PELHAM – City Manager Gretchen DiFante praised Library Director Mary Campbell and the library staff at a City Council meeting on Monday, July 2, for the success of the new Pelham Public Library.

During her comments at the meeting, DiFante highlighted some statistics about the library from June 1 to June 22.

Just under 12,000 people visited the library during the entire month of June last year, compared to about 16,000 people in the first three weeks of June this year. DiFante said there was some concern that visitors would not utilize the study rooms on the second floor, but 179 sessions were held last month.

The number of library cards issued and renewed this year far exceed last year’s numbers. Since opening on May 17, 611 cards were issued or renewed, with nearly 400 of those being new library cards.

In that same time period in 2017, 286 cards had been issued or renewed, with 131 being new cards.

The library’s summer reading program has also seen growth. At the end of June, 600 kids were registered for the reading program. Last year at total of 700 kids had registered for the program.

“Kudos to Mary and her staff,” DiFante said. “It’s exciting that so many people are using the library in so many different capacities.”

DiFante also noted that more than 12,000 people attend Fire on the Water on July 1.

It was also announced that a Pelham Business Council luncheon will be held on July 17 at 11 a.m. at the Pelham Civic Complex. The event will feature special guest, Katherine Webb, vice chancellor of business and community initiatives at Auburn University Montgomery.

Webb will be gathering important information from the city’s business community to help create the city’s strategic plan. The city is asking Pelham business leaders and owners to attend the luncheon to provide input.

In addition, DiFante will be sharing the results of the survey business participants completed at the last meeting of the Pelham Business Council.

To attend, contact city administrator Paula Holly at 620-6403 or pholly@pelhamalabama.gov.

In other business, the council:

-Approved a resolution to renew a line of credit for the Commercial Development Authority.

-Approved a business license for International Auto Wholesalers LLC.

-Conducted the first reading of an ordinance to vacate a portion of a 20-foot utility easement located in Griffin Park at Eagle Point.