FONTANA REGIONAL LIBRARY INC

FONTANA REGIONAL LIBRARY PROGRAM SERVICE STATEMENT 2023 THE FONTANA REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM (FRL) IS LOCATED IN THE RURAL MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, WE SERVE JACKSON, MACON, AND SWAIN COUNTIES, AS WELL AS PEOPLE FROM NEIGHBORING AREAS INCLUDING THE QUALLA BOUNDARY, HOME TO THE EASTERN BAND OF THE CHEROKEE INDIANS. THE SIX FRL LIBRARIES PROVIDE FREE ACCESS TO BOOKS, PERIODICALS, AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS BOTH IN PHYSICAL AND ELECTRONIC FORMS, PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES, INFORMATION, NOTARY SERVICES, COMPUTERS, INTERNET ACCESS, AND WI-FL. TO SERVE THE STEM EDUCATION NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY FRL OFFERS TELESCOPES, ROBOTICS, AND SEWING MACHINGS. FRL HAS A PORTABLE PLANETARIUM AVAILABLE FOR USE AT SCHOOLS, FESTIVALS, AND SCIENCE PROGRAMMING EVENTS. THE LIBRARY PROVIDES FREE PUBLIC INTERNET COMPUTERS AND FREE WI-FL ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC IN ALL OUR BUILDINGS. THE COMPUTERS WERE USED 14,275 TIMES; THE PUBLIC USED THEIR OWN WI-FL DEVICES ON THE LIBRARY NETWORK 235,291 TIMES. THE LIBRARY PROVIDES INFORMATION RESOURCES BOTH IN THE BUILDINGS AND ONLINE TO ALL PERSONS WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION. IN THE PAST YEAR, THE LIBRARY LENT OVER 401,000 ITEMS, INCLUDING BOOKS, MUSIC, VIDEO, TELESCOPES, BACKPACKS, GAMES, AND EQUIPMENT; OR OVER 4.25 ITEMS PER CAPITA IN THE COMMUNITIES. 112,930 OF THESE WERE ELECTRONIC RESOURCES AVAILABLE ONLINE THROUGH THE WEBSITE WITH A VALID LIBRARY CARD. THERE WERE 314,058 VISITS TO THE LIBRARY DURING THE YEAR, 204,638 VISITS TO THE LIBRARY'S WEBSITE, AND THE STAFF ANSWERED OVER 65,000 REFERENCE QUESTIONS FOR THE PUBLIC. THE LIBRARY PROVIDES THE COMMUNITY WITH SAFE, COMFORTABLE PLACES TO GATHER AND SHARE INFORMATION AND IDEAS. THE LIBRARY PRESENTED 2,332 FREE PROGRAMS AND CLASSES TO THE PUBLIC, ATTENDED BY OVER 37,750 PEOPLE. THIS YEAR, LIBRARY MEETING ROOMS WERE USED FOR 7,665 NONLIBRARY MEETINGS, ATTENDED BY 26,919 PEOPLE. FRL OFFERED OUTREACH PROGRAMMING FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT COULD NOT MAKE IT TO THE LIBRARY. THERE WERE 384 PROGRAMS WITH 8,094 ATTENDEES AT OUTREACH PROGRAMMING. THE LIBRARY HAD COMMUNICATIVE, COOPERATIVE, OR COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OVER 135 LOCAL AREA GROUPS AND AGENCIES INCLUDING SCHOOLS, DEPARTMENT ON AGING, SENIOR SERVICES, HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY, THE SOUTHWESTERN COMMISSION, AARP, AND UNIDXS TO PROVIDE SERVICE AND INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. FRL'S MISSION IS "TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC OF JACKSON, MACON, AND SWAIN COUNTIES WITH EXCELLENT SERVICE AND CONVENIENT ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR THEIR EDUCATIONAL, INFORMATIONAL, AND RECERATIONAL NEEDS." OUR STATISTICS SHOW THAT USAGE OF LIBRARY RESOURCES IS EVOLVING, AND THE LIBRARY REMAINS A VITAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY.