Article by Duane Herendeen, 
WCPL Children's Department Supervisor

It’s a very chilly Tuesday morning as I’m writing this. The wind chill is well below zero and the snow is blowing and drifting outside my window. Because of the harsh weather, most of the businesses, schools and yes even the library is closed today so people can stay safely at home.

It’s a rather rare occurrence for the Warsaw Community Public Library to close due to weather but it did get me to thinking of the services we offer even when the doors are locked.

To begin with, when the library is closed due to an emergency situation such as weather, we extend the due dates on items to coincide with the reopening of the library. If you still prefer renewing an item, you can always access your account on our website through the Online Collection Catalog area.

After logging into your account, you can get access to the list of items checked out, items you have on request, and you can even make a list of the items you’d like to look at on your next visit. When you look at our website homepage, you have many options but one I’d really like to focus on is our TumbleBooks link. This is a great resource for not only parents, but their children. TumbleBooks is an online early learning resource that includes audio story telling, literacy games that include puzzles and memory matches, and educational videos for the entire family. Don’t think it’s just for little children either because it includes chapter books such as Nancy Drew and Anne of Green Gables.

Another great resource is our databases on the Research & Information tab on the website.

Whether you want to learn another language, see how to repair a small engine, check on the latest stock prices, start researching your family genealogy, or browse a multimedia encyclopedia, the limits are endless. All of this is available to you by simply visiting our website, www.warsawlibrary.org.