August Update - COVID-19 procedures

Effective August 1st, please note the following temporary changes to our usual library policies and procedures.

Visiting the library:

  • Face coverings are required for ages 5 and up.
  • Library capacity is limited to 25 patrons at a time.
  • Please check in at the front desk.
  • Distanced seating is available and face coverings are required if you are seated – no exceptions.
  • Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Children under 7 must remain with a caregiver at all times.

Computer use:

  • Face masks are required — no exceptions— to use a computer
  • Daily time limit is 2 hours
  • Limit one person per computer
  • Printing is available at $0.15 cents per page
  • Cash or check only; no change will be given.

General conduct:

  • Staff will be wearing masks to protect you and we ask that you wear a mask to help protect patrons and staff.
  • Patrons must maintain social distancing (six feet) between staff and other patrons (non-family) at all times.
  • Patrons exhibiting signs of illness or who do not feel well are not allowed in the library.
  • Please be considerate of others when visiting the library.
  • Photocopiers and faxing are available.

Curbside pickup:

  • Call-ahead curbside pickup is available if you do not feel comfortable coming into the library.
  • Call 920-748-6160 and staff will set your items outside.

IMAGINE YOUR STORY - SUMMER 2020

Ripon Public Library is pleased to announce its 2020 summer library program, "IMAGINE YOUR STORY!" In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, a combination of online and in-person options for registration, prizes, and programming are available. Simply download Beanstack to your device, set up a profile for yourself or your whole family, and start tracking reading activity to automatically become eligible for prizes! The Beanstack app is available for your smartphone on Google Play and the iTunes App Store. You can also use any web browser to participate - just visit our Beanstack website. If you prefer the old-fashioned way, a paper reading log is available at the library.

In recognition and support of local businesses, four participants will win $100 worth of Chamber Dollars! In addition, more than 70 prizes - including toys for kids & teens, electronics, kitchen gadgets, outdoor gear, crafts & more - are up for grabs. Track your reading to earn virtual badges and tickets which you can then enter in the prize drawings of your choice. Sprinkle a few around or go all-in on something you really, REALLY want to win. A complete list of prizes can be viewed via the Beanstack app or website.

YOUTH SERVICES BIBLIO CARE FOR THE WORLD

In the wake of George Floyd's killing, the library is seeing a remarkable uptick in requests for books about race and racism in its many forms. This quest to make sense of the incomprehensible and how it relates to our own existence is necessary; books are a perfect medium for such work. “Books are anchors during life’s biggest storms; they are escape hatches when the world is too much to take; they are springboards to new ideas and understandings. Books are warm blankets and can save readers from the feelings of loneliness and heartache.” –Katy Tessman

Still, how do we talk to children about a world seemingly gone crazy?! Through books! Books are wisdom-filled gems, embracing the complexities and ambiguities of our world in ways which a child can then engage with, relate to, and discuss. Read more to access links to organizations and books dedicated to exploring race and diversity as mainstream rather than framing it as something “other” or “extra” that we do.

SYNC - free audiobooks all summer long

SYNC is a free summer audiobook program for teens. Returning April 30, 2020, SYNC will give away two complete audiobooks  a week - pairs of high interest titles, based on weekly themes. Sign up for email or text alerts and be first to know when new titles are available to download at www.audiobooksync.com.

Register for SYNC at www.audiobooksync.com and then download the free app, Sora (by Overdrive) to access the free audiobooks each week.

Preview the audiobooks by listening to audioclips provided by SoundCloud:

Check out our YouTube channel!

This summer, library events have gone virtual. Library staff have been busy creating content for our YouTube channel, where you can find virtual StoryTime, craft and cooking videos, book talks and more. Just click the image at left or this link and start watching. Be sure to subscribe and click the notification bell to be the first to know when we post new videos!

Due to publisher restrictions, our virtual StoryTime videos are unlisted - but you can view them all here. You'll need to log in with your library card number and PIN.

And, if you're enrolled in our Beanstack-powered Summer Reading Program, many of our videos include SECRET CODEWORDS that you can use to unlock additional badges and tickets for our prize drawings!