly became a sensation and brought in thousands of new users. Read an interview with the minds behind the Laser Loon library card, Stacy Opitz and Claire Huber.

"Our original goal when we first started this was to get a total of 1,000 residents a new card — or to come in and grab one of those stickers [that covers the old card]," explained Huber, St. Paul Public Libraries communications specialist. "Our total at the end of the campaign was 5,620 residents coming in to get a card or a sticker. Just in the first day of launching this campaign, we saw a 295% increase in library card signups compared to 2022."

"Our big job is to tell the library story and make sure residents are aware of and using their library," added Opitz, the marketing and communications manager. "Some folks in our community might still be thinking that libraries are just warehouses for books, right? We offer so much more."

Read the full article from The Star Tribune.

Enriching the Mind and Body Both Inside and Out of the Library
San Antonio Public Library

A recent feature by local KSAT news covered how the San Antonio Public Library not only offers programming to enrich the mind but also gives community members a place to exercise their bodies. In addition to playgrounds on the system's various campuses, eight branches also have fitness centers.

“There’s a whole lot more at the library. And a lot of it actually happens outdoors,” Scott Williams with San Antonio Public Library said. “Libraries are fully fledged community centers. A lot of people engage themselves not just with their mind, but also with their body.” Williams said the libraries here in San Antonio are places where the community can enrich your mind and body outside.

You can do just that at Mission Library on the city’s South Side, located next to Mission San Jose. There are two playgrounds on its campus, exercise equipment, several outdoor seating areas and a community garden but it’s not just here where you can enjoy the outdoors while visiting a library.

Read more via KSAT News.

Sarasota County Highlights Libraries as Community Hubs
Sarasota County Public Libraries

Like many ULC members, Sarasota County Public Libraries is gearing up for a brand new library branch opening, And with the new branch headed to Longboat Key, SCPL is highlighting the ways in which libraries have evolved to offer a full suite of resources and events. Director of Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources Renee Di Pilato has been involved in libraries for about 20 years and has witnessed the shift firsthand.

While people may first visit a library to check out a book, Di Pilato said that users might find themselves staying for something different, like attending an author talk or using a sewing machine in the Creation Station.

“We really are a community hub where someone can come throughout their lifetime,” Di Pilato said. “And when you look at all the services we provide, you can really see, from infancy to becoming a retiree, how the library has different uses depending on where you are in your life,” Di Pilato said.

Read the full feature in The Observer.