10-04-2025
Tyler Public Library announces rise in young generations using community resources
TYLER, Texas (KETK) — The Tyler Public Library announced in late March that there was a significant increase in the number of users for 2024, showing a shift in younger generations engaging with community resources.
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According to the library, check out data showed there was an 18% increase in total circulation and library cardholders increased by 14% while millennial and Generation Z are the leading users of library resources.
KETK news visited with the city librarian at the Tyler Public Library, Ashley Taylor, who works tirelessly to make the library a resourceful place for all East Texans.
'We have seen a lot of our influx from word of mouth where families and individuals are sharing what the library is doing and bringing people into the doors,' Taylor said
Photos courtesy of Tyler Public Library
Taylor explained that people are searching for free or close to free resources and programming events that they can enjoy with family and friends. 'I think when it comes to our younger generations, as they're entering into adulthood the library offers them a lot of resources, services and programming free of charge,' Taylor said.
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The library has a wide range of services for the Tyler community including test proctoring, resume building and notary requests. Here are some of the services the library provides:
Ask a librarian
3D printing
Auditorium use
Outreach-bookmobile
Computer lab
Copy, fax and scan
Court-mandated community service
Lobby booth request
Notary request
Research request
Resume review
Test proctoring
'We allocate our budget to purchase items and resources that people are using,' Taylor said. 'I think that as we increase those services that are useful and popular, we will continue to attract our community members.'
Photos courtesy of Tyler Public Library
The library has events each month to attract all generations from music classes, dungeons and dragons club and crafts. Some of the upcoming events and activities in April include:
Music Makers: Mondays at 10:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the first floor auditorium. This is babies and preschoolers to sing, make music, dance and have fun.
Earth Day story time: April 11 at 10:30 a.m. in the first floor auditorium. This is a special story time in honor of Earth Day.
Master gardeners: Third Friday every month at 12 p.m. in the first floor auditorium. This lecture series focuses on gardening and horticulture. The guest speaker Dawn Stover will discuss 'gardening for worms.'
'To build upon our success, we plan to continue to look at community feedback that is showing up in our surveys and further define spaces and material collections to make it easy for individuals and families to find the materials they are looking for,' Taylor said.
The Tyler Public Libraries' vision is to ensure all citizens have access to current materials necessary for 'lifelong enrichment and education, universal literacy and informed decision-making.'
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The library is located at 201 S. College Avenue in downtown Tyler with parking available in front of the building and the free fair parking garage located across College Street. East Texans can find more information about the library and their materials on their website.
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