Patagonia Public Library will receive a $17,520.54 allotment of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal funding. The funds are designed to help “communities respond directly and immediately to the pandemic, as well as to related economic and community needs.” The goal of this project is to provide an adequate COVID-19 response to Patagonia Public Library, while also adding some fun things into the mix. Funds will be used for a variety of services, including additional PPE such as large capacity HEPA filters and acrylic barriers to stand between our public-use computers. The current circulation desk will be replaced with a new mobile modular system to provide maximum efficiency and updated look to the reception area.
Two additional digital subscription services will be added to the library’s website, PressReader and Digital Theatre+. PressReader will give community members access to over 2,000 national and international news sources through the library’s website, which may be accessed from any device at home or in-library with a library card. Digital Theatre+ will enable members of the library the opportunity to access an ever-growing collection of world theatre, as well as access to archive collections, covering a breadth of genres, periods and forms, and interviews with current leading practitioners.
The Patagonia Community Arts Association/Tin Shed Theater will partner with the library to provide virtual and in-person programs and educational content to our local schools and community members of all ages with the Digital Theatre+ productions and master classes.
Since May, the library has received nearly $30,000 in grant and award funds that will be put to good use all year long. Keep a look out for new in-person and virtual programs, hotspot lending, birdwatching backpack kits, new books for the collection, and much more.
Patagonia Library is now open Monday-Friday from 10:00a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. Stop in to check out books, movies, music, use our Wi-Fi, or just to say hi. Two new clerks were hired in late June – Kayla Miller and Jade DeForest – both with longstanding ties to the community and joy for all things “Library.” We look forward to the new chapter we’re embarking upon!