The library is closed for COVID-19 – except it is still operating

Jeff Green | May 27, 2020

The Kingston Frontenac Public Library operates branches in Kingston, as well as rural branches in Storrington, Sydenham, Hartington, Parham, Sharbot Lake, Mountain Grove, Arden, Plevna and Cloyne.

A quick look at the library website branch page tells the COVID tale. All of the branches on the list have a red box under the status header with the word closed etched in white.

Not only are the books, magazines, cds and dvds, in the branch collections locked up inside, there are no deliveries being made from other branches in the system. The deliveries that bring the entire catalogue of the library to remote branches in Plevna and Mountain Grove have all been suspended. There are no materials available.

All events held at local branches; reading clubs and children’s programming alike, are suspended as well.

The only silver lining is a digital one. The branches have kept up providing public internet access, through wifi that is available from the parking lots outside the buildings. Ebooks and streaming video are available to library members from a number of services that the library subscribes to, including some that are on stream specifically during this COVID timeframe. 

Overdrive, cloudlibrary, Hoopla, Digital Magazines, and PressReader all provide content that is available now for members.

Kimberly Sutherland-Mills manages programming and outreach for KFPL. She has been working at home, coordinating programming for children, youth and adults with her team, using the digital technology that has become ubiquitous in these times.

“We have been bringing the programming that we normally run live in our branches, to services like Youtube and Zoom and Facebook, whatever works best for each program,” she said. 

For children, Story Time Express, sends readings to those who sign up for it on Monday’s, and is also posted on Youtube.

Baby and Me is for the very young, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Wednesdays, KFPL staffer Meredith Westcott presents Meredith’s Maker Lab.

Check out KFPL.ca for other virtual library services.

And, coming soon, the return of library lending. KFPL is preparing for online ordering of materials and curbside pickup. 

In the interim, materials that were borrowed before the library closed in March are being accepted for return. No late fees will be charged for materials until June 15, and  they can be returned at any time through the slot at the closed branches.