What Your Library Offers

This week’s column is inspired by two someones. The first inspiration comes from someone asking me recently about the various services offered by our library. So, here is a brief run-down of what you can find at or through our library here in Downieville:

First of all, of course, are books, books, and more books. We have fiction books. We have non-fiction books. We have books for children, books for teens, books for young adults, and books for all adults. We have books in print and books on audio.

And, then, we have movies — available both as Blu-ray and DVD. You will find them both in the children’s and adult’s sections of the library.

We also offer wi-fi internet access — either through the library’s computer or through your own device. And, in a similar regard, we offer the ability to make copies (at 15¢ per page).

Some of what we offer comes directly from the Plumas County Library, of which we are a station. A few of these offerings include:

The ability to request books that we don’t have on our own shelves. If they are present at one of Plumas Library’s branches or stations, they will be sent to us for the requesting person. If Plumas Library doesn’t have the book in its collection, then it can be ordered through the Zip Book program, whereby the book is purchased, sent directly to the patron requesting it, and then returned to the library

Libby/Overdrive is a program through which patrons can download e-books or e-audiobooks onto their own laptop or portable device. It can also be used to access Plumas Library’s e-magazine collection.

NewsBank is a digital news service that includes hundreds of newspapers, including regional papers, as well as newspapers across the country. Additionally, there is a program called Access Global NewsBank.

Kanopy is an on-demand video streaming platform for award-winning movies and documentaries. Users can watch up to three films a month for free.

Research databases are available online in a large variety of topic areas, supported in part or whole by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Fiero Code is a state-of-the-art platform, designed to teach coding in an engaging, effective, and fun way. It is a comprehensive coding journey suitable for ages 8 to adult.

Brainfuse HelpNow provides one-to-one live tutoring for all grades (including college) and subjects, as well as expert help writing papers, various placement tests prep, and more.

There are three more things to be said (well, actually a lot more than three, but I’m limiting it to three for the sake of this column) about what our library offers to you:

Many — but not all — of the services mentioned here require a library card. The good news is that it is relatively easy — and virtually painless — to obtain one.

It must be emphasized that one thing the library offers to you is a place to come. To be.

And, finally, something we offer is a staff of people who love the library — and love to help you love the library — and who want to help you in whatever ways they are able.

The second inspiration for this column comes from someone who sent me a link to a KCRA article detailing that the current administration in Washington, DC, has terminated the remainder of a $15.7 million grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services to the California State Library, a grant that was awarded for the 2024-2025 fiscal year under the Library Services and Technology Act. According to the article, more than 21% of the funding has yet to be sent to California. The funding is used to assist local libraries in providing services such as literacy initiatives for children, reading programs for veterans, and work-readiness programs. Additionally, the grant also pays for 34 jobs at the California State Library, as well as many braille and audio books.

At this point, we are not sure how the termination of this grant — or the presidential executive order calling for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services — will affect us locally. We do know that at least one of our patrons makes regular use of the audiobooks program for the blind at the California State Library.

If you care about your local library — and all other of our libraries — it might be a good time to reach out to the people who represent you in Congress.