Library Usage Continues to Surge in Westfield

The Westfield Memorial Library, a county leader in public library services, has released its 2025Annual Report, highlighting a year of investment in physical infrastructure, improved care and
maintenance of the library’s collections, and a continued surge in every major performance
metric.
The library recorded 113,000 visits, a 16% increase over the previous year, with residents
borrowing 354,000 materials, also up 16%. Event attendance rose to 37,000 participants, a 30%
increase, while WiFi usage surged to 988,000 sessions, up 124%. Nearly 19,000 Westfield
residents used their library card in the past three years, representing an estimated 61% of the
entire community.
The 2025 report emphasizes improvements to the library’s collections, including a 4% reduction
in the total number of physical materials. “By removing items that are not being used,” says
Library Director Allen McGinley, “we were able to increase overall use of the collection, and
make more space for residents to use the library for reading, studying, and connecting."
With thoughtful leadership from its Board of Trustees, the library made significant investments in
its facility and infrastructure to support the evolving needs of Westfield residents. Highlights
include the installation of seven new private meeting rooms on the second floor, replacement of
the aging elevator, and upgrades to chairs, flooring, and audio equipment in the main meeting
room.
The report details the library’s efforts to be a responsible steward of taxpayer funds throughout
2025. “Careful budgeting and thoughtful use of municipal support allowed us to maintain core
services while also making valuable improvements for residents,” says Michelle Habayeb,
President of the library’s Board of Trustees.
Looking to the year ahead, the library plans several major initiatives to further build on
innovation, and community access.
In 2026, Westfield Memorial Library will begin work on a new 3-year strategic plan, and open a
public makerspace featuring 3D printers, laser cutters, robotics equipment, and other high-
demand technical tools.

“This project would not be possible without substantial support from the Town of Westfield, The
Westfield Foundation, and the Friends of the Library,” says McGinley. “With the addition of the
makerspace, the library can better support hands-on learning experiences for residents of all
ages.”
The library will also use a gift from the Woman’s Club of Westfield to launch a bookmobile and
outreach vehicle in late 2026 or early 2027, bringing library services deeper into the community.

About Westfield Memorial Library
Westfield Memorial Library is a county leader in public library service, with a reputation for
providing high quality materials, programming, and information services to Westfield’s 30,000+
residents.

Read the 2025 Annual Report