Library News

Millbury Summer Reading Lists

Patrons,

The Millbury Public Library is waiting for the Summer Reading requirements for 2021 from our local schools. Once we are informed, we will update information on our website and assist you in any way to get you your child's summer reading material.

As of 5-26/21

Dear Community,

The Millbury Public Library has been offering Curbside Pick Up, Home Delivery, and virtual programming since this pandemic hit last spring. It has been a long year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, our library staff have been working endlessly to help serve the community better during this difficult time making our collection up to date and to receive the best service possible.

With so many unprecedented phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are finally moving into a positive one. With many other businesses and libraries begin to open, the Millbury Public Library will be opening our doors to the community for browsing on June 1, 2021. No appointments are necessary. We will be open during our regular business hours: Monday 11-6PM, Tuesday through Thursday 10-8PM, Friday 10-6PM, and Saturday 9-2PM. Our library will be offering the following services: patron browsing on both levels, two computers for usage, copying/faxing, Friends ongoing book sale, and continue to offer Curbside Pick Up. Frequent surfaces will be wiped down between patron use including computers and the copying machine. The patrons of the Millbury Public Library are required to wear masks indoors as all of our dedicated employees continue to offer services to the community. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available for patrons.

With the new transition of opening our doors to the community, we will be adjusting our Curbside Pick Up hours to accommodate community members who still want to continue this service rather than coming into our library. The following Curbside Pickup hours will be two blocks of time during the week: Monday through Friday from 11AM-1PM and 4-6PM. Saturdays will be 10-12PM. Home Delivery will be a continued service as well on Tuesday mornings. Our Community Rooms will not be available to be reserved at this time. We will not be accepting any book donations due to limited space. Our dedicated library staff have been re-evaluating our current collection to make room for new material. Our book returns will continue to be quarantined in our Craft Room for the time being.

Our Summer Reading program will begin on June 21 and end August 13, 2021. The theme is Tails & Tales. Pre-registration for summer reading will tentatively begin on June 1, 2021. Registration and logging reading will be available on our website, and we will have hard copies to log your reading as well. Most of our library programs will be virtual, except for three programs. Our scheduled Summer Reading programs are the following:

Tuesday June 29, 2021 Virtual 3D Printing 6PM - teens/adults

Wednesday June 30, 2021 Virtual Succulent Terrariums 6:30PM - adults

Tuesday July 6, 2021 Virtual Pumpernickel Puppets 6:30PM (show will be available on Pumpernickel Puppets website from 8AM-8PM)

Thursday July 8, 2021 Virtual Nature Tales: Habitats & Adaptations 6PM - All ages

Tuesday July 13, 2021 Virtual Whale Mobile 6PM - Children/Families

Thursday July 15, 2021 Virtual Insect Rock 6PM - All ages

Tuesday July 20, 2021 Virtual Funtastic Soaps 6PM - Children/Families (in person program at the Asa Waters Mansion)

Thursday July 22, 2021 Virtual Fresh Smoothies 6:30PM adults (presented by author Colin McCullough)

Tuesday July 27, 2021 Virtual Wingmasters 6:30PM - All ages

Thursday July 29, 2021 Make your Own Stuffed Animal/Story time 1PM (in person - outdoors, weather permitting)

Tuesday August 3, 2021 Scott Jameson Magic Show 6PM - All ages (in person program at the Asa Waters Mansion)

Thursday August 5, 2021 Virtual College Admission Process 6PM

Thursday August 12, 2021 The College Essay, Sally Phelps - 6PM teens/adults

The Millbury Public Library staff and I are very excited to finally be able to open our doors and assist you in any way we can. We truly appreciate your patience throughout this entire pandemic and look forward to seeing you soon.

Ann Dallair

Library Director

Millbury Public Library

TOWN OF MILLBURY
Press Release

Contact: Sean Hendricks, Town Manager 5/20/2021
shendricks@townofmillbury.net

MILLBURY- On Tuesday, June 1, 2021 all Town of Millbury municipal buildings will open to the
public.
Town Hall will begin new hours of operation, which are as follows: Monday, Wednesday, and
Thursday 8:00 AM- 4:00 PM, Tuesday 8:00 AM-7:00 PM, and Friday 8:00 AM- 12:00 PM.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to continue to use the drop box outside the entrance
to Town Hall, as well as the Town’s many online services. Please visit the Town’s website at
www.millbury-ma.org.
For the latest information from the Millbury Public Library, visit www.millburylibrary.org or call
508-865-1181.
For details regarding the Senior Center, click on the Senior Center under the Departments tab
on the Town’s website: www.millburyma.org or call 508-865-9154.
Visitors inside all municipal buildings are required to wear masks. We appreciate your
compliance.
The Town will continue to monitor guidelines from the Office of the Governor, Board of Health,
and the Department of Public Health, and it will modify restrictions as necessary and prudent.
Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we adjust to frequently-changing regulations. The
Town’s goal is to establish and maintain a safe and positive environment for all residents and
employees as we continue to provide essential municipal services.
For more information, please visit www.millbury-ma.org or contact the Town Manager’s Office
at 508-865-4710.

Millbury Public Library Statement on Anti-Racism-Tuesday, September 15, 2020

The Millbury Public Library is located at the "Gateway to the Blackstone Valley," and has a rich history. Whether it be the Waters family and its logistical support during the Civil War or the abolitionist actions of local citizens throughout history, the Town of Millbury has stood for social and racial justice since its inception.

Libraries are no different. Libraries contribute to a just society by providing services, information, and education to all comers. Still, we recognize, as individuals and as part of a greater organization, that the work of racial justice remains incomplete, and is an ongoing process. We recognize our unique position in the community and our responsibility to not only support the promise of racial and social equality and equity, but support and empower our community to do the same, as inequality and prejudice results in members of historically disadvantaged groups being denied equal access and opportunity to all our society has to offer.

The Millbury Public Library works to achieve the goals of a just, equal, and anti-racist society through:

* Educating the community about anti-racism and racial equity with various diverse materials

* Promotion of historic contributions by black figures who made a tremendous impact in the world

* Continuing to be a supportive gathering place and to achieve equity and diversity within our organization through collections, programs, and policies

The Millbury Public Library and the Millbury Board of Library Trustees unequivocally condemns violence and racism against black people and all people of color. We recognize the persistent social injustices faced by marginalized people not only in our community, but in our state and our country, and stand in solidarity with all who work to address inequality and provide the change we need to see in the world.

While this effort has been ongoing for generations, we recognize the efforts to come, and remain dedicated to the fight.

Director's Letter to the Community--Sunday, June 21, 2020

Frequently Asked Questions:

We know that many of you will have questions for us. We have made a list of answers related to the future library service. Please note that many of the procedures to allow book delivery from other libraries, curbside delivery, and patrons into the building must be guided and approved from a range of officials including Millbury’s Emergency Management Director, the Town Hall, and the Library Board of Trustees, which means that we are unable to give an exact timeline for our services. We will provide updates as soon as we have them.

Home Delivery

1. Can anyone get Home Delivery? Home Delivery is only open to Millbury residents.

2. Do you have to have a disability to get this service? Do you need to be homebound? No. Any Millbury resident can use our home delivery service.

3. Can you leave materials on the doorstep without anyone home? No. Someone must be home to receive material.

4. When will my material be delivered? Delivery will be based upon scheduled appointment and availability during the week. A

tentative schedule will be established.

5. How frequent will Home delivery happen? Once per week - Tuesdays

6. How do I sign up for Home Delivery? Please call the library at 508-865-1181 and a staff member will take your name, address, and phone number. You will be placed on our Home Delivery schedule.

7. What happens if I forget to be home for my Home Delivery? Your Home Delivery items will be returned to the library and a future appointment can be made the following week.

8. How will I return my books that I have read? Please call the library 508-865-1181 to schedule your book pick up or during a

scheduled book delivery.

Please place your returns in a bag.

9. Will Home Delivery be cancelled during a predicted snow storm? Yes. We want to keep our staff and volunteers safe from difficult driving conditions.

Current Library Services

1. Are you offering Curbside Pickup? Yes, the Millbury Public Library began offering Curbside Pickup Monday, July 6, 2020. The hours for Curbside Pickup are Monday 1-5PM, Tuesday and Thursday 1-6PM, Wednesday 11AM-6PM, and Friday 1-5PM. Please review the guidelines for Curbside Pickup below or on our Facebook page.

2. Can I return my books now? Yes, our return book drop opened on Monday, July 6. Please only place items in the book drop; do not leave items outside. Materials can only be returned through the book drop, not directly to a staff member.

3. Am I limited to requesting just Millbury Public Library items? No; as of Monday, July 20 you may request items from any of the libraries within our network, as well as from the Commonwealth Catalog. If you need assistance, please call us for help or instructions 508-865-1181.

4. When will delivery of items from other libraries start up again? Delivery of items from other libraries began Monday, July 6.

5. When will I be able to browse in the library? The Millbury Public Library is working collaboratively with the Emergency Management Director, Steve Koshiba, Acting Town Manager, Jamie Kelley, and the Library Board of Trustees to help safeguard the community to put all the protocols that are necessary for the safety of the community and staff for patrons to begin browsing. We will alert our patrons when in-library browsing is allowed.

6. What happens to the holds that I placed several months ago? Am I still in line for those materials? Holds that were placed on hold several months ago will still be sent to you once the MLS delivery system is up and running as usual. You are still in line for past holds on your card.

7. What safety precautions are you taking to protect the public? The Millbury Public Library is working with the Emergency Management Director, Steve Koshiba, Acting Town Manager, Jamie Kelley, and the Library Board of Trustees to help safeguard the community to put all the protocols that are necessary for the safety of the community and staff.

8. Can I sign up for/renew a library card over the phone? You may sign up for a library card or renew your card by calling or emailing us. We will mail you your new library card.

9. I lost my library card, how do I get a replacement card while the library is closed? If you have lost your library card, we will be happy to issue a replacement library card at no charge with verification of information over the phone. We will mail your new library card to you.

10. Can I renew my items online more than once? Materials can be renewed by the number of renewals given by the owning library. Most libraries give two renewals.

11. When will the doors open to the public? The Millbury Public Library continues to safeguard its building for patrons and staff. The staff and I will be guided and approved from a range of officials including Millbury’s Emergency Management Director, the Town Hall, and the Library Board of Trustees, which means that we are unable to give an exact timeline for normal operational services. We will provide updates as soon as we have them.

12. Will you be offering summer reading programs at the library? Our library is prepared to offer a virtual summer reading program and limited virtual summer programs online via our Facebook page.

13. How do I sign up for virtual programs? You may sign up for a virtual program on our website www.millburylibrary.org. Or scroll through our calendar and register.

14. What is my PIN? Your PIN number is your last name all in capital letters.

15. When the library opens, will I be able to use the computer? The Millbury Public Library is continuing to work to safeguard the building for its community and staff. Patron usage of the library will be determined in collaboration with the Library Trustees, the Town Manager, and the Emergency Management Director.

16. Do we have tax forms? We have limited federal tax forms and we are able to print the state forms. We can send them electronically to you.

Curbside Pickup Procedures

Curbside Hours:

Monday 1PM-5PM

Tuesday 1PM-6PM

Wednesday 11AM-6PM

Thursday 1PM-6PM

Friday 1PM-5PM

1. Place items on hold

Search our catalog https://bark.cwmars.org/eg/opac/home for items. Place items on hold and choose how you would like to be notified. If you cannot access your CWMars account, you may call the library at 508-865-1181 to place holds (limit of 5 items for phone orders).

Library of Things items will not be eligible for circulation (games, puzzles,etc.)
Choose alternate titles if what you are requesting is unavailable
Patrons must have a list of items to be ordered. Staff will not select items for any patrons during this process.

2. Wait for your hold notification, then call to schedule your pickup appointment.

You will receive email or phone notification when your hold(s) is available for pickup. Once you receive your notifications(s), call the library at 508-865-1181 to schedule your pickup appointment. You will be asked for your library card number, the make/color of your vehicle or other means of transportation, and to choose an available pickup time.

Items will be checked out, sanitized, and put in bags by staff wearing masks and gloves.
Please make an appointment to pick up your items before coming to the library.

3. Pick up your items!

Once parked in the back library lot, call the library at 508-865-1181 to let us know you’ve arrived. If you do not have a cell phone, please call us before you leave your home to pick up your items with the name of make and model of your vehicle. Please open your car trunk from the inside of your car so that a staff member can place your items in there. If your trunk cannot be opened from the inside of your car, please leave your back door unlocked so that a staff member will place your items in the backseat of your vehicle. If neither of these options are possible, your pickup order cannot be released to you.

If you are picking up your items by foot or bus, please call the library to let a staff member know prior to coming to the library for your items.

Materials that are not picked up the day of your appointment will be held for 24 hours. Please make arrangements the following day for pickup. If items are not picked up after the 24 hours period, the items will be in quarantine and/or reshelved.
If another family member or friend will be picking up your materials, please call the library 508-865-1181 to inform a staff member of the change.
Due to health and safety guidelines, we will NOT be accepting any book donations in the book drop or in person until further notice. Please do not leave book donations outside the book drop or in front of the library doors.

Guidelines

If you would like to update your notification preferences, you may do so on your CWMars account. If you have issues accessing your account, please call the library at 508-865-1181.

You must have received notice that your requested items are available for pickup before calling to schedule your appointment.

A limit of 20 items per family for your online orders may be picked up at a time (including any phone call book holds made by staff), with only 1 pickup per day allowed. To decrease wait times, only 1 library card may be used per pickup.

For staff safety and to follow quarantining procedures, all returns must be placed directly in the drop boxes. Staff will not take your returns from you when you pick up your holds. If you are picking up your holds, please do not return your books in the book drop while a staff member is outside handing you your holds. Please wait until the staff member is back in the building to return your items in the book drop.

We are a fine free library. There will be no fine charges for any Millbury item returned to our library.