May 2024 Standard News article

By Gaylee Harris, Montgomery City Public Library Director

Montgomery City Public Library was very busy during the 2022-2023 year as evidenced by this annual report. There were 2,150 registered library patrons and 18,727 library visits.  MCPL had 25,248 physical items in its library collection including books, CD audiobooks, magazines, and other physical items like kits, puzzles, games, fishing poles, microscopes, a telescope, and a metal detector.  These items were checked out 18,678 times.

The library was awarded $24,241.29 in LSTA grants that went to specific things like Creation Station Maker Space equipment (i.e. Cricut Maker and Mug Press), new patron computers, a new children’s AWE Learning computer, 2022 summer reading items, and Memories Matter kits.  The Memories Matter kits are for people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and their caregivers.  Most kits have a book, activities, a DVD, and discussion questions to help spark memories and conversations. 

Besides receiving grants, you might wonder about the revenues and expenses for MCPL in the last year.  Your tax money is hard at work because it helps with books & materials, programming, training, personnel, library operations, and more. 

Technical highlights from 2022-2023 include MCPL having nine public access computers, three laptops for patrons to checkout, and three AWE Learning Stations for children.  There were 1,785 patron computer sessions and 12,652 wireless internet sessions.  The MCPL website, www.mcplmo.com, had 2,445 visits in 2022-2023.

Other 2022-2023 highlights included having the annual Stuffed Animal Sleepover, sponsored by Judy Hunt, and having Montgomery City native Dana Wilkerson discuss her cozy mystery and romance novels.  The library was also excited to add Niche Academy to its website’s online resources.  Niche Academy teaches people how to use computers, internet resources, and library resources through easy-to-watch videos. 

The staff at MCPL strives to serve its patrons with warmth and knowledge.  They are here to welcome you with a smile, help you get a library card, find the next book in your favorite series, recommend new books, train you on a new device or Creation Station equipment, and so much more.  Stop in and say hi!