2023 Annual Report

Message from the Executive Director

Great things are happening at your library! 2023 was a busy year filled with reflection and evaluation as to how the library can continue to improve its services to meet the needs of our great community. We spent a portion of the year developing our 2023-2026 strategic plan, which was created using information from our community about what you like about the Arlington Heights Memorial Library and where there are opportunities, giving us lots of great ideas for continued improvement.

One of the exciting improvements in 2023 was to our most visited space in the library, Kids’ World. The reimagined and refreshed Kids’ World was designed to meet the growing needs of our youngest customers, their families and caregivers. The vision for the refresh was to create flexible, interactive and experiential learning spaces for ages 0 through 12.

The new Interactive Family Area provides an engaging space equipped with a nearly eight foot wide by four foot tall Lite Brite wall and a floor projection system offering endless play opportunities for all abilities. These additions to Kids’ World are one example of how the library is committed to providing equal access to library spaces, programs and services.

Your important feedback about library spaces played a big role in designing the new Kids’ World. The space now includes the library’s first single stall all-gender restroom as well as a Wellness Room which offers a quiet space for nursing mothers and children with sensory challenges.

We invite you to visit the library to see the improvements, along with the new features and services shaped by your input through the strategic plan. It is a very exciting time at your local library!

Mike Driskell

2023

Message from the President of the Library Board of Trustees

It has been another jam-packed, educational and fun year at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library! I hope you have attended an interesting discussion, class or event; borrowed from the Library of Things; created something unique at the Makerplace; and, of course, read or listened to a really good book.

We are so pleased to have ranked in the 100th percentile (#1) among 338 communities for the quality of public library services in the National Citizen Survey conducted by the Village of Arlington Heights. We never stop working to make sure we offer something for everyone at your five-star library.

In 2023, we finalized a new strategic plan based on our mission of connecting you with information, entertainment and opportunities for education, culture and personal growth. You can access our strategic plan on the library’s website at ahml.info/about/information.

Did you know the library has only requested one tax increase since 2009? It is a testament to our exceptional staff who continue to deliver excellent and creative programming without seeking additional funding. We also could not have done it without the Friends of the Library and Library Foundation members whose fundraising efforts play a pivotal role in supporting the library’s current needs.

On behalf of the entire Board, I want to thank our exceptional staff, hard-working volunteers and members of the Friends and Foundation for such a successful year. It truly takes a village…and ours is second-to-none!

Amy Somary

Kids’ World gets a makeover

The library topped off an exciting year with a reimagined Kids’ World space designed to meet the needs of its youngest customers, their families and caregivers. A new entrance to Kids’ World was constructed along with a café area, and new upgrades:

: Tweens can explore DIY activities, including a Maker Table featuring supplies and projects, donated by the Arlington Heights Memorial Library Foundation.

Interactive Family Area: This area includes the Everbright wall, a large-scale reimagining of the Lite Brite for all abilities, and a floor projection system that provides space for interactive games. Thank you to the Library Foundation for funding the Everbright wall and the Friends of the Library for donating the projection system.

Lindsey Room and Tinker Cart: The Lindsey Room got a refresh with new flooring, paint colors and a sink. The Tinker Cart, funded by the Foundation, is another feature that will keep kids engaged during drop-in programs.

Imagination Station and Baby

Garden: Our littlest library visitors now have a dedicated place to learn and grow socially.

Wellness Room and Restroom: An all-gender bathroom* was added to Kids’ World and the Wellness Room* offers a quiet space for nursing mothers and anyone who may need a calming space during their visit.

The Arcade Age brings in over 13,000 visitors

January 15 marked the final day of The Arcade Age exhibit with 328 arcade fans of all ages attending a Game Over closing event. Over its eight-week stay at the library, The Arcade Age brought in over 13,000 visitors of all ages with library staff hosting 11 programs celebrating the exhibit. The exhibit garnered impressive media coverage including a special visit from WGN Morning News and features by WBBM, driving traffic upward across all ages as the exhibit continued. Social media interaction was high with visitors regularly tagging the library on Instagram, sharing photos of the games and themselves and their families enjoying them.

The exhibit, developed by the Cradle of Aviation Museum and Education Center, was sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

New Friends’ Network debuts

English as a Second Language volunteers hosted their first ever meeting of the New Friends’ Network. This group welcomes newcomers in the community and gives them a space to connect with one another, while also learning about library programs and services. In 2023, 12 meetings of the New Friends’ Network were held, with 200 attendees throughout the year. This program has seen participation from both adult English language learners and English speakers alike.

Newborn baby cards are a hit

Cards for kids continue to be a hit with the library’s youngest customers and their parents, with some 697 library cards for children younger than kindergarten distributed in 2023 – an increase of 240 cards from the previous year.

Overall, 5,174 new library cards were created compared to 4,678 in 2022. January saw one of the greatest increases, with 399 new residents signing up for library cards, an increase of 49.4 percent over the same month in the previous year.

We’re here to help!

The library’s Info Desk staff answered 1,426 questions during January 2023, the busiest the Desk had been since January 2020. A total of 13,712 questions were answered in-person by staff in 2023.

questions answered

Some of the interactions include helping customers find an item they want such as a finding a book or online article they've heard about. Staff also frequently provide ready reference such as finding consumer ratings on appliances or printing a recipe the customer saw on a TV show.

In 2023, 34,926 phone calls, 3,738 chats and 284 texts were answered, and 1,028 tickets were received through the library’s “Contact Us” web page.

Community shows up to support MLK Day of Service

This year’s MLK Day of Service* on January 16 highlighted the library’s partnership with First Presbyterian Church in Arlington Heights, which provides shelter and food to those at risk and experiencing homelessness during the cold season. Thirty members of the community participated in making and packing lunch and a warm dinner for up to 30 PADS site clients during two culinary programs in the Makerplace Kitchen. The library hosted three additional PADS meal planning events with a total of 280 meals prepared for PADS shelter sites in 2023.

The event was also covered by two local reporters, sharing the mission of the library, a longstanding community partnership and this creative use of the Makerplace Kitchen more widely.

*

Library IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) committee initiative.

Record-breaking year in Makerplace Kitchen

In February, Chef Grace Goudie of Scratchboard Kitchen hosted the library’s first class to feature the Makerplace Kitchen’s new camera system. Where in the past participants would have to stand around the front station, the camera gives any seat in the Kitchen a detailed and up-close view of what the chef is doing up front.

In addition to the seasonal classes offered at the Makerplace, library staff introduced several staples catering to those keen on mastering fundamental skills including a monthly drop-in session, "Talk & Taste.” This program allows enthusiasts to have a chat and a taste with the Makerplace’s Chef Brian during his “office hours.”

In November, the Makerplace Kitchen reached a new record high in attendance at culinary events, with a total of 237 attendees at 14 classes. It was a record-breaking year with more than 1,400 attendees at 95 classes offering something for everyone.

FEB MAR

More than 16,000 people visit Senior Center library spaces, programs

There was a full house with standing room only for Steve Justman’s performance at the Senior Center on February 15, highlighting the history and music of folk icons Peter, Paul, and Mary and The Kingston Trio.

This program was just one of more than 300 library programs offered at the Senior Center in 2023, with 3,700 people attending throughout the year. Twenty dedicated volunteers supported Senior Center library programs and services, including teaching more than 150 classes where over 500 seniors learned to use their mobile phones, tablets and personal computers. The Senior Center had an additional 12,500 total visitors to the library’s Reading Room and computer lab.

Safety and security continues to be a top library priority

In addition to the work they do every day keeping the library safe for customers and staff alike, the library's Security department is committed to staying on top of the most up-to-date guidelines. In 2023, the Security department led library-wide refresher staff training sessions for surviving critical incidents at the library covering lockdown/active shooter, tornado, fire and bomb threat scenarios.

TEEN JOB FAIR

Local fairs provide opportunities for teens and adults

On March 7, the library and 18 local businesses connected with 237 attendees at the annual Teen Job Fair at the Arlington Ridge Center. The fair was developed and co-presented in partnership with the Arlington Heights Youth Commission and the Arlington Heights Park District. The event featured a Parents’ Lounge so caregivers could be nearby while providing their teen space, and a warm-up station hosted by teen librarians to help prep teens before they visited businesses. The library’s Volunteer Fair took place on May 7, with more than 130 attendees, teen through adult, engaging with 24 community organizations. This year’s event, the first since 2018, featured a mix of new and returning organizations including Lemons of Love, Honor Flight Chicago, the Buddy Foundation and our own library volunteer opportunities.

APR

Small Business Co ee and Connect participation more than doubles

Small Business Coffee and Connect (SBCC) grew into an increasingly popular program between the months of April and December, with a record number of entrepreneurs and small business owners attending each of the monthly meetups by the end of the year. This valuable program engaged 184 customers in 2023, more than doubling 2022’s attendance.

SBCC provides a forum for the local business community to network, learn about local resources and opportunities, and better position themselves for success.

Library volunteers celebrate being “Together Again”

“Together Again” was the theme of the Volunteer Recognition Celebration and Concert, honoring the library’s more than 450 volunteers who contributed more than 19,000 hours of service in the previous year.

Jeff Primus was named Newcomer of the Year, recognizing the individual who began volunteering in the previous year and gave the greatest number of hours to the library. Carol Rech was named Volunteer of the Year, given to the volunteer who has contributed the greatest number of hours during the previous year but has not yet received the award. She contributed 636 hours of service in 2022 by working in the library's Collection Services department and with the Friends of the Library. 2023 marked the welcome return of this event to the library after a three-year hiatus.

More than 1,000 artists, family members celebrate student creativity

The Arlington Heights School District 25 Art Show beautified the first floor of the library during May, with this year’s annual show featuring 2D and 3D art from elementary and middle school students. Art displayed was selected by the student’s art teachers. Staff welcomed more than 1,000 at two bustling receptions and more than 5,900 customers enjoyed the exhibit through May.

AHML engages with more than 3,600 community members at outreach events

AHML traveled around town this year, interacting with more than 3,600 community members during outreach events. Outreach kicked off in May at Arlington Heights' newest festival, Swing into Spring. This year, the library also participated at the Farmers Market from May through September, Misión San Juan Diego Festival, National Night Out, Heritage Fest, Harmony Fest, Taste of Arlington Heights, Autumn Harvest and more.

Second Annual Lit Stroll draws even larger crowds

The Second Annual Lit Stroll drew even larger crowds than last year with 136 lit lovers visiting three downtown Arlington Heights venues to hear three local authors talk about their work and writing. Participants could hear about their work, grab a drink, enjoy appetizers and mingle with other literary lovers as they strolled between locations. The event culminated at a book signing at Arlington Ale House with books for sale courtesy of The Book Stall.

Library celebrates

Bookmobile’s 50th anniversary with parade float and contest

2023 was a big year for the bookmobile as it marked its 50th anniversary. The anniversary was celebrated during the Fourth of July Parade with a custom-built birthday cake float.

Parade participation included 40 community members who marched with library representatives, passing out nearly 4,000 library wristbands. The float and giveaways were made possible by the support of the Friends of the Library.

In celebration, the library also held a Build Your Own Bookmobile contest where three winners were selected by random drawing to win a 30-minute visit by the library's bookmobile. All 100 submitted entries were showcased in the library’s display cases over the summer.

Throughout 2023, more than 24,130 customers visited the bookmobile, with more than 52,220 items being checked out.

900+ fans celebrate all things pop culture at annual FanCon

The library celebrated its seventh annual FanCon with more than 900 people stopping by for the popular comic book and pop culture event, one of the highest attended FanCons in the library’s history.

Offerings included a video game rock concert, a Super Smash Bros Ultimate tournament, improv show, arts and crafts, drawing workshop and more.

New to this year’s event was the POW! Pavilion in the library’s parking lot that allowed attendees to enjoy pirate sword training, acrobats and live magic outside.

Summer Reading reaches new highs for both youths and adults

From June through July, 3,673 youth ages 0–18 participated in Summer Reading, surpassing the previous high mark of participation set in 2019. Customers entering Kids’ World were greeted with the sight of hundreds of blue and red balls, each personalized and added by a registered child. Over 50,000 days of reading were logged across all youth age groups.

The Adult Summer Reading Page Turners program included the opportunity for readers to complete a bingo card to be entered into a drawing for a gift card to local businesses. As a result of “Fill Out a Book Me” being one of the featured activities, Book Me requests increased. During June, 39 requests for customized book recommendations were completed, a monthly record high since the program’s debut in 2021.

Tweens and teens give back

This summer, 113 teens grades 7–12 gave back through the annual Summer Volunteer Squad (SVS) program. SVS was comprised of six different squads and teen volunteers clocked in 1,136 service hours in June and July. Reading Table Team Squad volunteers also managed the Summer Reading Desk in Kids’ World helping register the 3,673 youth who signed up for Summer Reading.

The library’s first Middle School Volunteer (MVP) group met in September with many moving on from the Tween Advisory Group (TAG). These returning volunteers brought new ideas on service projects and ways to give back.

Exhibit presented in partnership with Jewish Community Center of Chicago

From August through September, the Arlington Heights Memorial Library in partnership with Jewish Community Center of Chicago (JCC) was entrusted with six historic violins played before, during and after the Holocaust as part of the Violins of Hope exhibit. This exhibit was accompanied by several companion programs and throughout August the community was introduced to the six violins and their histories. Each instrument was accompanied by a story of hope and resilience and is part of a larger collection and international exhibit traveling the globe.

Film Fest shines a spotlight

The spotlight was on teen filmmakers at the 17th Annual Teen Film Fest, and with 11 entries received, all films had a chance to shine during the main event. After their film played, each teen filmmaker was invited to come to the stage and receive feedback from a knowledgeable panel of judges, including film historian and professor Annette Bochenek, culture critic Shelli Nicole and filmmaker and Hersey High School librarian Bruce Janu.

Eighty-four attendees voted for the Audience Favorite. A special

Parking lot lights go green

In September, the library’s contractor upgraded the parking lot lights. The new LED fixtures provide an energy-efficient way to light up the lot for customers. To help pay for the project, the library also applied for and received an energy incentive check from ComEd in the amount of $3,169.

Library focuses on accessibility

Each October, the library celebrates Inclusion Awareness Month, which recognizes AHML’s commitment to connect the community to resources and programs, highlight enhancements in accessibility and invite community feedback. The library put together 12 programs including a Grease Sock Hop dance party for adults presented in collaboration with Northwest Special Recreation Association, The Chicago Lighthouse Low Vision Products Road Show and Make Some Music! A Supported Family Program.

During 2023, the library also conducted an assessment of library facilities and developed an updated ADA transition plan,* created braille enhancements for a scavenger hunt and a StoryWalk® at Pioneer Park and

One Book takes center stage with Author Catherine Adel West

More than 160 filled Forest View Auditorium on October 26 to hear Catherine Adel West delve into 2023’s One Book, One Village (OBOV) title, The Two Lives of Sara. West was joined in conversation with WBEZ award-winning reporter Natalie Moore. Another 70-some joined via the library’s YouTube channel and watched online as the event unfolded live. Since then, the livestream amassed nearly 350 additional

read was a success with programs, book discussions and more taking place during this time, including a One Book BBQ Party at Recreation Park, attended by more than 300 people. This event provided an opportunity to hand out giveaways – recipe cards inspired by The Two Lives of Sara and a dry rub seasoning packet custom created by library staff in the Makerplace Kitchen.

Author Jasmine Warga visits local schools, library

Thanks to the support of the Friends of the Library, award-winning author Jasmine Warga visited South and Thomas Middle Schools in November. Warga presented on her three popular middle-grade novels, which topics range from school gun violence to the journey of a Mars rover.

Warga also headlined a public event at the library. Over two days more than 1,300 people in the Arlington Heights community saw Warga.

Makerplace hosts successful Craft Swap

On November 19, the Makerplace hosted its first Craft Swap. Thousands of items were donated including more than 100 sewing patterns; bolts of fabric; scrapbooking and art supplies; sewing, embroidery and fiber crafting supplies; storage containers; tools and everything in between. Seventy-seven customers attended and at the close of the day, remaining items were boxed up and donated to local charities Greener Good and WasteShed.

Digital circulation of materials up over last year

The library’s digital circulation of materials was up significantly in 2023 compared to 2022.

Digital circulation includes materials checked out from cloudLibrary, hoopla and Kanopy. In 2022, the average digital circulation each month was 19,805; and in 2023 the library averaged 21,744 each month, an increase of 1,939 each month!

TOP eBOOK TITLES FOR 2023

It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes

No Plan B by Lee Child and Andrew Child

TOP eAUDIO TITLES FOR 2023

Small canvases deliver big impact

On display throughout December, the library’s first Tiny Art Show featured more than 170 canvases each measuring 4"x 4" in size. Each mini masterpiece was

Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex

Happy Place by Emily Henry

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

Tree full of memories on display in Veteran's Tree exhibit

It was a day of remembrance, recollection and celebration at AHML on November 1 as nearly 40 people stopped by the library to decorate the Veteran’s Tree. Those who showed up brought photos of Veterans in their lives and created ornaments to hang on the tree themselves. A second Veteran’s Tree event was held on November 12 as part of the Arlingtones Performance and Veteran’s Day Reception.

Fifty-six community members contributed their photos and stories to the exhibit. The Veteran's Tree remained on display through November 27 and was organized in partnership with SALUTE, INC.

More than 870 books donated for infants, children and teens

More than 870 books were generously donated for infants, children and teens for Wheeling Township's Adopt-a-Family program. Special thanks go to the library staff and volunteers, the Rolling Green Country Club Women’s Golf Association, State Representative Mary Beth Canty, Patton Elementary School and the Lakeshore Circle Book Club for their very generous donations. The library book drive has provided 23,970 books to children and teens in need since 1998.

The library also gave back to the community in 2023 by hosting a diaper drive, a community food drive and more.

It's a wrap! Dann & Raymond's Movie Club

finale draws standingroom only crowd

The credits rolled on December 14 for one of the library's most popular and longest-running programs, Dann & Raymond's Movie Club. For 17 years, Daily Herald film critic Dann Gire and film historian and author Raymond Benson educated and entertained audiences with their knowledge and good humor about all things movies.

Over two hours, Dann and Raymond shared their favorite films. Bantering back and forth and taking turns one by one, the two ranked their personal top 10 films of all time.

Awards & Recognition

Throughout 2023, AHML received top recognition from various organizations. In June, the library’s Communications and Marketing team took home two top honors at the PR Xchange Event and Awards. In the same month, the library and the Hub were recognized as a Safe Space for Youth by Kenneth Young Center and Communities for Positive Youth Development's Youth Advisory Councils (YAC) group. In July, Illinois Libraries Presents was honored with the Hugh C. Atkinson Award for Interlibrary Cooperation from the Illinois Library Association. Public recognition continued in August with the Arlington Heights community voting AHML as the #1 Library in the Daily Herald's 2023 Readers' Choice Best of the Best.

2023 YEAR in NUMBERS