Wimberley library still open virtually

The Wimberley Village Library may be closed temporarily because of Covid-19, but it’s actually open for business on a “virtual basis.”

“That means that we have a large number of resources that can be accessed through the internet by connecting with the library at its website and through its Facebook page,” said Carolyn Manning, library director.

The library no longer provides curbside service, but that doesn’t mean a world of information is not available to patrons and nonpatrons alike, she said.

On the library Facebook page, for example, staff members are remotely providing updates and links to books and other media.

On Facebook, the library is celebrating National Poetry Month by posting daily poems by nationally renowned writers. It’s offering virtual tours of places of interest, such as Lisbon, and culturally iconic locations and spaces. Links also provide access to BookBub and Electric Lit, where literature is discussed.

An online toddler dance class is also available through the library’s Facebook page, and story time is another popular link. Right now, the featured storytime book is “Strega Nona.”

The library is exploring the possibility of providing Zoom programs, but those are not yet available.

“Patrons with a library card should be sure to go to the catalog page of our website,” Manning said. “There, they will find a world of resources they can access free of charge.”

Among the opportunities to be found there are:

• World Book online, the encyclopedia that’s not multi-media

• Librivox, which provides public domain recordings of books that are in the public domain

• The SciTech Collection, full-text titles on scientific topics from journals, magazines and books

• Universal Classes, featuring more than 500 courses: everything from self-help to DIY to resources for personal development and teacher use

• And digital magazines, the full version of each, including titles such as “Good Houseskeeping,” “Golf Digest,” “Food,” “Highlights,” “Men’s Journal,” “National Geographic,” “Popular Mechanics,” “Popular Science,” “Rolling Stone,” and “Woman’s Day,” among dozens of others

• Learning Express, which provides courses on self-improvement and job and career training

“We know people are looking for ways to keep from being bored during these trying times, and we may have just what they’re looking for on our Facebook page and our website catalog page to keep them from going stir crazy,” Manning said.

Check out the website at www.wimberleylibrary.org.