by Jill Forman
What is happening?
What a good question. Libraries are closed but you can still get books. Curbside service continues with the pre-existing branch hours. Clients can reserve books online or on the phone. Staff is there to help you; they are happy to look up books for you, get them, order them, or tell you where they are available. Many programs are available online; some will be detailed below. As with everything the past couple of years, everything is changing and might be different before this goes to press. Ask your library staff.
The Foster bookstore and the Hill Road sale shelves are unavailable but you can still buy books. Our online bookstore is open for business, and inventory has increased due to the store closure. More on this below.
Confession: the rest of this column is thanks to the email newsletter of the Ventura Friends of the Library. Thanks to Mary Olsen, the President of the Friends and our computer guru, for keeping us all informed.
Here’s some good news:
Zip Books are Back!
Zip books are books (print or audio) delivered to you free and directly from Amazon, which you return to your local library when you are done. This is a grant program funded by the California State Library. This service is for books the library does not own, and there are some parameters.
Just fill out a form at the vencolibrary.org website. Please allow time to place the order. No notification is given when orders have been placed. Three weeks after receiving book, return the book to your library branch and hand it to staff please. Put the Amazon receipt, or a note, in the book so it is identified as a Zipbook.
We invite you to continue to visit our online store for local sales.
Books purchased from the online store are prepared for pick up on Fridays and will be available for pick up at Hill Road Library at the loading dock on Saturdays from 10 am to noon.
VFOL Online Bookstore has recently added vintage books and comics for online selection. Of course, you will still also find great quality reading selections in both fiction and non-fiction for youth and adults, puzzles and audiobooks as well. Any questions? [email protected]
Open Mic Night hosted by Phil Taggart
Thursdays, 6:30 to 10:00 pm. Enjoy a featured poet, then share your own work with the group. All are welcome to just sit and listen as well. Join Zoom Meeting – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9607501600 Meeting ID: 960 750 1600
Minecraft Mondays – 4:00 to 5:30 pm. Join one of the library’s Minecraft servers.
Participants must have parental permission and own a personal Minecraft Java Edition license (PC or MAC computers only) or a Minecraft Bedrock license (Windows 10 Edition or App,) and use Minecraft Version 1.16.3 for the Java Edition or the latest version of the Windows 10 Edition or App. Please send your request to join to [email protected].
Verified participants will be “Allow Listed”, thereby granted permission to access the server.
