A library is successful when it is a part of people’s everyday lives. By that measure, 2023 was another winning year for JMRL, building off of 2022’s VLA Library of the Year award.
JMRL branches welcomed nearly 713,000 library visitors and issued more than 12,000 new library cards. Library patrons checked out more than 1.6 million physical and digital items—and saved an estimated $41,107,100 by borrowing instead of buying. See JMRL’s Top 10 Checkouts of 2023.
This year, the long-awaited launch of a new jmrl.org website featured an updated design and more intuitive user experience, including an updated catalog interface called Find It to provide a more integrated experience between library services and the materials catalog. JMRL’s classic catalog is still available for people who prefer the bare bones approach.
In 2023, 76,401 people of all ages attended 2,632 programs at JMRL branches. Activities like weekly storytimes, monthly book groups, and Teen Advisory Boards across JMRL provided opportunities for people of all ages to find community.
New and innovative programs found their niche in 2023—such as Gordon Avenue Library’s Deadly Knits, a monthly meetup for true crime podcast enthusiasts who also love to knit (and do other handcrafts). Established programs also grew, such as the Chair Yoga class at Louisa County Library, which added a second weekly session this year due to popular demand.
Throughout March, community members visited their local branches to pick up free paperback copies of JMRL and the Virginia Festival of the Book’s 2023 Same Page Community Read selection, The Book of Delights by acclaimed poet and essayist Ross Gay. Readers participated in kickoff celebrations, book group discussions and other special events for all ages—culminating in a capacity crowd for An Afternoon with Ross Gay at the Jefferson School during the Festival of the Book. The program was also simulcast at three JMRL branches.
With the theme “All Together Now,” JMRL’s 2023 Summer Reading Challenge registered 3,938 participants of all ages who earned 5,505 book prizes. More than 26,870 people attended 787 programs, including a summer performance series featuring magic, music, animals, and more!
None of the library programs mentioned above would be possible without the support of the Friends of JMRL, who had another banner year. Both the spring and fall Friends book sales broke fundraising records, thanks to the efforts of staff and volunteers as well as the public who came out in droves to snap up amazing book sale finds. Watch this Instagram reel for a behind-the-scenes look at preparations for October’s book sale. Building on this success, the Friends were recognized with the 2023 VLA Friends of the Library award in October.
Read on for a few of the year’s highlights from each of JMRL’s eight branches and the Bookmobile.
Bookmobile and Outreach Services
- The Bookmobile added 16 new stops in Louisa and Nelson counties this year, for a total of 55 regular stops each month.
- Community outreach included 31 Bookmobile appearances at local events such as Charlottesville City Market (monthly), the African American Heritage Festival in Louisa, and C’ville Sabroso in Washington Park.
- Welcomed two new staff members aboard: Thomas Raymond and Cheryl Cosby.
- September’s soft launch of the Maker Lab in the Mezzanine space–with demonstrations of 3D printing, GlowForge, and more.
- The Adult Services department’s Tech Tuesdays program in the summer and fall was a big success, expanding on regular tech help appointments. Watch this Instagram reel for a tech help success story!
- Partnered with WriterHouse on several writing workshops and the Annual Poetry Contest.
- The Annual How-To Festival was a big draw again, with participation from local businesses, nonprofits, and hobbyists who shared their knowledge.
- Crozet Library held its 10th Anniversary Party in its current building on September 29, 2023 drawing over 200 attendees to celebrate this special space in the Crozet community.
- 9,927 people attended 354 programs, including regular family and baby storytimes and sensory play programs, new social-focused programs such as monthly Game Night for Grown Ups and Adult Social Circle, and large annual events like First Responders Day and the Summer Reading Kickoff Party.
- Library staff conducted outreach at community events such as literacy nights at local schools, visits to the Food Pantry at Crozet United Methodist Church, HeadStart classroom, and senior living community, English Meadows.
- Crozet-ians checked out many take-away kits such as Date Night in a Box, Mindful Moments, Genre Boxes for Teens, Family Fun Kits, and Take and Make craft kits – allowing people to bring fun activities and learning home with them.
- Crozet Library worked with Western Albemarle High School to host a teen poetry contest appointing a Crozet Teen Poet Laureate, and held a ceremony in their honor.
- 1,481 people joined the JMRL community by getting library cards at Crozet Library!
- Launched the Little Seed Library in partnership with Piedmont Master Gardeners.
- Opened the Drive-Up Window.
- Added two new dogs to Gordon’s PAWS to Read lineup
- Launched Silent Book Club, becoming Charlottesville’s first official chapter.
- Staff enjoyed JMRL’s Cross Training program, which provides an opportunity to visit other departments and learn how they work.
- Greene welcomed EJ Dowling as the new Branch Manager, Fred Hylton as Branch Support and Rebecca Baughman as the Young Adult Specialist.
- For this year’s Winter Book Drive, Greene continued their annual tradition of collecting new books from library patrons to gift to local preschool students.
- Greene added two new recurring programs: Book Bats Book Club, a monthly book club for grades 1-3, and STEAM at Greene, a quarterly STEAM program series for school age children which included a slime making party, marshmallow tower architecture, and video game-inspired working torches!
- First steps were taken for the installation of a Native Garden at the Greene County Library.
- Thanks to a generous gift from the Friends of the Greene County Library, Greene was able to build and expand a LEGO collection for our Monthly LEGO Challenge program.
- A Privacy Pod for small-group meetings and individual use was installed at the Greene County Library, and it has been a great success.
- Greene County Library hosted seven scavenger hunts throughout the year, including Dinovember, Lego Art and Famous Landmarks Around the World.
- Hosted a kick-off party for Louisa County’s new membership in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library on Saturday, Nov. 4th.
- Louisa County Library’s Chess Club for teens has become so popular that there is a waiting list to participate.
- Library staff conducted outreach at community events such as the African American Heritage Festival and Shady Grove Baptist Church Family/Friends Day.
- Louisa County Library Introduced several new programs: Chair Yoga for Life, Monday Afternoon Games for Adults, and Writing Group. The branch’s passive programs were a great hit, especially the coloring sheets and poetry board.
- After a two-year wait, Nelson Memorial Library’s Outreach Vehicle was finally delivered.
- Nelson’s Summer Challenge Extravaganza theme, Charlotte’s Web, was a huge hit! Watch this Instagram reel to see the magic of Zuckerman’s farm come to life.
- Launched the Nelson County affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in November.
- Nelson Memorial Library put on another well-attended Holiday Craft Day!
- Northside’s 3D printing service re-opened in July.
- Northside Library’s Summer Challenge Kickoff party attracted more than 700 people.
- Northside Circulation staff registered 1001 new borrowers during Summer Reading.
- More than 300 people had a blast making tie dye t-shirts and bags at the Tie Dye Party presented in June by Northside staff with the able assistance of teen volunteers.
- Scottsville patrons celebrated two new gardens installed on library grounds: a raised bed veggie and herb garden (which the community is encouraged to use), and a fairy garden that many patrons contributed to and enjoyed throughout the summer. Kids loved to visit the fairy garden as they headed into the library!
- A Valentine-Making Party in February was attended by folks of all ages who crafted unique valentine cards while being serenaded by live piano music.
- A Sunflower program, in conjunction with Scottsville’s Pollinator Festival in June, included learning about Van Gogh, planting sunflower seeds and painting sunflower pictures. Many of these sunflower paintings are now on display in the computer area of the library!
- The Living Earth School visited in September with an educational program about animals and a chance to meet their animal ambassador, a beautiful red shouldered hawk.
- Open Mic Night in October brought out community members to share poems, skits, and comedy routines!
- The BRHD vaccine clinic in November drew lots of folks eager to get their shots for the winter months ahead.
- Scottsville Library’s annual holiday craft fair was well attended, with families and folks of all ages creating memorable and sparkling gifts, cards, and ornaments!
- A new Young Adult area in the branch makes the YA collection more inviting for teens and young adults.
What a year 2023 was! Many thanks for helping JMRL chart a new path by participating in the Library’s strategic plan survey this fall. Be on the lookout for a new strategic plan coming soon. Stay connected with JMRL through the Library’s blog, podcast, Facebook and Instagram pages, and monthly newsletters.