REGIONAL LIBRARY BASIC SYSTEM SUPPORT
REPORT OF RESULTS AND EXPENDITURES
FY26 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026)
This report is provided as required by Minnesota Rules, Chapter 3530.
Name and address of regional public library system: Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA) 1619 Dayton Avenue, Suite 314 Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104
Name, phone number and e-mail address of regional public library system administrator: Sherry Wichitchu [email protected]create new email 651-300-2810
Please estimate the number of people who received services provided with Regional Library Basic System Support (RLBSS): 3,224,340
By signing, we certify that the data and information contained in this report are true and correct to the best of our knowledge and belief:
Signature:
Name: Julie Jeppson Chair, Governing Board Date: 10/19/26
Signature:
Name: Sherry Wichitchu Regional Public Library System Administrator Date: 09/29/26
Please send one PDF copy of the signed report to Emma De Vera at [email protected]create new email by October 1, 2026.
Report of Accomplishments
Overall Results
At a Glance – Please provide a few quick statistics that summarize your FY26 results: : Metropolitan Library Service Agency, MELSA, worked closely with Advisory Board members representing the eight library systems across the seven metro counties. Through our collaboration, MELSA provided a range of services on behalf of our members.
Individual Programs
Briefly highlight the programs/services/activities that took place during FY26, using the format below for each. Please include as many programs needed to fully describe your activities and limit the narrative for each program to 200-250 words.
Description of Program:
• Please describe what you did through this program: See below.
• What was the goal of your program? MELSA identified goal areas that align with the strategic plan adopted by the MELSA Board of Trustees in March of 2022. Goal addressed: MELSA leverages its resources to enhance shared access to library services across the metro area (Outcome IV of strategic plan). MELSA provided shared resources, operational funds, and collaborative purchasing that enhanced the reach and impact of member library services. This included providing access to e-resources for our library members, which offer a significant discount when purchased as a group. This includes Transparent Languages, an e-resource that offers 100 languages, many of them not mainstream, and reaches a broader audience across metro communities. MELSA spent $1,257,565 on electronic resources that offer educational homework support, career and personal development resources, language skill development, readers advisory services, and skill building in a variety of areas. MELSA continued support for the shared digital collection, which was once again the highest circulating Overdrive consortium in the world, with spending of $1,113,574 for content and platform fees. Goal addressed: MELSA is a leader in fostering innovation, collaboration and experimentation in metro area library services. (Outcome V of strategic plan) We continue to support the smARTpass program which offers accessibility to the arts for library users with the option to attend music, theater and museum locations. Goal Addressed: MELSA communicates the value and impact of public libraries in the metro area. (Outcome 1 of strategic plan) MELSA worked in collaboration with staff from the member library systems to determine the most effective ways to build awareness in communities across the 7-county metro. Through campaigns for smARTpass, promotion of programs through the public library systems across the metro, participation in community events, television spots, and social media postings that reach thousands of people.
• Who was served by this program? MELSA serves communities throughout the 7-county metropolitan area and supports member library systems to deliver outstanding library services.
• How did this program contribute to your organization’s mission and strategic plan goals? MELSA activities are designed in collaboration with MELSA member library systems. Our members are critical to MELSA being a mission driven organization and ensuring that our services reflect their needs and the voices of the community. This enables member systems to improve and expand their library collections, programs, and services provided for metro area residents. MELSA’s overarching resources expand the service capacity of member library systems, and they in turn provide direct services to the public.
Program Outcomes – Please provide one or more performance measures, including two data points for each and the dates of those data points.
Name of measure FY2025 data FY2026 data
Goal Addressed: MELSA leverages its resources to enhance shared access to library services across the metro area.
Overdrive Metro E-library:
This shared resource still holds our place as Overdrive’s highest circulating consortium collection worldwide.
e-Resources services:
This shared resource provides access for our library
members. Each of the resources addresses a different need and are in high demand by library patrons
Unique users 384,145
Total checkouts 13,201,000
Searches/users 2,333,463
Unique users 404,674
Total checkouts 13,982,000
Searches/users 3,171,731
Goal addressed: MELSA is a leader in fostering innovation, collaboration and experimentation in metro area library services.
MELSA continued supporting smARTpass, which continues to grow and provides opportunities to experience the arts for library patrons who may not
otherwise have access to participate.
$7,730
$7,800
Goal addressed: MELSA communicates the value and impact of public libraries in the metro area.
MELSA works with our members to determine how to increase the awareness of the public about what libraries offer. MELSA does this through developing promotional materials, and content that tell the public
library story through traditional and social media campaigns. We use advertising and expand contracts with the media that reach diverse audiences. MELSA also provides event coordination and metro wide library program support through advertising and
program collateral.
$74,456
$77,870