UCPL returns to curbside service as COVID-19 cases increase in St. Louis County
In response to St. Louis County Executive Sam Page's Nov. 13 "safer at home" order, UCPL has returned to curbside-only service, beginning on Wednesday, Nov. 18. UCPL joined the rest of the Municipal Library Consortium of St. Louis County in this decision to return to curbside service. Curbside service is offered from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 1-5 p.m. on Saturday. Patrons can pick up held items by calling 314-727-3150 when you arrive in the parking lot, at which time a UCPL staff member will deliver the items to your vehicle or to the walk-up table.
For the safety of our staff and patrons, we kindly ask that all patrons remain at least 6 feet away from staff members at all times, open your vehicle's trunk or hatchback, or remain behind the yellow tape line, for curbside service. Please wear a mask when interacting with UCPL staff, even during this time of curbside-only service.
In most cases, UCPL staff will not take returns handed to them, as all returned items are quarantined for at least 96 hours. No overdue fines will be accrued during quarantine time. The two outside bookdrops are available for returns, including DVDs and CDs. Exceptions to this rule are returns of Chromebooks, wifi hotspots, and other tech equipment, which must be returned directly to a staff member. Please call the Library when you arrive to return a Chromebook or hotspot to allow us to don proper PPE before taking the returned tech equipment.
For those that have wifi-enabled devices, the Library’s wireless internet network has been extended, and is now accessible in the parking lot. Printing is available by sending printable attachments to ucprint20@gmail.com.
If you have questions about UCPL's plans going forward, please don't hesitate to contact us at 314-727-3150.
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Kids book clubs move online
UCPL's book groups for kids are now online! The Treehouse Book Club features Ms. C kicking off a book with a first chapter read-aloud and providing downloadable focus questions and activities. The group is focused on juvenile fiction and is geared towards fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. This year she's choosing books that are on the Mark Twain book list. Ms. Stephanie is using a similar format for her Show Me Book Club, which feature picture books and is aimed at second and third graders. She's recording read-alouds for UCPL's YouTube channel, as well as providing hands on activities that participants can do at home and, more importantly, away from their screens! Videos upload on the First Friday for the Treehouse Book Club and Fourth Friday for the Show Me Book Club.
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Get healthy online this December & January
UCPL is partnering with the Ferguson Public Library and the University of Missouri Extension to offer Act Smart, Be Active, a series of Zoom programs designed to offer ways to shop smart and stay healthy around the holidays, as well as other healthy habits.
The programs will all take place at 6 p.m. online between Dec. 1 and Jan. 19, and will be presented by Marche' Scott, a nutrition program associate with the MU Extension. You can sign up to attend one or all of the following programs:
- Tuesday, Dec. 1 — How to Make a Healthy Change
- Tuesday, Dec. 8 — Plan, Shop, and Save
- Thursday, Dec. 17 — Healthier Holidays
- Tuesday, Jan. 5 — Staying Active
- Tuesday, Jan. 12 — Fruits, Veggies, and Grain
- Tuesday, Jan. 19 — Protein, Dairy, Salt, Sugar, and Fat
If you're interested in participating, you can register online at https://bit.ly/MUnutrition or send an email to reference@ucitylibrary.org.
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UCPL & partner to offer assistance with health insurance enrollment this fall
UCPL is pleased to announce that we will be offering access to a certified assistant to help you enroll in health insurance through Healthcare.gov. This assistance is made possible through a grant from the Public Library Association, which has made health information a priority this year. The certified assistant will offer free, one-on-one assistance with filling out the enrollment forms, by appointment only, through the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period, which ends on Dec. 15, 2020. To schedule an appointment, call 314-399-8450 or visit https://widget.getcoveredamerica.org/?LOCATION=126545/.
Additionally, UCPL partner Missouri CLAIM is offering free Medicare counseling for the 2020 annual open enrollment for University City and surrounding mid-county areas. Missouri CLAIM is a not-for-profit agency that is the only agency totally unconnected to any insurance company or plan who can offer free and objective assistance to any Medicare recipient. In previous years, the Library has hosted an in-person counselor; but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all counseling is being conducted by phone. Call Margie Diekemper at 314-250-3464 for an appointment, or call the Missouri CLAIM Call Center at 1-800-390-3330 and someone else can assist you. Medicare open enrollment ends Dec. 7, 2020.
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