While Sewickley Public Library, 500 Thorn St., is not currently open to the public and offering only remote services and curbside pickup, it will be closed on Dec. 24 and 25 for Christmas.
For the latest updates or to register for events, call 412-741-6920 or visit sewickleylibrary.org.
Book request delays
Items are taking a little longer to get from library to library these days. The biggest reason items take longer to get to patrons right now is because libraries in Allegheny County quarantine them for four days after they are returned and during delivery. Quarantining items is one of the best methods for disinfecting library materials and one of the best defenses against spreading covid-19 through materials.
Quarantining items isn’t the only reason materials are taking so long to get here. When items get shipped between libraries, they go through a sorting center in Pittsburgh. There is a large machine at the center that automatically sorts items by the location of the library that requests them. A new, more efficient machine was installed in November. During the installation phase, items were hand-sorted by library staff at the center, which slowed the process down a lot. While the new system is now up and running, there is still quite a backlog of materials to process and it will take some time to get through it.
If you need your items sooner, check our digital collections for fast access to thousands of books, audiobooks and movies – many of which are available with no wait.
Winter Reading Program
Registration for the library’s all-ages Winter Reading Program begins Jan. 8. Participants can set their own goals or a family goal of reading minutes between Jan. 19-March 27. Entries will be logged online. The more minutes participants log, the more chances they have to win.
Battle of the Books BINGO
The Battle of the Books is back with a new twist – BOB BINGO. The program is open to anyone in the fourth and fifth grades. This year’s BOB is an individual event. There are BINGO cards for February and March with a suggested booklist. Read a combination of books from the list and titles you choose to complete BINGO. Every BINGO earns participants more chances to win. The library is offering monthly prizes and grand prizes for both grade levels.
Registration begins Jan. 15.
A Kick Off Video with detailed information about BOB BINGO beginning 9:30 a.m. Jan. 22 on the SPL YouTube Channel, www.youtube.com/sewickleypubliclibrary.
