Library still operating

Before we all had to adjust to rapidly changing world around us, your local library was a welcoming place for many seeking everything from a book, to a public computer, to coming together for a variety of activities. The Penticton Public Library still welcomes you, our patrons, but in new ways. We are coping as well as can be expected during this crisis, and trying our best to support our city at the same time.

What we have been doing to service our community:

--storytime using Facebook Live (Tuesday to Friday at 10am);

--our Creative Adults and Teens (AKA CATs) program is available on Facebook live;

--we've developed a digital escape room;

--we are working on starting up a virtual book club, and have been compiling and promoting all of our online resources - especially e-books, downloadable audiobooks, and digital magazines.

We've even come up with a way for people to sign up for a library card via our website, a new way for us to help you access our resources. If you'd like to know more please check out the website at pentictonlibrary.ca/while-were-away.  We know that this all requires a computer (and a Facebook account for some services), to use, which not everyone may have available, and we continue to explore other safe options to connect with you.

The best way to keep up to date on our plans is to keep an eye on our website, but we do still have staff working and you can call us at 250-770-7781, Tuesday to Friday between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm.

There are more than 12,000 items of ours currently in circulation and a good percentage of those are less than a year or two old. We will continue to ask that everyone hold on to any item that is currently in their possession. We are working on a procedure for of ensuring that these items can be safely returned and cleaned before they go back on the shelves, if possible, but until then all due dates have been extended and no overdue fines are currently being accrued - by anyone. 

The library is an important part of our community, and in these times of self-isolation we can hopefully still inspire learning and imagination for everyone.

Heather Buzzell, Penticton Chief Librarian