UPDATE. Fitchburg Public Library: Annual circulation and program attendance, 2011-2018

Source:  Wisconsin Public Library Service Data

Fitchburg Public Library events calendar

Ranked by percentage change in program attendance 2017-2018, high to low

Fitchburg Public Library in the news:
Friends of Fitchburg Library fund ‘discovery’ tables for library children's area.  (Fitchburg Star, 5/9/2019)

Before the purchase of three “discovery” tables for the Fitchburg Public Library children’s area, it wasn’t quite as accommodating a place for youngsters to play. 

The Friends of the Fitchburg Library paid $13,000 for the tables, transforming an area that formerly had bean bags, puzzles and puppets into a space that enhances early childhood literacy, Tim Powers, Youth Services manager told the Star.

Low attendance at teen events.  (Fitchburg Star, 4/15/2019)

Teen library programs like this one continually struggle with low attendance. According to data from the library’s 2018 annual report, a total of 65 teens showed up for the year’s 24 teen activities.  

In contrast, youth services, which covers children ages 12 and under, held 347 events for 15,547 attendees and a 45 participant average. The library’s 84 adult activities also drew 719 people, with a successful average of nine participants per event.

Related posts:
Madison Public Library. (8/26/2019)
Milwaukee Public Library.  (8/27/2019)
Brown County Public Library.  (8/27/2019)
Appleton Public Library.  (8/27/2019)
Waukesha Public Library.  (8/28/2019)
Hedberg Public Library, Janesville.  (8/28/2019)
Kenosha Public Library.  (8/29/2019)
La Crosse Public Library.  (8/29/2019)
Marathon County Public Library.  (8/30/2019)
Neenah Public Library.  (8/30/2019)
Oshkosh Public Library.  (8/31/2019)
Racine Public Library.  (8/31/2019)
L. E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, Eau Claire.  (9/1/2019)
Wauwatosa Public Library.  (9/1/2019)
Fond du Lac Public Library.  (9/2/2019)
Middleton Public Library.  (9/2/2019)
West Allis Public Library.  (9/2/2019)
Brookfield Public Library.  (9/3/2019)
Mead Public Library, Sheboygan.  (9/3/2019)
Sun Prairie Public Library,.  (9/4/2019)
Verona Public Library.  (9/4/2019)
Manitowoc Public Library.  (9/4/2019)
West Bend Community Memorial Library.  (9/5/2019)
McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids.  (9/5/2019)
La Crosse County Library.  (9/6/2019)
Franklin Public Library.  (9/7/2019)
Elisha D. Smith Public Library, Menasha.  (9/7/2019)
Beloit Public Library.  (9/7/2019)
Portage County Public Library.  (9/8/2019)
Everett Roehl Marshfield Public Library.  (9/9/2019)
Beaver Dam Community Library.  (9/10/2019)


10/15/2018 update starts here

Source:  Wisconsin Public Library Service Data

11/6/2017 update starts here.

Source:  WI DPI Public Library Development Team

(Fitchburg Public Library comparisons based on 2012 full year statistics.)

8/24/2017 update starts here.

Source:  Wisconsin Public Library Service Data (2015 preliminary)

Original 9/7/2015 post starts here.

The Fitchburg Public Library opened in June 2011.

Statistics found at Wisconsin Public Library Service Data: 1996 - Preliminary 2014. (Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction)

Beloit Public Library website.

Related reading:
Libraries, patrons, and e-books.  (Pew Internet, 6/22/2012)

• Part 1:  An introduction to the issues surrounding libraries and e-books:  
• The strained relationship between libraries and publishers
• The current state of play between libraries and publishers 
• The rise of Amazon
• Part 2:  Where patrons discover and get their books
• The way people prefer to get books in general:  To buy or to borrow?
• Where did the most recent book come from?
• A closer look at libraries
• The e-book ecosystem:  Where do e-book readers start their search?
• Part 3:  Library users
• Demographics
• How important are libraries?
• Library users are more engaged with all kinds of reading
• Part 4:  How people used the library in the past year
• Book-borrowing patterns
• Print books
• Audiobooks
• E-book borrowers
• Using the library for research
• Research resources and periodicals
• Get research help from a librarian
• Part 5:  Libraries in transition
• How patrons' book-borrowing habits are changing
• Librarians:  Changes in library holdings
• The changing role of librarians
• The move to e-books
• Staff training
• Patron training
• Part 6:  A closer look at e-book borrowing
• Overview of responses in our online panel
• Checking out e-books
• How they find out about the process
• The checkout process
• Checking out e-books:  The good, the bad, and Overdrive
• Selection of e-books in libraries
• Issues patrons have encountered
• Availability
• Waiting lists
• Compatibility
• Other issues
• The main things librarians hear
• How to improve the process for the future
• Librarians and publishers
• Part 7:  Non-e-book borrowers
• Why not borrow e-books?
• Help and training from librarians
• Part 8:  Final thoughts
• How patrons' reading habits have changed since reading and borrowing e-books
• Larger changes in library service
• The future of libraries
• Patrons
• Librarians