The Westerville Public Library 2007 Annual Report summarizes the library's accomplishments for the year. Key highlights include: 1) Voters approved a replacement levy in August 2007 by 78% to provide 30% of the library's funding. 2) The library saw increases in circulation, visitors, cardholders, and program attendance. Energy usage was reduced by switching servers and installing efficient lighting. 3) Outreach services expanded through increased home deliveries, facility visits, and daily school deliveries which rose 10.75%. Partnerships with other Ohio libraries provided access to over 13 million items. 4) Financially, the library operated on a $5.3 million budget from state

1. ::: By the numbers ::: What was new ::: Community support
2007
Westerville Annual
Public Report
Library 126 South State Street
Westerville, OH 43081
(614) 882-7277
www.westervillelibrary.org

2. ::: Levy “YES” loud and clear ::: Harry Potter #7 festivities
Highlights Levy success
by Director Don W. Barlow
2007 was filled with accomplishments, challenges
and a resounding “Yes” from an involved and sup-
portive community. We also renewed our enviromen-
tal efforts. It was a busy year!
Thank you!
The year 2007 was a critical year for library fund-
ing. The 5-year operating levy passed in 2002 by Counting the
residents was set to expire at year-end, and it repre- votes and smiles
sented 30% of revenue for the Library. To meet this
crucial need, the Board of Trustees passed a resolu- The dedication of levy committee Levy workers gathered at the
tion to seek voter approval for the replacement of members, residents, local business Library to tabulate the votes and
owners, civic organization participants, to celebrate.
that 0.8-mill levy.
and many Westerville community rep-
Thanks to a hard-working committee and volun-
resentatives provided the support
teers, the importance of the levy was made clear to
Potter
needed for the success of the August
the community. On August 7 residents voted over- 7 replacement levy.
whelmingly in favor of the replacement levy, approv- T-shirts and yard signs carried the
ing it by a 78% margin.
With dedication and gratitude, we moved forward
blue and white request to “Support
Our Library.”
fun
in 2007 to prepare for the implementation and fulfill-
ment of the promises to our community.
Midnight
Going green party for
This year the Library made strides in conserving Deathly
energy by being mindful of the three R’s: Reduce,
Hallows
Reuse and Recycle. In addition to recycling plastic
book bags, we welcomed increased numbers of used The long-awaited Harry
toner cartridges and cell phones for recycling. Potter and the Deathly
In June, the computer automation system Hallows hit the shelves at mid-
switched to an upgraded server. As a result, the night on July 20.
Hundreds gathered at the
power usage in the computer operations room
Library to celebrate with three
dropped nearly 20%.
hours of scavenger hunts, jelly
Installation of compact fluorescent lights started in bean guessing, wizard hat
the local history center, and moved to the the meet- making, movies, snacks, and
ing rooms and light fixtures throughout the facility. more!

3. ::: By the numbers ::: What was new ::: Talk about the Library
Total for
Statistics the Year
Story behind
the Numbers
Cardholders 93,612 Our Library district serves
persons a population of 86,000 persons
Registered hold WPL -- and over 93,000 cardhold-
Library Card library cards
ers! That number represents a
12% increase over 2006.
Users
643,074 visitors What do vistors use at the
Customers Library? To serve ever-
in the Library
Visitors increasing requests by visitors
for computers, we placed ten
to the 1.02 million visited new laptops in the Youth area.
Library Library electronically Popular decision!
Circulation
This Library continues to be
Checking Out 1,990,245
the fourth busiest public library
items
Library circulated
facility in Ohio. Circulation
increased 6.52% this year.
Materials
Resources It’s our top priority to order
the items most frequently
Bo oks, Movies, 336,717 requested. We increased our
Music, print & non-print audio books on CD by 19%
Magazines & materials owned this year. Have you listened
More to a good book lately?
Programs Library presented More than 53,000 atten-
dees came to programs at the
Library Events 1,752 programs
Library this year.
Our valuable meeting room
Community 759
space held 29% more gather-
Meetings meetings held here ings this year than in 2006.
“I never knew a library could be this much fun.”
overheard at a Dance Dance Revolution tournament

4. ::: Reaching out ::: Financials ::: The Library rules!
In collaboration Outreach
Services
Delivery to residents in senior facilities, in home- 5,519
bound residences & at area preschools increased 2-5% in 2007 Outreach customers served Library
Link
Movies
411 delivery trips Daily delivery
to facilities and prescho ols to scho ols
18,199 items
Music and Books
Visited 354 increase of
Audio Books homebound residences 10.75%
with Ohio libraries 2007 Financials
Beginning in April 2005 the Library increased access to
books and other materials tenfold through partnership in the Revenue Expenses
Ohio Library and Information Network, OhioLINK. In 2006, the
Library built upon that relationship by spearheading the State Funds $3,217,674 Personnel $2,909,383
Search Ohio consortium of 7public libraries sharing 7 million
60.3% Supplies 137,283
items. This year three more libraries joined, linking their collec-
tions and providing richer resources for our community. The
Materials 699,522
2007 usage shows the popularity of these joint services. Local Operating 1,599,881
30.0% Capital Outlay 606,625
OhioLINK Search Ohio
Contract Services 896, 00
1
Items borrowed: Items borrowed: Fines, Interest, Misc. 516,452
6, 23
4 7,865 9.7% Other Expenses 16,796
Items loaned: Items loaned:
11,
173 15,694 TOTAL $5,334,007 TOTAL $5,265,709
The Library is a Board of Trustees
great place. I will
work here some Robert Edmund Jay Huling
day I love it so Michael Fultz John Robbins
much. The Library
rules!
Kay Hedges Terrence Thompson
from a
Sonya Higginbotham
comment sheet