AT THE LIBRARY: New walking program, The Bright Spot book group, better Wi-Fi access

Published 10:40 am Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Clark County Public Library Circulation Manager Laura Carpenter came up with a great new program to help quarantinees stay healthy during the pandemic: The Walk Winchester Program.

The Clark County Public Library Walk Winchester program runs through Oct. 30. It encourages participants to walk for their health and, at the same time, raises awareness of the Library’s free audio downloads.

The Walk Winchester program is easy:

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1. Decide when, where and how far your daily walks will be.

2. Download an audiobook from our free digital library. (If you do not have a title in mind you might want to try “What She Left Behind” by Ellen Marie Wiseman, it is the Bright Spot Book Group selection for the Sept. 15 meeting and it is available on Hoopla.)

3. Get walking.

You proceed at your own pace. It does not matter if you routinely walk or are just starting out. 

Whether your daily goal is to make it around the block, walk a mile or 10,000 steps, the goal is to get moving and have fun along the way.

People who sign up for Walk Winchester and participate in a library book group or complete at least eight Walk Winchester activities, like the downtown scavenger hunt or walking in a local park, can return their activity sheet to the Clark County Public Library by Oct. 31 and have a chance to win a gift card.

Activity sheets are available on the Facebook Walk Winchester Group page and from the library during curbside service times (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday or 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday). Please call and let us know you want an activity page. It can be enclosed in your materials request.

If you do not have a Clark County Public Library card, call the reference desk to acquire one. It is the hottest ticket in town.

From 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, The Bright Spot Book Club will be discussing “What She Left Behind” by Ellen Marie Wiseman using Zoom meeting software. 

In this stunning novel, the acclaimed author of “The Plum Tree” merges the past and present into a haunting story about the nature of love and loyalty — and the lengths we will go to protect those who need us most.

The title is available in ebook & audiobook format via Hoopla, which can be accessed using the “Online Library” tab on the library’s home page, www.clarkbooks.org

By going to the library’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/clarkbooks, opening the Events link and clicking on The Bright Spot, you can access links to “What She Left Behind” and the Evanced online registration page that will allow you to sign up for the discussion.

Hoopla is simple to use, but if you have difficulties or questions about attending a Zoom meeting, call the library reference desk at 744-5661, ext. 2, or send a chat message from the chat box on the library’s home page.

Reference librarian Jeff Gurnee worked with the CCPL’s information technology staff to broaden and enhance the WiFi signal in the library’s parking lot. 

Since patrons can’t come in to use WiFi, and many people were already parking close to the library to use the service, he made it possible to access the signal from anywhere in the parking lot, better and faster.  

If you looking for a good signal for your digital devices, come to the library parking lot. You don’t need a pass code to connect. Just connect to Library Wi-Fi.

Have a safe and healthy week and take care of yourself. Zoom meetings are virtual. COVID-19 is real.

John Maruskin is director of adult services at the Clark County Public Library. He can be reached at john.clarkbooks@gmail.com.