Last year was another record-breaking year for Burlington Public Library. For the first time in the Library’s history, BPL members borrowed over two million items in 2024 across physical books and materials, digital books, and online resources.
While physical books and materials remain the most borrowed with more than 1.3 million loans, Burlington community members borrowed widely online — from eBooks, magazines, and audiobooks to digital resources like Hoopla, Kanopy, and The New York Times.
“This milestone belongs to everyone we serve. Every borrow is a testament to the value you place in library service and the vital role your public library has in our community,” said Burlington Public Library CEO Lita Barrie. “Thank you for making 2024 a year to remember — we’re truly honoured by your continued trust, support, and patronage.”
Library users did more than just borrow. In 2024, there were more than 982,000 visits to the library— marking a return to pre-pandemic visits. More than 89,000 people attended programs at BPL in 2024, such as storytimes, book clubs, technology, classes, and more.
More to borrow at BPL
In 2024, the Library launched new resources and services for the Burlington community. The new DiscoverySpace is a hands-on zone for kids at BPL’s Central Branch featuring a variety of fun, self-directed STEAM-related activities and a LEGO wall.
The Library also launched the Hoopla eBook collection with more than 700,000 titles, new Mindfulness and Grief Kits, an expanded jigsaw puzzle collection, and a new board game collection. Library users can borrow some popular board games from long-standing classics like Clue to trending games like Hues and Cues.
“Whether you borrowed a book, attended a program, or accessed one of the Library’s many resources, we are grateful for the ongoing support of the Burlington community,” said Barrie.
