It is time for Mrs. Young to check out her last book at our Germantown library. Joan has announced her retirement effective Monday, July 27, 2020. Please stop by to wish Joan farewell or perhaps share a special memory with her. We know she would love to see the many students that benefited from her story times and programs. We will begin an open house at 11:00 on Monday, July 27th so come on by. We will also welcome Mrs. Kami Komm as our new librarian. Joan and Kami have been working together this past month.
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Germantown Public Library is happy to reopen our building to patrons as of June 29, 2020. During Phase 4 of Illinois reopening plans, we ask that you follow these safety and health guidelines, as set down by our Library Board.
Use hand sanitizer, available in the lobby, before entering the library
All patrons age 10 and up should wear a mask
Patrons under age 10 must be accompanied by an adult
Curbside service is still available
All returns must be made to the outside drop box
Maintain a 6-ft distance from those not in your family
Limit of 10 people in the library building at any one time
Water fountain and restroom are not currently available
Only 2 computers available
½ hour time limit on our computers, yours or for browsing
If feeling unwell, please stay home
We will close 1 hour earlier each day for disinfecting
THANK YOU FOR ABIDING BY THESE TEMPORARY GUIDELINES. THIS WILL HELP US ALL STAY WELL AND ALLOW THE LIBRARY TO CONTINUE TO BE OPEN TO SERVE YOU!
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Sign up now for this year’s summer reading program, “Dig Deeper!” You can call 523-4820 or email us at gma@gtownlibrary.org. Registration is open to kids ages 4 and up and is free as always. Participants can read books and do fun activities to earn prizes. Packets with instructions, puzzles, games and reading logs may be picked up beginning Sat. June 20, so sign up today and keep those reading skills sharp this summer!
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We are very happy to announce that the library will begin curbside service to patrons on June 1! You will have access to any library materials which are in our building. Sorry, Interlibrary Loan delivery (from other libraries’ collections) will not begin for some time. While the library building will remain closed to the public, our drop box will be open to return your items. In addition, you may request items we own by calling us at 523-4820 or emailing gma@gtownlibrary.org. You can also place your own requests by clicking on the Library Catalog link at the right side of this page. You will need your library card number to do this. Any questions at all, please contact us and we will be glad to help. Staff will be in the building for our regular hours beginning June 1 and we will contact you when your item is available for pickup. All items will have been quarantined between patrons for your safety. We are looking forward to seeing you again!
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The library remains closed through May 31, 2020. At this time we anticipate a gradual reopening possibly beginning in June with curbside pickup, then limited numbers of people inside the building, and hopefully some kind of modified summer reading program. Stay tuned and stay safe!
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To comply with the Governor’s stay-at-home order, the library will remain closed through at least April 30. If that order is extended, our closure will also be extended. Continue to check back here or on our Facebook page for updates. A staff member is at the library each day and will check for and answer messages. Continue to call, email or leave a message on Facebook if you have any questions or concerns. If you need your library card number or PIN to access World Book online or download eBooks, we can help with that. We have recorded story times for youngsters and post them to Facebook periodically, so check back often. Stay safe!
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Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the library board has decided to CLOSE the library to help slow the spread of this virus. As of now, the library will be closed beginning March 17 through at least April 9. The full statement follows.
News Release and Public Information
Announcement
GERMANTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY Closure
March 17-April 9, 2020:
After much
deliberation, the Germantown Public Library District Board of Directors voted
at a special meeting held March 16 to close the library to the public to help
slow the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Closure will be in effect Tuesday, March 17
through Thursday April 9, 2020.
On March 13,
Governor Pritzker mandated that all schools in the state be closed. Since then, the Illinois Library Association
has recommended that public libraries close their doors and library staff stay
home as much as possible. In addition,
the Illinois Heartland Library System has suspended delivery of materials among
libraries. So, for the safety of staff
and patrons, as well as an obligation to be part of a community effort to minimize
the strain COVID-19 will have on our local health care systems, we have sadly
taken this needed action.
Here’s what
the closing will entail:
Overdue fines will not accrue for the dates we are closed, March
17 through April 9. All items currently
checked out will be renewed until the library reopens. You may renew your items online or call us to
renew.
Books
should NOT be returned. Our book drop
will be locked during the time the library is closed. Please hold all library materials until we
reopen.
If
you had items requested, your request will be filled when we reopen and
interlibrary loan delivery resumes.
We
are unable to accept donated items at this time.
The library
hopes to continue to support the community as much as possible during these
difficult and unusual times. The
following services will continue during the closure:
Staff
will be at the library for some part of each day we would have normally been
open, to offer phone and email assistance.
Please call us at 523-4820 or email gma@gtownlibrary.org with any questions or concerns.
We will get back to you as soon as possible. You may also leave messages on our Facebook
page.
Wi-Fi
will continue to be available on library grounds.
Electronic
Resources: eBooks and eAudiobooks are always available online through our
website www.gtownlibrary.org You can also download the free Cloud Library app via yourcloudLibrary.com
or from the Apple App or Google Play stores.
Access
to World Book Encyclopedia online is available from our website. Explore our website for more resources and
ideas under the “Book Lover’s Links” and “Kids Corner” tabs.
Fax
and copy services are offered at Germantown Bank and Trust. Call them first at 523-4202 to be sure of
availability and prices.
We are
taking steps to ensure the Germantown community has access to information and
resources during this time. Patrons
should refer to the library’s website, www.gtownlibrary.org, Facebook page or phone line, 523-4820, for up-to-date information
regarding our closing. You can help
prevent the spread of the virus through the library and its materials by
refraining from eating while reading and do not lick your fingers when turning
the pages of a book. Wash your hands
thoroughly and frequently.
We
understand and apologize for any inconvenience but feel we must prioritize the
safety of our staff and the public.
Thank you for your patience, understanding and patronage. Please remember the situation is rapidly changing
and we will constantly re-evaluate and make changes as needed based on
community conditions and guidance from public health officials.
As of March 13, the library is cancelling programs such as Monthly Story Time and Lego Club. We are disinfecting surfaces at the library daily and will clean and disinfect our childrens’ toys.
We will stay open at least through Monday March 16 and the board will decide what to do after that date, in light of school closures and recommendations from the local, state and federal government. Health and safety are our highest priorities. If you are sick, please do not come to the library. You can always call us at 523-4820 or email us at gma@gtownlibrary.org to request items or renewals of items you already have. This could be a great time to try eBooks through our Cloud Library. Download the app via yourcloudlibrary.com. Contact us with any questions, stay safe and wash your hands!
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Stop in any time from 9 to noon on Sat. Feb. 22 to learn more about this fun free program we are bringing in to the Germantown Library. Sign up children from birth through entering kindergarten. Get all the materials you need to track what you read and earn incentives along the way to reading 1000 books before kindergarten. Snacks provided too.
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