City of Simi Valley
Staff Report
S
eptember 21, 2026
T
o: Simi Valley Library Board of Trustees
Fr
om: Office of the City Manager
Heather Sumagaysay, Deputy City Manager
S
ubject: Fiscal Year 2025-26 Simi Valley Public Library Annual Report S
taff Recommendation
I
t is recommended that the Simi Valley Library Board of Trustees receive and file the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 Simi Valley Public Library Annual Report.
B
ackground
I
n July 2013, the City began operating the Simi Valley Public Library (Library). Since that time, the Library has focused on expanding services, strengthening community partnerships, conducting outreach, and increasing access to Library resources.
T
o help guide Library services and resources, the Simi Valley Library Board of Trustees (Board) adopted a Collection Development Plan to guide the selection and purchase of Library materials and a Technology Plan to address the growing demand for online and wireless services. The Board also adopted its first five- year Strategic Plan (2017-2022), establishing priorities to guide Library programs and services. Following an extensive community engagement process and completion of the 2017- 2022 Strategic Plan, the Board adopted the current 2023- 2027 Strategic Plan , which established four priority areas: Build Community, Connect and Increase Access, Enhance Services, and Build Awareness.
E
ach year, City and Library staff present an Annual Report to the Board highlighting Library operations and performance throughout the year, as well as progress in advancing the Strategic Plan’s priority areas. In 2024, Library Systems & Services transitioned the Annual Report to a web- based format, providing convenient year -round access to information about Library programs, services, resources, and community engagement.
The mobile- friendly format makes the report easy to access without downloading or printing a document.
T
he web- based format also provides a more visual way to tell the Library’s story, highlighting residents using Library spaces, programs, and resources and connecting with others in the community. Together, these elements provide a snapshot of the Library’s evolving services and its role in serving and connecting the Simi Valley community.
Agenda Item No.
9A
Discussion
The Simi Valley Public Library Annual Report for FY 2025-26 can be accessed online at www.simivalleylibrary.org/annual-report/. Attachment A provides a summary of key statistics for the year. Guided by the priority areas of the 2023 - 2027 Strategic Plan, the Library continued to expand access, strengthen community partnerships, enhance programming, and connect residents with educational resources and services. Key highlights included:
• 381,005 Total Items Borrowed, including 316,767 physical items and 64,238 digital items
• 182,560 Library Visits
• 3,139 Service Hours
• 4,793 New Library Cardholders (33,364 Total Active Library Cardholders) • 600 Programs with 14,845 Attendees
• 12,660 Computer Sessions
• 4,122 Reference Questions Answered
• 11,744 Volunteer Hours
• 4,801 Community Members Served through the Mobile Library
Expanding Access and Community Outreach
The Mobile Library significantly expanded its community presence during FY 2025– 26, partnering with 22 organizations and making 137 community stops. The program more than doubled the number of people served, increasing from 2,175 in the prior year to 4,801 community members in FY 2025-26, while circulating 2,677 items.
This service helps bridge existing service gaps by providing unique offerings and increasing community engagement, making the library more accessible and responsive to today’s learners. The Mobile Library makes regular stops at key community locations, including the Samaritan Center, various senior living facilities, the Simi Valley Free Clinic, The ARC of Ventura County, Shepherd of the Valley Food Pantry, and local schools. It also supports special outreach efforts by participating in community events including the Simi Valley Street Fairs, Gigi’s Playhouse 5K Dash, SVPD’s Touch a Truck, and the Metrolink’s Holiday Express . Mobile Library Services staff work collaboratively with Children’s, Teen, Adult, and Literacy staff members to extend core library services to residents who may not otherwise have access. Additional programming opportunities include Storytimes and STEAM activities for children and teens, and a dult literacy support, all available at offsite locations throughout the City.
The Library continues to serve as a vital community hub, offering a wide range of events, classes, workshops, and programs designed to meet community members’ diverse needs. Through collaboration with local agency partners, the Library has successfully hosted events such as job fairs, performances by the Community Chamber Orchestra and other local music groups, cultural programs, photography panels and exhibitions, and has also supported various clubs and classes for special interest groups in the City. 2 During FY 2025-26, the Library participated in the first One Book, One Coast community read, connecting Simi Valley readers with libraries across the West Coast through a shared reading experience and related programming. The Library also strengthened its partnership with Simi Valley Unified School District through a School Librarians’ Open House focused on connecting students and educators with Library materials, databases, tutoring resources, and other services.
The event provided an opportunity to collaborate with school communities and explore new ways to support students and educators, including access to foreign- language materials, databases, and tutoring resources. The Library remains committed to promoting accessibility, inclusion, and service availability for the entire Simi Valley community.
Supporting Literacy and Lifelong Learning
The Adult Literacy Program continued to address an important community need by helping adults build skills and confidence for work, education, and everyday life. During FY 2025-26, the Library maintained 23 active tutor/learner matches and provided 1,271 hours of personalized literacy and language instruction. Trained volunteers contributed 1,511 hours through one- on-one Adult Literacy and ESL tutoring, weekly English Conversation classes, outreach activities, and other services. The program also expanded its digital literacy offerings through new Computer Basics workshops. In addition, the Library celebrated its first Career Online High School graduation, recognizing five graduates who earned high school diplomas through the Library with support from State Library scholarships.
Engaging Youth and Supporting Library Services
Children’s and Teen Services continued to expand opportunities for young people to learn, create, and engage with the Library. New popular programs included a Children’s Math Festival, featuring interactive activities that encouraged problem-solving and made learning fun, and an Eggstravaganza, which gave members of the Teen Advisory Group (TAG) hands-on experience planning and hosting a community program while allowing children and families to connect at the Library. TAG also established officer positions, giving teens greater ownership of program and event planning.
The Simi Valley Library Foundation Board remains an active advocate for the Library, participating in community events and fundraising efforts such as their annual Love and Laughs fundraiser to support facility improvements. In FY 2025– 26, the Foundation funded updates to the Teen Lounge, including new furniture, media equipment, a Smart Board, acoustic paneling, and a gaming station, creating a safe third space where teens can create, collaborate, and connect. The Simi Valley Friends of the Library continued to support a wide range of programs and resources , including Summer Reading, Hoopla digital and streaming content, and books for the One Book, One Coast program.
Financial Impact
There are no financial impacts.
3 City Council Priority
This item supports the City’s Excellent City Government and Thriving Community Pillars of Excellence by providing responsive and accessible Library services, expanding inclusive programs and resources, and creating opportunities for community connection and engagement.
Suggested Motion
I move to receive and file the Simi Valley Public Library Annual Report for FY 2025-26.
Summary
In 2013, the City of Simi Valley began operating the Simi Valley Public Library. Since then, the Library has continued to expand services, strengthen community partnerships, and increase access to programs and resources. The Library’s current 2023- 2027 Strategic Plan guides these efforts through four priority areas: Build Community, Connect and Increase Access, Enhance Services, and Build Awareness.
The FY 2025- 26 Annual Report highlights the Library’s performance and continued progress in advancing these priorities through expanded outreach, programs, partnerships, and services. It is recommended that the Simi Valley Library Board of Trustees receive and file the Simi Valley Public Library Annual Report for FY 2025-26 as presented.
Attachments
Attachment A - SVPL By the Numbers FY 2025-26
4 2025-2026
1,271
11,744
4,801
137
5 Attachment A