We have been happy to have our doors open to the public since mid-July but due to the recent spike of Covid-19 cases, we will be making the following changes on Monday, November 16.

Our libraries still have less hours at this time. If you do not feel comfortable coming into the building you can still call the library and arrange for outside pickup. Below are our adapted hours and phone numbers for each library.

New Cash Policies:

In an effort to reduce the cash we are handling at our libraries, we are changing some of our policies relating to money handling. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility.

• New prices for black and white copies. $.25 for black and white copies, $.50 for color
• Fine payments in increments of $10. We ask that you either allow your fines to accumulate to $10 before you pay them or that you pre-pay $10 toward your fines. We will credit your account so that you will not have to pay until your fines reach the $10 threshold again.
• PayPal and Credit Card options. We are asking patrons to consider using non-cash payment methods. Utilize PrinterOn or PayPal for your printing and copy needs – we can help you if you have questions.
• No rental fees for DVDs. There will still be overdue fines so please make sure you return your items when they are due.
• If you do need to pay cash, please consider donating your change. The library appreciates your generosity and we rely on your support!

UPDATE: We were able to add additional Wi-Fi spots to the Grove Family & Lilian S. Besore Memorial Libraries. You can now connect to our Wi-Fi from our parking lots at those locations. Many thanks to the Information Technology Disaster Resource Center for donating the equipment and labor that made it possible for us to extend Wi-Fi further outside of these two buildings. Our Wi-Fi is available even when our buildings are closed.

Some exciting news! Thanks to a Slow the Spread Grant we received from WellSpan Health −Franklin & Cumberland County, we were able to increase the WiFi around four of the Franklin County Libraries! Wifi service was improved at Coyle Free Library (Chambersburg), Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library (Waynesboro), Blue Ridge Summit Library, and St Thomas Library. These photos illustrate the new, extended range of service for free WiFi. Our hope is that this will improve access online information and services. Thank you, WellSpan Health, for all that you do for our community.

UPDATE: All Franklin County Library System branches are closed, including book drops until further notice. Keep all your items borrowed until we reopen. The due dates will be extended and no fines will accrue during this time.

ANSWERS TO SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS…

What if my items are due next week?

Please keep all of your library materials at home until we reopen. All of our due dates have been extended until June 4. If we have to extend our date of reopening, we will extend this due date as well. In an effort to keep our bookdrops from overflowing, please don’t return your items to any branch until we reopen.

What if I need WiFi? 

You can still access our WiFi from outside of our buildings. Please stay in your car or maintain a safe distance from others to use the WiFi. .

What about items I had on hold? 

All of your holds will continue. You can get them when we reopen.

I’m bored and I have read all of my books: now what? 

We offer lots of online databases and information through our website: fclspa.org. Please check out the “E-Library” and “Our Picks” links on our website to see what there is to offer. If you need help accessing anything, please call your local branch, email library@fclspa.org, or message us through Facebook (this will get you the fastest response). 

Check out our available downloadable ebooks and audiobooks through our website with Overdrive or through the Libby App on your enabled device. You can also learn a  new language with Mango Languages or discover one of the many resources for children and teens available through our website.

We have extended the amount of time you can have an ebook or audiobook as well as the number of items you can check out and have on hold. We hope that this helps you pass the time more easily..

What if I had an event or meeting scheduled at the library? 

If you had something planned at the library, we will be getting in touch with you to reschedule.

What if don’t have a library card but want access to all the things available on your website?

Fill out our online registration form.  A staff member will then email you back within 24 hours with a temporary library card number that you can then use to access all of our online resources.

What if I still have a question? 

Library staff will be available on a limited basis by phone and email. To reach us by email: library@fclspa.org. To contact us by phone, call 717-263-1054 and leave a message.  We will be checking email and voicemail on a daily basis and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

UPDATE: All Franklin County Library System branches are closed through at least Monday, April 6. Due dates of items due 4/1/2020 to 4/6/2020 are now extended to 4/7/2020.

STARTING ON MONDAY, 3/16, ALL BRANCHES ARE CLOSING FOR 2 WEEKS. THIS MODIFIES THE INFORMATION THAT WAS POSTED THIS MORNING.

As directed by Glenn Miller, Commissioner of Libraries for the State of Pennsylvania, all Franklin County Library System branches will be closed for two weeks starting on Monday, March 16. Libraries will reopen on March 30. Any change to that date will be indicated as soon as we have information. Since many of our drop boxes will be closed so they do not overflow, we have extended the due dates of all items due 3/16/2020 to 3/31/2020 to now 4/1/2020. Please use the contact form below if you have an item that was due before 3/16/2020 to get an extension, including your name and library card barcode number in the message. Please stay home and enjoy your items a little longer.

There is a lot of information regarding COVID-19 in the media. Please verify the sources of your information and obtain it through reputable channels like the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html), the WHO (https://www.who.int/emergen…/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019), PA Department of Health (https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx) or the Gale Virtual Reference Library available through our Website (http://www.fclspa.org/our-e-library/).

We will post any updates through this Facebook page and our website:  fclspa.org

We are doing our best to keep you, our staff, and all of our community safe and healthy. Please remember to wash your hands, keep a distance of 3 to 6 feet between you and anyone around you, and be aware of best health and hygiene practices with regard to COVID-19.