2023
Annual Report
Connecting the People of North Central Washington to vital resources and opportunities that foster individual growth and strengthen communities.
Dear Neighbor,
Thank you for helping us create a new normal in 2023.
You showed up at the library with your families, neighbors, and friends. We are so grateful. From program attendance to circulation, we saw an increase in use and engagement across library services. For example, in 2023, you borrowed 22% more digital materials than in 2022. You also borrowed 28% more items through the Mail Order Library. We offered more programs in 2023 and saw an over 50% increase in the number of program attendees.
Our excellent team of committed library professionals also showed up in 2023. Everyone feels the impact of inflation, at home, at work, even at the library. In 2023, our annual revenue barely covered our operating costs. Soon, rising operating costs will exceed our revenue. Our staff worked tirelessly to maximize resources and find opportunities for cost savings while continuing to offer excellent library services and responsive programming.
The data below demonstrates that people across our region are using the library more than ever. Public libraries are essential to the health, vitality, and future of our region. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Barbara Walters
Board of Trustees
Staff
NCW Libraries employs 211 staff members across North Central Washington. Our staff live and work in the communities NCW Libraries serves, ensuring that our library services are tailored and relevant in each location.
Your Trust, Our Responsibility
We are a trusted resource for every member of our diverse communities. We provide you with exceptional customer service from an unbiased perspective and always respect your right to privacy and intellectual freedom.
Embedded Services
“Through this program, I have connected with community members across various demographics who were not previously using the library. For example, I have been able to assist Spanish-speaking individuals by making them aware of library resources available in their language.” – Clare, Peshastin Librarian
In 2023, Peshastin Librarian Clare began partnering with WSU Extension Nutrition Educator, Jackie Reed, to visit the Community Cupboard.
The Community Cupboard is a “shopping style” food pantry located in Leavenworth and operated by the non-profit Upper Valley MEND. The Cupboard serves anyone in need regardless of residence, drawing people from across the Upper Valley area.
“Community Cupboard staff members Alejandro Muro and Laurie Peek have been fantastic partners in promoting library services by sharing their enthusiasm for the library with visitors and encouraging them to get library cards,” said Clare.
Clare helps people get library cards and brings materials for browsing and borrowing. Jackie brings a recipe and sample featuring an ingredient available in the cupboard. Clare often brings cookbooks to go along with the theme.
As a result of the partnership, the WSU Extension hosted a month-long series at the library on cooking, budget friendly grocery shopping, and nutrition that is now being replicated at other libraries in our district.
“Through this program, I have gained a greater awareness of food and housing insecurity and the resources available. This has informed my work at the library and allowed me to be a better resource for patrons seeking assistance,” said Clare.
Strengthening Community
“I thank you for reading stories because this is the first time that I attend with one of my children, out of the five I have. I’ve only been able to come with my daughter Lia. Thank you very much for these moments that are so special and beautiful, and for your help. Blessings.”
This quote is from a mom after attending the Prime-Time Family Literacy Program for Latinx families through the Wenatchee School District in partnership with NCW Libraries Latinx Services Manager, Claudia.
For 6 weeks, families gathered at Mission View Elementary school. Program facilitators, including Claudia, served a meal and sat down to enjoy it with the families. After dinner, Claudia read a bilingual story and Community Artist, Martha Flores, led a discussion.
One family had moved to the area from Mexico only three months prior. The program provided an easy, informal, and welcoming place for them to connect with other families and learn about community resources, including the library.
Photo credit: Wenatchee School District
Growing Together
We keep you connected to our changing world and your own curiosity. We listen and respond to your wants and needs with dependable and evolving services, entertaining and thought-provoking content, culturally enriching activities, and access to new technologies.
Learning Together
Laura became the Royal City Librarian in 2023. In her first few months on the job, she quickly came to understand the community’s need for English Language learning opportunities.
Laura learned that an ESOL class was offered locally by Big Bend Community College (BBCC). To help spread the word, she shared the class information on the Royal City Library’s Facebook page. As a result, the class now has a waitlist and BBCC is committed to continuing the service. A community member who saw the post came to the library for the first time and got a library card.
In her conversations with patrons, Laura discovered that many advanced English language learners wanted to fine-tune their pronunciation, vocabulary, and comprehension. She launched a weekly Conversation Hour at the library to supplement BBCC offerings. The class provides a flexible way for people to drop in and continue improving their English Language skills in a comfortable, informal environment.
Senior Connections
Many seniors living on a fixed income have been attracted to the small community of Warden due to the availability of subsidized housing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone, especially seniors, experienced feelings of isolation and loneliness. Once it was safe to gather, seniors in Warden began visiting the library more and more. They stayed to talk and connect. Librarian Jean started introducing people to each other when they came in.
Eventually, Jean scheduled a weekly event on the library calendar for seniors to visit the library, connect, and enjoy conversation. She offered an open invitation for any Warden senior to interact with others and build friendships. Over time, a core group of seniors became regulars, attending every week. Eventually, a second weekly program was scheduled to dedicate time for playing games together.
The group has grown and now actively plans additional activities, always inviting new folks to join.
“It is wonderful to hear excitement and laughter from our Warden Senior Community Members,” said Librarian Jean.
Embrace Learning & Discovering Together
When you need information, we can help you find it. Whether you’re teaching your child to read, learning a new language, developing a new skill, or updating your resume, our robust collections and compelling programs make lifelong learning fun.
You Belong
“You belong in STEM.” This was the message that over 600 8th grade female and non-binary students heard as they explored technology and computer science careers during the Tech and Tiaras Program.
Young women are significantly underrepresented in STEM classes and jobs. Tech and Tiaras helps change that statistic by providing a safe space to explore a future career in STEM. Students cycled through stations led by women in the field, designed to spark students’ interest and show representation. They learned about various career paths, built circuit boards for light up tiaras, and worked with Sphero robots.
NCW Libraries STEM Services Manager, Ash Kunz joined the Apple STEM Network, the North Central Educational Service District, Microsoft, the NCW Tech Alliance, and Career Connect Washington to host this program.
Breaking Down Barriers
In early 2023, the Mail Order Library (MOL) staff received letters from patrons who were incarcerated at the Okanogan County Jail and were interested in borrowing library materials.
Open to expanding library connections, Rural Services Manager Mary Lou talked with jail staff and developed a partnership to provide paperback books to incarcerated individuals through the MOL service.
Once the service began, letters flooded the MOL staff with requests for books with legal advice, on local history, graphic novels, and for cultural enrichment.
“Believe it or not, you and the family of staff at NCW Libraries are real life superheroes. So, thank you all very much on behalf of everyone in which y’all’s great reach of positivity impacts.” – A patron from Okanogan County Jail
We Build Community Together
Community partnerships allow us to connect with area experts to leverage our resources and meet the most pressing needs of our region. Here are a few examples of our 2023 Community Partnerships:
- Action Health Partners provided blood pressure monitors for patrons to borrow through the library.
- Community Health Plan of Washington presented free bilingual workshops at various libraries to help patrons navigate health insurance options.
- Greater Leavenworth Museum offered museum passes for patrons to borrow through the library.
- Hand in Hand Immigration offered Naturalization Information Sessions at several library locations.
- Humanities Washington offered many in-person and virtual presentations featuring Washington State scholars, authors, and experts.
- Indigenous Roots and Reparation Foundation led a series of book discussions on The Seven Circles: Indigenous Teachings for Living Well.
- Wenatchee Dispute Resolution Center, NCW Equity Alliance, and Our Valley Our Future co-hosted a six-week series on the principles used in mediation and civil discourse.
- Wenatchee Valley College cohosted an NCW Reads virtual author program featuring Yasmin Ramirez.
- Write on the River co-sponsored a Teen Fiction Writing Competition.
2023 Budget Summary
NCW Libraries card holders enjoy free access to tons of materials including ebooks, eaudiobooks, and excellent online resources offering homework help, test prep, consumer research, work skills development, language learning, and more 24/7. View our Budgets page for more information about our annual budgets.
| Property taxes |
$15,615,192
|
| Intergovernmental revenue |
$220,000
|
| Charges for services – printing, fees, city contracts |
$410,593
|
| Fines – lost and damaged materials |
$18,000
|
| Misc revenue |
$256,000
|
| Total revenue |
$16,519,785
|
NOTE: 95% of revenue comes from local property taxes.
| Personnel costs – salary, wages, and benefits |
$11,133,318
|
| Public services – supplies, library materials, software, hardware, equipment, professional services, phone, internet, postage, mileage, advertising, rentals & leases, insurance |
$3,377,806
|
| Facilities – supplies, small equipment, professional services, utilities, rentals & leases, repairs and maintenance, contributions to cities, etc. |
$1,461,158
|
| Administration |
$137,500
|
| Total expenditures |
$16,640,285
|
NCW Libraries manages its budget to be good stewards of public investment, making sure that budgeted expenditures do not exceed revenues.
Collection
Through NCW Libraries you have access to over 750,000 library materials!
| Physical materials |
524,582
|
| Digital materials |
260,777
|
Our collection of library materials is constantly evolving!
| New physical items added |
83,744
|
| New digital items added |
58,561
|
Circulation
You borrowed over a million library materials!
| Physical materials borrowed |
815,435
|
| Digital materials borrowed |
519,582
|
| Items sent through the Mail Order Library |
51,616
|
| Inter-library loans sent to other libraries |
5,434
|
| Inter-library loans received from other libraries |
4,212
|
| Book club kits borrowed |
853
|
| Classroom kits borrowed |
122
|
Programs
Over 50,000 of you attended library programs!
| In-person program attendees |
49,973
|
| Virtual program attendees |
1,274
|
| Total program attendees |
51,247
|
| In-person program offered |
3,028
|
| Virtual program offered |
72
|
| Total program offered |
3,100
|
| Summer library program participants |
5,608
|
| STEM programs |
301
|
| STEM program attendees |
4,181
|
| Online reading challenges through Beanstack |
23
|
| Online reading challenge participants through Beanstack |
1,006
|
| Minutes of reading tracked through Beanstack |
416,591
|
| Books read tracked through Beanstack |
1,397
|
Library Services and Engagement
You viewed our online catalog over a million times!
| Online catalog views |
1,219,637
|
| People visited our libraries |
660,746
|
| Wireless internet sessions |
597,626
|
| Website visits to ncwlibraries.org |
297,250
|
| Sessions on our 198 public computers |
256,780
|
| Uses of online databases |
76,231
|
| Open hours in our 30 library locations and community bookmobile |
53,367
|
| Library card holders |
46,628
|
| Mail Order Library shipments sent |
35,834
|
| New library cards issued |
9,483
|
Freedom to Read
Adopted by the NCW Libraries Board of Trustees and Executive Leadership Team in Fall 2023
NCW Libraries believes that free access to information and ideas is an essential human right, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. We believe that the freedom to read is a cornerstone of our democratic society. We join the American Library Association and public libraries across the nation in championing and defending the freedom to read.
View the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Statement.
Thank You!
NCW Libraries represents the incredibly vibrant and diverse communities that live, work, and play in North Central Washington. Our goal for 2024 and beyond is to better reflect that diversity in our programs, resources, and services. We are stronger together!
We are grateful for the community and for the tireless support of our board, staff, Friends of the Library groups, and partners.
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