Issue link: http://frankenmuthcvb.uberflip.com/i/1545246
A Year of Grow and Gratitude T his past year was one of incredible growth for the Frankenmuth Wickson District Library. We welcomed 590 new cardholders, bringing our total to over 5,000, and saw record numbers for our programs, circulation, and building spaces. Nearly 12,000 people attended library programs last year—the highest attendance ever for the Frankenmuth Wickson District Library. To reach this milestone, we hosted more than 90 children's programs and 88 tween and teen programs, including our popular monthly Library After Hours events planned in collaboration with our Teen Advisory Board. In the Children's Wing, new opportunities for dramatic play and free play encourage learning through imagination, movement, and reading, while our programs engage all the senses and invite parents to join in the fun. For adults, we offered over 160 programs, from book discussions and workshops to local history presentations and outreach visits to assisted living facilities. Partnerships with the City of Frankenmuth and Community Education continue to help us bring even more programming to the community, including Movie Matinees, All Abilities Bingo, and more. We also joined forces with local organizations like Restore Food Cupboard and Sleep in Heavenly Peace as donation drop-off sites, and with Morning Rotary for Back-to-School supplies— strengthening our commitment to serving the community both inside and beyond our walls. This past year also marked an exciting change as we went fine-free on July 1, removing barriers to access and making the library even more welcoming for everyone. We reduced prices on office services and continue to look for ways to operate responsibly and efficiently, ensuring every dollar is used to benefit our patrons. Beyond programs, our new Wickson Library StoryWalk in Heritage Park has quickly become a favorite family activity, combining literacy, movement, and outdoor fun. Inside the library, our community and study rooms stay busy every day with groups and individuals collaborating, studying, and creating. Digital services also continue to grow—each day, new readers discover free eBooks and audiobooks through Libby, while Kanopy offers thousands of streaming movies and children's shows for all ages. This year's success is a true reflection of our dedicated staff, generous donors, and the incredible support of our community. As we navigate rising costs and fewer outside funding opportunities, your continued support ensures we can keep offering the programs and services our community loves. Looking ahead, we're excited to build on this momentum with even more opportunities, resources, and connections—and we can't wait to share our updated strategic plan in early 2026. We hope to see you at the library soon! • Installed the Wickson Library StoryWalk® in Heritage Park along the Riverwalk. • Became a fine-free library, removing barriers to access for our community. • Expanded digital services with Ancestry Library Edition, The Wall Street Journal Online, and Kanopy streaming. • Expanded our Library of Things to include family board games, Tonies audio storytelling devices, accessibility items, and more! • Awarded the Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA) Improving Access to Information Grant, receiving $13,500 to support outreach to assisted living facilities, senior programming, Stay Sharp kits, and memory care services. • Refreshed the Children's Wing with new furniture and carpet. Highlights from the year: 18