New year, new face, new hotspots at public library

According to library manager Rosemary Bunn, the J. Joel Edwards Public Library predicts a more productive year ahead, resuming temporarily discontinued programs, adding new ones, and providing tech needs for the community.

The library recently introduced the new Youth Services librarian, Miriam Thompson. With years of experience in education and children’s programming, she hit the ground running and will be continuing the Preschool Story Time each Tuesday at 11 a.m. The program is designed for children ages 3-5 and incorporates stories, music, activities, and crafts. 

In addition, the Toddler Time program will return to the library each Thursday at 11 a.m. Children age 12-36 months will enjoy a program designed especially for them. As with all library programs, these regular story times are free and open to the public and no registration is required.

Weekends are filling up with regular programs such as the popular adult DIY, Cooking with Kids, and new addition, a monthly dance class in preparation for the return of the annual Taste of Two Counties benefit dance, sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

“Because the pandemic has altered the way in which libraries support the needs of their patrons, the library has also added to their collection some tech support materials available for checkout, said library manager Rosemary Bunn, “We now have five HP Chromebooks available for checkout by patrons age 18 and over. Although the initial circulation set-up allows for in-house use only, we hope to increase the check-out time to two weeks in the very near future.”

To further aid Pike County patrons in their continual search for reliable internet, the library has received five circulating hotspots. Provided through an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant, these Orbic Hotspots can be checked out for two weeks. Patrons may use their own devices or check out a Chromebook from the library to use with the hotspot. If this program proves helpful and popular, there is a possibility that it could be extended next year to include more hotspots.

To learn more about library programs, follow the J. Joel Edwards Public Library on Facebook, “or better yet,” suggests Bunn, “visit the library during regular business hours, Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.”