Library director Jamie reports 2025 performance: nearly 300,000 active cards, growth in outreach and new digital access plans

Jamie, director of the Wichita Public Library, presented the library's 2025 performance and plans tied to its 150th anniversary.

Jamie said the library currently holds more than 299,000 active library cards — "more than 72% of our city's population," she said — and reported circulation close to two million and visitation of more than 658,000 despite closure periods for remodels. The director credited partnerships (including USD259 and WSU Tech) with expanding access and enabling digital-card issuance in schools.

Jamie described several outreach initiatives: a book bus with 293 stops serving more than 20,000 people, partnerships across 195 organizations, and an embedded-student e-card program that has scaled to roughly 30,000 students in USD259. She said the library's programs numbered 1,771 in the prior year and highlighted literacy and early-learning initiatives tied to the Robert Leighton Family Place work.

On digital inclusion, Jamie said more than 40,000 households in the community lack home internet; to address that gap the library plans outdoor Wi-Fi access points and nine additional Wi-Fi benches this spring to expand connectivity beyond branch hours. Jamie also announced a Civic Action Passport program launching April 23 and a May 2 event revealing a library rebrand and the 150th celebration programming.

Council members praised the library's work, asked about deepening collaboration with USD259 and school-embedded collections, and thanked staff for outreach efforts. Jamie said staff will follow up on partnership details and tour dates.