Greetings from the Great Bend Public Library. Unfortunately, we remain closed this week and for the foreseeable future. During this time we are asking patrons with any library materials to keep them at home and continue to enjoy them until we reopen. No late fees will be charged so worry not and continue to enjoy. We would also like to take this opportunity to let you know what services we offer during this time. First off, we have our digital services Libby and Hoopla. Which are both free apps that allow you 24/7 access to digital materials all free with your Great Bend Library card.

Libby offers thousands of Ebooks and audiobooks through Sunflower E-Library. There is no limit to the amount you can check out, with Libby. Libby does, however, have a limited stock of each item so some of the most popular books you may have to put on hold. With Hoopla it’s the opposite, if you see a title it’s available instantly; there are unlimited copies. However, to be able to keep this free for our patrons you are limited to four checkouts a month. The unique thing about Hoppla is that it offers not only Ebooks and audiobooks but movies, TV shows, music and comics. All instantly downloadable on your computer, phone or tablet.

We have moved a few activities online. Our code club is now available from home thanks to Prenda. We have also moved our “book-themed” egg decorating contest online. There are prizes for a variety of age categories, so we welcome everyone to participate. All you have to do is decorate an egg with a book theme and post it on our Facebook with your name and age by April 9th. 

Coming up this week is the U.S. census. The deadline for the census is this Wednesday, April 1. The census ensures fair representation in the government, helps determine federal funding and, of course, it determines how communities spend their money including how local libraries are funded. As well as being the law, the census is important for a variety of reasons and directly affects your local library, so please get out there and make sure you’re counted. If you are hoping to take the census online but don’t have access to the internet at the moment, don’t forget the library offers free WiFi. Even though we are closed it is still reachable in the parking lot for anyone wishing to utilize it for the census or other purposes.

No password is needed; you just need to make sure you pick the Nex-Tech WiFi (not libraryguest) and you will be directed to a page asking you to confirm.

Please email us if you have questions at gbcirc@gmail.com, or message us on Facebook. If you would like to keep up to date on the activities we are offering online and all the great resources we are sharing follow us on Facebook and Instagram as well as our website greatbendpl.info. We would like to thank everyone for their understanding and cooperation during this time.

Hannah Grippin is the outreach and marketing manager for the Great Bend Public Library. She can be reached by email at gbcirc@gmail.com.