The virus caused the library to suspend or change some of its programs, like children’s storytime and summer reading programs.

“While we want to be able to have programming, we also want to keep in mind that we want people to stay safe and healthy,” said library Director Rita Schmidt.

“Despite COVID, we still had 71 programs at the library and we had 4,136 people participate,” Schmidt added. “So given the fact that part of the time, we had limited hours, I don’t think that was too bad.”

Even though the pandemic hindered some social events, patrons continued to use the services offered by the library.

In 2021, 81,746 items in the library’s physical and digital collection were borrowed by patrons.

“This last year, because of COVID and it being so quiet, we had the opportunity to do a full inventory of everything in the building,” Schmidt said, “which we’d never done in the 29 years I’ve been here.”

The library’s current collection totals 178,245, with about half being physical collection items and half being downloadable digital collection items.

Last year, the library added more than 6,000 new books to its collection.

A new service the Fort Dodge library started offering in the last year is the option to check out portable internet hotspots, which allows the user to have Wi-Fi access nearly everywhere.

“We currently have two and we’re getting another three, so we’ll have five total hotspots that people can check out for up to a week at a time,” Schmidt said.

In keeping up with modern trends, the library has also expanded its horizons with technology services, including adding a new smartphone app called My Libero. The app allows users to access their library accounts from any mobile device to see what they have checked out, what items they have on hold, and to add items on hold. Users can also add their library card barcode to the app so they can use it in the library if they forget their physical card.

“It’s pretty cool,” Schmidt said.

Looking ahead, the Friends of the Library board is planning to host its annual book sale in May, as well as start its brown bag lunch events in April.

“We are planning for hopefully a return of a more normal summer reading program,” Schmidt said.

Other programs at the library have slowly begun to return, including teen craft activities, adult coloring and the teen advisory board.