HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 25-0011INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 25-0011
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
January 14, 2025
Page 1 of 4
SUBJECT: LIBRARY FISCAL YEAR 2024 PERFORMANCE MEASURES UPDATE
The purpose of this Informal Report is to inform Mayor and Council about Fort Worth Public
Library's (FWPL) FY24 year-end performance. It was a record -breaking year in many respects
and the data show that library usage is increasing. The following charts from the FWLab's
statistical dashboard show the large increase in library checkouts, number of library programs
delivered, and program attendance by the public.
Materials Borrowed
Books are just the beginning. The FWPL maintains a vast collection of materials to borrow
including physical and digital books, book kits, baby bags, musical instruments, movies, video
games, backyard games, wifi hotspots, and more. Patrons may even checkout passes to the Fort
Worth Botanic Garden and Log Cabin Village.
An encouraging datapoint from the dashboard is the number of library materials being checked
out annually. Fort Worthians are checking out items from the library in record numbers. FY24
checkouts exceed pre -pandemic checkouts, with one difference between 2019 and 2024 being
that total number of checkouts are nearly evenly divided between physical and digital materials.
Fiscal Year to Date Checkouts of Physical Books, Digital Downloads, and Other Materials
d, 02 A7
0
2M
i
1M
2.96M
2.73 M
,a I
D 20 2021
Financial Year
2022
3 52M
a.08NI
r
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 25-0011
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
January 14, 2025
Page 2 of 4
SUBJECT: LIBRARY FISCAL YEAR 2024 PERFORMANCE MEASURES UPDATE
Library Visits
Total library visits remain slightly less than pre -pandemic numbers. Before the pandemic, Central
Library had the highest traffic count. Central Library closed to the public in 2023, so having total
visits that are close to pre -pandemic numbers without the previous traffic of Central Library shows
that people are coming back through the doors at an increased rate throughout the city. Opening
the Clifford Crossing Library in 2024 is also helping to increase total visits. With a new Far
Northwest Library coming online in 2026 and the possibility of opening the new downtown library
in the same year, library visits are expected to exceed pre -pandemic levels in FY26 or FY27.
134M
1.DM
DAM
0.6M
DAM
0.2M
0.0M
2014
Fiscal Year to Date Total Number of Visits
066M
0.51M
2021
Fi—'.I Year
0.93NI
am
1 01 M
I, 12M
Programs Delivered
Programming has been another area of tremendous growth for FWPL. There has been increased
internal focus for the past five years on becoming a programming library where people can learn a
variety of things in person in addition to being a place that patrons can come to check out materials.
In addition to the dedicated staff that make this possible, the FWPL has numerous Programming
Partners and Community Supporters. Patrons are enjoying the variety of events they can attend at
their local libraries. Everything from traditional story times for young children to music concerts
featuring Amplify 817 artists have attracted the public. Library programming staff work hard to
create programs that represent a wide variety of topics that capture the diverse interests and needs
of the neighborhoods each location serves. This can include programming in Spanish and
Mandarin or being responsive to special needs communities.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 25-0011
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
January 14, 2025
Page 3 of 4
SUBJECT: LIBRARY FISCAL YEAR 2024 PERFORMANCE MEASURES UPDATE
The total number of programs offered to the public has grown over 800 percent since 2021.
Program attendance has also increased as more programs are offered, but at a slightly higher rate
over the same time period. Program attendance has increased 826 percent since 2021. The
Mayor's Summer Reading Challenge surged from over two million minutes read in 2023 to over
four million minutes read in 2024! The library relaunched the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
early literacy initiative in January 2024 to resounding success, signing up 1,795 families during the
year who read 113,937 books, and celebrating 47 children who completed the reading challenge.
Recently, the FWPL unveiled the `Fort Worth Fun Tracker' program to encourage residents to
participate in library programs, explore services, and experience cultural events and
activities throughout the City of Fort Worth.
Fiscal Year to Date Total Number of Programs
7.10K
4.51 K
1.10K
10.03K
202? 2023 -__-
Financial Year
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 25-0011
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
January 14, 2025
Page 4 of 4
SUBJECT: LIBRARY FISCAL YEAR 2024 PERFORMANCE MEASURES UPDATE
Fiscal Year to Date Total Program Attendance
100K
80K
4A
411
60K
40K
20K
12.11K
50.63 K
2022
Financial Year
79,82K
2023
112.69K
The Fort Worth Public Library is committed to building a community of learners, dreamers and
doers and proudly serves residents and visitors at 20 different locations across the City.
For questions, please contact Midori Clark, Director of the Fort Worth Public Library, via e-mail to
midori.clark@fortworthtexas.gov.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS