“We’ll be here. We got you!”
Nic Gunning, David A. Howe Public Library Executive Director
It’s hard to believe, but 2024 marked my tenth year at the David A. Howe Public Library. My history as a library staffer goes back even farther. I started my first library job as a teenager in southwest Michigan, and it has been fascinating to see how libraries have evolved over these past 20+ years.
Books and literacy will always be the heart of library service—in fact, 2024 represented our highest circulation in five years and broke the record for the most digital circulation we’ve ever had. (Seriously, if you’re not using Libby, you should check it out. Kanopy and Mango Languages too while you’re at it!) But beyond that, the library is place where the community feels at home—because it’s yours. It’s exciting to feel the hustle and bustle of traffic in and out of those big green doors as people settle in with a book, find a quiet corner to study, grab something from the coffee cart, pick their new favorite author, or even make a new friend. Whether you are a parent bringing your kids to storytime, a teen hanging out at the Friday club, someone attending a community meal or enjoying a concert in the auditorium, we’ve got something for you here.
Every year about this time, the library works to assemble the annual report for the previous year. This report highlights the many different ways your library impacts the community. In 2024, we added 2,011 unique items to our collection; in addition to books, movies, and music, you can also borrow things like ukuleles, fishing poles, and Yoto players. In total, we lent out 60,745 items last year, which averages out to about 24 items per hour. We also loaned over 8,000 items to other nearby libraries.
In addition to the nearly 500 programs that took place in the library, we held 77 unique events outside of the library that reached over 1,000 people. We partnered with the school and Salvation Army to give away around 650 lunches to local kids, and 445 community members registered for our all-ages Summer Reading Program while our summer programs attracted nearly 4,000 people. Our locally produced podcast and radio show, But Have You Tried (https://buthaveyoutried.podbean.com/), received over 15,000 listens. In total, the library welcomed over 40,000 visits and was open 2,542 hours. What a year!
We are delighted to have such robust support from the community we are here to serve. I’ve been pleased to see libraries grow along with their communities in the last few decades. It’s how it should be. If life gets you down or you just want a place where you can unwind and recharge, we’ll be here. We’ve got you.
For more information, be sure to check out our full annual report on the library webpage: https://davidahowelibrary.org. Looking ahead, the 2026 funding referendum will be on the ballot May 20. Residents can vote at the Wellsville Secondary School from 12-9pm. The library is open Mondays-Thursdays 10am-8pm, Fridays 10-5, and Saturdays 10-2. With questions or program ideas, you can connect with us at (585) 593-3410 or email (wellsville@stls.org).
Here’s the direct link for the annual report itself: http://davidahowelibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DAHPL-2024-Annual-Report-to-the-Community.pdf
