June brings
good news for library lovers in Windham and Raymond, as both the Windham Public
Library and the Raymond Village Library resume lending physical materials after
an extended period of offering online/digital services only.
Library
staff were far from idle when their doors were closed to the public, even if traditional
library services weren’t available. At the Windham Public Library, some of the
things staff worked on included online programming, including story times for
all ages, craft activities, discussion groups and book chats; did inventory,
removed old materials and ordered new items for the collection; conducted
welfare checks on community members; provided phone or email support to
patrons; planned the online Summer Reading Program; and instituted curbside
service after securing grant funding, and participated in statewide discussions
about library services and best practices, said Director Jennifer Alvino.
In Raymond,
staff spent a lot of time helping patrons get set up to access digital/online
resources. The library’s book club met
via Zoom, and staff provided reference services online or by telephone
according to Library Director Allison Griffin.
The Children’s librarian also spent time compiling baby book bundles,
which contain three board books, a song or game, and another activity related
to the books, and similar Storytime sets for preschoolers that include a
related craft and materials.
Both libraries
kept patrons updated and engaged through their websites and Facebook pages
while closed, including posting recorded story times, craft ideas, resources
and announcements.
Currently,
the Windham Public Library is open to Windham residents or current Windham
Public Library card holders only. There
is a limit of 10 people inside the library at one time, and the first two open
hours of the day are only open to vulnerable patrons, including seniors and
those with underlying health concerns.
The library will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Their curbside service also continues Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Alvino said
that although things look different at the library, and hours have changed,
they continue to work hard to provide the best possible service under the
current circumstances.
“We will
slowly bring back services and hours as it is safe to do so but our main goal
is and always remains to provide our patrons with the services and materials
that they need from us,” she said.
In Raymond,
the library building is still not open to the public, but no-contact parking
lot pick up of books, audiobooks, and movies has been available since June 1. Patrons can use their online account to put
items on hold, or call/email the library to request materials, including the
baby book bundles and Storytime bundles.
The Raymond
Village Library is also offering limited home deliveries to patrons unable to
come to the library.
Curbside
pickup will continue through the month of June, with a goal of opening the
building in a limited way in July.
Because
it’s a small library, Griffin said, there’s a need to control how many people
are inside at a time. They will either designate someone to ensure that limit
is followed, or they will offer “library by appointment,” she said.
Currently,
however, they are still trying to get some of the protective barriers in place
– and finding plexiglass is proving difficult.
The Raymond
Village Library currently has both a book sale and a plant sale taking place.
The plant sale had been by appointment only, but this week remaining available
plants were placed out front with payment envelopes. The sale is operating on the honor system,
and patrons can place payment envelopes in the book drop. Anyone wishing to pay via credit card can
contact the library to make those arrangements.
A link to a
document listing items available in the book sale is posted on the Raymond
Village Library Facebook page. Listings will
be updated weekly, and the sale continues for the month of June. In addition to individual books for adults
and children, leveled reading book bundles are available, as are some movies.
The staff
at the libraries in Windham and Raymond both remain committed to offering their
valuable services to the communities they serve in whatever ways they can.
“As a
community gathering place, I think the library’s role has shifted to finding
alternative ways to connect with our patrons,” Alvino said. “For now, since our in-person programming
cannot take place, we are continuing online programming utilizing Youtube,
Facebook Live, and Zoom.” Other
services, such as access to public computers, will be slowly resumed when
alternative ways to offer them safely are found, she added.
In Raymond,
Griffin said they saw a large increase in the use of digital and online
resources, particularly ebooks. She said
many people who had not explored these resources before had a chance to learn
how to use them.
Griffin
said that she believes that the increased use of digital tools will continue, but
she said that there were many patrons who were not interested in using those
resources. She said that when the
library can safely reopen, digital resources won’t change the way many patrons
use the library.
Both
libraries offer a range of online services and resources, which can be explored
via their Facebook pages and websites. One unique resource that Windham library card
holders can access is an online database of courses called Universal Class,
which offers classes from Excel to Knitting to Cake Decorating, Alvino said.
For more
information or to access digital services visit the library websites at http://www.windham.lib.me.us/ and http://www.raymondvillagelibrary.org/. <
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