General Information

Facility

The Clear Lake Public Library was established in 1889 and has been providing progressive library service to the community for over a century. In January 2002, the library reopened in a newly expanded and renovated facility. This approximately $2.5 million project was made possible through the community’s generous support of the Books and Beyond Capital Campaign. The building project joined the 1918 Carnegie Building with the adjacent Masonic Temple, and expanded the library’s size by 5,000 square feet. The renovated facility offers more public access computers, a new history room, a larger meeting room, new study rooms, an expanded children’s area, and more shelving for the library’s book and audio-visual collections.

During 2011, the library checked out 144,934 print and audio-visual items.  The library has 8,579 registered card holders.

The City of Clear Lake primarily funds the library. Cerro Gordo County provides funding for service to rural residents of the county. The library also receives state funding through the Enrich Iowa Program.

Library Staff

• Bryna Walker, Library Director
• Brianna Sholly, Children's Librarian

Who May Use the Library?

Library cards will be issued free of charge to residents of Clear Lake and rural Cerro Gordo County. Identification with proof of current address is requested. Persons visiting the area will be issued Open Access Cards if they are from a community participating in the State Library of Iowa’s Open Access Program.

Library Collection

• There are over 50,000 items in the library collection.
  
  

Print Collection

• Contemporary adult fiction and nonfiction, and classics
• Children’s collection: preschool through fifth grade
• Young adult books and magazines for middle school and senior high
• Large print books
• Reference materials providing current information on many topics
• Over 170 newspaper and magazine subscriptions
• Clear Lake local history collection

Audio-Visual Collection

• Art prints for loan
• Audio books
• Music on compact discs
• Motion pictures on videotapes and DVD

Loan Periods

All books, magazines, audio tapes and music compact discs loan for two weeks. Art prints are checked out for eight weeks. Videotapes and DVDs are loaned for four days and are due back one hour before closing.

There are no fines on materials checked out to juvenile patrons. $1.00 fine on books, CDs, and audio books, and $.50 fine on paperback fiction and magazines after 30 days overdue. The fine on art prints is $.10 per day, and videotape and DVD fines are $1.00 per day. There is no grace period on art prints and videos. Most items, except videos, may be renewed if not reserved for another patron.

PINs (Personal Identification Numbers)