COMMUNITY
Lisa Key, circulation manager at the Fletcher Branch of the Washington County Free Library in Hagerstown, wears a mask in July while placing library materials on hold for a patron at the walk-up pickup table. Patrons are encouraged to wear masks and practice social distancing when picking up their library materials. Photo by Colleen McGrath
LIBRARY OFFERS CURBSIDE PICKUP written by SARAH NADEAU COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WASHINGTON COUNTY FREE LIBRARY What do dinner, new socks and library books have in common? They are all available through curbside pickup. You can order a meal from a local restaurant to enjoy at
like to check out in the future with a library card account. When you find the items you’d like to check out, place a hold and indicate a preferred branch library for curbside
home, purchase clothing online to collect at a store, and
pickup service. A notification sent to you will include the link
place holds on library materials and schedule a time to pick
to an online calendar so you can schedule curbside pickup
them up from any branch throughout the county.
to best suit your schedule. Librarians are also available by
Like many businesses, Washington County Free Library’s service model has changed to meet the needs of our com-
phone to help place holds and arrange pickups. Don’t have a library card? Not a problem! Apply for a tem-
munity in the age of social distancing. You can still check out
porary e-card through the online catalog. An e-card allows
books, movies, CDs, video games and more for free with a
you to access e-books and e-audiobooks; stream TV shows
library card. Over the last few months, library staffers have
and movies; do research using library databases; and more. A
been working hard to make the process as easy and conve-
library card is an invaluable tool for all ages on the journey to
nient as possible.
find information, explore new stories and grow. Your library
Visit our website, washcolibrary.org, to access the online catalog. Search for books by your favorite author; that movie your friend keeps talking about; an album you used to
is here for all – online, by phone, for curbside pickup and beyond. Go to washcolibrary.org for more information about
listen to again and again; new children’s books to add to the
curbside pickup, phone reference services, online resources,
bedtime story rotation; or whatever else you’d like to find.
library updates and what Washington County Free Library is
Browse lists of bestseller titles or new additions to the col-
doing to help ensure the safety of library staff and the com-
lection with our online catalog, and curate lists of what you’d
munity we serve.
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