Public library is still serving the community
Published 5:34 pm Thursday, March 26, 2020
- Kasie Beth Brown
While the Lincoln County Public Library’s doors are closed because of COVID-19, the library is still very much in business. Curbside pickup began Wednesday, and Head Librarian Kasie Beth Brown is keeping story time going on the radio.
“It was fun for me to do,” Brown said. “I was a children’s librarian for five years, so I kind of miss story time.”
Storytime began Wednesday and will be broadcast every weekday at 92.1 FM and 104.3 FM beginning at 10:30 a.m. Brown said that, in addition to a story, she tried to include a small early literacy test for parents.
“Kids aren’t in school anyway, but the ones who have just started reading really well — this is a setback for them,” Brown said.
Curbside pickup first opened Wednesday, but it was only available of those who had already been waiting for items. Thursday opened up for online orders and today it will open for phone orders.
“We don’t want to overwhelm our staff because there’s only so much we can do,” Brown said.
Anyone with a library card also has the option of going digital through a mobile app called RB Digital. The app allows card holders to virtually borrow e-books and audiobooks.
According to information published on the library’s website at www.llf.lib.ms.us, the app allows card holders to borrow up to three books at a time for 21 days. Books can be renewed twice for an additional 21 days per renewal.
The library is also moving forward with plans to allow online library card registration. Library Director Katrina Castilaw said online registration will be rolled out to the website next week.
Castilaw said that the library will also be able to provide printing services again soon.
“Monday we will be able to do printing for patrons who can email us their info, and (we’ll) also be able to provide any tax forms we have on hand,” Castilaw said. “The IRS is not sending any more paper forms due to the virus, but we will still have the standard forms available until they are gone.”