The staff has been working on new services and features at the library,
in anticipation for our eventual reopening.
We hope our patrons will enjoy these new offerings,
and hope to see you all again soon.
"Hope Springs Eternal at the Library."
Photography by Helen Boyle-Valentino. 2020.
Used with permission.
Curbside Pickup
Curbside pickup service is anticipated to begin in June 2020. This contactless-service will be available Monday through Friday, from 10 am until 4 pm. Patrons may request items by calling the Library at 508-764-5426, or by placing holds in their personal library account. Patrons may request items from the JEL collection only, and up to ten (10) items per transaction, and items will be held for 24 hours.
Please
click here for additional information on curbside pickup.
Summer Reading
The Jacob Edwards Library is working hard during the closure to bring you a new summer reading program! Traditionally, the Library has focused on six weeks of reading, in-person programs and incentives during the summer months. Given the current guidelines provided by the Governor and the Reopening Advisory Board, summer reading will look different this year. Students will still be able to get their materials digitally, or from the JEL collection. Look for adult and young adult BINGO sheets on our website next month!
Pride in Southbridge
The Jacob Edwards Library is proud to celebrate the 14th year of Pride in Southbridge. Initiated by former Library Director James D. Patterson in 2006, this month-long celebration recognizes the countless contributions and achievements of the LGBTQIA+ community. Although we won't be holding in-person programs this year, we will work to create a celebratory atmosphere for Rainbow Book Month, as it is now known.
Returning to the first Pride in Southbridge event, this video features author Gregory Maguire speaking at the JEL. Video production by Paul Zotos and SCTV.
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| Gregory Maguire, Author of "Wicked" at the Jacob Edwards Library. |
Click below to view Rainbow Book Month book lists for all readers:
Digital Exhibitions
April and May saw the first foray into presenting the monthly art exhibit in a digital format at the Jacob Edwards Library. Media coverage by the Southbridge News and The Citizen Chronicle helped spread the word during the library closure. Click here to read the piece in The Citizen Chronicle.
June will be the third month that the Library presents the monthly art exhibit in an online format with the show "Looking Back / Looking Forward." Look for "the object of the day" on our Facebook page each weekday.
2020 United States Census
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| Southbridge Census Informational Video |
56.4% is the current Southbridge - town self-response rate (5/29/20), while the Massachusetts self-response rate is 62.4%. The national self-response rate 60.3%.
Click here to see the rates online. There is still plenty of time to respond to the
2020 Census.
See the updated schedule
here
.
"The results of the 2020 Census will help determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow into communities
every year for the next decade.
That funding shapes many different aspects of every community, no matter the size, no matter the location."
Revised Library Hours
As of March 17, 2020, the Jacob Edwards Library
will be closed to the public until further notice.
Remaining staff will be available Monday-Friday from 9am to 5 pm
to assist with patron inquiries.
Staff may be reached by calling 508-764-5426 or by emailing [email protected].
Items may be returned through the book drop
at the rear of the building.
- Patron expiration dates and item due dates of checked out items were updated to 7/1/2020 as of April 29, 2020.
- Late fees accrued during our closure will be waived.
- No donations can be accepted during the pandemic, due to the challenges posed for safe materials handling.
- If returning compact discs, please place a rubber band around the case.
Community Resources Recap:
Town of Southbridge Resources:
Town of Southbridge Emergency Alert Program:
Receive alerts about emergencies and other important community news by signing up for the Town's Emergency Alert Program. This system enables the Town to provide you with critical information quickly in a variety of situations, such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods.
You will receive time-sensitive messages wherever you specify, such as your home, mobile or business phones, email address, text messages and more. You pick where, you pick how.
Library Resources:
Community Resources:
The Literacy office at the Jacob Edwards Library is closed until further notice. Please use the following contact information to get in touch:
Holly Christo, Executive Director: 508-909-6589 or [email protected] for tutor support and information.
Andrea Cignarella, Program Assistant: 774-230-6468 or [email protected] for new students and online classes.
March Reca
Staff is working with area libraries, regional and state agencies to prepare and plan for the eventual reopening of the library building. The safety and comfort of our patrons is of the utmost importance.
We look forward to seeing you all again soon!
Congratulations to the Southbridge High School Class of 2020!
Our colleagues at Southbridge Community Television will be broadcasting graduation on Friday, June 19, 2020.
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Please read on for all of this month's news.
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