May 30, 2012 By Lynn E. Tharan 3 min read

Wondering about how to beat the heat and humidity? Come to the library! Enjoy our air-conditioned comfort while searching for a book. Then take the book home, pour a glass of iced tea and sit on the porch for a relaxing read. Sounds like a mini-vacation to me.

We are rapidly approaching our transition to a new circulation system, and we anticipate some minor glitches and inconveniences, but knowing how wonderful our patrons are, we know you’ll bear with us as we go through this.

We will need to close the library for two days so the staff can attend the training for use of the new system. We will be closed all day June 7 and 8. We will forgive any fines on books, magazines or other materials due those days.

Once we switch over to the new system, one major change that will impact our patrons will be the length of time you may keep a book out. We’ll be reducing the loan period from four weeks to two weeks, but you will be able to renew your books twice instead of once, so it works out that you conceivably keep a book out for six weeks instead of eight.

We’re making the change for a number of reasons, but one is for consistency within the library district. City residents whose library card has the blue Access Pennsylvania sticker on the back can use their card in any participating library in the state or tri-county-area – Fayette, Greene and Washington counties. These other libraries are all using a two-week loan period, and we will follow suit.

With a four-week loan period and one renewal available, you might see a book loaned out for two months! That works out to one-sixth of the year the book is in your hands and unavailable to anyone else. It may be an inconvenience at first, but it will work out.

On the positive side, you will be able to access your borrowing account from your home computer to see what books you have checked out and when they are due. I’m told you can even request that we hold a book for you, or renew your books online. There will be many new features that you will enjoy.

We will provide each of you with a quick start guide to take with you so you can easily maneuver the online features. Like anything new, the first few weeks may be a bit trying, but we’ll all catch on before long. Thank you for your patience.

Come see us in the library, check out a good book and learn as we learn.

“Reading aloud with children is known to be the single most important activity for building the knowledge and skills they will eventually require for learning to read.” – Marilyn Jager Adams

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Lynne E. Tharan is Uniontown Library director. She can be reached at the library, 24 Jefferson St., Uniontown, telephone 724-437-1165.