Thelibrary’snewstrategicplanorganizesourprioritiesaround threebigideas:
ReachOutandWelcomeAll–whereourfocusison cultivatingwelcomingspacesandonpartnerships, engagement,andcommunication.
Empower,Include,andInnovate–wherewedirectoureffort towardsconnectingthecommunitytoevolving technologiesandservices,andonbuildingbelongingwith ourcollectionsandprograms.
NurtureaThrivingOrganization–becauseagrowthorientedandmeaningfulworkenvironmenthelpsstaff servethecommunitybetter.
Ourbiggestinitiatives–renovations,accessibilitysolutions, partnerships,teenservices,staffengagement–allalignwith andsupportthosebigideas.Andthoseideasallcamefrom ourcommunity,articulatedinfocusgroups,surveys,andyears ofdirectcommunicationwithstaff,board,andadministration.
Wemeasureoursuccessbythewaysthatourcommunity engageswithus–throughprogramattendance,libraryvisits, materialsborrowed,andcomputeruse– becausewhenwe E X E C U T I V E S U M M A R Y servethecommunity,thelibrarybecomespartoftheirstory.
EvenwithrenovationslimitingservicesatEolaRoadBranch,our busiestlocationbynearlyeverymeasure,libraryuseiseverybit asstrongaslastyear.Aswework throughthesebigprojectsatEolaRoad BranchandthenatWestBranch,we’llkeep workingandinnovatingsothatwecan continuetosupportandinspireourdiverse community throughaccesstofunand informativeresourcesandexperiences.
MichaelaHaberkern, ExecutiveDirector
ReachOutandWelcomeAll
MyFirstLibraryCard
Inanefforttogrowlifelonglibraryusers andtoengageouryoungestcustomers, thelibrarylaunchedMyFirstLibraryCardin September2024.Withresourcestailoredto parentsandgiveawaysappealingto children,thisprocedureisnowa memorablemoment.Sinceitsinception librarycardsforthisagegrouphas increasedby20%withatotalof467library cardsforages0-5!
TeenEngagement
TheteenpopulationatAPLD(ages11–18)canbedifficulttoreach throughtraditionalin-branchprogramming,sothisyearwe shiftedourfocusfromlibrary-basedeventstoproactiveschool outreach.Schoolvisitscreateopportunitiestoconnectwith teachers,parents,andstudentsdirectly meetingteenswhere theyare.Thisresultedin2,432studentinteractionsinFY2025 versus1,341studentsinteractionsinFY2024(an83%increase).
EolaRoadBranchRenovation
RenovationsatEolaRoadBranchbegan inFebruary2024,andcustomerscontinuedto visitandmakeuseoflibraryservices, showingtheirstrongconnectiontothe branch.Thelibraryalsokeptthecommunity engagedbyhostingmeetingswhere updateswereshared,givingcustomers theopportunitytostayinformedandask questions.Newsandupdateswerealso madeavailableviaarenovationpageviaourwebsite,socialmediaand emails.Therenovationpagealonehad4,156views. Thisongoing involvementhelpedensuretherenovationreflectedasenseofbelonging toallofitsusers.
Makingthelibraryaccessibletoall
H I G H L I G H T S ReachOutandWelcomeAll
Thelibrarycontinuestoprioritizeaccessibilityandequityto meetthediverseneedsofourcommunity.ThroughBoostlingo, anon-demandinterpretingservice,visitorscanaccess professionalinterpretersinrealtime,breakingdownlanguage barriers.Forindividualswithmobilitychallenges,mobiledevices suchasscootersareavailable,allowingthemtonavigatethe libraryindependently.Forcustomerswithhearingimpairments thelibraryofferssoundamplifiersat eventsandtheinnovativeRightHear appwhichprovidesaudiowayfinding servicesatSantoriLibrary.Forthose whobenefitfromreducedsensory, sensorybinsareavailableatevery location.Beyondassistivetechnologies,the libraryhasalsoenricheditsLibraryofThings collectionwithitemsdesignedtoenhance comfortandaccessibility,includingnoisecancellingheadphones.Together,these resourceshelpmakethelibraryaspacewhere everyonefeelsincluded,supported,and empoweredtofullyengage.
Provideasafeandsecurelibrary
Thelibraryhasstrengtheneditscommitmenttosafetythrough severalpivotalimprovements.Threenewprocedureswere implementedtoenhancesecurityprotocols:unattendedpossessionsare nolongerpermitted,laundromatpre-payvouchersareprovidedto customerswithbelongingscarryingdisruptiveodors,andsecurity guardsnowmaintainaformalcheck-inlog.Inaddition,ourpolicieswere revisedtoincludeanosleepingprovisioninordertohelpensureasafe andwelcomingenvironmentforallvisitors.Theseinitiativeswere informedbycustomerfeedbackandstaffengagementsurveyresults, whichidentifiedsafetyasakeyareaoffocus.Tofurtherreinforcethese efforts,thelibraryhiredanewsecurityfirmtoprovideprofessional expertiseandastrongeron-sitepresence.InpartnershipwiththeKane CountyHealthDepartment,aNarcandispenserwasalsoinstalled, offeringacriticalharm-reductionresourcethatsupportscommunity healthandsafety.
Empower,Include,andInnovate
CourtSupport
InpartnershipwiththeIllinoisSecretaryofState,theIllinois SupremeCourtCommissiononAccesstoJustice,andthe ChicagoBarFoundation,APLDpilotedtheCourtSupport program. Theprogram’sgoalistomakeaccesstolegal informationandassistancemoreeasilyaccessibletopeople withoutlawyersandwithlimitedresources.TheAuroraPublic LibraryDistrictisoneof18librariesacrossthestateofIllinois participatingintheprogramandoffersassistancewithfinding andfillingcourtdocuments,attendingcourthearingsviaZoom, andfindinggeneralinformationaboutcourtrulesand procedures.Sinceitsinception,54customershavereceived assistanceandimprovedaccesstothecourtsystem.
CommunityPartnerships
H I G H L I G H T S
Eachmonth,thelibrarycollaborates withAuroraBusinessUnited,where localbusinessesgatherfor professionaldevelopmentand networkingopportunities.Througha partnershipwiththeKaneCounty LawLibrary&SelfHelpLegalCenter, thelibraryalsoofferstheLawyersin theLibraryseries,providingfree, walk-inlegalassistancewithtwo volunteerattorneys,availablein
15-minutesessions.Inaddition,thelibrary’scollaborationwithSciTech hasbroughtcuratedSTEMkitstoourcollection,givingcustomers hands-onopportunitiestoexplorescience,technology,engineering, andmath.ThroughtheSTEMIgnitionprogram,supportedbytheWong Foundation,thelibrarycollectivelydelivered13hands-onSTEM workshopsandanactivityforelementarystudents
NurtureaThrivingOrganization
EmployeeEngagementSurvey
Infall2024,thelibraryconductedastaffengagementsurvey tobetterunderstandemployeeexperiencesandgather feedbackforimprovement.Resultsweresharedinearly2025 reflectinganoverallscoreof4.93/6fromAPLDemployees. Managersreviewedfindingsanddiscussednextsteps.Inthe spring, APLDactivelybeganimplementingchangesbasedon staffinput,includingimprovementstosafety,communication, andtheemployeecheck-inprocess.Atthedepartmentlevel, managersareaddressingmorespecificconcernstailoredto theirteams.Thelibraryplanstoadministerthesurveyagain inspring2026tomeasureprogressandcompareresults.
Celebrations
InJune2025theAuroraPublicLibraryDistrictwasselectedasthe recipientoftheKaneCountyBarAssociation’s(KCBA)prestigious LibertyBellAwardatthe2025KCBAAn recognizedawardisbestowedonan communityorganizationwhohaspro ofthelaw,encouragedagreaterresp whostimulatesasense ofcivicresponsibility,andwhocontrib togoodgovernmentwithinthecomm
ThreeAPLDstaffmemberswererecog withthe2025ALASpectrumScholars AmericanLibraryAssociation.This prestigiousnationalhonorsupportsth advancementofdiversityinthelibrar professionthroughscholarshipsand professionaldevelopment.Therecipie —MarianaGuerrero,ShaheenKapam andZeelParikh werechosenforthe commitmenttoequitableaccess, communityengagement,andleader receiveascholarshiptosupporttheir informationscience.
H I G H L I G H T S
902,162
I T E M S C I R C U L A T E D
366,338itemsCollectionSize
405,148e-MaterialsCirculated
121,445e-materialsCollectionsize
59,017
totalattendeesatAPLDprogramsandevents
2,642programsoffered
1,250programsatSantoriLibrarywith26,193inattendance
548programsatEolaRoadBranchwith9,484inattendance
342programsatWestBranchwith2,854inattendance
452programsoffsitewith20,245inattendance
50LiveVirtualProgramswith241inattendance
621,497
S T A T I S T I C S
7,701 Visitors Santori Library 284,243 EolaRoad Branch 247,180 West Branch 74,177 Bookmobile 15,897
Newlibrarycards
16,126
StudyRoomReservations
11,525 SantoriLibrary, 2,648Eola RoadBranch,1,953WestBranch
1,124
NotaryAppointments | 62%increase
625
MeetingRoomReservations
489SantoriLibrary,63EolaRoadBranch,73WestBranch
343
HomeDeliverieswith6,206itemsdelivered
196SantoriLibrary,870EolaRoadBranch,55WestBranch,3Outreach
439
CurbsidePickups | 17%decrease
767SantoriLibrary,361 EolaRoadBranch,78WestBranch
89,301 QuestionsAnswered
39,310SantoriLibrary, 35,658EolaRoadBranch,10,347WestBranch, 3,986 Outreach
243,000 WebsiteVisitors
725,000 WebsiteVisits
1,220 ViewstoourFAQ 543 Questionssubmittedviawebsite
1,802 Chats
English
6 878
S T A T I S T I C S
Spanish
AutumnToast
TheAutumnToastwasaheartfeltthankstothevalueddonorswhosupport thelibrary’sFoundation.Guestsenjoyedanautumn souptastingwithwinepairingand viewedtheexcitingplansfortheEola RoadBranchrenovations.The Foundationextendsour deepestgratitudeandlooksforwardto continuingthisjourneytogether.
WinterGala
HeldonDecember7th,2024atSociety
57 thegalaofferedaneveningof eleganceandentertainmentwiththe theme“WeBelieve”.GuestsenjoyedafeastprovidedbyReuland’sCatering andlivejazzbyYokoNoge&TheJazzMeBlues.Theeventwasattended by175librarysupportersandraisedover$50,000.Proceedssupportthe library'sbranchrenovationenrichmentprojects,enhancingfacilitiesand servicesforthecommunity.
F O U N D A T I O N
ThegalahonoredAldermanBillDonnellwiththeThomasJ.WeisnerExcellencein EducationalCollaborationAwardandMr.andMrs.MarkandPamTruemperwere honoredwiththeRichardandGinaSantoriLifelongLearningInspirationAward. KellyMcClearywasposthumouslyawardedtheKellyMcClearyCommunityService Award,inhonorofherlifeandwork,especiallyherservicetotheAuroraPublic LibraryFoundation.
AuroraPublicLibraryFoundationAwardsGrantsfor2025
Over$38,000ingrantswereawardedtotheAuroraPublicLibraryDistrictincluding:
Rory’sReadingAdventureKits:books,games,and activities,fosteringearlyliteracyandacademic success
100BooksBeforeHighSchool:encouraging middleschoolstudentstoread100bookswith incentivesformilestones
MicrofilmDigitizationProject:digitizeshistorical documentstopreserveAurora'shistory LightofLearningScholarshipsprovidefamiliesin theAuroraTownshipwithlibrarycards
APLFoundationrenewsboardtermsandwelcomes2newBoardMembers
TheAuroraPublicLibraryFoundationrenewedthetermsof3boardmembers:Karen Nicholas,ChristopherBennettandNicoleBenziger.
TheFoundationBoardwelcomedtwonewmembers:PhyllisCrittenden–Editorforthe JointCommissionforathreeyeartermandMarciaSmithBrown–FinanceManager fortheArchdioceseofChicagoforaoneyearterm
FromJuly1,2024-June30,2025,greaterthan$250,000werereceived incharitablegivingandin-kinddonations.
25thYearAnniversaryKickoffCelebration
InJanuary,theAuroraPublicLibraryFoundationlaunchedits25th anniversary,markingasignificantmilestoneinenhancingcommunity accesstoknowledgeandresourcesoveraquarter-century Thecelebration kickedoffwithavibranteventatFebruary’sFirstFridayattheSantoriLibrary, featuringRorytheFoxandabriefprogramthathighlightedtheFoundation's journey
Theanniversaryyearfocuseson3mainareas: honoringthepast,celebratingthepresent,and creatingthefuture Tohonorthepast,the foundationrecognizestheindividualsandprogramsthathaveshapedthe libraryintoavitalcommunityresource.Incelebratingthepresent,theAPLF engageswithongoinginitiativessuchastheLightofLearningScholarships, whichprovidefamiliesinAuroraTownshipwithlibrarycards,andthenew Rory’sReadersAdventureKits,whichprovidebilingualbooksandresources forfamilies.
F O U N D A T I O N
Lookingtothefuture,APLFisfosteringinnovativeprojectslikebranch renovationstomodernizelibraryspacesandenrichmentprojectsthatincludelow sensoryspacesandMakerspaces.Joinusaswecontinuetocelebrateourhistory, engagingwithcurrenteffortsin2025,andcontributingtoabrightfutureforthe library.
TheAuroraPublicLibraryFoundationcelebratedits25thanniversarywithtwo fundraisersthatbroughtthecommunitytogetherandsupportedthelibrary's mission.
Thiswasthe3rdyearpartneringwiththeWyckwoodHouseofAuroraforShopfora Cause.Thisyear,APLFhonoredthelifeandlegacyofboardmember,DeeNila Basile.Theeventfeaturedafashionshow,rafflesfromDee’sfavoriteplacesin Aurora,asignaturecocktailnamedafterherheritageandasmallparadeof nationswhichshewasafoundingmemberof.Theeventwasattendedbyover75 guestsandraisedover$4,000.
TheFoundationalsohostedaCommunityWalk fundraiserontheWaubonseeLakeTrailneartheEola RoadBranch.Theeventwasattendedbyover150 familiesandindividualseagertosee ongoing renovationsatEolaRoadBranchandlearnmore abouttheworkoftheFoundation.Attendeesreceived at-shirtandgoodiebagforregisteringearly. Throughoutthewalk,communitymemberswereable toengagewithRorytheFox,akidsscavengerhunt, educationaboutthefoundationsworkinour25years ofserviceandplayfrisbeegolf.Theeventraisedover$7,500.
AsofJune30,2025,theAuroraPublicLibraryFoundation SantoriFundwasgreaterthan$4.8million.
