The city’s all-volunteer, public library has found two innovative ways to serve book-lovers while still observing pandemic restrictions — an online or phone reservation system, and free, weekly children’s book giveaways.
Whether you’re looking for books, videos or books on tape, you can reserve any title in the library’s collection, and visit the library the next Wednesday to pick up your items. A library card is necessary to use the service, which has been in effect for about a month, according to library manager Dianne Allen.
To make a reservation online, visit the library’s web page. Or, access it via the city’s website at www.yachatsoregon.org and go to the Library tab. From there, a search page will let you browse by title, author or subject; or, you can search for something specific under “Search Text.”
To use the system online, patrons must have their email correctly on file with the library. Those who have trouble completing their requests, or who have no internet access, may call the library from 1-3 p.m. on Wednesdays: 541-547-3741.
“We have a whole batch of new titles coming in very soon,” said Allen, and effective Wednesday, June 24, they’ll all be accessible through the reservation system. She advised that when patrons’ selections are ready, “We will contact you. Then, the next Wednesday from 1-3 p.m., you can pick up your titles at the front door of the library.”
In addition, those who still have library materials from the start of the COVID-19 closure in March are urged to return them. No book donations can be accepted at present, Allen said, due to space limitations. Monetary donations, however, are always welcomed.
Free, weekly books for ages three to 15
Because the traditional summer children’s reading program has been cancelled due to the pandemic, there will be no in-person read-alouds or entertainment at the library this season. However, the tradition of free children’s books will still continue — at a different location.
Beginning Thursday, June 25, and each Thursday through August 27, from 10 a.m. to noon in the pavilion behind the Commons, brand new paperback books will be given away, said Children’s Librarian Jane Shay. A library card isn’t needed: “Anyone who has a child or children can come, including visitors,” she said.
Thanks to COVID-19, there are a couple of conditions: everyone who enters the pavilion is asked to wear a mask; only one family or group at a time will be admitted; visitors will be asked to use the hand sanitizers provided, and “you’ll have to take the book you touch,” said Shay. She and another library volunteer will be on hand to run the weekly giveaways.
Appropriate for ages three to 15, the new paperbacks include picture books, chapter books, mysteries, science fiction, graphic novels, non-fiction, classics, and bi-lingual (English-Spanish) titles. The limit is one book per week per child; there is no limit on how many giveaways may be attended.
The books were bought through a grant from the Collaborative Summer Library Program, a national effort funneled through the state of Oregon.
For more information, call the library at 541-547-3741.
