Library hours changing

Gladys Ritchie Public Library officials are extending their hours with the start of school trying to help students and parents who may need assistance.

Beginning Aug. 10, the library will be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The library has served Jack County patrons throughout the pandemic. However, it had reduced hours from noon – 5:00 pm and practiced social distancing, hand sanitizing (provided) and the cleaning of all computers after each use.

Lenora Joslin with the library said the facility had not been requiring masks, but will possibly be doing so soon. “The library WILL follow the guidelines prescribed through the county judge’s office, the school superintendent, or the city manager,” Joslin stated in an email. “However, I have visited with the school administrator to offer our assistance to parents and students who might need our help. Some of you may be doing virtual learning, but either do not have adequate internet, wifi, or computers to do so. “

Any child needing any assistance that the library can provide, please call (940-567-2240-library or 940-229 4977- Joslin’s cell). It will continue to limit numbers and social distance. The library has 14 patron computers, but to be safe, we cannot use all of them at one time.

Any adult needing to apply for financial aid, unemployment, Medicaid or Medicare, or any other Essential service, or needing help to do so, can also use our facilities. Again, we would ask to either call ahead or check at the desk for availability.

Anyone needing to complete school online registration for their children or Census may also come in and get assistance. If in the course of dealing with Covid 19, your Census card was misplaced, please come in and we will help you to complete it without the card. Especially, during this time when so many need help, our Census forms must be filled out. So many programs for our community and county are funded by Census numbers.

With everyone starting to run low on television and other entertainment, Anyone who finds themselves without TV programing, come in and select movies from the large collection. With over 10,000 book titles in both fiction and non-fiction for children, young adult and adult readers, there is something for everyone. In addition, there are lots of audio books, and if you need to trace family histo

ry, the library has a very decent genealogy section.

These checkouts are free, but you must either already have a library card, or apply and receive one while you wait. To apply, you need a picture ID, proof of address (a utility bill will work), and for children up to 14, an adult to sign for you.

In addition, we will be having a huge book sale of mostly very gently used books. Most are of popular writers and have only been read once or twice. Sale prices are $4 per baga wonderful bargain-the price cheaper than one new paperback.For the pre-school children, we received a $20,500 grant prior to Covid which supplied us with modern, up to date Dell computers loaded with programs to help 2-8 year olds with math, reading, art, and several other subject areas. Joslin said the library will reopen the use of these during the day when the older children are in school.

“We will not reopen the game playing on the computers after school just yet,” Joslin said. “Social distancing would be nonexistent if we did.”

Joslin said “We miss our old schedule and having to follow such close guidelines, just as you do, but we want to be a help, not a hindrance to getting back to NORMAL.”