“This is a good information access point for people that are new to our eResources,” she said.
There is a banner at the top of the page that draws attention to many of these eResources, such as the www.ancestry.com Library Edition, hoopla, TumbleBooks, and more. For example, www.ancestry.com is typically only available for use in the library, but it has been made available to library card holders at home, free for a limited time.
“We really want them to know that this super cool service is available to them from home right now,” Mancuso said.
There are also several other things that will continue, including The Wonder of Nature Photo Contest that will run through April 15.
“I would love for people to know that there is a photo contest going on for all ages, so now is a great time to get out into nature on your own, far away from everybody else, and enjoy taking pictures and exploring things,” Mancuso said.
The Teen Writing Contest will run from April 1-30. There are no fees to enter, and details about both contests can be found online.
A research tab on the homepage will bring up a drop-down menu that includes databases and genealogy, while a eResources tab features nline learning and eLibrary materials.
“The silver lining, in my opinion, for this situation, while it’s devastating, and really hard for all of us to go through, is it’s an opportunity to shine a light on these resources that aren’t new to this situation. They are resources that the library has had for a long time that deserve to be seen and used more, and this is an opportunity for the public to see a whole different aspect of the library that they may not have known existed before,” Mancuso said.
Some of the databases are how-to resources, while others can be used for education, like learning a foreign language on your own.
Lynda.com offers more than 6,600 courses, ranging from computer software to business topics.
Most of the online learning resources, eLibrary materials, and databases require that patrons have a Lane library card. The Lane Libraries have launched a temporary digital library card program so that members of the community can continue to take advantage of Lane’s digital services. Patrons may fill out a form and apply for a temporary eLibrary card online at www.lanepl.org.
Webinar Wednesdays is also something the library has been doing the last few months. Webinars are posted online and cover a variety of different topics.
All Lane Libraries physical locations, drive-thrus and book drops are closed until further notice. For the latest information about due dates, fines, and to access the online resources, go to lanepl.org and at facebook.com/TheLaneLibraries. Due dates have been extended to April 15 and will further be extended if the library remains closed.
Mancuso said the library is taking the time to look at, and potentially figure out a strategy that might work for opening the drive-thru in the interim, before the libraries can open as physical buildings, but there are no plans to open the drive-thru’s in the immediate future.
“It would be nice for the public to know that this is a goal of ours, but it’s so early still…We’re hearing everyone. We know that they are running out of books, and we know they want more physical materials, and we are looking at how we could, potentially, safely do that in the future,” she said.
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