View all of the Westerville Library highlights from 2008, including our annual statistics for checked out items, visitors, event attendance and more!

1. sharing
resources Westerville
with ohio libraries Public Library
As a founding member of the SearchOhio
online offerings consortium, we link our collection to the
resources of 22 member libraries. Our
Researching and browsing in the library’s online collections borrowing from SearchOhio increased
became more rewarding this year as the number of resourc- 60% this year.
es jumped 76% -- the 25 databases grew to 44. Not only
are you able to get in touch with thousands of titles online
-- magazines, newspapers, atlases, encyclopedias, poems, OhioLINK SearchOhio
essays and more -- but you can learn a new skill with
items borrowed 8,111 items borrowed 12,587
Mango Language and research your collectibles on PriceIt!. items loaned 9,864 items loaned 19,751
little green thumbs financials
revenue expenses
To encourage children in a love of gardening
Personnel $3,120,010
and a sensitivity to the environment, the
nt, State Funds
library joined with the Westerville Garden 57.3% $3,157,579 Supplies $129,993
Club to establish a Children’s Garden at the
en
annual
library. The dedication and planting
g Materials $724,020
ceremony on May 31 led the way Local Operating Capital $678,066
to a summer of drop-in gardening 35.8% $1,976,420 Outlay
report
opportunities for families to
Contract $910,219
nurture the plants and tend Services
the soil. Fines, Interest, Misc.
Other $17,774
6.9% $379,578 Expenses
total $5,513,577 total $5,580,082
thank you 2008
We hhope you will continue to provide a steady compass as we
ill ti
move through the upcoming year, being mindful of budget re-
board members
straints, while providing the services and resources to meet
Robert Edmund John Robbins 126 South State Street
your library needs.
Michael Fultz Ming Trammel Westerville, OH 43081
Don W. Barlow, Executive Director 614.882.7277
Kay Hedges Terrence Thompson
www.westervillelibrary.org
Sonya Higginbotham

2. highlights statistics
highest usage ever customers cardholders
2008 was an extremely successful and record visitors to the library & web site registered library card users
breaking year at the library. For the first time 644,029 We said “welcome” to 12% more visi- The library serves the information needs
102,200
in the history of the Westerville Public Library, in the library tors in 2008 via our web site. eMedia of over 100,000 cardholders, in a district
library
the number of items checked out exceeded 1.15 million movies, music and audiobooks became cardholders population of 86,000 -- a 9% increase of
2 million. This library remains the fourth electronic visits downloadable from personal computers. library users this year.
busiest public library facility in Ohio, for the
eleventh consecutive year. The library trust-
ees, staff and volunteers greatly appreciate
your support and trust. library link circulation
daily delivery to westerville schools checking out library materials
birthday greetings
19,125 Every school day, this unique service This year’s unprecedented jump over
items delivered transports requested materials to the stu- 2,071,711 the 2 million mark is testimony to the
to schools dents and faculty in Westerville schools. items circulated fact that our library users have found
In honor of Westerville’s sesquicentennial year, th library
h f W t ill ’ i t i l the Their requests increase every year. the collections and services they need.
partnered with the city and community organizations to
provide more than 30 programs celebrating Westerville’s
rich heritage. Presentations featured pointers on memoir
writing, digital scrapbooking, and genealogy, and featured programs resources
Westerville in times of national prominence brought by the
temperance movement and the lyrical talents of “Up on the library events & commmunity meetings books, movies, music, magazines & more
Housetop” composer Benjamin Hanby.
1,570 Program fans are monitoring our calendar To fill your requests, we leased 2,419 cop-
library programs of events, then conveniently registering 329,982 ies of your favorite titles this year. Book
1,145 online. Room reservations increased 50% materials owned leasing helped meet the 10% increase in
community meetings through the introduction of online booking. requests this year.
a fresh look
Colorful carpet squares bearing an A-B-C motif, new
window treatments and a bright coat of paint gave a outreach
revitalized appearance to the children’s Activity Center.
delivery to senior facilities, homebound &
The Friends of the Library further enhanced the renovation
preschools
by sponsoring child-height tables and chairs.
5,810 Residents look forward to handpicked
customers served book selections, reading prizes during
the summer program and a chance to
425 delivery trips enjoy lunch with Outreach.