by Beth Cronk, Litchfield head librarian
The Litchfield Public Library is closed indefinitely because
of COVID-19, along with all other libraries in Pioneerland Library System. The book drop is closed, as well. For now, please keep public library books and
movies at home, and once the library reopens you may return them. Due dates will continue to be extended while
the library is closed, so there’s no need to worry about late fees.
All library events and programs that had been scheduled for
April and May are canceled or indefinitely postponed. This includes storytimes, Brickheads Lego
building, book clubs, craft and activity programs for adults and kids, and the
May book sale. We are hoping to offer
some virtual programs or online content that you can access from home. For example, I’m hoping to host my April 14th
book club meeting via Zoom or Facebook Live so that we can discuss “O
Pioneers!” without the health risk of gathering a group of people.
Some resources are available while the library is closed.
Pioneerland’s downloadable ebooks and audiobooks are
available at pioneerland.overdrive.com or by using the free Libby or Overdrive
app on a smartphone, tablet, or Kindle.
To find your local collection, search Overdrive for your local library,
and that will lead you to Pioneerland.
If it lists a library system name other than Pioneerland, you may have
chosen a Litchfield or Grove City in another state; it’s a common mistake.
Most titles are available to only one person at a time, just
like a physical book, but a collection of classics is available for unlimited numbers
of users to borrow at one time. Another
option is the current Big Library Read, a book that Overdrive chooses for
unlimited checkouts for a limited time.
The current title is Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic: A Comedian’s Guide to Life on the Spectrum by Michael McCreary.
This is a teen-oriented memoir that adults can also enjoy. It’s available for unlimited borrowers
through April 13.
Even though the libraries are closed, our library system is
adding more downloadable titles all the time to meet your need for books. Looking for something you can check out
immediately, instead of putting yourself on a waiting list? Choose “collections,” then “available now,”
and you can view your many options for checking out a book right away.
Don’t have a library card? There’s a new way to sign up for
a digital card online. Go to Overdrive
or Libby on a computer, phone, or tablet, and choose the option to sign up for
an instant digital card using your cell phone number. You should only use this
option if you don’t already have a library card. Ebooks are only available to
people who live within the service area of each library system; Meeker County
residents can access Pioneerland ebooks, but residents of some of our
neighboring counties cannot.
If you have a library card that has expired within the past
year or that was about to expire in the coming two months, your card’s
expiration date has now been extended to June, and you should be able to use it
to check out ebooks. If you have trouble
using your card, you can email me at elizabeth.cronk@pioneerland.lib.mn.us
and I will find out if someone from our headquarters can resolve the
issue.
You can also send me an email if you need assistance with
research, and I’ll do what I can with online resources from home. Another option is AskMN, the 24-hour
information and research help service from Minnesota libraries. Visit askmn.org for real-time online chat
assistance from a librarian for help finding information on any topic,
including college research.
Prefer to do the searching yourself? The Electronic Library
for Minnesota (ELM) is a massive online resource that’s free for
Minnesotans. You can access magazine,
academic journal, and newspaper articles, encyclopedias for all ages, test prep
resources, résumé
guidance, and federal government documents.
It’s a fantastic resource for students as well as the general
public. One unique collection within ELM
is called Minnesota Reflections; it’s made up of images and documents from
throughout the history of Minnesota, contributed by museums, archives,
colleges, and libraries across the state.
Access ELM at elibrarymn.org.
Free public wifi is available outside the library. If you park on the street or in the parking
lot near the building, you should be able to pick it up, and no password is
required.
I hope you are staying home as much as possible as our whole
society works together to control this pandemic. I am hopeful that we can care for each other
and each do our part for the greater good.
I wish you health and happiness in the midst of this stressful time.
