Category: General News

The Sikeston Public Library was one of 39 Missouri libraries that were awarded more than $870,000 through the Missouri State Library to help residents access high speed internet for telehealth and distance learning in response to COVID-19.

Six initiatives were launched on July 2 as a part of the Rapid Broadband Deployment Initiative which uses the state’s CARES Act funding. The broadband funding for Missouri libraries allocated up to $2.5 million for this program. The Missouri State Library and Missouri Department of Economic Development reviewed and approved grant applications.

“Innovative and impactful proposals show how libraries can play an important role in advancing telehealth and higher education needs in their communities. COVID-19 has disrupted so many aspects of everyday life, and libraries have stepped up to fill in gaps that wouldn’t otherwise be met,” said State Librarian Robin Westphal.

The library was awarded over $12,000 for expanded bandwidth, upgrades to wireless access, and updated computer equipment.

As part of a Missouri State Library grant program, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft announced that Amigos Library Services, which operates the Missouri Libraries 2 Go (MOLIB2GO) digital eBook and audiobook access program for 106 Missouri libraries, was awarded $74,000 to expand access. Sikeston Public Library is a member of this consortium, which offers digital access to educational, informational, and recreational items to library patrons.

“Early on, as libraries were closing due to the coronavirus, we immediately recognized that demand for eBooks and similar resources would increase rapidly – and, because of its convenience, that the demand may never subside,” Ashcroft said. “State library staff worked quickly to make these funds available to Amigos, which operates MOLIB2GO. Providing digital access to all types of materials to Sikeston Public Library patrons has become priority number one.”

Through Amigos, Sikeston Public Library offers eBooks and audiobooks through the OverDrive platform and provides a wide selection of popular materials that patrons can access for free with a library card. With a library card, members of the community can borrow from the digital collection by visiting the OverDrive library website URL or downloading Libby, the award-winning one-tap reading app from OverDrive.

“This was exciting news for us,” said Ron Eifert, director of the Sikeston Public Library. “The additional purchases should reduce wait lists for some of our most popular titles, and it will add new titles to the collection as well.”

Readers may browse Sikeston Public Library’s digital collection, instantly borrow titles and start reading or listening for free with a valid library card. This service is compatible with all major computers and devices, iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phones and tablets and Chromebook™ without waitlists or holds. Through Libby, readers can also “send to Kindle®.” All titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period and there are no late fees. Readers can also download titles onto Libby for offline use. To get started enjoying ebooks, audiobooks and more, visit molib2go.org or download Libby today.

If you have never accessed MoLib2Go with your library card, visit the library’s circulation desk for your account information to get started.

This grant is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.

We are open for limited hours beginning Thursday, May 21. Library hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. We will be closed for Memorial Day on Monday, May 25.

Just a few reminders/requests/guidelines for your library visit:

1. For everyone’s comfort, please observe social distancing (six feet apart throughout the library). Footprints at the circulation desk mark a six-foot distance while waiting for checkouts. Every other computer is inaccessible to help with this process, and half of the seating in the reference area has been removed.

At the library’s Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, May 4, the following timetable was approved for a gradual reopening of the library. All dates are tentative and subject to change.

May 5, 2020 — The library will resume curbside pickup service. Hours of service will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Our previous method of no-contact delivery will be observed. Patrons can place holds through their library accounts, or call us at 471-4140 to request specific books. Patrons are asked to call us again from the parking lot so that we can pass materials through the window to the left of the front doors and place them on the bench. We ask that all returned items be placed in the outside book return for daily retrieval and quarantined for 48-72 hours. Our virtual storytimes will continue. Library staff will resume book talks for adult books and begin book talks for young adult books.

May 21, 2020 — Our tentative plan is to reopen to the public with shortened hours – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and limited services. A limited number of public access computers will be available; half of the computers will be taken out of service to promote social distancing. Half of the seating in the reference area and reading room will be removed to promote social distancing. We plan to have Plexiglas barriers in place to protect staff and patrons at the circulation desk. All books returned over the counter and through the book return will continue to be quarantined for minimum of 48 hours until threat of coronavirus is deemed to have passed. The library’s community rooms will not be available for public use during this time. No face-to-face programming will be offering, but virtual programming will continue.

June  1, 2020 — The tentative plan is to resume regular hours on Monday, June 1. We will continue to practice distancing for computers and in the reference area. Quarantining of books will continue as long as the threat of spreading the corona virus remains a concern. Use of McAmis Community Room will be allowed for small groups only as long as it is not in use for library activities.

TIMELINE FOR SPECIAL EVENTS

Annual Used Book Sale
The annual used book sale will be postponed until late summer. We are committed to having the book sale, but current social distancing rules are not conducive to a fun, successful sale.

Summer Reading Program

The timeline and structure of our Summer Reading Program is still evolving. We are committed to bringing summer reading programming to the children of our community in a fun, safe manner, in whatever form that may take.

The Sikeston Public Library has made the difficult decision to close to the public, effective Wednesday, March 18 through Sunday, April 5. This is based on the actions of our local school district, as well as other libraries across Missouri.

We will be offering curbside service for library materials. If you have an existing hold that it ready, or have other titles that you would like to check out, call us at 471-4140. For your convenience, you can browse the library’s catalog at sikeston.missourievergreen.org

We are going to attempt virtual storytimes and online book talks.

We encourage you to follow us on Facebook to stay updated on the latest happenings with the library.

Due to concerns of the spread of the coronavirus, our AARP Tax Aide volunteers have announced that they are suspending tax preparation indefinitely.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

The Sikeston Public Library will be closed on Monday, February 17, in observance of Presidents Day.

The library is pleased to announce that tax preparation assistance will be available again this year at the library.

Volunteers from the AARP Tax-Aide program will be in the McAmis Community Room (main level) at the library from 12:30-3:30 p.m. on Thursdays, beginning on Thursday, January 30. They will assist taxpayers by filling out and filing simple tax returns. They will be filing both federal and state forms, including the Missouri PTC forms.

All tax filing will be done on a first-come, first-served basis; appointments will not be taken. Please be sure to bring all tax-related paperwork that you have received, including W-2 and 1099 forms for work performed, receipts for rent paid, and proof of Social Security income.

The library is not trained to give tax advice; instead, we rely on this great group of volunteers who have the training and experience to make sure that your tax filing is done correctly and thoroughly.