Staying Connected
With the upcoming holidays, we are all looking for ways to stay connected but stay safe. The CDC has published some guidelines to help you determine what's safe and what's not as you plan your holiday festivities. You can read them here. Rest assured the library staff is also observing these recommendations and continuing to prioritize public safety in our service plan.
Our present service level offers in-building (Bookworm Boogie) and lobby pick-up service (Grab & Go) appointments Mondays through Thursdays and Saturdays, including two evenings. There's nothing that makes me feel happier than our "repeat customers" coming back because they feel safe.
This newsletter highlights some upcoming programs and services that we hope will help you stay connected in the coming weeks, even while we all keep our social distance, as well as answers to some our latest "frequently asked questions."
Be well. Be safe. Be kind.
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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Newsbank Enhancements!
 We are pleased to announce that we have upgraded our Newsbank subscription from the regional plan to the national plan. You now have free online access to 3,495 news sources! You can read or listen to the latest from magazines like The Atlantic and Smithsonian, newspapers like the Boston Herald, NH Union Leader, the Miami Herald or your hometown paper anywhere in the country, and even the transcript of news shows like 60 Minutes. Log in via our catalog and click on Newsbank.
What's more, Newsbank has added new features to keep you informed and help with remote learning. Along with Hot Topics and Special Reports on key global issues and events, they have added Daily Headlines with Lesson Plans in all subject areas.
Don't hesitate to give us a call if you need help logging in or for a refresher, check out our Tech Help Tutorials.
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Homework Zen Zone Kits to Keep!
 When children can't focus on at-home studies, everyone's stress level goes up. Even our most unflappable parents, grandparents and caregivers are showing signs of fatigue and frustration, not to mention the children themselves.
Our first reaction was naturally to ask how the library could help. The library is a natural "Zen Zone" for doing homework, but we know inviting you to work in the library (since that would be a natural choice) doesn't fit with the varied school schedules and our pandemic service restrictions. So we asked ourselves how we could help your students find their homework zen, and we created Homework Zen Zone Kits-to-Keep!
Our to-go Zen Zones include a folding, private workspace that can be personalized/decorated by your student, goal setting and incentives, focus tips, and even headphones, with a convenient carry handle to bring your Homework Zen Zone to Grandma's or the dining room table.
Our Homework Zen Zone Kits to Keep are free and yours to keep. Just email Ms. Julie so we can reserve one for you and schedule a pick-up time.
(We can't wait to see how these work for you so please send photos of distraction-free homework in action!)
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Did you know TeenBookCloud even has Graphic Novels?! To get started with TeenBookCloud and our other online resources, log into your account on our Catalog page and click on TeenBookCloud in the Electronic Resources list.
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Dial-a-Story - All new content
 Spooky stories, funny jokes, and creative writing prompts with cool sound effects... Just call 888-718-0505 to reach the JPL Dial-A-Story Menu and lots of fun with your librarians!
We have uploaded all new content -- new stories, new science facts, new story prompts, new jokes, and a new chapter book. We have literally hours of content available with no waiting and no internet required.
Don't want to listen to the 42 item menu? You can also read it here.
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Family Connect - Sign up now
 In the last newsletter, I shared our plan for our new Family Connect program.
The pandemic byproduct of social isolation is a real health issue facing all ages, but for seniors lacking technology, the holidays could be quiet and lonely. The public library has long been an institution that provides a safe place for people to come together so your librarians have created a new program called Family Connect to help our patrons connect with long-distance families and friends for the holidays.
On the day before Thanksgiving, Wednesday, November 25th, we will offer hourly appointments from 1 pm through 6 pm for a new Family Connect program, where the librarians will orchestrate a pre-arranged Zoom session with your family. You will come to the library, be given your own private room where we will set up the technology for you to talk with your far away family and friends for approximately 30 minutes. We will get you up and running and then leave you to your private video chat.
We know there is some planning involved, so we are giving you lots of notice so we can make all the arrangements with your group. The great thing about Zoom is that you can chat with just one person or several, even if they are in different parts of the country.
And you don't have to have the technology or know what to do with it because we can make it happen for you!
If you are interested for yourself or someone you know, please call Julie or Andrea at the library, 532-7301. We will get the ball rolling for your very private, very own Family Connect session on the day before Thanksgiving.
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We have made up hundreds of bags for different age groups for the book giveaway on Friday at 3 pm. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, bags contain a new book to keep as well as great gifts from Escape Hatch Books, McDonald's of Jaffrey, People's United Bank, TD Bank, and our local Mildred's Masks mask makers.
Please remember this is a curbside event, wear a mask for our safety, and maintain social distance.
This event is "while supplies last," but please don't crowd each other. If social distance isn't maintained, we will stop the event.
- Can I pick up for my children? YES!
- Can we be dressed up for Halloween? YES, but it is not required.
- Do I have to register? No, this is first come, first serve, while supplies last.
Made possible by our wonderful donors, the Association for Library Services to Children, and the Children's Literacy Foundation. Thank you!
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Recent FAQs
We are very grateful for everyone's good nature and patience as we move forward in these uncharted waters. People often have tough questions about why services are like this or not like that, so here are some answers. If you have a question, please don't hesitate to ask. Mutual understanding keeps us all working together towards common goals!
- The "X" library doesn't require appointments, so why do you? Every library in New Hampshire is governed by its own Board of Trustees, and we operate under our own policies that best suit our community and our library. Before the pandemic, we routinely had over 1,000 (sometimes 1,500!) visits per week, which would not be safe now. Appointments allow us to control numbers without stationing a staff member at the door or sending people away, limit visit times, and in the event of a positive Covid case on staff, we can notify people who may have had contact.
- Do I really have to book my appointment a day ahead? Ideally, yes, but if you want to call and see if we have an open timeslot on the same day, do give us a try. We will do our best to fit you in.
- Why do you have different hours than you used to? Our public service hours now are based on cleaning schedules and staffing restrictions (see below). Staff are here working many more hours than we are "open to the public," but we are happy to provide public hours five days per week, including two evenings and Saturday times to accommodate your schedule.
- What are you doing with the non-appointment hours, and why do you look so tired? Many people don't realize that Covid safe procedures and services are much more labor intensive than similar tasks were in pre-Covid times. We have also created an entirely new lineup of services to meet current needs, which means we are busier than ever before. Meanwhile, employer requirements mean that staff are not allowed to come into work with so much as a sniffle and if they go on vacation outside of New England, they have to be quarantined at home for 14 days. We have not been fully staffed since March. We are tired, but we are happy tired because we love our work.
- Why do I get voicemail when I see staff cars in the parking lot? See the item above. We are often operating on a limited staff. We might be on the other line with another patron or prepping your Grab & Go items right before pick-up time or be in the stacks pulling reserves or restocking the STEAM kits for that day's checkout. We always call you back as soon as we are able so please do leave a message.
- Can I volunteer yet? No, sadly, we can't permit volunteers at this time, for everyone's safety, but we truly look forward to having you back at a safe time in the future. Thank you!
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Public Service Hours
ALL LIBRARY SERVICES IN THE BUILDING ARE NOW BY APPOINTMENT.
Per our policy, we cannot accommodate walk-ins at this service level.
MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR ALL VISITORS.
Lobby Service "Grab & Go" Appointments
Tuesday: Noon - 7 pm
Wednesday: Noon - 7 pm
Saturday: 11 am - Noon
Make your Lobby Service Appointments here or visit the Library-to-Go menu on our website. (Lobby Service replaces Curbside.)
"Bookworm Boogie" 30 Minute In-Building Appointments
Monday: 10 am - 5:30 pm
Thursday: 10 am - 5:30 pm
Make your Bookworm Boogie Appointments for 30 minutes of in-library joy here or visit the Library-to-Go menu on our website.
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A great partnership that grows better each year!
The top floor is a happening place! Our friends at the Jaffrey Historical Society are helping to bring history to life by loaning us mannequins with historical dress, including Willa Cather (thanks to clothing help from Deborah Thurber of Project Shakespeare). And you won't want to miss the new JHS Conant exhibit on the History Floor. We are lucky to have such great partners who also have a wonderful sense of humor when the librarian has a crazy idea!
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Holiday closures
 The library will be closed on Wednesday, November 11 for Veterans Day.
The library will also be closed for Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26 through Saturday, November 28. We will resume our normal appointment schedule on Monday, November 30, but do ask that if you have traveled or gathered over the holiday, please consider choosing Grab & Go only. Thank you, and be safe!
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