I am excited to share the Prince William Public Libraries Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024. As you read through our collective achievements, I’d like to take a moment to also thank you for your contributions in our shared efforts.
It was a unique year in that PWPL wrapped up our last strategic plan and began to look toward the future. In FY 2024, PWPL developed, adopted, and started to implement its Strategic Plan 2024–2028. The new plan leverages the successes of the 2019–2023 Strategic Plan and provides PWPL staff, stakeholders, and community partners with a path toward our vision to be the hub connecting people to the transforming power of information.
You’ll see our Annual Report complements the six strategic goals in the Strategic Plan to enhance library programs, services, and resources for more than 500,000 residents in Prince William County and the City of Manassas. One achievement this past fiscal year was how the new strategic plan was created. We embarked on a comprehensive, collaborative process, getting key insights and feedback from community members and stakeholders, ensuring that the community’s evolving needs are reflected in the library’s plan.
As you join us in reflecting on and celebrating our successes, I want to reaffirm our commitment to the greater Prince William community. Introducing new initiatives and services like our Mobile Library, mobile app, and diverse collection sets the framework for PWPL’s future.
As we believe this Annual Report demonstrates, PWPL looks forward to working closely with our community to advance our mission to bring people, information, and ideas together in a welcoming, inclusive environment.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Patterson Director, Prince William Public Libraries
TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL INCLUSION
In FY 2024, PWPL made strides in making the latest technologies available at libraries.
Mobile App
PWPL’s mobile app was introduced on February 1, 2024, to give the public access to the library anytime from anywhere. People can reserve their next read, browse through the Digital Library, see upcoming events and programs, and reserve a group study room on the go. Since its launch, the mobile app has been downloaded 3,500 times.
Smart Kiosks and Credit Card Terminals
PWPL’s new self-service stations with user-friendly interfaces empower patrons to check out and return library materials, make payments, manage their library accounts, and print and copy independently.
Digital Preservation Lab at RELIC
PWPL was awarded a $16,000 grant from Virginia Humanities for equipment to enhance RELIC’s capability to preserve historical documents without damaging the originals. Community members can use the Digital Preservation Lab for personal digital archiving in a user-friendly manner. Mixed-reality headsets allow patrons to experience and interact with their newly digitized media in a unique way.
Digital Literacy Workshops
With grant funding from the Public Library Association, PWPL was one of 215 libraries nationwide selected to host digital literacy workshops to help empower patrons with basic computer skills and digital literacy.
OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
“Important Library Stuff” Podcast
Mobile Library
PWPL held a ribbon cutting for its state-of-the-art Mobile Library in February 2024 and began bringing the library to the community and meeting people where they live, work, and play in March. The Mobile Library delivers books and other physical materials to residents who cannot visit libraries. It also brings programs and access to technology, including free mobile Wi-Fi, to underserved communities.
PWPL’s Community Outreach Services conducted 248 outreach visits and bookmobile stops, reaching 10,733 people in FY 2024.
PWPL launched “Important Library Stuff,” a podcast where library staff share the scoop on all the stuff that happens at PWPL. The podcast has expanded PWPL’s reach and strengthened its ties in the community, providing a virtual path for our community to discover library services and programs. ILS was downloaded and played nearly 750 times in its first eight months.
Library Volunteers
People devoting their time and skills to help achieve PWPL's mission are the pinnacle of community engagement. In FY 2024, PWPL had 586 volunteers who logged 10,196.47 hours.
Most Successful Facebook Post of FY 2024:
Announcing the Mobile Library
55,587 Impressions
32,630 Reach
4,492 Engagements
Shaping PWPL’s Future Together
The public helped develop PWPL's Strategic Plan for the years 2024–2028. People could contribute to the plan’s development in the branches and online.
Squirt the Turtle Is Live 24/7
PWPL’s live streaming of Squirt, Chinn Park Library’s beloved turtle, launched in November 2023. In FY 2024, there were 2,485 views with a total watch time of 493 hours.
APPROACHABLE, ADAPTIVE EXPERTS
Professional Development
PWPL employees attended over 1,100 training sessions to expand their knowledge, keep up to date with the latest trends in library service, and seek inspiration for new library programs to ensure excellent patron experiences in our libraries.
PWPL staff presented at regional and national conferences, participated in various committees and forums, and marketed PWPL’s achievements. Two librarians were selected for the 2024 Virginia Library Leadership Academy, and PWPL won several awards for its excellence in communicating its activities and accomplishments to the public.
National Promotion
PWPL experts developed new services and programs that were recognized by library organizations nationwide. Library of Virginia featured PWPL’s Repair Café events in its blog "The UncommonWealth” and the Urban Libraries Council highlighted PWPL’s podcast in its newsletter.
New Internship Opportunity for Staff
PWPL launched the Prince William Public Libraries Internship Program to support future library experts. It offers a unique opportunity for current degreeseeking students passionate about providing quality library services to the Prince William community.
INVITING SPACES
Lake Ridge Library Renovation
Upgrades transformed Lake Ridge Library into a vibrant, modern space that improves visitors’ experience. The revamped shelving allows for easier browsing, and the library has more space for programming, enhanced seating options, a new service desk, and more public computers.
Haymarket Gainesville Library Enhanced Young Adult Area
New furniture and efficient placement made the Young Adult Area at Haymarket Gainesville Library more modern, vibrant, and inviting to this age group.
Chinn Park Story Trail
Funded by a Sentara Community Health & Wellness Partnership grant, PWPL enhanced its outdoor areas with another story trail, bringing the total to four.
Chinn Park Library visitors can stroll along 12 posts with a story that changes every season. In addition to reading the story, people find instructions for stretches for the whole family at every stop, prepared in collaboration with Prince William County Risk & Wellness Services.
COMMUNITY RESPONSIVE ENRICHMENT
Reading Programs
Summer and Winter Reading remain the patrons’ favorites. Over 9,100 people participated in 2023 Summer Reading and read 80,000 books. In its only second year, 1,675 readers participated in the 2023–2024 Winter Reading program.
Lit Con
PWPL’s inaugural Lit Con in spring 2024 was a five-week celebration of fandom, comics, manga, and more. Lit Con offered programs and events catering to different interests and age groups, bringing together more than 4,200 attendees. It emphasized community engagement and creativity, reflecting PWPL’s mission where everyone, regardless of their interests, is encouraged to participate and express themselves.
Building Community, One Program at a Time
Large, day-long events such as Bull Run Library’s Maker Faire and Craft Market, Central Library’s Spring Festival, Montclair Library’s Art in the Garden, and Potomac Library’s International Festival bring people together in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, encourage collaboration and mutual understanding, and go to the heart of PWPL’s mission of enriching lives and building community in a welcoming, inclusive environment.
ACCESSIBLE RESOURCES AND COLLECTION
PWPL added new resources and diversified its collection to respond to public interest and demand and to reflect its community’s demographics.
Digital Resources
To respond to community demand, PWPL added 364,829 e-books to its collection, an increase of 21.1%. In FY 2024, PWPL recorded 284,706 e-book checkouts.
English Learners
Thanks to a grant from ProLiteracy, ESL learners and the greater Prince William community had free access to News For You Online, an easy-to-read news site with interactive activities to help with learning to read, write, speak, and understand English, available on PWPL’s Digital Library.
Entrepreneurial Resources
Two new business resources, Gale Business: Entrepreneurship and Gale Business: Plan Builder, provided entrepreneurs with guidance on how to start or grow a business.
World Language Titles
PWPL added 301 World Language titles totaling 1,010 new items to the collection and created a “World Language DVD Collection” of 173 new DVDs.
Welcoming Library
PWPL was selected by the Library of Virginia as one of 12 public libraries in Virginia to receive the Welcoming Library: Traveling Collection to help create an inviting and welcoming environment for immigrant families. The collection includes picture books that feature New Arrival and New American families, discussion materials, and a pop-up book display.
LIFELONG LEARNING
While “Lifelong Learning” was not a specific strategic goal in the new 2024–2028 Strategic Plan, it was actively addressed through community involvement and stakeholder engagement in its six strategic goals.
Learning Circle Programs
PWPL continued to host Learning Circle programs where adults learned how to use a Chromebook, practiced job searching skills, strengthened their networking skills, identified their strengths, improved their resume, and mastered online job searching.
Career Online High School
PWPL selected 20 new scholarship recipients to begin COHS, and 14 graduated in FY 2024. Most of the graduates plan to pursue college.
Ijaz finished the 18-month program in just five months while working full-time, while Sarra stressed that her goal was to show her children the importance of education.
Adult Launchpads
PWPL added Launchpads for adults to its collection. These small pre-loaded tablets do not require downloads or Wi-Fi. Adults can learn languages, business fundamentals, U.S. law, and play brain stimulation games.
AWARDS
American Library Association
2024 Core PR Xchange Award for the PWPL Strategic Plan 2024–2028 in the Advocacy | Fundraising | Annual Reports | Strategic Plans category
AVA Digital Awards
Platinum Award for the Important Library Stuff Podcast in the Content Marketing|Podcast category
Gold Award for the PWPL Strategic Plan 2024–2028 in the Content Marketing | Annual Report category
dotCOMM Awards
Gold Award for the FY 2022 Annual Report in the Online Media Design category
Honorable Mention for the “Meet Independent Hill Library’s New Mascot: Peek-a-Boo" video in the Short Form Video category
Hermes Creative Awards
Platinum Award for the Mobile Library vehicle wrap design in the Illustration/Graphic Design category
Gold Award for the FY 2023 Annual Report in the Digital Publications/Messaging/E-Annual Report category
Gold Award for the Important Library Stuff podcast in the Electronic Media/Interactive Media/ Podcast Series category
MarCom Awards
Honorable Mention for the Job Fair Promotion Campaign in the Strategic Communications | Marketing/Promotion Campaign | Special Event category
VIDDY Awards
Honorable Mention for the “Squirt the Turtle Cam” in the Live Streaming Interaction/Audience Participation category
Prince William Library Advisory Board
The Prince William Library Advisory Board is an appointed advisory board overseeing the Prince William Public Libraries.
Prince William Library Foundation
The Prince William Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to encourage community-minded citizens, organizations, and businesses to support Prince William Public Libraries.
In FY 2024, the Foundation secured grants and sponsorships with a total value of $79,232.79. The Foundation supported Winter and Summer Reading, secured funding for new technologies for RELIC, and was awarded a major grant from the Potomac Health Foundation for a series of health programs and screenings for the community, with a focus on underserved and low-income people.
Friends of the Library
Prince William Public Libraries has seven Friends groups that help PWPL fund programs, purchase equipment and supplies, and build community relationships. The Friends of the Library are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations committed to providing support to their designated library and the five smaller libraries. The Friends raise money through book sales, membership dues, and other fundraising efforts.
In FY 2024, seven Friends groups raised over $110,000.
