Guelph Public Library increased the amount of items check out by 42.6 per cent last year for a total of 1.99 million items, the 2021 annual report shows.
The library said they remained an important social connector supporting people through the pandemic.
The GPL has added a variety of services in 2021, including 1,150 created book bundles, Wi-Fi enabled Samsung tablets and radon gas detector kits. The library also partnered with the Seed Library and handed out over 750 seed packets.
Some of the top checked out items are Chromebooks, disc golf sets and The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.
Added to the library were decodable children's books to help engage all reading abilities, these books are a dyslexia friendly resource. Families with young children have access to toys with toys donated by the Schneider family in memory Kiera Schneider.
The library also helped connect Guelph residents through the Community Company's provincial postcard campaign created by Jobs Opportunities Enterprise (J.O.E.).
The Makerspace was widely used by 2,988 people with 957 3D printing sessions, 422 game room bookings, 112 audio and video recording studio bookings.
