Traverse Area Library sets record with 1.46 million checkouts

The Traverse Area District Library announced today that it set a new circulation record for 2025, with 1,460,072 items checked out across its six-branch district. The total marks a significant peak in usage for the library system and underscores how countywide funding and a single-card access model are translating into higher community use.

Library officials attribute the surge to community engagement and the district’s “one card, six libraries” approach, which is funded by a countywide millage. That structure allows cardholders in any part of Grand Traverse County to borrow from all six branches without additional barriers, effectively expanding choice and convenience for residents across urban and rural parts of the county.

For local households, the record matters in practical ways. Higher circulation numbers indicate strong demand for free materials that support reading, schoolwork, job searches, and entertainment during long winter months. Staff encouraged residents to use cold winter days to check out materials and aim for a new record in 2026, reflecting an operational focus on both seasonal outreach and sustained engagement.

From a fiscal and policy perspective, the tally strengthens the library’s case as a countywide public good. A countywide millage pools taxpayer support to underwrite shared services that individual townships might struggle to fund alone. High use rates like this are a measurable return on that public investment, providing data points that local officials and voters can weigh in future budget and renewal conversations.

The circulation spike also has programmatic and operational implications. Sustained growth in checkouts can justify expanded acquisitions, longer hours, or increased staffing to meet demand, while also highlighting the need for efficient logistics across branches. For small local publishers, schools, and nonprofits that partner with the library, heavier foot traffic and higher lending volumes create opportunities for outreach and collaboration.

Library staff said they hope the upward trend continues and emphasized the library’s role as a countywide resource. For Grand Traverse County residents, the record is both a reflection of communal habits and an invitation: using the library more intensifies the value the system delivers and helps shape future services. As winter settles in, borrowing a book, audiobook, or DVD remains an easy way for families and individuals to tap into a public asset that is evidently thriving.