2024 Annual Report

ROCK ISLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY

2024

ANNUAL OUTCOMES REPORT

Mission: The Rock Island Public Library makes our community stronger by freely connecting people to resources and each other.

Begin Here.

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Library projects

In 2024

TREES

Transformative * Relevant * Equitable * Engaged * Sustainable

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Total services used = 857,833

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developed our 2025-30 strategic plan:

A GREAT RETURN!

Featured history

Marked National Library Week in April by installing a QC Pastports history sign at the Downtown Library.

Value of library services =

$5,610,368 Saving our community

$2,735,491

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Celebrated 50 years at Southwest

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Partnered with RIFD to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Southwest Branch & Fire Station #2 on Sept. 25, 1974!

Project Next Generation grant funded science & art for teens.

Mental Health Programs & Comfort Carts

In partnership with the City of Rock Island, started the ARPA-funded 3-year project to raise mental health awareness.

Quote from SW anniversary banner

Comfort Cart roll out High School

5 Card

partnership

In a pilot project with RIMSD#41, we registered 168 freshmen for high school student eCards, giving access to homework help!

FACILITIES 2024 capital projects included 10-year stone stabilization work on the exterior of our Downtown Library and preparation for a 2025 bathroom project.

Trees replaced at our Southwest Branch, just in time for the 50th anniversary!

STAFF 2024 promotions: Susan Young (Circulation), to Southwest Branch Manager.

Sue also manages Library2Go bookmobile routes, including special stops 2x/month for Rock Island Academy classes.

August All-Staff Development Day. The Downtown, Southwest, Watts-Midtown Branch, Library2Go, and online “branch” faces that make library services possible! Not all staff present for photo.

RIPL Youth Services Librarian Emily Tobin was named as a 40 under 40 award honoree by the Quad City Business Journal in Sept. 2024.

COLLECTIONS & RESOURCES Physical materials owned: 160,504

New digital services in 2024:

Physical Materials Circulated: 148,139

+ 32% increase in inhouse use!

E-Materials Circulated: 123,477

EContent platforms: 8 Card drives, grant-funded billboards, and mailings raised awareness of library cards & services.

Library of Things checkouts: 505

Library card sign-ups increased by 12%!

Total circulation: 271,616 (up 2%)

Almost 3,700 solar eclipse viewers supplied to Rock Island patrons, agencies, & schools!

Community Comforts Drive generated 1,400 donations for the Rocky Resource Room & Heart of Hope pantry (right.)

250 + hotspot checkouts per month, on average.

Did you know?

Library staff deliver about 150 items each month to 50 homebound patrons living at home & in assisted/group housing.

4,363 packets distributed!

FREE PROGRAMS: FUN & LEARNING

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677,086 total

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s on-site Programs 739 - UP BY 17%

Off-site Programs 249 schools, daycares, camps Program attendees 59,883 Onsite, offsite, and virtual

Volunteer Hours = 201

“The adult craft programs are fun, fun, fun! Thank you for a great service.”

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Print Circulation

116,578

remains Steady

Electronic Circulation Rock Island Rotary grants funded STEAM kit collections and sensory stations.

Foundation PALS (People Advocating for Library Services) book sales raised more than $7,000.

123,477

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digital content OnlinE Resources

88,680

102

databases & research

Reference Help

37,166

Mark and Kim Mayeski honored Mark’s late parents with a gift to create the “John & Fran Mayeski Reading Garden” at the RIPL Watts-Midtown Branch.

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We partnered with Total Patron the Rock Island Parks & Recreation Contacts: 249,974 Department to host the 2nd Annual Lighted Lantern Walk. RIP&R also Onsite patron visits: Up 11% donated golf clubs and suggested sports equipment for the Library of Things.

OFFSITE OPPORTUNITIES 2024 outreach at offsite locations brought library information, reading, & fun to more than 10,000!

Financial Stewardship

2024 LIBRARY REVENUE $3,036,780 LIBRARY EXPENDITURES Operational

$2,807,777 Capital

$67,100

Exterior Restoration

The library carefully manages its tax-supported budget. Operational costs and capital projects are affected by inflation, requiring additional funds each year to preserve our resources, staff, and facilities. Our Watts-Midtown Branch partnership facility continues to offer substantial cost-savings.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS Leveraging resources for greater service!

AOK (All Our Kids) Early Childhood Network April Greetings ARC of the Quad Cities Army Sustainment Command Augustana College & Archives Black Hawk College Adult Learning Center Black Hawk College Library Black Hawk Pipes and Drums Black Hawk State Historic Site Boys & Girls Club Broadway Historic District Clock, Inc. Community Caring Conference Community Health Care Clinic Coventry Apartments Daughters of the American Revolution Davenport Public Library EveryChild Family Resources Family Solutions Figge Art Museum Fort Armstrong Friendship Manor

Geneseo Public Library Genesius Guild Goodwill of the Heartland Greenwood Law HeadStart Heart of Hope Ministries Hispanic Chamber Illinois Deptartment on Aging Illinois Public Libraries Present Illinois State Treasurer’s Office Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities Jordan Catholic School Kinderkids Child Development Center League of Women Voters Lion's Club Midwest Writing Center MLK Community Center Moline Public Library Nahant Marsh NAMI Narratives QC Planting Books - Seeds 4 a Better Future PrairieCat Online Consortium Progressive Action for the Common Good ProjectNow Quad Cities Open Network

Quad City Arts Quad City Botanical Center Quad City Symphony Orchestra Quad City Wild Ones Quad City Audubon Society Reaching Across Illinois Library System Rock Island HeadStart & Preschool Rock Island Horticulture Club Rock Island Kiwanis Club Rock Island Parks and Recreation Rock Island-Milan School District Rocky Resource Room Rotary Club of Rock Island Rx Integrative Solutions Sacred Mournings SB Quilling Seton Catholic School Skip-a-Long Childcare Centers Society for Financial Awareness Spring Forward Learning Center St. Anthony Nursing & Rehab Center St. George Greek Orthodox Church Theo's Java Café Two Rivers YMCA United Way’s Read United University of Illinois Extension Office US Army Corps of Engineers WIU – QC Campus WQPT Quad Cities YouthHope YWCA Quad Cities

309-732-READ | www.rockislandlibrary.org