Timberland Regional Libraries open with virtual programs

Matt Baide | Nov 25, 20210

Matt Baide count

People utilize the computers and tables socially distanced at the North Mason Timberland Regional Library in Belfair on Nov. 9. The library underwent renovations during the pandemic and received new furniture as well as putting new stickers on its entire inventory of books.

Timberland Regional Libraries in Belfair, Shelton and Hoodsport are welcoming patrons back to the building and there are more programs offered than ever.

"We are all now fully open, which we love," North Mason Timberland Library Manager Mary Halterman said. "We get to see folks come in now that we missed seeing for a year."

Even though the buildings are open, the libraries are still not offering in-person programs. The pandemic forced the adaptation of virtual and take-home programs, including Take and Make bags, a Youtube channel and Zoom weekly storytimes for kids.

Take and make bags are around a theme and are catered to younger children, kids, teens and adults. For example, November's take and make bag for younger children is starry nights and for kids, the bag features Zine making, which allows kids to make their own magazine around any topic they choose.

The Youtube channel features bilingual book readings, a gardening series and informative videos about animals. The library even has its own streaming service, Kanopy, which is for streaming movies, documentaries and TV shows and you get a certain number of plays with your library card. There are also Kanopy kids, which doesn't count against your plays.

Each Timberland Regional Library is also offering birding backpacks, which includes a Discover Pass, binoculars, field guides and maps, initially funded by the Black Hills Audubon society.

"We're adding to that, we call it a library of things, all of the time," Halterman explained. "One of the other pieces that we have for the library of things are assisted devices. It's items that can help people with dressing or using devices. We have special glasses that can help prevent migraines. They're things that people can check out from the library for free to trial before they put in a lot of money in buying something or can help bridge the gap if they're recovering from surgery, then they can come and check out one of those items."

The library has also kept some of their in-person programs online, including Dungeons and Dragons and the creation of a TRL Discord channel. Halterman said she is anticipating a return to most in-person activities sometime in early 2022, but an exact date is yet to be determined.

"We were very lucky here because our friends of the library group, which is a volunteer group that supports library programing, they actually received a grant for 2020 and 2021 that initially was going to our maker space, which is just like it sounds, a place for folks to come make things," Halterman said. "When we transitioned to doing our make and take activity bags, they were able to help fund that and so we really got to stretch our creative muscles with these make and takes. Our community has really responded positively to them and it is just a stop gap between, some folks don't want to access or can't access our virtual programs. We're very aware of that and so we make these take and make bags that have absolutely everything you need to do the projects that we have and all sorts of other ones too."

Timberland Regional Library has its own mobile app and Libby, the app the library uses for eBooks, is available for even more digital tools to access library resources. The library has introduced Playaways, which are preloaded audio books for users who don't have a smartphone or who can't access mobile apps.

The library closed for the pandemic March 13, 2020. The library began curbside pickup in Sept. 2020, which is still offered. While the libraries were closed, they were able to do some renovating, including new floors, paint and furniture, and Shelton's library renovated its public restrooms. Staff also had time to go through its inventory and put stickers on all of the books.

"Most of our furniture was original to the building that opened in 1998. It goes to show what good care people take of the library because they were still in pretty good shape for 22 years old," Halterman said. "So we do have a lot of new furniture. We also went through our entire collection we put RFID stickers on it so what that means is we have new checkout machines and you can now checkout four or five items all at once, it's kind of like magic. That's because we went through, while we were closed, and took the opportunity to put all of these stickers on. It was such a project."

The library also decided to get rid of overdue fees. Inside the library, the first display you'll see is the Lucky Day items, which are the most popular books and movies that are checked out, and if you come into the library and see a popular item finally available that you've been wanting to check out, it's your lucky day.

Worksource has also partnered with the library and comes to the buildings on occasion to help people who are looking for work. Members can also print, scan and fax for free.

Students at local school districts also can utilize the libraries database online.

Halterman said the library feels normal again.

"We're still so happy when somebody walks through the door that we haven't seen in a year. We really had a difficult time when we didn't get to see any of the babies or the little ones at the library," Halterman said. "Now that we have full access to our computers and you can sit and hang out at the library for as long as you want, it's just been fabulous for folks to come back. Of course, masks are required. It makes it a little more difficult to spend the day at the library but I think we have been just as happy to be back open and have folks come in as they have been to come back to the library."

Halterman said she's not sure what to expect for the rest of the year, but knows the library will be ready for whatever change comes.

"I've mostly just been so proud of the staff, here in North Mason and Timberland overall. I feel like we were really able to just dig in and work together and anything we could be doing to serve our communities, we were," Halterman said. "As far as the next month or so, we're really excited for our December take and make bags. Every year, typically, we have the winter arts workshop, which is for all ages and everyone can come and create. We can't do that this year ... so each of the staff members here are picking their own project and we're going to put this into the winter arts workshop take and make bag, so I think we're really excited for that. I think we're excited to look forward and keep moving towards more and more in-person things and I guarantee you the day we can have story time in-person, there will be tears."