The Calcasieu Parish Public Library's Annual Report provides a comprehensive look at the library’s achievements, growth, and impact over the past year.
Explore key statistics, program highlights, community initiatives, and financial summaries that reflect our commitment to learning, accessibility, and innovation.
This report celebrates the partnerships and support that make our mission possible and outlines our vision for the year ahead.
VISION: The Calcasieu Parish Public Library is your connection to community, learning, literacy, and enjoying life.
MISSION: The Calcasieu Parish Public Library welcomes all with convenient access to high-quality and innovative collections, resources, and services that enrich lives and create connections in our community.
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Physical Circulation: 620,631
Virtual Circulation: 410,638
Interlibrary Loans to CPPL: 4,925
Interlibrary Loan from CPPL: 1,878
Registered Borrowers: 48,113
Public PC Use: 11% increase
Electronic Resources: total use increased by 47%
Switch Games: added 157 games (Dec. 10th); circulation was 124 in just first 20 days; top titles: Super Bros. Wonder & Hogwarts Legacy
Cake Pans: Still going strong; circulation increased by 21%
New items added to physical collection: 33,106
New registered borrowers: 10,907
Virtual Collection: circulation was 7% higher
HomeworkLA: use increased by 39%
Tumblebooks: use increased by 186.81%
NewspaperArchive: use increased by 110%
BookBrowse: use increased by 19%
Fold3: use increased by 99%
Newspapers.com: use increased by 74%
Novelist Plus: use increased by 46%
Reference Questions: 7% increase
Library To-Go Visits: 1,857
Copies, Scans, Faxes: 4% increase
E-Reference questions (chat, social media, and website): 44% increase
Followers across all social media platforms: 16% increase
Facebook Followers: 16% increase
YouTube Followers: 34% increase
Table showing various programs that had a total attendance of over 300.
| Location | Title | Total Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| Central Branch | Schoolhouse Safari | 606 |
| Central Branch | The Dinosaur Experience! | 456 |
| Sulphur Regional Branch | Stories and Petting Zoo with Almosta Ranch | 393 |
| Moss Bluff Branch | The Dinosaur Experience! | 386 |
| Sulphur Regional Branch | The Dinosaur Experience! | 310 |
NOTE: There were 30 branch programs had an attendance of over 100.
Westlake: We added study rooms.
DeQuincy: We added outdoor activity space including soft play surface and shade sail.
Voting Locations: In 2024, we partnered with local officials to add DeQuincy and Iowa Branches as voting sites, joining Carnegie Memorial and Moss Bluff. Iowa and Moss Bluff served as early voting locations, while Carnegie Memorial and DeQuincy were used on Election Day.
Epps Memorial: On August 12, 2024, we broke ground on the new Epps Memorial Library. After a fire destroyed the previous temporary location in late 2023, the Calcasieu Parish Public Library partnered with the City of Lake Charles to open a new temporary site inside the Corporal Donald Ray Stevens Community Center. This location opened on March 25, 2024, welcomed 6,583 visits in 2024, and will remain open until the new library is complete.
Door Count: increased by 18%
Meeting Room Use: increased by 72%
Public PC Use: increased by 11%
Drive Thru Use: increased by 42%
Book-A-Librarian: In September of 2024, we expaneded our tech resource assistance by reestablishing this service. The one-on-one help service is designed to support patrons with their computer and technology needs. The service is avaiIlable at Central and Sulphur Regional Library. Whether learning to navigate a new device, setting up an email account, or exploring library e-resources, patrons can schedule personalized sessions with a librarian for hands-on guidance. In 2024, there were 22 sessions in total: 12 at the Central Branch and 10 at the Sulphur Branch.
Little Free Libraries: In May 2024, we added three little Free Libraries around Calcasieu Parish, bringing our total to five. The new additions are nestled in parks in strategic locations across the parish, including Holbrook Park near the Dequincy Branch, Lorraine Park near the Hayes Branch, and Riverbluff Park near the Moss Bluff Branch. New Little Free Libraries were added in 2024, in addition to several we already service at The Grove at Heritage Square and Maplewood Commons in Sulphur. (Note: LFLs were added in May 2024.) Overall total: 3,334, with totals by location as follows — Sulphur: 1,186; Hayes: 396; Moss Bluff: 377; Outreach: 1,140; and DeQuincy: 235.
Louisiana State Park Passes: Beginning in October 2024, we participated in the Check Out Louisiana State Parks pilot program. This initiative allows individuals and families to experience Louisiana’s natural beauty and rich history by checking out a state park pass along with a backpack for their outdoor adventures. Program Checkouts (October–December 2024): Geaux Explore Backpacks: 15; Park Passes: 62
