PCL Recommends: Digital Juvenile/YA Nonfiction Books

Check out these five non-fiction titles for kids and young adults (grade level recommendations for each title are below). Like the other books in our PCL Recommends series, these were chosen from School Library Journal‘s top selections.

Use your library card to access these titles and many more through R.E.A.D.S.

If you need help getting started on the Libby or Overdrive apps, click here.

digital-nonfiction-picksDownload

PCL Recommends: Digital Young Adult Novels

It’s week three of our Digital Recommedation series! Shannon has picked out five selections in Young Adult Fiction that were featured in School Library Journal. Be sure to visit  R.E.A.D.S. and use your library card to find these suggestions and so much more!

Vist the library website to get started and click here for Libby or Overdrive set-up help.

digital-ya-picksDownload

PCL Recommends: Digital Middle Grade Novels

We’re back with our second installment of PCL Recommends! Our Putnam County Library Clerk, Shannon, carefully selected titles featured in School Library Journal, to help you explore what R.E.A.D.S. has to offer with your library card!

This week’s list features Top 5 picks for Middle Grade Novels.

Molly of Denali Take-Home/Virtual Workshop

The children’s library has been a community partner of WCTE’s education team for several years. This partnership has brought many special events, workshops, and materials to the library based on a wide array of exciting PBS Kids Shows. Our Children’s Staff, along side our partners from WCTE, have been gearing up to bring families a new workshop inspired by the TV series Molly of Denali, which highlights family values and traditions, as well as informational text. Of course, our current situation has required that they make some changes to the design of this workshop and as such, they have transferred the instructional portion to a virtual platform for the safety of any participants. Beginning Monday, July 20th, families are invited to stop by the library or utilize our Curbside Checkout service to pick up a take-home activity bag for the Molly of Denali Family and Community Learning Workshop. This bag will include materials for four different sessions designed to be enjoyed as a family. Activities are geared toward children ages 4-10, but can be adapted for any age! 

A video walkthrough of each session will be available on our library YouTube channel for guidance on how to use the resources provided in the bag. These activity bags are limited and will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis, so get yours soon!

molly-of-denali-1Download

PCL Recommends: Digital Picture Books

We want to help you explore what R.E.A.D.S. has to offer with your library card!

Our Putnam County Library Clerk, Shannon, curated special ‘Top 5’ lists of highly acclaimed titles featured in School Library Journal! The first in this series features Top 5 picks for Digital Picture Books.

These picks and much more are all available through Tennessee R.E.A.D.S.–the Regional ebook and audiobook download system, which you can find a direct link to on our website.

Need help getting started with digital downloads? Start by clicking here.

Click the link below to download the above image:

digital-picture-book-recommendationsDownload

Virtual Summer Reading 2020 – Readsquared

Celebrate summer with Putnam County Library System’s community-wide Summer Reading Program. This year’s theme is Imagine your Story.

PCL Phased Re-Opening Plan- Current Phase: 3

Phase 1:

• Curbside Service
• Computer use by appointment
• No entry inside the building for any reason except a scheduled computer appointment.

Phase 2:

• Patrons can now enter the library. We encourage only one family member at a time to enter the library. Due to the quarantining of materials, patrons will still not be allowed in reading areas or to browse shelves. Patrons can browse the catalog on site through our catalog computer or public access computers. All requested materials will be pulled from theshelves by the librarians.
• Due to safety concerns the children’s library will still be off limits at this time.
• Still offering curbside service to those who request it.
• No more appointments for computers. Computers will be first come first serve and will be distanced properly. One hour/once per day time limit still applies.
• Meeting rooms and study rooms are still closed.
• Hours will remain abbreviated.

Phase 3:

• Curbside Checkout will still be available to those that request it.
• Patrons are now allowed to browse shelves.
  • We are still encouraging only one family member to come in at a time.
• Beginning September 23rd: The Children’s library will be accessible by appointment only.
  • Walk-in appointments will be available if current appointment times are available at time of walk-in.
  • No more than 6 people will be allowed into the children’s library at one time.
• Meeting rooms will now be open to groups of 10 or less.
  • Study rooms will still be closed.
  • Library programs will still be suspended. Virtual content will still be produced as much as possible. A special consideration may be enacted for story time and Summer Reading Program, if it can be done safely.
• Computer access will remain the same as Phase II.
• Materials will still be quarantined.
  • Late fines will not be assessed to returned materials.
• The library will resume charging for copies, prints, and faxes. We will also be resuming payments on lost or damaged materials.
• Algood, Baxter, and Monterey Branches will move back to normal hours, unless staffing restrictions limit hours. Cookeville Branch hours will be 10am-6pm Monday through Friday. Branch services may vary due to limitations, we recommend contacting your local branch first to ensure greatest quality of service.

During this phase, signage and markers will still be in place to maintain social distancing measures. Staff will still be required to wear masks.

Phase 4:

• Curbside Checkout will still be available to those that request it. Due to staffing, curbside checkout will only be available between the hours of 10am and 2pm Monday through Friday.
• Patrons are now allowed to enter reading areas.
  • Reading areas will be spaced out according to proper social distancing measures and sanitized regularly and visibly.
  • We are still encouraging only one family member to come in at a time.
• Meeting rooms still open to groups of 10 or less.
  • Study rooms will still be closed.
  • Library programs will still be suspended. Virtual content will still be produced as much as possible. A special consideration may be enacted for story time and Summer Reading Program, if it can be done safely.
• Computer access will remain the same as Phase II and III.

• Materials will no longer be quarantined.
  • Late fines will now be assessed to returned materials.
• Algood, Baxter, and Monterey Branches will continue normal hours, unless staffing restrictions limit hours. Cookeville Branch hours will be 10am-6pm Monday through Friday and 10am-5pm Saturday.

During this phase, signage and markers will still be in place to maintain social distancing measures. Staff will still be required to wear masks.

Phase 5 – Enacting this phase should be based on federal, state, and local government guidelines but will ultimately be a decision of the Library Board of Trustees.

• Complete re-open of the library back to normal pre-COVID 19 procedures.

To view the full detailed plan, visit our website.

Curbside Checkout available now

Beginning on Friday April 17^th and until the library reopens, the Putnam County Library will be offering Curbside Checkout to its patrons who are in need of materials.

Curbside Checkout

Beginning on Monday, March 23^rd and until the library reopens, the Putnam County Library will be offering Curbside Checkout to its patrons who are in need of materials. This service will only be available at the Cookeville Branch due to logistical reasons.

Service provided: 10am-6pm Monday-Friday

(Hours subject to change)

Placing Holds Online

1. Browse for materials on our catalog at www.pclibrary.org
2. Click “Place Hold” on items you would like.
3. When you get your notification (phone call, text, or email, depending on how your account is set up) you are welcome to come by and we will have your materials ready.

Picking Up

1. When you are here and ready to get your materials, give us a call at (931) 526-2416 to let us know you are here.
2. We will ask you for the library card number used to place the materials on hold and the vehicle you are in.
3. We will bring the materials out to you. You don’t even need to get out of your car!

Need Help?

Simply call us at (931) 526-2416. We can walk you through your online account or you may place a hold via phone.

Returning Items

We encourage all patrons to return materials through the outside book drops at any time.

*Outside book drop returns can be done at all branches*

Reference questions?

We’re here to help! Give us a call at (931) 526-2416 and we will do our best to help if we can!

Putnam County Library

50 East Broad Street

Cookeville, TN 38501

Library Closure Update

In an effort to mitigate the possible spread of Covid-19 among patrons and staff, the Putnam County Library System Board of Trustees voted Wednesday afternoon to close all four branches effective at the end of business Friday, March 20. The Board will reassess the closure on April 3; currently the plan is to reopen on April 6.

All library events are suspended in this time frame, and all public meeting spaces will be closed.

During the two-week closure, staff will be on duty and ready to assist in any way possible, including providing instruction on how to access the library extensive online offerings and resources. Patrons can put books and other media on hold via the website or by phone. Staff will provide curbside checkout. Free wifi remains available outdoors, including in Dogwood Park.

Library staff will be continuously providing updates on social media about the status of the closure and with tips to access its resources remotely.

Staff urge patrons to call to ask how to access these services or for any assistance the library can provide. Visit pclibrary.org or call 931-526-2416.