Statistics show both city and rural areas use Robey Memorial Library

Usage of the Robey Memorial Library in Waukon has grown dramatically over the past few years, according to documentation by Library Director Rick Meyer. In addition, library use by rural residents is nearly as high as by city residents of Waukon.
“Approximately 45% of our registered library patrons and 43% of library circulation are from the rural areas outside of the Waukon city limits,” said Robey Memorial Library Director Rick Meyer. “We are pleased with that as it shows how valuable the resources available at the library are to many people in the area.”
The rise in city and rural library use is one of the many reasons library volunteers and staff have been planning to expand Robey Memorial Library. Planning for an expanded library has been a 10-year project. This expansion will nearly double the current size of the library.
“Library board members began discussing and planning an expansion project close to 10 years ago, I am told,” Meyer said. “For the last few years, that planning has really picked up because we have seen the need for a larger library to meet a growing demand, and similar-sized communities as Waukon have much larger libraries than we do here at Robey Memorial Library. In fact, about seven percent of our registered library patrons are from some of the neighboring communities of Postville, Decorah, Lansing and others. This use accounts for about four percent of our circulation.”
Meyer reported that use of the library has increased in many areas, citing that visits to Robey Memorial Library have increased approximately 31 percent since 2010 and library program attendance has increased approximately 18 percent since 2009. “This increase is city and rural residents using the library more frequently. We believe this documented increase has been caused by several reasons, we have tried to schedule a variety of different and interesting programs for all ages and some of the other changes we have made at the library have seemed to meet patron needs,” Meyer said.
Library statistics also show increases over the past few years in the categories of “Items Borrowed” from the library and “Internet/Computer Use.” “Both of those areas have increased approximately 15 percent and nine percent, respectively,” said Meyer.
The Robey Memorial Library Board of Trustees, Foundation Board of Directors, and additional area volunteers are conducting a Capital Fundraising Campaign to finance the planned expansion project. The total estimated cost of expansion is about $1.4 million. Library volunteers and staff are working with Gardner Architecture of Strawberry Point. Gardner has helped design many Iowa libraries.
According to research of Iowa Public Libraries done by the State of Iowa Public Library Association, use of Iowa public libraries has grown by approximately 70 percent since the late 1990s.
Will Ament and Ken Olson, MD are chairing the capital campaign along with Campaign Honorary Co-Chairs Jens Kallevang and John Leschensky. In addition, about 30 other volunteers have joined them in working on this campaign. To make a gift to the campaign or receive more information, contact the library at 563-568-4424.