Adults

The library enters the “Green Phase”

by

Library Director Myra R. Oleynik sent out the following message on Thursday, June 4, 2020:

Dear PT Library Community,
As Washington County moves to the “green phase” on Friday, June 5, this is what you need to know right now about the Peters Township Public Library:

  • The library WILL NOT reopen to the public on Friday, June 5. We are awaiting further guidance from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries to adopt a phased-in approach for in-person library services. Staff will be returning and preparing the building and their workspace to abide by federal, state, and local health guidelines. We will be processing new library materials and offering help by phone at 724.941.9430 and email at ptlib@ptlibrary.org. 

  • Curbside Pickup Service will continue by appointment Monday through Saturday with an extended 3-week loan period. Review our Curbside Pickup details here.

  • We will be accepting returns. The outdoor book drop will remain closed, but returns may be dropped off in our RETURNS bins located at the library front entrance. We can accept returns on Mondays/Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All returned materials will be quarantined for 72 hours.

  • Tax appointments are not being rescheduled. A limited supply of tax forms and instruction booklets are available on a table at our front entrance during RETURN hours.

  • We are not accepting book donations, meeting room applications, program proposals, or scheduling any library volunteers at this time.

  • All WAGGIN library cards have been renewed to December 31, 2020. 

  • At the moment, we are offering only virtual programs. We will announce these programs through our library newsletter (subscribe here), on the library Events Calendar, and the Peters Township Public Library Facebook page. Visit the library’s YouTube Channel for playlists which include all of our virtual programs. Virtual classes and programs will also be available via Zoom.

  • If you haven’t already done so, be sure to register for our virtual Summer Reading Program for ALL ages using Reader Zone. Learn more about the program here.

Please check your email for further updates about the official date for our phased reopening of the building and in-person library services. We appreciate your patience and look forward to safely serving you soon.

Myra R. Oleynik
Library Director

ALL AGES Summer Reading Program

by

Updated Saturday, August 8, 2020: 

We only have 1 week left in our Summer Reading Challenge – that means only 1 week left to log your reading through Reader Zone!

Saturday, August 15 is the last day to log your reading. We will need a few days to compile all of the entries and pull the names of the winners. Winners will be contacted by email with directions to pick up their prizes. We ask that basket pickups take place within the week. You can come into the library or schedule a curbside pickup. We are not able to mail prize baskets.

Remember – if you have reached 50% of your goal, YOU GET A FREE PRIZE!

Swing by the library while we are open to pick up your Halfway Prize. Readers from Birth to Grade 12 also receive a Goody Bag after their first read so come get them!

Consistent with our library’s mission to open books, doors, and minds, you are invited to become part of our new PTPL Summer Reading Program – for all ages!  

Due to the current health crisis, we are using a web-based program called Reader Zone for children and adults to track their reads this summer – no more paper logs to complete! We invite you to download the Reader Zone app for your Android or Apple device. If you prefer, you may go to the Reader Zone website from any internet-enabled device.  You will need our unique Reader Zone code gr53a to join the program.  Then start reading and track your titles!

Our Summer Reading Program starts on Monday, June 1 through to Saturday, August 15 with prizes and incentives along the way for all readers.  For readers 18 years and up, we’re setting a special goal for you – read 8 books this summer! You may read whatever you like, from novels to children’s books, e-books, and listening to audiobooks counts too!   You won’t have to worry about log sheets, and you’ll have all of your titles in one handy spot to share their book covers when others ask you, “Did you read anything good this summer?” 

Please contact Shannon Pauley, Head of Youth Services, at spauley@ptlibrary.org for more information.  This year’s program is being funded by The Peters Township Library Foundation.

Get the Reader Zone App!

App Store Google Play

Curbside Pickup Details

by

Updated Monday, June 8, 2020:
We are happy to announce that in addition to our online e-resources and virtual programming, we continue to offer safe access to physical materials from the library through a curbside pickup service.  Place a hold and reserve items online through the WAGGIN catalog or by phone. As we are quarantining returned materials for 72 hours, please give us a few days to prepare your materials. Once you receive an email notification that your items are ready, please call 724.941.9430 #1 and let us know you would like to schedule a curbside pickup.

~ For faster service, place holds/requests anytime for your desired materials through the WAGGIN online catalog. Have your library card number and PIN ready to place a request online.  Your PIN is usually the last 4 digits of your phone number.  If you need help accessing your library account, please email ptlib@ptlibrary.org to streamline this process.

~ You can also call the library to place a hold. Call 724.941.9430 and Press #1 on Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The library is closed on Sundays. Please leave a message if a staff member is not available for your call. 

~ Please give us at least 48 hours to gather and prepare your requests as we are operating with very limited staff.

~ When you receive an email that your items are ready, please call 724.941.9430 #1 to schedule a curbside pickup. You will be given a number that designates your reserved parking spot for contactless pickup.

~ You are welcome to bring materials to return with you when you come to pick up your requests.  Please place them in your trunk inside a plastic bag marked “RETURNS”. We recommend that you remove any breakable items from your trunk before your arrival.

~ At your scheduled pickup time, pull into your numbered parking spot. Pop open your trunk and remain in your car.

~ To provide contactless service, a library staff member will wear a mask and deliver your items in a bag directly to your trunk.  Any items bagged inside your trunk marked for “RETURNS” will be taken from your vehicle and quarantined for 3 days.

Watch this short video about our new Curbside Pickup Service. Sign up for our newsletter for the most up-to-date changes and follow us on Facebook.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are you doing to protect the safety of library staff, library materials, and the community? 
All library materials returned will be quarantined for at least three days before being recirculated.  Social distancing will be practiced with only a limited number of staff in the building.  Staff will wear masks and take frequent breaks to wash their hands. Frequent cleaning of high-touch areas will be practiced.  Patrons and staff should not approach one another and respect the need for social distancing by remaining in their vehicles to provide for a safe pickup service.  

Do I need a library card?
Yes. You may apply for a library card online at WAGGIN Network. If you experience any problems, email ptlib@ptlibrary.org.                                                                              

May I request materials from other WAGGIN libraries?
Not at this time.  Holds are currently limited to what the Peters Township Library owns.  We cannot request books that are owned by other libraries at this time. Go to the Peters Township Library catalog here.

Do I need to get out of my car?
No, we ask that you remain in your car and pop open your trunk.  We will close your trunk after we deliver your materials to provide for a contactless pickup.

May I return items when I come for my pickup?
Yes.  Place them in a plastic bag inside your trunk marked “RETURNS”.  After we deliver your materials to your vehicle we will retrieve your returns from your trunk. 

May I return my items if I don’t have a pickup appointment?
Yes, The outdoor book drop will remain closed, but returns may be dropped off in our RETURNS bins located at the library front entrance. We can accept returns Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The library is closed on Sundays. All returned materials will be quarantined for 72 hours.  Please bring your items to return in a plastic bag and place them inside the bin.  If you notice a patron at the “Returns Only” area, please respect social distancing and remain in your vehicle until the previous patron has returned to his/her vehicle.  

Do I need to wear a mask for pickup and dropoff?
For the safety of staff and all others, we ask that masks be worn by anyone who leaves his/her vehicle and who may come in contact with another person.

Which library materials may I get through curbside pickup?
Traditional library materials are available for curbside pickup with the exception of puppets. Video games – limit 1.

May I request items and pick them up on the same day?
Unfortunately, no. Due to limited staff, it will take time to collect requested items and prepare them for pickup.  We appreciate your patience. 

If I’m sick, may I still pick up items through the curbside service?
No. For the safety of library staff and our community, please do not schedule a curbside pickup if anyone in your household is ill. 

Is the Book Drop open?
No. For more information about returning items, see the question above May I return my items if I don’t have a pickup appointment?

How long will this service be available?
We will offer curbside pickup as long as it is considered safe to continue. Any changes to our services will be announced via the library email newsletter, social media, and on our website.

I still have some things checked out right now; when are they due?
Any items currently checked out will be due June 30, 2020. While we’ve been closed, all items were automatically renewed so no late fees are accruing.

How long may I keep my new items?
Items will now have a 3-week loan period.

I returned my items but why do they still appear on my account?
Since we are quarantining all returned materials for 3 days, it will take several days for your items to be checked-in and your record cleared.

May I drop off any book donations? 
No.  We appreciate your generosity, but we are unable to accept book donations at this time.

What if I still have questions?
We’re happy to help!  Email ptlib@ptlibrary.org.

What does moving to “yellow phase” mean for our library?

by

Library Director Myra R. Oleynik sent out the following message on Thursday, May 14, 2020:

Dear PT Library Community,
It’s been 9 weeks since we had to close our doors to the public, and we sure do miss you! As Washington County moves to the “yellow phase” on Friday, May 15, this is what you need to know right now about the Peters Township Public Library:

The library WILL NOT reopen to the public on Friday. A limited number of staff are the only ones who are permitted to return to the library at this time. They will begin to prepare the building for new limited library services to the public. Once we receive approval from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, we plan to gradually offer curbside service and accept library returns. All returned materials will be quarantined.

There will be changes in daily operations. When we open, library hours will be limited. We will be abiding by federal, state, and local health guidelines to keep our staff and community safe. The outdoor book drop is closed. We cannot accept book donations.

The due date for all items currently checked out is June 30, 2020. This will allow extra time for you to return items during our limited open hours. 

All WAGGIN library cards have been renewed to December 31, 2020. If you have any questions about your library card, email ewolf@ptlibrary.org.

At the moment, we are offering only virtual programs. We will announce these programs through our library newsletter (subscribe here), on the library Events Calendar, and the Peters Township Public Library Facebook page. Visit the library’s YouTube Channel for playlists which include all of our virtual programming.

Coming Soon! Plans are also underway for our new ReaderZone app to keep your kiddos reading this summer!

Please check your email for further updates. We appreciate your patience while we await these guidelines from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries and look forward to safely serving you soon. Stay calm. Stay safe. Stay tuned.

Myra R. Oleynik
Library Director

FAQ during the PT Library Covid-19 Closure

by

UPDATED Saturday, May 9, 2020 at 10:30 a.m.

From Library Director, Myra R. Oleynik

In anticipation of Governor Wolf’s most recent announcement that brings Washington County to the Yellow Phase, Peters Township Public Library has been carefully reviewing procedures for phasing in safe access to very limited public services.

Any plans will include precautions to create a safe environment for staff and patrons that adhere to local, state, and federal guidelines. These precautions would include the use of personal protective wear, social distancing, and quarantining returned materials.

We appreciate your patience while we work on the details for entering the Yellow Phase. Please check your email in the coming weeks or visit our website for important updates and details about any limited services we are able to offer you.   Stay calm. Stay safe. Stay tuned.  

Here is what we know for today, April 3, 2020.

How long will the library be closed? The library is closed until further notice. We will advise you of an open date as soon as we have that information.

Can you hand me a book at the door?  No. To ensure the health and safety of our staff and community, we are complying with a state directive to suspend all direct in-person services. 

When will programs and classes resume? We do not have that information at this time. It depends on when the library will reopen to the public. Visit us at ptlibrary.org for updates or follow us on Facebook and on Instagram .

I am getting email notices about overdue books and fines. What’s should I do? Please disregard those emails for now. No fines will be charged for overdue items during this emergency closure.

Should I return my materials to the outdoor Book Drop? No. The Book Drop is closed. Please keep all items until the library reopens. Please do not leave anything outside the building.

What happens to the books I have on hold? All items currently on the hold shelf will remain there until the library reopens. You will be given additional time to pick them up.

Can I place new requests to hold items for when you reopen?  We ask that you please refrain from placing new hold requests at this time. There is no library staff in the building to gather new hold requests.

Are you answering the library phone number?  You can call 724.941.9430 and press #4 to leave a message. A staff member will return your call as soon as possible.

What if I’m having a problem with library e-resources?     Email Ed Wolf directly at EWolf@PT-Library.org.

How can I access library resources from home? Visit  the library website to access online resources. Go to the Resources bar at the top of the page. The drop down menu helps you to navigate to Books & Audiobooks, Magazines & Newspapers, and Music & Movies. You can also link to a complete A to Z list of all resources and browse to see what is available.

What about my tax appointment? AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Sites Service has been suspended until further notice. AARP tax volunteers will contact you regarding rescheduling once it is determined when the library will reopen.

How do I get tax forms? Click here for Federal tax forms, instructions and publications. Click here for PA Department of Revenue forms and publications.

Stay home. Stay safe. Stay healthy.

Hogwarts Digital Escape Room

by

Updated July 22, 2020

On the afternoon of March 19, 2020, we shared the Hogwarts Digital Escape Room created by Youth Services Librarian Sydney Krawiec on the library’s Facebook page. Little did we know that over the next two weeks, the game would be played by 225,000 users from 22 countries across the globe including Australia, New Zealand, India, Germany, South Africa, Italy, and more. It has been translated into 7 different languages: Italian, Basque, Spanish, French-Canadian, Hrvatski, Dutch, and French.

When the library closed its doors at noon on Saturday, March 14, the Super Heroes Escape Room planned for that day was canceled. Ms. Sydney “really wanted to be able to offer an online alternative that families and friends could still work on together from their homes.” She didn’t want to use the puzzles planned for the Super Heroes Escape Room because she plans to hold that escape room once the library reopens. Instead, she went back to two previously created Harry Potter-themed escape rooms held in the library and modified those puzzles to create a new virtual escape room.

The Hogwarts Digital Escape Room is suitable for all ages, and you don’t necessarily have to be a Harry Potter super-fan. Taking about 15 minutes to play, the game draws on math and critical thinking skills to solve 3 puzzles. Many educators have shared the escape room with their students as part of a daily lesson plan.  Families have used the game as part of virtual birthday party celebrations. Public libraries continue to share the link to the escape room on their Facebook pages, bringing new followers to the Peters Township Public Library website and Facebook page.

Through a partnership with the Pennsylvania Library Association and PA Forward, Ms. Sydney prepared a tutorial to walk viewers through the steps to create a virtual escape room using Google Forms.  As of today, the video has over 28,000 views and can be seen on the library’s YouTube Channel.

Press coverage of the Hogwarts Digital Escape Room includes:

Librarians turned Google Forms into the unlikely platform for virtual escape rooms
Aliya Chaudhry, The Verge

Test Your Wizarding Skills With This Free Hogwarts Digital Escape Room
Grant Rindner, The Oprah Magazine

Peters library’s Hogwarts Escape Room a big hit around the world
Deana Carpenter, Post-Gazette

Digital Escape Rooms and Other Online Programming: Libraries adapt quickly for COVID-19
Anne Ford, American Libraries

Pennsylvania Library Creates A Hogwarts Digital Escape Room
Emily Stochl, Book Riot

Harry Potter Fans Can Test Their Wizarding World Knowledge with This Virtual Escape Room
Isabel Garcia, House Beautiful

You Can Virtually Apparate to Hogwarts (and Beyond) In This Harry Potter-Themed Escape Room
Nicoletta Richardson, Apartment Therapy

Calling All Wizards! You Can Do a Virtual Harry Potter Escape Room For Free
Murphy Moroney, Popsugar

More than books: How Pa.’s libraries are connecting with communities during coronavirus shutdowns
Hannah McDonald, Pennsylvania Capital-Star