Annual Report FY25–26
“This is obviously a place of joy and learning!”
QUICK STATS
550,194 total items borrowed 164,106
adult items
177,896
digital items
208,192
youth items Digital checkouts have taken off! In 2017, our community borrowed 37,281 digital items. This year, that number reached 177,896—and it continues to grow!
Most Popular Things Borrowed Most Popular Youth Title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Most Popular Adult Title The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
Most Popular Library of Things Item Singer 4423 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine
Most Popular Movie Sinners
33,104
205,718
questions answered
in-person visitors
4,571
363,120
152,831
library visitors
virtual visitors website visitors
3,304
study room users
536
meeting room users
The library was a busy place! We saw a 10% increase in library visits this year, with more people using our spaces, services, programs, and online resources.
661 youth events reached
321 adult events reached
7,662 people
30,421
130 Studio events reached
event attendance
708
22,051 people
Most attended event in 2025: Meet a Mermaid with
170 guests
people
Our programs are growing! Event attendance increased 8.1% this year, with adult events leading the way. 12% more people attended adult programs compared with last year!
Most Popular Events of the Year Youth Events 1. Meet a Mermaid 2. Mermaid Party 3. Bubble Party 4. Not So Spooky Halloween 5. KPop Demon Hunters Party
Adult Events 1. Splish, Splash, and Stardom: Bobby Darin’s Extraordinary Journey 2. Abigail Adams: A Dramatic Portrayal by Leslie Goddard 3. Christmas at Marshall Field’s with Leslie Goddard 4. Backwards in Heels: The Legacy of Ginger Rogers with Annette Bochenek 5. Bette Davis: A Living History Portrayal by Leslie GoddardLeading Ladies
“I really appreciate that you offer virtual events!! I can’t drive due to seizures. This is a wonderful educational opportunity, and I feel like I’ve gotten “out” with a group of people. :)”
THIS YEAR’S HIGHLIGHTS
The Studio: Making Creativity More Accessible The Studio continues to grow as a hands-on hub for creativity, learning, and technology. 1:1 Studio appointments increased 61% over the previous fiscal year, helping more community members explore digital tools, troubleshoot projects, and build new skills. The Studio also expanded its programming, offering 130 programs throughout the year, an 11% increase over FY24–25. This year, the Studio expanded its fiber arts resources with a vibrant new collection of 412 distinct thread colors, giving local makers even more opportunities to bring their textile projects to life. Monthly 3D printing raffles added another fun way for children, families, and educators to engage with The Studio and discover what’s possible with digital fabrication. Youth engagement also continued to grow, with dedicated staff developing hands-on projects and building strong connections with young makers and their families. “This library brings people together. You know I now get together for lunch with some of the women I’ve met at a Studio program.”
The Friends of the Library We had an important year of growth as an organization. We installed a new board of directors and began working to better align the function of our board with the library’s future needs. With the help of our generous donors, we were able to give $30,000 to the library to help fund programming throughout the year for patrons of all ages. We were also able to purchase a custom book bike for the library to use in their community outreach and book delivery efforts with an additional $6,500 gift. For this upcoming year, we look forward to growing our donor pool, diversifying and expanding our fundraising and advocacy efforts, and increasing our visibility in the community. Visit wnpld.org/about/friends for more information and to make a donation today!
Strengthening Community Connections This year, we expanded our efforts to bring the library beyond our buildings and into the places where our community lives, learns, and gathers. By strengthening partnerships with local schools, park districts, preschools, community organizations, and other area partners, we created new opportunities to connect residents with library resources, programs, and services throughout the community. As we continue to deepen these partnerships, we look forward to finding even more ways to bring library services, resources, and experiences into the community. This past year’s community outreach highlights included: • Stories in the Park brought storytime to local parks and families outdoors in partnership with the Winnetka Park District. • Best Books of 2025 brought together staff from The Book Stall and the library to discuss their favorite books of the year, along with a sneak peek at new titles to look out for in 2026. • Summer Reading School Visits reached four Northfield area schools introducing 325 students to the Summer Reading Challenge. • Community Partner Storytimes brought library staff to Bright Horizons and Harkness House, where more than 130 participants enjoyed stories, songs, and early literacy activities.
• Let’s Play! Cardboard Design Experience, in partnership with The Alliance for Early Childhood and Joseph Sears School, brought an off-site creative experience to 222 participants. • Explore More Illinois expanded to include Winnetka Park District beach passes, giving cardholders another way to enjoy local amenities. • Winnetka Farmers’ Market and Northfield Market & Music connected library staff with residents and provided opportunities to share information about library services and resources. • Preschool Visits in Northfield expanded early literacy outreach, helping more young children connect with the library.
How much money are you saving by using your local library?
Households saved an average of
$2,829 last year
eResources Borrowed $1,351 Adult Materials Borrowed $687 Childrens Materials Borrowed $563 Databases Accessed $56 Childrens Programs Attended $53 Reference Assistance $47 Adult Programs Attended $36 Meeting Room Use (per hour) $19 Computer Use (per hour) $17
Cost savings per household were calculated using the American Library Association’s Library Value Calculator for the period of July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026. For more information, please visit www.wnpld.org/node/5859.
38.97% 26.34% 13.3% 6.48% 4.57% 4.53% 2.98% 2.72% 0.1%
K–8 School Districts New Trier High School District Villages/Townships 0 20 40 60 Cook County Park Districts Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Oakton Community College District Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District Mosquito Abatement District
80
100
FY25–26 OPERATING EXPENSES FY25–26 Operating Expenses Personnel* 59.8% Materials* 16.5% Capital Improvements/Maintenance 9.1% Information Technology 5.3% Administration 4.0% Programs/Events 2.2% Utilities 2.0% PR & Marketing 1.2% TOTAL 100%
Budget $3,064,750 $846,935 $465,000 $270,000 $202,573 $113,100 $100,150 $61,000 $5,123,508
Actual $2,887,696 $762,793 $582,577 $269,936 $202,593 $99,140 $110,844 $58,336 $4,973,915
*According to Serving Our Public: Standards for Illinois Public Libraries, Personnel costs should account for 60%–70% of the Operating Budget and Material costs should account for 8–12% of the Operating Budget.
FY25–26 OPERATING REVENUES FY25–26 Operating Revenues Property Taxes 91.5% Interest 4.2% Kenilworth Library Services Contract 2.1% Replacement Tax 0.9% Grants 0.5% Gifts & Donations 0.4% Fees 0.4% Miscellaneous 0.0% TOTAL 100.0%
Budget $4,684,000 $216,000 $105,000 $45,000 $27,280 $21,000 $20,792 $450 $5,119,522
Actual $4,636,506 $218,466 $102,020 $49,536 $27,280 $41,600 $13,400 $22 $5,088,830
768 Oak Street Winnetka, IL 60093
POSTAL PATRON
Executive Director Monica Dombrowski
Library Board of Trustees Laura Freechack, President Ranjini Shankar, Vice President Matt Kinnich, Treasurer Sarah Tegel, Secretary Jenny Fisher Lindsay Jenkins Sarah Munoz trustees@wnpld.org
NON-PROFIT ORG. ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 85 WINNETKA, IL