Weekly Challenge 3

The children's challenge this week is to write a letter or draw a picture and send it to someone you know. 

The TNT challenge is to write a text message conversation between two characters in a book you have read.

Children, write a letter to or draw a picture for anyone you know and send it to them. You can send it as a physical letter or take a picture of it and email it to someone - a family member, a friend, anyone you know! See if they write back.  

TNTs (6th - 12th grade), see details here.

And, last week's Share Your Story challenge also continues through July 15.  See details here. 

Weekly Challenge 2: Share Your Story

This week’s challenge is to Share Your Story.

The past few months have been unusual for all of us. School buildings closed. Many businesses closed. We have done school and work from home.  Activities and events have been canceled. Being home all the time may have inspired you to get creative and find new things to do that you wouldn’t have usually done.

We invite you to share your story with us.  We will compile these stories into a book at the library. 

You can send us anything you'd like to share - photographs, drawings, writings - anything that shares your experience and daily life during the pandemic.

If you need ideas, here are a few suggestions:

What did you do that you wouldn't have done on a "normal" day?
What did you not do that you would have done on a "normal" day?
What do you like or not like about being home instead of at school?
How are you keeping in touch with family and friends while you can't visit them in person?
Have you done something to help someone else?
Has someone done something to help you?
Have you missed an event during this time?
Did you celebrate a birthday in a different way?
What are you looking forward to doing after we return to "normal?"

What will you keep doing even after we return to "normal?"

The following two resources provide additional ideas – either for Share Your Story or just for yourself.

My Covid-19 Time Capsule
by Long Creations
Journal-type pages for children to document this time.
My Lockdown Diary
by Stephen McCarthy
Prompts for writing and drawing during this time of no school and social distancing.

You can send information to us for our Share Your Story book

• here - A Gmail account is required. You'll upload your submission directly on that page.
• Email us at youth@milanlibrary.org and then complete this form.
• Bring information to the library once we reopen.  We can scan your documents if you'd like to keep the originals.

As a thank you for participating, one person who shares their story will win a gift card to a Milan business. Since this challenge is a little bigger than our usual weekly challenges, we’ll give you some extra time and have the drawing on July 15. 

We hope you enjoy this challenge.  We look forward to seeing your stories!

Curbside Pickup Service

Curbside Pickup Service will be available beginning on Monday, June 22.

If you have already seen Curbside information on our website, you can skip to the youth-specific part of this page here.  The rest is general information repeated from our website.


Here are the basics:

• Reserve or request items.
• Wait for notification that items are ready.
• Come to the library during our current hours (see below) and call us from your vehicle.  Our phone number is on the signs outside.
• Library staff will bring items out to you and place them in your trunk or on the curb.

The details:

WHAT HOURS IS CURBSIDE SERVICE AVAILABLE?

Updated hours beginning 8/12:

Monday 10:00 - 4:00    
Tuesday 1:00 - 7:00
Wednesday 10:00 - 4:00
Thursday 1:00 - 7:00
Friday 10:00 - 4:00
Saturday 10:00 - 4:00


HOW DO I REQUEST ITEMS FOR CURBSIDE PICKUP?  

You can:  

• Place a reserve on items through our online catalog here (most efficient).
  
  
• Fill out the form here for help choosing books for children and teens. 
  
  
• Call the library during open hours at 734-439-1240 to request items. 
  
  
• Email the library at info@milanlibrary.org.

HOW DO I REQUEST ITEMS IN THE CATALOG FOR PICKUP?

• Go to milanlibrary.org and click on the Catalog/My Account link or go directly to our catalog here.
  
  
• Log in to your account with your library card number and password.  If you don’t recall your password, give us a call during open hours and we will help you reset it.
  
  
• Find the item(s) you are interested in and click on “place a hold.”  You'll see a pop-up box that says Reserve Placed when it has been reserved.

HOW DO I CHOOSE BOOKS IF I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR?

• You can fill out the Book Bundle form here for youth staff members to choose books for children and teens.  Let us know what subjects and formats you like and how many items you want.  We'll select items for you based on the information you provide. 
  
  
• You can see some book lists here. 
  
  
• You can search our catalog for new items, items on a subject of interest, and more. See tips for getting the best results when you search our catalog here:
  
  
  
  
  
• If you have questions, please email us at youth@milanlibrary.org.

HOW DO I KNOW WHEN MY ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE TO PICK UP? 

• Please allow 48 hours for items to be located and placed on hold for you.
  
  
• We will call you or email you to let you know that your items are ready for pickup.  

HOW DO I PICK UP MY STUFF? 

• AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED YOUR ITEMS ARE READY, pull up near (but not right in front of) the book drop box.
  
  
• Call the library (734-439-1240) to let us know you’re here and your name.
  
  
• A staff member will bring out your items in a bag and can place them either in your trunk (please open when you arrive) OR at the curb near your car. 
  
  
• Staff will stay 6 feet away from you at all times and will wear masks.  We ask that you stay in your car and/or wear a mask if you need to get out of it for any reason.

HOW DO I RETURN ITEMS TO THE LIBRARY? 

• As the library building is still closed, ALL ITEMS MUST BE RETURNED IN THE BOOK DROP outside the library.
  
  
• If you have an oversize item to return, please call us to make special arrangements. 
  
  
• This is so that we can quarantine returned items for the appropriate period of time as determined by the CDC and other authorities. 

Drop box reopens today

Our drop box will be open starting today, Wednesday, June 17.

You can begin returning your checked out books and other items to the drive-up drop box. 

Please note:

• Items will not be checked in the same day they are returned.
• Items will be quarantined before being checked in.  The amount of time will be determined by recommendations by the CDC and other authorities.  At this time, items will be quarantined for four days. (updated 7/21/2020)
• Items will remain on your account until after the 4-day quarantine period. (updated 7/21/2020)
• Fines will not be charged for this time.  Items will be backdated to March 13 (the last day the library was open) until July 18. (updated)   
• If you have any questions, please email us at info@milanlibrary.org.

See more about our reopening plan here.

Weekly Challenge: Week 1

Summer Reading Weekly Challenge
Week 1: Listen to a story from someone you know

You can watch the video announcing our Weekly Challenge below or on Facebook here.

In the video when I mentioned contacting someone, that should have been "call or *Facetime*" - not Facebook. 

If you have any questions, please leave us a comment here or email youth@milanlibrary.org.

We hope you enjoy this week's challenge!

Reopening News

Reopening News

Thank you for your patience during the library closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been a difficult time for everyone, and we hope that you have been able to stay safe and healthy.

On June 9, 2020, the Milan Library Board of Trustees approved a reopening policy for Milan Public Library.

The library will have a “soft reopening” as we tackle many issues.  The library will reopen in stages.

The staff have been trained in sanitary procedures and protocols. Staff have been provided with masks, hand sanitizer, soaps, and sanitizing supplies.

The Milan Public Library follows the guidelines set by the Governor’s Executive Orders and is watchful for any changes in procedures for the library.

Our staff is eagerly looking forward to welcoming you back to the library as soon as possible. Again, we sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding during this chaotic time.

____________

If prefer or require plain text, here are the stages again:

Stage 1
March 14 - June 14

• The library is closed to the public and staff.

Stage 2
June 15 - June 21

• On June 15, the staff will return to the library.

• On June 17, the book drop will open for returned items.
• All items will be quarantined for 3 days before being checked in and reshelved.
• Patrons will not receive any fines at this time.

Stage 3
On June 22, the library will begin curbside pickup.

• Library hours will be:
    Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 10:00-4:00
    Tuesday and Thursday will be 1:00-7:00
• Books may be reserved online or requested by calling the library (734.439.1240). 
• When items are available, patrons will receive a phone call to let them know their items are ready for pickup and available times for pickup.
• Patrons will pull up by the library drop box and call the library.
• Items will be brought to the patron and either placed in the trunk or on the curb.
• This is a no-contact delivery and staff will be wearing masks.

Stage 4
Beginning some time in July

• Library hours will be:
    Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 10:00-4:00
    Tuesday and Thursday will be 1:00-7:00
• Patrons may enter the library but with limited occupancy and limitation to certain areas of the library.
• Patrons will practice social distancing at all times.
• All items are to be returned to the drop box and not brought into the library.
• Computer use will be by appointment only.
• All programs will be virtual.
• Closer to Stage 4, more details will be available.

Stage 5
Date to be announced

• Library hours will be:
    Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 10:00-4:00
    Tuesday and Thursday will be 1:00-7:00
• Limitation to certain areas of the library may be lifted.
• Meeting room may be used for library events.
• Some library events may be held in the library.

Stage 6
Date to be announced

• Library hours and functions return to normal.

Dinosaur Day with PaleoJoe

Dinosaur Day with PaleoJoe

Saturday, June 20 at 10:30 A.M.

  
PaleoJoe (Joseph Kchodl) introduces animals, plants, and creatures that have been extinct for millions of years.  His
stories, fossils, and specimens bring the past to life. You’ll see a 3-foot baby T-Rex skeleton, a Velociraptor skull, and more.

This event will be held on Zoom. 






Registration: 

Please register here if you are ONLY attending the Dinosaur Day event.

If you would like to participate in any other aspects of our Summer Reading Program, you can register for those events AND Dinosaur Day in the following links:

Children's registration for Dinosaur Day AND other summer events

TNT (6th - 12th grade) registration for Dinosaur Day AND other summer events

Summer Reading Program 2020: Imagine Your Story

Our Summer Reading Program will begin on Monday, June 15 and continue through Saturday, August 28.  Children are invited to read and listen to books, earn prizes, and participate in library events this summer.  Our events will be held virtually this year.

This summer will be different from previous years, but we are looking forward to encouraging reading and listening to books and to hosting fun events and projects.

Registration: Please register here.

Reading logs will be available here beginning on Monday, June 15.

Events for the first half of the summer are on the flyer below and can be opened as a pdf here.

We have tentative events planned for the entire summer, but will evaluate if we should make any changes before publicizing the end-of-summer schedule.

Questions: If you have any questions, please let us know here.  We look forward to seeing you (virtually!) this summer.

Updates will be posted on the Summer Reading page here.


Are you looking for events for 6th - 12th graders? See our TNT (Teen & Tween) page here.

Children's events are in the image below

or click here to see a pdf of the flyer.