Library News
Library News
Due to rising cases of COVID-19 within our Community and the surrounding areas, the Library and Board of Health have decided to scale back service and close for in-person browsing. We are very excited to announce a new point of service that will allow you to get your holds without an appointment, with our brand new, Walk-up Window!
Walk-Up Window for Holds Pickup
What is the Walk-up Window?
The Walk-up Window allows you to pick up your holds with no appointment necessary! Come to the library and line up outside along the ramp, where you will be protected from the elements with our exciting new Holiday Window Display. This exciting initiative will give you the flexibility to pick up your items on your time, with expanded hours during the week and on weekends.
If you have holds to pickup, please use the Walk-up Window! This window is located in our interior entryway.
• One person may enter at a time
• Please enter at the bottom of the ramp, and wait on the marked spots to keep physically distant
• An exterior light indicator will go from red to green when it is your turn to enter the Walk-up Window.
• Scan your library card once inside, and we will grab your items for you!
• Don’t have anything on hold? Give us a call at 508-647-6520 and we will assist you! Or head to “my account” and browse our catalog!
Walk-Up Window Hours
Monday – Thursday : 9am-8pm
Friday & Saturday : 9am-4:30pm
Sunday : 1pm-4:30pm
Can I still do Contactless Holds Pick Up?
Yes! We encourage everyone who cannot stand outside or may not want to wait because of children or pets in their car to still book an appointment online or via theMinuteman Library App.
Contactless Pickup
We will still have contactless pickup appointments available for your convenience and safety.
• Pickup appointments are available from 9am-10am daily from Monday through Friday, and 9am-10am on Saturday. We also have appointments from 7pm-8pm Monday through Thursday.
• You may only book a pickup appoint AFTER receiving a request pickup notice from the Library that your items are ready.
• If you miss your appointment, please call us to schedule another. Because we only have so many slots per appointment, we are unable to reschedule pickup for the same day.
• Puzzles and items from the “Library of Things” are not available during contactless pickup.
How does it work?
• Step 1: Put items on hold using your Minuteman account
• Step 2: Wait for an email, text, or phone call that your items are ready to be picked up.
• Step 3: Book a pickup appointment window using our online pickup calendar OR give us a call at 508-647-6520
• Step 4: Come to the Contactless Pickup area outside the library during your appointment window and grab your items off the contactless pickup shelf. Items will be checked out and bagged with your name on it.
Can I Browse Books?
Not at this time. However, staff are hard at work making solutions to give you browse-ability while we are closed. If you would like a recommendation give us a call 508-647-6520or join Morse Book Match!
Delivery Service
Delivery Service is available for our patrons who cannot safely come to the library, to see if you qualify for delivery click here.
What Stays Virtual
• All programming and events will continue to be hosted online.
• Reference assistance by email, chat, text message, appointment, or phone through our Digital Branch
• Virtual Reference hours: Monday-Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 10am-2pm
• Access to all the great digital content like e-Books, e-Audiobooks, movies, magazines, and music from MorseInstitute.org website and our Virtual Reading Room
• Remote access to research resources like databases
Express bundles
The new Express Bundles for adults, DVD, teens, and children have launched! Also, we have a new Book-Fix program, that is similar to Stitch-Fix (book bundles curated to fit your taste).
You can use the Walk up window to pick up an Express Bundle on demand.
OR, you can fill out an online form to request:
1. Express Bundle(s) to pick up later at the walk up window (within 1 day!)
2. Express Bundle(s) to pick up via contactless holds
3. Book-Fix curated collection based on your preferences within the categories of adult, teen, or children.
Mobile Self-Checkout & Contactless Pickup now LIVE on the Minuteman App!
In order to make getting your materials as fast and safe as possible, we are excited to announce that you can now book a contactless pickup appointment directly from the Minuteman App available for both Apple IOS & Android devices!
Coming into the building to pickup materials? You now have a contactless option to check out your materials from within the library! Open the Minuteman Library App, select “Mobile Checkout” and scan the item barcodes to checkout. It is simple, fast, and safe!
Special Sunday Holds Pickups!
In order to help those who cannot safely come into the Library, we are opening three hours of Contactless Holds Pickup on Sundays. Times will be available at 1:30, 2:30, & 3:30. Visit the Contactless Holds Pickup webpage for all the information on picking up your holds without coming into the library!
MIL Virtual Programming
Childrens:
Program Videos
Premiering on our Facebook and website, no registration needed!
Rhyme Time
Posted Wednesdays 10:00am
short stories, songs and playtime extension activities geared for infants and toddlers and their grownups.
Preschool Play
Posted Fridays 10:00am
weekly program of stories, songs and games designed especially for the preschool set.
BedTime Buddies
Posted Wednesday nights 7pm
A fun pre-bedtime program full of songs, skits, reading and more! A family program for younger listeners and the young at heart
Teen and tween
Dungeons & Dragons Online Gaming
Friday evenings, 6:00-8:00pm
Play a Dungeons & Dragons adventure online over 5 weeks! It will be a fifth edition standard fantasy D&D campaign set in Faerun. Players will be able to choose from a variety of pre-generated first level characters. Beginners welcome!
Open to Teens ages 13-18.
Relaxing Coloring
Join us for a coloring session with exclusive coloring sheets - and chat with other Teens & Tweens on Zoom! Hosted by Teen Librarian Robin. If you want to take the coloring sheets and color on your own time, that’s OK, too!
Open to Teens ages 11-18 + 5th graders.
Monthly, from 3:00-4:00pm
Adult Programs:
Bark: Identifying Trees of the Northeast
Monday, May 3rd at 7pm
Join Naturalist Michael Wojtech on a virtual walk to look at the trees around us. Michael is the author of “Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast.” He will share his innovative techniques for identifying trees by their bark, and share other facts and characteristics about our arboreal neighbors! During this program, you will become better informed about the types of trees in our local forests and landscapes. Registration is required. Please be sure to include your email address to receive both a confirmation and Zoom link to the program. So find your virtual walking shoes and come along!
Meditation with Vivek and Lipi
Wednesdays at 6:30pm
Good news for our Wednesday Night Meditation folks! Vivek and Lipi will be hosting Meditation live using Zoom every Wednesday night at 6:30pm! Join us for relaxation and mindfulness! You must register for each session separately using the online calendar above. The Zoom link will be included in your registration confirmation.
Self Care Series: Virtual Qi Gong (“chi” gong)
Every Tuesday at 10am
Join us weekly on Tuesday mornings for some relaxing and low-key Qi Gong. Qi Gong is a centuries-old system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation used for the purposes of health, spirituality, and martial-arts training. With roots in Chinese medicine, philosophy, and martial arts, Qi Gong is traditionally viewed by the Chinese and throughout Asia as a practice to cultivate and balance qi (pronounced approximately as “chi”), translated as “life energy”. The best part about Qi Gong, anyone can do it! Please register for each session you will be attending using our online calendar.
Research & Learning:
Exploring Genealogy & Family History
