News & Information

Celebrate National Library Week, April 4-10

(Newton, NJ) – The Sussex County Library System (SCLS) invites all community members to join them in celebrating National Library Week, April 4-10. The theme for this year’s celebration is Welcome To Your Library, and highlights how the SCLS has been coping with the pandemic by opening its doors to the public as early and safely as possible, while also continuing to expand online offerings to support the community at home.

All six SCLS library locations are open Monday through Saturday and one evening a week for scheduled visits. The buildings open at the top of the hour, then clear the public at the 45-minute mark to sanitize commonly touched surfaces before reopening. All borrowed materials are quarantined for a minimum of three days before being placed back into circulation. “We’ve followed every CDC protocol to minimize risk to public and staff,” states Library Director Will Porter, “and look forward to expanding the length of visits and building capacity based on guidance from the state. Of course, everyone will still be wearing masks until those mandates change, but we can’t wait to see you, or at least your eyes. Welcome to your library.”

In the year of limited access, the SCLS has also greatly expanded eResources and online programming. Highlights include:

BrainFuse – live, online tutoring available daily from 2:00-11:00 p.m. in math, science, reading and writing and social studies.

Hoopla – eBooks including comics and graphic novels, eAudiobooks, music, television and movies all available for instant download with no wait times.

PressReader – online, digital access to over 7,000 newspapers and magazines; digitally subscribe and automatically receive the latest editions of your favorites at no cost.

Ancestry.com Library Edition - previously accessible only while physically in the library, at-home access has been available all year.

Programs, programs, programs – from a variety of children’s storytimes and STEM programs, to virtual book clubs, craft-along programs and lessons in magic, the breadth and number of online programs is constantly expanding. With the weather improving there will also be a focus on outdoor programs like story walks, outdoor yoga and read-to-a-dog.

Sussexcountylibrary.org is the gateway to the vast variety of online resources, and help is always just a phone call away. For assistance in everything from booking an appointment to visit in person, to finding product reviews on ConsumerReports.org staff is standing by. Call the reference desk at Main Library, 973 948-3660 ext. 3418, or contact your local branch: Dennis 973 383-4810; Dorothy Henry, 973 827-8095; E. Louise Childs, 973 770-1000; Franklin, 973 827-6555; or Sussex-Wantage, 973 875-3940.

Graphic: ALA National Library Week Banner