Dade County Public Library 2025: By The Numbers

In 2025, the Dade County Public Library saw nearly 8,000 more visitors than the county as a whole has residents, one of the many stats marking the library’s banner year. 

The total number of visits to the library over the last year was 23,884, said Library Director Lydia Soucy, and it’s been a noticeable change over years past. 

“I think the library did wonderful. We’ve seen a lot of growth in our library in the past year. We’ve seen a lot of growth in Trenton and Dade County, and that is reflected in the library and the use here,” Soucy said. “The busyness has really built. We had dead days when I first came here. Now it seems like we really can’t catch up. We don’t have a dead moment.”

And it’s easy to see why.

Anyone looking to do business–who doesn’t have easy access to the technology that a brick-and-mortar office would provide–can get it done at the library. From faxing to printing to scanning to notary services to even a quarterly opportunity to talk to an attorney about civil matters, the library offers essential tools, trusted guidance and free or low-cost access that helps turn ideas into action and remove barriers to getting business done.

The numbers reflect the community-wide need for such services. In 2025, computers were used 2,356 times, and nearly 5,700 pages were printed.

More than just making it easier for residents to do business, the fundamental mission of the library–giving the county easy and free access to books–has driven more visitors to the library than ever before, Soucy said. The branch issued 366 new library cards in the year, and nearly 51,000 items were circulated during that time.

This level of engagement is not just good for the library, Soucy said, it’s good for each and every person who gets lost in a new book and for the community as a whole.

“I see us breathing life into literature, keeping literature going in the community,” Soucy said. “It’s healthy for everyone. It keeps the brain active. It slows down the aging process, and it brings people together to share their love of reading and the stories they love so much.”

In many instances today, it’s easy for children–and even adults–to pick up a screen instead of a book, and it’s proving to become a real obstacle in the way people learn. A January 2026 study from the nonprofit Kindred Squared showed that when handed a book, nearly a third of the children studied would instinctively swipe at the pages instead of turning them.

But over the last year, Soucy said, she’s seen a shift. More and more, children are coming in to check out physical books, and they’re quickly falling in love with reading–the old fashioned way. 

“To see children who want physical books and seeing people who want that over digital screens, it really makes us feel good,” she said. “Reading is fun. Whether you’re reading a nonfiction book to learn a new skill or new knowledge or you just want to read a fantasy book and go on an adventure, there’s a book for everyone. “

In addition to all the other services the library offered in 2025, it hosted 197 different programs for adults, teens and children alike. While not all of those are ongoing, many are, and you can read about them below.

Ongoing Children’s Programs

• Ready to Read: Ages 0 to Pre-K, every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and again at 2 p.m.

• Kids Club–which is S.T.E.M. focused: Grades K-5 on the first Thursday of the month at 4 p.m.

• Pokemon Club: All ages, and the dates change, so check the library schedule.

• Ag-Venture Story Time: Children of all ages, once a month on a rolling Tuesday at 2 p.m. The event is followed by crafting time.

• Young Creatives: Grades 6th-12th, every other month, dates and times vary but this program is typically on a Tuesday at 5 p.m.

• Basic Embroidery: Ages 7 to adult. This program runs quarterly. 

• The library is starting a new program in February on the first Tuesday of the month called “Game Night Unplugged” for ages 14+. 

• Crafting with Kids: Children of all ages–with an adult–where they work on crafts together. This program runs every other month.

Ongoing Adult Programs

• Adults with Disabilities Story Time: Once a month on a Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. 

• Quilting Basics: The third Tuesday of the month from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

• Dade County Public Library Book Club: Every third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. The reading list has been chosen, and can be found on the library’s Facebook page or at the library itself. 

• DDP Yoga Chair Force is every Saturday at noon.
• Ask a Lawyer Day: It will run quarterly, and the first session is February 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register for an appointment by calling (706) 272-2924. The next scheduled days are May 29, August 28 and November 20. 

As for what 2026 holds for the library, Soucy said she’s hopeful that more and more people in the community will come to the library and enjoy all that it has to offer.

“I’m hoping to see continued growth. We’re always excited to meet and see new faces along with our regular patrons,” Soucy said. “We want to continue that push for literature and for the love of reading. I’ve had people come in who haven’t come into a library in a decade, but they come in, find a book they love, and they keep coming back.”