2024 was ‘a good year’ for Marshalltown Public Library

T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM — Marshalltown Public Library Director Sarah Rosenblum said 2024 was a good year for the library. In 2025, she hopes to start the interior renovation, which will provide more meeting space.
Last year was not bad for the Marshalltown Public Library, according to Director Sarah Rosenblum.
“It was a good year, even though there wasn’t some blockbuster thing,” she said.
There was slightly more traffic within the library in 2024 than there was in 2023. She said more than 110,000 people walked through, compared to 102,000 the previous year.
“That’s probably not totally accurate, because when people go to a meeting, we don’t necessarily catch them in the door counter,” Rosenblum said. “We had about 21,000 people attend programs, both here and [Youth Services Coordinator] Joa [LaVille] going to the schools. That’s a pretty good number.”
The number of items circulated by the library increased by 8,000 to 261,000, which also includes ebooks.
In September, the library ended the subscription to Hoopla, a digital service which provides immediate access to books, music and movies. However, it continued to utilize the state Libby ebook program, which gives people the opportunity to read popular authors, such as James Patterson – the most popular amongst Marshalltown Public Library patrons.
“I think the public has been really understanding, because Hoopla was not fiscally sustainable,” she said. “It’s something I have seen other libraries around the country reduced or eliminated.”
Rosenblum said a service they will continue is the summer outdoor programming on Wednesdays.
“We think the community really likes having the kids activities in the summer,” she said. “The weather was on our side this year. I don’t think we had to cancel any of our programs or bring them inside. We had a great Bluey program, which more than 200 people came to. I love when I hear people say they drive by the library, especially on Wednesdays and say it looks like fun. We find having it outside, we get a lot of engagement from our diverse community that we don’t see inside.”
The library also had great adult programs in 2024, Rosenblum said, including a visit from bestselling author Michael Perry in November.
“I don’t know what we have on tap for this year, but I’m sure we are looking at some good programs,” she said.
This year
In 2025, Rosenblum hopes to begin the interior renovation, which she estimates will take six to nine months to complete.
“We want to add more meeting space and also update the large meeting room technology,” she said. “I can’t promise it will all get done this year, but I hope the majority should get done. That is all with funds from the Friends of the Marshalltown Public Library. No city funds.”
Rosenblum also hopes to add a lounge space for people who tend to talk louder and for families who need supervised visits.
She would like to bring craft programs to the library, as that is something she thinks will capture interest.
“We do think people are hungry for community and engagement,” Rosenblum said. “We would like to do more things, but we do have a lean staff. It’s hard to figure out how we can get that in.”
Another thing the director is excited about is the ongoing sale of books on eBay under the marshalltowntownlibraryfriends account name. In December, they had sold a total of 260 items, with another 280 up for grabs.
“We are looking for donations for that, such as vintage children’s books,” Rosenblum said. “They made more than $5,000 last year, after expenses, and we’re hoping to make the same, if not more, this year. It’s nice and extra income.”
As she hears the rumblings about the Iowa Legislature intending to lower property taxes, the extra income will be very useful.
“I do have concerns about that,” she said. “I wish people understood property taxes not just fund the library, but also police, fire and public works. I get it. I own a house. I pay property taxes, but I wish people understood the connection of how we’re funded.”
TOP BOOKS OF 2024
The Marshalltown Public Library readers have spoken. The books which were checked out the most in 2024 are:
Fiction:
• “The 24th Hour” by James Patterson
• “Crosshairs” by James Patterson
• “The Murder Inn” by James Patterson
• “Missing Persons” by James Patterson
• “The Edge” by David Baldacci
• “Holmes, Marple & Poe” by James Patterson
• “Hard to Kill” by James Patterson
• “The #1 Lawyer” by James Patterson
• “Confessions of the Dead” by James Patterson
• “A Calamity of Souls” by David Baldacci
Non-Fiction
• “Framed: The Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions” by John Grisham
• “Oath & Honor: A Memoir and a Warning” by Liz Cheney
• “The Amish Wife: Unraveling the Lies, Secrets & Conspiracy That Let a Killer Go Free” by Gregg Olsen
• “Atomic Habits” by James Clear
• “The Backyard Bird Chronicles” by Amy Tan
• “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt
• “Spare” by Prince Harry
• “Lovers in Auschwitz: A True Story” by Keren Blankfeld
• “Hillbilly Elegy” by JD Vance
• “Counting the Cost” by Jill Duggar
Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.