Ventura County Library invites everyone to join the Summer Reading Challenge. Residents of all ages and from all across the county have the opportunity to read, participate in live streaming programs, win prizes, collect badges, and have fun! Sign up at: http://vclreads.readsquared.com. Remaining programs:
July 31 – “Wizard Academy” by Christopher T. Magician – 4pm on Facebook Live
August 4 – Ojai Raptor Center – 4pm on Facebook Live
A variety of virtual programs have been added to our website. See our web calendar for more including bilingual story times, poetry, and ukulele online at https://www.vencolibrary.org/calendar:
Ground Operations: Battlefields to Farmfields, an award-winning film available free to stream via Vimeo from 8am through August 2, 2020
One County, One Book events in late August and September around Lisa See’s The Island of Sea Women
All Ventura County Library branches now offer walkup pickup of holds and accept returned items. Customers may place items on hold in the online catalog and pick them up at the library.
No fines or late fees will be assessed on checked out items during the closure of our physical library branches due to COVID-19. These items may be returned to exterior bookdrops 24/7.
Library materials returned to the library will be “quarantined” for a minimum of 4 days before they are taken off your account.
Loan Periods have been extended from 3 weeks to 6 weeks.
Ventura County Library branches are providing limited Internet access to assist people who need to complete the 2020 Census. In each of the 12 branches of the County library system, a computer with access limited to just the official 2020 Census webpage will be available for the public to use. Computer access is available by appointment only for the purpose of completing the nine-question survey.
“With the Census being conducted primarily online now, a priority for our libraries has been to find a way to safely provide access to the Internet for community members who have no other way to connect online and complete the survey”, said Nancy Schram, Library Director.
Individuals who would like access to a computer to complete the Census can call one of 12 library locations to make one-hour appointments, once per day, to complete the survey. Access to other Internet webpages is not available. Walk-ups may be accommodated only if the designated computer is available.
Residents who want to use the service will need to follow these guidelines:
Wearing a mask is required inside all library locations
Social distancing of up to six feet is required at all times
Restrooms are not available for public use
Other areas of the library and browsing of library collections are not available at this time
Computer equipment and hard surfaces touched must be cleaned after use with provided disinfectant wipes
Staff may only provide limited assistance and must use social distancing at all times
Each computer may only be used for Census purposes at this time
Visitors must present their Ventura County Library card at their scheduled appointment, or inform staff at the time the appointment is made if they do not have a library card
Most of the twelve branches will provide access Monday through Friday from 1pm – 6pm. Select locations, such as the Foster Library, Hill Road Library, Ojai Library, and Prueter Library will offer hours on Saturdays from 10am – 3pm.
For a full list of library branches and hours when the service is available, please visit: www.vencolibrary.org/census-computer-access
The Avenue Library in Ventura is providing free Grab and Go healthy snack lunches for children under 18 through August 7th, made possible by donations from the Ventura County Library Foundation, the California State Library, and Premier America Credit Union.
