In 2020, the Brumback Library marked its 119th year of service to the residents of Van Wert County. The Library’s Board of Trustees, Director, Staff, and Volunteers are truly honored to have played an active role in this vital community institution which has continued to witness growth and development as it meets the varied needs of patrons of all ages. To illustrate this point, over 28,000 library users borrowed 935,000 print and nonprint items from our collection in 2019. Books, ebooks, books on CD, DVDs, videotapes, and a number of other items comprise a collection of over 287,000 works. More than 18,000 volumes were added to the reference and circulating collections within the past year, and nearly 2,500 of these items were donated. Between our six buildings and active homebound service, the primary goal of our 181 hours per week service schedule is to ensure accessibility to safe, clean, welcoming environments where patrons may avail themselves to a myriad of up-to-date materials and technology. To meet this goal, building maintenance continued throughout the year. Painting projects, minor repair work, and on-going preventive work was the norm. The Library’s income has decreased, especially in regard to funding from the State of Ohio. The Local Library Government Support Fund, otherwise known as the LLGSF, was frozen and then cut for many years. With the establishment of the Public Library Fund (PLF), further erosion of overall funding has occurred. The downturn in the economy in 2008 accelerated over the next several years to further challenge the Library’s ability to offer the services and resources which Van Wert residents have come to know and expect. Thus, over the course of the past several years, the Brumback Library, like Ohio’s 250 other public libraries, has witnessed many major cuts and funding freezes. To make ends meet, we have reduced our staff size from 25 employees in 1992 to 10 employees in January 2018. Our staff has received three salary cuts as well as salary freezes, while the Director has voluntarily taken five salary reductions since 2002. In addition, he voluntarily froze his salary in 2009 and it will not increase until 2022. A slight decrease in hours of operation and purchases of print and nonprint materials has likewise occurred. Nevertheless, the Library has done more with less. A perusal of the Brumback Library’s circulation and usage statistics reveal that both adult and children make use of the Library. Our Growing with Books Program, which began in 1995, has continued to present all infants born at Van Wert County Hospital with their first book and an information packet for their parents. The Library’s Annual Summer Reading Program seeks to encourage all infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary school children to read, discover, and explore the world around them via a series of programs and events throughout June and July. Marking its 105th year in 2020, this vital endeavor is underwritten in part by a number of businesses and donors whose support is crucial in carrying out this much anticipated slate of activities. Young Adult, Adult, and Homebound Summer Reading Programs are offered too. Our goal is to encourage all of these patrons and participants to engage in lifelong learning. We have, and continue to be, good, frugal stewards of the funds entrusted to us. Needless to say, the financial support of Van Wert County residents is both essential and most gratefully appreciated. The funds from the half-mill countywide levy have helped the Library tremendously. Our print and nonprint collection continues to be updated and, as previously stated, our facilities are indeed well maintained. We use a proactive approach in all that we do. While there are public libraries that have much larger incomes than our library, and others which are able to save large sums of money due to fewer demands for their services and resources, the Brumback Library has a most admirable record. Serving the majority of the County’s residents, we are the County Library. Whether a patron wants a book, an ebook, music on CD, puppets, or numerous other items, the place to find them is here at the Brumback Library. Young, middle aged, or senior citizens will find a plethora of informational, recreational, and research materials on our shelves. The Library exists as a center of learning for all of Van Wert County. It is our hope that everyone will avail themselves to our services.
