Head on over to the Kid’s Place website where you’ll find book and homework resources, activities, favorite author website links, online storytimes and so much more! Click here to start your adventure.
The Holmes County District Public Library System is closely monitoring information about the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The health and safety of our customers and staff is a top priority. Effective Monday, March 16th, the Central Library in Millersburg and the East Branch in Walnut Creek will be CLOSED until further notice. All Bookmobile stops have been suspended at this time. All library programming has been cancelled. Material due dates will be extended until Monday, May 4th. Library book drops around the county are now available for patrons to drop off materials.
We’re working with local health officials and following directions from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). Right now, we are taking additional steps beyond regular practices and cleaning and sanitizing all libraries as much as possible. We’re also making hand gel sanitizers available for library users.
Everyone has a role to play in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and staying healthy. Please stay home and do not visit the library if you are exhibiting signs of the flu or if you are not feeling well. We invite you to explore everything we have to offer on our website. You can download eBooks and audiobooks on Overdrive (Libby). If you have questions, please call the library at 330-674-5972.
To stay healthy, the CDC and other health agencies recommend:
- Washing your hands frequently. Wash your hands for 20 seconds or more with soapy water. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home and away from others if you are sick.
- Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces frequently.
- Cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
Trusted Information Sources
Sharing accurate information from trusted sources is critical to reduce misinformation. Find reliable and current information about the outbreak from local and national agencies below.
Ohio Department of Health
The Ohio Department of Health maintains a website with the up-to-date information on the outbreak, current risk to the public, and links to helpful resources. https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/Novel-Coronavirus
ODH has also set up a call center to address questions regarding COVID-19. It is open seven days a week from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. and can be reached at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
Centers for Disease Control
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has set up a website with a range of information about the current risk to the public, symptoms to watch for, prevention, testing, and advice for schools, communities and businesses.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
The situation with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is evolving daily. We will keep you informed of any changes to our scheduled events. For the latest information, please check our website at www.holmeslibrary.org or visit our Facebook page.
A series is two or more books linked by character(s), settings, or other common traits. If you are looking for the next book in a series, click on this link for the KDL What’s Next Book in a Series Database to help you search series fiction.
Thanks to a partnership with Driving-Tests.org, the Holmes County Library is offering free online test prep for students preparing for their Ohio driving tests! Go to the Library Departments tab, click on Reference, then choose Drivers Permit Practice Test from the left side of the page or click on Driving-Tests.org. You can choose from several different permit tests. This resource is also great for anyone looking to brush up on their knowledge of Ohio’s traffic laws or interested in getting their motorcycle license.
Lynda.com—a premier online learning resource offering more than 6,000 courses covering technical skills, creative techniques, business strategies, and more—is now available FREE with your library card.
The Holmes County District Public Library is pleased to offer its patrons access to lynda.com’s library of instructional videos. Normally, using lynda.com requires a paid subscription, but as a HCDPL cardholder you can access Lynda.com content from any computer with an internet connection simply by entering your 14-digit library card number and 4-digit PIN.
On Monday, August 21st, a 100 mile wide strip beginning at a beach in Oregon and stretching to the beaches in South Carolina will be host to a total solar eclipse. The last total eclipse to occur in the lower 48 States was February 26, 1979. In anticipation of this event, hotels, campgrounds and the like have been booked for nearly two years!
Below is a simulation of the upcoming total eclipse as it may appear in Hopkinsville, KY.
So, why are we getting a little excited over this celestial event? Holmes County residents (and much of Ohio) will have the opportunity to view a partial solar eclipse in our area. Approximately 83% of the sun will be covered by the moon here in Ohio. If it’s a sunny day, you should see the skies begin to darken for this 2 hour phenomenon.
Plans are in the works for a Solar Eclipse Viewing Party at the Central Library. There will be activities and we will have some solar viewing glasses to give away on that day. Visit the Solar Eclipse Party events page for more details!
For more information about the solar eclipse and how you can get a pair of solar viewing glasses, visit our Partial Solar Eclipse Page.
The solar viewing glasses were made possible by a grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
How to access your library account:
- From the home page of the website, click either of the “Catalog” links, as pictured below:
- Once on the Catalog page, click “Log In” or “My Account” at the top of the screen, as pictured below:
- You will then be prompted for your Borrower Barcode and your PIN. Your Borrower Barcode is your Library Card number and can be found on the back of your library card. It will start with 21365. Your PIN is the last 4 digits of the phone number that you used to sign up for the card with. If you have forgotten your PIN, you can click on the “Forgot my PIN” link as pictured below. This will require an active, accessible email address.
Once you are logged in, you will return to the Catalog home page and it should say “Welcome, Your Name” near the top of the screen at the center, with options to access your account, your lists, or log out.
If you are still having trouble accessing your account, please call the library at (330) 674-5972 for assistance.
Our Summer Reading programs are officially underway!
Kids Summer Library Challenge – June 6th – July 30th
For children ages 2 – 12. Read, complete activities to earn incentives, tickets for the grand prize drawing and possibly a free book! Stop by the East Branch or Central Library to pick up your packet beginning June 6th.
Teen Summer Challenge @ the Central Library – June 6 – July 16th
For teens grades 6 – 12. The former Teen Summer Reading Program has changed to the new Teen Summer Challenge! Planning to go camping, take a trip or just hang out this summer? Use library resources to make your plans and earn points for the Teen Summer Challenge prize drawings! Or take the Traditional Challenge and read 5 books over the summer. For more information or to register call the Central Library at 330-674-5972.
Summer Challenge for Adults – June 6 – July 30th
This summer we invite adults to participate in our Summer Challenge. Instead of a traditional reading program you will earn prize drawing tickets by reading or completing activities (or both!).
How does it work?
Pick up a summer challenge log at the help desk. Keep track of the books you read or the activities you do. Each book read will earn one entry ticket for our prize drawing. Three activities completed will equal one entry ticket for our prize drawing. You can read, just do the activities or do both for even more entries.
Fill out tickets, cut out the slips and put them in the prize drawing boxes at Central or East. Branch. You can earn a total of 30 prize drawing tickets (15 tickets for reading books and 15 tickets for completing activities). Once you’ve filled out and turned in all the tickets in this booklet you’ve finished the Summer Challenge!
What counts as an activity?
We encourage you to try something new this summer but activities can be anything from a road trip to taking your dog for a walk. Choose from activities listed in the summer challenge log.