News Release

MENTONE — The Bell Memorial Public Library is now requiring face coverings for anyone entering the building.

That’s due to a statewide mask mandate and the rise in COVID-19 cases in Kosciusko County and the state.

Library activities

The library’s book sale is ongoing in the main lobby. Books are 25 cents each or five for $1 or people may fill up a bag for $5.

Teen Craft Night is 4:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec, 10. Teens will make a snowman, and all supplies needed will be provided at no cost. Social distancing and masks are required. Contact Natalie Salazar at 574-353-7234 for more information.

Preschool Story Hour is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, in the children’s room. Books being read are: “A Wish To Be a Christmas Tree” by Colleen Monroe and “Jesus, Me, and My Christmas Tree” by Crystal Bowman. Children will be creating a Christmas tree ornament for their craft.

Library services

Curbside services are always available. Please call 574-353-7234 to request materials. People can also email Stephen Boggs at [email protected].

Demand has certainly risen for internet hot spots, and the library has just added three new units for patron use. The units are free to use, can be reserved and circulate for one week. They are only available to residents in the library’s tax district, which includes the Town of Mentone and Harrison Township or patrons who have purchased a library card. The hot spots use the T-Mobile/Sprint network.

People should contact the library with any questions.

Another new service is the patron use VHS to digital converter. Contact Boggs at 574-353-7234 or [email protected] to set up a time to come to the library to learn how to use the machine and begin digitizing homemade videotapes. Users will need to bring their own storage device such as a USB flash drive (4GB minimum) or an external hard drive. Copying off-air programs is not allowed.

Plans are also being considered to add a document/photo scanner, which will include a 35mm film or slide scanner and a circuit machine for patron use and a 3-D printer.

New books

New audiobooks that were just added to Hoopla include: “Anyone” by Charles Soule; “Winter Grave” by Helene Tursten; and “The Peppermint Tea Chronicles” by Alexander McCall Smith.

Teens and children can browse these titles: “Gingerbread” by Rachel Cohn; and “Snowflake Bentley” by Jacqueline Briggs Martin.

People should stop in and see a staff member for more information if they want to learn how to use the service.