The Allen County Public Library has released its 2025 ACPL Community Impact Report, showcasing another year of extraordinary service, growth, and community engagement.
Allen County Public Library news release:
ACPL Highlights Community Impact in 2025 Report
Fort Wayne, Indiana (May 12, 2026) – The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) has released its 2025 Community Impact Report, showcasing another year of extraordinary service, growth, and community engagement. Most notably, the Library’s circulation reached 11.8 items per capita—nearly double the national average, underscoring the vital role ACPL plays in the daily lives of Allen County residents.
This milestone reflects a community that not only values access to information but actively uses it. In total, more than 4.5 million items were borrowed in 2025, supported by a robust collection of millions of physical and digital materials.
“The strength of our circulation numbers speaks volumes about how deeply our community relies on the library,” said ACPL Executive Director Susan P. Baier. “To see our per capita circulation reach nearly twice the national average is both remarkable and reaffirming—it shows that the library is not just available, but essential to everyday life in Allen County.”
Beyond circulation, the report highlights widespread community engagement across the Library’s 14 locations. In 2025, ACPL welcomed more than 1.6 million visits and hosted over 11,000 meetings and gatherings, reinforcing its role as a hub for connection, learning, and opportunity.
The library also continued to expand its reach, adding more than 22,000 new cardholders, including 8,000 students, through its partnership with Fort Wayne Community Schools. This growth brings total cardholders to 57% of Allen County residents (2020 U.S. Census), a strong indicator of the community’s trust and investment in its public library.
Additional highlights from the 2025 report include:
- 1.4 million children’s items borrowed, supporting early literacy and lifelong learning
- 1.4 million e-books and e-audiobooks circulated, expanding digital access
- 1,780 outreach events, bringing library services directly into the community
- $4.7 million invested in library materials, significantly exceeding state standards for collection spending
The report also reflects the Library’s continued focus on access, innovation, and community-centered service through its 2024–2028 strategic plan.
“The numbers tell an important story,” Baier added. “But what they truly represent is a return on investment from a community that believes in the power of libraries to educate, to connect, and to transform lives.”
The full 2025 Community Impact Report is available at www.acpl.info/impact.
About the Allen County Public Library
The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) has fostered lifelong learning and discovery in northeast Indiana for more than 135 years. The ACPL consists of fourteen branches throughout Allen County, serving more than one million visitors per year. The ACPL’s collection includes more than 3.9 million items, with a circulation total of 4.6 million items borrowed annually. It also houses The Genealogy Center, the nation’s largest public genealogy research center, and The Rolland Center for Lincoln Research, consisting of more than 30,000 artifacts related to President Abraham Lincoln.
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