Even though ?Celebrate National Library Week? concluded last weekend, the event gave patrons in Marion County an opportunity to learn more about what is available to them.
Burns, Florence, Goessel, Hillsboro, Marion and Peabody all have libraries and many of the programs available could surprise people, officials said.
For example, at the Marion City Library, visitors can browse through the collection of 25,000 books including reading for children, adults, large print, paperbacks, fiction and nonfiction, said Janet Marler, librarian.
?We also have 200 audio CDs, 850 videos, 300 audio cassettes, 900 DVDs, 62 magazine subscriptions and all items may be checked out at no charge.?
Marion?s library has Wi-Fi Internet connection, five public computers for Internet use, three children?s computers for learning games, copier/fax, Interlibrary loan services, home bound delivery to shut-ins, Genealogy-Marion County Record on microfilm/CD dating back to 1875 and more.
Other services available at Marion?s library include e-mail notification about events and programs by going to: mlibrary@eaglecom.net to be added to the list.
?The library?s collection is available online,? Marler said. ?Our library is unique due to the fact that we are in a 1912 restored Santa Fe Depot.?
The history of the depot has been preserved through the architect and design of the building and she encourages people to stop by and visit.
The facility is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Thursday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednes?day and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.Saturday. For more information, call 620-382-2442.
In Hillsboro, Cathleen Fish, librarian, said the facility has something going on all the time.
One example, she said, is an activity in conjunction with the spring clean-up and city-wide garage sale.
?It will be kind of a kick-off/reminder for the Spring Cleaning Book Sale,? she said.
The library in Hillsboro also offers a lot of services to the public including free Internet service, free wireless Internet, free on-line education databases, DVDs, computer discs, books, large print books, audiobooks. Information is available to help patrons sign up for free services such as ?Mail-A-Book? and ?Talking Books.?
?We also provide books to Hillsboro Senior Center and Salem Home,? she said. ?Our catalog is available on-line so patrons can access their accounts from home. They may also renew books from home.?
Plans are under way for this year?s Summer Reading Program. The theme is ?One World, Many Stories.?
Activities are planned for all ages from preschool through adult, Fish said.
?Watch the Web page and Facebook page for updates,? she said. ?Flyers will soon be handed out at Hillsboro Elementary School and will be available at the library, too.?
Fish said she would appreciate a call or e-mail about a possible relocation.
?We would love to know what people think about the library moving to the Hillsboro Furniture building,? she said.
The library has a Facebook fan page where announcements are made on a regular basis. The library also has a Web page: hillsboro.mykansaslibrary.org.
Staff can also be contacted at the library?s e-mail at hillsboropubliclib@gmail.com. For more information, call Fish at 620-947-3827 or stop by the library, 120 E. Grand Ave.
