Updated on Thursday, April 30 at 10:20 a.m.
A bustling John C. Hart Library has been a cornerstone of the local community for more than 100 years.
In 2025, Hart saw a total circulation of 411,284 materials and is one of the three busiest libraries in all of Westchester County, including the cities of Yonkers and White Plains, seeing 141,768 visitors coming through the doors.
“That’s pretty impressive and we're not, by any means, the highest population town in Westchester,” Library Director Yvonne Cech said before the Town Board during its April 28 work session, held at the library. “And yet, we are right behind those big urban libraries.”
As part of state requirements, Hart, like other libraries in New York, tracks a number of statistics and reports them to the state annually, according to Cech. The numbers she presented are for January to December 2025.
Cech said there were 87,977 visitors to the library’s website and 40,057 questions answered. More than 2,000 programs have been offered—including for adults, children and young adults—with more than 34,000 people attending. She said 1,528 new library cards were issued.
The library, on average, is serving 400 people a day.
“Since this is a State of the Library address, the state of the library is strong,” Cech said.
Library Director Yvonne Cech presents the state of the library.
Last year, Hart added an online subscription to The New York Times, and this year, it added the full online subscription for The Wall Street Journal—available to library cardholders, wherever they are. "It's available to every card holder from wherever you are, and you can access it on your phone, your home, computer, wherever you have internet access, you can read every article, you can play the games, you can do everything that is offered by both of these important national newspapers, and it's available to free using your library card."
The library continues to offer Libby, which allows patrons to use free resources, like e-books and audiobooks, using their library cards.
As Hart moves through 2026, there is a major project underway to create a combined reference and circulation desk on the main floor. It is also planning to update the main floor adult area and create a more dedicated space for the town’s teens.
“I always say, the library card is the best card in your wallet,” Cech said.
Hart’s 2025 Annual Report can be read online.
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