The Library is staying closed indefinitely. At first it was restricted access and then closed until March 30th, but now… it’s wait and see.
The Saline County Library board voted to remain closed for the safety of the community and will announce a reopening date when they have a clear idea of the safest time, in response to the rapidly growing novel coronavirus.
As a recommendation from the American Library Association, while libraries pride themselves on being there for the public during critical times, “libraries are by design unable to practice social distancing to the degree recommended by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and other health authorities.”
“Library staff have been working on plans to offer access to library services safely when we are able to open to the public again,” said Library Director, Patty Hector. “We won’t be operating exactly as we were, but maybe we can surprise patrons with some unique new services!”
While closed, the Library will offer daily virtual programs on their Facebook page. There will be weekly story times, children’s activities and adult programs such as Facebook Live trivia nights, crafting tutorials and more.
The Library also offers dozens of resources accessible online with your library card. You can check out eBooks and eAudiobooks using the Overdrive and Libby apps, watch popular and educational movies and shows on Kanopy and Hoopla, stream music on Freegal, and use online resources such as Brainfuse and Lynda.com to get school help or learn a new hobby. Hoopla also has eBooks and eAudiobooks that may not be in the Overdrive collection.
If you don’t have a library card, you can apply for one by visiting SalineCountyLibrary.org and clicking “Get a Library Card.” Once you fill out the necessary information and send in a photo of your driver’s license, one of the staff members will email you your library card number and PIN so you can access all of the online resources available through the library.
For more information on COVID-19, visit https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/novel-coronavirus. For our hours for each location, visit www.SalineCountyLibrary.org or call 501-778-4766.