Important Reopening Information
Dear Friends,

All of us at the library miss you and look forward to seeing you soon. While the library does not yet have a reopening date, staff have been hard at work planning for your safe return. You’ll be the first to know once we have a date!

Because the COVID-19 virus is still present in our community, the library is taking a cautious approach toward reopening which includes taking the time necessary to plan and get equipped with supplies and institute procedures needed to ensure the health and safety of everyone.

To help prepare businesses and other organizations for a successful reopening, the Talbot County Emergency Operations Center assembled guidance including developing a cleaning and sanitation plan; reorganizing work spaces to promote social distancing; purchasing face coverings, sanitizer, and cleaning supplies; and training staff on new operations and safety procedures. While the library began working several weeks ago on these preparations, there is still much to be done.  

The library has adopted a reopening plan that makes safety a top priority while also offering much needed services.  Our plan consists of four phases and is based on guidance from the Talbot County Health Department, the State of Maryland, and other best practices recommended by health and safety organizations. The first phase of our reopening plan includes opening up our book drop for returns and bringing our staff back to prepare for reopening. In the second phase , we will launch our new books-to-go service so that patrons can once again order library materials for enjoyment. Future phases of our plan will include reopening the library for patrons to be able to browse our collection, use public computers, and get help from our reference and public service staff.

Updates on the progress of our reopening plan will be shared on the library's website, Facebook page and via media outlets. Please continue to take advantage of our many digital resources and virtual programs. We look forward to moving ahead with the first phases of our reopening plan in concert with the County’s plans to reopen public buildings. I want to share my deep appreciation for the work that library staff has done to support our virtual services and programs and to plan for reopening. Please stay safe, and we hope to be able to share an opening date with you soon.

Sincerely,

Dana Newman
Director
Don’t forget we have a host of eResources and virtual programming available for you to enjoy from the safety of your home until we are able to reopen safely. Visit the eResources page on our website for links to Libby and hoopla for ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, movies, and television programs. Acquire a new skill with Gale Online Courses, learn a new language with Mango Languages, or research your genealogy through Ancestry or other sites. All of these eResources are free with a Talbot County Free Library card.

If you don’t already have a library card, click here to get a temporary card online.
Children’s Virtual Programming

Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. tune into Virtual Story Time with Ms. Laura and Ms. Amy on the library’s Facebook page . Recommended for children up to age five.

Wednesdays at 3 p.m. - Read Along with Me! Get ready with your milk and cookies and join Ms. Laura on the library’s Facebook page for a reading of  The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane  by Kate DiCamillo, (available on Hoopla). Fun for the whole family! Recommended for children ages 7 and older.

Wednesdays, May 20, and June 3, 17, 10:30 a.m. - Creative Fun with Tim Young
Join local author/illustrator Timothy Young on Facebook Live as he talks about books, drawing, writing, and other creative stuff. Each fun half-hour show will focus on different creative activities based on his or other authors’ books. Recommended ages 8 and older.

Looking for an escape, but can’t get out of the house? How about a digital escape room? Answer questions, solve puzzles and riddles, and use your smarts to get through the library’s new digital escape room based on the book Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library . Featured on the library’s Facebook page, this activity is suitable for older kids and tweens ages 7-12.
The eBook of this title is available through the library's eBook provider Overdrive at www.tcfl.org/eresources . Click on Downloadable Content and scroll down to Overdrive.

More virtual programming can be found on our website .
Talbot County Free Library | www.tcfl.org