From the Director’s Desk – October 2026

A year ago, I started writing From the Director’s Desk with the goal of sharing updates and reflecting on the work of Library Services and how we serve our community. As we enter October, I find myself reflecting on why the library system is important to me.

Throughout the year, I share statistics and larger data sets to highlight the scale of library use in our community. More than 300,000 people visit our libraries each year, and more than 600,000 materials circulate through our libraries. These numbers tell an important story. They show that our libraries are busy, well-used, and an important part of daily life for many people. Those annual numbers break down to more than 800 visits and over 1,600 materials checked out each day.

The numbers tell us the scale, but the individual moments that happen within these numbers truly show the impact the library has on the community.

Watching a child receive their first library card and seeing families engage in reading together, attending story times, and other programs. It’s seeing someone discover a new author and find their next great read. Or attending a library program to learn new skills, build friendships, and find community.

It’s conversations at the circulation desk when a patron stops in to pick up their books each week or walks through our door and experiences our library for the first time.

These moments and staff interactions may seem small, but they are the foundation of why Citrus Libraries is such an important part of our community.

October is particularly important to our libraries because it’s the month we designate as Friends of the Library Month. Our Friends of the Library groups support Library Services in Citrus County year-round and have since the opening of the first libraries in Citrus County. This group of dedicated volunteers give their time and energy in countless ways to help support our libraries. If you are interested in learning more or supporting the Friends of the Library, you can visit our website or stop by any branch and speak to a staff member.

Thank you for being part of the Citrus Libraries community. We look forward to seeing you this October and spending another amazing year with all of you!

– Adam Chang, Library Services Director