EXECUTIVESUMMARY
Thelibrary’snewstrategicplanorganizesourprioritiesaroundthreebigideas:
ReachOutandWelcomeAll–whereourfocusisoncultivatingwelcoming spacesandonpartnerships,engagement,andcommunication.
Empower,Include,andInnovate–wherewedirectourefforttowards connectingthecommunitytoevolvingtechnologiesandservices,andon buildingbelongingwithourcollectionsandprograms.
NurtureaThrivingOrganization–becauseagrowth-orientedand meaningfulworkenvironmenthelpsstaffservethecommunitybetter.
Ourbiggestinitiatives–renovations,accessibilitysolutions,partnerships,teen services,staffengagement–allalignwithandsupportthosebigideas.And thoseideasallcamefromourcommunity,articulatedinfocusgroups, surveys,andyearsofdirectcommunicationwithstaff,board,and administration.
Wemeasureoursuccessbythewaysthatourcommunityengageswithus–throughprogramattendance,libraryvisits,materialsborrowed,andcomputer use– becausewhenweservethecommunity,thelibrarybecomespartof theirstory.
EvenwithrenovationslimitingservicesatEola RoadBranch,ourbusiestlocationbynearly everymeasure,libraryuseiseverybitas strongaslastyear.Asweworkthroughthese bigprojectsatEolaRoadBranchandthenat WestBranch,we’llkeepworkingandinnovating sothatwecancontinuetosupportandinspire ourdiversecommunitythroughaccesstofun andinformativeresourcesandexperiences.
MichaelaHaberkern, ExecutiveDirector
HIGHLIGHTS
ReachOutandWelcomeAll
MyFirstLibraryCard
Inanefforttogrowlifelonglibraryusersandtoengage ouryoungestcustomers,thelibrarylaunchedMyFirst LibraryCardinSeptember2024.Withresourcestailored toparentsandgiveawaysappealingtochildren,this procedureisnowamemorablemoment.Sinceits inceptionlibrarycardsforthisagegrouphasincreased by20%withatotalof467librarycardsforages0-5!
TeenEngagement
TheteenpopulationatAPLD(ages11–18)canbedifficulttoreachthrough traditionalin-branchprogramming,sothisyearweshiftedourfocusfrom library-basedeventstoproactiveschooloutreach.Schoolvisitscreate opportunitiestoconnectwithteachers,parents,andstudentsdirectly meetingteenswheretheyare.Thisresultedin2,432studentinteractionsin FY2025versus1,341studentsinteractionsinFY2024(an83%increase).
EolaRoadBranchRenovation
RenovationsatEolaRoadBranchbegan inFebruary2024,andcustomerscontinuedto visitandmakeuseoflibraryservices, showingtheirstrongconnectiontothe branch.Thelibraryalsokeptthecommunity engagedbyhostingmeetingswhere updateswereshared,givingcustomers theopportunitytostayinformedandask questions.Newsandupdateswerealso madeavailableviaarenovationpageviaourwebsite,socialmediaand emails.Therenovationpagealonehad4,156views. Thisongoing involvementhelpedensuretherenovationreflectedasenseofbelonging toallofitsusers.
HIGHLIGHTS
ReachOutandWelcomeAll
Makingthelibraryaccessibletoall
Thelibrarycontinuestoprioritizeaccessibilityand equitytomeetthediverseneedsofourcommunity. ThroughBoostlingo,anon-demandinterpreting service,visitorscanaccessprofessionalinterpreters inrealtime,breakingdownlanguagebarriers.For individualswithmobilitychallenges,mobiledevices suchasscootersareavailable,allowingthemto navigatethelibraryindependently.Forcustomerswith hearingimpairmentsthelibraryofferssound amplifiersateventsandtheinnovativeRightHearapp whichprovidesaudiowayfindingservicesatSantori Library.Forthosewhobenefitfromreducedsensory, sensorybinsareavailableateverylocation.Beyond assistivetechnologies,thelibraryhasalsoenriched itsLibraryofThingscollectionwithitemsdesignedto enhancecomfortandaccessibility,includingnoisecancellingheadphones.Together,theseresources helpmakethelibraryaspacewhereeveryonefeels included,supported,andempoweredtofullyengage.
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.
HIGHLIGHTS
Empower,Include,andInnovate
CourtSupport
InpartnershipwiththeIllinoisSecretaryofState,theIllinoisSupremeCourt CommissiononAccesstoJustice,andtheChicagoBarFoundation,APLD pilotedtheCourtSupportprogram. Theprogram’sgoalistomakeaccess tolegalinformationandassistancemoreeasilyaccessibletopeople withoutlawyersandwithlimitedresources.TheAuroraPublicLibraryDistrict isoneof18librariesacrossthestateofIllinoisparticipatingintheprogram andoffersassistancewithfindingandfillingcourtdocuments,attending courthearingsviaZoom,andfindinggeneralinformationaboutcourtrules andprocedures.Sinceitsinception,54customershavereceivedassistance andimprovedaccesstothecourtsystem.
CommunityPartnerships
Eachmonth,thelibrarycollaborateswith AuroraBusinessUnited,wherelocal businessesgatherforprofessional developmentandnetworkingopportunities.
ThroughapartnershipwiththeKaneCounty LawLibrary&SelfHelpLegalCenter,the libraryalsoofferstheLawyersintheLibrary series,providingfree,walk-inlegalassistance withtwo volunteerattorneys,availablein15-minute sessions.Inaddition,thelibrary’s collaborationwithSciTechhasbrought curatedSTEMkitstoourcollection,giving customershands-onopportunitiestoexplore science,technology,engineering,andmath. ThroughtheSTEMIgnitionprogram, supportedbytheWongFoundation,the librarycollectivelydelivered13hands-on STEMworkshopsandanactivityfor elementarystudents
HIGHLIGHTS
NurtureaThrivingOrganization
EmployeeEngagementSurvey
Infall2024,thelibraryconductedastaffengagementsurveytobetter understandemployeeexperiencesandgatherfeedbackfor improvement.Resultsweresharedinearly2025reflectinganoverall scoreof4.93/6fromAPLDemployees.Managersreviewedfindingsand discussednextsteps.Inthespring, APLDactivelybeganimplementing changesbasedonstaffinput,includingimprovementstosafety, communication,andtheemployeecheck-inprocess.Atthedepartment level,managersareaddressingmorespecificconcernstailoredtotheir teams.Thelibraryplanstoadministerthesurveyagaininspring2026to measureprogressandcompareresults.
Celebrations
InJune2025theAuroraPublicLibraryDistrictwasselectedastherecipient oftheKaneCountyBarAssociation’s(KCBA)prestigiousLibertyBellAward atthe2025KCBAAnnualDinner.Thisnationallyrecognizedawardis bestowedonanon-attorneyindividualorcommunityorganizationwho haspromotedabetterunderstandingof respectforthelawandthecourts,whost ofcivicresponsibility,andwhocontribute community.
ThreeAPLDstaffmemberswererecognize withthe2025ALASpectrumScholarsbyt AmericanLibraryAssociation.This prestigiousnationalhonorsupportsthe advancementofdiversityinthelibrary professionthroughscholarshipsand professionaldevelopment.Therecipients MarianaGuerrero,ShaheenKapambwe andZeelParikh werechosenfortheir commitmenttoequitableaccess, communityengagement,andleadership libraryservices.Eachwillreceivea scholarshiptosupporttheirgraduate studiesinlibraryandinformationscience
STATISTICS
ItemsCirculated:902,162
CollectionSize:366,338items
e-MaterialsCirculated:405,148
e-materialsCollectionsize:121,445
TotalattendeesatAPLDprogramsandevents:59,017 Programsoffered:2,642
1,250programsatSantoriLibrarywith26,193inattendance. 548programsatEolaRoadBranchwith9,484inattendance. 342programsatWestBranchwith2,854inattendance. 452programsoffsitewith20,245inattendance. 50LiveVirtualProgramswith241inattendance.
Totalvisitors:621,497
247,180EolaRoadBranch.284,243SantoriLibrary.74,177WestBranch. 15,897Bookmobile.
Newlibrarycards:7,701
StudyRoomReservations:16,126
11,525SantoriLibrary.2,648EolaRoadBranch.1,953WestBranch.
MeetingRoomReservations:625
489SantoriLibrary.63EolaRoadBranch.73WestBranch. 343HomeDeliverieswith6,206itemsdelivered.
NotaryAppointments:1,124.That’sa62%increase. 196SantoriLibrary.870EolaRoadBranch.55WestBranch.3Outreach. CurbsidePickups:439.That’sa17%decrease.767SantoriLibrary.361Eola RoadBranch.78WestBranch.
QuestionsAnswered:89,301.39,310SantoriLibrary.35,658EolaRoad Branch.10,347WestBranch.3,986Outreach.
WebsiteVisitors:243,000.WebsiteVisits:725,000
Questionssubmittedviawebsite:543
Chats:1,802
ViewstoourFAQ:1220
EnglishFaceboo
EnglishInstagram
SpanishFaceboo
SpanishInstagra
YouTubeSubscri
FOUNDATION
AutumnToast
TheAutumnToastwasaheartfeltthankstothevalueddonorswhosupport thelibrary’sFoundation.Guestsenjoyedanautumn souptastingwithwinepairingandviewedthe excitingplansfortheEolaRoadBranchrenovations. TheFoundationextendsourdeepestgratitudeand looksforwardtocontinuingthisjourneytogether.
WinterGala
HeldonDecember7th,2024atSociety 57 thegalaofferedaneveningof eleganceandentertainmentwiththetheme “WeBelieve”.Guestsenjoyedafeastprovided byReuland’sCateringandlivejazzbyYokoNoge& TheJazzMeBlues.Theeventwasattended by175librarysupportersandraisedover$50,000.Proceedssupportthe library'sbranchrenovationenrichmentprojects,enhancingfacilitiesand servicesforthecommunity.
ThegalahonoredAldermanBillDonnellwiththeThomasJ.WeisnerExcellencein EducationalCollaborationAwardandMr.andMrs.MarkandPamTruemperwere honoredwiththeRichardandGinaSantoriLifelongLearningInspirationAward. KellyMcClearywasposthumouslyawardedtheKellyMcClearyCommunityService Award,inhonorofherlifeandwork,especiallyherservicetotheAuroraPublic LibraryFoundation.
AuroraPublicLibraryFoundationAwardsGrantsfor2025
Over$38,000ingrantswereawardedtotheAuroraPublicLibraryDistrictincluding:
Rory’sReadingAdventureKits:books,games,andactivities, fosteringearlyliteracyandacademicsuccess
100BooksBeforeHighSchool:encouragingmiddleschool studentstoread100bookswithincentivesformilestones
MicrofilmDigitizationProject:digitizeshistoricaldocuments topreserveAurora'shistory
LightofLearning:ScholarshipsprovidefamiliesintheAurora Townshipwithlibrarycards
APLFoundationrenewsboardtermsandwelcomes2newBoardMembers
TheAuroraPublicLibraryFoundationrenewedthetermsof3boardmembers:Karen Nicholas,ChristopherBennettandNicoleBenziger.
TheFoundationBoardwelcomedtwonewmembers:PhyllisCrittenden–EditorfortheJoint CommissionforathreeyeartermandMarciaSmithBrown–FinanceManagerforthe ArchdioceseofChicagoforaoneyearterm
FromJuly1,2024-June30,2025,greaterthan$250,000werereceived incharitablegivingandin-kinddonations.
FOUNDATION
25thYearAnniversaryKickoffCelebration
InJanuary,theAuroraPublicLibraryFoundationlaunchedits25thanniversary,markinga significantmilestoneinenhancingcommunityaccesstoknowledgeandresourcesovera quarter-century.ThecelebrationkickedoffwithavibranteventatFebruary’sFirstFridayat theSantoriLibrary,featuringRorytheFoxandabriefprogramthathighlightedthe Foundation'sjourney.
Theanniversaryyearfocuseson3mainareas:honoringthepast,celebratingthepresent, andcreatingthefuture.Tohonorthepast,thefoundationrecognizestheindividualsand programsthathaveshapedthelibraryintoavitalcommunityresource.Incelebratingthe present,theAPLFengageswithongoinginitiativessuchastheLightofLearning Scholarships,whichprovidefamiliesinAuroraTownshipwithlibrarycards,andthenew Rory’sReadersAdventureKits,whichprovidebilingualbooksandresources forfamilies.
Lookingtothefuture,APLFisfosteringinnovativeprojectslikebranchrenovationsto modernizelibraryspacesandenrichmentprojectsthatincludelowsensoryspacesand Makerspaces.Joinusaswecontinuetocelebrateourhistory,engagingwithcurrent effortsin2025,andcontributingtoabrightfutureforthelibrary.
TheAuroraPublicLibraryFoundationcelebratedits25thanniversarywithtwofundraisers thatbroughtthecommunitytogetherandsupportedthelibrary'smission.
Thiswasthe3rdyearpartneringwiththeWyckwoodHouseofAuroraforShopfora Cause.Thisyear,APLFhonoredthelifeandlegacyofboardmember,DeeNilaBasile.The eventfeaturedafashionshow,rafflesfromDee’sfavoriteplacesinAurora,asignature cocktailnamedafterherheritageandasmallparadeofnationswhichshewasa foundingmemberof.Theeventwasattendedbyover75guestsandraisedover$4,000.
TheFoundationalsohostedaCommunityWalk fundraiserontheWaubonseeLakeTrailnearthe EolaRoadBranch.Theeventwasattendedbyover 150familiesandindividualseagertoseeongoing renovationsatEolaRoadBranchandlearnmore abouttheworkoftheFoundation.Attendees receivedat-shirtandgoodiebagforregistering early.Throughoutthewalk,communitymembers wereabletoengagewithRorytheFox,akids scavengerhunt,educationaboutthefoundations workinour25yearsofserviceandplayfrisbeegolf. Theeventraisedover$7,500.
AsofJune30,2025,theAuroraPublicLibraryFoundation SantoriFundwasgreaterthan$4.8million.
