We have received new information, and with Hart County Schools closing, the Hart County Library will be closing for the time being, most likely until the end of the month. As noted before, this may change, but we’re trying to do our part to keep the community healthy.

From the Illinois Library Association: “While normally public libraries may invite children to come to the library in the event of an emergency school closing, this is not the best course of action when trying to curb a contagious disease. Because containment works best when all organizations participate, many libraries and other cultural organizations are deciding to close while the schools are closed.”

As previously mentioned, we are cancelling all programming (including storytimes) and meetings until the end of March -- and all fines/late fees incurred during this situation will be waived. We will make further announcements as the situation develops.

Please remember that we do have online resources – Recorded Books and eRead Kids – available at all times with your library card. Our Wi-Fi signal (available outside the building even when we’re closed) will continue to operate 24/7.

Please stay calm, take all necessary precautions, and take care of yourselves and your loved ones. We’ll post updates as additional information becomes available.

NOTE: This month's meeting of the Hart County Library Board of Trustees, normally scheduled for March 10th, the second Tuesday of the month, has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 11th. The meeting will begin at the regular time of 10:30 AM in the small meeting room. If you have any questions, please call the library at (706) 376-4655.

REMINDER: The AARP Tax-Aide Program continues this Monday. Volunteers will be set up to help you with your tax returns each Monday from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM at the Adult Learning Center (next door to the Library), continuing through April 13th.

There are no appointments -- strictly first come/first served. Thanks very much to these stalwart volunteers for the help they give to the community.

All you need is your public library card to access eRead Kids, which provides free access to nearly 15,000 digital books to encourage early literacy.

ATLANTA...Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) is proud to launch eRead Kids, a new digital library available through all 407 public libraries in the state. The collection of almost 15,000 electronic and audio books is for children from pre-k through fourth grade.

“Kids will build confidence and reading skills - and have fun - through eRead Kids,” said State Librarian Julie Walker. “eRead Kids will empower libraries to support young readers by offering a format convenient for traveling and entertaining kids, while growing their reading skills.”

The collection is a mix of fiction and non-fiction ebook and audio book titles that can be downloaded onto computers, tablets and smartphones.

All Georgia families now can freely check out electronic books for their devices, encouraging the early reading that is so important to educational success.

GPLS has worked with children’s librarians across the state to select titles and identify the most advantageous offerings and pricing. eRead Kids is made possible by funding proposed by Gov. Brian Kemp and approved by the Georgia General Assembly.

“At GPLS, we strive to create programs that can be shared by all of our libraries, urban and rural, large and small. We can create economies of scale by leveraging our buying power for materials and services for statewide use,” said Walker.

REMINDER: Hart County Library Toddler Story Time (For ages 2 – 5); Every Tuesday at 10:30 AM
Learning the alphabet one letter at a time through Letter Knowledge, Narrative Skills, Phonological Awareness, Print Motivation, Print Awareness, and vocabulary. Please join us for singing, rhyming, and making a craft!
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