Hobart Public Library was recently awarded a CARES Act Grant to Respond to COVID-19.

The Oklahoma Department of Libraries (ODL) has awarded a $1,000 PPE grant to Hobart Public Library to help the library purchase personal protective equipment and supplies to keep staff and visitor’s safer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hobart Public Library is one of 64 institutions to receive a grant from ODL courtesy of the federal CARES Act and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). A total of $60,000 was distributed by ODL to address the coronavirus concerns of public libraries, tribal libraries, tribal cultural centers, museums, and historic sites in the state.

The funding will be used to provide PPE and disinfecting supplies for the library/customers.

It looks like we may be dealing with the virus for some time, so it’s very important that we follow CDC guidelines as we open up services to the public. This grant will provide supplies we need to help reduce the risk of exposure for our employees and customers.

Our mission is to serve our community, and we want to continue that mission in the safest way we can.

The library is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM for in and out services. Patrons can request books by calling ahead or by coming in to the lobby. Curbside is available. The book stacks are closed to the public and the library staff only will pull books for people. The library offers fax services, copy services, and printing services. We ask that patrons maintain social distancing while in the library.

In developing the grant, ODL Director Melody Kellogg said institutions were surveyed about any hurdles they might face in returning to service during the pandemic.

The top concerns of libraries, museums, and other cultural institutions were a shortage of cleaning supplies and PPE equipment, fear on the part of staff and the public, and the challenge of enforcing social distancing and other best-health practices in their facilities.

It is Hobart Public Library’s mission is to make available to people of all ages of Kiowa County, and surrounding areas, library materials and services to aid in their pursuit of entertainment, education and information.

The Oklahoma Department of Libraries is the official state library of Oklahoma. The agency serves the information and records management needs of state government, assists with public library development, coordinates library and information technology projects for the state, and serves the general public through its specialized collections.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services works to advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grant-making, research, and policy development.

Posted in Library

Would you like 4 FREE tickets to the OKC ZOO? When you check out the new book Juniper’s Butterfly Garden: A Small Start for a Better World written by Autumn Heigle and illustrated by Nadia Ronquillo, you receive a voucher good for up to 4 FREE general admissions into the Zoo. Stop by your library today to check out the book! Visit https://www.okczoo.org/READFORADVENTURE for more details and a list of participating libraries.

Posted in Library

The library is now open. Safety measures are still being taken. Please read the following guidelines:

  • Face coverings are still required while in the library.
  • Patrons must sanitize their hands before entering the book stacks.
  • The Library computers are still unavailable at this time.

Please contact us at 580-726-2535 if you have any questions. Thank you.

Posted in Library