MARSHALL — If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Despite the popularity of electronic devices, Lyon County libraries are thriving by embracing the new technology and also being an integral part of the community.

Michele Leininger, Marshall-Lyon County Library director, and Tracy Public Library Director Valerie Quist gave their 2018 annual report to the Lyon County Board at its regular board meeting Tuesday morning.

“We continue to see how people use this space (library),” Leininger said. “We are seeing people using this space differently. We’ve seen a lot of groups come in, a lot of mom groups in the library and in the children’s area, we had tutors and kids meeting throughout the summer so we’re seeing more and more people using the space how they want to and staying longer and ‘hanging out,’ if you will.”

As far as library services, “collections and computers continue to be our two biggest and strongest services,” Leininger said.

According to a survey of readers MLCL conducted in January, it was discerned that patrons “really appreciate the displays we put out and that we created book lists for them,” she said.

“It’s a way they can browse and and also browse from home,” she said.

Another popular service is Internet access.

“Our Wi-Fi use has continued to skyrocket and over a year ago we did add wireless printing — they don’t have to jump on our computer to print something,” Leininger said.

“One of the things we found specifically in 2018 was for the first time we saw — it was a small surge, but we saw a surge in all ages of readers. Prior to this we were seeing mostly children’s use continuing to rise and digital use continuing to rise.

“We can tell our digital library is providing a critical service particularly in the winter. There is always a little spike when we had to close because the weather was too bad and we are seeing that across the county; not just Marshall users, but all kinds of users.”

Leininger said she appreciates community members’ donations to the library.

“We have an incredibly generous community,” she said. “They donate books and we either add them to our collection or also offer them to other libraries before giving to Friends (of Library).”

MLCL now has puzzles for adults and kids and has a grant to put together a toy lending library.

Another new feature is a monthly newsletter, Dear Reader, which is sent by email.

“Let’s say you like to read mysteries,” she said. “You can sign up for a mystery newsletter, you’ll get it once a month, there will be little blurbs about each book and if you like it you can click on it and it automatically goes right to our catalog and if you want to you can place a hold. We’re just trying to find ways people can browse from home.”

MLCL has also been getting to areas without a library.

“We are increasing our pop-ups,” she said. “We have one at the Ghent Cenex location and we are looking at one in Garvin and adding more dates at the Farmers Market.”

Leininger said the “Little Learners Play Area” for children zero to 5 is popular. In 2018 the library offered the Writers Cafe and in 2019, the Memoir Project.

“We’re gearing up for the sesquiscentennial — that’s where the Memoir Project comes in,” she said. “We’ll collect people’s stories. The Lyon County Historical Society is one of our partners.”

Commissioner Paul Graupmann asked if the library had programs for people who are learning English.

“We do work with (Adult Basic Education),” Leininger said. “They bring them into the library, make sure get library cards and show them how it works. We’ve seen an increase in mom groups who stay and hang out and ABE and (Early Childhood Family Education) have encouraged that and are always welcome.”

Quist said the Tracy Library has increased its children’s collection and electronic circulation and continued its regular programs.

“We get a positive response with our art programs where you make, learn a skill then take back home with them,” she said.

An ongoing project for Tracy is its basement remodel.

“That project is underway,” Quist said. “It’s been a very noisy and exciting summer for us. We hope to have an open house for the basement this fall. We want to promote the basement to the community and encourage its use.”

Tracy has expanded its audiobook collection thanks to a donation, Quist said.

“And then we needed shelving for it and were given some shelving from Marshall-Lyon County Library,” she said.

Commissioner Rick Anderson said he appreciated Leininger and Quist coming in and would like to see other directors.

“The Minneota director would have liked to come in, but she’s all by herself on Tuesdays,” said Leininger.

Anderson has visited the Minneota Library, the renovated Big Store, for various events.

“It’s a gorgeous library,” he said. “They are getting a lot more use than they ever anticipated.”