Library news & updates
Director's Note:

First, I have to apologize for not getting a newsletter out last week. This week I owe you two new Music and Movement videos, and we'll throw in a third for good measure. In other news, this Saturday will be a busy one for virtual Library programming with the scifi book club at 10am and the Red Sox presentation at noon. Fall storytime also starts up next week. See details below.

The Friends of the Library Fall Online auction is available for viewing (but not bidding), so go find your must-haves and register to bid now! They will be adding more book bundles and other items as we get closer to October 3, but the catalog of items up for bid is already pretty robust. This is your chance to get some pretty cool loot and support the Library building project at the same time! A big thank-you to everyone who has donated so far! Check it out: http://www.charityauction.bid/sfpl
I am happy to report that borrowing is starting to approach pre-pandemic levels. While the amount of digital material we circulate both in the community and throughout the network has steadily increased through the year, the closure of the Library in March obviously brought the volume of our print circulation to a near standstill. Since then, we've been clawing our way back up to "normal" and are almost there.
Now I am going to brag a little bit. We aren't the biggest library in the state. We aren't the prettiest library in the state. We definitely aren't the most accessible library in the state. But we are darn resilient. Check out our borrowing statistics compared to the network average. They didn't drop as far and have recovered much quicker. The average CWMARS library is still circulating less than half its normal volume.

I don't point this out to throw our sister institutions under a bus. Every library has unique circumstances and challenges and I believe everyone is doing the best they can. I have to commend the motivation of our staff, the flexibility of our trustees, the proactive management of our town government, and the willingness of our patrons to work with us as we get books in your hands, though. Let's keep reading.


Thanks for Reading,

Justin Snook, Director
Fall Storytime

Miss Debbie's storytimes for the season will run from September 28 through November 18th. Email her at [email protected] to sign up and get the zoom details! Mondays at 11am will be shorter stories for kids aged 18 months to 3 years. Wednesdays at 3pm will be longer stories for kids ages 3 through 6.
Fall Online Auction

The Friends of the Library fall online auction site is live! http://www.charityauction.bid/sfpl

Bidding starts October 3, but you can register to bid now and browse the catalog for items you want to keep an eye on. There is some really cool stuff in there, and every penny earned will go into the Library's interest-bearing building donation account to go toward our goal of $400,000 to make the building accessible.

Music & Movement

Deb Hudgins is providing us with weekly videos of her music and movement program! Since I didn't get a newlsetter out last week, here are the links to the programs so far:


This program is sponsored by YFCP : The YMCA Family & Community Partnership (YFCP) is funded by the Massachusetts Coordinated Family & Community Engagement (CFCE) Grant and awarded to the YMCA of Central Massachusetts by the Department of Early Education and Care. 
September 26



Click those links for program details and Zoom login info.
Don't forget that you can still sign up for home delivery and we'll bring your holds to you every Thursday! Give us a call or send me an email to get on the list.
Brought to you by the Friends of the Simon Fairfield Public Library.