As more and more activities become possible again after a year of oddities, don’t forget about all of the amazing things you can do at the library! Starting on Tuesday, July 6th, 2021, the Alamance County Public Libraries will be operating at our pre-COVID capacities. We’re open all of our hours again, more seating is available, public computers and printing is back, and more.
“This is an exciting time for the libraries,” said Susana Goldman, Director. “We have been providing services throughout the pandemic, first virtually, then through curbside and grab and go services. Now that we are able to return to our pre-pandemic hours, the community will have greater opportunity to visit us in person again.”
North Park Library: Monday – Thursday, 12:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
“The libraries will track usage going forward through new technology that we were able to implement during our reduced hours,” said Deana Cunningham, Associate Director of Operations. “We are thrilled to welcome patrons back to the library, and we also realize that there are many opportunities for the library to bring services to the community. By tracking things like daily and hourly door counts, we can make sure we are using our staff and resources to best serve all of Alamance County.”
You may see some other changes in our spaces as we did implement plenty of safety precautions that will linger. We took the time our during reduced hours to evaluate our spaces and change some things around. Our meeting rooms are available again in some of our branches, small study rooms are available, and comfortable seating is scattered around the branches again. Summer Reading is also in full swing with reading, programs, prizes, and more available both in-person and online.
Please call your library locations for more details and come see some of the changes!
At the Alamance County Commissioners meeting on Monday, June 21st it was decided, during the regular annual budgeting process, that on July 1, 2021 the Alamance County Public Libraries (ACPL) will no longer charge overdue fines on all library materials. According to the Library Director, Susana Goldman, “I am so excited to be able to remove a barrier to library usage in our community. Especially because charging overdue fines does not align with our vision of creating communities and providing opportunities.”
As there is no evidence that charging overdue fines increase prompt returns and this accounts for less than 1% of ACPL’s revenue each fiscal year, this change will remove punitive actions for late materials resulting in less staff time managing patron fines and a boost in community morale.
“Sad to say, but I’ve had the opportunity to witness lots of unhappy kids leave the library because of fines owing on either their card or the parent’s card,” said Kathy Garrison, long time public services manager at ACPL. “During the summertime, Grandparents often bring their grandchildren into the library to check out books. They spend quality time in the children’s department searching for the right books only to find out they can’t check out because of fines owed. Not only was this embarrassing to the Grandparents, it would leave the child in tears. Sometimes the grandparents weren’t in a position to cover the fines or couldn’t get a card themselves because they were visiting from out of town. On several occasions I was able to turn those tears into a smile when I checked the books out on my own library card. Nothing gives me more satisfaction than seeing a happy child leave the library with the books they picked out. Saying goodbye to overdue fines will mean this happens more often.”
Patrons with overdue materials will continue to receive overdue notices as a reminder to return library materials. An item is automatically declared lost if it has been overdue 49 days. In the event a library item is lost, replacement fees will be charged. Library cards are available free of charge for anyone who lives or works in Alamance County. ACPL borrowing privileges are also available to residents in the surrounding counties of Guilford, Rockingham, Caswell, Orange, Chatham, and Randolph. All patrons are encouraged to speak with a staff member with any questions about their accounts. Happy reading to all.
Dogs, and sea turtles, and bees, oh my! No, this is not a remake of The Wizard of Oz; it is what’s in store for you this summer through the Alamance County Public Library’s Summer Reading Program! This summer’s theme is Tails and Tales, and from June 14th through August 14th, we will be exploring the wild world of animals through fun programs, both virtually and in-person.
We have a great lineup of special guests who will be presenting exciting programs over Zoom. On Thursday, June 17th, Wild Tales NC will be sharing some of their animal ambassadors and talking about conservation efforts to protect their natural habits. Things will be a-buzz June 24 at 4 P.M. with a fun bee-keeping program with Sankofa Farms! Looking to adopt a new pet or learn how to best care for your furry friends? On Wednesday, July 14th at 4:00 P.M., Burlington Animal Services will teach you how to be the best pet owner you can be! And things will get wild on Thursday, July 29th at 3:30 P.M. with a program presented by the North Carolina Zoo!
We will also be offering some fun outdoor programs for elementary students! You can learn yoga with Ms. Amy at Mebane, make fun crafts with friends at Graham, have a teddy bear picnic at North Park, and plant a tree of your own at May Memorial and Graham! Registration will be required for all these programs, and space will be limited, so make sure to keep an eye out for more information!
You can also get rewarded for the minutes you read this summer! You can register for our reading incentive program by visiting alamancelibraries.readsquared.com. Various prizes will be awarded for reaching certain milestones, and there will be raffle basket drawings at the end of summer!
This is only a fraction of the programs and activities that will be happening this summer at your libraries. For the latest information, please visit our website www.alamancelibraries.org or follow us on social media! We are sure to have a whale of a time, and hope you will join us in all of the fun!
Please welcome Elana Weber to the Children’s Department at the May Memorial Library!
How long have you worked with the County? Almost one month.
Where are you from originally? Long Island, New York, right near the ocean. We just moved from Manhattan to North Carolina in July of 2020.
What are you most passionate about? Helping and empowering others.
Do you have a hobby? I love to geocache, read, do the crossword, play with our cats, hike, play board games, do puzzles, and cook. I’m also trying to learn how to crochet!
When you were little, what was your dream job? I wanted to be a famous author! Well, correction: I wanted to be a princess who also happened to be a famous actress and author, too.
What was the best part of your week/weekend? Over the weekend, my partner, best friend, and I went for a hike along the Eno River and we saw the ruins of an old water pump station. It was great!
Are you involved in any community projects or organizations? Yes! I volunteer with EAT NC. I also volunteer as the Orange County Historical Museum’s archivist in Hillsborough.
What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten? Bitter gourd! Intrigued by its spikes, we picked it up on a whim one weekend at the Durham Farmers’ Market. To our surprise, we ended up loving it. It’s all about how you cook it!
What’s your favorite TV Show? Antiques Roadshow.
What is your favorite thing to spend money on? Museums, going out to dinner, and funky Airbnb trips. But, as an honorable mention: pretty new dresses.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned recently? I’ve been listening to Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel on my commute to work, so I think it’s safe to say that I’ve learned so much about the intricacies of procuring an annulment for an English king in the 16th century! As for more relevant interesting facts, I’ve recently learned that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was the first public university to begin instruction in the United States.
In response to community interest and vaccinations becoming more readily available, the Alamance County Public Libraries is looking towards the future. Face coverings are still required and following social distancing guidelines is expected, but we will be slowly expanding our hours over the next few months.
Starting Monday, May 3rd our service hours will expand at May Memorial, Mebane, and Graham Libraries:
Monday – Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
North Park Library:
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays: 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 2:00 – 6:00 p.m.
All patrons are encouraged to follow the “Three Ws” as outlined by the N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services – WEAR a face covering; WAIT in line at least six feet away from others, and WASH hands frequently or use hand sanitizer. If you are experiencing symptoms of illness, the Library asks that you postpone your visit.
For more information about ACPL services and operations, visit www.alamancelibraries.org and follow us on Facebook (AlamanceLibraries), Twitter (ACLibraries) and Instagram (alamancelibraries), and YouTube (Alamance County Public Libraries)
