2025 Annual Report by hallcountylibrarysystem

2025 PLANTING POSSIBILITIES 2025 PLANTING POSSIBILITIES

Hall County Library System HallCountyLibrarySystem

DIRECTORS MESSAGE

2025 has been an exceptional year for the Hall County Library: our system has been named Georgia’s 2025 Library of the Year! This tremendous honor recognizes our library’s excellence in programming, community partnerships, staff development, and much more. If you haven’t visited one of our libraries recently, I hope you will do so to experience for yourself some of the exciting things we have happening. You can also visit our website at www.hallcountylibrary.org to learn more about our activities and services.

The construction of the East Hall Library has been another highlight of 2025. The groundbreaking was held in August, and we expect to open the facility in late 2026. This project will bring much needed services including high speed internet to the East Hall community. We are particularly pleased that the library will be adjacent to the East Hall Community Center, which will enable users to exercise their minds and bodies at the same time.

HCLS continues to grow in other ways as well. This year, we had more visitors, more circulation of items, and more programming. We continue to add new services as well such as the Newsbank database, which offers full text access to numerous national newspapers including the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and additional Wifi hotspots for check out. Our library buildings saw improvements as we added a conference room to the Spout Springs Library and renovated their young adult area. Blackshear Place added a new garden area and received a new entryway. In 2026, we look forward to making additional improvements at both our Murrayville and North Hall branches.

I am very proud to have spent the last twenty years working for the Hall County Library System and serving this amazing community. Thank you as library users for your continued support. HCLS cannot excel and grow without you, so I hope you will all celebrate our Library of the Year honor with us throughout 2026. I hope to see you in one of our library branches soon.

Lisa MacKinney Library Director lmackinney@hallcountylibrary.org

SERVING HALL COUNTY

m provides ns, mobile members.

EAST HALL

Exciting news ! The Hall County Library System expects the East Hall location to open late 2026 to serve the residents of East Hall.

Murrayville

Blackshear

STRATEGIC PLAN

2023 - 2027

StrategicPlan 2023-2027

Thankstoour2023StrategicPlanningCommittee: KatieCrumley,HallCountyGovernment;RuthBruner,Friends oftheHallCountyLibrary, StaffrepresentativeYuryCarmona; FacilitatorAssistantStateLibrarianBenCarter,GeorgiaPublic LibraryService

Targetmarketingand engagementtomedia platformsandusers. Expandmultilingual resourcesandprogramming. Provideconsistentuser experienceacrossall locations. Welcomecommunityinto repurposed,replenished, anddynamicspaces.

Providelibraryservices outsideoftraditionalhours andbuildings.

Expandanddiversify outreachinthecommunity topromotethefullrangeof libraryservicesand resources. Craftflexible,outside spaces. Enhancedigitalresources, services,andprogramming.

Exploredata-drivendecision makingtoevaluateservices andresourcestomaximize impactwithminimalcost. Developcommunitypartners forfutureprojectsand possiblegrantfunding. Buildcustomerserviceasa corecommitmentforstaffat alllevels.

Broadenexistinghuman resourcesprogramtoemploy, train,andretainhigh-quality staff.

BY THE NUMBERS

681,251 items were checked out totaling a 4% increase from last year

314,914 people visited the library in person and 244,362 visited online

HCLS has a total of 2,591 programs that saw 47,267 attendees

Patrons spent a total of 1,535,657 minutes on library computers

Hall County library card holders downloaded a total of 362,895 digital items.

HCLS saw a whopping 131% increase in downloadable item use. In 2025, Hall County residents saved an estimated $13.8 Million by using their library cards instead of purchasing books and digital media at retail prices. That is a massive return on investment for our community.

SOCIAL MEDIA

The Hall County Library System's social media presence continues to grow, with a combined reach of over 1 million individuals across various platforms

209.157K

ISSUU-LibraryInsiderNewsletter

62,402

47,485 Impressions Newsletter Reads

LibraryoftheYear:

Hall County Library System reached a historic milestone this year, being named the "Library of the Year" by Georgia Public Library Service. This prestigious distinction recognizes HCLS not just for our collections, but for our profound impact on the lives of Hall County residents. From innovative programming to expanded digital access, this award underscores our commitment to fostering a community where every citizen has the resources to thrive, learn, and connect.

PillarsoftheSouthsideCommunityAward:

Our role as a vital social anchor was reaffirmed this year as HCLS received the "Pillars of the Southside Community Award." This recognition celebrates our libraries as more than just buildings; they are essential spaces where Southside residents find support, resources, and a sense of belonging. Whether through specialized outreach or providing a safe space for gathering, HCLS remains dedicated to being the cornerstone that holds our diverse community together.

InvestinginProvenLeadership:

We are proud to announce the appointment of Veronica Gomez as our new Deputy Director. A cornerstone of the HCLS team for over two decades, Veronica brings an unparalleled depth of institutional knowledge and a passion for public service to this executive role. Most recently, she served as the Blackshear Place Branch and Passport Program Manager, where her leadership transformed branch operations and expanded vital community services. Her promotion ensures that HCLS remains guided by experience and a steadfast commitment to the Hall County community.

KathyGaileyScholarshipRecipients:

Congratulations to Troy Young and Holden Martinson, the 2025 recipients of the Kathy Gailey Memorial Scholarship. This award, provided annually by the Friends of the Hall County Library System, assists staff members i obtaining their Master of Library Science or specialized certifications. We are proud to support Troy and Holden as they advance their education to better serve the residents of Hall County.

BreakingGround: ANewChapterforEastHall

On October 8, 2025, Hall County officials and library leadership gathered at the East Hall Community Center to break ground on the new East Hall Library. This landmark event marks the return of a dedicated library branch to the East Hall region for the first time since 2011. Spanning 9,300 square feet, the new facility is designed to be a modern hub for the community, featuring a podcast studio, makerspace, and specialized areas for children and teens. Funded by a $3 million state grant and SPLOST VIII, this project represents our commitment to providing equitable access to technology and education for every resident in Hall County.

AFreshFaceforBlackshearPlace:

The multi-phase transformation of the Blackshear Place Library reached a stunning milestone this year as we entered the final stages of renovation. We have completely reimagined the library’s entrance, featuring a modernized foyer and new front doors designed to create a more accessible and welcoming environment for our patrons.

Additionally, the installation of a new garden area provides an outdoor space for the community, ensuring that the library remains a beautiful and revitalized destination for years to come.

NewSpacesforConnectionatSpoutSpring

To meet the growing demand for local meeting spaces, the Spout Springs Library successfully transformed this space into a state-of-the-art conference room. This versatile new space— complete with a kitchenette and smart TV technology—is designed specifically to host boo clubs, community committees, and small-group programs. By modernizing our existing footprin we are providing a professional and comfortabl environment where Hall County residents can gather to share ideas and build connections.

ADigitalRevolution:

131% Growth in e-Resource Usage This year, H experienced a monumental shift in how our patrons access information, with digital data usage skyrocketing by 131%. A key driver of th success was the launch of The Palace Project, revolutionary app that consolidates various e book and audiobook collections into a single, user-friendly platform. By simplifying the dig experience, we’ve made it easier than ever for community to read on the go. Furthermore, w expanded our specialized offerings with Craft Hobby, providing thousands of expert-led instructional videos, and Newsbank, offering comprehensive access to local and national n archives.

HCLSandHallCountySchools Great things happen when local organizations work together. Our ongoing collaboration with the Hall County School System for the Summer Lunch Program saw another year of incredible success. By leveraging our accessible library locations and the school system’s nutritional resources, we provided hundreds of meals to children in a safe, welcoming environment.

ARecord-BreakingYearfor Engagement:

2025 was a year of unprecedented growth for the Hall County Library System. Our community didn't just show up—they set new records. Total attendance at our library programs climbed by 24%, proving that our branches are the heartbeat of local activity.

Nowhere was this energy more apparent than in our Summer Reading Program, where Hall County readers of all ages logged a mind-blowing 1,985,270 minutes. From toddlers to seniors, our residents "colored their world" with literature, transforming the summer into a season of extraordinary academic and personal growth.