Members of the James Prendergast Library Board of Trustees meet to discuss the current state of the library, upcoming fundraising, programs and finances at the library’s main meeting room Thursday. P J Photo By Christopher Blakeslee

The Prendergast Library in Jamestown is seeing usage increase across the board this year.

Library staff and board members met recently at the James Prendergast Library to discuss the current programing opportunities, finances and upcoming events scheduled to take place, along with the latest statistics of library programing and usage on Thursday.

“We’ve seen a significant increase in our programs and technology usage,” said Anne Greene, James Prendergast Library executive director.

The library board doesn’t meet from June through September.

Green reported the following:

¯ Total Reference Questions- April: 7,415 and May: 8,023. Equaling an 8.2 percent net increase.

¯ Total Computer Logins- April: 1,123 and May: 1,293. Equaling a 15.1 percent increase.

¯ Total Number of Programs Offered- April: 102 and May: 105. Equaling a 2.9 percent increase.

¯ Total Program Attendance Report- April: 1,217 and May: 1,245. Equaling a 2.3 percent increase.

However, total library circulation was down from April’s 11,404 items through May’s 10,033, a 12% decrease.

Moreover, Greene highlighted some of this past month’s specialized programing the library offered and was well attended.

“The monthly Saturday Crafting class is popular, and in May we had 14 people attend to learn how to make clay pinch pots,” said Greene. Moreover, “the library collaborated with LEAP Program resulting in 346 kids who read for 1,066,740 minutes throughout the summer.”

Greene also briefed the following numeric statistics for the library’s summer offerings.

Read for Beads program: 1,286 beads were issued to 218 children who read for 71,792 minutes and completed 266 activities.

Community Days; Outdoor Storytime: the library hosted a total of 13 events and were attended by 402 people: 237 children and 165 adults.

Books and Brew Club: participants read books and meet at Brazil Lounge. 14 Attendees meet in June, 11 attendees meet in July and 14 in August.

Libby App: Between the summer of 2022 and now there was an 11 percent increase in e-audiobook circulation.

End of the Year Summer Carnival: On June 8 the library brought the Mobile Makerspace to Washington Middle School’s Charlotte’s Web Carnival. More than 100 students and caregivers explored the library’s programing, robots and circuit activities.

Summer Lunches at the Library: The library once again partnered with the Jamestown Area YMCA, Monday-Friday from June until August, and provided more than 900 lunches; in addition to providing seating for children.

2023 Block Party: More than 900 people attended this event, which was 100 percent funded by grant funding.