Library Happenings - September 2020
A Message from the Director Hi, Library Users!
It seems like a million years—instead of five months—since I’ve gotten to send greetings to you in this way. I’m so excited to again have some “normalcy” in this crazy world.
Your library continued to be here for you with virtual services during the stay-at-home restrictions, but it has been so good to see your happy faces, as the kids say, IRL (in real life!). Staff share with me your positive comments about how safe you feel in the library with all the new procedures we have in place. However, not everyone knows about the library being OPEN, even though it happened back in July. Please do us a favor and spread the word among your family and friends. And, if you get an overdue notice or bill for unreturned materials, please don’t panic. We are NOT charging overdue fines on your materials, and, once you bring the items back, you won’t owe anything. Our book drops have been open since May 18, but I know some people remain unaware. It’s OK! We’ll take your stuff (and you) back whenever you’re ready! I was thrilled yesterday to hear that we had a daily “door count” of 350 people walk into the Main Library. That’s a great increase from just a week ago. However, don’t worry that you’ll be crowded among people. We are still in the “Grab and Go” stage, so people are quickly picking their materials and heading back out. The Bookmobile is back on the road and deliveries are again being made to homebound individuals, a group that has been growing like crazy. We are obviously expanding our definition of “homebound” to those of you who remain uncomfortable going out to public spaces just yet, so give us a call if that’s your situation.
Like most of you, I have found recent months to be tough in many ways. I have a mother in nursing care I’ve been unable to visit until last week, and a first grandbaby I’ve been unable to hold since March. I’ve seen programs, services, hours, and funding cuts, lost staff that I considered family to job cuts, and I've had to shoulder all those decisions. However, the consistent bright spot is the attitude, creativity, and resiliency of the library staff who are every day proving they understand our mission and will think of ways to keep your library available for your needs. If there’s any silver lining, it’s seeing staff smile, dust off, and rethink “how we’ve always done things” to do new things in a new way. I could not be more proud.
And, in this slower stage of life, when my packed calendar now has whole chunks of time when I’m not running to events, I pick up a book! One book I just finished for my own book club and can recommend is Margarita Montimore’s Oona Out of Order. It’s a weird one for me as it is a unique spin on time travel. What if you woke up every January 1 having time-jumped to a different year/age, and it didn’t go chronologically? You’re 21-years-old, then 50, then 42? What if you had to leave yourself notes so you wouldn’t be shocked to look in the mirror, or see this new man who says he’s your husband? Poor Oona is facing that burden, and it’s tough to work on relationships when you don’t know what will happen at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. I bet this’ll be a movie.
The book I just started, Natasha Boyd’s The Indigo Girl, is more typical historical fiction. Set in the early 1700s, this book tells the true and amazing story of a 16-year-old girl who saved her home from her father’s poor management by producing indigo dye, which became one of the largest exports out of the Americas because of its demand in France. She needed the knowledge of local slaves to learn the skill. Although none of us have probably heard of Eliza Lucas, she was so famous in her day that President George Washington served as a pallbearer at her funeral. The book promises “romance, intrigue, forbidden friendships, and political and financial threats,” but I’ve just started and can’t yet confirm or deny those claims. I DO know it’s about a place, time, and industry about which I know nothing, so it’s time well spent!
Sherie Brown, Director
Askren Online Book Club
Beginning Tuesday, September 15, the Askren Branch of the Massillon Public Library will host their Tuesday Book Club online via Zoom.
Stay Safe Online
On Wednesday, September 16, from 6:00pm - 7:00pm, the Library’s Technology Department will host a live online Zoom class on how to “Stay Safe Online.”
Online Baby & Toddler Story Times
Beginning Thursday, September 17, the Children’s Department will host an “Online Baby & Toddler Story Time.” A new story time video will post to our Facebook page every Thursday.
All locations of the Massillon Public Library will be CLOSED on Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day.
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