From the Director’s Desk – October 2025

As the library continues to grow and evolve, I’m pleased to launch From the Director’s Desk. This new addition to the monthly News & Updates email will be a space to share reflections, updates, and a closer look at how we’re serving our community together.

As we look back on another incredible year for Citrus Libraries and begin our new fiscal year, I’m grateful and excited for everything we’ve accomplished this year. Together with our dedicated staff, volunteers, and community partners, the Citrus County Library System expanded services, modernized facilities, and deepened our role as a center for discovery, learning, and engagement.

This year we welcomed over 305,000 people through our doors, circulation exceeded 600,000 checkouts, and we issued more than 7,600 new library cards. Volunteers contributed over 18,000 hours of their time. Our teams hosted programs that 33,000 community members participated in this year. We introduced new services such as expanded operating hours, wireless printing with the ability to print from home, digital library cards, and Book Club in a Bag.

In October 2024 the renovation of the Lakes Region Library in Inverness was completed. The branch now features a centralized circulation desk, improved lighting, flexible spaces, new furniture throughout, a redesigned Youth Room, study rooms, and an additional meeting room. Because of these upgrades, Citrus Libraries received the Chamber of Commerce’s New Image Award. The renovation of the Coastal Region Library in Crystal River is nearing completion and will feature many of the same facility upgrades as seen at Lakes Region Library.

In addition to receiving local recognition, Citrus Libraries also received two National Association of County Awards (NACo) for outstanding programing. Both Citrus County Comics and Cosplay Convention (C4 Con) and Reader of the Week were recognized for their unique ability to engage library users of all ages. With the help of Reader of the Week, Citrus County surpassed the community goal of logging 500,000 minutes and reached an incredible 540,000 minutes.

With all of these accomplishments in mind, I look forward to spending another year together.

– Adam Chang, Library Services Director