The Fort Worth Public Library has reported notable growth in its 2024 annual report, encompassing community engagement and service expansions. The library's Director, Midori Clark, took a moment to acknowledge the hard work poured into their accomplishments in the past year. In her own words, Clark said, "I am especially proud to be part of a team that completed several major projects while simultaneously delivering exceptional services and programs to the residents and guests of Fort Worth," as detailed by the City of Fort Worth.
Boasting a year filled with milestones, the Library expanded with the opening of the Downtown Express Library in the old City Hall. It debuted the Clifford Crossing Branch in Council District 7. Over 45,000 new library cards were issued this year, and library users attended more than 10,000 programs. Impressively, program attendance hiked past 112,000 while visitor numbers increased by 14%, reaching 1.14 million. Not to be overlooked, total checkouts saw a 16% increase, with over four million items borrowed, as seen in the official report.
The figures speak to the library's integral role in the community, echoed by the impressive participation in the summer reading program, which recorded 4.5 million minutes of reading. To cater to its patrons' needs, the library beefed up its collection by adding more than 260,000 new items, ensuring residents and visitors access to a rich variety of books and resources.
