West Chester Library Association West Chester Public Library

What it reported doing in 2024

West chester public library provides all community members equal access to information, ideas, and knowledge through books, programs, and other resources to support lifelong learning. West chester public library serves the greater west chester community with materials, programs, and information for all ages. The library's pcs and free wi-fi connection provide the community access to the internet as well as up-to-date document creation software. Programs include children's story times and summer reading club; materials and after-school programs for teens and tweens; and book discussion groups, author visits and special programs for adults. Wcpl collaborates with a number of area organizations to provide programs and services outside the library building.wcpl (library) provides trained staff to assist customers in accessing library's & ccls member libraries' resources; locating & assessing accurate information via internet; using technology available at the library (pcs, scanner, document creation software, etc.); accessing e-materials. Children's summer programs were fully booked. Staff continued to use virtual platforms such as zoom, kahoot!, and instagram to provide programs for adults to supplement in-person programming. Staff provided both in-person early literacy outreach programs to area day-cares & pre-schools serving low income & at-risk families, & children with disabilities.the library's core mission is to provide a current & useful collection of materials in a variety of formats, including digital, for use by, greater west chester area & chester county residents, students, & property owners. 2024 borrowing totaled 203,291 items. E-material use totaled 89,013, about 43% of total 2024 circulation. The library received funding in support of its children's summer reading challenge through the commonwealth of pa's eitc program ($9,900). Staff market and promote the library's collections, programs, & services through in-house information, special displays, e-newsletters, and social media. Staff also present and/or host programs of interest to the community and for all age ranges. The library hires or partners with outside persons or organizations to present some programs requiring expertise in the subject.supplies, occupancy costs, equipment purchases, weekly cleaning, & repair costs to maintain library building & furnishings, and library materials. Library is open daily mondays-saturdays for a total of 50 hours per week. Library has pcs/laptops, copier/printer/scanner, & free, passworded wi-fi available for public use. Library's community/meeting room, when not in use for library programs, is available for ell & literacy tutors to meet in. Local groups & businesses may rent the room when it is not otherwise in use.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 68.1%; rating input score 68
• Program expense ratio: 70.5%; rating input score 70
• Fundraising efficiency: $12.31 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.3%; rating input score 92; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 4%; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.16; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.28; rating input score 26; 26th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 13.9%; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 1.1% per year; rating input score 100; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.9% per year; rating input score 100; 30th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -10.8% per year; rating input score 0; 3rd percentile among comparable filings