Library Report 2025/10/13City of Anaheim
COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Anaheim Public Library
October 13, 2025
Honorable Mayor and City Council:
Per ARTICLE IX. APPOINTIVE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, Section
908, of the Anaheim City Charter - The Anaheim Public Library Board shall
have the power and duty to: "Within sixty days after the close of each fiscal
year, report to the City Council on the condition of the libraries for the
preceding fiscal year and on such other matters deemed expedient by the
Library Board."
The Anaheim Public Library Board of Trustees is pleased to have the
opportunity to present comments regarding the condition of the Anaheim
Public Library System for Fiscal Year 2024/25.
Anaheim Public Library promotes literacy, lifelong learning, and a love of
reading through traditional print materials as well as virtual services. Our
mission is to promote information through programming and engage our
community, while providing a safe space for the diverse members of Anaheim
to share, thrive, explore, create, enjoy, honor, celebrate, and engage with one
another.
For Fiscal Year 2045/25, Anaheim Public Library (APL) circulated over 1.08
million items and served over 5 million patrons physically and virtually. In
addition, the Library hosted 163,000 people participating in library programs,
provided nearly 64,000 hours of computer usage to patrons, and promoted
literacy and community engagement with more than 4,000 participating in the
Summer Reading Program. These achievements are a testament to the
community's desire to visit the library in person as well as APL staff s
dedication and the time they spend encouraging literacy, lifelong learning, and
a love of reading among the diverse members of the Anaheim community.
CURRENT YEAR ACHIEVEMENTS
• National Award -Winning Library
The Library was once again awarded not only one, but three PR Xchange
National Awards from the American Library Association (ALA). The PR
Xchange award recognizes the very best public relations materials
produced by libraries in the past year. These awards were for the Born
Digital Category — Summer Reading Partnership with Raising Cane's
Video "Rhythm of Reading", Winter Reading Program Flyer Design -
"Zombee's Winter Reading Fest!", and the Mobile Library inspired library
card, "Library on the Go!"
500 West Broadway
Anaheim, California 92805
TEL (714) 765-1880
FAX (714) 765-1731
www.anaheim.net
Report to the City Council on the Condition of the Libraries
October 13, 2025
Page 2
• Haskett Makerspace - Link Labs
o A grand opening was held for Link Labs, a Makerspace and Media Lab
at Haskett Library, where residents can be creative, collaborative, and
ensure lifelong learning. This is the first Makerspace in Anaheim that is
free of charge.
o The Haskett Makerspace provides a collaborative workshop equipped
with technology for fabricating physical products, including 3D printers,
sewing and vinyl cutting machines, laser cutters and engravers, and
sublimation heat presses.
o The Media Lab offers a place to record music, create videos, and
podcasts using a Green Screen, recording room, Virtual Reality station,
and more. It also houses a Memory Lab where patrons can digitize their
VHS, photographs, sound recordings, videos, and film.
o Funding for this project was provided by a California State Library
grant, CDBG funding, Anaheim Public Library Foundation, Samueli
Foundation, and other private donors.
• Amnesty Month
Anaheim Public Library held its first Amnesty month for the community in
September 2024, with the intent to restore the borrower's relationship with
the library and- enable them to use the library again. Anaheim's first -ever
amnesty month gave 430 people a fresh start with the library.
• APL Accessibility and Communication Initiative
o Anaheim Public Library is committed to fostering an inclusive
environment where every patron feels valued. As part of our
accessibility initiative, we continually review our resources, services,
and programs to identify and remove barriers, ensuring they are
welcoming and inclusive for all.
o Among those resources is ASLdeafined - a leading provider of online
American Sign Language learning resources with video lessons, a video
dictionary of signs, and the expertise of a diverse group of Deaf and
Hard of Hearing mentors, advocates, and professionals. Anaheim Public
Library cardholders are provided with free access to this robust resource
in addition to several others.
o Anaheim Public Library's accessibility initiative is generously
supported by the Friends of the Anaheim Public Library, Anaheim
Public Library Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Greater Anaheim, and
Rotary Club of Anaheim.
Report to the City Council on the Condition of the Libraries
October 13, 2025
Page 3
• APL Mobile App
The Anaheim Public Library has a new Mobile App from SirsiDynix that is
available to download for Apple and Google Devices.
• Social Media
Anaheim Public Library's social media presence continues to grow. They
have reached over 10,000 followers on Instagram, with an average annual
gain of 1,000 followers. With support and reposting by Anaheim City
Council members, local school districts, libraries nationwide, and a few
notable figures, the library has seen a roughly 300% increase in followers
since January 2024. One Instagram video has garnered over 1.4 million
views and reached more than 800,000 accounts. Our digital efforts offer
equitable access to information, opportunities, and library spaces for every
member of our community.
• Lunch at the Library
o The Anaheim Public Library's Mobile Library Services Branch, Haskett
Branch, and Ponderosa Joint -Use Branch Libraries were awarded
$100,000 for the Lunch at the Library Partner Project (LATLPP),
expanding upon the summer Lunch at the Library (LATL) grant to
support school -year programming.
o Mobile Library Services, Haskett Branch, and Ponderosa Joint -Use
Branch Libraries offer year-round neighborhood and after -school
programs that support learning, literacy, and bilingual reading in
English and Spanish. These services are delivered to residents in high -
density, low-income neighborhoods with limited access to city libraries.
By bringing library pop-up programs, resources, and services directly
into these communities, the Library helps overcome barriers caused by
poverty, limited opportunities, and lack of transportation.
o LATLPP funding supports programming and book distribution at all
program sites that offer USDA meals and snacks, with the goal of
helping families build home libraries. Each site was visited by an
Anaheim Public Library branch at least three times during the school
year. During these library pop -ups, more than 8,000 meals were served,
98 enrichment programs were held, and 3,963 books were distributed
for home libraries.
Report to the City Council on the Condition of the Libraries
October 13, 2025
Page 4
o In addition to after -school pop -ups, LATLPP grant funds also supported
Anaheim Library STEAM Van programs and home library book
distributions at Anaheim Mobile Family Resource Centers (AMFRCs).
Across 34 AMFRC stop locations and 76 total visits, 5,377 books were
distributed. The AMFRCs go directly into neighborhoods connecting
residents with essential City and nonprofit community services,
including food boxes and other vital resources.
PLANNED PROJECTS
• APL/AESD collaboration to support literacy for students, maximize
the use of APL online resources, and raise reading scores
AESD and APL are stepping up the Student Success initiative to attempt to
build deeper literacy gains for AESD's students. AESD is inviting APL to
join them for multiple meetings with staff, parents, and district leaders to
ensure that AESD students know how to access Library resources. Thanks
to Jackie Filbeck, AESD Board Member and Library Board Member,
APL's services were advertised on the elementary school marquees.
• Facility Improvements
o For the first time in California history, the California State Library
offered grants for deferred maintenance of public libraries. Through a
very highly competitive process, APL was awarded 4 grants for a total
amount of $514,000 from the California State Library's Building
Forward Grant Program in Fiscal Year 2022/2023.
■ Central Library — Expansion of Fire Alarm Klaxons into the staff
and storage areas of the basement $17,000
■ Euclid Library — HVAC System Replacement $133,000
■ Haskett Library — HVAC System Replacement $233,000
■ Sunkist Library — HVAC System Replacement $133,000
The Public Works Department will match $0.50 for every dollar of
the grant to complete the project.
■ Expected completion of all projects is FY 2026/27.
ALTERNATE FUNDING
The Library received more than $350,000 in alternate funding. This funding
includes a variety of grants from various organizations dedicated to enhancing
literacy. Grant funding was awarded for a variety of programs, including
Lunch at the Library, Haskett Branch Library Makerspace, programming, and
more. In addition, APL received generous funding support from the Anaheim
Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Anaheim Public Library, Friends of
the Canyon Hills Library, Kiwanis Club of Greater Anaheim, Altrusa
International of Anaheim, Rotary Club of Anaheim, and the Samueli
Report to the City Council on the Condition of the Libraries
October 13, 2025
Page 5
Foundation. These organizations supported programming for children and
teens, eBooks, Summer Reading Program, STEAM programming and kits, OC
Zine Fest, AnaCon, Hispanic Heritage Month programming, Black History
Month programming, Native Arts Festival, accessibility, marketing, enhanced
patron experiences at each branch, and more. In addition, the Library was very
grateful to receive 10,000 toys from Giving Children Hope that were used as
reading incentive prizes.
The Library Board is very proud of the many accomplishments of the Anaheim
Public Library for Fiscal Year 2024/25. The Library Board is once again
thankful to the Anaheim City Council for your continued support of the
Anaheim Public Library. We look forward to the exciting projects, programs,
and services that are planned in Fiscal Year 2025/26.
Res'pectffilly submitted:
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Linda Newby, Chair