Even when the library’s doors are closed, the library is always open.
Through digital offerings and online programming, libraries continue to provide services to their communities. Many use Facebook to present activities to keep the public informed and engaged and to share educational and entertaining content.
Here are some of the original content and resources local library systems and individual libraries currently offer.
Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County Library System
With a valid Lackawanna County Library System card, patrons can access several online resources, such as ebooks, audiobooks, movies and research services.
For e-books and audiobooks, use Overdrive (the Libby app), available at lclshome.overdrive.com/; RB Digital, scrantonpa.rbdigital.com/ ; and Tumblebooks, tumblebooklibrary.com/Home.aspx?categoryID=77.
Patrons also can watch movies through the Kanopy service on their computers, mobile devices and on a television using a streaming device, such Apple TV or Roku. Visit lcls.kanopy.com to use the service.
For those interested in genealogy, the library system is offering temporary at-home access to Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest. Patrons will need their library cards and pin numbers to use those services.
Abington Community Library, Clarks Summit
Children’s activities, such as story time and science experiments, can be found on the newly created Abington Community Library for Kids Facebook page. Adult activities, such makeup tutorials and cooking demonstrations, can be found on the library’s main Facebook page.
Online ad for Abington Community Library’s weekly online event – The Office Rewatch: Fan Favorites. Submitted Photo
The library also holds the “Office Rewatch Party” each Thursday at 8 p.m. A Netflix subscription is required. To receive the link to the party, email Renee at rroberts@albright.org.
Using the Zoom platform, the library will be offering book discussion, support groups, language club and crafts. Email Lmaurer@albright.org.
Carbondale Public Library
Library staff created a digital escape room called “Escape the Cave.” To play visit https://lclshome.org/2020/04/escape-the-cave-a-digital-escape-room/
Lackawanna County Children’s Library, Scranton
Join daily story times with library staff over the site’s Facebook page.
Scranton Public Library
The library will be hosting online trivia events using the gaming platform Twitch. Upcoming events will be held on May 4 with Star Wars trivia and May 11 with Hunger Games trivia. The competitions begin at 7 p.m. To join in the fun, visit, http://www.twitch.tv/scranton_libraries?sr=a. To participate you will need to sign up for a free account on Twitch.
Screenshot of the Scranton Public Library’s Marvel Movie Trivia Game held on April 27, 2020 on Twitch.
Valley Community Library, Peckville
Like others, library staff are holding story time through the library’s Facebook page, where staffers also share ideas for craft projects, such as sidewalk chalk paint and bunny ear bookmarks, and offer genealogy lessons and tips. The public also can play Boogle over Facebook, where they can find the grid and share the words they found in the comments section of the post.
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- Fawn Contreras, Youth Services Clerk at the Valley Community Library. Submitted Photo
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- Kluesner, Director of Youth Services at the Valley Community Library. Submitted Photo
On May 8 at 6 p.m., the library will be conducting a virtual book discussion of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” using Google Meet. For more information and to register, contact kwallo@albright.org.
Additionally, the library created Valley Reads, a Facebook group where readers can post what they are reading, offer book suggestions and ask for recommendations.
Taylor Community Library
Library staff are sharing book reviews, recipes, exercise tips and crafting ideas on the library’s Facebook page.
Luzerne County
Luzerne County Library System
With a valid library card, patrons have access to ebooks from CloudLibrary, visit ebook.yourcloudlibrary.com/library/Luzerne County LibrarySystem/Featured and Tumblebooks, Visit luzernelibraries.org for more information.
Back Mountain Memorial Library, Dallas
Staff members are holding story time over the library’s Facebook page.
Hazleton Area Public Library
On the library’s Facebook page, visitors can find story times hosted by library staff and staff cooking videos that use recipes from the AtoZ World Food database.
Osterhout Free Library, Wilkes-Barre
The library is holding the “Lost Osterhout Treasure Hunt,” a virtual game; visit osterhout.info/kids-teens-adults/teens for details. The public also can view the entries in the library’s Corona Virus Art Contest on its Facebook page.
Screenshot of the opening page of the Osterhout Free Library’s online escape room – The Lost Osterhout Treasure Hunt. Submitted Photo
Pittston Memorial Library
Daily story time with library staff takes place on the library’s Facebook page, where visitors also can find recipes and crafting ideas. An online financial resources course also is running this week; visit the Facebook page for details.
KRISTIN BOETTGER / SUBMITTED PHOTO Kristin Boettger, coordinator of children’s services at the Pittston Memorial Library, is shown reading “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” by Mo Willems during a recent online story time shared on the library’s Facebook page.
West Pittston Library
Virtual story time with library staff takes place on the library’s Facebook page on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for toddlers and 1 p.m. for kids in pre-K. Virtual Crafternoon runs on Mondays and Saturdays at 4 p.m. on Facebook, where the library also has shared video about “How to Create a Zine.”
SUMMER BELLES / SUBMITTED PHOTO Summer Belles, youth services coordinator of the West Pittston Library, shares a story during an online lapsit Mother Goose on the Loose program.
Statewide
Across Pennsylvania, all library card holders can access numerous online library resources through Power Library, powerlibrary.org. Resources include auto and small engine repair, Pennsylvania jobs, e-books and educational videos.
Brian Fulton has been the librarian at The Times-Tribune for the past 15 years. On his blog, Historically Hip, he writes about the great concerts, plays/musicals and celebrity happenings that have taken place throughout NEPA. He is also the co-host of the local history podcast, Historically Hip. He competed and was crowned grand champion on an episode of NPR quiz show “Ask Me Another.” Contact: bfulton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9140; or @TTPagesPast
