As our community continues to deal with social distancing due to the concerns of Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Mathews Memorial Library is here for you. There are many ways to stay in touch or access library services remotely.
What You Need to Know:
- The library reopened to the public on June 16, 2020 with revised service hours and adhering to our Provisional Services Guidelines.
- Some adult, young adult and children's programming and group meetings are held in-person while some may be conducted virtually.
- The John Warren Cooke Conference Room is available for group meeings of up to 15 socially distanced individuals. Accomodations for hybrid (remote and in-person) meetings can be made.
- Any additional closing updates will be posted on the library's website (mathewslibrary.org).
- Library staff are available via email or phone to answer questions. Please dial (804)725-5747 or email for service.
- External book drops at the main front and lobby entrances are available to return items if you prefer not to come in.
- We are currently waiving all fines accrued during this time.
Services Available During the Coronavirus Pandemic:
- Wi-Fi access is available near the library building (parking on Main Street, library parking lot or library courtyard). The network is Mathews Library Open WiFi and a password is not required. This is an unsecured wireless network so it is recommened that you avoid conducting sensitive business while connected to this network. Please come in the library and ask for the password for our secure WiFi network at the circulation desk.
- Curbside book pickup is available! Please select titles using the library catalog (catalog.mathewslibrary.org) and call or email the library.
- The popup library at the main front entrance will be stocked with popular novels during the closure.
- Stay at Home and access library resources including e-books and other downloadables and research databases. See our Access From Home guide to discover the many things you can do without coming to the library!
- Preschool Story Time has been live-streamed each Wednesday at 10AM during the pandemic and recordings are available for viewing on YouTube. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel (youtube.com/channel/UCFmSB3SgnQPQFpP3cngUgoA). Beginning August 2021, Story Time will resume in-person at the library.
- Book Clubs may hold group discussions in-person or on the Zoom platform.
- Find links to important Coronavirus information through our Emergency Assistance Portal.
Access the Library from Home: Here are some things you can do without coming to the library.
- Checkout materials online!
We have thousands of popular e-books and e-audiobooks, music, magazines and much more available for immediate download to your computer, tablet, smartphone or other mobile device. Go to downloads.mathewslibrary.org to check out our digital collections.
Internet Archive has suspended waitlists for the 1.4 million (and growing) books in their lending library by creating a free National Emergency Library to serve the nation’s displaced learners available through at least June 30, 2020. These are titles commonly held by academic and public libraries and are great for high school students and learners of all ages!
- Do research at home!
We have several online reference resources available for library patrons. Go to reference.mathewslibrary.org for research tools.
- Find your ancestors!
Explore our genealogy databases at genealogy.mathewslibrary.org.
- Take an online class!
Choose from hundreds of free online classes at universalclass.mathewslibrary.org.
- Learn a new language!
Rocket Languages has online language-learning courses that are practical, powerful, and proven to work. Go to rocketlanguages.mathewslibrary.org
- Follow us on Facebook!
Go to facebook.com/MathewsMemorialLibrary
- Call or email the library! We are here to help.