Winter Reading Challenge Ages 0-13
Our Winter Reading Challenge is here! This online program is for ages 0-13, and you can sign up at https://carthagelibrary.beanstack.org/reader365
Author: System Administrator
Library Reopens Monday, January 25, 2021
We are happy to announce that we will be opening our doors again starting Monday, January 25, 2021! Here’s the press release from our Director.
NEWS RELEASE
Date: January 15, 2021
CONTACT: Julie Yockey, Director
Carthage Public Library, 417-237-7040
Carthage Public Library to Re-Open Its Doors along with our new Steadley Family Legacy Building Makerspace
(Carthage) The Carthage Public Library Board of Trustees, Director, and Staff are excited to be able to share with the public our big announcement that after 7 sad, grueling, stressful months we will again open our doors to the public. We thank our patrons, community leaders, family, and friends for showing us so much concern and help during the time of the disastrous water leak. Truly a disaster, not one area of our beautiful library was untouched in some way. Working together with contractors, insurance, and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, anything and everything that had to be repaired took extra time. Thank you for your patience and for using the alternate delivery methods we had available to meet your needs. Some of those methods were a huge success and will remain to be offered.
On January 25th the doors to the main Library will be open at 9:00am. The following strict guidelines will be in place due to the continued rise in COVID-19 cases in our country. These guidelines are Board approved and will be re-evaluated after March 31, 2021.
Library Hours:
Monday-Friday 9am-6pm
Saturday 9am-1pm
ALL persons entering the Library from the age of 5 and up are REQUIRED to wear a mask. If you are unable to wear a mask, please call the Library at 417-237-7040 for services we can safely provide outside the Library. Strict social distancing practices will be in place and we ask that you not visit the Library if you are or have been sick.
All patrons will be allowed 30 minutes inside the Library and it is suggested that one person per family come in to pick up materials.
There will be no community events or on-site programming until further notice. All furniture and children’s manipulatives and toys will be removed.
Curbside services will continue to be offered. Contact the Library for assistance.
Steadley Family Legacy Building and Makerspace:
A celebration Ribbon Cutting was held on December 15th for our new Makerspace and educational building built with the funds from the K.D. and M.L. Steadley Trust. The building is full of wonderful opportunities for all people in our community. The following guidelines will be in place until March 31st.
HOURS:
Monday-Tuesday 11am-6pm
Wednesday-Thursday 9am-6pm
Saturday-2 Saturdays a month/see Library website or call the Library
ALL persons entering the Steadley building from the age of 5 and up are REQUIRED to wear a mask.
A maximum of 5 people will be allowed for one hour increments. You will need to call the Library to schedule an appointment.
Julie Yockey, Director.
English and Citizenship Classes Suspended Due to COVID-19 Rise
Due to the high number of COVID-19 cases locally, our citizenship and English language classes will not meet for the rest of this year.
Missouri Evergreen App Now Available!
Missouri Evergreen has a free mobile app for the library’s online catalog. It allows you to search the online catalog, place holds, view account information, and renew items on your mobile device.
Click here to download:
Face Coverings Required, Distancing Measures in Place, Services Offered
To ensure the safety of our staff and patrons, and due to the increase in positive cases of COVID-19 in our community, the Carthage Public Library Board of Trustees requires that all persons entering the library ages 5 and up must wear a face covering. Main library hours will be 9am to 6pm Monday through Friday, and 9am to 1pm on Saturday. Physical social distancing measures have been put in place and patrons will be allowed one 30 minute visit per day. Wi-Fi is available in the parking lot from the Steadley Legacy building. Our curbside pickup service continues, and we also have a variety of great resources available online, including e-books and audiobooks, for you to enjoy at home.
Thank You, Race Brothers
From our Director: Thank you Race Brothers for partnering with us so we could purchase this wonderful new mower! The last one lasted 7 years so let’s hope we get that much good out of this one! Have fun, Jerry!
Curbside Service Details
Due to building damage and the rise of COVID cases in the area, the library building itself will remain closed to patrons at this time, so service will be drive through only for now. Here’s how our curbside/drive through service will work:
- We will be filling holds for our own patrons, both on local items owned by Carthage Public Library and items received via courier from our consortium partners.
- Holds and checkouts are temporarily limited to 10 items per account.
- You may place holds either by calling the library directly, or via self-service online at your convenience. No matter how you place your holds, you will still need to make a phone call to arrange a pick-up time. We ask that you wait 24 hours after placing your holds before calling to arrange your pick-up time.
- To arrange your pick-up time, give us a call and speak to one of our staff members. Our phones will be online Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, and Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm. Curbside pickup time slots are between 10am and 5pm Monday through Friday, 10am to 1pm on Saturdays. We ask that you have your card number handy when you call us, but we can still assist you if you’ve misplaced it.
- To pick up your items at your prearranged time, just pull through the book drop area. Look for the table just outside the staff entrance. Your items will be in a sealed bag, already checked out and ready to go, with the due date slip inside. Simply pick up the bag with your name on it – there’s no need to show proof of identity when picking your items up. Surveillance cameras are situated in the pick-up area for for security. If you don’t pick your items up at the scheduled time, we will bring them back into the library and you can call again to reschedule another pickup time.
- After that, just pull forward through the book drop to return any materials, and you’re done! When dropping books off, for safety reasons, all materials will be quarantined inside the library for at least 72 hours before being returned to the collection. So if you drop something off and don’t see it removed from your account the same day, don’t worry! It will be checked in a few days later and you won’t incur any fines due to the delay.
We look forward to serving you soon!
Thank you, Family Literacy Council
Thank you, Family Literacy Council! Your generous donation will purchase several giveaway books for our summer reading program. The Family Literacy Council knows the importance of keeping our community’s children reading throughout the year and are always supportive of local efforts. Come visit us at your Carthage Public Library to see what there is for your family. Summer programming calendars will be available mid to late April. There are programs for all ages!
Tax Forms and Carthage VITA Information
It’s tax season again! We hope this information is helpful to our patrons:
Carthage Public Library does not have preprinted tax forms on hand this year, but you are welcome to use our computers to print tax forms from the IRS website and Missouri Department of Revenue. The standard price of 20¢ per page B&W, 50¢ color applies, and you must may for everything you print out. Printing tax forms is self-service only – library personnel cannot advise you which tax forms you need or offer any other assistance with taxes.
If you do need help with your taxes, an area organization, Carthage VITA, offers free income tax preparation assistance beginning February 3, 2021, by appointment only. Call 417-388-7609 for more information or to make an appointment. Please note that this service is not provided by the Library and VITA does not meet here for appointments as they did in previous years – you must contact them at that number directly.
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
Your Carthage Public Library is now participating in the nationwide reading program called 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten for children ages 0 to pre-k. If you have a child in this age range, we encourage you to sign up in the library or right here, then stop by and pick up your starter packet.