Williamsburg Public Libraries - Meekins and Haydenville

While We're Closed

Meekins is OPEN VIRTUALLY

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU

Help and Questions - If you are having trouble using your card or need help with downloading or signing up for Acorn TV or anything please call 413-268-7472. Leave a message and we will get back to you. We have a special reference email set up for any questions. Email us at meekinsreference@cwmars.org

FAQs for Meekins during the closure

HOLDS
Curbside Service at Meekins:

Pick up times Tuesday 12-2, Wednesday 4- 6, Thursday 3-5 and Saturday 12-2. Stay posted as times may change.

Here is what you need to know:

Please place your holds ONLINE through the CWMARS catalog.
If you are having difficulty, email your requests to meekinsbooks@cwmars.org .
If you do not have internet access, leave a message at 413-268-7472. Sorry - no face to face service at the library. There is a limit of 10 requests per library card. We will email (or call if you do not have email) when your items are available
As of July 27, 2020, ILL requests may be made from ALL CWMARS libraries.
Please wear a mask when picking up your items and observe 6 foot social distancing. Follow the directions when you arrive for pick up
Be patient as we are learning as we go.

E-Resources - We have so much to offer just by clicking on our E-Resources page and discover a world of digital info and entertainment. To name a few:

Acorn TV - world-class mysteries, dramas, and comedies from Britain and beyond
Great Courses - the leading global media brand for lifelong learning and personal enrichment
Indieflix - pop culture favorites, box office hits, award-winning feature films, documentaries, and shorts.
Pongalo - Spanish language entertainment
Qello Concerets and Music - World's largest collection of concert films and music documentaries
From the rbdigital page follow the menu bars on the left side of the page to discover more options.

Returns - Items may be returned to the bookdrop for your convenience.

We miss you and can't wait until we can reopen! We would love to hear from any of you and would especially be interested in any writings, poems, journaling you might be doing to track this extraordinary time in the world. Please contact us by phone or email if you have anything. We will create an archival record of this time.

Family Fun at Home - a Summer Learning Adventure

WGBH and New England Public Media have partnered with the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care to create Family Fun at Home/Diversión en familia y en casa, a 12-week summer learning adventure for families with children ages 0-8.

Families who want to participate can visit the Family Fun at Home website! Each week, a new collection of activities in English and Spanish will be posted for families to do at home. Each collection features a variety of fun, hands-on activities, online games, and videos, all featuring favorite characters from PBS KIDS. Families who complete at least four activities in a given week are eligible to enter a weekly raffle for a chance to win a $25 gift card. More than 1,000 gift cards will be distributed to Massachusetts families this summer!

For families with infants and toddlers, Family Fun at Home has a collection of parenting videos, a selection of developmentally appropriate activities, and access to a free text messaging program from The Basics.

Encourage parents and caregivers to connect with their local Coordinated Family and Community Engagement program to learn more about Family Fun at Home and other helpful resources.

Visit Family Fun at Home

Free Comics For All Ages

BiblioBoard is offering free simultaneous use access to a few collections of comics for all ages until August 31, 2020.

See what’s available here: https://mls-comics.biblioboard.com/
Note that access will only work if your IP address is located within Massachusetts

No Library Card, no problem!
Overdrive Instant Digital Card : a free solution for folks with mobile devices who do not currently have a library card and would like to download E-Audio books and/or E-Books. Select CWMARS patron as your home library.

Kids - Explore Your Family History
FREE!!!
Genealogy for the Next Generation -
It includes: information on how to interview relatives, scavenger-hunt and word-search games, craft activities like making a journal or a family keepsake, and information to help kids learn family-history terms and create a family chart or tree.

Genealogy Research

You can access many great tools for conducting family history research from your home.

Use your Boston Public Library ecard to access Ancestry Library edition at home or your Forbes Library card to access Heritage Quest from home.

There are also many wonderful and free tutorials and webinars available to help you get started or work on advanced subjects:

American Ancestors by the New England Historical Genealogical Society
Ancestry Academy by Ancestry.com
Legacy Family Tree webinars (Some are free, but some require a subscription.)

Free Digital Resources from Massachusetts Libraries

Free Resources from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners including:

FILMS

Film Treasures, Streaming Courtesy of the Library of Congress

Here is a

direct link for FREE children's audio books with read along capability. TumbleBooks has made these and other resources free during this unprecedented time. Please enjoy!

For math fun:
https://www.tumblemath.com/autologin.aspx?U=tumble2020&P=A3b5c
For teens:
https://www.teenbookcloud.com/autologin.aspx?U=tumble2020&P=A3b5c6

Daily webcasts for kids of all ages
From the Massachusetts Library System

Draw Everyday with JJK
Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems
Authors Everywhere

Coronavirus
Reputable links for factual information: