Webster Parish Libraries saw significant engagement in 2024, with more than 113,000 visitors recorded across its branches, according to Director Savannah Jones.
The library system also reported 9,846 program attendees across 669 events, averaging 15 participants per program. Outreach services reached 10,674 individuals, including those in assisted living facilities and homebound residents. Additionally, 33,576 Wi-Fi sessions were logged at branch locations.
A new library app, launched three months ago, has already been accessed 518 times. “We’re reaching people. I’ve been watching those numbers and can see it growing,” Jones said.
Jones also announced that a new catalog system will launch soon, streamlining access to resources by consolidating physical books, audiobooks, and e-books into a single search platform. “This system will take all of our resources and put them together in one place,” she said. “It’s also very user-friendly.”
Looking ahead, the library is working to expand its circulating hotspot inventory. “That is a demand that we constantly have,” Jones noted. “People like to use those to check out our laptops, do school work, and so forth.”
With growing engagement and new technological advancements, Webster Parish Libraries continue to expand their reach and provide valuable resources to the community.