Provide enhanced services to the public during the past year

Once reopened to the public following the pandemic closure in 2020, the library was committed to continuing some of the services put in place for our patrons at that time. Patrons were still able to reserve and pick up physical items via curbside pick-up, attend virtual programs/activities, participate in summer & winter reading programs, pick up take & make crafts & storytime kits, utilize digital resources, and obtain digital library cards. In addition, the library also reopened access to study rooms, one meeting room, and public access computers this year. 

Curbside Service for Physical Materials 
Schertz Public Library offered curbside service to patrons during the duration of the library's closure, but this was a service we have continued throughout 2021, even after the library reopened. Patrons are able to put physical items on hold and retrieve them without having to come in to the building. 

Take & Make Craft Kits for Adults
Adult Services put together various craft/activity kits that could be picked up either in the building or through our curbside service. Some of the 2021 craft kits included: conversation heart magnets, basic line drawing, tissue paper flowers, how to color with colored pencils, patriotic earrings, and marbled embroidery kits.

Youth Services Take & Makes & Recorded Storytime
Youth Services offered recorded storytimes for babies, toddlers, and preschool aged children and provided take & makes for all ages groups. Some examples of youth services take & makes for various age groups are listed below.
2021 Take and Make examples:
Teen: Narwhal Watercolor, 3D Hologram Projector, Light Table, Paper Box, Macramé Keychain, Color Transfer on Wood, DIY Neon Sign, Upgrade Your Ramen, Blizzard Book
Youth: Fizzing Ice castles, Crystal Yeti, Cardboard Rover, Tensile Bubbles, Kids Weaving, Tiny Greenhouse, Butterfly Puddler, Lightning Bug Paper Circuit Card, Cardboard Dragon
Preschool: Popsicle Stick Birdfeeder, Apple Painting, Origami Tulips, Bubble Wrap Sheep, Pig Planter, Sea Life Weaving Mat
Toddler: Cheerios Birdfeeder, Heart Window Cling, Ziploc Bag Mitten Painting, Paper Plate Wind Sock, Splat Paint Craft

Virtual Programming
Throughout the pandemic closure, the library adapted several programs that we continued to offer in 2021, as all had regular attendance. 

Poetry in Your Pajamas
The library holds a monthly open mic poetry session at the library. Once the library closed, the poetry program was re-branded and transitioned to a virtual program instead.

BYOB(OOK) Extreme Book Nerd Book Club
Schertz Public Library holds an annual reading challenge called the Extreme Book Nerd Challenge. During the closure, this virtual program was created as a way for patrons participating in the challenge to meet with others online to discuss books in a different challenge category each month. 

Virtual Dungeons & Dragons
The library offered virtual D& D every Saturday from 1-5 PM.

Added Services
cloudLibrary Mobile Checkout Stations
During 2021, the Schertz Public Library added two cloudLibrary Mobile Checkout stations to allow patrons a simple contactless checkout option using their smartphone and the same app they use for downloading eBooks and eAudiobooks.

SimplyE-The Library E Reader
In 2021, the Schertz Public Library acquired SimplyE which makes it easy to browse, borrow, and read any eBook in the library's collection. By using SimplyE, patrons no longer have to search for titles across multiple apps.