Ann Arbor District Library Annual Report. July 2014 through June 2015.
The Ann Arbor District Library Board of Trustees 2015-2016
Back Row (l-r): Nancy Kaplan, Secretary; Jim Leija, Trustee; Jamie Vander Broek, Trustee
Front Row (l-r): Margaret Leary, Trustee; Prue Rosenthal, Treasurer; Edward Surovell, Vice President; Jan Barney Newman, President
Director's Note

Where are you when you use the public library? There was a time when that question would not have made sense. The only place to use the library was, well, at the library.
Our ability now to use our libraries from anywhere in the world is a remarkable and profound shift in how libraries serve their communities, but the essential work of the library is unchanged. We don’t have to leave home to use the library, but we still do. We don’t have to check out a physical book from the library, but we still do. We don’t have to show up in-person for a talk, but we still do.
How we use our libraries has changed, and who uses them has changed, but why people use the library is timeless. We need to learn, to try new things, and to experiment. We need to ask why, to test ourselves, and to stay in touch with others in the place we choose to live. That's why we use our library whenever, however, and from wherever. –Josie
Highlights
Did you know?
Three out of four local households use the Ann Arbor District Library at least a few times a month.
This year, AADL responded to community needs and interests by developing a new strategic plan. To begin the planning process, the Library commissioned a community survey on Library awareness, use, and satisfaction.
In our 2016 community survey we learned that 84% of households visited an AADL building in the past year and 73% of those surveyed were frequent AADL visitors. One third came to the Library a few days a week or even every day.
Here are many ways that people visit and interact with AADL.
Visting the Downtown Library And Branches
Even with one branch closed for renovation much of the year, AADL had 1.6 million visits to its buildings.
Over half a million of these visits were to the Downtown Library alone — an increase of 6% over the previous year.
Building Use
There are many reasons that people come to the library.
Building Improvements
We started the year by completing the renovation to the front of the Downtown Library and finished the year by preparing for the opening of our newly renovated Westgate Branch.
Experiencing AADL Events
Total program attendance at AADL events surpassed 100,000 for the first time in the Library’s history!

AADL held 1,650 events with total program attendance of 114,544 — a 34% increase from the previous year. Here are some of the highlights!
I Wan Jan Taiwanese Puppet Theater
Journalist Leslie Stahl
Nerd Nite Monthly Series @ LIVE
Actress Cindy Williams
Night of Notable Authors
Here are some of our biggest events over the past year.
Visiting AADL Online
There were 80 million visits to aadl.org last year – an increase of 51% from the previous year.
In addition to the established services on aadl.org, we’re excited to connect with the community in these new and exciting ways.
Pulp
AADL's local arts & entertainment blog.
Fifth Avenue Press
AADL’s publishing imprint for local writers.
AADL NEWS
Updates about Library news and happenings via email. Sign up here.
People are engaging with the library on social media. Here are some of the things we've heard on Twitter!
Kiddo's first library card! She's a great beginning reader & quickly had a big stack of books to check out. @aadl pic.twitter.com/tNHYrvPf6y
— BookMama (@BookMama1) March 26, 2016
Holy smokes! Sleeping Giants by @neuvel just released today & the library already has it ready for pickup! @aadl, you guys rock! #amreading
— Lauren (@bookineering) April 26, 2016
The @aadl staff were so good at #A2CAF—enthusiastic, kind, & accommodating. I love seeing libraries and cartoonists come together like that.
— Lucy Bellwood (@LuBellWoo) June 21, 2016
Remarkable new summary of Old News re the Pall-Gelman dioxane contamination. https://t.co/xt5FV75ZGg Novel approach, timely, thanks, @aadl
— Vivienne Armentrout (@localinannarbor) March 9, 2016
Yes, my local library is a 5-star library. Congrats @aadl! Thanks for all you do for the community!https://t.co/Vbkxl2jszw
— Andy Wolber (@awolber) November 5, 2015
The @aadl is probably the best library ever... Just found @secretlab. Very #A2 & very awesome! 🔬📖🔭📚
— Brooke N. Horton (@BrookeNHorton) October 26, 2015
I love my library. I can check out books, and analog synthesizers. @aadl @aadl_tools pic.twitter.com/i8kVwUyNIi
— Josh Woodward (@joshwoodward) October 26, 2015
We were even featured on Michigan Radio!
Connect with AADL here:
Statistics
Ann Arbor District Library is open to the public
357 days per year
141,298 Cardholders
8,537 New library cards
issued this year
Event Attendance

DURING THE 2015-2016 FISCAL YEAR AADL HOSTED
1,650
EVENTS
Event attendance set an all-time record in June 2016 with 25,992 attendees!
In June 2016, AADL held 162 events across all locations, including the Summer Game kickoff and Summerfest events.
Door count summary

Even with Westgate Branch closed for renovation for most of the fiscal year, over 4,300 people came through our doors every day. The Downtown Library experienced an increase of approximately 6% over the previous fiscal year.
Circulation
6,871,651
system-wide circulation transactions
Collections
ADULT
Material System-wide
Books 210,957
Compact Discs 52,683
DVDS 52,400
Magazines 22,357
Audiobooks 15,291
Blu-ray 14,189
Language Materials 2,488
Up for Grabs 2,049
Tools & Other 1,823
KIDS & TEEN
Material System-wide
Books 171,914
DVDS 22,958
Audiobooks 5,630
Compact Discs 3,493
Magazines 3,397
Blu-ray 1,738
Tools & Other 1,579
Financial
REVENUE
Property Taxes $12,752,891
Library Fines & Fees $318,810
State Penal Fines $277,769
Grants & Memorials $167,789
Interest Income $153,739
State Aid $94,560
Other $44,487
TOTAL$13,810,405
EXPENDITURES
Employment Costs $7,619,185
Capital Outlay $3,908,252
Materials $1,839,754
Purchased Services $1,135,662
Operating Supplies $570,071
Programming $371,201
Repairs & Maintenance $359,348
Other $173,696
Rent $163,105
TOTAL$16,140,094
Gifts & Memorials
July 1, 2015 Through June 30, 2016
General Gift Fund
- Suzanne Admiraal & Patrick O’Brien
- Barbara Costello
In Honor of Owen T. Bourke - Robert J. Donnellan
- Gordon Ebbitt
- Thomas Finholt & Stephanie Teasley
- Elizabeth Fox
In Honor of Dave and Amy McNulty and Family - Friends of the Ann Arbor District Library
In Memory of Gene Wilson - Jim and Bonnie Reece
- UM FWC Paint Group
In Memory of Eathel Mendenhall - Brian Weatherson
Adult, Digital & Special Collections
- John Awood
In Memory of Sandra Alt Awood - Doug Cox
- Sophie Mordis
Fine Arts Collection
- Jerome and Geraldine Koupal
- Carl and Joan Schneider
- International Genealogical Search, Inc.
Ladies Library Association
- Ladies Library Association
Marcy Westerman Fund
- Kathryn L. Detrisac
- Gerald W. Kohn
- Julie Tamarkin
In Honor of Irene Dernberger - William and Lora Treadwell
Outreach
- Roger Espinosa
- Bethany Selleck
In Memory of Patricia Pigg
Ben Price Memorial Fund
- Josie B. Parker
In Memory of Rebecca Head
Programs
- City of Ann Arbor Administrators Office
In Honor of Steve Powers - Friends of the Ann Arbor District Library
Youth & Teen Programs & Collections
- EMU University Health Services Staff
In Memory of Mary Elin Roberts Arnsdorf - Dan and Jan Longone
- Margaret and John Randolph
In Memory of Adele Samuels - Jean Steppe
- Yuanyuan Xiao
For more information about making a gift to the Ann Arbor District Library,
please visit aadl.org/donations