"The world of books is the most remarkable creation of man. Nothing else that he builds ever lasts. Monuments fall, nations perish, civilizations grow old and die out, and after an era new races build others. But in the world of books are volumes that have seen this happen again and again and yet live on, still young, still as fresh as the day they were written, still telling men's hearts of the hearts of men centuries dead." 
~ Clarence Day

On June 24, the Alanson Area Public Library
re-opened its building to the public,
 with the following new guidelines in place for Library use:

•  A face mask (or other face covering) is required for entry. We can provide a mask if you don’t have one. If you’re medically not able to wear one, you’re still welcome, just let us know, then please be careful to observe 6’ distancing and other safeguards. We will also be happy to provide you with curbside services. Children under age 5 are not required to wear a mask.
• If you're not feeling well - with fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, etc. -  please ask us to provide you with curbside services, and wait until you're feeling better before entering the Building.
• Gloves (which we will provide) must be used while browsing or using computers. They are not necessary if you are just picking up holds at the Circulation Desk.
• Computer Use—Mask and gloves are required, with maximum access of 1 hour per day, since due to distancing requirements we will only be able to have 4 computer stations open.
• Please maintain 6-foot distancing between yourself and other patrons or staff members.
• Only 1 person will be allowed at a time per aisle in the stacks, please.
• Children must be accompanied by an adult, and kept under direct supervision at all times.
• Only 8 check-outs will be allowed per card, until Inter-Library Loans are fully re-started.
  Inter-Library Loans are currently available from our consortium libraries, and MeL borrowing is scheduled to re-start on August 10.
• Please continue to return materials in the lobby book-drop, to allow for quarantining.

We appreciate you complying with these new guidelines.
The Alanson Area Public Library Board and Staff

  We are not accepting used book (or other) donations any longer, since
the Friends of the Library are not holding their Used Book Sale this year.
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Grants Awarded to AAPL

To help it through these financially uncertain times caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Alanson Area Public Library was recently awarded two grants,  both made possible through federal CARES Act legislation.

The Michigan Humanities H.O.P.E. (Humanities Organizations Pandemic Emergency) grant in the amount of $5000, which was used to help in retaining the Library’s full staff, as well as offering its pre-pandemic operating hours. This project is funded in part by Michigan Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and has been a lifeline for non-profit organizations throughout the state that lost funding during the pandemic closures.

    The Library of Michigan CARES Act Grant in the amount of $500, to be used for the purchase of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) - such as face masks, gloves, sneeze guards, etc. - to help mitigate the added, unexpected expenses libraries are experiencing in providing these safeguards for their staff and patrons, in compliance with governmental operating reguirements during the pandemic. This project was made possible in part by Michigan's Institute of Museum and Library Services.

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