In accordance with the April 23rd extension of Governor Pritzker's Stay-at-Home order, we will be closed until further notice. All library programs and meeting room usage are canceled through May 31, 2020. Enjoy our virtual programming via Facebook and YouTube, as well as our digital resources through our website. Please keep up with us by checking our website and Facebook page for updates and remote access information.

PLEASE remember that, at this time, we are NOT accepting material donations of any kind. Do not leave boxes of books, papers, DVDs/CDs, etc, outside our doors. We are not able to bring these materials indoors, and left outside they are a hazard and will be damaged by weather. Please hold materials until an announcement is made after we reopen that we are once again accepting donations. We thank you for your patience.
New to BPL
Wi-Fi Extended throughout Parking Lot
BPL has installed an exterior Wi-Fi antenna to our building so that our Wi-Fi signal now extends throughout our parking lot and Gazebo area. Residents without home Wi-Fi may now use this resource for remote learning, downloading of eBooks, audiobooks, magazines and more. We have designated the back row of our parking lot as the official Drive-Up Wi-Fi location and is signed as such. Please remember to keep up social distancing rules. Remember that this is a parking lot that is still used by the Village of Bloomingdale and others, so observe all safety precautions as normal.
Virtual Appointments with Librarians and Rent-a-Tech via ZOOM
Zoom a Librarian
Need some help with our Library eBooks, streaming movies, databases, or other services? Set up a one-on-one Zoom appointment with us, and a librarian will teach you via video chat.

To make an appointment, call us at 630-924-2730 and leave a voicemail or email us at bdref@mybpl.org . 
Rent a Tech...from home!
Want 1 on 1 computer assistance on any topic? Call Sean at 630-924-2766 to schedule a phone or Zoom appointment with someone in our Computer Services department. 
National Library Week
National Library Week was celebrated in our homes this year instead of serving you, our awesome patrons, in the library. We wanted to give you a glimpse of how we've been working for you from home - with kids, furry co-workers, and remote technology, much how you're utilizing library digital services during the Illinois Stay-at-Home order. We've created a video that is posted on our YouTube page. If you prefer still photos, you can see our Facebook photo album.

Please check out our YouTube channel while your there and subscribe - that's where we'll be posting virtual storytimes, computer classes, and other videos while we're closed.

Also take a look at our updated Pinterest page. We are adding more craft and reading recommendations from Youth Services and will be updating this service more frequently. Follow our boards and stay up to date!
Show your support for BPL by printing out this coloring sheet (click the image for a full-size pdf)! Color it however you'd like, take a pic and post it to your social media (or ours!) with the hashtags #SupportMYBPL | #LibrariesStrong | #BloomingdaleStrong (also printed on the coloring sheet). Then hang it in your window to show your support!
Virtual Programs and Digital Resource Update
Adult Services has been working to bring our usual range of programming to the virtual world. Keep a look out for more information as available.
Virtual BPL Book Chat
Wednesday, May 6
7:00-8:00 p.m.
Library staff will share what they've been reading and recommending in a Zoom chat. Join us to share what you've been reading at home and ask what you should read or listen to next. All you'll need is a computer, tablet, or phone to join via Zoom. A Zoom meeting link will be emailed to you the week of the event. Registration required , limited to 20 people.
Chef Maddox Presents: Quarantine Cuisine
Weekly on Thursdays - April 30 through May 28

We will post a recipe and YouTube link on our website and Facebook page. It will be available for you to watch the entire day on Thursday before the video is taken down, so you can watch at a time that is convenient for you. No registration necessary.
Online Resources:
Pronunciator
If you haven't checked out Pronunciator in a while and have some time to learn a new language or want to brush up on your skills, take a look at updates that the program has recently made:

  • COVID-19 language course: Teaches essential vocabulary for 101 languages (and in 90 home languages) relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • New languages, bringing the total to 163: Including American Sign Language (with 20,000 videos, making it the largest in existence); Mexican Spanish; Mexican Sign Language (20,000 videos, and the only such resource in existence); Latin, Sanskrit, Hmong, Burmese, Scots Gaelic, Faroese, Igbo, Canadian French, Canadian English (complete with ProCitizen: Canada), Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Algerian Arabic, Levantine Arabic, Tunisian Arabic, Gulf Arabic, Moroccan Arabic, Flemish, Luxembourgish, Australian English, Irish English, Scottish English, New Zealand English, Haryanvi, Tulu, Frisian, Bhojpuri, Mizo, Oromo, Punjabi, Yoruba, Kannada, Dogri, Braj Bhasha, Chhattisgarhi; and many more.

  • More home languages: There are now 143 home languages in which users can learn any of our learning languages. That means English taught in 143 languages, for example.

  • Personalized Language Courses. This innovative new approach lets patrons customize their learning experience based on their interests, their occupation (any of 60!), their learning goals, age, available time, and more. Each custom course features a bespoke PDF study guide and even personalized audio lessons. We offer personalized courses in any of 160 languages, including American Sign Language.

  • Video Phrases: We've been adding hundreds of thousands of video clips so your learners can see native speakers clearly speaking each instructional phrase (including slow motion and a cool Video Comparison feature). It's the closest thing to how we actually learn language as children. Currently, 28 languages have video phrases.

  • Audio lessons: Over the past year, we have expanded our collection of audio lessons to include over 11,000,000 files (600+ calendar years of audio!), making it by far the largest in the world. And each lesson is available narrated in 140 different languages.

They have also made improvements to the graphics and interface, both on the website and apps. Check out Pronunciator here!

Ancestry.com is available from home while we are closed. Because it is normally only accessibly inside the library, we have a special link for you to use from home. Please click here to go directly to the Ancestry login page.
Virtual Weekly Storytimes & Programs
Youth Services has been recording virtual storytimes and programs to be shown on Facebook and YouTube.

As virtual programs begin to be more plentiful, check our calendar and our Facebook page for more details and availability.
Virtual Program:
I Love Jelly Beans!
Monday, April 27
1:00-1:30 p.m.
on Facebook and YouTube
Did you know that the Library orders extra copies of the Caudill and Bluestem nominees? Get a head start on reading next year's titles or finish the 2020 lists!

Bluestem Nominees - 2020 2021
The Bluestem Award is designed for students in grades 3-5 who are ready for longer titles but not ready for the sophistication of some of the Rebecca Caudill titles.

Rebecca Caudill Nominees - 2020 2021
The Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award is voted on by students in grades 4-8 in participating Illinois schools.
How to Contact BPL
While the library is closed, we are monitoring questions and services remotely as best we can. Please contact us via email at bdref@mybpl.org OR via text by texting mybpl to 66746. You can also access both of these options from our website - simply go to mybpl.org, click on "Ask a Librarian", and in the new window, type in your question and check how you'd like a response - via text or email. The option you click will change the box below asking for either your cell phone number to receive a text response or your email address for a response. Then click "Submit" and someone will respond as soon as we can.

We thank you for your patience in this difficult time. Stay safe, and we hope to see you healthy when restrictions are lifted!
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