Bethlehem Library Notes for Wednesday, October 28, 2020
With the popularity of television shows like “Who Do You Think You Are,” the ease of sharing information over the internet, and the reconnecting of distant relatives using social media, it’s no wonder more Americans than ever before are interested in discovering their roots.
On our website, you’ll find a number of useful tools to help you get started climbing your family tree. Ancestry.com, one of the biggest names in do-it-yourself genealogy, is temporarily available to use offsite with your library card. HeritageQuest gives you access to United States census data and over 1 million genealogy and local history articles.
On our Local History webpage you’ll find even more resources, including our Spotlight newspaper archive and the New York Heritage digital collections. Find all of these resources linked from our “Research” page on our website (www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org).
We are also scheduling one-on-one genealogy appointments over Zoom to help with your questions and introduce you to the family-history resources available on the library’s website. To make an appointment, fill out the online form at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/local-history/genealogy. Appointments last approximately one hour.
Book Bundles
Subscription boxes are big these days — makeup, meals, art supplies — you name it. There’s a sense of mystery and surprise when you unbox the contents. Will there be something there that you wouldn’t normally pick out for yourself but end up loving?
Our Book Bundles are like that, but for readers. Oh, and there’s no fee. The only plastic you’ll need is your library card.
Sign up to receive a Book Bundle — selections hand-picked for you by one of our librarians based on the reading preferences you share through the form at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/book-bundle-request. We use that information to narrow down 10 curated picks in your favorites genres and formats — maybe with a surprise or two thrown in!
Book Bundles are available for adults, teens, grade-schoolers and “read-to-me” children up to age 6. You will be contacted by e-mail or phone when the items are ready for pickup. Questions? E-mail .
Library hours
The library is open from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday through Thursday; from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday; and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Masks are required, and we are limiting the number of people inside the library at once so there might be a short wait before entering at busier times. Because others might be waiting, we are asking everyone to limit their time inside to simply selecting and checking out materials.
Curbside pickup is currently available from 1 to 7 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and from 1 to 6 p.m. on Friday.
Visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/coronavirus-information for the latest library service updates.
Due dates
The moratorium on late fees has been extended through Dec. 31, 2020. In the coming weeks, please check your account for any overdue materials that you might have forgotten about and bring them in. Because of the mandatory four-day quarantine, items returned will not show up on your account right away. Don’t worry, we will be taking that lag time into account once fines have been reinstated.