While the pandemic continues to make long-term planning difficult, the new year will bring new events and activities to the Westbrook Library.

Libraries aren’t just a place people go to check out books anymore. Services include hosting meetings, sharing the latest technology, or meeting business needs. Though COVID-19 had forced many of these services to move to virtual events, the library is hoping to offer more in-person offerings over the next year,

Library Director Tim Kellogg said right now, the library is only announcing some its planned meetings over the next year. “We can’t do a big six-month reveal. We’re kind of working on a month to month basis here,” said Kellogg.

Kellogg encouraged patrons to keep track of library offerings by signing up for the library’s email list or to by routinely checking the website westbrooklibrary.lioninc.org and Facebook page WestbrookPublicLibrary.

In the absence of in-person events, the library does still offer plenty of remote or electronic offerings.

“On the opportunity side of things, we’ve been able to work with other libraries to do collaborative virtual events, offer curbside pickup of library materials, and expand our digital offerings for library users to access content from home,” Kellogg wrote in an email. “The pandemic continues to produce higher usage of our online eBooks and audiobooks.”

In Person

While electronic services are great, especially for those uneasy with being in group settings indoors, Kellogg said that the library is excited to again offer in-person activities as the year goes on. The Westbrook Library is following the town mask mandate for municipal buildings and encourages “COVID best practices in addition to masks, such as physical distancing, hand washing, and staying home if you don’t feel well.”

Below is a list of the current library in-person offerings:

The library will hold a teen advisory board meeting for 8th- to 12th-graders every first Thursday of the month.

“It’s a group of students who work with our public service librarian and work to come up with different group activities for kids in their age group,” explained Kellogg. “It makes sense because those kids already have a vested interest in what they’re planning; they’re planning events they want to go to. This is a common practice you’re seeing more and more at public libraries even if they call them something different.”

Story Time with Homeschoolers, a program for children aged 4 to 8, is scheduled for the third Wednesday of the month at 11 a.m. Kellogg said that this activity will move to Fridays and Saturdays in February and people should call the library or check the website to check on exact dates.

On the third Wednesday of every month at 11 a.m. there is also Research Skills for Pre-Teens and Teens for patrons aged 10 to 18.

“This teaches library research skills to those who want to learn,” Kellogg said.

The Westbrook Book Club for Adults runs on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 10 am. Interested parties should call the library for the next book. The library also runs a geology program for adults on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.

These monthly programs are in addition to more regular services the library has started. “We have regular Take and Make activities that patrons can register for on the library website. We are also actively planning special events for all ages all the time,” Kellogg said.

For more information, visit westbrooklibrary.lioninc.org or call 860-399-6422.