Our Commitment to You
 I know it hasn't even been a week since my last email to you, and the world is changing so rapidly as we all balance normal everyday tasks with the public health concerns of a pandemic. Pandemic is a scary word, which the Director General of the World Health Organization did not use lightly yesterday in his remarks to the world. You can read his whole speech here, but I want to focus on these words, "Prevention. Preparedness. Public health. Political leadership. And most of all, people. We’re in this together, to do the right things with calm and protect the citizens of the world. It’s doable."
At the library, we are committed to you, to preventing the spread of illness and providing calm, professional service in an ever-changing public health landscape. We strive to be proactive, rather than reactive.
This email will outline new services we are creating to meet your educational and recreational needs, to help preserve normalcy in an uncertain time, and to help prevent the spread of illness.
As always, your feedback is important. This is new for all of us, and we appreciate your patience as we adapt our services.
Please feel free to contact me any time at jperrin@townofjaffrey.com.
Kind regards, Julie M. Perrin, Library Director - a.k.a. Ms. Julie
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New Book Bundles with Curbside Pick-up Service
Want to avoid public gathering places? Whether you are concerned for your own health, or a loved one, or just don't want to risk contributing to the spread of illness, we want you to be able to pick up books, audios, movies, and even Ms. Linda's Make & Take craft without having to come into the library building.
How does it work? Call the library at 603-532-7301 and ask to reserve a book bundle for curbside pick-up. After taking your information, we will meet you in the driveway and deliver your materials to you in your vehicle, at the prescribed times. Details below.
We have created librarian selected Book Bundles in the following categories for both children and adults:
- Preschool Bundle - 5 picture books
- Family Bundle - 3 picture books and 2 Grade school books
- Large Print Cozy Mystery Bundle - 3 Large Print books
- Large Print Thriller Bundle - 3 Large Print books
- Large Print Romance Bundle - 3 Large Print books
Add-on items you can ask to be added to your bundle:
- Make & Take Craft - Indicate quantity to keep all your children busy!
- Family movie - Rated G
- Family movie - Rated PG
- Children's Audio CD
- Adult Audio CD
Please note these are pre-selected by us. You can also reserve specific materials through your library account online and your reserves will be added to your Bundle.
We are starting out with the following pick-up times. Please indicate which pick-up time you want when you make your reservation:
- Monday, March 16 at 4 pm
- Friday, March 20 at 11:30 am
- Monday, March 23 at 4 pm
- Friday, March 27 at 11:30 am
Check out our Event Calendar for new times to be added, as needed. Please understand that we are adapting to an ever-changing situation.
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If you have a friend or neighbor who doesn't get this email newsletter, please tell them about this new service!
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Library Service FAQ
Here are our best answers to the most frequently asked pandemic-related service questions.
Will you cancel programs?
We have a Pandemic policy in place that will help to guide our decisions. If the Jaffrey-Rindge School district closes, we will cancel programs and reduce service hours, so that we don't simply become a new center of contagion. If that happens, we will send out an email and post changes to wmur.com, our website, and our Facebook page.
How will the library promote "social distancing?"
We have already made changes to some of our spaces, and in the coming weeks, you may see computers spaced out differently and fewer chairs at tables. In order to keep our spaces less busy (the opposite of our usual desire!), we may be forced to limit computer time or even open hours.
What extra cleaning are you doing?
A lot! In addition to our normal cleaning service twice a week, staff are spending the last hour of every day rotating through a list of places to wipe down -- door handles, banisters, chairs, computer keyboards, even chess pieces. The list is three pages long! Additionally, we are wiping down items that have a quick turnaround or are primarily checked out by a vulnerable population. We have been advised that the virus will only survive on surfaces a few hours, but we want to do our due diligence to keep you safe.
Should I use the Book Drop?
Yes, if you are not feeling well, please use the outside Book Drop. We are taking extra precautions in collecting and wiping down those materials.
What if I am out of renewals?
We are very flexible right now! If you need extra time because you are not feeling well, just ask.
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Library-to-Go!
 Storytime fun, crazy songs, mad science, and silly librarians will soon be on our website with Library-to-go YouTube videos, along with a host of other resources so that you can enjoy fun activities with us, even if you choose to stay home or we cancel programs.
We promise our home-grown videos will be highly amateurish, but with all the fun-loving goodness of our live programs.
We are in touch with authors so we don't step on copyright, but our wonderful Simon Brooks has already granted permission for us to read some of his stories. (You will recall that Storyteller Simon Brooks visited us twice thanks to a grants from the Children's Literacy Foundation.)
We are working on content and hope to have this up and running soon!
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Community Health Information
 Keep calm with good information. The Library and Town of Jaffrey have provided links on our websites to RELIABLE information on COVID-19, including an up-to-date map of the state of the outbreak. We also have resources for parents and caregivers for talking to children and reducing anxiety. We have added more educational comics! (Click HERE.)
Just as we do for bad weather, any changes in service hours will be posted on wmur.com, Facebook, and the library's website.
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Now is the time to update your library account and be sure you have a password so you can reserve materials and access downloadable books, audios, and all of our online resources like Newsbank.
Not sure about how to access your account?
Give us a call at 603-532-7301 and we will get you set up.
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A sweet reminder to wash your hands!
Some creative painting activities, thanks to golf balls contributed by our dear friend, Owen Houghton.
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