Library Newsletter

6/6/2020 – GKL Newsletter:  The “Visit us!” edition

Well, we all made it to June.  Good job us!  Hello Summer. Now we can kvetch about the heat and humidity instead of the cold and snow.  I love the change of seasons.

I HAVE NEWS!  We plan on re-opening for our regular hours on June 16th.  (fingers crossed covid numbers continue to stay steady and/or go down.)

I know you won’t be surprised that it won’t quite be business as usual.  We will be:

  • Limiting the number of patrons in the building to 10
  • Social distancing as much as possible
  • Using a preposterous amount of hand sanitizer
  • Asking that you wear a mask, if you can
  • Doing a ridiculous amount of hand washing
  • Encouraging people not to hang out inside – this totally breaks our hearts.
  • Continuing to offer entryway pick-up, if you’d rather not come inside.

All items that were checked out in March and April are due back on June 16th.  We won’t be extending that due date, so please pop those items in our book drop or bring them by in person.  If you’re interested in making an appointment before June 14th  check out our website – www.troylibrary.us.

While we are being nimble, dynamic, thoughtful, clever, and resourceful in finding ways to serve the community, we are still in the midst of a pandemic (surprise!).  So as we continue to move forward with our services, it is part of a phased plan that allows us to step forward or back depending on what The Covid is doing.  Our phrase of the moment is “minimize risk” (repeat as needed).

AND while all this is happening, I am feverishly working on putting the final touches on our Summer Reading Program which starts June 20th.  Most of it will be pretty familiar – everyone can read books and get stuff!  Plus, we’ll have plenty of take & do at home things. Stay tuned!

Meanwhile THIS,

Social Media

I am posting information, funny memes, challenges, etc. daily on social media, and our YouTube channel has stories read by me, playlists of amusing videos, stories read by TES staff, famous authors and more.

Follow us on your favorite platform today!   

So much FREE stuff available from home!

Plus

  • Our WIFI is on 24/7 and works in our parking lot, from the picnic table, the lawn, the steps – you get the idea.
  • Need your library card number, but you’re not sure what it is? Do you know your number, but it’s not working?  Let us know, we can help – library@troylibrary.us
  • Your Library is FINE FREE! If you had fines, you don’t anymore!  This is the perfect time to see what we have to offer – https://catalog.troylibrary.us/

Please share this information far and wide, especially with folks who may not be technologically inclined.

WE CAN DO THIS THING!

 

5-14-2020

Library Newsletter: The “See you soon!” edition

I hope you’re all doing well in these trying, unprecedented, troubled, unparalleled, difficult, challenging, tiring, dystopian, complicated, turbulent, surreal, challenging, fractious, unique, taxing, disturbing, weird, stressful, tricky, restricted, singular, interesting, discombobulated, abnormal, ridiculous, mask-tacular times.

Guess who can visit the library and pick out their own stuff or use the computer………YOU CAN!  Yay!  Starting Monday, May 18th we will be open by appointment. Wait……what!…appointment?!?!  Yes, as part of our phased re-opening plan we’ll be open by appointment only as we provide services inside the building in the safest way possible for everyone.  No, this won’t be forever.  I will let you know immediately when we open back up with our regular hours and access.

How it will work:

  • Appointments will be for 30 minutes at a time to use the computer or check out items. They can be for one person or a household group.
  • To schedule call (242-7743) or email (library@troylibrary.us) or fill out the form on our website (troylibrary.us). Then come to the library at that time (unless we contact you otherwise).
  • For now, these are the hours we’re taking appointments – Monday & Tuesday 9a – 3p, Wednesday 9a-5p, Thursday & Friday 12:30p – 5p, Saturday 10a-2p
  • If none of these times work for you, let us know and we will figure something out.
  • Not feeling comfortable about coming inside just yet? No problem!  We’re still doing our entryway pick-up.

Meanwhile, I’m hard at work figuring out Summer Reading for this year.  Sadly, one thing I know for sure is that we won’t be having any group programs.  This means no story time, tie-dye program or traditional ice cream social.  BUT I am working feverishly to come up with new and exciting things to do instead.  SO many ideas, SO little time and SO many emails.  Seriously, why are there so many emails (and Zoom meetings!) to slog through right now.  Go outside people and stop sending me email!  I am trying to plan stuff. (Not you personally of course, I LOVE getting YOUR emails!)

Parents and teachers there are only 15 days left in the school year.  You can DO this!  We are here for you for those days and beyond. Let us know how we can help!  Today, I am zoom reading to Mrs. Schroeder’s 1st grade class.  I am so excited to see whoever shows up.

Meanwhile,

Social Media

I am posting information, funny memes, challenges, etc. daily on social media, and our YouTube channel has stories read by me, playlists of amusing videos, stories read by TES staff, famous authors and more.

Follow us on your favorite platform today!   

So much FREE stuff available from home!

  • You can access our Digital Library 24/7 here – https://troylibrary.us/online-resources/. E-Books, magazines, escape rooms, story times, fun bits, educational websites, and much more!
  • PLAY our Stay-at-Home-Bingo or Backyard Scavenger Hunt! Copies at the post office and on our website. troylibrary.us

Plus

  • Need a library card when we’re closed? Email us, and we’ll process your card online.
  • Our WIFI is on 24/7 and works in our parking lot, from the picnic table, the lawn, the steps – you get the idea.
  • Need your library card number, but you’re not sure what it is? Do you know your number, but it’s not working?  Let us know, we can help – library@troylibrary.us
  • Your Library is FINE FREE! If you had fines, you don’t anymore!  This is the perfect time to see what we have to offer – troylibrary.us

Please share this information far and wide, especially with folks who may not be technologically inclined.

(I will occasionally send out newsletters until we open to the public again including an announcement when we re-open.  If you’d prefer not to receive any more emails like this from us, just reply with ‘No, thank you.’ and you’ll be taken off our list.)

 WE MISS YOU & HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!

4-17-2020

Library Newsletter:  The “What day is it?” Edition

How is everyone? Seriously, how’s everyone holding up? For the most part we have staff in the building at some point Monday – Saturday, give us a call or send an email.  We’d love to hear how you’re doing.

Are you running out of things to talk about at home?  We can help!  Here’s a link to some great questions compiled by Storycorps to prompt new topics of conversation.  https://troylibrary.us/great-questions-lead-to-great-conversations/

At the library we’re all hanging in there and keeping our fingers crossed that we can re-open soon (Sure, it’s hard to type that way, but you’re worth it!).  We’re working on a re-opening plan so we can provide services inside the building in the safest way possible for everyone.  When we have an official re-open date, I will joyfully send it out via email and post it on all our social media platforms plus our website.

Meanwhile, we’re providing a no contact pick-up service and A LOT of online content (see details below).  If you have items out, they will be renewed until we re-open, but if you’d like to get them out of your house, the book drop is open.

We’re serving you even when our building is closed, BUT as importantly, we will be here for you when the stay-at-home order has been lifted.  We will support our community as we all come to terms with the aftermath of this pandemic.  We are here for you now and we will be here for you in the future. 

I want to give a shout out to everyone juggling remote schooling along with everything else.  I know it’s a challenge for students & caregivers as well as teachers.  We are happy to provide books, printing, etc. to help you tackle this responsibility.  Let us know how we can help you.

Are you wondering about our Summer Reading?  Are you curious what that will look like in the time of Covid-19?  Well, so are we!  We’ll be sure to let you know as soon as we have all the details worked out.

May Book Sale

I hate to do this (really, really!), but the May Book Sale is postponed to a future, undetermined date.  We can’t host an event that causes anyone to risk their health.  I promise that when it’s safe, we’re going to have one heck of a sale!

 Pick-Up Service
When we’re closed, we still want you to have books & dvds.
  • Call (242-7743) or email (library@troylibrary.us) us or put items on hold in our catalog (https://catalog.troylibrary.us/) & we’ll bag those items and put them on a table in our entryway for you to pick-up. We’ll call you when your they’re ready.  You can request specific titles or have staff select your items.
  • The book drop will remain open during closure. Returned items are being quarantined before being returned to the collection.
  • Need something printed? Call us and see how we can help.
So much FREE stuff available from home!
  • You can access our Digital Library 24/7 here – https://troylibrary.us/online-resources/. E-Books, magazines, escape rooms, story times, fun bits, educational websites, and much more!
  • PLAY our Stay-at-Home-Bingo or Backyard Scavenger Hunt! Copies at the post office and on our website. troylibrary.us
Social Media

I am posting information, funny memes, challenges, etc. daily on social media, and our YouTube channel has stories read by me, playlists of amusing videos, stories read by TES staff, famous authors and more.

Follow us on your favorite platform today!    
Plus
  • Need a library card when we’re closed? Email us, and we’ll process your card online.
  • Our WIFI is on 24/7 and works in our parking lot, from the picnic table, the lawn, the steps – you get the idea.
  • Need your library card number, but you’re not sure what it is? Do you know your number, but it’s not working?  Let us know, we can help – library@troylibrary.us
  • Your Library is FINE FREE! If you had fines, you don’t anymore!  This is the perfect time to see what we have to offer – troylibrary.us

Please, share the information in this email with others in town, especially with folks who may not be technologically inclined.

WE MISS YOU & HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!

Stay safe & stay sane,
Catherine Callegari, Director

 

4-6-2020  

Library Newsletter – The we miss you edition!

Greetings to Everyone during this time of Covid-19,

As you all know, we are closed until further notice (fingers crossed for a May reopening) for the safety of you and our staff, but we hate it. I am still working a couple of days a week in the library, but it is now missing its most important feature YOU.  Our staff misses you!  We hope you and yours are well and we can’t wait to see you, eventually.

If you have library items, no worries.  Items won’t be due back until after we re-open, but if you’d like to get them out of your house you can put them in our book drop.

In the meantime, we offer you this…

ONLINE
You can access our Digital Library 24/7 here – https://troylibrary.us/online-resources/.  On our website I have posted a vast list of free books, entertainment, education, etc. available online and am updating it often.  Find it here – https://troylibrary.us/new-online-resources-updated-regularly/  We also have health resources on our webpage. www.troylibrary.us  Our wifi is free for use 24/7 from all around the building.  If it is down at any time, please let us know, so we can fix it quickly.

Need your library card number, but you’re not sure what it is?  Do you know your number, but it’s not working?  Drop me an email, and I’ll help you out.  library@troylibrary.us

PLAY!
Play our Stay-at-Home Bingo and Backyard Scavenger Hunt!  Pick up a copy from the bulletin board at the post office or get all the details and print a copy here – https://troylibrary.us/stay-at-home-bingo-backyard-scavenger-hunt/

Keep up to date on our virtual challenges & programs on our website – www.troylibrary.us

SOCIAL MEDIA
Find us on social media.  Our YouTube channel has stories read by me, playlists of amusing videos, stories read by TES staff, famous authors and more.

YouTube: Gay-Kimball Library
Facebook: @troylibrary
Twitter: @gaykimballlibra
Instagram: gaykimballlibrarynh

AT THE LIBRARY
Because we are using our entryway as a pick-up area with no personal interaction, we are still able of offer a very limited pick-up service of books/dvds.  Find out all the details here – https://troylibrary.us/curbside-pick-up/

During this tricky time, we are doing virtual programming, providing information, supporting the Troy Elementary School teachers, making materials available, and more.  BUT as importantly, we will be here for you when the stay-at-home order has been lifted.  We will support our community as we all come to terms with the aftermath of this pandemic.  We are here for you now and we will be here for you in the future.

(I will occasionally send out newsletters until we open to the public again including an announcement when we re-open.  If you’d prefer not to receive any more emails like this from us, just reply with ‘No, thank you.’ and you’ll be taken off our list.)

Stay safe & stay sane,
Catherine Callegari, Director