In a rural community like Greene County, a library is more than just a library. It’s a community space, meeting place, learning facility, communication center, and much more. Without the library system, many community members would not have access to the internet, reading and research materials, art & craft classes, and educational opportunities.
The Greene County Library System, consisting of Eva K. Bowlby and Flenniken libraries, continues to provide these services to the citizens of Greene County, even throughout a pandemic. “2020 was a challenging year for libraries across Pennsylvania; however, the Eva K. Bowlby and Flenniken libraries adapted well by adding virtual programs, creating grab n’ go services, implementing contactless delivery of materials, increasing safety measures within the buildings, attending virtual trainings, workshops, and webinars, and gaining a more prominent social presence,” shares Kathy McClure, Executive Director of Bowlby Library and System Administrator of GCLS. “We look forward to 2021 and thank our communities for the support through the pandemic.”
The GCLS libraries utilize WAGGIN, allowing patrons to borrow items from participating libraries in Greene, Washington, and Fayette counties. Patrons can use their personal computer or mobile device to browse the catalog, place a hold, renew items, review reading history, and create a reading list. Through OverDrive, patrons can download eBooks and audiobooks from their personal device without a trip to the library – perfect for reading during a pandemic.
For patrons looking for free educational opportunities, Gale Courses offer a wide range of highly interactive, instructor-led courses taken entirely online. Courses run for six weeks and new sessions begin every month; they are provided at no cost to library users. Courses include finance, business, technology, design, healthcare, language, legal, education, writing, and personal development.
Other programs included with a library card are Freegal (free music downloads), Brainfuse (free online tutoring), Hoopla (borrow movies, music, ebooks, audiobooks, comics, & tv shows), Rocket Languages (learn a new language for free), and Beanstack (ongoing reading challenges to earn prizes). These virtual services offer access to many of the same services provided by the library in person, while allowing you to stay safely at home.
If you are permanently or temporarily homebound due to illness, injury, or advanced age, and can’t make it to your local library, GCLS brings the library to you with the Library by Mail program. The program delivers books straight to your mailbox. Applications are available online; once a completed application has been received by your library, the staff will contact you for a phone interview. Materials will arrive by USPS in a reusable bag; once you’ve read your selections, send the materials back in the same bag. Postage is paid for – both ways – by GCLS. Readers can make specific requests or allow the library staff to choose books; each mailing will include a Materials Request Card that allows you to make requests for future mailings.
Each year, the library promotes reading through the Greene County Reading Competition. Teams consist of elementary, middle school and high school age students from the libraries and school districts in Greene County; students have the option to join a school or non-school team. A required reading list is given to each student. Coaches lead their students in competition training by discussing the theme and details of each book on the list, complete activities, and practice for the competition. The teams will compete head-to-head with other teams at the annual competition; the team with the most points wins their category.
GCLS has also partnered with T-Mobile to provide free mobile hotspots to patrons. Library card holders can use these hotspots to have access to internet service anywhere a T-Mobile signal can be received. Currently, these cool pads are only available for checkout at Bowlby Library. And Flenniken Library has partnered with IdentoGO to provide fingerprinting/identity services to our community.
These services – and many more not listed – are provided by Greene’s libraries to card-holding community members for no charge. If you are interested in these services or would like to get a library card, you can check out greenecolib.org or check the libraries on Facebook @FlennikenLibrary and @BowlbyPublicLibrary.