Columbus Library Programs on the Rise

COLUMBUS, Neb. - Columbus Library Director Laura Whitehead had good news for the city council on Tuesday. Whitehead, who took over for Drew Brookhart last year, said in the annual report that the library's programs had significantly increased attendance over the past year. The wide variety of programs, which include kids carnivals and adult baking classes, in total had 10,059 attendees, an increase of 46 percent from last year. The young adult programs saw an increase of 83%, jumping from 2,268 attendees last year, to 4,161 this past year. Whitehead says her staff has been more focused on bringing a wider range of programs to the library and credited them for "stepping up their game." Whitehead also reflected on being on the job for around three months and said that it was an ideal situation to come into because of the "super foundation." "It's really nice to come to a place where there is already a great system in place," says Whitehead. The report also said that the library has had an average of 351 visitors per day, a small decrease from the year before.