Attendance numbers up for library programs

Attendance is growing for programs offered at the Newton Public Library.

“We doubled the number of programs for adults as the target audience, and attendance increased 10 percent of last year. We offered fewer children’s programs, but still saw an increase of 24 percent over last year’s attendance,” said Sue Padilla, Newton Library director.

Of the children’s programs, summer reading and story times make up the majority of attendance. Adult programs include a game night, “chick lit” flicks, coffee and a movie and two book clubs.

The library has increasingly become a destination for residents to bring their laptops and devices to use the Wi-Fi services.

“Reference questions are increasing about coping with the technology changes in our readers’ daily lives, about how to use various devices. Essentially, the library is transforming into the city’s technology center for the public,” Padilla said.

A one-on-one tech time is available daily on a call-ahead basis and “Learn How to” technology classes are available monthly and cover various topics, such as Facebook.

“Circulation of physical items may be down, but the library is still a busy, go-to place for the community,” she said.

Having partnerships with the Goodwill Career Connection Center, Centre for Arts and Artists and the Jasper County Conservation Center has allowed the library to enhance learning opportunities in the library as well as out in the community. The library also has special monthly Saturday stories for ages 3 to 9 and monthly visits to preschools, daycare centers in the community.

New services and additional access for readers through the Internet has been a point of emphasis the past year.

“We are now sending email alerts for books three days before they are due to be returned, and not only can readers place holds online, but now they can also renew items online,” Padilla said.

The library is continuing to participate in the WILBOR (West/Central Iowa Libraries Building Online Resources) consortium, which allows readers to check out downloadable audio and e-books at no cost.

It has also started a subscription to Freegal, which offers access to about 7 million songs, including Sony Music’s catalog of legendary artists and more than 28,000 labels with music that originates in more than 80 countries according to its website. Users are able to download three songs a week for free and keep them permanently on their devices.

Contact Staff Writer Jamee A. Pierson at (641) 792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com.