Great River Regional Library reports steady post‑pandemic rebound, rising program use among Benton County borrowers

Karen, executive director of Great River Regional Library, and Jen Thompson of the Saint Cloud Public Library presented a system update to the Benton County Board on March 18, describing rising circulation, program participation and outreach across the six‑county GRL system.

Karen said the system had over a million physical visitors last year and reported more than 2 million physical items circulated across the region and nearly half a million digital checkouts. She noted Benton County borrowers commonly use the Saint Cloud Public Library, Foley Public Library and a Sartell GRL To Go locker; Saint Cloud accounts for roughly 70% of Benton County borrowers’ activity in the system.

The presenters highlighted youth services, including a record summer reading registration across the region (about 13,000 children) and a new youth advisory council that informs programming. Jen Thompson, a returning staff member at the Saint Cloud Public Library, described weekday customer interactions, job and benefits assistance available at public library locations, free access to LinkedIn Learning for cardholders, circulating kits (for hobbies and games) and outreach programs such as Paws to Read and Wi‑Fi hotspot circulation.

Karen said Sartell pays for most of the Sartell locker service and that display materials and technology upgrades require intergovernmental coordination because the Saint Cloud library building is owned by the City of Saint Cloud. Commissioners asked whether the Saint Cloud building could host upgraded electronics in meeting rooms to support hybrid broadcasting; Karen said that would require City of Saint Cloud funding decisions and coordination with library leadership.