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For the last four months, Adra Fisher, Tim Janes and I have been meeting with Zoom software to discuss a short story. We take turns picking a story. Sometimes they are available online, and if not, one of us provides a hard copy. I copy the text and mail them out.

The meetings are wonderful.

Short stories are just the right length for pandemic attention spans.

We can read them a number of times, get into the nuances of the writers’ styles and look up allusions or vocabulary we don’t know.

Three is a perfect number for an online book group. We don’t interrupt each other and we see each other. It’s worked out so well, I hope more library patrons will want to try it.

If you and a couple of friends who have Zoom compatible devices (computers, laptops, tablets or smart phones with camera and microphone) want to discuss a short story, decide on a story you like and a day and time you’d like to meet. Then contact me at john.clarkbooks@gmail.com.

Once we have the story, date and time decided, I’ll set up the Zoom meet and send invitations to everyone. On the date of the meeting, we’ll get together and discuss the story. I’ll also provide some background on the author, a list of suggested readings and other interesting background material.

You can have a favorite beverage, a snack and pleasant conversation with friends about a story and everything the story suggests. Sometimes off-topic conversation is better than the story.

If you have any questions, email me.

The holiday season has arrived, and the library is always a valuable source for decorating and cooking suggestions, books, DVDs and music for relaxation and entertainment. You can still access all those holiday materials this year.

Librarians Jennifer Mattern and Laura Carpenter assembled bundles of cooking and decorating bookazines, just like the ones that used to be featured in the New Books section of the Library. If you’d like to check out one or a couple of those bundles, just call in to the library at 859-744-5661 and request a curbside pickup.

Library staff is also ready and able to collect specific holiday titles for you. If you don’t have specific titles in mind but know what kind of information or entertainment you like, call the library and we’ll browse the shelves to put together materials to suit you.

That will give us time to chat about the holidays and ways we’ll celebrate this year.

Give us a call. We’ll be glad to help you with your holiday preparations.

Many patrons need something printed from an email. The library is glad to do this. The service and print is free. In the past, a caller was directed to a staff email.

There have been so many requests, a dedicated print email address has been set up so requests can be handled quicker. All email print requests should now be sent to print40391@gmail.com. Please include your phone number if you’d like to be called when the printing is done.

Many print, fax and reference questions come in every day, so it may take a little time to complete your work. You will be notified as soon as it is done.

Thanks for using the library. If you have any questions about services or materials, please let us know. At this time, all library cards are cleared of fines and valid until Jan. 1, 2021. On Jan. 1, they will all be renewed. If your card is not working, it’s because of a glitch in the system. Call the library and we will fix the problem.

Take care of yourself and your loved ones. We miss you and we want to see you all at the library when this mess is behind us.

Wear you mask, social distance and wash those pinkies.

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