This past year was a remarkable year for the St. Joe County Public Library. Most notably, we opened the completely renovated Main Library and new, 38,000-square foot Community Learning Center and immediately began hosting community-wide events.
At the Branches
Each one of our nine branch locations had a successful year that included the following highlights:
Centre Branch assisted 2,206 patrons at their drive-up window.
Francis Branch served 7,727 people who participated in a program or activity, including exceptional attendance at Storytimes and Holidays on the Harp.
German Branch offered experiences in which 2,512 patrons participated, in addition to offering innovative animal programs for summer reading such as Owls Among Us, Urban Chickens and Meet the K-9 Crew.
Lakeville Branch had 6,375 children’s books checked out, an increase of about 36 percent from 2020.
LaSalle Branch provided 2,940 after-school snacks and 2,655 grab & go crafts, and donated 947 books to the Little Free Libraries.
North Liberty Branch served 582 patrons in 33 programs and organized a mental health series with Lakeville Branch.
River Park Branch created 50 Storytimes for adults in 52 weeks, and impacted hundreds of people in the community through outreach events such as the Rebel Art Fair, Boomer Tour, the River Park Neighborhood Association, and other events.
Tutt Branch offered guidance through over 400 social service appointments, helping people find the financial support, assistance, and jobs they need to live.
Western Branch prepared 1,090 craft kits for community members to enjoy and created 342 new library cards, the second highest total of any branch.
Our milestones
In July, we updated our app to make it easier to access Library resources, and in October, we launched a new website and a new brand that represents our innovative, welcoming spirit. In November, we opened the renovated Main Library and new Community Learning Center.
In December, we announced that we would eliminate all late fees and wipe the slate clean of all past overdue fines. This change eliminated the financial barrier that kept some people away from using the Library, particularly those who could least afford to pay. We are still receiving feedback from patrons who are expressing their appreciation for this change.
We hope you enjoy our 2021 Annual Report. Let us know what you think.
