William Crooks
The Lennoxville Library board stands together after their annual general meeting on Feb. 11, 2025, where they reviewed the past year’s achievements, financials, and upcoming plans for the library

Outlines achievements and plans

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

The Lennoxville Library held its Annual General Meeting on Feb. 11, highlighting a year of growth, community engagement, and financial responsibility. Library board president Heather Thomson, treasurer Ron Coughlin, and director Christian Collins presented their respective reports, detailing accomplishments and future plans.

President’s report: A year of improvements and community support

Heather Thomson, president of the board, opened with a note of gratitude for the library’s volunteers, whose 2,000 hours of work equate to that of a full-time employee. “Our volunteers are the backbone of the library,” Thomson emphasized. The library currently has about 50 volunteers, with 10-12 offering weekly assistance. Volunteers assist with cataloguing, shelving, interlibrary loans, and event organization.

One of the key highlights was the reorganization of the library’s physical space. Thanks to financial support from the Tillotson Fund, the City of Sherbrooke, and Global Excel, significant improvements were made, including the acquisition of modular tables, new study carrels, comfortable seating, and beanbags for the children’s area. The library also installed a retractable screen, which had been provided by the City of Sherbrooke but had not yet been put in place. “We’ve reimagined the space to better serve our patrons,” Thomson said.

The library also expanded its outreach with the enhancement of the Espace Biblio at Square Queen. With the help of the Townshippers Foundation and the Tillotson Fund, a new tent, outdoor seating, and children’s play materials were added, enriching community engagement at the Lennoxville Farmers Market. Over the summer, Espace Biblio hosted 21 activities, drawing in 1,017 visitors, including 696 children and families who participated in programs such as storytelling and arts and crafts.

Fundraising efforts brought in over $11,600, primarily from book sales at the Lennoxville United Church and the Salle Amédée Beaudoin. The “Adopt-a-Book” program and local business sponsorships contributed an additional $4,800. “Our community’s generosity makes everything we do possible,” Thomson noted. Additionally, the Supporting Member Program raised $5,535, reinforcing financial stability for the library.

The library also saw success in program development, hosting 105 children’s activities and 55 events for adults. Programs such as family book clubs, pajama storytimes, author visits, and history talks helped bolster engagement. “Our goal is to keep expanding our offerings while maintaining the quality of service,” Thomson said.

Financial report: Managing growth and stability

Treasurer Ron Coughlin provided a comprehensive financial overview, noting that while the library ended the year with a modest $1,545 deficit, it represented a significant improvement from the previous year’s $12,000 shortfall.

Most of the library’s revenue came from the City of Sherbrooke, which contributed $120,703 in grants, with an increase to $123,720 expected in 2025. Other key funding sources included Canada Summer Jobs, Young Canada Works, and private grants from organizations such as Tillotson and the Townshippers Foundation. Additional revenue was generated through book sales, which raised nearly $6,800, as well as donations that exceeded expectations at $5,300. Membership fees contributed $2,002, and supplementary revenue came from printing services, lost book fees, and the Literacy in Action program.

On the expense side, salaries and benefits accounted for over $105,000. Collection acquisitions, including books, DVDs, and board games, totaled just over $32,000. The library purchased 1,974 new books and media while removing 2,051 outdated items from the collection. “We were able to maintain a balance between investment in materials and keeping our overall costs under control,” Coughlin stated.

The library also benefited from careful spending reductions, such as cutting unnecessary insurance expenses. “We’re in a stable financial position, and our budget for 2025 reflects a continuation of that trend,” he added. The 2025 budget projects revenue of $167,770, with a modest 2 per cent increase in salaries and acquisitions, while reducing costs in areas like insurance and magazine subscriptions.

Director’s report: Strengthening community ties

Library director Christian Collins shifted focus to the library’s impact on the community over the course of 2024. He underscored the growth in active memberships, which rose by 10 per cent to 1,752, and a 6 per cent increase in total circulation to 27,182 items. “The numbers reflect growing community interest and a greater reliance on our services,” he noted.

“Our programming saw a surge in participation,” Collins stated, with attendance for youth programs increasing by 29 per cent and adult participation growing by 13 per cent. The Espace Biblio remained a vital community hub, offering activities such as Japanese shibori tie-dyeing, pollinator day, and lantern-making. The library also hosted Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons sessions, drawing enthusiastic participants from the area.

Canada Reads-and so does Lennoxville, one of the library’s signature events, drew over 75 attendees in person and another 40 online, with 167 more watching later on YouTube. Other outreach activities included a presence at the Lennoxville Elementary School welcome back picnic and the Bishop’s University volunteer fair.

Collins credited improved relationships with the City of Sherbrooke for making it easier to organize events and secure funding. “Having a consistent point of contact at the city has been a game-changer for us,” he said. The library also continued its collaboration with Literacy in Action, local authors, and cultural organizations, ensuring a dynamic calendar of events.

As the meeting wrapped up, board members unanimously agreed to maintain their various positions for another year, ensuring continuity in leadership.

With a year of strategic improvements behind them and plans for further growth in 2025, the Lennoxville Library remains a cornerstone of the community, adapting and expanding its services to meet the needs of its patrons.