Each year during National Library Week, ALA releases a publication titled The State of America’s Libraries Report.  With each report, ALA editors look back on the year past with stories about library funding, programming, advocacy efforts, and more.  The look back at 2021 is a retelling of how library staff across the country moved through “pandemic year two,” an upswing in book challenges across the country, and creative ways in which libraries met community needs.

ALA president Patricia Wong writes “As a I write this, we have persevered through the initial pandemic and remained resolute in the face of Delta and Omicron. Throughout the pandemic, library professionals served their communities in person, online, via phone, bookmobile, and even drone. When demand for the vaccine outstripped supply last year, libraries set up “vaccine hunter” hotlines.  Later when jabs  were more plentiful, some libraries operated as vaccination sites.  It’s been such a privilege to be a part of this profession at a time of such great resolve.”

Facts from the Full Report

Here are some statistics that impacted Americans and their libraries in the past year:

• 93% of public libraries provided or planned to provide free Wi-Fi access on their grounds even when their buildings were closed to the public, while 44% of public libraries moved routers outdoors to improve public access and 23% of libraries provided WiFi hotspots for patrons to check out and use at home
• Hundreds of Iowa’s public libraries received individual, non-competitive grants of $5,000 each through ARPA—the American Rescue Plan Act.
• When Americans sat down to read a book in 2021, one-in-three people opted to read an eBook on their tablets and mobile phones; according to OverDrive, readers worldwide downloaded out ½ billion eBooks and e-audiobooks in 2021, marking a new record.
• More than 88% of all public libraries offer formal or informal digital literacy programming; one-in-five libraries provide classes (formal or informal) related to coding, computer programming, robotics, and 3D printing.

Book Challenges in 2021

The State of America’s Libraries Report also includes ALA’s tradition of including the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of the past year.  Among the titles that made the 2021 list are The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.  ALA found that between September 1through November 30, 2021 more than 330 unique cases of challenged books were reported, doubling the number of reports from 2020, which saw 156 challenges.

The full ALA report is a free PDF download. Read more about the nation’s libraries, financial conditions, and advocacy efforts, as well as the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2021. Alongside the full State of America’s Libraries Report, find social media graphics and messages at the button below

State of America’s Libraries Report 2022

Online May 6th

Look ahead to May 6—that’s the Iowa Small Library Association (ISLA) Spring Business Meeting and Continuing Education Program.  And it all happens online via ZOOM,  The day starts at 9:00Am with the business meeting, followed by two C.E. programs running from 10:00AM-12:00PM.

ISLA is a division of the Iowa Library Association.  Its purpose is to offer a channel for receiving information on issues affecting small public libraries and to provide a means for sharing problems, solutions, programs, experiences, and ideas of concern to small public libraries.

Continuing Education Portion

10:00AM. Relighting Your Programming Fire: Combating Job-Related Burnout and Guilt to Make Programming Fun Again  Presented by Chelsea Price, Meservey Public Library Director.  “If you're running on empty, it can be difficult to do your job with a smile on your face. This presentation will focus on the positive; attendees will leave with plenty of new resources and will feel excited about their job.” 

11:00AM.  The Value of Mentorship and Resource Sharing Program for Small and Rural Libraries  Presented by Misty VonBehren, Perry Public Library Deputy Director; Library Science Graduate Student at University of Nebraska at Omaha.  “Follow the research that illustrates the importance of mentorship and resource sharing within the library community. Then learn how mentorship can be implemented in Iowa libraries.” 

Register for ISLA Spring Meeting

Enrich Iowa Letter of Agreement

A reminder to renew your library’s participation in the Enrich Iowa Program.  Remember that Enrich Iowa is made up of three distinct programs: Open Access, ILL Reimbursement, and Direct State Aid which is the funding awarded for meeting public library standards. The agreements for FY 2023 are ready to go, find it by clicking the button below. 

Every April, this annual sign-up period is needed to renew your library’s participation in Enrich Iowa.  So to be part of Enrich Iowa in fiscal year 2023 (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023) your Enrich Iowa Letter of Agreement is due at the State Library on or before April 30, 2022. Note that EI Agreement is available as a digital form only, we no longer accept faxed copies.  This is an opt-in proposition, thanks for doing so! Scott Dermont will begin posting the EI Agreements as they are received at the State Library, so you can track your library’s status.  Contact Scott with questions scott.dermont@iowa.gov 

Contracing Cities Questionnaire

The “Contracting Cities Questionnaire for FY23” is also due by April 30.  By way of background: a contracting city is one that does not have its own municipal library but instead pays an annual contractual fee to a nearby established library to allow its citizens access to library services.

Scott Dermont writes: “Please report all incorporated cities in Iowa that will contract with your library for service in FY23 (July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023) Do not include your own city or other governmental agencies like counties or townships. The contract should be written and include a monetary obligation.  If your library does not contract with other cities, you do not need to fill out the questionnaire. However, if you have contracted in the past, but will not be contracting in FY23, it would be helpful if you can fill out your library name and answer "No."  The Contracting Cities Questionnaire is linked at the button below. You do not need a username or password. The questionnaire should take less than 5 minutes to complete depending on the number of cities reported. Once you have completed the questionnaire, you will need to click the "Submit" button located on the bottom right portion of the page. 

Please complete the Contracting Cities Questionnaire by April 30, 2022. Contact Scott Dermont with questions ( scott.dermont@iowa.gov )

 Fill Out Contracting Cities Questionnaire

ARPA Grant Correction

All libraries that received an ARPA grant last summer, take note: a final project evaluation is part of the process.  We had originally published an evaluation due date of April 29 in correspondence and on our website, but that date was incorrect.  A link to the final project evaluation will be emailed directly to all ARPA recipient libraries on Monday May 2, with a due date of June 30, 2022.  Emily Bainter has updated our website with this information, all corrected dates are there.  So there’s some nice relax time!  Find ARPA grant information at the button below

ARPA Grant Information